What a year it’s been….

2008 is about to be no more.  In no particular order, here’s some of what happened:

• I moved in with my brother.  Again.
• The Mariners sucked.  Even shit-canning the manager in the middle of the season didn’t do much to bring in wins.  Then again, when you’re in The New World Order (Mind-Control Division), you’re main purpose is not to play baseball.  Shiny Side Out!
• The Seahawks sucked even worse.  But unlike the Lions, they at least won 3 games.
• My computer died.  And I got a new one to replace it.
• I cancelled my AT&T WorldNet account.  Soon after I cancelled, AT&T shut down their internal newsgroups, and fired Gage & Nick.
• I found out the hard way that there are some pharmacy techs who can’t read, but I eventually got that straightened out.  And some tech probably got ripped a new one as a result.
• Firefox 3 came out.
• Google Chrome was released.
• Obama got elected.  For the first time ever, the leader of the free world will not be a white male draft dodger….
• Micheal Phelps got so much gold in Beijing that Fort Knox got jealous.
• I finally got all the ManBearPig references on Fark.  And I’m being super cereal about it….
• When it comes to my cell phone, I started the year with a Samsung T619.  Then my boss sold me his Motorola Z3.  Then he sold me his T-Mobile Shadow.  I sold the Z3, and the Samsung T619 is now being used by my sister.
• The Sonics moved to Oklahoma City.  And they still sucked…

I could go on and on, but I’m just too lazy….

Technorati Tags: Seahawks,The New World Order (Mind-Control Division),Firefox 3,Google Chrome,AT&T WorldNet,ManBearPig,and what-not

Missing

It’s been over 17 years since Freddie Mercury passed on.  I didn’t have cable (let alone MTV) until well after the network Jumped The Shark and stopped airing videos.  Thank the Maker for youtube:

Brian May (who’s now a PhD, btw) is still the guitar player to compare to.  I’d hate to see his stuff show in the Guitar Hero games.  Nobody would be able to beat the level…

Technorati Tags: Queen,Music

Yet another catch-up post……

Yes, I know it’s been awhile but sometimes, the Real Life intervenes, and I’m unable to post as often as I want to.  So let’s get started (in no particular order):

• Christmas has come & gone.  There were two family events.  My extended family (aunts & uncles, cousins, Grandma Bryant, etc…. on Christmas Eve), and my siblings and parents were scheduled to have the gathering on the Sunday before Christmas. I made it to the former, but once again I missed the latter because of $day-job, I know it’s not all about the presents, but much plunder was achieved.  This year, I scored:
1. 2 Target gift cards.  I also shop at Wally World but Target’s closer.  I gave a Target gift card as well (I figure if your gift recipient can’t find what they want at Target, then they don’t deserve it…)
2. Some sugar-free life savers.
3. A Subway gift card. 
4. And a hooded sweatshirt from my boss.
5. Batteries (I have all the gadgets I need already).
• My roommate (aka my brother) collectively scored:
1. A toaster (haven’t had toast in over a year…)
2. A screwdriver set.
3. But the Big Gift we got this year was a coffee maker.  Now I can OD on caffeine and have hallucinations of The Underpants Gnomes trying to take my shorts in the comfort of my own home.
• I discovered quite accidentally that my new computer has a headphone jack.  Currently the sound output is split, one going to my computer speakers, and the other going to my stereo, which usually has my headphones plugged in.  BTW, my stereo is still louder than my sound card.  Go figure….
• My new computer has a very recently manufactured motherboard.  And it still has a slot for a floppy drive.  Too bad the floppy drive from my old computer doesn’t want to fit with the drive screws.
• The Detroit Lions are still that bad.  You actually have to deliberately try to go 0-17.  At least they’ll have a good draft choice next year.  Although I’d have to give my condolences to the poor college star who’s going to lose a very promising NFL career….
• We’ve had some really bad weather this year.  First came some snow.  It stuck around.  Then came more snow.  And more snow.  My apartment is two blocks away from a major arterial which is the first to get plowed and sanded.  But, it’s kinda sorta a wee bit difficult to get there when there’s at least two inches of ice in the apartment parking lot.
• After the snow and the cold came the rain.  Cold running water melts ice surprisingly fast…..
• No matter how short handed you are & no matter how soon you need to hire somebody, never skip the job interview.  You’ll regret it.
• When it comes to conversations in the workplace, there are a few subjects too avoid:
• Politics. 
• Religion (that whole separation of church and state thing also works great in the workplace).
• How your co-workers can enhance their anatomy (you know you’re in for a rough ride when the new girl you hired tells you she wants to get implants.  On her first day on the job). 

Well, that’s it for now. 

Technorati Tags: My Computer,Seahawks,Football,Weather,Target,Wally World,Office Antics

Ten years in the making (and how’d they do that…..)

The International Space Station is 10 years old today.  To make things interesting, here’s how they’re building it.

Spin the Dreidel! Light the Menorah!

OK, so Hanukah started yesterday.  I was going to blog it, but my cell phone decided not to cooperate with me.  Anyway, it was also my boss’s birthday (I actually work for a married couple).  And It was my cousin’s birthday (Happy belated Birthday, Tomara), too. 

Technorati Tags: Various and Sundry Birthdays I couln't post about yesterday...

It time to gather ‘round the pole

Today is Festivus.  Now is the time to gather around the pole and air the grievances & engage in the feat of strength.  The way I figure it, you can celebrate Festivus and Christmas.  With all the crass and commercialism of Christmas, it’s a good balance.  Then again, one could just hope that Christians would just celebrate it as the Christian holiday, rather than the pagan winter solstice that it’s usurped (in fact, most of the supposed Christmas customs actually have pagan origins).  I have nothing wrong with that all.  In fact, I always that the best to celebrate Christmas in to sacrifice a Christian….

Technorati Tags: Festivus,Holiday

It's winter solstice!

Have a Happy Godless Pagan Holiday today. Just make sure you remember to sacrifice a Christian…

Just another quick note/reminder

When troubleshooting sound issues in your computer, it does occasionally help to check that you actually plugged the speakers in…..

Yet another bunch of random stuff….

This is in part, a make-up post from my old computer being on the fritz, and I wasn’t posting as often as I would.  But here we go:

1. The Detroit Lions are so bad that they can’t even maul Christians…
2. Corona Beer tastes like Piss.
3. Judging from the Magic Blue Smoke I saw coming off of my old computer tonight, I don’t think it will ever work again.  I think I’ll strip it for parts, and see what I can get selling them.
4. It’s cold outside.  I think it’s because Hell froze over from The Seahawks winning on Sunday.
5. It’s never a good thing when you go to the pharmacy to get you prescriptions refilled, and you get the wrong persons’ prescription.  Correct me if I’m being delusional, but I do think that all pharmacy technicians should know how to read….
6. This is the first time in two months I can play Flight Simulator, and MechWarrior, and SimCity, and all manner of my various and sundry games that I couldn’t play due to not having a functional computer (see my previous post).
7. I wouldn’t say my family is dysfunctional, but this was the happiest Thanksgiving we celebrated.  The only difference was that Mom wasn’t there.
8. Screw the Christmas Tree.  I want a Festivus Pole.

Technorati Tags: Football,Seahawks,Lions

Whew! (or how I got my new computer)

My old computer started going on the fritz a month and a half ago.  Random failures, and the occasional reboot loop when I tried to start up. At first I thought it was a Windows bug, and I tried to format and reinstall everything, and the same problems resumed.  I finally figured out it was either a bad power supply, video card, or motherboard.  Either way, it would be cheaper to replace the entire computer than it would to fix it.  My boss was looking for an upgrade to his computer, and he offered it to me for $300.00.  So I gave him the cash, and then he said let’s go to EBay and find him a new one.  We found a computer for him, but the only catch was that he forgot his EBay password, so I had to buy it for him.  So, his money got put back into my account, and I hit the ‘buy-it-now’ button, and placed the order.  After 4 days, I contacted the seller, and asked why it hadn’t shipped.  The seller responded by giving me my money back (along with a message of something about a defective motherboard).  So. my boss and I went back to EBay again, and we didn’t find anything for him.  But I found something I wanted.  So I ordered it.  It took 10 days to ship it (a look at the system log indicates that Windows wasn’t even installed until a week after I won the auction).  But long story short it arrived and I’m now all moved in (all my software and games).  Here are some features/differences:

• First, a P4 (3.0 gigahertz processor) vs, a P3 (866 megahertz).  Stuff is a lot faster now.
• 2 gigabytes of memory (my old one had only 512 megabytes).
• The front side bus is fast (my other one was only 133 megahertz).  I don’t how fast it is, but I’m willing to speculate that it’s close to my old computer’s processor.
• A PCI-e slot.  My old computer had an AGP port, that I was running a Radeon 9250.  A crappy and Piss Poor card, but it had one advantage: I could run two monitors.  I don’t have a PCI-e card, yet.  So I guess I have to make do with the 512 mb onboard graphics, which isn’t bad.  But, it only drives one monitor….
• Windows XP Pro.  My last computer came with WinME installed on my computer, and I very rapidly became acquianted with all of Gateway Tech Support staff.  I also learned the hard way how to fix most computer problems.  Which does come in handy.  When you call most Tech Support departments, your call is routed to India.  My boss is from India.  He now comes to me for all his IT needs.  But this is still kind of like learning to swim by diving straight into the ocean…..  I did eventually upgrade to XP home after a year with ME, but still I like to have XP Pro.
• I could also go on about the 250 gig hard drive, but the only caveat is that the new drive is SATA, whereas all my other hard drives where IDE.  I see an empty slot that looks like it’s for a ribbon cable, but I just bought this computer, and I don’t want to break it at least until I pay it off (although it is ironic that my old computer broke right as I paid it off….).

And some issues I see with it already:

• Only two PCI slots.  Granted the sound, graphics, and network are onboard the motherboard and are integrated, that still leaves very little room for adding future components.  Then again, I don’t think there’s very much more to add.  I’ve already put my old TV tuner in, and my add my old WI-FI card, too.
• It was advertised with MS Office.  This is a non-issue for me, since I had Office XP Standard.  But when I got my computer, I noticed that Office 2007 had been installed.  I suspect that it may be pirated, but I’ve also taken it through Microsoft Update, and The Anti-Christ hasn’t given me any rude warnings about it.  I’ll just continue using it, and keep my previous version of Office (which was legally purchased from a reputable retailer), in case it becomes an issue.  Anyway, it didn’t come with a reinstall disc, so it’ll be gone at the next system wipe.  In fact, the only back-up I got was the windows disc, and a driver disc for the motherboard).

Technorati Tags: The Anti-Christ,My Computer,EBay

I know why it's snowing so bad outside.

Hell has frozen over. The Seahawks won today.

Mental Note

Remind brother-in-law to stop blowing up boxes of Frosted Flakes…

Do Not Panic, Nothing to see here

Never mind me.  And never mind this post, either.  Boss at $day-job brought her WI-FI enabled laptop to work, and since I have a few minutes to kill (and I have internet access), I can screw around on the internet.  The only problem is that it's a wimpy, girlie-man Mac.  But then again, I have genuine web access at work (which almost never happens.  And my phone doesn't count, either)....

They’re back…

The latest rumor to be hears on the internets:  The Smiths are reforming.  Normally I would put this in the jumping the shark category, and suggest that Ted McGinley or cousin Oliver be added to the line-up.  But then I think to myself: The Smiths were actually one of the few good bands to come out of the ‘80s.  Johnny Marr is up there with Brian May (from Queen) and Kirk Hammond (from Metallica) when it comes to guitar skills.

Anyway see for yourself:

Yes, I know.  This is just a half-arsed excuse to post another music video…

Technorati Tags: The Smiths

A new way to get to work

Some people take their cars.  Some take the train.  Some take the bus (like I do).  Or, you could take a Formula 1 car…..

Technorati Tags: Formula 1

Finally

I now have a working computer again.  Found a cheap one on Ebay.  I would say by the processor speed that it’s a couple of years old, but still the front side bus is almost as fast as my processor in the old one (which is being stripped down for parts).  I just need to find a new video card (I can’t stand having only one monitor), but that’ll be a few paychecks away, anyway…

And I just called in to work on short notice again….

Technorati Tags: My computer,Work

Everybody Panic!!!

Taken from the I-5/SR 512 park & ride on my way to work tonight. I know these clouds are the result of winds trying to go over Mt. Raineer, but still, this is the most dangerous volcano in America, if it goes, we're all farked…

Good things still happen….

First Ann Coulter has to have her jaw wired shut, and now Rachel Ray is having vocal cord surgery….

I do like to watch 30 minute meals, but Rachel, your set of pipes can really get on one’s nerves. 

I’m still here

I haven’t gone off anywhere.  I’m just not posting until my new computer arrives.  Nothing personal, but there really isn’t the motivation to post when you try to turn the computer on and there’s a 50/50 chance that it may or may not turn on…

Fading…

I bought my computer right before the 2000 election. In the eight years I had it, it has gone through many upgrades and replacements. The only original parts left were the floppy drive, and a DVD-rom drive. Now the power of the eldar is fading from it. It is dying. If I can get it to boot at all, it is only after several reboot cycles. I don't know what the issue is. It could be bad RAM, a power supply going under, or the video card is attempting to snuff it. Anyway, it's going to be cheaper to replace the whole thing than it is to try and figure out what's wrong with it. On the bright side, my boss has decided he deserves an upgrade, which means I can get his computer dirt cheap.

EDIT: I found another computer on EBay for about the same price that my boss wants for his. Nothing personal, but when I see a better item for a lower price, I’m going for it….

One of my favorite things…

Is going to bed with the sound of rain hitting the roof. Just as long as the roof isn't leaking...

Nothing to see here. Move along. Again

Well, wouldn't you know.  Blogger works in Google Chrome.  Who coulda figured it out?

Good Morning People

Saw this on the way to work this morning. With all the rain we've had of late, it should brighten somebody's day. But then again, I am working on a Saturday…

You know it's bad…

You know it's bad when you live in an area that gets a lot of rain (thereby being used to it). And then the weather forecaster says the word firehose. Someone (I think it was Northwest Cable News) was saying 8 inches of rain in some parts of the great Pacific Northwet…

Technorati Tags: Weather

What Video Game Are You?

Take the quiz here.


Which Classic Arcade Game Are You?

Personality Quiz, Video Games

Hail to the chief

I'm watching the election coverage on NBC. Obama has taken it. And yes, I will admit it: I voted for him. Hail to the chief.

It's official

My computer is pretty much dead. I don't know what killed it, be it motherboard, hard drive, video card or memory. Fortunately, before it went belly up on me, I had just backed up all my data to my second hard drive, so it's all intact. I just need a new computer. I might be able to salvage some components out of my old tower, though I doubt much now. At least my cell phone does internet and email…

Edit: Once again, for the third time this week, I wiped the drive, and reinstalled windows. Again. This time, I also literally tore my computer apart (disconnected everything). Then I reseated everything. So far, I’ve had no issues. Yet. I’m beginning to think that it is my power supply that’s going south on me…

Technorati Tags: Which windows update fückered up my computer?

Presidential Prediction

With election day tomorrow, a prediction has been made.  If the Washington Redskins win their last home game before the election, then the incumbent party will remain in the white house.  However if they lose, then there will surely be a regime change at 1600 Pennsylvania ave.

Guess what happened tonight.  The Steelers cut off the Redskins' balls and handed them to them on a silver platter.

The NFL has predicted that Barack Obama will take the white house.

Technorati Tags: Football,Politics,Election Predictions

The Seahawks

The Seahawks suck.  Big time.  Yesterday the punter took more snaps than the quarterback.  The offense can't put points on the board.  And the defense can't stop the big plays.  Much can be said about key players getting injured, but that can only go so far.  You have to play the hand you're dealt.

So, I've been thinking about it, and I've a few ideas to help the Seahawks return to winning:

1. Install a pillory in the parking lot at Qwest Field.  The next time the hawks get their balls handed to them, distribute Various & Sundry rotting vegetation to the Seahawks fans.  Then, put Mike Holmgren in said pillory before the fans are let out of the stadium.
2. If they keep losing, threaten to change the team name to the Cougars.
3. Institute a daily tot of rum to all healthy players.  Except for Koren Robinson.  He's better off sober. This should motivate the injured players to get healthy...
4. Make uderperforming players sit in the aforementioned pillory...
5. Start cutting starters in mid-season.  If they're not performing, shit-can 'em.  The fear of one's own job is a swift and stern motivator to improve performance.
6. Make the punter's salary on a per-kick basis.  Then make the offensive starters pay it.  Personally.  More motivation to stay on the field, and therefore score points.
7. Offer a cash reward for sacks, tackles for loss, and fumbles forced.
8. Base the offense's salaries on net yards gained and points scored.

And finally, if they still don't win:

• Offer the team to Oklahoma City....

Technorati Tags: The Seattle Seahawks,Football,Mike Holmgren in a pillory.

Let's sing

The tin-foil hat song.  Just remember people, Shiny Side Out!  With all the threats out there, you can never be too secure.  I really recommend this, even when you're not at the computer.  At least the Phillies won the World Series, and so we don't have to worry about The New World Order (Mind-Control Division) and their nefarious intentions....

Technorati Tags: The New World Order (Mind-Control Divison),Tin-Foil Hats

<Many Censorings Go Here>...

Don't you wish The Anti-Christ wouldn't do such a farking half-assed job? I'm still having problems with my computer going into a reboot loop when I turn it on (as documented here). At first I thought it was a bad network card, so I took it out, and was just using Wi-Fi to connect. I could get the computer to boot up at first, but then I started having problems again.  Analysis of the error logs led me to believe that a video driver was the culprit.  So I went to uninstall the driver and install another one I knew to work, and of course my computer hung.  So finally I nuked my computer from orbit last night.  This is why I have two hard drives.  It makes backing files up so much easier.  Then again, if The Anti-Christ wouldn't do such a half-assed job to begin with then maybe I wouldn't have this problem....

Technorati Tags: The Anti-Christ,My Computer

Totally illogical

Scientists have found a solar system around Epsilon Eridani.  You may also know it the planet Vulcan….

Live long and prosper, people.

Technorati Tags: Vulcan,Star Trek

For my sister…..

My sister has posted in her blog that she’s a product and casualty of the 80's.  She’s only a couple of years older than I am, so I must be a product of the 80’s as well.  If you took a look at my mp3 collection, you’ll notice that the majority of my music comes from the mid-80’s to the mid-90’s.

Anyway, this is for my sister…..

Technorati Tags: My sister,the 80's

A note the Tampa PItching

While this is The New World Order (Mind-Control Division), still it usually not good to pitch batting practice during the game. Weel it, could be worse.  At least the Yankees aren’t in it…..

Yes I am rooting for Philadelphia….

 

EDIT: yes, I know I can’t spell.  Spelling errors are left here by design.  If you don’t like it, then keep a bottle of white-out by your monitor….

Technorati Tags: The World Series,The New World Order (Mind-Control Divison)

All is well

During Football season, I usually end up working Sundays (I usually work on Sundays).  But last week, my boss offered me Sunday off if I covered his shift).  It meant working a 12 hour day, but this cloud has a silver lining: I saw the Seahawks finally win today.  In convincing fashion. 

Technorati Tags: Football,Seahawks

I scare people…

My boss brought her husband and her two kids in today (you can get away with that when you own the business). Maybe it's just the age of the kids, but they're both completely frightened of me. I know I may not have the best looks around, but seriously, am I that bad of an ogre? On the bright side, Halloween is coming up…

Technorati Tags: Scaring your boss' children

Stuck at work again...

A paycheck in my account. A Starbucks quadruple shot latte in my hand. And only 9 more hours to go. At least my job's location is sufficiently close to Starbucks that I can get Wi-Fi here. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a latte to finish, and The Underpants Gnomes to drive away…

Technorati Tags: Starbucks,The Underpants Gnomes

Ugh…

Yesterday was my day off. One of my former employers called and said he bought a used computer at auction and wanted me to look at at it. So I go to his house, and he has a good computer, but it needs to be patched and I tell him what should be done with it, and I should take it home with me to work on (something I've done before with his computers). Then he also sends his other box home with me as well to 'nuke it from orbit.' I get them home, and I turn mine on to check my email, and lo! it doesn't want to turn on. Booting to recovery console and using System Restore don't work, so I boot to safe mode and copy all my documents to my second hard drive so I can nuke it (it's probably a borken driver, but I don't have the patience to troubleshoot it). So that's 3 computers that I have to repair right away. Then I get to work today, and my current boss tells me that their computer is malfunctioning, and her husband's cousin has two that are out of order, as well. Total number of computers that yours truly has to fix: 6. If you're computer literate, then take my advice: DON'T TELL A SOUL! You'll never have a real day off again…  This is some sure quality work from The Anti-Christ.

Edit: It was just a network card that went bad.   I simply removed it (it’s not really necessary since I have Wi-Fi in the apartment, and a Wi-Fi card in the tower as well).   Anyone want a broken Ethernet card?

Technorati Tags: The Anti-Christ,My Computer

The Die Is Cast

I vote by absentee ballot (kinda sorta the only way to go for me, since I don't drive). The biggest advantage I see from it, aside from the aforementioned transportation issues, is that I can vote at my leisure, and take my time to think over each candidate and/or issue. I've been a registered voter since 1991 (and duly impressed my government and society teacher in high school that I was already a registered voter), and I've voted in every presidential election since 1992. 2008 will be no exception. My absentee ballot arrived today, and I've already voted and it will go in the mail come Monday. In a future post, I may tell who I voted for, but for now all I will say is to go and vote according to your conscience. Something the past two elections have taught is that every vote counts, and the vote you do not cast may cost the election for your cause or candidate.

Technorati Tags: voting

As you may or may not know…

I take a very dim view on political advertising. Especially over the phone. And I hold the dog shit I step in on the way to work this morning in higher esteem than the robo-calls. So, I was not at all thrilled this morning when I got two. If you're running for office, the only guarantee that robo-calling me will being is that I will vote for your opponent. I don't give a flying lawyer's ass what your opponent has said or done. It's all about the issues. And your stand on them. Anything else is a waste of my time. And that's a commodity that you don't have…

Technorati Tags: robo-calls,politics

The smear campaigns continue…

Ok, I called bullshit on the governor’s race a few weeks ago, and the smearing still continues on both sides, unabated.  When are politicians going to learn the fundamental truth we learned as children: if you can’t say anything nice about someone, then shut your fucking pie-hole!  And another thing: there’s this thing called the truth.  For some reason, it becomes an exceedingly rare commodity.  It seems that politicians will say anything to get your vote, and then immediately and conveniently forget what they’ve promised.

Politicians.  They’re all liars.  Every last on of them.

In Washington state at least, the Presidential campaign commercials have started.  If it’s any consolation, maybe the local politicians will shut the fark up….

Technorati Tags: Politics

To out a little perspective on it…

The $700 billion package the congress based last week is only about one third of what retirement funds have lost so far… The economy's bad, but it could be a lot worse. Your money is still safe in the bank (unlike the Great Depression and various and sundry other financial crises where if your bank failed, your savings usually went with it…). In fact, that's what did WaMu in, people packing and pulling their money out, which only exacerbated the problem. There needs to be a fundamental change in the economy, in people's lifestyles. We need to start living within our means. Debt is evil. You can live large now, but eventually you're going to have to pay the piper.

Technorati Tags: The economy

Everybody Panic!

An asteroid is coming. OK, so it’s only a few meters in size, will only release 1 kiloton of TNT’s worth of energy, and will be completely vaporized in the Earth’s atmosphere.  But still there’s a very real possibility of the unthinkable: and Aerosmith power ballad….

Technorati Tags: Asteriods,Aerosmith

Another rainy day off

It's my day off.  And it's raining, as usual....

And Monday Night Football is on.  It’s gone down the toilet since ESPN took it over, but it’s the only NFL Game I can watch this week.  Maybe I should stop taunting my boss for being a Raiders fan, and I’ll see more Sundays off, but I can’t help myself.  The Raiders just suck, and my boss is just an idiot….  Cricket season starts in a couple of weeks, and I will have something else to taunt him about (my boss is from India, and is a big cricket fan.  India's national cricket team, like the Raiders, sucks as well).

Anyway, it’s in the first quarter of the game, and it looks like the Vikings are going to get raped and pillaged again.  Then again, they just blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown….

The Seahawks got massacred yesterday.  That’s all I can say about it.  The referee shoulda stopped the match before they got hurt.  I’m just glad nobody got hurt playing BYE last week.  And where’s the defense.  The offense will eventually put points on the board, but it's really the defense that'll win the game...

And in The New World Order (Mind-Control Division): The Yankees shit-canned Joe Torre.  He still made it to the play-offs.  The Yankees didn't.  The Yankees are idiots (sorry, Igwanarob, but that's the truth...).  But, then again, the Mariners pretty got their asses handed to them on silver platters this year (at least they'll have a good draft pick next year....)

Technorati Tags: Igwanarob,The New World Order (Mind-Control) Division,Raiders,Seahawks,Mariners,Football

My bus is being towed!

While I'm still in it… And courtesy of the Washington State Patrol, we're now the cause of tonight's traffic back-up.

EDIT: you may not see it, but there was a tow truck outside of the windshield….

Technorati Tags: soundtransit

So I'm on the bus

And the bus just blew an engine. Right now I'm stuck on northbound I-5 waiting for another bus. Did I mention that I hate Mondays?

Technorati Tags: Soundtransit

So, you want to interview Sarah Palin?

Sarah Palin.  Governor of Alaska.  The Republican nominee for Vice President.  Total Airhead.  So, you want to interview her, but from some reason you can’t (logistical issues, that pesky secret service detail, etc.).  Don’t worry, the internet has got you covered: introducing the Sarah Palin interview generator.  If can’t interview her, make something up.  You’ll probably make more sense than her, anyway…

Technorati Tags: Sarah Palin

Do Not Panic

Ok, so the economy’s in the toilet.  WaMu has failed (but, take heart.  The only people to get screwed on it were the shareholders).  It’s not like the great depression.  But there are going to be some changes.  Hopefully it means that people will start living within there means now….

Technorati Tags: The Economy

Once more, unto the breach….

Kenneth Branagh may direct Thor.  If you don’t know who Kenneth Branagh is, then proceed directly to the nearest video store and a copy of Henry V.  That was his directorial debut, and for Shakespeare, is a pretty kick-ass action flick.

Technorati Tags: Henry V,Thor,Shakespeare,Kenneth Branagh

What's that shiny yellow thing?

It's not supposed to be out in fall. True, I'm working today, but even it's supposed to rain during my commute. Maybe I can have hope for my next day off…

Sub-prime crisis explained

In a single page here.  I have to say that a little common sense is needed.  By everyone. Debt is evil. Period.  I charged my P III on a credit card 8 years ago, and just now am I paying it off.  The one lesson you should take from this crisis is to pay your debts now, and use cash…..

Technorati Tags: the Sub-Prime crisis

Congratulations should be in order

The Seattle Mariners have joined the rarified few: 100 losses in season with a $100 million payroll. With that kind of money, one would at least expect a winning season, if not a significant showing in the playoffs. With the exception of Ichiro, methinks the majority of the roster ought to be shit-canned. If you're going to command that kind of money, then you need to deliver the goods. But we also consider Stienbrenner's folly: you just can't buy another World Series ring by pouring money into team payroll. Individually, nearly all of the Yankees are stars in their own right. But the Yankees aren't even making the playoffs this year. Whatever, this is The New World Order (Mind-Control Division), mind you. Shiny Side Out, people!

Technorati Tags: The New World Order (Mind-Control) Division,The Mariners

Sure, it's a day early but…

Happy Birthday to my sister, the Little Dutch Girl. Happy Birthday Karen. See, I can remember such things.

Technorati Tags: My sister's birthday

The changing of the seasons

Fall is here. The colors are turning in the leaves, the birds are heading south, and there's a nip in the air. I would say that the rain has returned, but it never left. And I would outside right now, taking in all the beauty that nature has to offer, but I can't. My boss, the moron has called me in on my day off. At the last minute. Again. There more things change, the more they stay the same.

Technorati Tags: Fall,Weather,Getting called in my day off.

So, who saw the game yesterday?

I was at work yesterday, so I missed all of the football action. But it was nice to hear about the Seahawks sacrificing the Rams. And the Patriots got a well deserved beating as well. But most importantly, aside from the 'Hawks winning, was the Raiders losing. The trash talking to my boss, the Raiders fan, will continue for another week…

Technorati Tags: My ID10T Raiders fan boss.

The return of fall

There were a few false starts, but finally fall has returned. This was taken out the bus window on the way to work. And I'm now stick in another traffic slowdown. You'd think that with all the rain we get, Washingtonians would be better drivers when it comes to the wet stuff.

Technorati Tags: Weather,My Commute To Work

Alrght, I have to call Bullshit…

Politicians. They are liars and thieves. All of them. But for this post, let us concern ourselves mainly with the race for Washington state governor. In particular, a certain ad being run for Chris Gregoire. It starts out with a woman who says her child was diagnosed as a diabetic when he/she/it was two years old. She then claims to have to check her child's blood sugar 12 times a day, lest the said child goes into seizures. She also says that because having diabetes, her child will have a shorter life expectancy. Then she breaks down into tears because Dino Rossi opposes stem cell research that would supposedly find a cure.

I call Bullshit on this. I speak from personal knowledge. I have type 1 diabetes myself. The only time I've needed to check my blood sugar more than 6 times a day was when I was hospitalized right after my diagnosis, and that was because I had an IV push of insulin going. Normally, four times a day is sufficient. Checking a child's blood sugar every two hours is bordering on abuse, and this claim, if not an embellishment, is a downright lie. A diabetic's life expectancy is the same as the rest of the population, provided it is kept under control. Again, the commercial's claim is another lie. Stem cell research rules are at the federal level, not the state. Dino Rossi's opposition therefore don't mean shit to me. It is irrelevant.

As a diabetic myself, I am personally offended by this ad. Chris Gregoire is exploiting a child and his health condition for political gain. Unfortunately, this type of assholery is going on by both parties. When are candidates going to learn that if you can't say anything nice about your opponent, then do us all a favor and shut your fucking pie-hole? Every fucking four years, it's the same smear campaign. I don't give a flying rat's ass about what your opponent did, I want to know where you stand on the issues. Not where you stand on your opponent. Both Rossi and Gregoire are liars. Neither of them have my trust. And they both ought to be ashamed of themselves. Maybe I should vote Libertarian this year. At least I'll have a clear conscience…

I'm Roger Bryant I'm a registered voter, and I approved this message.

Technorati Tags: Politics,Election Year Ads

Arrrr, Shiver yer timbers & Buckle yer swash

It be International Talk Like A Pirate Day.  So get yer grog out, splice the main brace and go plunder Freehold, Iowa.  If some other band has already made Pastor Deacon Fred walk the plank, then you can always use Google to find your next treasure horde.  Remember, today, you’d be The Chosen People. You can’t go wrong.

Ramen.

Technorati Tags: Pirates,The Flying Spaghetti Monster

8 x 200…

The local branch of The New World Order (Mind-Control Division) has left a lot to be desired.  But one thing the Seattle Mariners do have going for them is Ichiro. He’s set a record.  8 seasons with at least 200 hits.  Too bad the rest of the team sucks (more like downright swallows…)

Technorati Tags: The New World Order (Mind-Control) Division,Mariners,Ichiro

Happy Birthday

It's my Grandma's birthday today.  Happy Birthday, Grandma.

What's For Lunch Today?

So there's a new Indian restaurant open near work. And my boss, being from India, suggested that I try it today. I've never really had Indian food before. In fact, the only time I've even heard of it was the cow vindaloo scene in Red Dwarf. So I went. I'm no restaurant critic, and I know not to judge a whole nation's cuisine by one food court stall, but I was not impressed. I paid $9 for at most $2 worth of food. The rice (which is what 3/4 of my plate consisted of) was way too buttery. The lamb curry was ok, though. Maybe it's because they've just opened, and the quality may catch up in price in the future. But if I'm going to spend $9.00 on lunch, then I'm going to go next door to Subway and get something healthier, or go get a suicide by heart attack (McDonalds).

Technorati Tags: Lamb Curry,Cow Vindaloo

7 Years Ago

Seven years ago, we learned that freedom has a steep price. The world is now a different place than it was back then. Supposedly, steps have been taken, laws have been passed to make is safer, but are we? Before, we weren't safe, but we were free. Now though, it feels as if we're in a neo-fascist state where our fundamental rights are being eroded away, in the name of security. Benjamin Franklin once said that those who would give up liberty for security deserve neither. I would rather die a free man than live under tyranny.

The people who died that day seven years ago died for freedom. They died free. We must remember that. Let is keep our freedom as a fundamental part of the fabric of society, not some archaic concept that is to be censored and brushed aside when the current regime deems it an inconvenience. It is one thing to disagree with someone, as I'm sure there are those who'll disagree with these comments, but to suppress them means that we're no better than the terrorists. And we will then have become the terrorists ourselves…

Technorati Tags: 9-11

So, what’s your job?

I filled out the Ninja Burger survey, and my best occupation is:

Choose a Ninja Burger Career at the Ninja Burger website.

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I want a hamburger

Time to get a ninja burger, I guess.

and

Always good for a laugh….

Technorati Tags: Ninja Burger

Just a note…

To those of you who would think of me as a tech support desk (even though my job is definitely non-IT): before you call me because your laptop isn't working, try turning it on. This usually will get it to work. This reminds me of one time at work when my boss pulled me aside to fix the printer in the back office. I was hailed as a hero, a miracle worker. All I did was plug it in…

Technorati Tags: These Clueless Idiots!

The fair starts today

The Puyallup Fair starts today. It should be great weather to do the fair today. Really. And it should be good weather tomorrow as well. Because once again I'm working the überlong shifts at work this weekend. Enjoy the sunshine. I just hope the AC at work is functioning.

Technorati Tags: The Puyallup Fair

I know this is probably a day late and a dollar short

But Happy Birthday Igwanarob. may you find happiness, prosperity, and some good sci-fi on TV tonight.  Anything beyond that, just put on The Chosen Attire, go out and plunder it yourself...

Technorati Tags: Igwanarob,birthdays,Full Pirate Regalia

Have you ever wondered why…

Have you ever wondered why whenever you drink a cup of coffee and you then use the john, your pee smells like the coffee you just chuggrd 5 minutes ago? Since this is coffee we're talking about, I would suspect that somehow The Underpants Gnomes are involved…

Technorati Tags: Coffee,The Underpants Gnomes

What will you be watching this Weekend?

Labor Days’s coming up.  Labor Day is an irony.  You celebrate work by taking a day off.  Anyway, the various and sundry cable networks are having some sort of Labor Day Marathon.  So, what will you be watching?  I already know that I’m going to be working Saturday and Sunday.  There’s a possiblity I’ll be working on Monday, but if not, I think I’ll be watching the Dirty Jobs marathon.  It’s always fun to watch Mike Rowe get shit on…..

Technorati Tags: The Boob Tube,Labor Day

Summer's Over

Another day in August washed out by rain. According to King 5's Jeff Renner, we've already received triple the amount of rain in August that we normally would get….

I normally take Pierce Transit to work.  On a rainy day, when I board the bus, I sometimes half expect the driver to have a peg-leg, an eyepatch, a hook and a parrot.  That doesn’t scare me.  Being a Pastafarian, I always rejoice when I see The Chosen Attire being worn.  When he talks about plundering King County Metro, then I get concerned.

It has been said:

• That if you can’t see Mt. Raineer, then come inside it’s raining.  If you can see Mt. Raineer, then come inside it’s about to rain.
• If you don’t line the weather, wait about 5 minutes and it’ll start raining.

Technorati Tags: Weather,Rain

The Moo-Compass

Apparently that glass of milk you had with your Oreos came from a cow that was aligned North-South…

I grew up (in part) on my Grandfather’s dairy farm, and I never recalled Grandpa’s holsteins being aligned all in one direction or another.  Then again, who really gives a flying lawyer’s ass.  When the milk you drank at the dinner table was going moo and making shit pies that morning, you really don’t care what in direction the cow was standing.  You just know that you can tell the difference that milk and the watered down elmers glue that you got with your school lunch.

Anyway, on the origin of milk:

• Whole milk is easy.  They just milk the cow.  No more, no less.
• For 2% milk, they just cut the cow in half.  And milk only one half (they get half-and-half by milking the other half…)
• To get skim milk, they graze the cow on artificial turf.
• Everybody knows that chocolate milk comes from chocolate cows.  BTW, they get milk chocolate by slaughtering chocolate cows…
• For strawberry milk, they just spray-paint the cow red.
• For soy milk, they graze the cow on marijuana.
• For organic milk, they simply have a hippie milk it.
• Non-fat milk really isn’t milk at all.  It is simply chalk dust.  Or cocaine.  I remember having to use it one time, and I swear I saw the box of cereal leap off the counter and run out the house when I pulled it out of the fridge…..
• And finally, they get milkshakes by simply milking the cow during an earthquake.

Technorati Tags: Milk,Cows,North and South

A bit of a shock…

I have the day off, and lo! There's this bright yellow thing in the sky. And I'm even out running errands, too (usually that means it'll rain automatically). OK, so it did rain a little but this morning, but I was doing laundry at the time, so that doesn't really count. I'm still jealous that IgwanaRob got his weekend off dry… And he had the gall to brag about here!

Technorati Tags: IgwanaRob,Weather,Rain

It's Been Raining A Lot This Week

And this gives you an idea about how my luck is:

I took Monday off to celebrate my birthday. It rained. I was off again on Tuesday. It rained. Even worse than Monday. Wednesday, it rained the worse when I had to walk to the bus stop (and I got wet). When I got to work on Thursday, not only did it stop raining the moment I entered the building, but it also got sunny!

Fast forward to today, where I'm scheduled to work an überlong shift. And it's bright and sunny outside.

Some people just have all the luck. I wish they would share it with me…

Technorati Tags: Weather

Using Plastic For Groceries

It's one thing to use plastic for your groceries. I never carry cash into the store anymore, as I have a debit card, and it'll come straight out of my bank account. I'm sure you could also use a credit card st the grocery store too, but one of the reasons why the economy is in the toilet today is because far too many people are spending beyond there means. You'll eventually have to pay the piper, and people are now learning the hard way about the importance of fiscal responsibility.

But enough about that. Long story short: It's OK on most occasions to put your Hot Pockets on plastic. It's never OK to put plastic in your Hot Pockets. Unless of course recalls are your thing…

Technorati Tags: Hot Pockets,Credit Cards

If you can remember this, then

You’re old.  Too old.  The Banana Splits are returning.  They were old already when I first saw the reruns.  Maybe they could bring back Danger Island, too.  Or even better, the anime that I grew up on: Starblazers (aka Space Battleship Yamato)?

Technorati Tags: Really Old TV Shows

Too much fun…

I now have wi-fi on my phone. My apartment is wi-fi'ed (mainly because my roommate and I both don't want to be tripping over network cables). ImpLication of this is just dawning on me: I can post to this blog from nearly anywhere. Even from the Throne (BTW, I feel much better now).

Technorati Tags: Needless Potty Humor

Lights down you up and die

LeRoi Moore, saxophone player for the Dave Matthews Band has passed away. I like nearly all forms of music, and the Dave Matthews Band wa one of my favorites. And he wasn't that much older than I was. That's what scares me. Yet another lesson on the frailties of life. Human life is a precious thing, and is all too often wasted.

Technorati Tags: LeRoi Moore,Dave Matthews Band,music

Nothing to see here move along

There's nothing to see here. Really, there isn't. BTW, I can now post straight from my phone (rather than using an MMS message as before). So disregard this post. I'm just playing with a new toy.

Edit: Though I do have to come back later from my computer to tag & link the posts.  The software I’m using on my phone is available here.

Technorati Tags: My smartphone,mobile blogging

The Fourth Dimension

Do you believe in other dimensions?  Carl Sagan explains the fourth dimension:

You can learn a lot from watching Cosmos.  Sure, a lot of advances and discoveries have been made that makes some of it outdated, but it’s still an interesting program.  Too bad the Science Channel no longer airs it.  But the Pierce County Library has a copy.  And I live three blocks down from the Parkland/Spanaway branch (which is why Borders will never see any of my money again).  I think I know what I’ll be requesting on my next trip to the library.  Which is also how Carl Sagan got interested in astronomy in the first place: the public library.

Technorati Tags: Carl Sagan,Cosmos

Have you ever wondered….

Who played the role of Agent Smith in The Matrix?  It was Carl Sagan, of course:

Yes, I know it was really the same guy who played Elrond in Lord Of The Rings (and was also the voice of Megatron in Transformers).  But Carl seems to just fit in much better….

Technorati Tags: Carl Sagan,The Matrix,Cosmos,Agent Smith

A few random thoughts

• Thank you for the good wish, IgwanaRob.  Even though you’re late, as usual <eg,d,r>.
• When you’re listening to music on your T-Mobile Shadow (through your Bluetooth stereo headphones), while surfing the internet, texting your friend, and reading your email (since you upgraded your plan to the total internet access), expect the battery life to not be as long.  A spare battery would be prudent.
• You can charge your phone’s battery off of the USB port on your computer (this applies to this phone, and to the Motorola Z3, that I previously used), though you'll see faster results when using the wall charger.
• It takes over eight hours to sync 3.5 gigabytes of music, but less than 10 minutes to upgrade the phone software.
• You can now use the public Wi-Fi at the library.  Even though your apartment is already Wi-Fi’ed.
• How come nobody told me my cousin had a baby Saturday.  I don't even have picture yet.
• My former co-worker is the next person to have a baby.  Currently she's due to have her birth spasm on the 29th.
• It's rained that past two days.  And I've had the past two days off.  Coincidence, or Conspiracy?  I think the latter, as it always turns for the sunnier the moment I clock in to work.

Technorati Tags: T-Mobile Shadow,IgwanaRob,The Weather,Batteries,Wi-Fi

An unexpected surprise…..

Since I was at my previous apartment for less than a year, I had given all hope of getting my security deposit back.  I still live at the complex (I had just moved into a different apartment), and I assumed my manager had ‘carried over’ my deposit into my new, or I left the previous apartment in that bad of a shape.   Needless to say, I was just grateful that my deposit covered everything, and nobody was coming after me to recover damages….

Fast forward to five minutes ago, when I notice a letter on the designated mail table with my name on it.  It was a check from the apartment company  for the remainder (they took a chunk out for cleaning, but that’s par for the course).  My roommate had got the mail and never told me that I had mail that day.  BUt it’s still a good surprise.

And It’s my birthday today, as well.  Usually what happens is that everybody is usually broke by my birthday (and this year is no exception).  Well, at least I can celebrate. I'm getting a Shadow.

Technorati Tags: My Apartment

It's a hot one today.

It's so hot that I'm taking the express bus to work. Yes, it's more expensive but it's also air-conditioned. Soundtransit rocks.

Technorati Tags: Soundtransit,my ride to work

Just a reminder, people

Barack Obama does not heal people!  It does speak wonders about some peoples’ stupidity when snopes has to do a write-up about it.   They’d probably even believe that Belgium really exists.  What’s next, Elvis isn’t really dead?

6 and 6. Here we go again

Micheal Phelps now has 6 gold medals and 6 world records.  And I just watched his last one, I can assure you that he isn’t walking on the water….

Technorati Tags: Micheal Phelps

So I’m watching the Olympics

I missed most of the opening ceremonies (I was watching the Seahawks pillage the Vikings.  In Minnesota.  And I was too tired from working two back-to-back shifts and only four hours of sleep).  But from what I’ve seen:

• Michael Phelps rocks.  And I hear he has a hollow leg (though I can’t confirm it.  I’ve heard it through them thar intertubes, but then again they also that Belgium really exists)….
• I’ve seen a swimming heat where the existing world record wouldn’t have even got you a bronze this year…
• Why does Belgium have an Olympic team?  Everyone knows that it doesn’t really exists….
• Of all the sports I see, I think that men’s volleyball is the most entertaining.
• Is it me, or are the uniforms in the women’s sport showing more skin?  I’ve seen it across the board, and given the ages of some of the athletes, I’m slightly wondering if we’re really just prostituting minors.  Sure, you need flexibility and freedom of movement, but cover up, please.  You’re an athlete, not a whore…
• Boxing ain’t that bad either.
• Lay off Alicia Sacramone.  Whatever mistake she made in the competition, she’s still a child.  And a silver medal at the Olympics is still very much A Good Thing.  Concentrate on the good things, people. [Edit: I just saw her age.  She may not be a child, but still lay off her].
• At least one of the Chinese gymnasts is a underage, in my opinion.
• How in the hell do they get all those camera angles?

The Olympics will be over in a few days, and then we can get back to what late summer and fall ought to be about:  Football.

Technorati Tags: Seahawks,Football,The Olympics,Belgium