Check out this cool Halloween Card from Coalee
Make sure your speakers are on and roll over the different types of music. I love the dance he does to the "dance" one. [
Check it out]
It makes me giggle...
Hung Over
The party last night was very fun, although I magically got a hang over from not drinking enough... Anyway, lots of drag queens with beautiful shoes, a couple of Snow whites and many, many great costumes!
Tonight we party in the Castro and tomorrow night we party with Manson!!! This weekend turned into a bigger deal than I thought it would...
Random Bad Costume
Heh. Too bad they don't have these anymore...
Odd Todd's Halloween Special III
Party Tonight
At Nate Yeakel's House. Starts at 8 - I'll be there by 9:30 - 10:00 for all of you that were invited. If anyone else wants to go, give me a call and I'll give you directions...
Dead Like Me
So I started watching this show that I saw ads for at Comic Con called Dead Like Me which normally shows on
Showtime. It's about a chick who gets hit by a toilet seat re-entereing earth's atmosphere from the falling Mir Space Station. She is chosen to be a reaper and the show revolves around her and her co-reapers and what they do.
It's actually very cute and funny. Recommended for all ages. Season 1 is availble on Netflix.
Fetal tissue graft restores lost sight
Previously incurable diseases of the eye can be treated by transplanting retinal cells harvested from aborted fetuses. [
more]
Brain cells in a dish fly fighter plane
An array of rat brain cells has successfully flown a virtual F-22 fighter jet. The cells could one day become a more sophisticated replacement for the computers that control uncrewed aerial vehicles or, in the nearer future, form a test-bed for drugs against brain diseases such as epilepsy. [
more]
Brain prosthesis passes live tissue test
The world’s first brain prosthesis has passed the first stages of live testing.
The microchip, designed to model a part of the brain called the hippocampus, has been used successfully to replace a neural circuit in slices of rat brain tissue kept alive in a dish. The prosthesis will soon be ready for testing in animals. [
more]
Wow - this is a lot of work...
EPISODE GUIDE: Our complete guide to Buffy The Vampire Slayer!
Definetley worth a look - they break down who had the best line, the best part, the good and the bad of every eprisode and then rank them all. And they agree with my assessment, Hush is the best episode of Buffy ever, and sliding in second is the musical.
Endless Boots
Someone made Endless Boots to put up for auction at Fiddler's Green (which I oh so badly wish I could go to). Anyway, they are very cool.
Check 'em out. (If you click each one, she also made a rad box for each of them...)
New Foamy: "AMITYVILLE TOASTER"
This one is pretty funny - I especially love his song at the end...
I feel that way too sometimes...
Quantum quirk may give objects mass
If you thought that quantum entanglement - the weird effect that allows two particles to behave as one, no matter how far apart they are - is too subtle to affect your daily life, think again. The phenomenon could be responsible for something as significant as the mass of everyday objects, yourself included, and could finally explain why the fundamental particles of matter have the mass they do. [
more]
Smart fabrics make for enhanced living
Imagine a handbag that warns you if you are about to forget your umbrella or wallet, and which you can later turn into a scarf that displays today’s pollution levels. Or how about creating a wall hanging that glows if someone tries to use your home’s wireless internet connection? [
more]
Sales in virtual goods top $100 million
Real-world sales of virtual resources gained within multiplayer online computer games has surpassed $100 million worldwide, according to a new estimate. [
more]
Marijuana measures on 3 states' ballots
So Alsaka wants to make it legal for people over 21 and regulate it like alcohol and cigaretts. That's a lot of taxes that could be put into education... [
more]
Pop Star Wants Home Sex Movie Shown in Court
ZAGREB (Reuters) - A top Croatian pop star asked a Zagreb court on Friday to watch a private movie in which she enjoys a lusty sex romp to see whether her copyright was violated by a Web Site that showed it to the public. [
more]
Chabon Falls For Snow
Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Michael Chabon will write Snow and the Seven, a martial-arts retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, for Walt Disney Pictures, Variety reported. Yuen Wo Ping, the choreographer of groundbreaking action films The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, will direct the live-action movie. [
more]
Ummmmmmmm, ok, sure.
Cellular Companies Agree on Standards
NEW YORK - The nation's cellular companies have agreed on a common standard for multimedia messaging that should enable mobile phone users to exchange photos, video and audio clips just as they do e-mail, regardless of their wireless carrier. [
more]
The EPISODE III teaser poster is here
Re: The Grudge
That wasn't ok.
Editor's note: For all of you out there that don't understand this review - It is a good review for a horror movie - I had the Heebie Jeebies.
NASA: Spooky Space 'Sounds'
Finally!!!
a site that lets you order custom ice creams, with flavors that include avocado, blue moon, hot pepper, pandan and rose water, with toppings the likes of dill weed, cheddar cheese pieces, black sesame seeds and Pop Rocks.
Check this place out - they will send you any flavor of ice cream and topping under the sun (and there's even really good ones in there too).
'Hobbit' joins human family tree
More infor from
the BBC on our newest relatives...
Ancient Star Dust May Point to Human Origins-Study
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Star dust found deep beneath the Pacific Ocean has led German scientists to speculate that a supernova explosion 3 million years ago might possibly have helped bring about human evolution. [
more]
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am proud to announce that I just had to look on the blog to figure out what day it is! I love not having to go to work....
*Sigh*, if only it paid better.
Film Fans Make Bush 'Movie Villain of the Year'
LONDON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) may see himself as defender of democracy and compassionate conservatism but British film fans have voted him "Movie Villain of the Year." [
more]
Lost Ed Wood Film Unearthed
Necromania, the long-lost final movie of Ed Wood, considered the worst filmmaker of all time, has been rediscovered, the Reuters news service reported. The 1971 movie is a porn film documenting the sexual enlightenment of a young couple at the hands of a coven of witches, the news service reported. [
more]
Spooky Clip
First, turn on your speakers so you can hear. This is a VW advertisement from central Europe somewhere.
When they finished filming the ad the people who made it noticed something moving along the side of the car, like a ghostly whitemist.
The ad was never approved for TV broadcast because, if the unexplained ghostly phenomenon frightened the production team out of their wits, the general population of mainly poorly educated and superstitious farm workers would flip out big time.
Watch it and about halfway through, as the car emerges from the clump of trees, look very carefully and you will see the white mist crossing in front of the car then following it along the road......Spooky!
view clip
Postal Experts Hunt for Missing Ballots in Florida
The Night Sky Live
This is a cool toy. Go to this page to see where the moon is right now - if you click on one of the stars on the map, it will take you to a page where you can click an image and get the latest movie image from that location of the night sky. Pretty neat.
Biotech Cats Wouldn't Trigger Allergies
The biotechnology revolution is shaking up the pet world. First came a cloned cat. Then came the fish genetically engineered to glow. Now, a Los Angeles company is exploiting the latest in biotechnology to create cats genetically engineered to be nearly free from the allergy-causing proteins that plague millions of people. [
more]
Earth to See Total Eclipse of the Moon
 | Blood moon tonight!
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Earthlings are about to be treated to a total lunar eclipse, just in time for Halloween. For more than an hour Wednesday night, the moon will be covered entirely by Earth's shadow and resemble a glowing pumpkin. [more]
Looks like it is actually going to start around 6:15 here and last about 3 hours. [More from Spaceweather] |
Scientists Find Prehistoric Dwarf Skeleton
In a breathtaking discovery, scientists working on a remote Indonesian island say they have uncovered the bones of a human dwarf species marooned for eons while modern man rapidly colonized the rest of the planet.
One tiny specimen, an adult female measuring about 3 feet tall, is described as "the most extreme" figure to be included in the extended human family. Certainly, she is the shortest. [
more]
WTF? Rolling Out a Cell Phone Ringtone Chart
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Those synthesized tunes that send people grabbing for their cell phones and annoy patrons in restaurants and theaters have been recognized as part of the music industry by Billboard Magazine.
The weekly entertainment industry publication, which tracks top record and CD sales, said it was launching a new chart that will track the popularity of cell phone ringtones, as they are called. [
more]
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Random interesting news for some people
Eliza Dushku and Shawn Reaves told fans at a London convention that their Fox series Tru Calling has been canceled, Dark Horizons reported. The news comes after Fox scaled back its second-season order for the show, then bumped its premiere date from the fall.
The official Web site for Joel Schumacher's upcoming movie version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera has posted a
preview clip of the title song. The movie, starring Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum, opens Dec. 22.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon has ended his TV production deal with 20th Century Fox TV, effectively shuttering his Mutant Enemy production company and putting a close to his TV plans for now, Variety reported.
If your own relatives won't vote for you....
bushrelativesforkerry.com
Wow, That's just sad.
My ballot was mailed today. Hopefully the rest of the country will wake up and do the same.
Food fight in Taiwan's parliament
TAIPEI (Reuters) - A food fight has erupted in Taiwan's parliament as lawmakers, quarrelling over a massive arms budget, hurled their lunch boxes at each other.
"You've got no shame!" screamed Chu Fong-chih of the opposition Nationalist Party, after throwing a take-out box of chicken and rice at Chen Tsung-yi, a legislator from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party who backed the special budget. [
more]
'Drunk' on Herbal Tea
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California prosecutors are cracking down on kava-drinking motorists who are driving under the intoxicating influence of the herbal tea. [
more]
Defendants Accused of Sending Spam
LEESBURG, Va. - Three people who allegedly sent America Online customers millions of junk e-mail messages touting penny stocks and other Internet gimmicks went on trial Tuesday in the nation's first such felony case. [
more]
Interpol
Went and saw Interpol last night with Carl.
Warning about a certain opening Band called "Secret Machine": If you see these fellows on a bill somewhere, make sure to plan to be somewhere else. Aweful. They sound like they all learned how to play their instruments a month ago and never have practiced together. It was almost like they threw them on stage, told them to introduce themselves to one another and then said "Jam session. Go!" No good, I tell you.
Interpol was pretty good. I don't care for the lead singer's voice much, but the band was tight and solid. They get filed in my head with Radiohead for that reason: Good music, annoying voice. I had a good time though and Carl was stoked so that was fun...
Whedon Denies X-Men Rumor
Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon told fans at a John Kerry fund-raising event in Los Angeles Oct. 24 that he won't be writing or directing the third X-Men movie, despite persistent rumors to the contrary. "I did promise I would say whether or not I'm going to be directing the third X-Men movie, and the answer is, I'm sorry to say, no," Whedon told fans gather for a "High Stakes 2004" event in Hollywood. "Quite frankly, I thought about it for a long time, I looked into my heart, and I realized that Fox didn't ask me to," he added, with tongue in cheek. [
more]
It also goes onto talk about how he and some cast members hosted fan parties to support presidential candidate John Kerry.
Book-A-Minute
Wow - it's late.
Lots more tomrrow, but for now I leave you with
Book-A-Minute which is super-ultra condensed books - they have an awesome Sci-Fi Section, which does include a 5 line version of hitchhiker's and literally hundreds of other titles. It's like the Cliff's Notes of the Cliff's Notes.
| | |
Reporting Live, this is Noelle...
So this weekend was kinda crazy, and very fun. Pumpkin party went well, it was more mellow than usual as there was only about 20 people there but still very enjoyable. Actually, I was glad of that as too many more people and it would have been too nuts. Some of us stayed after and got whooped by Derek in Carcasone, which was fun, and then there was the hot tub and the watching of "From Hell".
Today I took Zak back to Oakland, well, because I could. We went and had yummy crepes and then went to comic relief where I had to put out my maximum wattage of will power as it's a HUGE and very cool comic store. I'm back now and then off to go see Interpol tonight at the Warfield.
Being unemployed has it's perks....
| | |
Note to Pumpkin Party Go-ers
The
weather gods look like they might be shining on us for Sunday! But even if they aren;t, come anyway, we'll move it inside if we have to.
Oh, those of you who are smart will bring something to sit on because the weather Gods are not shining on Saturday evening and the ground may be wet. I'll try and pring as much protection as possible, but, as my mom always told me, "you should carry your own, just in case".
Father's age linked to schizophrenia risk
Children born to older fathers are more likely to develop schizophrenia when they grow up, suggests the largest study of the issue to date.
A team of British and Swedish researchers have shown that for each extra decade in a father’s age at the time of his child’s birth, the child is almost 50% more likely to suffer from schizophrenia later in life. [
more]
You can get USB drives that look like sushi
Re: YAY APPLE
Apple HD Cinema Displays work on Windows PC's too.
Again, i say "YAY APPLE!"
Re: Roxio Interview
I was also the first one they interviewed, which can be bad
It also means you're the person by whom they'll be judging all the other candidates, and that can work in your favor!
YAY APPLE
So I had my very favoritest meal at Apple: the grilled cheese and onion rings. MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmm confort food!
Got to see Wendy's office, and the most beautiful monitor I could ever wish for. I may have to convert to Mac just for that.
Had a chai, a walk around the courtyard, and I'm back for some mad relaxing since I have applied for every job on the planet today!
Re: Roxio Interview
So, for all of you that are asking, I think it went well. I liked them and the job so if they offer, I will take it.
I was also the first one they interviewed, which can be bad, as they may forget me. They are going to interview for another week or two and then let me know so we'll just all silently cross our fingers and hope.
Also now have another interview next week at CalCPA in Redwood City so we'll see how that one goes.
Star Wars Debate
You might want to consider stopping when it gets to the "Bonus Animation", just sayin'...
The rest is ....
click.
RE: Torque
Ok. You need to get a job.
Yeah, working on that....
RE: Torque
Ok. You need to get a job. Some people are not ready for unemployment. :-)
Torque
Wow. A masterpiece of cinematic beauty.
It was motorcycle porn, just the way we like it.
On the bright side, I got to see Morgan curl up in the fetal position....
I could get used to this....
Had a yummy lunch with M-ha and Fresh today and I get to go to Apple to see Wendy-Lady tomorrow... I think I could very easily get used to this whole not working thing!
Yeah yeah, I know.... stop being a party pooper!
Too much interesting stuff to post it all
Surprisingly not a Star Wars Post: 'Rebel' stars revealed in Milky Way
Streams of "rebel" stars are blazing new trails to and from our galaxy's centre instead of travelling in circles around it, according to a new study of 6000 nearby stars. The stars appear to be nudged into their new grooves by the Milky Way's spiral arms. [
more]
U.N. to Debate Anti-Cloning Treaty
UNITED NATIONS - The highly contentious issue of cloning is back on the U.N. agenda, with support among member states for a treaty banning human cloning but divisions over the use of human embryos for medical research. [
more]
Interview
Have an interview at Roxio tomorrow at 10 a.m. (ha! Now I can write it any way I want!!!!).
Will keep you posted....
Ren Faire Pics are up
In the photos section if anyone is interested.
Man Offers Own Kidney to Save Business
ROME (Reuters) - A Sicilian entrepreneur has offered to donate parts of his body for organ transplants in an effort to keep his business alive.
"I am ready to donate a kidney, a retina or part of my liver," Giuseppe Schirru was quoted as saying in Italian newspapers Thursday. [
more]
Chocolate Massage, Not Reforms for Mexico Deputies
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Unable to pass meaningful legislation, deputies in Mexico's Congress have been offered a chance to kick back with a full-body chocolate massage. [
more]
Godzilla Gets Hollywood Star
Godzilla will get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a ceremony in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on Nov. 29, the Associated Press reported. [
more]
RE: Unemployment: FAQs
6. Is there anything I can do?
Sure, you can be sympathetic, and supportive. You can send me links to jobs you think I would like. You can have lunch with me when you are available. And, if push comes to shove, you can let me sleep on your couch for a week! :-) (but that's a far cry off!)I have an available guest bedroom. You can stay as long as you can stand it. :-)
Roll to see if I'm getting drunk....
Which Star Wars character are you?
Recruiter called already
with a possible short term gig at Yahoo, which makes me happy taht I am not sending my resume into the void.
I'm not even getting close to excited about it, but if there's work, it starts Monday.
The Kind of Robbers You Don't Mind Seeing
BERLIN (Reuters) - Two clumsy German thieves bungled their bank robbery after one dropped his gun which fell apart when it hit the floor and a customer shouted "it's a fake," prompting them to flee the scene empty handed. [
more]
Love-Making Couple Sparks Police Emergency
LONDON (Reuters) - British police sprang into operation after receiving an emergency '999' phone alert from a woman in apparently in some distress -- only to discover it had accidentally been made by a couple having sex. [
more]
I wonder how often that happens... I mean, that's the drawback of having your emergency line be all one number, right?
Microsoft, Swatch Offer New Wireless Watches
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) and watch maker Swatch (UHR.VX) are offering a new line of wireless data watches, the companies said on Wednesday, bringing the era of Dick Tracy wristwatch radios one step closer.
The watches offer news, sports, weather and stock quotes, among other snippets of content, via Microsoft's MSN Direct wireless data service. Twice the number of information channels of earlier Microsoft-based models are available. [
more]
Keychain Remote Control Turns Off Most TVs
SAN JOSE, Calif. - A lot of people love television but apparently some people have had enough of it, too. A new keychain gadget that lets people turn off most TVs — anywhere from airports to restaurants — is selling at a faster clip than it would take most people to surf the channels on their boob tubes. [
more]
Stone Rolls To Pirates 2?
In a bizarre casting rumor, Yahoo!'s U.K. site reported that Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp has persuaded Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards to join the cast of the sequel films. Depp has previously said he based his quirky performance as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in part on Richards. Now, Richards has agreed to play Sparrow's father in both of the hit movie's forthcoming sequels, which will be shot simultaneously, the site reported.
Richards has reportedly already had a costume fitting in preparation for filming, which is due to start at the end of February and could continue for 11 months.
| | |
Shout out to Kevin and Carl
Who helped me with the resume and website today.
YOU GUYS ROCK!
I have already begun submitting to jobs so we'll see where this goes.
Oh, and I was also informed by HR that they will push through my unemployment, so barring disaster on that front, I should be good through Jan/Feb in the event that this takes as long as last time.
The Gospel Experiment
Head on over to
Jon's Blog and check out "The Gospel Experiment" post. Sarah McLachlan has done a wonderful video and a wonderful thing instead of a video. It's great to know about, and there's a venture to have people donate 8 bucks to try and do what she did.
Go. Now. It's good for your soul. Trust me.
Re: Which File Extension are You?
Which File Extension are You?
Re: Gravity constant called into question
I'm really happy it's rainy today
That makes everything a bit happier.
Farscape: Peacekeeper wars was really great BTW... finally, and ending.
Unemployment: FAQs
1. OMG! Are you ok????
Yep, I'm actually fine. Every now and then I verge on freaking out and then remind myself not to ruin my vacation with stress and panic. I can't do anything but what I am doing.
2. What are you going to do?
Well, I'm going to fix my site and my resume and then look for jobs. At some point I'll go to interviews, and at some point, someone and I will agree that I should work for them.
3. Is money going to be ok?
There's not much I can do about it if it isn't... I have money through rent in December. I will apply for unemployment today as soon as the HR person gets back to me, and that would make life easier if it lasted longer than December. And I have friends and family who love me and will make sure me and the babes are not on the street.
4. What did your mom say?
She was surprisingly cool about it.
5. So, what happened?
See
yesterday's post.
6. Is there anything I can do?
Sure, you can be sympathetic, and supportive. You can send me links to jobs you think I would like. You can have lunch with me when you are available. And, if push comes to shove, you can let me sleep on your couch for a week! :-) (but that's a far cry off!)
SCOOP: Where and when you`ll see the EPISODE III trailer!
So Access Hollywood on Nov. 4 (unconfirmed) and/or The Incredibles on Nov 4 [
more]
Schwarzenegger Says Pro-Bush Speech Cost Him Sex
MONTEREY, Calif. (Reuters) - California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Monday that his speech backing President Bush at the Republican Convention in August resulted in a dramatic cold shoulder from his wife Maria Shriver, a member of the very Democratic Kennedy family.
"Well, there was no sex for 14 days," Schwarzenegger told former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta in an on-stage conversation in front of 1,000 people. "Everything comes with side effects." [
more]
What's Your Power Color?
From Kevin's blog:
Your Power Color Is Gold
You're dependable and hard working. You never miss a deadline - and you're never late.
You have a clear sense of right and wrong. You're very detail oriented.
You get frustrated when your friends are sloppy - or when they don't follow through.
You're on top of things, and you wish that everyone else was!
What's Your Power Color? Take This Quiz :-)
| | |
Joining the ranks of the unemployed
So today was my last day at Stanford.
It wasn't a big surprise when I had my mid-trial-period review and my boss said that my skillset did not match the job description. The official reason was that, while my web skills are solid and I am a very good employee, the job requirements are such that someone with "a few more years of management experience was necessary, they decided."
Which was bullshit.
The job is managing the website, which she just said I was solid at. I had no employees under me. It was just the words she wanted to use while the HR rep was in the room to cover herself. Really, it was because she and I have very different working styles and she knew that while I *loved* working at Stanford, the job was boring for me.
I wasn't about to run around flailing my arms like she did when and image was broken, and I wasn't about to completely panic when the servers went down, because I know better. I know it's faster to fix the problem than freak out and I know that IT is doing it's job and they'll have it back up as soon as they can. They also were going to move everyone to a content management system soon so I would have absolutely no actual web designing to do anymore, which was the only part of the job that I found interesting.
It fundamentally was not a job for a web designer.
There was that, and the day that she snapped at me in a meeting in front of a bunch of people and when I really nicely asked her (in private) not to speak that way to me again, she said "I'm your boss, and I can talk to you any way that I want, and you're just going to have to get over it."
I shut the door and sat back down. I told her that was unacceptable. 2 hours later, I knew this was not the job for me. I believe that conversation led directly to today, but I don't regret a moment of it. I'm never going to let someone talk to me that way, I don't care what their position is. No job is worth that.
Anyway, I'm not all that upset or surprised. I was thinking today about looking for something else anyway. I loved the benefits, and oh how I loved my office, but you know, this stuff happens.
So, I'll be around, actually enjoying my time off. I have enough money through December so I'll start looking, and when I am not, I am not going to worry about it. I have friends, and I have family, and I'll be fine.... For now, I am going to be the one person who revels in being laid off.
Gravity constant called into question
One of nature's venerable constants - gravity - may not be the same for every type of particle in the universe, suggest new calculations. The finding could explain a persistent mystery regarding how much helium was created in the first few minutes after the big bang, say physicists. [
more]
New trees cancel out air pollution cuts
Industry has dramatically cut its emissions of pollutants, called volatile organic compounds. But those cuts have been more than offset by the amount of VOCs churned out by trees.
The revelation challenges the notion that planting trees is a good way to clean up the atmosphere.
When fossil fuels used in industry and automobiles fail to combust completely, they generate VOCs, which react with nitrogen oxides and sunlight to form poisonous ozone in the lower atmosphere. In the past few decades, the introduction of more efficient engines and catalytic converters has dramatically reduced these emissions.
But trees also produce VOCs, which tend to be ignored by scientists modelling the effects of ozone on pollution. So a team led by Drew Purves at Princeton University investigated the impact of newly planted forests on VOC levels in the US. [
more]
Who saw this coming? *raises hand*
Problems Crop Up in Fla. Early Voting
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - With memories of 2000 and the state's bitter fight over ballots still fresh, Floridians began casting votes Monday and within an hour problems cropped up.
In Palm Beach County, the center of the madness during the recount four years ago, a Democratic state legislator said she wasn't given a complete absentee ballot when she asked to opt for paper instead of the electronic touch-screen machines. Several voting sites in Broward County had problems with laptops connected to elections headquarters. And a brief computer system crash in Orange County paralyzing voting in Orlando and its immediate suburbs. [
more]
D&D Is 30
Dungeons & Dragons players gathered in game stores around the country over the weekend to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the grandfather of fantasy role-playing games, the Associated Press reported. [
more]
Prairie Dogs Move Into Cemetery, Bones Move Out
SANTA FE, N.M. (Reuters) - A happy colony of New Mexico prairie dogs hit pay dirt in a cemetery full of historic skeletons, causing grief for town officials who want to protect the final resting place of the state's notables. [
more]
Prostitutes' Soccer Team Loses to Cops
GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - A soccer team made up of Guatemalan prostitutes, formed to call attention to their poor working conditions, lost 3-1 to policewomen on Saturday. [
more]
Re: Bush is cute?!
Y'know, some people
just. shouldn't. vote.But it's probably just a part of Bush's overall
strategery, like what he's got planned with them
Intranets.
p.s. my cousin (the younger one) just called to tell me that she voted absentee for Bush... because, and I am not making this up here, "he's cute."
*thinks about what to say about that for like 5 minutes*
Yeah, I have to go to bed
Why is it that I spend the first full day doing absolutley *nothing* (and I mean, I moved from my bed to the couch and now am about to head back and that's *it*) in like 5 years, and everything interesting hits the TV at 11?
Screw it, I'm gonna read and go to sleep. I didn't want to know about Pharo's conquest of the Hitites anyway...
p.s. my cousin (the younger one) just called to tell me that she voted absentee for Bush... because, and I am not making this up here, "he's cute."
*thinks about what to say about that for like 5 minutes*
Yep, going to bed now.
I'm not Fat, I Just Have an Overabundance of Stem Cells
It turns out that the best source of adult stem cells may be in our fat deposits, which would be great news. It is far easier to get fat -- which people are happy to donate -- than bone marrow or other sources of cells. Also, if we get to the point where we can use our own adult stem cells to create tissues for ourselves when we need them, almost all of use have enough fat cells to donate. While fat stem cells are not a replacement for embryonic stem cells -- which are more versatile, live forever, and can be engineered for experimentation with a host of diseases -- it is an exciting development to know we have a virtually inexhaustible supply of adult stem cells in such an easily accessed, dispensable tissue. [
more]
This site is fabulous. It's like when you track money that you have gotten, but this is way cooler. They encourage you to "release your books into the wild" when you are done with them and watch where they end up. You get a label from them, slap it on a book, and leave it in a public place. Marvelous! I'm going to do this with all of the books i release from now on....
What kind of torture would you be?
Guess...
"Put them in the Iron Maiden!"
"EXCELLENT!"
"Execute them!"
"Bogus."
You enclose your victims in a coffine lined with spikes, piercing choice places like the eyes, liver and kidneys.
Ouch. Ease up on people you're angry with a little. You can't kill them -all-.
What torture would you be?
OddTodd
There's a newish cartoon up on OddTodd:
Hollywood Bound
Very funny - I love the use of the 90210 theme, and Mep finally becomes the porn star he always should have been.
Oh and here's the new game,
Mep Ball, which is worth it even just for the intro.
Best tagline I have seen in a while
Living globally, misbehaving locally.
Octoberfest pics are up
in photos section for anyone that wants to see.
YAY RAIN!!!
Even with a slight hangover, I still managed to go outside for a few and spin around. Kinda scared me that I was very close to singing Hillary Duff songs while I was out there. "Let the rain fall down....."
Vedging out today, preparing the brain for the television event that is The Peacekeeper Wars tonight.
Ahhh, sweet sobriety
Octoberfest was great fun! Had a few too many shots of this very strange substance called
rumple minze which kind of makes you forget that you are drinking really strong alcohol and makes you think you are drinking a sweet and innocent candy cane.
Somewhere along the way, Zak's newly-imported British wife, Lindsay, decided to go in the pool. She lives there so she went in and got her bathing suit on. Once she was in, I stuck my foot in and decided it was really nice. I was sad that I didn't have a suit, but good ol' Zak had some hard to beat logic:
Zak: "Are you wearing underwear?"
me: "I sure hope so"
Zak: "Are you wearing a bra?"
me: *looks* "yes."
Zak: "ok then, you are all set."
Somehow, after the rumple minze and a couple of hornsby's, this seemed completely reasonable, so I stripped down and went in. 1/2 of the rest of the party was spent in a towel because I was deciding if I wanted to go back, and then waiting to dry enough not to have a bikini soaked into my warm clothes.
Young boys are funny because they like boobs a lot, so needless to say, I was pretty popular, seeing as that is one of the assets I have in no short supply.
Anyway, a good time was had by all, I got smooched and groped, and my butt pinched a little more than is normal for me, but whatever, Octoberfest is only once a year...
:-) I'll post some pictures soon. I'm sure there's some in there I don't want to see.
Laughing Bank Clerk Humiliates Robber
ZAGREB, Croatia (Reuters) - A Croatian armed robber abandoned a bank hold up after the cashier laughed at his order to stick 'em up, state news agency Hina reported on Thursday. [
more]
| | |
RE Gonna go for a drive
The drive was good BTW. Went up and over to the 1 via 84 to miss the 92 half moon bay traffic. Got lost in the woods, which was fun, because I knew I was safe, (it's not that big of a forrest), stopped at a beach I was taken to once that has good memories, and watched the sky and the surf.
The sky was a total trip because it was overcast, but not overcast enough to block out the sunset completley, so this red/pink/purple glow waseverywhere. Holes in the clouds made it so you could see really vivid bursts of the light and shafts came down to the water, making it an amazing silver blue color. The effect was of a holy pokadotted sky. It was so odd to watch. I tried to get a picture, but it didn't do it justice thanks to low light levels and a lack of a tripod.
I drove up to San Fransisco and back and then came home, watched some dead like me in the bath and had a good sleep. It's so nice not to have plans.
Oktoberfest at 17A at 4ish if anyone else is interested...
Sleepwalking woman had sex with strangers
Sleep medicine experts have successfully treated a rare case of a woman having sex with strangers while sleepwalking.
The behaviour had disrupted the lives of the woman and her partner. At night while asleep, the middle-aged sleepwalker - who lives in Australia and cannot be identified for reasons of confidentiality - left her house and had sexual intercourse with strangers. The behaviour continued for several months and the woman had no memory of her nocturnal activities. [
more]
I have realized what blog surfing is for
To make me not feel like my life is such a waste.
I can't believe how many people use up their valuable blog space whining about how depressed they are... Post after post of how their lives are meaningless blah blah blah. That's a sure fire way to make sure it stays that way. Get out! Do something! Life will seem better already...
Oh well, serves to make me know I'm not a total looser.
testing phone blog
If this works, i can blog from my phone!
Gonna go for a drive
Up the coast, and check out the sunset from the beaches.
I'll be out of commission for a while....
The Nightmare Before Christmas
It was late one fall in Halloweenland,
and the air had quite a chill.
Against the moon a skeleton sat,
alone upon a hill.
He was tall and thin with a bat bow tie;
Jack Skellington was his name.
He was tired and bored in Halloweenland
"I'm sick of the scaring,
the terror, the fright.
I'm tired of being something
that goes bump in the night.
I'm bored with leering my horrible glances,
And my feet hurt from dancing those skeleton dances.
I don't like graveyards,
and I need something new.
There must be more to life than just yelling,'Boo!'"
Then out from a grave, with a curl and a twist,
Came a whimpering, whining, spectral mist.
It was a little ghost dog, with a faint little bark,
And a jack-o'-lantern nose that glowed in the dark.
It was Jack's dog, Zero, the best friend he had,
But Jack hardly noticed, which made Zero sad.
All that night and through the next day,
Jack wandered and walked.
He was filled with dismay.
Then deep in the forest, just before night,
Jack came upon an amazing sight.
Not twenty feet from the spot where he stood
Were three massive doorways carved in wood.
He stood before them, completely in awe,
His gaze transfixed by one special door.
Entranced and excited, with a slight sense of worry,
Jack opened the door to a white, windy flurry.
Jack didn't know it, but he'd fallen down
In the middle of a place called Christmas Town!
Immersed in the light, Jack was no longer haunted.
He had finally found the feeling he wanted.
And so that his friends wouldn't think him a liar,
He took the present filled stockings that hung by the fire.
He took candy and toys that were stacked on the shelves
And a picture of Santa with all of his elves.
He took lights and ornaments and the star from the tree,
And from the Christmas Town sign, he took the big letter C.
He picked up everything that sparkled or glowed.
He even picked up a handful of snow.
He grabbed it all, and without being seen,
He took it all back to Halloween.
Back in Halloween a group of Jack's peers
Stared in amazement at his Christmas souvenires.
For this wondrous vision none were prepared.
Most were excited, though a few were quite scared!
For the next few days, while it lightninged and thundered,
Jack sat alone and obsessively wondered.
"Why is it they get to spread laughter and cheer
While we stalk the graveyards, spreading panic and fear?
Well, I could be Santa, and I could spread cheer!
Why does he get to do it year after year?"
Outraged by injustice, Jack thought and he thought.
Then he got an idea. "Yes. . .yes. . .why not!"
In Christmas Town, Santa was making some toys
When through the din he heard a soft noise.
He answered the door, and to his surprise,
He saw weird little creatures in strange disguise.
They were altogether ugly and rather petite.
As they opened their sacks, they yelled, "Trick or treat!"
Then a confused Santa was shoved into a sack
And taken to Halloween to see mastermind Jack.
In Halloween everyone gathered once more,
For they'd never seen a Santa before
And as they cautiously gazed at this strange old man,
Jack related to Santa his masterful plan:
"My dear Mr. Claus, I think it's a crime
That you've got to be Santa all of the time!
But now I will give presents, and I will spread cheer.
We're changing places I'm Santa this year.
It is I who will say Merry Christmas to you!
So you may lie in my coffin, creak doors, and yell, 'Boo!'
And please, Mr. Claus, don't think ill of my plan.
For I'll do the best Santa job that I can."
And though Jack and his friends thought they'd do a good job,
Their idea of Christmas was still quite macabre.
They were packed up and ready on Christmas Eve day
When Jack hitched his reindeer to his sleek coffin sleigh,
But on Christmas Eve as they were about to begin,
A Halloween fog slowly rolled in.
Jack said, "We can't leave; this fog's just too think.
There will be no Christmas, and I can't be St. Nick."
Then a small glowing light pierced through the fog.
What could it be?. . .It was Zero, Jack's dog!
Jack said, "Zero, with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
And to be so needed was Zero's great dream,
So he joyously flew to the head of the team.
And as the skeletal sleigh started its ghostly flight,
Jack cackled, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"
'Twas the nightmare before Christmas, and all though the house,
Not a creature was peaceful, not even a mouse.
The stockings all hung by the chimney with care,
When opened that morning would cause quite a scare!
The children, all nestled so snug in their beds,
Would have nightmares of monsters and skeleton heads.
The moon that hung over the new-fallen snow
Cast an eerie pall over the city below,
And Santa Claus's laughter now sounded like groans,
And the jingling bells like chattering bones.
And what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a coffin sleigh with skeleton deer.
And a skeletal driver so ugly and sick
They knew in a moment, this can't be St. Nick!
From house to house, with a true sense of joy,
Jack happily issued each present and toy.
From rooftop to rooftop he jumped and he skipped,
Leaving presents that seemed to be straight from a crypt!
Unaware that the world was in panic and fear,
Jack merrily spread his own brand of cheer.
He visited the house of Susie and Dave;
They got a Gumby and Pokey from the grave.
Then on to the home of little Jane Neeman;
She got a baby doll possessed by a demon.
A monstrous train with tentacle tracks,
A ghoulish puppet wielding an ax,
A man eating plant disguised as a wreath,
And a vampire teddy bear with very sharp teeth.
There were screams of terror, but Jack didn't hear it,
He was much too involved with his own Christmas spirit!
Jack finally looked down from his dark, starry frights
And saw the commotion, the noise, and the light.
"Why, they're celebrating, it looks like such fun!
They're thanking me for the good job that I've done."
But what he thought were fireworks meant as goodwill
Were bullets and missiles intended to kill.
Then amidst the barrage of artillery fire,
Jack urged Zero to go higher and higher.
And away they all flew like the storm of a thistle,
Until they were hit by a well guided missile.
And as they fell on the cemetery, way out of sight,
Was heard, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight."
Jack pulled himself up on a large stone cross,
And from there he reviewed his incredible loss.
"I thought I could be Santa, I had such belief"
Jack was confused and filled with great grief.
Not knowing where to turn, he looked toward the sky,
Then he slumped on the grave and he started to cry.
And as Zero and Jack lay crumpled on the ground,
They suddenly heard a familiar sound.
"My dear Jack," said Santa, "I applaud your intent.
I know wreaking such havoc was not what you meant.
And so you are sad and feeling quite blue,
But taking over Christmas was the wrong thing to do.
I hope you realize Halloween's the right place for you.
There's a lot more, Jack, that I'd like to say,
But now I must hurry, for it's almost Christmas day."
Then he jumped in his sleigh, and with a wink of an eye,
He said, "Merry Christmas," and he bid them good bye.
Back home, Jack was sad, but then, like a dream,
Santa brought Christmas to the land of Halloween.
the end
Written by Tim Burton
Apparently, NASA Needs to stop outsourcing their schematics
Last time it was "It's not my fault Nigel doesn't know the difference between feet and inches" that sent a mars rover or two hurdling into the outer solar system, now we have this:
Backward Drawings May Have Doomed Genesis
LOS ANGELES - The NASA spacecraft that smashed into the Utah desert last month while bringing home fragile samples of the sun may have been doomed by engineering drawings that had been done backwards, an investigating board said Friday. [
more]
Lockheed Martin Astronautics should have to pay for new rovers and new Sun-material catching toys.
Re: OMG...
You know, if the president wins because some idiots cheated...
It'll be just like the 2000 elections, all over again!
How time flys
So I just got an email about my 10 year high school reunion. It doesn't *seem* like 10 years ago... Anyway, I'll see who's going but, for the most part, I had a good time in High School and everyone I talk to now is super cool so it could be really fun. We'll see. Depends on if I can get my "Be Fri" from HS, April, to come with me (she was my "st ends").
Save Martha?
Um, ok.
These people are actually serious. You can write her a note or send money for her commisarry account....
Weekend plans...
Anybody doing anything interesting this weekend?
Aside from Oktoberfest at 17A on Saturday evening (which anyone is welcome to join me for if they are so inclined) and
The Peacekeeper Miniseies start on Sunday night, I have no plans! YAY! After this, it's kinda crazy for a few weeks so I am happy to vedge out, sleep, read, and clean my kittenafied apartment (translate - steam clean my carpets. I had forgotten how awesome hardwood floors were for cleaning purposes until my cats started puking all the time. TMI, I know.)
Anyway, I will be available if anyone wants to sit on my couch and eat cookies and watch Farscape with me on Sunday at 9:00, but you have be quiet until the commercials!
OMG...
Officials in Oregon have launched a criminal investigation after receiving numerous complaints that a Republican-affiliated group was destroying registration forms filed by Democratic voters statewide, Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury told CBSNews.com. [
more]
You know, if the president wins because some idiots cheated... nevermind, I can't even begin to rant about this. Look, if you don't get your info or ballot, call someone. These groups have been doing this all over the country.
Here's more info
Gay marriage on the ballot in 11 states
le Iraq and the economy dominate the national debate this election year, same-sex marriage has emerged as a central issue in 11 states where voters will decide whether to ban such unions. [
more]
It has occured to me that someone stubling upon this blog would see all of my posts about this issue and think I was gay...
Pumpkin Party
BTW, if I didn't make this clear: If you are reading this, and actually know me, and for some reason didn't get an invitation to the world famous Pumpkin Party in the Ghetto this year, you are invited. Formally. Here's your ingraved invitation.
It's Oct 24 at 2:00 at Carl/Morgan/Derrik/Fus/Nate/Amber's house.
If you don't know where that is, call or email me and I'll tell you.
Bring a pumpkin (pre gutted would be cool, but you can do it there too) and some food if you are good at that sort of thing.
It's low budget, so no shirts this year, but it will be fun none the less.
Since it's in the front yard, I am hoping the police will stop by, so I'll have a good story to tell.
*giggle* I'm kidding, don't worry...
Can you tell I don't wanna work today???
MTV2 is now having a Headbanger's Ball
Man, I used to love that show when I was 11... I miss the power of Motley Crue...
*giggle* Anyway,
this is one concert I am going to say "If you wanna go to this one, call someone else" to.
"THE JIGGLY BUTT"
So there was a new foamy yesterday: "
The Jiggly Butt".
At first, I did not like this one because it seemed like filler, and it's about Germaine and her newly discovered Jiggly Butt. Man, how they get a J-Lo style work-it out of Flash, I will never know. Anyway, I digress. The more I watch this one, the more I like it - Foamy even gets pissed off because the script for the cartoon sucks. Anyway, worth 2 minutes of entertainment value, especially at work and especially for you man-people out there.
Garden State
Carl and I went to see Garden State earlier this week. It wasn;t anything like i had imagined it would be. People kept playing it as really funny and as a comedy, but it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, there were funny parts, but it was more one of those movies where you just watch someone's life happen for the weekened. It was worth a viewing definetley, but just don't go into it thinking that it wouls be a comedy. Natalie Portman is brilliant, and seeing Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) have a Jersey accent is really startling - he should be on the Sopranos!
Excellent!
New Line`s new fantasy
Studio picks up magicians-against-Napoleon novel by former cookbook editor
After picking up Phillip Pullman's HIS DARK MATERIALS fantasy franchise and the German series INKHEART, you'd think the studio that struck gold with THE LORD OF THE RINGS movies would take a breather. Nope.
New Line Cinema just picked up the rights to JONATHAN STRANGE & Mr. NORRELL for high-six againt low-seven figures. The bestselling novel, from former cookbook editor Susanna Clarke, follows an English magician and his apprentice as they join the war effort against the guy with the original Napoleon complex -- Napoleon himself -- in the 19th century. And then someone goes too far and tries to bring back the dead...
The book is great so far BTW - I am only 300 pages in, but it's definitely worth picking up.
Annie Get Your Gun
A bunch of us wentto see Annie Get Your Gun at the Saratoga Community Theater last night because a friend/co-worker of mine was in the show). It was actually a really good production - the desearved a better stage. I think my high school theater was much nice than the one the city has there.
Anyway, if you are interested, tickets are cheap and you can get info for this weekend's shows (it's closing weekend)
here. It's great acting and good fun!
Sigh - Bush AWOL As 250 World Leaders Reaffirm Women's Rights
WASHINGTON — With the notable exception of U.S. President George W. Bush, more than 250 global leaders, including former President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, reaffirmed their commitment to a ten-year-old UN plan to ensure the rights of women around the world. [
more]
EPISODE III`s face of evil revealed?
Website publishes photo of what may be the first REVENGE OF THE SITH movie banner [
more]
Man Fights Off Repossessor with Chainsaw
BERLIN (Reuters) - A German man tried to fight off a repossessor with a chainsaw and gasoline bombs before being arrested by police special forces, authorities said Thursday. [
more]
How would you like to have a book dedicated to you?
Or *be* a character in a book?
Well now you can!
Will Shetterly, award-winning author of novels and short stories, is auctioning off 3 dedications and 2 places in his books on eBay.
Check it out.
RE: OhJesusChrist: Son of THE THING?
This is not terribly surprising to me as there has been talk of a Thing sequel for years. I've even read a treatment someone had on the net a while back. I'm sure you could dig it up, if interested. Anyway, as to whether or not it's a good idea or not, welllll it is The SciFi Channel we're talking about here. If there's a bad idea out there, they'll consider producing it. :-)
Google's New Program Searches Hard Drives
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Online search engine leader Google Inc. is setting its sights on the computer desktop with a new software program that promises to scour through the clutter of documents, e-mails, instant messages and other files stored on hard drives.
The free desktop search program, unveiled Thursday at
http://desktop.google.com, marks Google's latest attempt to become even more indispensable to the millions of people who entrust the company to find virtually anything on the Web. [
more]
Hitchhiker Faithful To Adams
Zooey Deschanel, co-star of the upcoming SF movie The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, told SCI FI Wire that the movie will be faithful to the late Douglas Adams' beloved book. "Pretty much everything from the book is included," Deschanel said in an interview. [
more]
Brosnan: No More 007
Pierce Brosnan confirmed to the Toronto Sun newspaper that he did not quit his most famous role as agent James Bond: He was fired. [
more]
No!!!!!!!!!!! This would be rape of all that is sacred from my childhood
I thought this was merely amusing
when I saw it on someone's blog:
"Bush looks like he's watching a stripper when Kerry's talking. He looks like he's watching something sparkly and undulating."
and then I saw him tonight, and you know, he kinda does... so I have no idea what he said, I was too busy laughing... which is probably good because now you all don;t have to read my rant about whatever it was that he did say.
I thought this was merely amusing
when I saw it on someone's blog:
"Bush looks like he's watching a stripper when Kerry's talking. He looks like he's watching something sparkly and undulating."
and then I saw him tonight, and you know, he kinda does... so I have no idea what he said, I was too busy laughing... which is probably good because now you all don;t have to read my rant about whatever it was that he did say.
Ummmmmmmmmmmm...
Bush's "Close Ties" To Neo-Confederate Groups Questioned
Award-winning Southern journal documents Republican front-runner's support of far-right neo-Confederate organizations and causes [
more]
yeah, I'm going to go back to baking my apple pie now and peek out the window again on November 3rd and see where the crumbs fell...
OhJesusChrist: Son of THE THING?
Fangoria is reporting that The Sci Fi Channel's four-hour mini-series based on THE THING -- to be executive produced by SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION writer/director Frank Darabont -- will not be a remake as everyone originally believed it to be. Instead, the website is reporting that the Channel's new THING will be a sequel to John Carpenter's 1982 film! [
more]
Re: Survival of genetic homosexual traits explained
Sounds like the female population of the distant future is doomed to be very sexually frustrated.
FDA Approves Use of Chip in Patients
WASHINGTON - Medical milestone or privacy invasion? A tiny computer chip approved Wednesday for implantation in a patient's arm can speed vital information about a patient's medical history to doctors and hospitals. But critics warn that it could open new ways to imperil the confidentiality of medical records. [
more]
Survival of genetic homosexual traits explained
Genetic factors that contribute to male homosexuality may produce "hyper-heterosexuality" in women, creating more babies [
more]
Sunsets
The sky has been really cool in the evenings latley - if you get the chance, be sure to go outside in the 5:30 - 6:30 range and check it out, yesterday was most beautiful!
High Court Weighs Juvenile Death Penalty
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Wednesday struggled to assess the morality and propriety of states' executing murderers who killed at age 16 or 17 — the ultimate punishment carried out in few places outside the United States. [
more]
Re: Breast Implants for Men -- What's Up with That?
Breast Implants for Men -- What's Up with That?
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Breast implants are becoming more and more popular with a surprising group of Shanghai citizens -- men. [
more]
Old school STAR WARS rules at new fansite
"BeforeTheDarkTimes.com was born specifically in honor of fans who choose to remember the STAR WARS saga for what it once WAS," the webmasters write in the site's forward. "That is, before the enhancements found in the Special Edition.. before the added scenes that now offset music scores and film fluidity.. before the 'Greedo shot first' debacle.. All changes which now allow us to refer to those days as, 'Before the Dark Times'."
You know, I have been watching the new DVD's. I am protesting the rape of the originals by not spending my money on them, but I did want to see them in beautiful DVD quality. It's kinda funny, there are all these scenes that look *so* much better with the cleanup, and then there's all this really simple to clean up stuff that they left, like off color area around starfighters and stuff.
I still think adding all the changes, including CG animals and stuff was kind of lame, but acceptable, as the man with no neck wanted to do it back then, but couldn;t, but I am appalled that he would insert H.C. in to the old films, even for a few seconds. It's just wrong.
Anyway, worth a look, if just to see it in all it's beauty, but I wouldn't drop cash on it if you are a fan of the originals. Netflix is your friend...
Re: Hello Cuthulu
My favorite line (from #10):
Why isn't it possible to choke you with your own incompetance?
*giggle*
Off to yet *ANOTHER* meeting...
When was the last time you could say this?
Duran Duran's new album is out today.
(please note: this is not an endorsement, just a "Whoa - way back machine" comment)
Blech!
Meeting Mania today.
Why did I take a job where I have to go to meetings all the time???
Interview: Sarah Michelle Gellar "The Grudge"
Aboout the movie, what she's up to, that she doesn't want to do a Buffy movie (thank god), etc... [
more]
Americans Win Gold at World Cyber Games
SAN FRANCISCO - Amid fanfare fit for actual world-class athletes, five Americans with really quick fingers took home the gold medal in the popular "Counter Strike" competition of the World Cyber Games championships, capping five days of intense gaming by the world's elite. [
more]
Switching off gene switches off cancer
Cancer cells can revert to harmless cells by switching off a single gene, shows a study of liver cancer in mice. [
more]
'Here I Come to Save the Day...'
EDMOND, Oklahoma (Reuters) - An Oklahoma man desperate to save his marriage by appearing like a hero to his wife ended up in police custody on suspicion of staging a crime where he hired burglars and foiled their fake robbery attempt, police said on Friday. [
more]
Solar Eclipse to Start Thursday, End Wednesday!
A partial solar eclipse will take place next week, oddly ending the day before it begins. [
more]
'Superman' Christopher Reeve Dies at 52
MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. - "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve, who turned personal tragedy into a public crusade and from his wheelchair became the nation's most recognizable spokesman for spinal cord research, has died. He was 52.
Reeve died Sunday of complications from an infection caused by a bedsore. He went into cardiac arrest Saturday, while at his Pound Ridge home, then fell into a coma and died Sunday at a hospital surrounded by his family, his publicist said. [
more]
When I close my eyes
I am at the center of the sun
And I cannot be hurt
By anything this wicked world has done
Black holes haunt ghost particle theory
The theory that claims to solve cosmology’s major mysteries by proposing that empty space is filled with a fluid of ghostly particles may, literally, be going down the cosmic drain. According to the latest calculations, the universe’s black holes would be slurping up any such fluid.
The ghost condensate theory, proposed last year, is a modified form of Einstein’s general theory of relativity. It posits an all-pervading fluid of massless particles that exhibits a repulsive gravity, making it behave like an elastic band that stores more and more energy as it stretches out. [
more]
13 Nights of Fright
So they have the spot up for the Fox movie Channel's "13 Nightsof Fright" with Neil hosting. May be worth just seeing his intros etc..
Anyway,
here's the spot they have now.
Cyberfest
Cyberfest was much fun, as usual. Saw some of Mark Farina, who I dig immensely, and some of Infected Mushroom's set, which was really good.
I'm spending today cleaning up my apartment and life, and generally relaxing. Call if you need anything!
Re: Thanks to the Magical Admin Elf
Thanks to the Magical Admin Elf
Who did the maintenece to the template for me when I was gone!
You rock, whoever you are!
Re: Off to Fight (with) Evil
Happy to announce that I am home and somewhat in tact...
Going to pass out for an hour and then go get W&D to get all of that out of my system with some Cyberfestness!
Night!
Re: Off to Fight (with) Evil
Does it ever seem like I love punnishment to anyone else? (Paduan, don't answer that)<looks around> Whaaaa? I weren't goin to say nuthin!
Pray to whatever God you have for my safe return.Oh, great
Cthulhu, please let Noelle return safely so you might better eat her in the future.
Off to Fight (with) Evil
OK, going to pick up Elizabeth ("ICE!") and then wait in traffic to see Satan.
Does it ever seem like I love punnishment to anyone else? (Paduan, don't answer that)
Pray to whatever God you have for my safe return.
YAY!!!! Universal Translators!!!!
Device translates spoken Japanese and English
A handheld device that enables a user to chat in another language - without having to learn any words or phrases for themselves - has been developed by Japanese electronics firm NEC.
The system is about the size of a handheld PDA and converts spoken Japanese to English and vice versa. It is planned for launch in Japan in the next few months. [
more]
This sure beats a fish in your ear or microbes injected into your blood. It'll take the Star Trek version any day!
Artificial throat speeds taste tests
It swallows, breathes, salivates and knocks back fizzy drinks like there is no tomorrow. It is the latest weapon in food chemistry: the artificial throat. [
more]
I don't even want to know where the perverts are gonna go with this one... Yay for science though!
Study: Stem Cells Emit Healing Molecules
WASHINGTON - Embryonic stem cells may not have to actually grow replacement body parts to be useful. New research suggests these cells also secrete healing molecules powerful enough to reverse a lethal birth defect in mice. [
more]
Californians Not Warm to Schwarzenegger for President
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Washington legislators may be debating amending the Constitution to allow foreign-born presidents, but Californians are not quite ready to make Arnold Schwarzenegger commander-in-chief, a poll on Friday found.
A Field Poll of 600 Californians registered to vote found that just 26 percent would be inclined to vote for their Austrian-born governor should he one day run for president. [
more]
Kepler's Supernova
Mentioned in the History secrion on the right, can be seen at
APOD if you are interested!
Man Burned Alive for Stealing Gas Cannister
LIMA, Peru (Reuters) - Indian peasants burned alive a man accused of stealing a gas canister in the latest outbreak of mob justice in Peru's remote southern Andes. [
more]
Martha Stewart Reports to Jail to Begin Sentence
ALDERSON, W.Va. (Reuters) - Trendsetter Martha Stewart arrived at a minimum-security prison known as "Camp Cupcake" under cover of early morning darkness on Friday to serve a five-month sentence for lying about a stock sale.
Stewart, one of the America's best-known personalities, was subjected to a strip search on arrival and had to squat and cough hard to check for hidden contraband, Federal Bureau of Prisons spokeswoman Carla Wilson said.
For the next five months, she will be known as prisoner No. 55170-054. [
more]
MMmmmmmmmmm
*homer voice* Puuuumkin breaaaad.
Gone till Sunday
BTW, after work tomorrow, I am supposedly heading up to Denise's house with my cousin Elizabeth because Satan will be there. Then, I come beack Saturday, drop off the cuz and pick up Wendy and Dave for a JAunt to Cyberfest, which should be fun, if I am awake enough.
Anyway, I will have cell but won't be in town so probably low communication levels until Sunday.
Hope you guys have a good weekend!
Just in from the den of money suck
I vehemently *HATE* the grocery store.
I have enough food for like a week maybe and somehow am $120 more in debt.
Oh well, at least I can make an apple pie and some pumpkin bread now...
LOL!
Go Fug Yourself has a great comparison of Annette Bening to Clay Aiken today....
Flatulent fish net Ig Nobel award
I had no idea fish could fart...
Farting may be a source of schoolboy humour, but it's a matter of life and death for some fish. So say researchers who have just scooped the Biology Ig Nobel award for their discovery that herring may use flatulence as a danger signal. [
more]
Accused Killer Elected Mayor and Freed
RASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - A Brazilian rancher accused of ordering the killing of four government agents inspecting claims of slavery has been released from jail after being elected mayor of his home town. [
more]
A Girl's Guide to Geek Guys
Why Geek Dudes Rule
• They are generally available.
• Other women will tend not to steal them.
• They can fix things.
• Your parents will love them.
• They're smart.
[
more]
Two more TOY STORYs to be told
U.S. Report Finds No Evidence of Iraq WMD
WASHINGTON - Contradicting the main argument for a war that has cost more than 1,000 American lives, the top U.S. arms inspector reported Wednesday that he found no evidence that Iraq produced any weapons of mass destruction after 1991. He also concluded that Saddam Hussein's weapons capability weakened during a dozen years of U.N. sanctions before the U.S. invasion last year. [
more]
Comic Rodney Dangerfield dies in L.A. at age 82
LOS ANGELES(Reuters) - Rodney Dangerfield, the goggle-eyed comic famed for his self-deprecating one-liners and signature phrase "I can't get no respect," died Tuesday at age 82, his spokesman said. [
more]
Frog glue repairs damaged cartilage
A sticky substance secreted from glands on the back of two little-known species of burrowing Australian frog has been used to repair torn cartilage in the knees of sheep. [
more]
Clean green cars move one step closer
A new generation of cheaper and more efficient hydrogen fuel cells may bring the environmentalists’ dream of affordable, green cars one step closer to reality. [
more]
Man, 72, Marries for the 53rd Time
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A 72-year-old Malaysian man married this week for the 53rd time and insisted he was no playboy despite some marriages lasting just days. [
more]
House OKs Bill Imposing 'Spyware' Fines
WASHINGTON - Companies and others that secretly install "spyware" programs on people's computers to quietly monitor their Internet activities would face hefty federal fines under a bill the House passed Tuesday. [
more]
Phantom of teh Opera (the movie) Trailer up
Here.
Don't be fooled by that big "enter flash site" on the page, it doesn't work, but below it are links to thinks that do, including the trailer!
Kevin is employed!
He sent:
Starting Monday morning, I work for the Oakland Tribune (et al) as a Web
Producer II (I think)!
YAY! And congrats!!! That was very fast!
Apparently I have nothing to say today
Tax on Men for Violence on Women Proposed
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A group of Swedish parliamentarians proposed levying a "man tax" to cover the social cost of violence against women. [
more]
I thought it couldn't possibly be true
new halo 8
I can hear the crickets chirping to this news item, but none the less...
SACD halo 8
The B-Side disc with this one has some good stuff, though the only previously unreleased tracks are the last 3.
DVD halo 8
This is the new CD-DVD hybred format.
More info on these releases and news on the
DVD version of halo 11 (which was previously a VHS release) can be found
here (the news item just below the current one is a bit interesting as well... d'oh).
'Humming' Sex Toy Shuts Airport
SYDNEY (Reuters) - A vibrating sex toy in a rubbish bin sparked a security scare and shut a regional Australian airport for almost an hour, officials said on Monday. [
more]
Narrator : Was it ticking?
Airport Security Officer : Actually throwers don't worry about ticking 'cause modern bombs don't tick.
Narrator : Sorry, throwers?
Airport Security Officer : Baggage handlers. But, when a suitcase vibrates, then the throwers gotta call the police.
Narrator : My suitcase was vibrating?
Airport Security Officer : Nine times out of ten it's an electric razor, but every once in a while...
[whispering]
Airport Security Officer : it's a dildo. Of course it's company policy never to, imply ownership in the event of a dildo... always use the indefinite article "a dildo", never "your dildo".
Narrator : I don't own...
Man Mistakenly Cuts Off Penis, Dog Eats It
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - A elderly Romanian man mistook his penis for a chicken's neck, cut it off and his dog rushed up and ate it, the state Rompres news agency said Monday. [
more]
My jaw dropped when I read this one... It hasn't closed yet.
Rocket Wins $10M Prize for Trip to Space
MOJAVE, Calif. - A stout, star-spangled rocket plane broke through the Earth's atmosphere to the edge of space Monday for the second time in five days, capturing a $10 million prize aimed at opening the final frontier to tourists. [
more]
My brain hurts to think that this might happen
Man Attacked by Brain Sucking Soccer Ball
Why wont anyone help this
guy?
Meeting Madness
I have an obscene amount of meetings today... Pray for my sanity.
Myst IV Ships
Ubisoft announced that it has shipped Myst IV Revelation, the lastest sequel to the groundbreaking PC game Myst, to retailers. [
more]
Woo Takes On He-Man
John Woo (Paycheck) is set to produce and direct He-Man, a new live-action film based on Mattel's Masters of the Universe toys and the animated series they inspired, Variety reported. Adam Rifkin (Small Soldiers) will adapt the screenplay.
The Fox 2000 film will be the second featuring the character of He-Man. Dolph Lundgren starred as the half-human, half-Eternian warrior in the 1987 film Masters of the Universe, which also featured Frank Langella as He-Man's evil nemesis, Skeletor. The cast has not yet been announced for the upcoming film.
Mirrormask
Pseudo trailer up for your viewing pleasure. More just a bunch of images from the film, but very col to see none the less!
More Weekend News
Ren Faire was fun, but gluttonous. Probably will take some years off before I go again because it's all the smae year after year and less and less fun. Although, the addition of real jousting equiptment, rather than break-away lances, and the possibility of hospitalization, which happened the day before we went, does make for a more interesting tournament.
Chris's Dinner was yummy and fun - and another round of gluttony for the 12 that went.
I watched Freaky Friday this weekend, which was actually pretty good, if you like the Disney, feel-good type of flick. Very cute.
Ummmm, I think that's the recap of everything at this point. I'm very tired, ready for bed, and possibly not to eat for the next several days. Hope you all had a good weekend.
News from the weekend
Vest is almost done!
Annie Lennox was beautiful and perfect.
Sting was beautiful and perfect!
I am somehow going to Metallica.
I am gladly going to see Manson!
Now off to Ren Faire....
Mount St. Helens Erupts After 18 Years
MOUNT ST. HELENS, Wash. - Mount St. Helens, the volcano that blew its top with cataclysmic force in 1980, erupted for the first time in 18 years Friday, belching a huge column of white steam and ash after days of rumblings. [
more]
More cool stuff done with Illustrator
Prisoners Break Out in Song -- Literally
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Ten Kenyan prisoners broke out of a police cell by singing hymns and chanting prayers to drown the sound of their escape, a newspaper reported Friday. [
more]
3 Polls Show Kerry Won Debate Over Bush
Three post-debate polls suggested voters who watched the policy-driven confrontation Thursday night were impressed by Kerry. Most of those surveyed said he did better than Bush. [
more]
