Noelle's Bloggy Goodness : A little Birdhouse in my Soul

Blade: Trinity Trailer Up

— posted by Noelle at 4:22 PM [PermaLink]

No game night this week

Obviously... Fireworks and booze take precedent.

— posted by Noelle at 12:02 PM [PermaLink]

Kidman Voices Narnia?

The DeHavilland news Web site reported a rumor that Nicole Kidman is in talks to narrate the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia movies. Kidman is reportedly up for doing voice-overs for all of the proposed Narnia films, including the first one, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which is currently in production in New Zealand. The site based its rumor on a report in the Daily Star, a tabloid newspaper.

The first Narnia film is eyeing a Christmas 2005 release.

— posted by Noelle at 11:45 AM [PermaLink]

4th Goodness

For those of you who remember the tales of the infamous party on Treasure Island, it's happening again on Sunday for interested parties. LMK and you can hitch a ride...

— posted by Noelle at 11:39 AM [PermaLink]

The George Bush Singers

Songs in the Key of W

— posted by Noelle at 11:36 AM [PermaLink]

Fed to Raise Rates for 1st Time in 4 Years

WASHINGTON - Now that the economic recovery is on solid ground and the jobs climate is improving, Federal Reserve policy-makers are ready to boost interest rates for the first time in four years. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 9:50 AM [PermaLink]

Top 100 Spiritual Films

An interesting list. (I am surprised that neither Chocolat nor Whale Rider were included, though.)

— posted by Jon Reid at 9:02 AM [PermaLink]

RSS-Hole

Did you get your problem fixed yet????

— posted by Noelle at 5:30 PM [PermaLink]

Re: Congrats to Wendy!

Yay Wendy! (Me next?)

— posted by Jon Reid at 5:19 PM [PermaLink]

Map Game

Test your knowledge of Middle Eastern and North African geography. Simple, cool and educational.

— posted by Jon Reid at 5:16 PM [PermaLink]

NASA's Cassini Probe Prepares to Orbit Saturn

PASADENA, Calif. (Reuters) - A day ahead of a maneuver to put the Cassini spacecraft into orbit around Saturn, scientists were confident the truck-sized probe would cruise into place around the ringed planet without a hitch after its seven-year haul through space. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 5:13 PM [PermaLink]

re: How much do I know about Spider-Man?

NERD.

— posted by Noelle at 2:26 PM [PermaLink]

Congrats to Wendy!

YAY! Congrats to Wendy on landing herself a spot in the gigantic headquarters of the company that makes those infernal machines!

That's right, Wendy is now an Apple employee doing QA for the Quicktime team and will start in the middle of July.

Go Wendy!

— posted by Noelle at 2:23 PM [PermaLink]

How much do I know about Spider-Man?

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am a big, big nerd:

Thanks for taking our quiz. You answered 100% of the questions correctly.
Spider-Fanatic. Your head must be full of webbing for all that trivia to stick up there so well, and we mean that as a compliment.

And, as Friends reminded us in "The One With the Tiny T-shirt," it's Spider-Man. ;-)

Phoebe: (to Chandler) Hey! (Chandler looks up, startled) Why isn't it Spiderman? Y'know like Goldman, Silverman...
Chandler: 'Cause it's-it's not his last name.
Phoebe: It isn't?
Chandler: No, it's not like, like Phil Spiderman. He's a spider-man. Y'know like ah, like Goldman is a last name, but there's no Gold Man.
Phoebe: Oh, okay. There should be Gold Man!

— posted by Victoria Hyde at 1:34 PM [PermaLink]

How much do you know about Spiderman?

Test your knowledge

BTW, I will be trying to see this sometime by this weekend if anyone is interested... also maybe F 9/11.

— posted by Noelle at 11:59 AM [PermaLink]

Free Comic Book Day

Go to your local shops this Saturday for some free comics! It's fun for the whole family! [More Info]

— posted by Noelle at 11:56 AM [PermaLink]

Phantom of the Opera Movie Trailer

See it here.

— posted by Noelle at 11:51 AM [PermaLink]

Potter VI Title Revealed

"The title of the upcoming sixth Harry Potter book will be Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, author J.K. Rowling's official Web site revealed. Fans had to solve a series of puzzles to open a door on the site, revealing the title."

More here.

— posted by Victoria Hyde at 11:45 AM [PermaLink]

Another Heartwarming Family Story

LONDON (Reuters) - A British father who arranged for an armed gang to rob his drug-dealer son of cocaine worth 4.5 million pounds was jailed for 20 years Tuesday. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 11:45 AM [PermaLink]

High Court Upholds Block of Web Porn Law

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a law meant to punish pornographers who peddle dirty pictures to Web-surfing kids is probably an unconstitutional muzzle on free speech. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 11:44 AM [PermaLink]

The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies

Remember the post a while back about Gunther von Hagens and his "plastination" of human bodies? Well if you're down in Los Angeles, you can check it out yourself in a couple of days.

— posted by Jon Reid at 10:55 AM [PermaLink]

Holy CRAP!

Someone *drove* into Kevin's shop this weekend! The guy in the article talking is the guy who he lives with and runs the shop with... [see S.C.]

— posted by Noelle at 6:11 PM [PermaLink]

Paying the Price

The Mounting Costs of the Iraq War

— posted by Noelle at 5:33 PM [PermaLink]

Iranian woman 'gives birth to frog'

An Iranian newspaper has reported the controversial story of a woman who claims to have given birth to a frog. [more]

I like the use of the word "controversial" rather than "totally F&^*ing wacked out"

— posted by Noelle at 5:32 PM [PermaLink]

Re: Training All Day

Well, that was 8 hours of my life that I'll never get back. Basically, I knew everything in the class because it was all over-simplified, totally obvious information if you have ever sat in front of a computer before. (i.e. "make sure that your key column has information in it that is unique and doesn't repeat." Well, yeah, duh...) Also, if you have ever used Access or even Excel before, it was a waste of Stanford's $225. Whatever.

I am home now, enjoying the afternoon though so that is happy!

— posted by Noelle at 5:26 PM [PermaLink]

Some silly entertainment

The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins

Electronik Supersonik

— posted by Wendy at 5:13 PM [PermaLink]

Spam Email of the Day

..................../´¯/)
...................,/¯../
................../..../
............/´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
........./'/.../..../......./¨¯
.......('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
........\.................'.../
.........''...\.......... _.·´
...........\..............(
.............\.............\....

— posted by Carl at 10:45 AM [PermaLink]

Training All Day

Bah - Relational Database Theory Class... I'll be on when/if I can.

— posted by Noelle at 8:04 AM [PermaLink]

Re: I'm gonna cry

Oh yeah...

BAH! You Foul Temper!!!

(going to hang with Zak now - be back tonight late.)

— posted by Noelle at 1:22 PM [PermaLink]

Re: I'm gonna cry

What, you didn't call me Foul Tempter? I'm hurt. :-D

— posted by Chris at 12:27 PM [PermaLink]

Re: Dog Toy or Marital Aid?

I got 8 of 14 on basic, 10 of 14 on advanced and 8 of 10 on user picks. Thank goodness I am so familiar with dog toys. :-)

— posted by Chris at 12:01 PM [PermaLink]

Dropping the F-Bomb

Meatwad: I can drop F-bombs! Fart you, you farting farter!
Frylock: That's not an F-bomb
Meatwad: I farting well know what an F-bomb is motherfarter!

— posted by Chris at 12:00 PM [PermaLink]

Re: I'm gonna cry

Yeah, that's what I meant by "pull a Stephanie"...

AGH, it doesn't seem worth spending $200 for one show unless it is Coachella.
I'll think about it.

— posted by Noelle at 11:45 AM [PermaLink]

Re: I'm gonna cry

Hey, we could fly back to the city that night from San Diego, then fly back in the morning. Totally doable!

We take flight AA3176 out of SAN at 5:25, arrive 6:44 at SJC. Go to the show in the city, sleep at home for a few hours, and take flight AA3144 from SJC back to SAN at 7:15AM, arrive at 8:35. $151, a total bargain! When do tix go on sale? :-) (Oh, I believe this is your cue to refer to me as: "Foul Tempter!")

— posted by Chris at 11:30 AM [PermaLink]

I'm gonna cry

Paul Oakenfold is playing with The Crystal Method in SF soon. "Why are you going to cry Noelle?? That's your dream show!" you ask? Well, it's the same damned weekend as Comic Con. So I'm gonna cry.

Anyway, those of you who are going to be around, even if you are only vaguely interested right now, should go. I can putthe Noelle guarantee on that show that it will be *incredible*. If you are only vaguely interested in ever seeing a techno show, this is the one to go to.

Here's the info.

If I wasn't ripping myself out of debt, I'd totally pull a Stephanie for this one.

— posted by Noelle at 10:44 AM [PermaLink]

My own job

So Erin just left. For good. I finally have my own job.

Part of me is panicked because she knows everything and there's still a bunch of stuff that doesn't make any sense to me, but a lot of me is happy for her that she can finally leave it behind, and happy for me that I can finally have my own job. I have kind of felt like 1/2 a person for the past few weeks because people refuse to ask me that stuff they should be asking and keep going to her. Now they have to come to me. I also am pretty sure that I can handle whatever they throw at me so I'm not that worried. I just need to take next week to collect my thoughts, review all the materials, and process all the info that she gave me.

Oh, that reminds me, there is going to be game night this weekend and then Monday I am out all day in a relational database theory class (which sounds utterly boring) but I will have cell and will be online when I can.

Hope you all have a great weekend - I'm rollin into oak-town this weekend to visit with Zak and crew and we're going to take a ferry ride across the bay, which should be fun!

— posted by Noelle at 5:20 PM [PermaLink]

Adams Voicing Hitchhiker

Late SF author Douglas Adams, creator of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy books, will be heard in an upcoming U.K. radio dramatization of the final three books in the beloved series, the British Press Association news service reported. The author recorded the part of Agrajag—a character who repeatedly dies and is resurrected—at his home studio 18 months before his sudden death in 2001 at the age of 49, the PA reported. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 1:22 PM [PermaLink]

Cheney Utters 'F-Word' in U.S. Senate?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Dick Cheney blurted out the "F word" at Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont during a heated exchange on the Senate floor, congressional aides said on Thursday.

The incident occurred on Tuesday in a terse discussion between the two that touched on politics, religion and money, with Cheney finally telling Leahy to "f--- off" or "go f--- yourself," the aides said. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 1:19 PM [PermaLink]

Dog To or Marital Aid

You decide

— posted by Noelle at 8:59 AM [PermaLink]

Friendly Dog Prevents Killing Spree?

TORONTO (Reuters) - A Canadian man, driving a car packed with weapons and ammunition, was intent on killing as many people as possible in a Toronto neighborhood but gave up the plan at the last minute when he encountered a friendly dog, police said on Thursday. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 8:57 AM [PermaLink]

SHAWSHANK redeemed again

Darabont's modern classic hits theaters for two weeks this fall [more]

— posted by Noelle at 8:55 AM [PermaLink]

Bush told he is playing into Bin Laden's hands

Al-Qaida may 'reward' American president with strike aimed at keeping him in office, senior intelligence man says [more]

— posted by Noelle at 1:29 PM [PermaLink]

Impossible pictures

These are rad...

— posted by Noelle at 1:28 PM [PermaLink]

Congrats to Jay!

So the bad news: Jay is becomming a spud. Thta's right, he is moving to Boise.

The good news: He got hired as a high level manager at Albertsons and is going to have a lot higher quality of life out there.

Good Job Jay! We wish you love and luck!

— posted by Noelle at 10:07 AM [PermaLink]

Free Ride

Cool. I noew have magical stickers that let me get on any VTA bus, lightrail or CalTrain for free. Thanks Stanford!

— posted by Noelle at 8:50 AM [PermaLink]

How Stuff Works

This site is rad. They explain how all sorts of stuff works. Everything from Computer stuff, to health, people, cars, etc...

— posted by Noelle at 8:48 AM [PermaLink]

Bush or Chimp

Yeah - this doesn't get old.

— posted by Noelle at 8:47 AM [PermaLink]

Triumph: The Wonder Dog

For those of you out there who loved the Star Wars bit - here's the website - kill some time today.

— posted by Noelle at 8:46 AM [PermaLink]

$87,000,000,000.00

A Little Perspective on $87 billion

— posted by Noelle at 8:40 AM [PermaLink]

Tennessee Fainting Goats

Fainting Goats. These goats faint when they are excited or scared. They get up after 15-20 seconds and they are fine. See the video.

— posted by Noelle at 8:38 AM [PermaLink]

SPEED RACER revs up

What swinger has come on to get Chim Chim's pal a green light? [more]

— posted by Noelle at 8:34 AM [PermaLink]

People with Hotels:

I got this today - please take note:

Comic-Con 2004
July 22-24
San Diego Convention Center

Good Afternoon,

Thank you for making your Comic-Con 2004 hotel reservation through Travel Planners. We want to
remind you that your first night's room and tax becomes NON-REFUNDABLE BETWEEN JUNE 30 AND JULY 8.

READ YOUR TRAVEL PLANNERS CONFIRMATION CAREFULLY TO VERIFY YOUR SPECIFIC CANCELLATION POLICY.

Please take this opportunity to confirm your travel arrangements. If you need to make a change to
our reservation visit us at www.comic-con.org and select the Hotel button or call us at
1-877-55-COMIC and ask to speak to a Travel Planners representative.

Thanking you in advance,

Reservation Department
Travel Planners, Inc.

— posted by Noelle at 4:22 PM [PermaLink]

Charges dropped in 'Nazi' dog case

German authorities have dropped charges against a man for training his dog to give a raised-arm Hitler salute. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 1:23 PM [PermaLink]

Math nerdyness

This is a very cool site - What's Special About This Number?

— posted by Noelle at 1:21 PM [PermaLink]

Arnold Schwartzenegger Sound Board

— posted by Noelle at 1:20 PM [PermaLink]

Table of Condiments

That Periodically Go Bad. Wow. That's actually useful.

— posted by Noelle at 1:16 PM [PermaLink]

Butterfly Pee

— posted by Noelle at 1:15 PM [PermaLink]

How Much Is Inside?

Throughout the ages, man has pondered the question, 'How much is inside?' With a few extra bucks, and a decent spot on the internet, we at cockeyed.com expose these long-hidden truths. [find out]

— posted by Noelle at 1:14 PM [PermaLink]

Shocking Roulette

"Russian Roulette has to be the ultimate game of chance. Now you can experience the fear and anticipation in your own home with this shocking new game." [be shocked!]

— posted by Noelle at 1:11 PM [PermaLink]

Why Space?

The Top 10 Reasons

— posted by Noelle at 1:10 PM [PermaLink]

The Complete Bushisms

"We need an energy bill that encourages consumption."—Trenton, N.J., Sept. 23, 2002
[feel the pain]

— posted by Noelle at 1:08 PM [PermaLink]

Check out the Church of SpongeBob

— posted by Noelle at 1:06 PM [PermaLink]

Six Feet Under

So I watched the pilot of Six Feet Under last night. People keep telling me what a great show it is, but the pilot was pretty odd. It seemed like a good enough show, but not necessarily one that I would be dying for my netflix to get me the next disc for. Maybe I just need to watch more....

— posted by Noelle at 1:04 PM [PermaLink]

28 days later...

We'll be at Comic Con!

— posted by Noelle at 11:10 AM [PermaLink]

Oh. My. God. On so many levels.... Hilton Eyes D&D 2?

Heiress Paris Hilton reportedly told a Kansas City radio station that she is in talks for a lead role in a proposed sequel to the 2000 film Dungeons & Dragons, according to the Dark Horizons Web site. "Sounds like fun," Hilton reportedly said. "I'll get dirty."

The first Dungeons & Dragons movie tanked, but a proposed sequel is reportedly on the drawing board. Joel Silver (The Matrix) produced the first film and also developed House of Wax, the upcoming remake of the classic horror movie, in which Hilton has a small part.

— posted by Noelle at 9:47 AM [PermaLink]

HP news

Gary Oldman (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) is in talks to perform a character voice in the upcoming prequel film Star Wars: Episode III, the ComingSoon.net Web site reported. The site added that the character may be the arch-villain Gen. Grievous.

— posted by Noelle at 9:46 AM [PermaLink]

What Are You Eating?

An Interactive Guide To FDA Guidelines For Rats, Maggots, Flies, and Insects.

Here's me:
In the past year, you have eaten up to:
- 5 insect larvae
- 14 whole insects (or insect parts)
- 118 fly eggs
- 24 maggots
- 113 rat hairs

— posted by Noelle at 10:18 PM [PermaLink]

wow.

— posted by Noelle at 10:14 PM [PermaLink]

Woman Settles 'Toilet Phobia' Lawsuit

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A South African woman has settled a lawsuit in which she claimed to have developed a phobia about toilets after falling off one at a hotel. [more]

Well, I sure am glad that is settled.

— posted by Noelle at 8:29 PM [PermaLink]

Bush Claimed Right to Waive Torture Laws

WASHINGTON - President Bush claimed the right to waive anti-torture laws and treaties covering prisoners of war after the invasion of Afghanistan, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld authorized guards to strip detainees and threaten them with dogs, according to documents released Tuesday. [more]

Yeah, ya know, I don't think I'm gonna vote for this guy in the next election....

— posted by Noelle at 8:25 PM [PermaLink]

Random link

How Pencils Are Made

— posted by Noelle at 8:57 AM [PermaLink]

The payphone project

Stories, pictures, phone numbers and news from payphones and public telephony.

This is pretty cool: Search the Payphone Project's database of a half-million payphone numbers.

— posted by Noelle at 8:51 AM [PermaLink]

OK, one more quick rant...

Why is it that if I weant to get anywhere in trafic in the bay area, I have to get in the slow lane? And what makes people stop up traffic just because they are *used* to slowing down in a particular spot. Even when there's no accident, they all slow down to go around some really gradual curve or something and stop up traffic for miles.

Luckily, since everyone NEEDS to be in the fast lane, I can get in the slow one and continue on at my normal pace.

This is also sad.

— posted by Noelle at 8:45 AM [PermaLink]

Where has all the music gone?

What's *up* with there not being any music on my radio in the morning??? I get up and get out the door an hour earlier and all of the sudden there's just a bunch of blah blah blah on my radio. When I wake up, I want music before anything else. And I want happy music, that will make my day bright and sunshiny, *NOT* Howard Stern. It would be fine if some of the stations had talk, but no, *ALL* of my 10 stations are lacking music.

It's sad really. There just needs to be more music in the world.

(that's my rant for the day)

— posted by Noelle at 8:39 AM [PermaLink]

Photos of me looking stoned when I am, in fact, not

So there's pics up from my cousin's wedding this weekend now. For some reason, I look stoned in every one. I had no intoxicants in my system at all until the reception, and then it was an appletini. If you see me with some really tall guy, that's my dad. He looks stoned too so maybe it's a Heany Gene thing. Anyway, I do not agree that I look like jail bait, but you can judge for yourself.

I highly recommend slideshow mode!

**Caution: people kissing in some of these pictures. If you are anti smoochies, then you'd better not look!

— posted by Noelle at 10:43 PM [PermaLink]

Whoa

Found this on Dave's blog (thanks Dave).

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to Shooting Rubber Bands

This is one of the most comprehensive guides on, well, anything that I have seen in a while.... An incredible overabundance of time must be on this guy's hands.

— posted by Noelle at 10:27 PM [PermaLink]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I might cry.

— posted by Noelle at 8:18 PM [PermaLink]

Random link

Here's some lighning.

— posted by Noelle at 8:12 PM [PermaLink]

Firefox 0.9

the browser, reloaded.

Get it here.

— posted by Noelle at 8:10 PM [PermaLink]

Competition is good

The newly formed competition between Yahoo and Google has produced new offspring:

— posted by Noelle at 8:08 PM [PermaLink]

Re: iTunes Related Question

You can certainly burn your AAC files to a CD and then re-rip them as MP3. There was also a way to do it, now that I think about it, with a program called PlayFair that would strip the AAC off of the files. This, I believe would violate the conditions of your agreement with the iTunes Music Store, but it is possible to do. Or was, I think Apple may try from version to version of iTunes to change the format enough for PlayFair to break. YMMV.

— posted by Chris at 4:03 PM [PermaLink]

RE: ITunes related question

The iTunes music store only gives you files in AAC format due to DRM restrictions. Blame the RIAA, not Apple on this one ;-) You're not supposed to be able to strip the DRM from the AAC file and turn it into a plain MP3. Notice the wording on that one ;-)

The iPod will happily play MP3s or AACs.

— posted by dmac at 3:56 PM [PermaLink]

My Cousin's Wedding

So, since a bunch of people keep asking, I will just post about it here.

My cousin's wedding was fabulous.

I drove up after leaving work early on Friday. My car began to over heat on the way up, so I conveniently stopped in San Ramon where Carl was to have him help me get it back in a happy and Tahoe friendly state. We had some yummy dinner and I was on my way.

I rolled into south Lake Tahoe somewhere around 11:00. Chels met me at the hotel, gave me a rad gift for being the wedding party, and we were off to the casinos for free drinks and no gambling. After much running around and room hopping, we got back around 2:00 and went to bed.

Sat, I woke up to my step mom calling, and my uncle running around the parking lot in his bathing suit ready to get in the lake. Most of the family went in for a while, and my dad, stepmom and I went for coffee and an art fair. At 11:30 a hairdresser showed up at the room to make my cousin and I curly, which turned out really well. (Chelsea's friend walked in, and I met her by hearing her say "You look Fu*&ing RAD!!! You are so Jail Bait!!!" ummmmmmmmm, yeah, I have no idea how to react to that.)

A couple hours later, we rode in the limo to the chapel and she got dressed. We all learned what we were to do, did the whole ceremony thing (although I didn't hear a word of it because my eyes started welling up when I saw her walking down the isle so I spent the ceremony listening to my own voice say "don't cry, don't cry" so as not to ruin the professional photographs that were happening). Anyway, it was lovely, pictures, hugs, blah blah.

Went over to the reception place and that was absolutely beautiful - I thought it was going to be a bar from the outside but it was a really nice steak place with murals on the walls, huge fireplaces, dim lighting, and TONS of candles. It was beautiful. I made my speech and made everyone cry - that was fun. I danced with my dad, had some very good food, and then changed, got in my car and drove home.

I am super tired from all of that on top of my crazy life already, but I have very little planned this week so I will re-organize life, catch up on all outstanding issues and sleep a bunch to make up for it. All in all I had fun and it was way worth it, but I am super glad that it is over!

— posted by Noelle at 12:53 PM [PermaLink]

ITunes related question

Do any of you people who use those silly "other" machines know if iTunes only spits out files in this annoying AAC file format that my other players cannot read or can I get it to give me an MP3 of stuff I buy off of the store?

Does the oh-so-highly-coveted iPod take MP3's as well or do you have to have music in that silly AAC format?

Any primer on the subject would help.

— posted by Noelle at 12:48 PM [PermaLink]

Tug-Of-Whale Suspended for Now

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) - Efforts to capture and relocate a lost killer whale on Canada's Pacific Coast were suspended temporarily on Friday following objections from Native Indians who say the animal may be the spirit of a dead chief and who want it to stay where it is. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 11:58 AM [PermaLink]

Doctor Jailed for Billing for Sex

PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - An Oregon doctor, who had sex with a patient and then charged the state about $5,000 for his "treatments," has been jailed for 60 days and stripped of his license, officials said on Friday. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 11:55 AM [PermaLink]

Plane Soars Out of Earth's Atmosphere

MOJAVE, Calif. - A rocket plane soared above Earth's atmosphere Monday in the first privately financed manned spaceflight, then glided back to Earth for an unpowered landing. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 11:51 AM [PermaLink]

Re: Leading/Following

Try this link, instead.

When you get there, click on the thumbnail "to see the whole story..."

— posted by Victoria Hyde at 11:32 AM [PermaLink]

Re: Leading/Following

Ah, I get "Oops, Forbidden Area" when I try to follow the link. Maybe there's a cookie on your system that lets you view it?

— posted by Chris at 10:49 AM [PermaLink]

Re: RSS Weirdness

I AM A GOLDEN GOD!
(Oh, and I don't know what was wrong with the Leading/Following picture, so I changed it to a link.)

— posted by Jon Reid at 10:31 AM [PermaLink]

Re: RSS Weirdness

OK, I have leveled Jon up and made him "God-Like" so now you two can fix your own damned problem.

;-)

— posted by Noelle at 10:25 AM [PermaLink]

Re: Leading/Following

Jon, I can't see the picture you have posted in Safari or IE. FYI.

— posted by Chris at 9:58 AM [PermaLink]

Re: RSS Weirdness

Doesn't happen on my blog, which is also hosted by blogger. Also, none of the articles show up in netnewswire with any comments. Bug, perhaps in the RSS client.

— posted by Chris at 9:51 AM [PermaLink]

Re: RSS Weirdness

Yeah, that happens every time a new post appears. Oh Noelle, are your dates screwed up?
...See, now Chris is an rsshole too.

— posted by Jon Reid at 9:33 AM [PermaLink]

RSS Weirdness

Weird. RSS thinks there are 20 new posts on this blog this morning, which seems a tad off.

— posted by Chris at 9:27 AM [PermaLink]

Leading/Following

Though I'm not sure what it is, there's a lesson in here somewhere...
[picture]

— posted by Jon Reid at 9:23 AM [PermaLink]

B5 Creator Pitches Trek

Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski told fans on a B5 Usenet group that he and Dark Skies creator Bryce Zabel have put together an idea for a new Star Trek series, which he said would revive the ailing franchise. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 9:07 AM [PermaLink]

Fox Mulls 28 Sequel

Fox Searchlight is putting together a sequel to the SF zombie movie 28 Days Later, with the tentative title 28 Weeks Later, Variety reported. The studio confirmed that a sequel is in the works, and sources told the trade paper that Rowan Joffe (Last Resort) is being wooed to write the script. Danny Boyle directed the original filmm, which was a sleeper hit in 2002.

— posted by Noelle at 9:07 AM [PermaLink]

Alias Gets Back To Basics

ABC's Alias will get back to basics when it returns for its fourth season in January, TV Guide Online reported. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 9:06 AM [PermaLink]

This will effect all webmail and IM programs, not just Gmail

The California State Senate approved a bill that takes aim at Google's new Gmail service, placing strict limits on e-mail providers that seek to scan customer messages for advertising and other purposes. The bill passed after the removal of a key provision that would have required e-mail providers to get the consent of message senders to the scanning.

The bill explicitly allows e-mail and instant-messaging providers to scan the content of messages to deliver advertisements, as long as the providers meet certain restrictions on how the data is used. Information gleaned from e-mails cannot be retained, shared with a third party, or shown to any employee or other "natural person," according to the bill. In addition, instant-messaging providers must permanently delete messages at the request of customers. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 8:52 AM [PermaLink]

voting for Kerry...

http://www.johnkerryisadouchebagbutimvotingforhimanyway.com/

Or...
http://billionairesforbush.com/index.php

— posted by Wendy at 4:02 PM [PermaLink]

Comic Con

If you are going to Comic Con and have not registered, you must have a postmark or fax by today or you will have to stand in the incredibly long line at the door (which takes much longer than the incredibly long line that we, pre-registered folks, have to stand in). The form is here if you need it.

— posted by Noelle at 11:16 AM [PermaLink]

New Foamy

Up for your viewing pleasure. The cream cheese song at the end is worth it by itself.

— posted by Noelle at 10:15 AM [PermaLink]

Another reason not to move to Germany

German 'Samurai' on the Loose in Woods Near Berlin

— posted by Noelle at 8:34 AM [PermaLink]

After Eight Years, Man Takes Elevator to Freedom

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (Reuters) - A frail 89-year-old Trinidadian man left his apartment for the first time in eight years this week after broken elevators in the government-owned building were finally replaced.

Local newspapers reported Thursday that Randolph Hall had been forced to stay in his eighth-floor apartment for years because he did not have the strength to go up and down so many flights of stairs.

After taking his first ride down the new elevator on Wednesday, accompanied by Trinidadian Housing Minister Keith Rowley, Hall said he was thankful.

— posted by Noelle at 8:33 AM [PermaLink]

Cool!

I can post to Noelle's blog with ecto, as well as my own.
[Posted with ecto]

— posted by Chris at 2:58 AM [PermaLink]

Madonna Announces Name Change: Esther

In a somewhat confusing news article, Madonna announced that she was adopting the name Esther in keeping with her recent devotion to Kabbalah. So it's official: Esther is now officially hip. :-)

— posted by Chris at 2:56 AM [PermaLink]

My own room

My college roomate just moved out. Erin went to an empty office so we can cut the cord slowly. So I have my own office now. Which is very cool.

:-D

— posted by Noelle at 4:54 PM [PermaLink]

Wonka Cast Complete

Four young unknown actors have won golden tickets in the form of co-starring roles in Tim Burton's upcoming remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Annasophia Robb, Jordan Fry, Julia Winter and Philip Wiegratz will join British actor Freddie Highmore, who plays Charlie, and Johnny Depp, as the infamous chocolate factory owner, Willy Wonka in the latest adaptation of the children's book by Roald Dahl.

Robb, who portrays the competitive Violet Beauregarde, appeared in the TV movie Samantha: An American Girl Holiday and Wayne Wang's upcoming feature Because of Winn-Dixie. Fry takes on the role of Mike Teavee, a brainy bully with a passion for television. Winter and Wiegratz will make their professional acting debuts in the roles of spoiled rich girl Varuca Salt and gluttonous German boy Augustus Gloop, the trade paper reported. The film is scheduled for release in the summer of 2005.

— posted by Noelle at 12:48 PM [PermaLink]

Kerry Breaks Bush Record For Pace of Fundraising

Since locking up the Democratic nomination on March 2, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) has raised more than $100 million, or over $1 million a day -- a pace breaking all presidential campaign records, including those set by President Bush. [more]

— posted by Cheralyn at 9:34 AM [PermaLink]

Gmail

Well, the one invite I had left got snagged, but they figured out that I am good an passing out the perks so I have 5 more now, so if anyone else wants Gmail, LMK and I'll hook ya up!

— posted by Noelle at 8:00 PM [PermaLink]

Happiness Abounds

I had my frirst full day here today (where I didn't go to meetings, parties, or class) and I loved it. It's so nice to not hating going to work anymore or count the seconds until I can leave. I just kind of do my job. Other people do their jobs. We stop and chat in the hall or they stop by my office to say hi. It's just plain nice. *sigh*

I think someday I will stop posting about how great it is here, but for now, I'm just going to share. :-D

— posted by Noelle at 6:07 PM [PermaLink]

Scientists Demonstrate Teleportation with Atoms

LONDON (Reuters) - It is not quite the "Beam me up Scotty" teleportation of Star Trek, but teams of scientists said Wednesday they had made properties jump from one atom to another without using any physical link. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 6:00 PM [PermaLink]

Re: Spam Email of the Day

— posted by Victoria Hyde at 2:36 PM [PermaLink]

Spam Email of the Day

hydrogen atom fetishists

— posted by Carl at 1:27 PM [PermaLink]

How long till electricity fails?

article

— posted by Carl at 1:22 PM [PermaLink]

No Gellar In Buffy Toon

The June 20 issue of TV Guide reported that voice actress Giselle Loren will take over Sarah Michelle Gellar's starring role in a proposed animated Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series, for which a pilot is being produced. Sources told the magazine that Gellar chose not to reprise her role, leading creator Joss Whedon to recruit Loren, who previously voiced the character in the video game Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its sequel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds.

Other Buffy regulars—including Alyson Hannigan (Willow), Nicholas Brendon (Xander) and Anthony Stewart Head (Giles)—will voice their characters in the pilot, the magazine reported. The pilot will be screened for potential distributors next month, TV Guide reported.

— posted by Noelle at 12:37 PM [PermaLink]

9/11 Panel Disputes Iraq Link in Attacks

WASHINGTON - Bluntly contradicting the Bush administration, the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks reported Wednesday there was "no credible evidence" that Saddam Hussein had ties with al-Qaida. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 10:03 AM [PermaLink]

Holy Crap! of the day

Talk of Witches at Vatican Inquisition Conference

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Talk of trials, burned witches and forbidden books echoed in the Vatican on Tuesday as Pope John Paul asked forgiveness for the Inquisition, in which the Church tortured and killed people branded as heretics.

The pope made his request in a letter read out at a news conference on a new book on the Inquisition.

He repeated a phrase from a 2000 document in which he first asked pardon "for errors committed in the service of truth through use of methods that had nothing to do with the Gospel."

That was shorthand for torture, summary trials, forced conversions and burnings at the stake.

But in the letter, the pope went further, saying the request for forgiveness was for "both the dramas connected to the Inquisition as well as for the wounds to the (collective) memory that followed." [more]

Whoa. I never thought I would live to see this happen...

— posted by Noelle at 8:43 AM [PermaLink]

Drawing on the LSD Experiment

These 9 drawings were done by an artist under the influence of LSD -- part of a test conducted by the US government during it's dalliance with psychotomimetic drugs in the late 1950's. The artist was given a dose of LSD 25 and free access to an activity box full of crayons and pencils. His subject is the medico that jabbed him. [view]

— posted by Noelle at 10:26 PM [PermaLink]

The LinkSquare Project

Because text is boring.

I could spend hours on this... and probably will.

— posted by Noelle at 9:51 PM [PermaLink]

Movies: Bat Out of Hell

Seven years ago, 'Batman' was on life support. Now a gifted director is trying to resurrect the franchise. An exclusive visit to the set. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 8:13 PM [PermaLink]

Next BABYLON 5 box set announced

Warner Home Video has announced August 17, 2004 as the date of release for the five-disc DVD set of BABYLON 5: THE MOVIE COLLECTION. The set compiles all five feature-length B5 films including the pilot ("The Gathering"), "In the Beginning", "Thirdspace", "The River of Souls" and "A Call to Arms".

Each film will include a new introduction by series creator J. Michael Straczynski, audio commentaries featuring Straczynski and several of the show's cast and crew members (to be announced), and a featurette examining how the show and other science fiction stories influenced each other. Each film will be featured in Dolby Digital 5.1 audio.

BABYLON 5: THE MOVIE COLLECTION will be retail priced at $59.98.

— posted by Noelle at 8:03 PM [PermaLink]

Wondering what my job is?

Just in case anyone was wondering, I am in charge of this site, along with Barb, as well as the database of MBA postgrads and any information, e-mails, mailings, etc... that go out.

— posted by Noelle at 7:59 PM [PermaLink]

GarageBand.com Leaves Door Open

Musicians who want to share and promote their music on the Net have yet another tool to help them reach eager listeners.

GarageBand.com -- a site that both hosts independent music and uses a peer-review process to identify hot bands -- is offering the Creative Commons Music Sharing License to artists who want to distribute their tunes for free, the company said Monday. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 7:35 PM [PermaLink]

Sweet!

Yahoo has upped all their free users to 100 megs of e-mail storage and 2 gigs if you pay. That, in combo with my G-mail acocount makes me very happy!

Oh, and I have one more G-Mail invite (because their marketing makes it "cool" if you have to get it from someone), if anyone wants a free account (get your desired name before they are all gone and you have to be 100874253_b@gmail.com).

Anyway, LMK, if you want one and If you are the first, I'll send you the invite.

— posted by Noelle at 7:31 PM [PermaLink]

Online 'penny jukebox' launched

Europe's leading music download firm, OD2, has launched an online jukebox which costs just one penny per track. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 7:24 PM [PermaLink]

Off to training

And then straight to a party at someone's house. (all they do here is party!) Cell phone if you need me!

— posted by Noelle at 12:46 PM [PermaLink]

Duran Duran Regrouping for a New Album

NEW YORK - Duran Duran, who regrouped last year for a successful tour, are reuniting again — this time, for a new album on a new record label. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 12:44 PM [PermaLink]

$20 lawn seats for all shoreline/concord pavilion shows

Bill Graham Presents is having a concert sale this Saturday from 10 am - midnight. You can buy lawn tickets for all Shoreline and Concord Pavilion concerts for $20, which includes both the service fee and parking. So that's pretty cheap.

Bill Graham Presents website - click here to buy tickets
Shoreline shows
Concord Pavilion shows

— posted by Cheralyn at 11:45 AM [PermaLink]

RE: I Ching

Yeah, but there's also the fact that I threw them like 12 times and only posted the first one, none of which agreed, so it's pretty much all just silliness and not really worth all the inference, right?

— posted by Noelle at 10:58 AM [PermaLink]

RE: I Ching

From the the intro page:
Traditionally the I Ching is consulted by throwing 50 yarrow stalks, but usually a set of three coins is used. The coins are thrown six times, while a question is held in mind. It is also possible to just let the I Ching comment on your current state, when no question is held. (However, the I Ching will only comment on your current situation; it will not predict the future.)

I inferred from this that it can therefore (reputedly) indicate the future. Also:

Throws with all tails or all heads are considered changing lines. A changing line is a line that changes from yin to yang or the other way around. So a consultation that has changing lines results in not only the basic hexagram, but others as well. Every changing line gives rise to one other hexagram and all the changing lines together (if there are more than one), result also in another hexagram. This new hexagram should also be studied to get a complete view of the meaning of the consultation.

From that I inferred that the second hexagram Preponderance of the Small is a state that you are transitioning to, even if you are only seeking comment on your current situation. Preponderance of the Small indicates success at small ventures, not large ones. But maybe you're supposed to take the readings all at one go (i.e. the changing hexagram is not significant). I'm not super conversant with the I Ching, so it could be a misunderstanding on my part.

— posted by Chris at 9:39 AM [PermaLink]

RE: I Ching

Well, if you click the link that I provided for the wanderer, I don't see nything about the future or aiming low... but then again, I could be blind.

— posted by Noelle at 8:31 AM [PermaLink]

RE: I Ching

Aren't there two parts to the hexagram? I thought the first part (the present) of your prediction was The Wanderer, but the second part (the future) is Preponderance of the Small. So, aim low. :-)

— posted by Chris at 10:50 PM [PermaLink]

I Ching

I consulted the I Ching after seeing it posted over at Paduan's new blog (subtle, aren't I?), and got:
The Wanderer

The Judgment
Success through smallness.
Perseverance brings good fortune
To the wanderer.

The Image
FireMountain
Fire on the mountain:
The image of the Wanderer.
Thus the superior man
Is clear-minded and cautious
In imposing penalties,
And protracts no lawsuits.

Wandering sounds good right now, and very much like what I am already doing.... I will try and step lightly.

— posted by Noelle at 10:04 PM [PermaLink]

Marathon Man Beats Horse

LONDON (Reuters) - Huw Lobb made history when he became the first man to win Britain's annual man vs. horse marathon. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 7:17 PM [PermaLink]

Full Moon Not to Blame for Epileptic Seizures

The Full Moon has been blamed for many things, most often in error. And now another myth has apparently been cleared. Researchers at the University of South Florida report that the extra gravitational tug exerted during a Full Moon does not influence the frequency of epileptic seizures. [more]

Boy, amd I glad the government paid someone to figure that out!

— posted by Noelle at 7:05 PM [PermaLink]

Former Vice President Al Gore's May 26 Speech on Iraq

If you are inetersted...

"How did we get from September 12th , 2001, when a leading French newspaper ran a giant headline with the words "We Are All Americans Now" and when we had the good will and empathy of all the world -- to the horror that we all felt in witnessing the pictures of torture in Abu Ghraib. "

— posted by Noelle at 7:04 PM [PermaLink]

20 Questions

This ROCKS.

You play 20 questions with the computer. It got to 2 of mine in under 15 questions, even my answerrs were very vague. Like I had "tree" in mind and it asked if it could cheer me up and I said yes, and it asked if it could be painted and I said yes. Very cool!

— posted by Noelle at 7:01 PM [PermaLink]

MIA for a while

Lots of classes, combined with people on my computer with me make it so I will be MIA here and there from Blog and IM for a little while at work. I'll be on at home and when I can though. I'm not abandoning my blog or my IM, don't worry, I miss it more than it misses me...

:-)

— posted by Noelle at 6:57 PM [PermaLink]

This'll really chap your hide

Iraqis Paying 5 Cents a Gallon for Gas

BAGHDAD, Iraq - While Americans are shelling out record prices for fuel, Iraqis pay only about 5 cents a gallon for gasoline — a benefit of hundreds of millions of dollars subsidies bankrolled by American taxpayers. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 6:56 PM [PermaLink]

Combover, the movie

HAHAHAHA The trailer is great.

— posted by Noelle at 6:54 PM [PermaLink]

My Pie Hole

LOL! A One Man Show

— posted by Noelle at 6:53 PM [PermaLink]

Court Allows 'Under God' on Technicality

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday allowed millions of schoolchildren to keep affirming loyalty to one nation "under God" but dodged the underlying question of whether the Pledge of Allegiance is an unconstitutional blending of church and state.

The ruling overturned a lower court decision that the religious reference made the pledge unconstitutional in public schools. But the decision did so on technical grounds, ruling the man who brought the case on behalf of his 10-year-old daughter could not legally represent her. [more]

Lame....

— posted by Noelle at 6:44 PM [PermaLink]

Never Fear! Emergency Condom Man is here!

Sweeden sounds neat!

— posted by Wendy at 5:41 PM [PermaLink]

Think before you text

Wireless messages show up in court

This could get Kobe out of some trouble....

— posted by Noelle at 12:37 PM [PermaLink]

Sean's Graduation Photos

are up for anyone who wants to see!

— posted by Noelle at 3:01 PM [PermaLink]

Ex-President Bush Makes Birthday Skydive

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Former President George H.W. Bush celebrated his 80th birthday Sunday with a parachute jump from 13,000 feet over his presidential library. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 2:56 PM [PermaLink]

APOD Goodness

Check out:
NGC 4676: When Mice Collide
And
Volcano and Aurora in Iceland
Explanation: Sometimes both heaven and Earth erupt. In Iceland in 1991, the volcano Hekla erupted at the same time that auroras were visible overhead. Hekla, one of the most famous volcanoes in the world, has erupted at least 20 times over the past millennium, sometimes causing great destruction. The last eruption occurred only two years ago but caused only minor damage. The green auroral band occurred fortuitously about 100 kilometers above the erupting lava. Is Earth the Solar System's only planet with both auroras and volcanos?

— posted by Noelle at 9:28 PM [PermaLink]

Needing some "personal time" and a lot of sleep

So tonight I'm turning off the ringer on my phone, doing some self maintenance, and getting a whole lot of sleep. I have been going to bed at the regular hour, but getting up 2 hours earlier for the new gig, and that is making me exhausted to the point of not functioning on the correct plane of reality for very long at a spell. I need to reset the internal clock and get some stuff done. So anyway, if you call, and I don't answer, it *is* personal, it just has nothing to do with you ;-).

— posted by Noelle at 8:34 PM [PermaLink]

Neat...

C. Paduan likes this cartoon a lot and mentioned this to me and Neil posted about this as well:

Many cool things happening. For example, over at http://www.somethingpositive.net/ the following gauntlet was thrown down, following complaints that things were getting sloppy:

Help me quit my job. Seriously. Click on that donate button and give me a buck... fifty center... five bucks. Whatever. I've more than enough readers that if over half of you did that, I'd have a year's salary and could quit my day job - and that's forty hours freed up for the comics. Go ahead.

So they did. $22,000 came in. He gave up his day job. That's cool.

— posted by Noelle at 8:31 PM [PermaLink]

Happy Graduation to Sean!

Carl and I went to Sean's Graduation today and hung out in Santa Cruz with him and family. It was actually a pretty cool day. Graduation was typical, and then we wentto the boarwalk and to dinner at the crepe place, which was fun and yummy. Good day, although I am sunburned. Pictures up sometime this weekend.

— posted by Noelle at 8:27 PM [PermaLink]

Re: Riddick

hm. I can't figure out what I thought of that movie. It was like a bunch of pieces of *really* good movies pasted together badly. There was a lot of ambiguity and a lot of stuff that much have sounded very cool in the production meetings, but didn't quite work...

Overall, the cinematography and filmography was great - I think I have the biggest problem with the editing. Vin was ok, only because this is the character that he was born to play.

Anyway, maybe worth a rent if you liked Pitch Black (which I did and have if you want to borrow)

— posted by Noelle at 8:24 PM [PermaLink]

AP: McCain Rejects Kerry's VP Overture

WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. John McCain has personally rejected John Kerry's overtures to join the Democratic presidential ticket and forge a bipartisan alliance against President Bush, The Associated Press has learned. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 1:13 PM [PermaLink]

Serkis Apes King Kong

As expected, King Kong director Peter Jackson has cast Lord of the Rings actor Andy Serkis as the title computer-generated ape, Variety reported. Serkis will also play a live-action character named Lumpy, the cook on tramp steamer The Venture, which sails to Skull Island and captures the ape, the trade paper reported.

That's a lot more live-action screen time than Serkis got in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, where he provided the voice and movements for the computer-animated Gollum and was seen only briefly in the finale as Smeagol. Serkis will return to New Zealand, where Jackson will shoot the film for Universal Pictures, the trade paper reported.

King Kong also stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Adrien Brody. Jackson wrote the script with his Rings co-writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, the trade paper reported.

— posted by Noelle at 1:11 PM [PermaLink]

BigChurch.com

click or burn in hell

— posted by Carl at 1:06 PM [PermaLink]

Mini Report

So, I love it here. The people are so nice, and everyone is happy and friendly all the time. I finally have the day to myself and not in any training and I have been given some stuff to do taht I can feel useful doing. I have a couple more training classes next week (including an all day orientation to Stanford next Monday so I'll be offline until around 4:00).

It's amazing what not having your job tried directly to the revenue that supports your payckeck does to a place. I get paid no mater how much work I do, so people are way more relaxed about things, when they get done, if you are having a conversation with someone, etc... No one is watching over my shoulder to figure out if I am working on their stuffand no one cares when I come and go as long as I get some useful stuff done. *big sigh of relief*

Erin (who I am replacing)is very cool, and will be sharing my office off and on until she leaves in 2 more weeks. Then it's all mine! YAY!

As for this weekend - Sean is graduating tomorrow, so I will go to that, there's the movie tonight for people who are interested, and Sunday is game night again after a long break.

Hope you all have a good one!

— posted by Noelle at 11:28 AM [PermaLink]

No Sex Before Games, Please, Says Germany Doctor

ALMANCIL, Portugal (Reuters) - Germany's team doctor has advised players not to have sex shortly before Euro 2004 games and drink plenty of water instead. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 10:40 AM [PermaLink]

Man Lies Dead in Apartment for 20 Years

TOKYO (Reuters) - The pajama-clad skeleton of a Japanese man has been found in a vacant apartment building -- 20 years after his lonely death.

The skeleton was discovered lying atop musty "futon" bedding earlier this month when workers getting ready to raze the derelict building entered the second floor unit where the man had lived, domestic media reports said on Thursday.

A newspaper dated February 20, 1984, was on the kitchen table.

Police believe the man, an employee of the construction firm that built the apartments in 1973, moved in after the building was vacated when the firm managing it went bankrupt, the reports said.

The man, then 57 and divorced with children, suddenly stopped coming in to work two decades ago but none of his relatives ever asked police to search for him.

"I had no idea that the apartment even existed," the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper quoted a 65-year-old neighbor as saying.

"After I heard the news, I thought 'Oh, it's here.' It's as if time had stopped in this one place."

— posted by Noelle at 5:18 PM [PermaLink]

Jetsons To Take Off?

Producer Denise Di Novi (Catwoman) told the IGN FilmForce Web site that she's moving ahead with a live-action movie adaptation of The Jetsons, the 1960s animated TV series, which she's producing with Hanna-Barbera Productions. Di Novi told the site that the most recent draft of the screenplay was penned by Sam Harper (Cheaper by the Dozen).

Adam Shankman (Bringing Down the House) will reportedly direct the Warner Brothers movie.

— posted by Noelle at 4:47 PM [PermaLink]

Neat

We have a climbing wall here I just found out... may go give that a whirl.

Oh, and it's free for staff and so are lessons!

— posted by Noelle at 12:16 PM [PermaLink]

What Would Jesus Say About Pete?

A new public service announcement was filmed by the oddest of collaborators—two pastors and a pornographer [more]

— posted by Noelle at 11:17 AM [PermaLink]

WTF of the day

There are plans afoot for thousands of Christians to move to South Carolina, and then secede from the union. No word on what the South Carolinans think about this.

I think I should refrain from comment...

— posted by Noelle at 11:07 AM [PermaLink]

Hong Kong's elusive crocodile captured after eight-month spree

HONG KONG (AFP) - Hong Kong's celebrated runaway crocodile was captured after a high-tech eight-month hunt which saw the reptile swim rings around his pursuers and capture hearts across the world. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 11:00 AM [PermaLink]

Paris Goes After SUVs

PARIS (Reuters) - Bulky four-by-fours could be banned from clogging up the chic streets of Paris after a top official in the capital's left-wing government described them as a polluting "caricature of a car" unsuited to city life. [more]

Man, I wish they could do that here...

— posted by Noelle at 10:53 AM [PermaLink]

Can Dogs Speak? No, But They Understand, Study Says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A clever border collie that can fetch at least 200 objects by name may be living proof that dogs truly understand human language, German scientists reported on Thursday. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 10:51 AM [PermaLink]

I missed my blog...

Happy to have it back again....

— posted by Noelle at 6:36 PM [PermaLink]

Anderson Talks New SG-1

Richard Dean Anderson, the star and an executive producer of SCI FI Channel's original series Stargate SG-1, told SCI FI Wire that he has reduced his shooting schedule in the upcoming eighth season, but not necessarily his appearances in the show's episodes. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 6:34 PM [PermaLink]

Chromicals of Riddick

Friday night? LMK...

— posted by Noelle at 6:23 PM [PermaLink]

YAY!!!

I am admin so I have IM now!!!

I will be in training for a huge chunk of the day manana, but will be around mid-day and at the end alone, and in my office for anyone who needs me!

I *love* Stanford BTW, it rocks here. More later - I should go home!

— posted by Noelle at 6:20 PM [PermaLink]

GMail

Gmail accounts sold on eBay

— posted by Carl at 5:56 PM [PermaLink]

— posted by Noelle at 4:32 PM [PermaLink]

China Finds First Fossil Embryo of Flying Reptile

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists in China have discovered a 121 million-year-old fossil containing an embryo of a flying reptile that lived alongside the dinosaurs. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 1:01 PM [PermaLink]

Game Night

Just a quick announcement that I am planning on having game night on Sunday for interested parties...

— posted by Noelle at 12:59 PM [PermaLink]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Sex and the City DVD's are here from Netflix! Off to waste my evening off!

— posted by Noelle at 8:47 PM [PermaLink]

2003 Bram Stoker Award Winners

Of interest:
Illustrated Narrative: The Sandman: Endless Nights (collection) by Neil Gaiman
Screenplay: Bubba Ho-Tep by Don Coscarelli
Work for Young Readers: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K Rowling

— posted by Noelle at 8:45 PM [PermaLink]

SLIDERS DVD set arrives this August

Fans of the parallel universe hopping adventures of Quinn Mallory and friends are in store for a fun summer treat: Universal Home Video has announced that it will release a six-disc DVD set of SLIDERS on August 3 priced at $89.98. Each of the episodes will be presented in 1.33:1 full-frame format in English Dolby Digital 2.0.

The set will contain all the episodes from the show's first and second seasons as well as an audio commentary track by the show's co-creators, Tracy Torme and Robert K. Weiss; a making of SLIDERS featurette; and a photo gallery.

— posted by Noelle at 7:28 PM [PermaLink]

The second AEON FLUX member

FARGO's Frances McDormand is the second star to be announced for the live-action adaptation of AEON FLUX. McDormand will play a character called The Handler, the leader of a rebel group living in the last remaining human city on the planet. Charlize Theron will play the lead character which is based on the Peter Cheung animated series.

The first day of filming is scheduled for August in Berlin, Germany.

— posted by Noelle at 7:27 PM [PermaLink]

Google Supports Venus Movement

— posted by Carl at 5:24 PM [PermaLink]

Trying to Install AIM

Lame. I have to get an administrator here to install that program for me it says so it may be a while....

*sigh*

— posted by Noelle at 5:12 PM [PermaLink]

Anthony Won't Confirm Marriage to J.Lo

NEW YORK - Saying his personal life is off-limits, singer Marc Anthony refused to confirm Tuesday whether he's married to Jennifer Lopez. [more]

HAHAHAHA!

— posted by Noelle at 2:03 PM [PermaLink]

Quick Update

Work is going well - had 2 meetings and another party so far... I could get used to this not actually getting anything done business...

:-)

— posted by Noelle at 2:01 PM [PermaLink]

PItch Black

My House, 8:00 tonight. Sorry for the late notice....

— posted by Noelle at 6:59 PM [PermaLink]

First Day Report

So, my first day rocked. I did next to nothing and it looks like the job is preety easy once I learn it - I just have a lot of responsibility, but there's tons of people there to help. Tomorrow, I get my first taste of management - Meetings up the wazoo. Somewhere near Thursday, I will have my own computer (the chick who I am replacing is staying until the 25th so we share right now) and I have training classes like mad for the next 2 weeks (YAY! Training!). So, anyway, I will be off IM unil Thursday. If anyone needs me, e-mail is a happy medium, and so is the phone.

Hope you all are having pleasant weeks.

I keep singing that song from Annie "I think I'm gonna like it here..."

— posted by Noelle at 6:49 PM [PermaLink]

Ever feel like this?

— posted by Carl at 3:35 PM [PermaLink]

Fun with M&M's

Order a custom combination of M&M colors

Order M&M with custom messages on them

— posted by Carl at 3:22 PM [PermaLink]

J-Lo Reportedly Divorces Newly Married Marc Anthony

Sorry I couldn't resist...

— posted by Carl at 1:40 PM [PermaLink]

J-Lo Reportedly Marries Newly Divorced Marc Anthony

She's just lookin to down in history as the most married woman.... [more]

— posted by Noelle at 12:20 PM [PermaLink]

Whoa, Reagan Finally died...

Reagan Remembered With Jelly Beans, Flags

— posted by Noelle at 12:19 PM [PermaLink]

Re: Rollin' up on Sac Town

Yeah, I just woke up. Went up to Chelsea's yesterday, picked her up, and we went over to her new Grandma-in-law's house for a Wedding shower. We had a pretty good time for a wedding shower - made some toilet paper brides, played some games, ate and chatted. I had a Malibu and pineapple at the beginning - got totally yanked without wanting to - and was trying to run the show at the same time, which made for an interesting afternoon for me.

Sobered up, drove Chels back to her house and got ready for bachelorette party. Went to Chevy's on the river, which is exactly what it sounds like, and then a few bars in old Sac. Chelsea has upwards of 15 or more drinks and the whole crowd was pretty rowdy. It's sometimes amusing to be the designated driver. Every time guys would come over to talk to us, I got to sit there and crack up at the reactions of all of my drunk friends. ON the way back to the car, Chelsea got the hiccups and couldn't walk straight back to the car, so I knew I had done my job! Anyway, much fun was had.

Spending today getting ready for new job, including filling paperwork out, then off to see My Darling Maynard...

— posted by Noelle at 12:06 PM [PermaLink]

Re: Yay! & Congratulations on Your Escape from Hell

LOL!

That's funny!

— posted by Noelle at 12:05 PM [PermaLink]

Harry Potter was Dope

'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban' Trailers

— posted by Carl at 4:07 PM [PermaLink]

Yay!

— posted by Jon Reid at 7:11 PM [PermaLink]

Ah, sweet fredom...

I escaped from work around 4:00, took my headphones and my mouse and said bye. George hugged me, which I always find revolting and have no clue how to react.

I then went over to Valley Fair to get a present for my cousin and cruised the mall for a bit. That mall, at 4:00 on a Friday is very amusing. Teeny-boppers abound and they all look like they are 12, dressed in a 24 year old's clothing. I actually caught myself thinking "your mother let you out of the house like that???" Anyway, it was great fun to see the cute little rave kids run around and all the bops look at them in disgust as they all tried to nab a significant other that is bound to last 2 weeks. I'll have to do that again soon!

Off to see Harry Potter shortly...

— posted by Noelle at 6:32 PM [PermaLink]

Congratulations on Your Escape from Hell

— posted by Carl at 6:29 PM [PermaLink]

Lyrics: Rainbow - Man on the Silver Mountain

I'm a wheel, I'm a wheel
I can roll, I can feel
And you can't stop me turning

Cause I'm the sun, I'm the sun
I can move, I can run
But you'll never stop me burning

Come down with fire
Lift my spirit higher
Someone's screaming my name
Come and make me holy again

I'm the man on the silver mountain
I'm the man on the silver mountain

I'm the day, I'm the day
I can show you the way
And look, I'm right beside you

I'm the night, I'm the night
I'm the dark and the light
With eyes that see inside you

Come down with fire
Lift my spirit higher
Someone's screaming my name
Come and make me holy again

I'm the man on the silver mountain
I'm the man on the silver mountain

Come down with fire
And lift my spirit higher
Someone's screaming my name
Come and make me holy again

Well, I can help you, you know I can

I'm the man on the silver mountain
I'm the man on the silver mountain

Just look at me and listen
I'm the man, the man, give you my hand
I'm the man on the silver mountain

Come down with fire
And lift your spirit higher
I'm the man on the mountain
The man on the silver mountain
I'm the night, the light
The black and the white
The man on the silver mountain

— posted by Carl at 6:28 PM [PermaLink]

the story of bread

click here....

"Page three of a kid’s book, and the death count is already three."

— posted by Cheralyn at 3:18 PM [PermaLink]

G just told me he'd give me a good reference

I was like "uhhh, ok, thanks."

Meaning "uhhhh, yeah, right."

He's getting all sentimental. It's rather upsetting because I think I should care....

— posted by Noelle at 2:58 PM [PermaLink]

New Foamy

he's so silly...

— posted by Noelle at 2:53 PM [PermaLink]

T Minus 4 hours....

— posted by Noelle at 1:27 PM [PermaLink]

I got me self a new religion paw!

A group of hunting enthusiasts is setting up its own "church" in an attempt to stop the Government from banning their favourite field sport. more...

In the spirit of things, here's the lyrics to that great song "Goin' Huntin'" by the Arrogant Worms.

Well me an' my buddies we got us some beer
And a great big bottle of rye
And boxes of ammo and guns to go with 'em
And good old Charlie's glass eye
Well we looked all around so we sees all of nature
So calm and so serene
But not for long 'cause we're gonna use guns
To make furry animals scream

'Cause we're goin' huntin'
We're gonna kill somethin'
I don't care what it is
Maybe a raccoon, maybe a gopher,
Maybe the neighbour's kids!
We're goin' huntin'
We're gonna kill somethin'
I don't care what it is
Maybe a raccoon, maybe a gopher,
Maybe the neighbour's kids!

Well off we go, our guns are loaded
And so's are we
We weaves through the bushes and falls on our faces
And piss on the nice trees
And then we spot something moving an' a rustle
We pump it full of lead
And smile real wide as we hear it scream
And thud as it falls down dead

'Cause we're goin' huntin'
We're gonna kill somethin'
I don't care what it is
Maybe a raccoon, maybe a gopher,
Maybe the neighbour's kids!
We're goin' huntin'
We're gonna kill somethin'
I don't care what it is
Maybe a raccoon, maybe a gopher,
Maybe the neighbour's kids!

Well off we go to see what we killed
And watch the damn thing bleed
The first thing we see is a bright orange cap
And we shot down Ol' Charlie
But he don't to mind, he smiled all the time
He died real happy
But next time he should tell us
When he's goin' off to take a pee

'Cause we're goin' huntin'
We're gonna kill somethin'
I don't care what it is
Maybe a raccoon, maybe a gopher,
Maybe the neighbour's kids!
We're goin' huntin'
We're gonna kill somethin'
I don't care what it is
Maybe a raccoon, maybe a gopher,
Maybe the neighbour's kids!

Well the sun goes down and we head back to town
And we hop in our pickup truck
Strap Charlie to the hood, start up the engine
Drive it home with any luck
Well what do you know, we run into a pole
But we're all still in one piece
And we get a free ride back into town
Courtesy of the police.

'Cause we're goin' huntin'
We're gonna kill somethin'
I don't care what it is
Maybe a raccoon, maybe a gopher,
Maybe the neighbour's kids!
We're goin' huntin'
We're gonna kill somethin'
I don't care what it is
Maybe a raccoon, maybe a gopher,
Maybe the neighbour's kids!

— posted by dmac at 10:23 AM [PermaLink]

*sigh*

And every client I have ever known is now trying to get me to do stuff today....

They were all sad all week and now panic has set in. Looks like a busy day after all.

— posted by Noelle at 9:45 AM [PermaLink]

Want to playtest for Green Ronin?

Green Ronin, far and away one of my favorite RPG companies, is looking for playtesters.

— posted by Victoria Hyde at 9:33 AM [PermaLink]

Bradbury Slams Moore

Legendary SF author Ray Bradbury has ripped into filmmaker Michael Moore for using the title Fahrenheit 9/11 for his new Bush-bashing movie, an obvious takeoff on the 84-year-old's science-fiction classic Fahrenheit 451, the WorldNetDaily.com Web site reported. Bradbury reportedly told the Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter, "Michael Moore is a screwed a--hole, that is what I think about that case," according to an English translation of the story. "He stole my title and changed the numbers without ever asking me for permission." [more]

— posted by Noelle at 9:29 AM [PermaLink]

Doom Movie Rights Bought

Universal Pictures has optioned the film rights to the Doom SF video-game franchise... [more]

— posted by Noelle at 9:28 AM [PermaLink]

Dear God, It's almost over

Last day here at hell.com!!!

It kinda feels like any other Friday, except my desk is empty and I know I'm getting almost 2 weeks of vacation time, plus my paycheck today!

I iwll miss my flat screen monitor, but I bet I can ask for one at Stanford!

— posted by Noelle at 9:23 AM [PermaLink]

M.I.A. on Saturday

Saturday I will be "rollin' up on Sac-town" (as the big man says) to host my cousin's Bridal Shower and Bachelorette party so I'll be M.I.A. all day. Leave a message if it is important and I will get back to you...

Sunday, it's all about the Maynard love in the VERBOTEN arena. Only for the man himself will I set foot in the SJSU events center, with its craptacular sound system. Really, they don't understand that bass can actually stop your heart. Good thing it's A Perfect Circle, or I may would have to boycott.

— posted by Noelle at 9:42 PM [PermaLink]

He'd Better Hope He Doesn't Get Sick

LONDON (Reuters) - A British man with a fetish for medical items has become the first person to be banned from every hospital in England and Wales, the government said on Wednesday. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 9:41 PM [PermaLink]

Behold! The missing Disc!

Man, that was a "long wait" for my Stargate season 4, disc 4. Netflix wasn't kidding. I am already watching Stargate season 6, disc 5 (the last that you can currently get on DVD).

Anyway, it's a good show - you can do stuff while watching it, know that the good guys can't possibly be dead, and someone will come rescue Jack at some point (don't worry, Carter will think of something). It's a well done show - worth a watch when you have time.

— posted by Noelle at 9:38 PM [PermaLink]

Anti-Bush Flash Game

There's a very long intro before you get to play and is not really work friendly. For mature audiences only. All I can say is it involves Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Voltron, and of course Bush.

Go save the planet

— posted by Carl at 6:36 PM [PermaLink]

Today is kinda crazy

As you can probably imagine... More when I have time....

— posted by Noelle at 4:32 PM [PermaLink]

The sperm game

LOL! This is good for 2 minutes of giggles. It's like Galactica, with sperm.

— posted by Noelle at 1:38 PM [PermaLink]

Horny rhino hits on car

A rampant rhinoceros gave a group of visitors a glimpse of nature in the raw at a British safari park when he tried to have sex with their car.

Sharka, a two tonne white rhino, got amorous with Dave Alsop's car when he stopped with three friends to take pictures of the animal mating with his partner Trixie at the West Midland Safari Park.

The 12-year-old rhino tried to mount the Renault Laguna from the side, denting the doors and ripping off the wing mirrors before Dave drove away with a puffing Sharka in pursuit.

"He was a big boy and obviously aroused," Alsop told the Sun newspaper. "He sidled up against us. The next thing I know he's banging away at the car and it's rocking like hell."

A spokeswoman for the park, which says "rhinos are not particularly intelligent animals" on its website, said Sharka was a hit with the female rhinos and had fathered two calves in the last five years.

"He's got a bit of a reputation, this lad, and he was obviously at it again," she added.

— posted by Noelle at 1:37 PM [PermaLink]

Date set for first private spaceflight

The first privately-funded attempt to rocket a civilian into space will take place in the Californian desert on 21 June. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 1:33 PM [PermaLink]

Bad Air Causes Heart Disease, Heart Group Says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Air pollution causes heart disease, the American Heart Association said on Tuesday.

While pollution does not cause as many heart attacks as high blood pressure, for example, it is a serious risk factor, the group said in a statement. [more]

So, if we just cut the power 3 days a week, we'll all live longer?

— posted by Noelle at 1:30 PM [PermaLink]

Vintar Takes On Y

Screenwriter Jeff Vintar (I, Robot) told SCI FI Wire that he is adaptating Brian K. Vaughan's comic book Y: The Last Man for the big screen. The series focuses on the aftermath of a plague that wipes out all but one male, leaving him and the race of remaining women to figure out what happened. [more]

This is one of the few comics tha I read habitually. It's a really good premise and well done. Movie should prove to be interesting given the amazon nature of the women in the comic.

— posted by Noelle at 1:27 PM [PermaLink]

Polar Express

Another Teaser up here. Looks like your standard, feel good, Christmas movie.

— posted by Noelle at 1:25 PM [PermaLink]

Rare Solar Transit of Venus Next Week

In case you hadn't heard, there will be a rare transit of venus next Tuesday. Unfortunately it will be over before the sun rises in the American west. :-( NASA is offering a webcast of the event that evening from Greece, which should have a complete view of it. If you miss this one, the next one is in 2012. If you miss that one, the next one is in 2117.

— posted by Chris at 9:54 AM [PermaLink]

Buffy Scholars Convene

About 325 scholars and others gathered in Nashville, Tenn., last week for an academic conference examining the cult TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff series, Angel, the Associated Press reported. "Buffyologists" from as far away as Singapore presented 190 papers on topics ranging from "Slayer slang" to "postmodern reflections on the culture of consumption" to "Buffy and the new American Buddhism," the AP reported.

There was even a self-conscious talk by David Lavery, an English professor at Middle Tennessee State University, on Buffy studies "as an academic cult."

Lavery and Rhonda Wilcox, a professor at Gordon College in Georgia, co-hosted the conference and are known as the "father and mother" of Buffy studies, the AP reported. Wilcox, who wrote her doctoral thesis at Duke University about Charles Dickens, compared the show's depth and texture to his 19th-century serial novels. "I think it's a great work of art," she told the wire service.

Ummmmmmmm, yeah.

— posted by Noelle at 9:31 AM [PermaLink]

Your groove, I do deeply dig
No walls, only the bridge, my supperdish
My succotash wish

— posted by Noelle at 10:48 PM [PermaLink]

This song makes me giggle

Who Was That? by Dee Lite

Who was that, who was that?
Someone walked their feet through my house.
Who was that, who was that?
Someone sneaking quiet as a mouse.
Who was that, who was that?
Someone left their shoes on the stairs.
Who was that, who was that?
Laughing just like no one cares.

Someone in my house, I declare
Playing cards, solitaire
Who was playing in my house?
Someone in my kitchen, munching out
Peanut butter, there’s no doubt
Who was eating in my house?

Someone took a bath, Mr. Bubble
Middle name, must be trouble
Who was playing in my house?
On the porch, right outside,
Here I come, you better hide
Who was hiding inside?

Who was that, who was that?
Someone walked their feet through my house.
Who was that, who was that?
Someone sneaking quiet as a mouse.
Who was that, who was that? Boy
Someone left the radio on
Who was that, who was that? Boy
One minute here, now he’s gone.

— posted by Noelle at 10:47 PM [PermaLink]

Happy June, people

Moving close to the 1/2 way mark here on 2004.

I feel successful so far.

— posted by Noelle at 10:42 PM [PermaLink]

Again with the wow...

— posted by Noelle at 10:35 PM [PermaLink]

Blackout gave cities a breath of fresh air

The blackout that left 50 million North Americans without power in August 2003 had an unexpected benefit - the air became cleaner. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 10:29 PM [PermaLink]

Genetically-modified virus explodes cancer cells

A genetically-modified virus that exploits the selfish behaviour of cancer cells may offer a powerful and selective way of killing tumours.

Deleting a key gene from the virus enabled it to infect and burst cancer cells while leaving normal tissues unharmed, reveals a study by researchers at Cancer Research UK and Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London. [more]

— posted by Noelle at 10:27 PM [PermaLink]

'Spud-u-lite' leads fightback against Atkins effect

The humble spud has seen its popularity slump in the face of the surging success of the Atkins diet, which demonises the vegetable as a fattening food.

Now the potato industry appears to have decided that if it cannot beat them, it had better join them. A Dutch seed company has developed a "low-carb" spud which it claims is "the future of the potato". [more]

— posted by Noelle at 10:25 PM [PermaLink]

America just took one more step to making cloves the most popular form of smoke

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act would transform the sweet, fragrant Indonesian smokes into contraband. Neat. Nothing like making something illegal to make people want it more. Here's and article.

Good thing I am giving them up!

— posted by Noelle at 10:10 PM [PermaLink]

Generic Names for Soft Drinks Map

A map of America arranged according to what the generic term for fizzy drinks in cans is in each county.

Soooooooooooooooooo - da.

— posted by Noelle at 10:09 PM [PermaLink]

China Places Conditions on Britney Tour

SHANGHAI, China - China to Britney: Come perform but leave the revealing outfits at home. [more]

So, if she doesn't sing very well, and her dancing is "eh", then what's the point? I know the revealing outfits are why *I* am going to see that show....

— posted by Noelle at 1:57 PM [PermaLink]

Judge: Bush Abortion Ban Unconstitutional

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal judge Tuesday declared the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act unconstitutional, saying the measure infringes on a woman's right to choose. [more]

So, if I could just live in the Nation of San Fransisco I might be happy. At least some people are still in control of their facilities and can make good decisions for the people.

— posted by Noelle at 1:54 PM [PermaLink]

Hello? We can hear you....

Much akin to the phenomenon of people doing retarded things in their cars and not realizing that everyone around them can still see (like me dancing), I have found that people on cell phones, particularly those with earbuds, forget that we can hear them if they are say, SCREAMING into their earbud, in the middle of Starbucks. I just got to hear 15 minutes of some woman's life story that proved that she was a moron in every respect - bad decisions all the way down the line. *sigh*

Note to self: Others can hear me, admit nothing.

— posted by Noelle at 10:59 AM [PermaLink]

What a Trip...

So it's odd to only have 4 days left here. I thought I would be nervous to leave the familiar or very pissed off and ready to go. But no, it's just a normal day here in my head, knowing that I only have to deal with this for 4 more days and that next week, I start on something new.

Hmmm, must be older than I thought....

— posted by Noelle at 9:33 AM [PermaLink]