From OddTodd
I found out that back in the day Hawaiians had some pretty strict environmental laws. To keep balanced with nature they protected certain species of fish or animals around mating season or whatever. If stocks got depleted they'd hold off on fishing that fish till the fish restocked. The punishment for catching fish during a protected or sacred time? Death by strangulation. Done and done. Yeeaah Poiii!
Here's more info on the long lost Hawaiian Kapu system.
NASA Science News
Asteroid Hermes has a curious knack for flying past Earth without anyone noticing. It's approaching our planet again this week, but this time we know it's coming. Amateur astronomers can see Hermes using backyard telescopes and CCD cameras. [
more]
HOLY CRAP!
Click on the court shooting button on the left.
This is nuts!
Traffic Chaos as Hearse Ejects Corpse
BERLIN (Reuters) - A hearse overturned on a German motorway Wednesday, shattering the coffin and ejecting the corpse onto the tarmac along with a bag of coffin nails that brought traffic to a standstill, authorities said.
"The driver had fallen asleep at the wheel and yanked the steering wheel round when he woke up," said Jens O'Brien, spokesman for the regional government in Duesseldorf, western Germany. "There were nails strewn over 50 meters and the corpse fell out onto the ground." The A40 motorway was closed for an hour and there was a 4-mile back-up as police collected the coffin nails and took the corpse away. The hearse had not been driving to a funeral but had been transporting the body from Wuerzburg in southern Germany. The undertaker was slightly hurt.
Ok, if this doesn't make you mad. . .
Goals
"Focus On Your Goals.... Just Don't Get Caught Focusing."
Girls pummel man who exposed himself
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (Reuters) -- A man described by authorities as a known sexual predator was chased through the streets of South Philadelphia by an angry crowd of Catholic high school girls, who kicked and punched him after he was tackled by neighbors, police said Friday. [
more]
Right *
ON*!
Here's some more beauty for your day
When Programmers get bored
So Jon (here at work) wrote me some code to do a product review thingy for Safe Computing. It was only like 6 lines though and he thought it should be longer.
This is what ended up happening:
Vampire Killing Kit Sells for $12,000
NEW YORK (AP) -- Just in time for Halloween, a vampire-killing kit complete with a wooden stake and 10 silver bullets sold for $12,000 at auction Thursday. [
more]
It was a beautiful morning
I wish I had woken up earlier so I could have gone walking outside. I love it after the rain.
I did however, get informed that my thermostat's batteries are dead so I couldn't turn on the heat. I woke up in the fridge this morning and decided to stay in my down womb until it was absolutley necessary to move to the warm water womb.
Re: Lemon Jelly Love
Cool site. There's another video ("Spacewalk") on the downloads page. Unfortunately I have not been able to get the Mac OS X screen saver installer to work. And I was looking forward to trippy screen saver visuals. :-(
I have hit that Lull...
You know, the 4:00 ish involuntary brain powerdown that happens to me about every other hour while I am at work.
The lights dim slightly. Any effort that is not goofing off hurts. I can't comprehend how to use Photoshop or Dreamweaver anymore. Somehow, Outlook will only send e-mails to friends. No matter what I type into the URL bar, IE AND Netscape will only land on the blog. It's an odd phenomenon.
Some Lyrics for Halloween
Rob Zombie - Dragula
dead I am the one
exterminating sun
slipping through the trees
strangling the breeze
dead I am the sky
watching angels cry
as they slowly turn
conquering the worm
dead I am the pool
spreading from the fool
weak and want you need
nowhere as you bleed
dead I am the rat
feast upon cat
tender is the fur
dying as you purr
dig through the ditches
burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
dragula
dig through the ditches
burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
dragula
do it baby, do it baby
burn like an animal
do it baby, do it baby
burn like an animal
dead I am the life
dig into the skin
knuckle crack the bone
21 to win
dead I am the dog
hound of hell you cry
devil on your back
I can never die
dig through the ditches
burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
dragula
dig through the ditches
burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
dragula
do it baby, do it baby
burn like an animal
do it baby, do it baby
burn like an animal
dig through the ditches
burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
dragula
dig through the ditches
burn through the witches
I slam in the back of my
dragula
Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted in SJ 11/28-1/8
Featuring "Beyond Grandpa". Yes,
that Grandpa. See also
BeyondGrandpa.com. That is all.
Plato Treasure Map Leads Atlantis Hunter to Cyprus
MOUNT OLYMPUS, Cyprus (Reuters) - Some say it is in the Aegean, others in the Azores, off the Celtic Ridge of Britain or even as far as the South China Sea, but an American researcher says everyone has been looking in the wrong place. [
more]
Rocker Weiland Ordered to Live-In Drug Programs
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Former Stone Temple Pilots lead singer Scott Weiland (news) was ordered on Thursday to report to a live-in detox program followed by six months in a residential drug rehab center. [
more]
A STAR TREK film with Captain Kirk?
The writer of "The Trouble With Tribbles" wants it [
more]
Take the redpill and read THE MATRIX COMICS
New book arrives in stores shortly; new comics available now! [
more]
Re: Ducks video
That was a
huge drop of acid.
Report Links Iraq Deals to Bush Donations
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Companies awarded $8 billion in contracts to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan have been major campaign donors to President Bush, and their executives have had important political and military connections, according to a study released Thursday. [
more]
Ok, I need to watch the ducks again now.....
Re: Ducks video
That was
so cool! Very catchy hook! (...he says, still humming along...)
Any idea what its origins are? Music video? Somebody's demo reel?
RE: Ducks video
That was the coolest video ever!
It shoud be shown to everyone every Thusday morning.
I **LOVE** IT!
Potter V Causes Headaches
Washington doctor has warned that he has seen three children complain of headaches caused by the physical stress of relentlessly plowing through the 870 pages of the fifth Harry Potter novel, Reuters reported. Howard Bennett of George Washington University Medical Center wrote in a letter to this week's New England Journal of Medicine that the three children, ages 8 to 10, experienced a dull headache for two or three days, the news service reported.
Each had spent many hours reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. After ruling out other potential causes, Bennett told his patients to give their eyes a rest, which the children declined. "If this escalation continues as Rowling concludes the saga, there may be an epidemic of Hogwarts headaches in the years to come," Bennett told Reuters.
More on this
Ducks video
This video ought to put a smile on your face.
I asked my kids, "What do you think the drop is?" Shelly, my 8-year-old, replied, "The drop of heaven."
The Returner
Saw the Japanese SF-action movie The Returner last night. It was entertaining on a couple different levels. Some of the effects and fight scenes were really good, a la John Woo's work. The dialogue, on the other hand (or perhaps the translations, little of the movie was in English) was so very, very bad that at times I had tears running down my face because I was laughing so hard. The story is about a girl who comes back from the future to save the world from an alien invasion who winds up in the middle of a vendetta between a mysterious killer and the Triad boss he opposes. Hmm, that sounds kinda silly when you write it down. Anyway, it was fun, if not great cinema.
 | |
New Archiving
I am annoyed by all the archive links.
I have made the site archive it all monthly (I think it will still only show a week on this page which is pretty clever).
If you have issue with that (because you are *SO* into looking at the archives week by week) let me know and I will consider reverting.
**Also note other changes to side bar. Feel free to imput on content and placement!
Quiz: Which Mythological Form Are You?
You are Form 3,
Unicorn: The Innocent.
"And The Unicorn knew she wasn't meant to go into the Dark Wood. Disregarding the advice given to her by the spirits, Unicorn went inside and bled silver blood.. For her misdeed, the world knew evil."
Some examples of the Unicorn Form are Eve (Christian) and Pandora (Greek). The Unicorn is associated with the concept of innocence, the number 3, and the element of water.
Her sign is the twilight sun.
As a member of Form 3, you are a curious individual. You are drawn to new things and become fascinated with ideas you've never come in contact with before. Some people may say you are too nosey, but it's only because you like getting to the bottom of things and solving them. Unicorns are the best friends to have because they are inquisitive.
Ok, who thinks I am innocent? Raise your hand!
Changed two that I was on the fence about:
You are Form 5,
Dragon: The Weaver.
"And The Dragon seperated the virtuous from the sinful. He tore his eyes from his sockets and used them to peer into the souls of those on trial to make a judgement. He knew that with endless knowledge came endless responsibility."
Some examples of the Dragon Form are Athena (Greek), St. Peter (Christian), and Surya (Indian). The Dragon is associated with the concept of intelligence, the number 5, and the element of wood. His sign is the crescent moon.
As a member of Form 5, you are an intelligent and wise individual. You weigh options by looking at how logical they are and you know that while there may not always be a right or wrong choice, there is always a logical one. People may say you are too indecisive, but it's only because you want to do what's right. Dragons are the best friends to have because they're willing to learn.
Which Mythological Form Are You? brought to you by Quizilla
erm... yeah, I think this one is off kilter....
CNN, Rock the Vote to co-sponsor Democratic candidate forum
CNN and Rock the Vote will co-host a 90-minute forum for Democratic presidential candidates November 4 in Boston, Massachusetts, the network announced Wednesday. Invitations have been sent to all 10 Democratic candidates. [
more]
If you feel uneducated about the candidates, this is a good thing to watch - it will let you know who you want to research more at least for the democratic candidates. It's on at 7 ET on CNN, I will try and tape it if possible. Bush will likley getthe nod again for Republican so we are worried about primary elections here. If you have not yet registered, you can use the link on the right to do so.
If you;d like an on-line recap of them now,
click here for a pretty good summary.
Leonids on the 19th
Here's some info on the Leonids this year on the 19th of November. Not crazy go nuts or anything, but should be a good shower. I'll definitely be up for checking them out.
About this solar flare thing
Ok, maybe this will help you understand how big it was:
See Mercury?
Things are looking up
So, after much of a year of being wiley and unhappy, today was the first day in many moons I felt like my old boney self again.
Not 100% yet, but getting there. Pumpkin Parties can do me a world of good I think.
One More Shout Out!
Besides the pumpkin preppers, Stephanie, Nancy, Wendy, Esther, Mike, and Carl all donated Pumpkins and Kegs and what-not to the Pumpkin Empire. So here's a big "Thanks, You guys rock!" from me to you!
Shout out to my Homies
So there are those of you (specifically, Chris, Wendy, and Esther) who have donated tons of CD's for me for copying to replace the massive Pile of CD's I had stolen out of my car.
I send you all a big, no, HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE hug and a very big "I love you, thank you for letting me have my music back!"
I would have cried big crocodile tears if it wasn't for you guys getting on the ball and getting me my heart and soul back....
Attention Garden Gnome Liberation Front
Re: Car Test
They definetly need more answers with the words "race" or "racing" in them.
Congratulations. You have completed the test.
Your score is 13!
11-15: As far as we can judge by your car, your suave appeal roars past Ricardo Montalban in a Chrysler Cordoba! And your shoes are made of Corinthian leather, whatever the hell that is.
Re: Car Test
Congratulations. You have completed the test.
Your score is 1!
1-5: You possess a certain anonymity, neither slob nor snob appeal. It may be time for a psychic "tune up." Gentleman, start your engine.
Review: Texas Chainsaw Massacre
I slept with the lights on.
Wonder woman Movie?
Producer Joel Silver told SCI FI Wire that he still plans to oversee a Wonder Woman movie, which has been the subject of much speculation over the years. "I want to make [it]," he said in an interview while promoting his upcoming Gothika. "I'm working on the script. We've got to get it right."
Silver said that Laeta Kalogridis, who created The WB's defunct Birds of Prey series, is currently drafting a new script. "She wrote a script for me years ago about Joan of Arc that was really very smart," Silver said. "She's working on Wonder Woman now."
A treat for UNDERWORLD fans this Halloween weekend
Studio re-releasing film back into theaters for the weekend [
more]
'Cuz enough people didn't like it the first time?
Orlando bound for HEAVEN
As was rumored just one week ago, actor Orlando Bloom has now been confirmed to have signed a contract to star in Ridley Scott's next picture, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. The LORD OF THE RINGS co-star will play a 12th century blacksmith who is transformed into a knight to defend Jerusalem from approaching conquerors. Shooting will begin January 12 in Morocco. The script was written by William Monahan (who's also written JURASSIC PARK IV).
RE: Find out what your Car says about you
It's a quiz man, just take it, go as close as you can and post what you got.
Your first look at BUFFY`s four Willows
New action figure line based on BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER [
more]
Forbes Halloween Masks
Forbes.com has
printable Halloween masks, based on various industry execs. My favorite is Larry Ellison as a vampire. As Count Floyd would say: "Ooooooooh, scary!"
RE: Find out what your Car says about you
Well, even if this thing
did work in my browser, 80% of the questions do not apply to me at all. Which I guess means my car says nothing about me.
Re: Shock Wave from Sun Hits Earth's Magnetic Field
Find out what your Car says about you
Apparently, I am a 5: You possess a certain anonymity, neither slob nor snob appeal. It may be time for a psychic "tune up." Gentleman, start your engine.
See yours
Aurora Tonight?
You may want to watch the skies tonight. According to
this article about the solar storm that's due to hit around noon, the Aurora Borealis should be visible as far south as Texas and Florida. On the other hand, the
Space Weather site is saying that mid latitude auroras have subsided, so it might be a wash. I was out around 1am last night and didn't notice anything in particular, but I wasn't really looking either. *shrug*
Shock Wave from Sun Hits Earth's Magnetic Field
LONDON (Reuters) - A massive bubble of gas that could wreak havoc with power grids and satellite systems hit the Earth's magnetic field Wednesday morning and is likely to have the biggest impact in Alaska and the Far East.
Scientists said the cloud of charged particles unleashed at high speeds by a hyperactive sun, a phenomenon known as a coronal mass ejection, traveled at about five million miles per hour.
[
more ]
Request for PP pics
Hey! If you guys have any pics from the Pumpkin Party, can you eitehr make me copies or burn a cd from your digital images for me? I'd even take your prints and scan them and return the prints for you if you would spare them for a bit.
That would rock.
Thanks!
N
Troy Poster
Here's the first look:
Spike plays with WILD THINGS
Director Spike Jonze (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH, ADAPTATION) has found his next job, and it's adapting Maurice Sendak's classic childrens book WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE as a live-action movie for Universal Pictures. Tom Hanka and Gary Goetzman will produce the film through their Playtone Productions company. Sendak is also a producer on the film as well as John Carls.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE tells the story of a young boy named Max who, after going to bed one night, fantasizes that there exists a forest of "wild things" that want to have Max live with them in their forest. The project has been in development for a number of years, at one time slated to be created as an animated project.
Police Watch Abducted Gnomes Gather Dust
PARIS (Reuters) - A French police station has been stuck with a room of homeless garden gnomes, victims of a wave of gnome abductions, after a fresh bid to trace their owners failed.
Only a trickle of people showed up for Monday's "gnome return day" at the police station in Saint-Die-des-Vosges, near the eastern city of Strasbourg, and only one person was reunited with their stolen gnome, police said.
Some 75 kidnapped gnomes were recovered in 2001 after a group called the Garden Gnome Liberation Front released them, leaving them on the steps of the Saint-Die-des-Vosges cathedral. Police are yet to reunite 43 of the gnomes with their owners.
"In wanting to set them free, the Liberation Front has virtually imprisoned them," policeman Sylvain Brucker told Reuters, adding that the local prosecutor could decide to sell the kitsch garden ornaments in a police auction.
"Perhaps there are people with gardens who would like to adopt them," he said.
ALIEN: THE DIRECTOR`S CUT opens tomorrow
Info on what it contains
here.
| | |
re: Moving forward using all my breath
SO apparently, Kyle was getting his inspiration from me before I was getting it from him.
That line, as known to me only when sung, is the opening line from Melt With You, by Modern English that I had up as the SotD a few weeks ago.
Nice to know my mantra is from a song I love....
Melt With You by Modern English
Moving forward using all my breath
Making love to you was never second best
I saw the world thrashing all around your face
Never really knowing it was always mesh and lace
I'll stop the world and melt with you
You've seen the difference and
It's getting better all the time
There's nothing you and I won't do
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(You should know better )
Dream of better lives the kind which never hate
(You should see why)
Dropped in the state of imaginary grace
(You should know better )
I made a pilgrimage to save this human race
(You should see why)
Never comprehending a race that long gone by
(I'll stop the world )
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(I'll stop the world )
You've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time
(Let's stop the world )
There's nothing you and I won't do
(Let's stop the world )
I'll stop the world and melt with you
The future's open wide
(Let's stop the world )
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(Let's stop the world )
I've seen some changes but it's getting better all the time
(Let's stop the world )
There's nothing you and I won't do
(Let's stop the world )
I'll stop the world and melt with you
The future's open wide
hmmm hmmm hmmm
hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm
hmmm hmmm hmmm
hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(Let's stop the world )
You've seen the difference and it's getting better all the time
(Let's stop the world )
There's nothing you and I won't do
(Let's stop the world )
I'll stop the world and melt with you
(Let's stop the world )
I'll stop the world and melt with you...
Some Pumpkin Love
Courtesy of Steph.
Tru Calling season premier
Eliza Dushku's new show,
Tru Calling, has it's series premier Wed at 8 pn Fox. I saw the first episode (this one) at Comic Con while they were working on it and it was pretty ok!
The ladies can vote on Girl Night if they are into watching that....
Re: "100 Greatest Scary Moments" poll.
The Basement Jaxx's 'Where's Your Head At' video got 60th!
And my favorite video got 96th: Prodigy 'Breathe'
NEW HALLOWEEN TOON!!!!!!!
Canadian Beats World at Rock, Paper, Scissors
TORONTO (Reuters) - The competitors, in glitzy, off-the-wall costumes, call themselves professional athletes. Some even bring along team doctors to supervise their nutrition and take them through intense warmups. [
more]
Those wacky Canadians....
Microsoft Unwraps New Operating System
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. on Monday gave its most detailed look yet at the next version of Windows, code-named "Longhorn," which promises new methods of storing files, tighter links to the Internet, greater security, and fewer annoying reboots. [
more]
I am finding it **VERY** difficult to be at work today.
Thanks from me
So thanks to everyone for coming to The Pumpkin Party. I couldn't have hoped for it to go better! I am glad that everyone had so much fun!
Thanks especially to all the helpers that came early to join my private army of pumpkin people. You guys were rad, donating your time and energy to my pumpkin empire! Hugs all around!
LOL
Google's technology that undelies their search results....
this is great.
Buffy makes number 25 in "100 Greatest Scary Moments" poll.
The episode "
Hush" did really well! It's my favorite episode so that makes me happy. :-)
RE:Yeah I know - I suck
I think it's fate Jay. You have yet to both make it to the pumkin party (3 years running).
Well, I'll send you another token invite next year ;-)
Love you!
Thanks!
 | What a great time yesterday! Lots of friendly faces. (Good to meet you, Kevin.) Thanks to all the pumpkin-preppers. But a super hug for Noelle! I can't believe you assembled goody bags just for our kids. You are too much. |
Editors note: Jon, your pumpkin wasn't showing up and blogger doesn't align left for some reason so I fixed this for ya. And you're welcome, I am really glad that you all had a good time!
Yeah I know - I suck
Sorry for missing you all. I was stuck in Florida from a Cancelled flight. Got put up in a decent hotel, but I would have much rathered hang out with you all. Least the hotel had porno, err movies. Yeah Movies... Hope you all had a good time.
I am very happy to have you all and I love each of you.
Learn to be happy where you are.
Be thankful for what you have.
Says the Gaiman
You know, if I were a devout believer directing a film about Christ, and my lead actor got struck by lightning, such that smoke came out of his ears... struck by lightning not once, but twice, I might take it as a gentle suggestion of displeasure from the viewing public on high. Er...
It's true.
YAY! WEEKEND!!!!!!
TGIFF!!!!!! So, I have let go of the stress and am now very ready to party like it's 1999 (hey, it was a good year for me).
Going to see Beyond Borders and some Sushi with Omega Leader and Cheralyn tonight (YAY!).
Going to get stuff done tomorrow and then play some much anticipated D&D with Kev and a small group of people Sat night.
Going to get up, gut some pumpkins, hang out with some cool people and love the Halloween vibe all day Sunday!
I hope that you all are having a good Friday and this weekend is shaping up to be pretty cool from the looks of it!
SotD
For those of you who don't normally listen to the song of the day, I would suggest that if you have the access and you haven't heard some of this stuff (like today's for example, it's obscure if you do not normally listen to techno), to go ahead and give it 10 minutes of your life.
You'd be surprised at the types of music you thought were one thing and you didn't like, that are actually something totally different, and you, in fact, do.
Moving forward using all my breath
So, I was peeking over at Kyle's AIM profile (he changes it daily so it's interesting), and I saw this: moving forward using all my breath.
I was, for a moment, stalled.
That's exactly how I feel.
It's poignant, but not depressing. It's a statement that proposes progress without dodging how difficult it is. It is a resounding statement that defines my year.
I think I shall take that one into my archive as the definitive statement for 2003.
Moving toward "kicked major ass" for 2004....
NASA Opens Kecksburg Docs
NASA has agreed to turn over documents relating to the alleged crash of a UFO in Kecksburg, Pa., in 1965, the SCI FI Channel announced. The news comes a day after SCI FI said it would pursue legal action against the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to release its records on the incident. [
more]
Road to ruin
America produces a quarter of the world's carbon dioxide emissions, the population has risen by 100 million since 1970 and when an area three times the size of Britain was recently opened up for mining, drilling, logging and road building, no one took much notice. What does the Bush administration do? It ignores all attempts to curb environmental damage. In a major investigation that took him from the Salton Sea in California to Crooked Creek in Florida, Matthew Engel reports on how America is ravaging the planet [
more]
A Brittish take on us....
Daylight Savings
Daylight Savings does it's thing on Sunday morning (fall back). Can't figure out if that is "on" or "off".... Anyway, don't be an hour early for the PP!
What's in a Name? Everything When the Name is Butt
LONDON (Reuters) - A British couple have been forced to move house because of the shame caused by the name of their street -- Butt Hole Road.
Paul and Lisa Allott sold their $250,000 bungalow in Conisbrough, northern England after living there for just 15 months, fed up with the constant leg-pulling.
Taxis and pizza delivery men would fail to turn up, thinking their order was just a prank, and they grew tired with groups of youths posing for photos by the nearby street sign with their buttocks bared.
"I like a laugh, but it was beyond a joke," Allott told the Sun newspaper.
Attempts by Reuters to contact the new residents were unsuccessful -- they have taken a confidential telephone number.
Russia Says Safety Concerns Misplaced Aboard ISS
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia dismissed Friday U.S. concerns that failing equipment was endangering crew safety on the International Space Station, saying NASA (news - web sites) was simply in the dark about the situation on board since grounding its shuttles. [
more]
Ummmm, I'm pretty sure that there are no such things as "mispaced" concerns when it comes to people in space. I think pretty much any concern is valid at that point.
Scientists Find First Dinosaur Brain Tumor
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Scientists reported on Thursday they had found the first evidence of a brain tumor in a dinosaur, in the fossilized remains of a creature that lived 72 million years ago in present-day Montana. [
more]
Worms Live Longer and Have Fun, Too
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Want to live to be 500? [
more]
My answer:
NO
Why is this ok with anyone???
Love Bug Writers Hired
Writing duo Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant have been tapped by Disney to pen the remake of Herbie the Love Bug, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Robert Simonds is producing.
The project has been in development at the studio for years, with various versions penned by the writing team of Blake Snyder and Colby Carr, as well as David Berenbaum, the trade paper reported. It is understood that the studio is scrapping all previous incarnations of the project to pick up the Lennon and Garant take, which puts Herbie in the world of NASCAR, the trade paper reported.
Lennon and Garant are hot off Taxi and Starsky & Hutch, which is in post-production at Warner Brothers and Dimension Films.
Hold Jim Lee`s version of BATMAN in your hands
Five new action figures coming soon based on artist's design [
more]
Jim's awesome!
Birthdays
Yo, so I looked in my calendar and I see that no one is having abirthday until Dec 20, which is Carl.
That seems highly unlikley, and for some of you, I have no idea when your birthdays are so
drop me a line and let me know so I can rob Carl of the longest spot on the birthday counter!
Weekend of madness
So.
Pumpkin Party. This weekend.
Kevin. Here tonight.
Secret things on Saturday night.
Should be kinda nuts.
And then the calm will set in hopefully.
Ridley`s DARK MATERIALS?
According to a Monty Python member, yup.
Reports are flying across the web and in our inbox about a BBC radio interview that Monty Python member Terry Jones gave yesterday. According to our friends across the Atlantic, Jones said that none other than director Ridley Scott (ALIEN, MATCHSTICK MEN) is now attached to helm the first movie in Philip Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS book trilogy. New Line Cinema has the rights to Pullman's novels, with the first book, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, having been adapted into screenplay format by Tom Stoppard (SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE).
HIS DARK MATERIALS is an epic fantasy with equal elements for young readers and adults, with the story's main characters being two different children living in parallel worlds. There are loads of interesting places and creatures scattered throughout the novels, with a monumental task facing the children that reveals the very nature of their two universes.
No official word has been forthcoming from New Line that Scott is indeed attached to direct the picture -- at least, not yet.
OK, so these books ROCK. I loved the story. Highly recommended for some easy reading...
Happy Birthday Kris! Happy Birthday Kyle!
Sony Develops Chubbchubbs
Sony Pictures Animation is moving forward with plans to turn its Oscar-winning animated short film The Chubbchubbs! into a full-length computer-animated movie, Variety reported. The studio has hired writers Dan Wilson and Dave Gilbreth to write the script. [
more]
Senate Votes for Tough Limits on Spam
WASHINGTON - The Senate agreed Wednesday to impose tough new limits on the irritating but lucrative business of e-mailing unwanted sales pitches to millions of people in the United States. [
more]
REVIEW: ITunes Music Store a Standout
Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes music software rips and burns songs. It links you to a legal music store. It's easily downloadable. And now it's available to the 95 percent of computer users who depend on Microsoft Windows operating systems. [
more]
Public Announcement
So, last night I got a call from Zak Akin.
A friend of mine (who is also Zak's roomate)'s girlfriend, who we all knew and hung out with, had passed away that night.
She was diabetic and did not take care of herself. She went into a diabetic coma and then her heart stopped.
I called my friend just now and he is holding up, but obviously not ok.
I am taking the lesson to love my friends while they are here, and to forgive the things that are unimportant, both for my friends and for myself.
I'm not telling you all this because it's sad or I am upset, more as a general announcement so I can stop telling people individually and also so I get the chance to say that I love you to all of you and am glad to have you in my life.
I hope that you all are having a good day!
Spaceweather news
Sunspot 484, which first appeared this past weekend, has grown into one of the biggest sunspots in years. Now about the size of the planet Jupiter, it's easy to see. But never look directly at the sun! Visit
Spaceweather.com for safe solar observing tips.
Meanwhile, say forecasters, another big sunspot could soon appear near the sun's southeastern limb. The active region is not yet directly visible, but the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has seen material being blasted over the sun's limb from the approaching spot.
Major eruptions are possible from these active regions as they rotate across the face of the sun over the next two weeks.
News from Crossgen
As reported at the Pulse:
Rosemann Promoted - Breaks Crossgen's SilenceAs the troubles at CrossGen have unfolded over the past few weeks, there has been little to no official comment from CrossGen employees. Now Bill Rosemann has broken the silence. Rosemann, formerly Director of Marketing & Communications, was recently promoted to Senior V.P. - Publishing. In the following interview, Rosemann addresses many issues, including new company goals, the Bridges program, HeroClix, the fate of MegaCon and the handling of the freelancer situation. However, Rosemann had no comment on several rumored developments, including Bart Sears leaving CrossGen, Paul Pelletier now drawing The War, or the financial situation with new investors. [more]
Re: OH no, Hell has just frozen over...
Heh. That's pretty funny coming from a woman who birthed a child so profoundly stupid that he is incapable of properly eating a pretzel without injuring himself. (Barbara Bush I mean. I have no idea about the faculties of any children Noelle might have pushed out, since last time I knew, she hadn't.)
OH no, Hell has just frozen over...
F%&k'n Germans are at it again....
BERLIN (Reuters) - A 25-year-old German woman enraged over another Saturday night of boring television programs and dull re-runs hurled her TV set out the window of her fifth floor apartment window, police said Monday.
"There was nothing decent on so I just threw the thing out the window," the woman identified as Veronika K., told Bild newspaper.
No one was hurt in the incident in Potsdam. She later calmed down and watched another television with her children.
I have a very strong case here....
Microsoft Ships First SmartPhone in U.S.
AT&T Wireless (news - web sites) has begun selling Motorola's MPx200, the first smart phone based on Microsoft software to be sold in the U.S. [
more]
Microsoft Launches Revamped Office Software
SEATTLE (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. offered a new version of its Office software on Tuesday, betting its spam fighting capabilities and enhanced features will recharge growth for its second largest cash cow. [
more]
More Good News
Saw this
article in the Mercury News the other day and it warmed my heart. Insiders selling $170 worth of stock for each $1 they bought. Yay.
More Chlorine In the Gene Pool
Those of you who appreciate the concept, will be cheered by
this bit of news that some dumdum got clobbered trying to surf on top of a subway car. Evidently from this
article it's also not a new phenomenon, although I hadn't heard of it before.
Episodes VII-IX Possible?
The Dark Horizons Web site reported a new rumor that a long-hoped-for—and long-denied—third trilogy of Star Wars films may be back on the drawing board. Citing an anonymous "insider source," the site reported that a sequel trilogy "might happen." [
more]
Preview of MAGIC THE GATHERING: BATTLEGROUNDS
Troy takes a look at Atari's upcoming adaptation of the MAGIC card game [
more]
Prepare for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2 and 3
Back-to-back sequels may be store [
more]
Tarantino: Now With More 'Pulp'?
LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - Fresh from making a killing at the box office with "Kill Bill," director Quentin Tarantino is considering making a sequel to his 1994 hit "Pulp Fiction." [
more]
1 Million Downloads in 3 Days
So far, Windows users have downloaded over 1 million songs ( at $0.99 ea ) from the iTunes Music Store. (
details from Reuters )
Huh. This might not be such a dumb idea. <wink>
CP Southpark
Here's Chris' southpark guy:
Orionids Peak Tonight
One of the lesser showers, producing a peak of 20 meteorites per hour. On the plus side, they should be easy to spot. The peak is between 11pm tonight and 3:30 tomorrow. I will probably make a trip up into the mountains if anyone wants to go. More info
here.
And for those who care about such things
I posted my answers to the email survey thing over at
my blog.
Well, he said, "Find that on a map."
So I did.
West Union, IA
If you zoom out, you can see that it's SSE of the Twin Cities.
Tom Baker Audio Outtakes
You may see (or hear) the
Fourth Doctor Who in a completely different light. Such language! Probably not of interest to non-Whovians, or those who blush in the presence of four letter words.
I Don't Think This Guy Likes Bush
At least, that's the impression I got from the
song. But maybe I am misinterpreting things. I am always being accused of that. ;-) WARNING: Contains bad language and anti-Republicanism.
The BBC's Big Read
The BBC did the Big Read which is the list, as voted by anyone who wanted to, of the most loved books.
Here's the list.
re:TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
I wouldn't mind seeing it again.
RE: Satan
It's over.
I survived.
I had my cry.
I feel better.
I love you guys.
Note to self:
Do not read Sandman before bed.
May cause bizzare ass dreams. (No Mike, that does not imply that I had a bizzare ass in my dream.)
re:TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
Yeah. But Morgan likes the Thing and other retarded movies.
Still, it's a horror flick. I'll go see it if anyone is interested...
TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE
Solid solid film. Definetly in my top 5 horror movies.
Even got Morgan's stamp of approval.
Evangelists Pray for 'Evil' Marilyn Manson
MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Dozens of Bible-wielding Mexican evangelical Christians prayed for the soul of Marilyn Manson in a protest against a planned concert by the shock rocker. [
more]
A Short Cut to Better Spoken English
SEOUL (Reuters) - Chop about half an inch or so off your tongue and become a fluent English speaker. [
more]
Create your own Southpark character....
9 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!
Arnold Meets w/ Bush
Here's the actual news story.
And here is a blurb about it from sfgate.com's Morning Fix mailing list:
President Bush and Arnold Schwarzenegger met privately Thursday, during which much snorting and guffawing and words of oh-my-freaking-god-can-you-freaking-believe-we-both-got-elected, I-mean-wow-people-sure-are-suckers were exchanged, then praised each other in a joint appearance afterwards. The mediocre actor and thick-necked slab of monster ego actually called Bush "the greatest ally this golden state has in Washington." Oh yes he did. Immediately after which the entire state of California cringed and recoiled and felt a sour tightening of that bitter knot deep in its stomach, the one that said, holy mother of Christ what the f**k have we done, and is it too late to take it all back, because we were a little drunk and probably high and holy s**t we are so very, very screwed.
Went home again!
Satan arriving in early evening I think so I am back at home chillin and finishing up cleaning.
D - Sent you e-mail!
Way Cool
Escher
Noelle send me an e-mail. I've lost all contact info including e-mail addresses.
Soul to Squeeze by Red Hot Chili Peppers
I got a bad disease ,
Up from my brain is where I bleed .
In sanity it seems ,
Is got me by my soul to squeeze .
Well all the love from me,
With all these dying trees I scream .
The Angels in my dreams ,
have turned to demons of greed ,
That's me.
Where I go I just don't know ,
I got to, got to, gotta take it slow .
When I find my piece of mind ,
I'm gonna give you some of my good time .
Today loves smile on me,
It took away my pain , said please
All that you ride is free ,
You gotta let it be,
Oh ya.
Where I go I just don't know ,
I got to, gotta , gotta take it slow .
When I find my piece of mind ,
I'm gonna give you some of my good time .
You're so polite indeed ,
Well I got everything I need .
Oh make my days a breeze ,
And take away my self destruction .
It's bitter baby ,
And it's very sweet .
I'm on a rollercoaster ,
but I'm on my feet .
Take me to the river ,
Let me on your shore .
I be coming back baby ,
I be coming back for more .
Doo doo doo doo dingle zing a dong bone ,
ba-di ba-da ba-zumba crunga cong gone bad,
like an apple gift but i went out and never said my pleasures
I'm much better but I won't regret it never
Where I go I just dont't know ,
I got to, got to, gotta take it slow .
When I find my piece of mind ,
I'm gonna give you some of my good time .
Where I go I just don't know ,
I might end up somewhere in Mexico .
When I find my piece of mind ,
I'm gonna keep for the end of time !
NASA science news
Upcoming experiments planned for the International Space Station will help engineers on Earth learn to handle undercooled fluids. [
more]
At work for a while today
dreading the arrival of Satan this evening...
I hugged Neil!
And got to talk a little with him.
He's a really cool guy.
Cordy To Return To Angel?
Joss Whedon, co-creator of The WB's vampire series Angel, told the Associated Press that he hopes to bring back former regular cast member Charisma Carpenter (Cordelia) sometime this season, even if it's just to wrap up her character's story. Carpenter left the show at the end of last season, the show's fourth, and her character was left lying in a coma. [
more]
Nine Crossgen titles to end
Sez Newsarama:
"After three years of planted clues, mounting tension, and escalating skirmishes, the saga of the Sigil Bearers vs. the Negation Empire is hurtling towards its explosive climax. As events build toward THE WAR, the following titles will reach their series finales with the following issues:
CRUX #33 [December]
THE FIRST #37 [November – previously announced]
MERIDIAN #44 [January]
MYSTIC #43 [December]
THE PATH #23 [January]
RUSE #26 [November - #27 was solicited for December]
SCION #44 [January]
SIGIL #43 [December]
SOLUS #8 [November – the series had been solicited through issue #10]"
[
more]
| | |
Re: Trivial Trivia
Pshaw. That one's easy. They released Neil's script as a book a few years ago. I've got it, and am pretty sure Dave does too. :-)
I've had a book called
Don't Panic about Douglas Adams and
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy for years. The cool thing? It was written by Neil Gaiman
before he was
Neil Gaiman, Superstar. (Side note: Looks like there's going to be a
revised edition this month.)
Download iTunes for Windows Now
Apple has made iTunes for Windows available for free at
iTunes.com. This version works with the iTunes Music Store.
The servers are overwhelmed at the moment, but the URL is real.
In February, Pepsi will being distributing bottles with yellow bottle caps. 1 in 3 of those yellow caps will contain a code for a free download from the iTunes Music Store.
Trivial Trivia
An interesting little blub that I found burried in the biography of Neil Gaiman on his blog:
In 1997 Gaiman wrote an episode for the final season of cult TV show "Babylon 5", 'The Day of the Dead', the only episode in the last three seasons not to have been written by the show's creator, J. Michael Straczynski.
Home again
Home again today....
Call if you need anything.
Simpsons Update
Fox has released two images from "Treehouse of Horror XIV," the annual Halloween episode of The Simpsons that is scheduled to air on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).
Comedian Jerry Lewis lends his voice to Professor Frink, Sr. Jennifer Garner, star of ABC's Alias and Elektra in the Daredevil movie, guest-stars as herself.
Oscar De La Hoya also guest stars as himself in the episode. [
more] (most of the way down the page)
Soul Cookie Update
Kevin did some cool stuff over at the
Soul Cookie - There's links at the bottom that will set cookies so you can see his pages in whatever template you choose whenever you go there. They're pretty neat-o.
Setting sail on Pirates 2
Most of the original players are returning: Johnny Depp, Kiera Knightley, Orlando Bloom, director Gore Verbinski, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. No Geoffrey Rush, though. [
more]
CrossGen spies high with KISS KISS BANG BANG
CrossGen Entertainment has lifted the curtain on what will be their next stand-alone comic book series, and for fans of a certain Mister Bond, it's good news. Set in London in the swinging '60s, KISS KISS BANG BANG follows the adventures of three globetrotting MI6 agents and the true identity of the most feared and resourceful secret agent, Sir Charles Basildon. Except that Basildon isn't really real... [
more]
UCSC Gets Heinlein Bequest
The University of California, Santa Cruz, archive of science fiction writer Robert Heinlein received a gift of materials and cash from the estate of Heinlein’s late widow valued at $300,000, according to a report on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Web site. The latest acquisition includes all of his honors and tributes, including his four Hugo awards, plus artwork and other memorabilia, as well as his extensive working and personal libraries, the site reported.
The donation was accompanied by a grant to establish the position of a Heinlein Scholar at the campus, who will work to organize, document, and promote the scholarly use of the archive, housed in the University Library’s Special Collections since 1968, the site reported.
William H. Patterson Jr. has been selected by UC Santa Cruz as the campus Heinlein Scholar for 2003-'04. He is founder of the Heinlein Society, a nonprofit educational charity that is dedicated to promoting Heinlein’s social legacy, the site reported. Patterson is also the editor/publisher of The Heinlein Journal and co-author of The Martian Named Smith, a critical study of Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land.
Is the original STAR WARS about to come to DVD?
Speculation increases after a mysterious invitation is sent out [
more]
Home today
Hey, I am home today and maybe tomorrow.
Call if you need anything or e-mail at yahoo.....
JMS
Another god... found
City of Dreams for you to listen to... (Wendy - send that to Dave)
So, what's up with this Gaiman guy she keeps talking about?
Here's a present for my girlies
Click it! (you know you want to)
Looking forward to tomorrow night!
Nostradamus, prophet to some, show-man to others, was born half a millenia ago on this day in 1503.
WHOO HOO!!!!!!!
Supreme Court Clears Way for Medical Pot
SAN FRANCISCO - The U.S. Supreme Court handed a major victory Tuesday to the nine states that allow the medical use of marijuana, refusing to let the federal government punish doctors for recommending pot to their ill patients. [
more]
I don't think I need to even weigh in on that one!
High Court to Decide if Pledge Is Legal
The Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to decide whether it's unconstitutional for children in public schools to pledge their allegiance to "one nation under God." [
more]
Really, they should worry less about whether it is illegal to say it in schools and worry more about whether it is offensive to those of us who love our country but not necessarily other people's Gods. Maybe they should re-write it so it's ACTUALLY patriotic, rather than just banning it.... or, hey, just go back to the way it was orginally written with no refernces to God (concept!).
Edit: This is in the article: "Democrats and Republicans in Congress criticized the decision and quickly passed a law affirming references to God in the pledge and the national motto, "In God We Trust." President Bush, who signed the measure, called the appeals court decision ridiculous. "
Well that's fu&^ed up.
Look, I'm all for religious freedom, and all for people who choose to believe. More power to them for believing in something. However, it's not only offensive to those of us who just don't, but what about other religions that don't have one or the samae God? Don't AFFIRM something that a large chunk of your population doesn't belive in! I have had religiond pushed on me all my life, and I even did the responsible thing and learned about many different ones in case I wanted to choose one, but I don;t need it forced on me by a government that supposedly belives in separation of church and state.
Ok, that's my rant.
Sorry....
That pushed my political button. Anyway, a little peice of history for ya today.
Sigh...
I love Neil.... He's terribly amusing and very sweet at the same time.
Here's his blog link from today. It's a good example of him.
I am very glad that he is coming on Thursday, I don't think I could have made it all the way until Comic Con next year... oh, and for those of you who didn't know already, Jenn and Ray are going to that. Just FYI.
Baby Got Back!
In Latin!
Okay, I'll admit that I don't actually know Latin, but just seeing the English translation of the latin they used is great!
12 Days Until the Pumpkin Party!!
Oh man, I'd better get to the store!
Bab 5, season 4 needs to come out sooner....
YAY October
Reminder: you guys should be spooky right now....
Here's some
haunted lighthouses to get you in the mood.
Smith & Wesson Sets Sights on Clothes, Home Decor
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Looking for just the right duvet cover to match your .38 Super? [
more]
Congrats!
Former Buffy the Vampire Slayer cast members Alyson Hannigan and Alexis Denisof were married on Oct. 11, according to E! Online. The newlyweds will have a busy first year, as Hannigan has just signed a deal with NBC to star in her own sitcom, while Denisof continues in his role as Wesley Wyndam Price on the WB's Angel.
Y: THE LAST MAN and FOUNDATION scoops confirmed
Variety has confirmed our exclusive story about screenwriter Jeff Vintar being hired to adapt the DC/Vertigo comic book Y: THE LAST MAN as a feature film for New Line Cinema. Vintar will follow his work on Y by adapting Isaac Asimov's FOUNDATION novel as two separate screenplays for 20th Century Fox, to be possibly directed by Shekhar Kapur.
The FOUNDATION screenplays will base their source material on three of Asimov's novels, FOUNDATION, FOUNDATION AND EARTH and SECOND FOUNDATION. As our source told us, Vintar's two scripts will be titled FOUNDATION and SECOND FOUNDATION.
So, for all of you out there, Y: The Last Man is a really good comic - it's only on issue 14 or so and there's a GN due out soon I think... It's about a guy who somehow manages to be the last man on earth, and he's trapped there with a couple billion women. It's not nearly the fantasy everyone thinks it would be....
re: Maybe you've noticed ...
Um, yeah, you can actually whine at any of the admins to do stuff for you.
This includes Kevin and Mike as well.
You could even be specific (feel free to cut and paste here) "Hey Mike! Can you please (insert your request here)?"
Henson Closer To Neverwhere
Kristine Belson of Jim Henson Productions told SCI FI Wire that the company is ready to move forward with the feature adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere as soon as they acquire a willing financier. "We are trying to get Neverwhere made," Belson said. "We have had a frustrating series of stops and starts on that movie. Right now, after being with a financier who we were getting ready to make the movie with, we're now once again looking for financing."
The best-selling fantasy novel, originally written as a miniseries for the BBC, explores the mythical realm of London Below, which exists in the sewers and subway tunnels beneath the city. Canadian director Vincenzo Natali (Cube) has signed on to direct, with screenwriter Matt Drake revising the script originally written by Gaiman. "We're actually just about to go out with a script that no one's seen," she said. "We're going to approach everybody in town and see if they want to finance it."
Belson remains confident that the quality of the story will lure investors once they have a chance to read the script. "It really draws people in," Belson said. "I'm convinced that whoever we get with next is finally going to pull the trigger. So we'll see."
Maybe you've noticed ...
There's a new link at the top of this column called "edit" which takes you to the Blogger login page. It opens in a separate window, so you can see both at the same time. Once again, laziness is the mother of innovation. Try it out.
Whine to Noelle (as I frequently do) if you think of something else that will make the blog better for all of us. <wink>
No G
YAY no G - going home early!
New Comic Store
There's a new comic store opening up in downtown SJ above Iguana's Taqueria (http://www.wackyhijinx.com/). For They're co-sponsoring the Neil Gaiman event (this is on their web site), and will be open late that night...
For those of youse' that're going to the Gaiman thingie...
I also heard from the store owner that there's a 10% off coupon in the school campus newspaper (Spartain Daily).
Mil is mailing list only
So they guy with the girlfriend who is insane is going to mailing list only updates.
He posted his last update this weekend and it was great. It's at the bottom of
this page.
More Brazilians Have Phones Than Safe Sewage?
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) - More Brazilians had telephone lines, refrigerators and television sets in 2002 than access to a proper sewage system, a government study showed on Friday. [
more]
MGM Wants Steve Martin for Pink Panther
MGM has offered Steve Martin the lead role of Inspector Clouseau in Birth of the Pink Panther, hoping that Martin will spearhead the rebirth of the comic franchise originated by Peter Sellers. Len Blum wrote the script for Montecito partners Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock. If a deal can be worked out, Martin would star in the film in 2004.
MGM has been trying for years to rebirth the "Pink Panther" franchise, which placed bumbling crime fighter Inspector Clouseau in high-level crime situations that always resulted in strong pratfall and farcical comedy.
Blum's prequel script has the inept sleuth assigned to solve the murder of the nation's soccer team coach while investigating the disappearance of the legendary Pink Panther diamond. That bauble, the national treasure of the Eastern state of Lugash, frequently disappeared in the earlier Panther pics.
Preview WOLVERINE: THE END
Look at four pages of artwork from the November issue [
more]
BUFFY's best friend goes to NBC
Actress Alyson Hannigan has committed to star in a new half-hour NBC sitcom [
more]
Review: Kill Bill
Go see it. It's great. It's so Tarantino, it hurts.
If you can't find someone to go with you, I will.
YAY! Neil is coming this week!
That makes me *oh so happy* and almost (but not quite) mitigates the extreme stress of Satan also coming.
Neil Gaiman comes to San Jose for two events on Thursday, October 16, 2003:
An Evening with Neil Gaiman, 7:30 p.m.
Morris DaileyHall
San José State University
Admission $15; students/faculty with I.D. $7
Tickets now available at all Ticketmaster outlets and on the Ticketmaster website at www.ticketmaster.com.
(Student discount available only at the Ticketmaster in the Event Center on the San Jose State University campus)
Conversation followed by public Q&A, 4:30 p.m., University Room (in the Old Cafeteria building).
Free admission. Book signings to follow both events
www.litart.org
re:Weekend of insanity
This weekend's winner: Marylin Manson. Dude puts on a really cool show.
Strange Justice
A guy who was molested as a kid winds up in the same jail cell with his molester, beats the shit out of him. [
more]
Happy Birthday, Vince!
Hope you have a great one! :)
NASA News
An unusual double Leonid meteor shower is going to peak next month over parts of Asia and North America. [
more]
Huh, that should be cool.... although the LA predictions are kind of low....
Weekend of insanity
OK, so this weekend is nuts - no game night.
Here's the plan:
Tonight: Aerosmith and a whole lot of drinking
Tomorrow: Clean my house for Satan's arrival, Kill Bill, and then Queens of the Stone Age concert
Sunday: Ren Faire and then Marylin Manson concert
Cell phone if you need me...
satan gets here Friday of next week with her parents and leaves around 6 on Saturday. Pray for me.
Re: Mama Shriver
At least that helps explain why Maria's starting to look a bit like warmed-over Death on a cracker.
WHOA!
Check out Maria Shriver's mom:
Tasha said: I've seen better looking dead people
Wow. Making with the wacky.
Wired News' Furthermore had this to say:
Dream Diet?
A teen who suffered from fainting spells received medical advice that itself sounds like a prescription for blackouts: U.K. docs put Ashley Clarke on a steady diet of junk food, salt pills and beer. Clark, 18, suffers from Gower syndrome, a condition in which the heart slows down and the blood vessels dilate, causing a drop in blood pressure. Salty, fatty foods help raise Clarke's blood pressure, the doctors reason, and the alcohol is good for his heart. The bizarre regimen -- which Scotland's Daily Record dubbed the "Fatkins diet" -- turned Clarke's life around. "Eating junk food is probably every 18-year-old's dream," he said, "but for me it's more than that -- it's a passport to a normal life."
Re: Can you tell a coder from a cannibal?
There is no cannibalism in the computer industry, absolutely none, and when I say none, I mean of course, a certain amount, more than we are prepared to admit. And if the programmers wake up in their cubes with tooth marks all over their bodies, they're to tell me immediately, so that we can immediately take steps to hush the whole thing up. And finally, necrophillia is
right out!
Now That's What I Call A Mapquest
Super sweet! Here are some
directions for our favorite furry footed friend.
Re: Can you tell a coder from a cannibal?
When you've seen as many as I have ...
Score:
9 of 10 -- "You could spot Hannibal Lector in seconds at an Open Source conference. Your liver is safe."
Re: Thinko
Well ... I guess most people do, since
brain fart is mentioned in the
definition of the term on Dictionary.com. <wink>
Re: thinko
Don't most people just call that a "brain fart"?
Feeling Down about the state of the union?
Can you tell a coder from a cannibal?
Here's a quiz to see if you can tell the difference between a programmer and a mass murderer!
If you liked "Octothorpe" ...
thinko <jargon> /thing'koh/ (analogous to "typo")
A momentary, correctable glitch in mental processing,
especially one involving recall of information learned by
rote; a bubble in the stream of consciousness.
Defeat CD Copyright Protection: Hold Down Shift Key
D'oh! What were they thinking? I might be dissuaded from ripping a CD because I'd have to hold down the Shift key?? *shakes head* [
article]
| | |
Hackers Delay Half-Life 2
Vivendi Universal Games and Valve Software may push back the release of the highly anticipated PC game Half-Life 2 after the recent theft and online distribution of the game's source code, according to the Reuters news service. The data theft, one of the worst to hit the video game industry, drew mixed responses from fans, some of whom pledged to help find the perpetrators, while others rushed to find screenshots or even playable fragments of the game, the news service reported.
A representative from Valve would not share details on the impact of the attack. Publisher Vivendi Universal's president of international operation, Christophe Ramboz, however, told a French newspaper that the theft "forces [them] to delay the launch of the game by at least four months." The game is now tentatively scheduled for April 2004. This is the second time the game has been pushed back from its original release date of Sept. 30.
A.Word.A.Day--octothorpe
octothorpe (OK-tuh-thorp) noun
The symbol #.
Hmmmm I thought that was pound.... oh, and hash. English is frustrating.
Gunman's Mom Wants Worker Compensation
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Reuters) - The mother of a man who killed three co-workers before shooting himself in a workplace rampage has asked the company to compensate her for her son's death because it occurred at work, the company said on Tuesday. [
more]
Fu&^ing Germans...
Man Attacks Disabled Woman Over Bus Seat
A German retiree became so enraged on finding the bus seat he wanted taken that he battered its disabled occupant until she bled, police said on Tuesday. [
more]
RE: That's It, If Arnold wins
I hardly think bringing up Reagan right now is appropriate or clever. The similarities are horrifying.
I am breathing in short, panicked breaths.
Retreating back to laboritory.
Schwarzenegger said he intended to ask Bush for "a lot of favors."
GAH! I DO NOT want my Governor in bed with Shrub!!!!!
Here's a thingy about his speech.
RE: That's It, If Arnold wins
Do you know where your towel is?
I'm not crazy about this recall thing (to use my masterful gift for understatement), but he hasn't done anything yet. And up until now, I have seen California elect
much wackier people. Hello? Reagan? And pass crazier laws/propositions. (There are a couple that come to mind immediately. Guess which ones. It's fun!) Cali hasn't sunk yet.
So, take a deep breath. Keep breathing. Think about something that makes you happy, if there is such a thing. Repeat as needed.
2 design kickoff meetings in one day should never happen
re:My favorite blurb about Arnold so far....
My favorite blurb about Arnold so far....
Apparently, this is from Morning Fix in SFGate, but I think you had to be a subscriber to get it. Sorry about the size of the post, but I couldn't find a link to it.
Flags of intellectual acumen and nuanced understanding and general spiritual lightness were at half mast today as Californians banished much-loathed bland-as-oatmeal Gray Davis just 11 months into his second term and instead buried their heads in the sand and decided it's better to trash their state completely than let it be run by whimpering jerks, and elected mediocre action hero and rather embarrassing actor and noted sexist grope-aholic inarticulate completely inexperienced GOP lackey Arnold Schwarzenegger to replace him -- a Hollywood ending to one of the most extraordinary political melodramas in the nation's history, as well as one of the most adorably nauseating circus freakshows of all time, though the pit-of-the-stomach nausea is but a hint of the pain wrought when BushCo bought the election and drove a monosyllabic icepick into the heart of the nation. Voters traded a career Democratic politician who became one of the state's most despised chief executives for a moderate Republican megastar who had never before run for office and who is pretty much completely unqualified in every possible way to run the most powerful state in the nation and the fifth largest economy in the world and whose happily narcotized wife looks like something a drunken plastic surgeon practiced on with Play-Doh and squirrel parts.
Re: That's it, If Arnold wins ...
Meetings......... all day......... may not get through this..........
I am ready when you are.
I never thought I would be ashamed to say that I was a citizen of the great nation of California, but the day has come.
Here's my assessment: I hate shrub, I hate the governor of Ca. Both of them have or will do things that will far outlast how long they are in office. The bay area is nice, but so is Italy, New Zealand, etc... My job is well-paying but taxing on the soul. My family is insane. My house is too expensive. My friends are pretty cool. They are also mobile.
I am going to retreat to my secret laboritory to plot. I will get back to you when I have something concrete. If you want to plot too, or just tinker with cool science toys, the sensor has been set to read all of your voice codes and retinal patterns.
Re: That's it, If Arnold wins ...
Summary of a conversation with Chris Paduan:
This is f#cked up. I can get this kind of bullsh!t elsewhere for a third of the price. Why am I paying a premium to live somewhere this f#cked up? Why should I continue to support (through taxes and patronage) someplace that I detest?
The Bay Area has great weather (like a vacation spot) but does that really matter if you're working all the time? Apple has a cool reputation, but really it's like working for any other large company. It's cool to live within 4 hours of The Pacific, Yosemite, San Francisco, Monterrey/Carmel, etc. but I've got to question the cost.
Esther, Noelle, I'm ready to go when you are ... but, England?
Re: That's it, If Arnold wins, I am moving to England to become a scientist
Curtain falls indecorously on odd trio
Porno queen, smut king, ex-child star used different strokes -- but result was the same
Nearly every montage of recall candidates Tuesday included frames of California's unholy trinity: the porno queen (Mary Carey), the pornographer (Hustler magazine Publisher Larry Flynt) and the former child star (Gary Coleman.) [
more]
Edit:
Final vote tallies are in:
Arnold Schwarzenegger Republican 3,552,787 48.1%
Cruz Bustamante Democrat 2,379,740 32.2%
Tom McClintock Republican 979,234 13.3%
...
Larry Flynt Democrat 15,010 0.2%
Gary Coleman Independent 12,443 0.2%
Mary Cook Independent 9,716 0.1%
...
George Schwartzman Independent 10 0.0%
(last place)
Schwarzenegger wins, Davis concedes
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Action movie hero Arnold Schwarzenegger, a political novice, is poised to tackle what may be his toughest role yet - governor - with his decisive victory in California's colorful and rollicking recall race. [
more]
Other coverage at
SFGate.com and, well,
everywhere.
| | |
I am so bad at being here....
I suck at being here. I haven't gotten anything done in like 2 days, I have been goofing off, but not even efficiently.
All I want to do is go home, learn photoshop and Illustrator really well, play with Audition until I get that completley, take some classes, maybe cook more often, do rad things for the pumpkin party, play all of my video games, you know... not be here.
I actually kind of feel panicked.
In a lot of ways I want October to be over as I have a lot to do this month (more on that in a moment), but then again, I LOVE October and I want it to last forever.
**sigh**
Ok, so the bad news, ok, well, more bad news, is that Satan and the grand-Satans are coming for a visit next weekend. My entire worth, and possibly my inheritance, will be evaluated based on the cleanliness of my house and the togetherness of any man-related questions they ask. I have no time or energy for either of those.
I just want to play with my computer.
Re: Seven Reasons To Vote
re:So Noelle wants to be a scientist...
Jon, I am absolutley in awe of that post.
I really like the symbol for psychological torture.
Re: Seven Reasons To Vote
Don't worry Esther. I've accepted my bourgeois self.
I voted for the status quo: No , Bustamonte , No , No
So Noelle wants to be a scientist...
The top 3
worst jobs in science:
1. flatus odor judge
2. dysentery stool-sample analyzer
3. barnyard masturbator
Mafia used "double-decker" coffins to bury victims, court told
NEW YORK (AFP) - A New York gangster family said to be the inspiration for the hit TV mob drama "The Sopranos" used "double-decker" coffins to dispose of their murder victims, a Manhattan court has heard. [
more]
That's it, If Arnold wins, I am moving to England to become a scientist
They are obviously handing out money over there for just about anything....
Scientist Cuts the Perfect Cheese Sandwich
LONDON (Reuters) - A British scientist has calculated the optimum thickness for a slice of cheese to make the perfect cheese sandwich, according to a study published on Monday.
In a bite-sized sandwich using pre-sliced white bread lightly buttered with margarine, a slice of cheddar needs to be at least 2.8 mm thick, the study found.
Dr Len Fisher from Bristol University was commissioned by the British Cheese Board to work out how to maximize the "cheesy" aroma in a sandwich.
"After a certain thickness, no increased amount of cheese will increase the 'cheesy aroma' impact of the sandwich," said Fisher.
Tests done on the contribution of tomato and pickle found that tomatoes boosted the cheesiness flavor whereas pickles did not.
Men Get Own Kindergarten While Women Shop
BERLIN (Reuters) - German women fed up with their partners' grumbling on weekend shopping trips can now dump them at a special kindergarten for men offering beer and entertainment.
"The women are issued a receipt for their partners when they hand them in and can pick them up again when they return it to us later," Alexander Stein, manager of the 'Nox Bar' in the northern city of Hamburg told Reuters on Tuesday.
The men are given a name badge on arrival and for 10 euros ($11.80) they get two beers, a hot meal, televised football and games.
Stein said the idea for the Saturday afternoon men's creche, or "Maennergarten," came from a female customer who thought it would be a good way of getting shot of her husband so she could shop in peace.
"She found it all too stressful and thought this might be the solution. Both were very happy with the way it turned out.
"Last week the men had a remote control car to play with. Next week there's going to be a mini racetrack," said Stein.
They are also offering a drilling workshop.
"It beats sitting around in shoe shops, that's for sure," one man told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper.
So, I don't understand why they don't just leave their husbands at home?
Whedon speaks about FIREFLY DVD
In the October/November issue of Cinescape, FIREFLY creator Joss Whedon spoke to Anthony C. Ferrante about the upcoming box set of his short-lived sci-fi series and how much he thinks it kicks ass. [
more]
Polling Place
Yo, if you don;t know where to go to vote and you are registered,
go here.
(But for the record, I agree with Chris, Absentee Ballots rule.)
Perty pictures
As
mentioned in Whedonesque:
Buffy and Angel cast photos by Mark Robert Halper (as featured in SFX magazine). A different look at James Marsters, David Boreanaz, Tom Lenk, Amy Acker and Stephanie Romanov.
There's a bunch of other celebs in there too. Some samples:
Voting
But, but, but... I already voted. Like a week ago. Permanent absentee ballots are the bomb, yo. (Much like Ben Affleck in
Phantoms.)
RE: Word of the Day
From the Latin, septem + trio, seven plow oxen, aka Ursa Major.
Both East West, South and Septentrioun. --Chaucer.
A.Word.A.Day--septentrion
septentrion (sep-TEN-tree-on) noun
The north.
I think Esther wants us to vote against Schwarzenegger, but I'm not really sure :-)
Seven Reasons to Vote
1. Your vote matters. If you don't vote, Schwarzenegger becomes your governor. It's that simple. A poll conducted Wednesday through Saturday showed support for the recall and Schwarzenegger dropping fast. This election could be decided by a very small number of votes. We can win this, but your vote is absolutely necessary. (The Mercury News)
2. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Pete Wilson sequel. Governor Pete Wilson grew state spending much faster than Gray Davis ever has. Worse, he championed energy deregulation and in 1996 signed the bill that deregulated energy in California. Wilson opened the gates to let his energy pals rob the state blind. And now he and his former team are running Schwarzenegger's campaign and choosing his policies. Even more troubling: Schwarzenegger seems to be in bed with the same energy interests as Wilson (See #7). We want to see Terminator 4, not Wilson 2. (Horowitz, Conason)
3. We have no idea what Schwarzenegger is going to do with California, and neither does he. He doesn't have a plan to balance the budget. He hasn't said what cuts he'll make or what taxes he'll raise. California needs a real leader, not someone who plays one in the movies. You may be frustrated with the way things are now -- but if Schwarzenegger had a plan to make them better, don't you think he would have told us about it?
4. He lied about taking money from special interests. The night he announced his candidacy on the Jay Leno show he told us, "As you know, I don't need to take money from anyone. I have plenty of money myself." He then turned right around and accepted over $10 million not from "special" interests, but rather, as he explained it, "business and individuals, absolutely. They're powerful interests who control things." (Saramento Bee, CNN)
5. Arnold Schwarzenegger might belong on the sex offender registry, but not in the governor's mansion. So far 15 credible women have come forward with stories of being physically assaulted by this man -- some only a few years ago. He has not denied some of the stories (in fact, he said "where there's smoke, there's fire"). He has tried to chalk his mistakes up to "rowdiness." But these incidents constitute a string of crimes that would land anyone except a multi-millionaire actor in jail and on the sex offender registry. (Los Angeles Times, Newsday)
6. The Nazi stuff is serious. Who cares how long ago it was that Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he wanted to have an experience "like Hitler in the Nuremberg stadium, and have all those people scream at you and just being in total agreement with whatever you say." That's scary! And now nuns are being roughed up at Schwarzenegger rallies. A film maker who worked closely with Schwarzenegger in the '70s says he saw him playing "Nazi marching songs from long-playing records in his collection at home." At his 1988 wedding Schwarzenegger toasted a confirmed Nazi war criminal, Kurt Waldheim, saying "My friends don't want me to mention Kurt's name, because of all the recent Nazi stuff and the U.N. controversy, but I love him and Maria does too, and so thank you, Kurt." Where there's smoke, there's fire! (New York Times, Slate, Sacramento Bee, Los Angeles Times)
7. Because Schwarzenegger STILL hasn't explained why he met with Enron's Kenneth Lay at the height of the energy crisis. Schwarzenegger attended a meeting of top business leaders and Republican politicians on May 17, 2001 that was apparently held to thwart a Davis-Bustamante plan to recover $9 billion from energy companies. He still hasn't explained why he was there or whether his candidacy for Governor was discussed at that meeting. And he's refusing to talk to reporters in these last days of the campaign. (San Mateo Times, FTCR)
With Malice Toward Nuns, Arnold's Army Marches On (LA Times)
Steve Lopez
Arnold's Army came to Arcadia Friday morning, and the scene was like nothing I can remember in recent political history.
As I tried to park, and realized that one lot after another was jammed, the teeming masses streamed by me on foot, marching, marching, marching, trance-like, as if to a revival.
Old folks, young folks, moms and dads pushing strollers. Arnold Schwarzenegger, great terminator of evildoers, was coming to the Los Angeles Arboretum to vanquish sorrow, discomfort and the car tax.
A plane circled overhead, dragging a sign:
"Hasta La Vista, Davis."
Upon entering, I noticed a striking blond woman in tan leather chaps and cowboy hat. She was a Coldwell Banker real estate agent, and, of course, an actress.
"I was the lead bad girl in 'Octopussy,' " said Kristina Wayborn, who held a poodle named Honey Bear.
Honey Bear wore a red, white and blue kerchief.
Why Arnold? I asked Wayborn.
Fresh ideas, she said.
Name one, I said.
Yanking driver's licenses out of the hands of illegals, she said, going on to add that she'd like to see a conservative change, and Arnold's just the man.
Wayborn said she's known Arnold for 20 years, and was never groped by him. "And I had a certain gropability factor in those days," she said. I told her she still did, catching a bit of the Arnold spirit.
The actress Tia Carrere ("Wayne's World") also came to Arnold's defense in the wake of a Thursday L.A. Times story in which six women say they were groped and humiliated by Arnold between 1970 and 2000.
"I had a kissing scene with him," said Carrere, "and he was never anything but a gentleman."
At times, I pinch myself these days. Am I watching a gubernatorial campaign, or dreaming about an episode of "The Love Boat"?
A man carried a sign imploring people to cancel their subscription to The Times, and the talk radio hosts who introduced Carrere also bashed us.
The truth is available only on AM talk radio these days, and I think a couple of recruits in Arnold's Army did what they had to do. They spotted protest signs in the crowd and goose-stepped over to take care of business.
Not that they could have known, but the signs were carried by two Catholic nuns in their 60s. According to the nuns, their attackers snatched them away.
The silencing of dissent, coming just a day after Arnold denied reports that he once said he admired Hitler, had the nuns trembling.
"A sign was ripped from my hands," said Jo'Ann DeQuattro, a Holy Name sister whose sign said, "Groping Equals Sexual Harassment."
"I was assaulted physically," said Sister Jo'Ann.
She and Sister France White, of the Holy Child order, were headed for the exits when I saw them. Sister France had taped a sign to herself that said "Grope Free Zone." Sister Jo'Ann had her arm around Sister France to protect her.
Sister France said she gave a "groping" protest sign to a man who held a "Recall Arnold" sign, and watched as he was set upon and had the sign ripped away from him.
"People began fighting with him, and he was escorted out," said Sister France.
As for her own sign getting swiped, Sister France said:
"I believe a woman standing behind me grabbed it. A whole group of people were around us saying, 'Go home' and things like 'Get a life.' "
Sister France still had the "Grope Free Zone" sign taped to her when they decided to leave the rally, so Sister Jo'Ann suggested an exit strategy.
"She was afraid there was going to be more of it, so she said, 'We've gotta get out of here,' and walked behind me, real close behind, so Schwarzenegger followers wouldn't be hitting me as we left."
I'm happy to report that the nuns made it home safely to Pasadena.
I'd also like to report that Arnold of Arcadia delivered another brief yet flawless performance — cathartic, perfectly scripted, spiritually liberating
And content-free.
Free Photoshop CS training party
Thought I'd pass along the info on a postcard I just received from
NAPP in case anyone's interested:
You're invited to a FREE evening of real-world training from NAPP!
Here's the scoop: Adobe just announced a brand-new version of Photoshop and that's why we're inviting you to a free night of Photoshop fun. [Editor Scott Kelby] will be showing Photoshop CS's new features and sharing some of [his] latest down & dirty tricks and photo-retouching tips.
What's the catch? There is no catch. Now that Photoshop CS is out, we just thought it would be a blast to get togetrher for a night of Photoshop madness. Bring your friends, bring your mother - heck, bring anyone you want because it's all FREE!
Monday, Nov. 10, 2003, 4:30-7:00 pm
Los Angeles Conv. Center, Rooms 515AB
Thursday, Nov. 13, 2003, 4:30-7:00 pm
S. San Fran. Conv. Center, Grand Ballroom
For more info, all 800-201-7323 or visit www.photoshopsummit.com.
Enjoy.
Owen To Be 007?
Scottish newspaper The Daily Record reported a rumor that Clive Owen (Gosford Park, The Bourne Identity) will succeed Pierce Brosnan as the next James Bond. [
more]
OK, that's just wrong.
They picked
this over my darling Ewan???
OK, yeah, he's decent. And actually, I have only ever seen one James Bond movie ever so I guess I shouldn't really get to complain. But come on, Ewan would have been rad.
Looks to the right....
OMG!!!!!!!! 20 days to Pumpkin Party!!!!
Got the shirts today - they are *so* rad.
Re: Video game character quiz
Excessive Texting May Be Sign of Addiction?
LONDON (Reuters) - Too much text messaging? You may need professional help.
More and more people are succumbing to so called "technology addictions," spending hours tapping on mobile phones or surfing the Internet, one of Britain's best known psychiatric clinics said Saturday.
"There has been a huge rise in behavioral addictions," including excessive texting, said a spokeswoman for the Priory Clinic which treats 6,000 patients a year for a range of addictions including gambling, eating disorders and drugs.
In the Sunday Telegraph newspaper the head of the clinic's addictions unit said some patients were spending up to seven hours a day text messaging.
"We have a situation where some people look down on alcoholics and cocaine addicts, but then go and spend five hours in an Internet chat room," Dr Mark Collins told the paper.
Me: Hi. My name is Noelle and I am a blogaholic.
Group: Hi Noelle.
UN Anti-Cloning Treaty Seen Heading for Collapse
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A U.N. drive for a global ban on human cloning appeared headed for collapse on Friday after drafters deadlocked over whether to push for the total ban backed by the United States or a partial ban exempting scientific research on stem cells. [
more]
Didn't we just decide to pay people to do stem cell research?
Quiz:What Pre-1985 Video Game Character Am I?
I am
Mario.
I like to jump around, and would lead a fairly serene and aimless existence if it weren't for my friends always getting into trouble. I love to help out, even when it puts me at risk. I seem to make friends with people who just can't stay out of trouble.
What Pre-1985 Video Game Character Am I?
And for the record, I think I get into more trouble than you all do.
![[Mullet Enthusiasts]](http://www.sfcci.org/uploads/mullet.jpg)
