Entries from January 2008
Blogging, Reading and Writing
January 28, 2008 · 4 Comments
I’ve said it before, but I will say it again: I miss reading. As a kid, I would read every night until I passed out. As an adult, I don’t do that as often as I should. I’ve noticed that with my lack of reading, I’ve:
•Had a harder time writing anything.
•Feel completely stupid.
•noticed a decrease in my working vocabulary.
I currently have a huge stack of books to read. I’ve got everything from economic theory made easy to zombie-survival fiction. It is not a question of having material to read, but, a dedication to reading on a regular basis. Therefore, I’ve decided to cut down on the “staying up all night” to play video games and spending a half-hour (to a full hour) reading every-night EXCEPT Wednesday night. What this means is I should also have more regular blog posts. If my suspicion is true, then these posts should also be of higher quality.
If that fails, however, I do have an idea for a photo of the day. Gotta love that big glass window.
Categories: Ramblings
But he looked into their leader’s eyes…
January 19, 2008 · 1 Comment
From:BBC NEWS | Europe | Russia warns of nuclear defence:
Russia warns of nuclear defence
Gen Baluyevsky sees a threat from countries seeking global hegemony
Russia’s military chief of staff has said Moscow is ready to use force, including pre-emptively and with nuclear weapons, to defend itself.
Gen Yuri Baluyevsky said Russia had no plans to attack anyone, but it was important that other countries clearly understood its leaders’ resolve
Remember, just a few years ago, W looked into Putin’s eyes and said, “He’s a good man.” We can trust him. Considering that we’re willing to develop new nukes, and W’s belief in the Unitarian executive, I think Bush just admires a guy who can get stuff done without that pesky democracy.
Technorati Tags: Cobag, George W Bush is a dumbass Chimp, Political Rant, Doomwatch, Putin, Rant, Rightwing, Russia
Why I heart Science
January 18, 2008 · No Comments
From Wired:Paper Airplane Launched From Space Will Hit Mach 7 | Gadget Lab from Wired.com:
Paper Airplane Launched From Space Will Hit Mach 7
By Charlie Sorrel January 18, 2008 | 8:30:39 AMCategories: Toys, Transportation
We knew that the Japanese wouldn’t bother with boring old sensible experiments on the International Space Station. But commissioning a paper plane and launching it from space? Damn!
The 3.1 inch plane is in testing right now, and has been designed by the Japan Origami Airplane Association. According to Pink Tentacle, it is shaped like the space shuttle and will be able to stand up to the huge wind-buffeting of re-entry at Mach 7, or around 5300 mph. The temperatures of re-entering the atmosphere shouldn’t cause any trouble, though, as even these speeds are a lot lower than that of a Space Shuttle re-entry: Mach 20.
Why? Who cares? We can’t wait to see this on YouTube.
HELL YES.
Maybe there is a real scientific explanation for this experiment, but I don’t care. It sounds too damn cool to not do.
As kids, my brother and I spent hours making paper airplanes–some for show, some to throw–and I still make them when I get bored at work (or asked to by a younger cousin). Launching a paper airplane from the space station just seems like the ultimate in paper airplaning.
Technorati Tags: Outer Space, PaperAirplanes, Space
Categories: Nerd Stuff
Colin Meloy Sings Live!
January 16, 2008 · 3 Comments
From: Colin Meloy Sings Live!:
Following in the grand Sings series wherein Colin tackled selections from the catalogs of Shirley Collins (see: Colin Meloy Sings Trad. Arr. Shirley Collins) and Morrissey (see: Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey), the Decemberists’ prog-folk poet brings good tidings of a new sound recording tackling a songwriter much closer to his heart: himself. Instead of offering up another six-song EP in a remembrance of Sings past, however, this time Colin’s coming with a full course of 17 tunes, all recorded during his acoustic tour of ‘06. According to P4K, Live! includes:
- songs from Meloy’s first band, Tarkio
- tunes from all Decemberists full-lengths pre-The Crane Wife
- a cut from 2006 EP Picaresqueties
- two previously unreleased originals (”Dracula’s Daughter” and “Wonder”)
- bits of covers of songs by the Smiths, R.E.M., Pink Floyd, and Fleetwood Mac
- a traditional folk song in debt to Shirley Collins’ arrangement
All that and dapper in a seersucker to boot. Full tracklist after the jump
[Colin shot from Coachella '07]
Holy Crap. I so need this album.
Technorati Tags: LiveAlbum, TheDecemberists
Categories: Music
More Regular Blogging
January 15, 2008 · 4 Comments
I was promised help for a site redesign if I blog more regularly, so this is my first attempt at regular blogging. Actually, I know that’s not true. I’ve often written that I am going to blog regularly, I just have a tendency to back track on that statement and do something else.
As I see it, the process of regular blogging involves more than just generating content. The content must be polished, shined and framed in a way to provoke discussion. Personally, I don’t find my life exciting enough to chronicle like Shannon does. Oddly, even though she is moving in with me, I still think her life is blog-worthy.
The only content I can generate right now would be a discussion of how burned out I am at work and how I don’t want to really change jobs. That isn’t really interesting. That’s whining..
I will probably take a few more days off of regular blogging while I figure out what I should blog about.
Technorati Tags: metablogging
Categories: Ramblings
Plans for the year
January 11, 2008 · 8 Comments
First and foremost, if you read Shannon’s Blog, you maybe asking, is she okay? She is. Shannon moved in a few months earlier than we planned–it was going to take that long just to clear out the shit I had–but this is something we’ve talked about and I am comfortable with. I’m not just comfortable, in fact I think this is a fantastic idea, but this is a big change and, of course, there are some reservations. For their part, the reservations seem to dissipate a little more everyday.
Shannon’s moving in has made this year’s goal even more important. This plan is To Make Money. I have a lot of plans before the end of the decade, and they all require money. While I will be getting a major promotion at work soon, I need to supplement my income. I will be using this blog as part of it.
Towards that end, here are some of the ideas:
1) Get back to the Nerdslut dating guide
2) A site redesign to allow for more ad-space
3) Exploit my fellow nerds
The problem with #3 is that I have to begin to address my nerd-dom. This is more difficult than it sounds. While I did flaunt my nerd-cred a few months ago, I did so only to flirt with a certain someone. I didn’t go into detail as there are some things I’d prefer to keep secret. Now that said certain someone knows all of it (even if I refuse to acknowledge it or go into detail), I don’t really see a point in keeping it a secret.
Now I must return to earning my regular money.
Categories: Anxieties · MakingMoney · StuffToLearnBefore59
When asked about my contribution…
January 4, 2008 · 5 Comments
…I will point to this post.
AG and the UC voluntered Shannon and I for a bake off. Currently, there is a problem with the judging; namely, that the winner will be chosen by a comment. If you, dear reader (except Chuck), go here and discuss the merits of TEAM CHICAGO and MOOSE (that’s the Judge’s thing), I, in typical Chicago fashion, will owe you. I may be able to swing you some shortbread as part of the prize. The idea of shortbread alone should propel you into commenting early and often. Be a dear and help us out.
Update: I was just notified that this is not the way the judging will occur. This blows. The one way I can actively help my team and the judges cut me out. Damn. That is some cold shit.
Categories: Food and Drink · Nerd Stuff
Tagged: Bake Off, cheating, comments, Machine Politics