Dad and I painted the car, and it looks very good now. There's some spots that I'd like to re-shoot, but it is worlds better than it was just a month ago.
Dad is renting shop space and starting his own business, TRH Racing. I'm spending some time there helping him. We build high performance engines for hot rods and race cars.
I am still looking for a job in IT, but it's not going well. I've re-written my resume more times than I can count. I make a slightly modified version for nearly every job application.
Other than that, everything is about the same. I have another character in WoW at max level, bringing the total to 12. Patch 4.0 launched last Tuesday, and it's a lot of work. They changed a lot, which means I have to re-learn how to play all those characters now. There is also a lot of gear changes to do. I haven't even done half of my characters yet. It's been a busy few weeks.
2010-10-16
2010-08-28
The Colbert Report
I was looking up media for Lisa Hannigan, and came across this interview and song on the Colbert Report. Her voice was a little bit off, but still did a great job on "I Don't Know".
And in the related links I saw that Rush interviewed and played as well in 2008. This is what I get for not watching TV. It was an excellent interview, but he missed the one question that I would have asked: "Niel, how is your last name pronounced?" Just so you know, I am fully aware of how to pronounce Niel's name (rhymes with "ear"). I just want a more recent example than the obscure interview or concert sound bite.
2010-07-02
Something for the 3 of you that read my blog...
This lady is hilarious. And her sense of humor really aligns with the type of humor that we all like:
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/
2010-06-25
I'm funny when I copy Brian Regan
In WoW, you can queue up for dungeons with random people. Almost every time, these will be people that you have never met before. So for kicks, when we are done and right before I leave, I type "take luck".
I have no idea if anyone else gets it, because I leave almost immediately after that.
I have no idea if anyone else gets it, because I leave almost immediately after that.
2010-06-08
Blizzard is on the ball
They just launched the "Remote Auction House". For an extra $3 a month, you can manage your WoW auctions from anywhere in the world.
On an unrelated note, companies on the Asian Pacific rim just experienced a 90% productivity drop.
On an unrelated note, companies on the Asian Pacific rim just experienced a 90% productivity drop.
2010-04-27
The Office
I finally watched "The Office Special", which completed the British series that spawned the American version that most of us know so well.
I'm still undecided which version I like better, the UK or the US version. I think that I like Dwight better than Garreth, but just by a small margin.
If you like the US version, you should really check out the British original.
Netflix is awesome.
I'm still undecided which version I like better, the UK or the US version. I think that I like Dwight better than Garreth, but just by a small margin.
If you like the US version, you should really check out the British original.
Netflix is awesome.
2010-04-03
An Linux article for Windows users
Seven things that are easier to do in Ubuntu (Linux) than in Windows.
If you haven't tried Linux in the last year, you really should try Ubuntu. It's free, the entire installation and setup is graphical and guided (backup your music and pictures first), and you can do anything in it that you can do in Windows.
I have only come across one thing that I can do in Windows that I cannot do in Linux. And that is binding a push-to-talk button in Ventrilo for use when Ventrilo is not the foreground application. If you don't have that same need, then you can probably use Linux as easily as Windows.
A few things to keep in mind if you do try Linux. Your computer will not slow down after a few months of use. Every Linux application you install will be free. You can run Windows applications in Linux just fine. Windows applications may still charge you, but most Windows applications have a free Linux equivalent.
If you haven't tried Linux in the last year, you really should try Ubuntu. It's free, the entire installation and setup is graphical and guided (backup your music and pictures first), and you can do anything in it that you can do in Windows.
I have only come across one thing that I can do in Windows that I cannot do in Linux. And that is binding a push-to-talk button in Ventrilo for use when Ventrilo is not the foreground application. If you don't have that same need, then you can probably use Linux as easily as Windows.
A few things to keep in mind if you do try Linux. Your computer will not slow down after a few months of use. Every Linux application you install will be free. You can run Windows applications in Linux just fine. Windows applications may still charge you, but most Windows applications have a free Linux equivalent.
2010-03-30
Permanent Waves
Work had me seriously depressed today. About 20 times more than normal. I can usually shake it off about 5 steps out of the door, but today was different.
So I resorted to my best and oldest trick, I put Rush on the iPod and everything was better again. Today was the 1980 classic "Permanent Waves". I don't know which song changed my mood, probably because I was too distracted. But it was track 4, Entre Nous, where I took note of how completely my mood had changed.
This is why Rush is, and will probably always be, my favorite band.
So I resorted to my best and oldest trick, I put Rush on the iPod and everything was better again. Today was the 1980 classic "Permanent Waves". I don't know which song changed my mood, probably because I was too distracted. But it was track 4, Entre Nous, where I took note of how completely my mood had changed.
This is why Rush is, and will probably always be, my favorite band.
2010-03-26
2010-03-23
Odds are, you will lose
"Gambling is a tax on people who are bad at math" - Anonymous (If you can find who originally said this, post a reply)
I just watched a TV show where the mother was outraged that her daoughter's boyfriend was in a band. It made me think that people who buy lottery tickets lose all credibility when they complain that their daughter's boyfriend's band will never 'make it'.
I just watched a TV show where the mother was outraged that her daoughter's boyfriend was in a band. It made me think that people who buy lottery tickets lose all credibility when they complain that their daughter's boyfriend's band will never 'make it'.
2010-03-17
Our 16th president
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by encouraging class hatred. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away a man's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln
2010-03-11
Colorado says "NI" to the FDA
"Stem cells are like the carbon-fiber of nature. You can make anything from them." - Adam
That's me being all prophetic. But seriously, a company in Colorado is fixing busted people with stem cells.
I would have gone the Steve Austin way, but their method is cool too.
That's me being all prophetic. But seriously, a company in Colorado is fixing busted people with stem cells.
I would have gone the Steve Austin way, but their method is cool too.
2010-03-10
I love lamp
If anyone is looking for a gift for my birthday, get me a cheap desk lamp. My current lamp is ghetto-tarded.
2010-02-25
The carbon footprint of pets
Those of you that know me, know that I don't give a lot of credence to the phrase "carbon footprint". But I do love it when science finds things that might upset tree-huggers. Since many eco-freaks are also pet lovers, I want them to know that their furry loved ones may offset their shiny new hybrid. In reality, I want to tell them this to their face. Because few things are as awesome as telling someone that they are wrong. It's even better when they are self-righteous about the topic.
So if you know someone that weeps for the environment and owns pets, please, introduce them to me before they read this article!
Here is the complete article at the Vancouver Sun. And since I don't know how long they will have the article on their site, here is the complete text for that article:
Polluting pets: the devastating impact of man's best friend
By Isabelle Toussaint, AFPDecember 26, 2009
PARIS – Man's best friend could be one of the environment's worst enemies, according to a new study which says the carbon pawprint of a pet dog is more than double that of a gas-guzzling sports utility vehicle.
But the revelation in the book "Time to Eat the Dog: The Real Guide to Sustainable Living" by New Zealanders Robert and Brenda Vale has angered pet owners who feel they are being singled out as troublemakers.
The Vales, specialists in sustainable living at Victoria University of Wellington, analysed popular brands of pet food and calculated that a medium-sized dog eats around 164 kilos (360 pounds) of meat and 95 kilos of cereal a year.
Combine the land required to generate its food and a "medium" sized dog has an annual footprint of 0.84 hectares (2.07 acres) -- around twice the 0.41 hectares required by a 4x4 driving 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) a year, including energy to build the car.
To confirm the results, the New Scientist magazine asked John Barrett at the Stockholm Environment Institute in York, Britain, to calculate eco-pawprints based on his own data. The results were essentially the same.
"Owning a dog really is quite an extravagance, mainly because of the carbon footprint of meat," Barrett said.
Other animals aren't much better for the environment, the Vales say.
Cats have an eco-footprint of about 0.15 hectares, slightly less than driving a Volkswagen Golf for a year, while two hamsters equates to a plasma television and even the humble goldfish burns energy equivalent to two mobile telephones.
But Reha Huttin, president of France's 30 Million Friends animal rights foundation says the human impact of eliminating pets would be equally devastating.
"Pets are anti-depressants, they help us cope with stress, they are good for the elderly," Huttin told AFP.
"Everyone should work out their own environmental impact. I should be allowed to say that I walk instead of using my car and that I don't eat meat, so why shouldn't I be allowed to have a little cat to alleviate my loneliness?"
Sylvie Comont, proud owner of seven cats and two dogs -- the environmental equivalent of a small fleet of cars -- says defiantly, "Our animals give us so much that I don't feel like a polluter at all.
"I think the love we have for our animals and what they contribute to our lives outweighs the environmental considerations.
"I don't want a life without animals," she told AFP.
And pets' environmental impact is not limited to their carbon footprint, as cats and dogs devastate wildlife, spread disease and pollute waterways, the Vales say.
With a total 7.7 million cats in Britain, more than 188 million wild animals are hunted, killed and eaten by feline predators per year, or an average 25 birds, mammals and frogs per cat, according to figures in the New Scientist.
Likewise, dogs decrease biodiversity in areas they are walked, while their faeces cause high bacterial levels in rivers and streams, making the water unsafe to drink, starving waterways of oxygen and killing aquatic life.
And cat poo can be even more toxic than doggy doo -- owners who flush their litter down the toilet ultimately infect sea otters and other animals with toxoplasma gondii, which causes a killer brain disease.
But despite the apocalyptic visions of domesticated animals' environmental impact, solutions exist, including reducing pets' protein-rich meat intake.
"If pussy is scoffing 'Fancy Feast' -- or some other food made from choice cuts of meat -- then the relative impact is likely to be high," said Robert Vale.
"If, on the other hand, the cat is fed on fish heads and other leftovers from the fishmonger, the impact will be lower."
Other potential positive steps include avoiding walking your dog in wildlife-rich areas and keeping your cat indoors at night when it has a particular thirst for other, smaller animals' blood.
As with buying a car, humans are also encouraged to take the environmental impact of their future possession/companion into account.
But the best way of compensating for that paw or clawprint is to make sure your animal is dual purpose, the Vales urge. Get a hen, which offsets its impact by laying edible eggs, or a rabbit, prepared to make the ultimate environmental sacrifice by ending up on the dinner table.
"Rabbits are good, provided you eat them," said Robert Vale.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
So if you know someone that weeps for the environment and owns pets, please, introduce them to me before they read this article!
Here is the complete article at the Vancouver Sun. And since I don't know how long they will have the article on their site, here is the complete text for that article:
Polluting pets: the devastating impact of man's best friend
By Isabelle Toussaint, AFPDecember 26, 2009
PARIS – Man's best friend could be one of the environment's worst enemies, according to a new study which says the carbon pawprint of a pet dog is more than double that of a gas-guzzling sports utility vehicle.
But the revelation in the book "Time to Eat the Dog: The Real Guide to Sustainable Living" by New Zealanders Robert and Brenda Vale has angered pet owners who feel they are being singled out as troublemakers.
The Vales, specialists in sustainable living at Victoria University of Wellington, analysed popular brands of pet food and calculated that a medium-sized dog eats around 164 kilos (360 pounds) of meat and 95 kilos of cereal a year.
Combine the land required to generate its food and a "medium" sized dog has an annual footprint of 0.84 hectares (2.07 acres) -- around twice the 0.41 hectares required by a 4x4 driving 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles) a year, including energy to build the car.
To confirm the results, the New Scientist magazine asked John Barrett at the Stockholm Environment Institute in York, Britain, to calculate eco-pawprints based on his own data. The results were essentially the same.
"Owning a dog really is quite an extravagance, mainly because of the carbon footprint of meat," Barrett said.
Other animals aren't much better for the environment, the Vales say.
Cats have an eco-footprint of about 0.15 hectares, slightly less than driving a Volkswagen Golf for a year, while two hamsters equates to a plasma television and even the humble goldfish burns energy equivalent to two mobile telephones.
But Reha Huttin, president of France's 30 Million Friends animal rights foundation says the human impact of eliminating pets would be equally devastating.
"Pets are anti-depressants, they help us cope with stress, they are good for the elderly," Huttin told AFP.
"Everyone should work out their own environmental impact. I should be allowed to say that I walk instead of using my car and that I don't eat meat, so why shouldn't I be allowed to have a little cat to alleviate my loneliness?"
Sylvie Comont, proud owner of seven cats and two dogs -- the environmental equivalent of a small fleet of cars -- says defiantly, "Our animals give us so much that I don't feel like a polluter at all.
"I think the love we have for our animals and what they contribute to our lives outweighs the environmental considerations.
"I don't want a life without animals," she told AFP.
And pets' environmental impact is not limited to their carbon footprint, as cats and dogs devastate wildlife, spread disease and pollute waterways, the Vales say.
With a total 7.7 million cats in Britain, more than 188 million wild animals are hunted, killed and eaten by feline predators per year, or an average 25 birds, mammals and frogs per cat, according to figures in the New Scientist.
Likewise, dogs decrease biodiversity in areas they are walked, while their faeces cause high bacterial levels in rivers and streams, making the water unsafe to drink, starving waterways of oxygen and killing aquatic life.
And cat poo can be even more toxic than doggy doo -- owners who flush their litter down the toilet ultimately infect sea otters and other animals with toxoplasma gondii, which causes a killer brain disease.
But despite the apocalyptic visions of domesticated animals' environmental impact, solutions exist, including reducing pets' protein-rich meat intake.
"If pussy is scoffing 'Fancy Feast' -- or some other food made from choice cuts of meat -- then the relative impact is likely to be high," said Robert Vale.
"If, on the other hand, the cat is fed on fish heads and other leftovers from the fishmonger, the impact will be lower."
Other potential positive steps include avoiding walking your dog in wildlife-rich areas and keeping your cat indoors at night when it has a particular thirst for other, smaller animals' blood.
As with buying a car, humans are also encouraged to take the environmental impact of their future possession/companion into account.
But the best way of compensating for that paw or clawprint is to make sure your animal is dual purpose, the Vales urge. Get a hen, which offsets its impact by laying edible eggs, or a rabbit, prepared to make the ultimate environmental sacrifice by ending up on the dinner table.
"Rabbits are good, provided you eat them," said Robert Vale.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
2010-02-08
Pshaw
Also, if you saw this title and didn't read the entire post, I have no respect for your intellect.
Bill O'Reilly vs. John Stewart
I finally watched Bill O'Reilly's interview with John Stewart. I really feel that both sides achieved NOTHING. There was a slim chance that something productive would come of this. Both of them had valid arguments, but neither got their point across. The WMD card goes to Bill. The race card goes to John (lighting the white house menorah).
I think each of them equally expressed their point, and each stood strong for their party... and both failed.
Maybe it's time to come to a compromise. Obama is an idiot. Nobody can dispute the fact that he pressed for a health care reform in the middle of the greatest economic crisis in the last 30 years (research the Carter administration). FIX THE F&#*ING ECONOMY YOU &*$^@ING IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How anyone cannot see this as an attempt to erect a shrine to Obama, is beyond my comprehension. A 2,000 ft Obama-sphinx would have been less conspicuous.
I think each of them equally expressed their point, and each stood strong for their party... and both failed.
Maybe it's time to come to a compromise. Obama is an idiot. Nobody can dispute the fact that he pressed for a health care reform in the middle of the greatest economic crisis in the last 30 years (research the Carter administration). FIX THE F&#*ING ECONOMY YOU &*$^@ING IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How anyone cannot see this as an attempt to erect a shrine to Obama, is beyond my comprehension. A 2,000 ft Obama-sphinx would have been less conspicuous.
2010-02-04
I love Legos
But I hate how screwed up the world we live in has become: 4th grade boy faces suspension due to a Lego gun.
And not a life-sized gun made from Legos, but a toy gun held by a 1.5" tall Lego action figure.
And not a life-sized gun made from Legos, but a toy gun held by a 1.5" tall Lego action figure.
2010-01-13
Dollhouse is so good
Enver Gjokaj, as Victor, is absolutely AMAZING in Dollhouse season 2 episodes 5 and 6! He is imprinted with Topher's brain and runs the LA dollhouse while Topher is OOTO (the only person Topher (Fran Kranz) trusts is himself). Enver did such a good job that I thought Fran was doing voiceovers. And his mannerisms are spot on.
Episodes 5 and 6 are also the first episodes that include Summer Glau. That is right! Summer and Eliza in the SAME SHOW! I think about 3/4 of the Firefly cast has made it into a dollhouse episode. I suspect that Joss Whedon may have been imprinted with my mind. If Josie Maran makes an appearance, then I will be certain of it!
Also, the show has already been canceled.
Episodes 5 and 6 are also the first episodes that include Summer Glau. That is right! Summer and Eliza in the SAME SHOW! I think about 3/4 of the Firefly cast has made it into a dollhouse episode. I suspect that Joss Whedon may have been imprinted with my mind. If Josie Maran makes an appearance, then I will be certain of it!
Also, the show has already been canceled.
2009-12-26
My 2009 CD
01 - Grand Avenue - Place To Fall - 01 - Almost Gone
I found Grand Avenue from their track "She" which was on the movie Cashback. That prompted me to check out the rest of their work. This song is second only to the title track as my favorite Grand Avenue song.
02 - Metric - Fantasies - 02 - Sick Muse
I have no idea how this got on my iPod. I'm crediting Marianne, because I know she is a Metric fan. I really like this album, especially "Gold, Guns, Girls". But I couldn't include that song considering all of whom I am handing this CD out to.
03 - Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper - 04 - Games For Days
Clayton mentioned this band to me. I almost made 1/2 this CD from Julian Plenti.
04 - Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper - 09 - On The Esplanade
See?
05 - Muse - The Resistance - 08 - I Belong To You - Mon Cœur S'ouvre À Ta Voix
I feel obligated to include a Muse song solely due to how incredible "Absolution" was. This choice was easier than their last album, but they still have not reclaimed the greatness that was "Absolution". This song starts and ends very well, but they drift off in the middle. Are you guys trying to be "artistic"? I'd rather you go back to kicking ass.
06 - B.B. King - Greatest Hits - 15 - Playin' With My Friends (Robert Cray)
You guys need some good old electric blues. B.B. is the greatest living bluesman. And a duet with Robert Cray? Yes please.
07 - Tegan & Sara - Sainthood - 05 - Red Belt
I love Tegan & Sara, even though this album didn't have as many standouts as the last few albums. I hope they aren't slipping like Muse has.
08 - Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper - 01 - Only If You Run
See?! See what I mean? Thank you Clayton.
09 - Imogen Heap - Ellipse - 12 - Canvas
I love Imogen's voice, but this album doesn't grab me like "Speak For Yourself".
10 - Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue - 06 - When The Sun Rose Again
I can't believe how much William DuVall sounds like Layne Staley. The first couple of tracks sound like Layne was singing. There are many great tracks on this album. It's worth checking out.
11 - Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone - 11 - Snuff
I knew that Corey Taylor wasn't all metal from some of his other projects. I think it's cool that he brought some of that to this album. As a side note, "Psychosocial" from this album is on my list of all-time favorite hard rock songs.
12 - Azure Ray - Burn And Shiver - 08 - Your Weak Hands
Seems a bit odd mentioning Azure Ray after talking about "Psychosocial". But that's why they aren't even on the same CD. Marianne introduced me to Azure Ray with her CD last year. I went out and bought all of their albums and found this song to be my favorite.
13 - Azure Ray - Hold On Love - 03 - We Are Mice
This song is even better if you watch the video for it.
14 - Grand Avenue - She - 10 - She
This song closed out the movie "Cashback" and introduced me to Grand Evenue.
15 - Grand Avenue - Place To Fall - 10 - Place To Fall
My favorite Grand Avenue song. Try finding Grand Avenue through normal channels. It's almost impossible to find this album or She, even on Amazon.com or iTunes. I found some European music site that will sell these albums, but didn't buy them yet in hopes of finding a US option.
I found Grand Avenue from their track "She" which was on the movie Cashback. That prompted me to check out the rest of their work. This song is second only to the title track as my favorite Grand Avenue song.
02 - Metric - Fantasies - 02 - Sick Muse
I have no idea how this got on my iPod. I'm crediting Marianne, because I know she is a Metric fan. I really like this album, especially "Gold, Guns, Girls". But I couldn't include that song considering all of whom I am handing this CD out to.
03 - Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper - 04 - Games For Days
Clayton mentioned this band to me. I almost made 1/2 this CD from Julian Plenti.
04 - Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper - 09 - On The Esplanade
See?
05 - Muse - The Resistance - 08 - I Belong To You - Mon Cœur S'ouvre À Ta Voix
I feel obligated to include a Muse song solely due to how incredible "Absolution" was. This choice was easier than their last album, but they still have not reclaimed the greatness that was "Absolution". This song starts and ends very well, but they drift off in the middle. Are you guys trying to be "artistic"? I'd rather you go back to kicking ass.
06 - B.B. King - Greatest Hits - 15 - Playin' With My Friends (Robert Cray)
You guys need some good old electric blues. B.B. is the greatest living bluesman. And a duet with Robert Cray? Yes please.
07 - Tegan & Sara - Sainthood - 05 - Red Belt
I love Tegan & Sara, even though this album didn't have as many standouts as the last few albums. I hope they aren't slipping like Muse has.
08 - Julian Plenti - Julian Plenti is... Skyscraper - 01 - Only If You Run
See?! See what I mean? Thank you Clayton.
09 - Imogen Heap - Ellipse - 12 - Canvas
I love Imogen's voice, but this album doesn't grab me like "Speak For Yourself".
10 - Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue - 06 - When The Sun Rose Again
I can't believe how much William DuVall sounds like Layne Staley. The first couple of tracks sound like Layne was singing. There are many great tracks on this album. It's worth checking out.
11 - Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone - 11 - Snuff
I knew that Corey Taylor wasn't all metal from some of his other projects. I think it's cool that he brought some of that to this album. As a side note, "Psychosocial" from this album is on my list of all-time favorite hard rock songs.
12 - Azure Ray - Burn And Shiver - 08 - Your Weak Hands
Seems a bit odd mentioning Azure Ray after talking about "Psychosocial". But that's why they aren't even on the same CD. Marianne introduced me to Azure Ray with her CD last year. I went out and bought all of their albums and found this song to be my favorite.
13 - Azure Ray - Hold On Love - 03 - We Are Mice
This song is even better if you watch the video for it.
14 - Grand Avenue - She - 10 - She
This song closed out the movie "Cashback" and introduced me to Grand Evenue.
15 - Grand Avenue - Place To Fall - 10 - Place To Fall
My favorite Grand Avenue song. Try finding Grand Avenue through normal channels. It's almost impossible to find this album or She, even on Amazon.com or iTunes. I found some European music site that will sell these albums, but didn't buy them yet in hopes of finding a US option.
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