He once was lost...
Friday, 25. July 2008, 05:40:18
Some pictures showed up in my email box today. They were taken right after Melvin, the temporarily missing camper, was found.
STICKY POST
1000 Awesome things
Friday, 18. July 2008, 15:43:31
Please visit this blog I discovered through the satirical-but-true-to-life news flash site FARK.
It's the 1000 Awesome Things blog. True to its name, this blog lists awesome things. It's a growing website with new posts each weekday.
It's the 1000 Awesome Things blog. True to its name, this blog lists awesome things. It's a growing website with new posts each weekday.
Yip-Yips meet the telephone
Friday, 25. July 2008, 21:14:12
The Yip-Yips are among Sesame Street's lesser known icons. Well, I'm on a crusade to change all that. So, for those not in the know, here they are.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Washington's marijuana laws
Friday, 18. July 2008, 16:37:55
I'm not a proponent of smoking dope. It just doesn't appeal to me. Seriously, though, the last person to pose a threat to anybody is someone who's stoned. What are they gonna do? Say "Dude!" too much?
Likewise, the state of Washington's police departments resolved to direct fewer resources to marijuana busts to focus on other things: violent crimes, alcohol-related crimes, methamphetamine busts, etc. Now they've been ordered to follow suit.
Likewise, the state of Washington's police departments resolved to direct fewer resources to marijuana busts to focus on other things: violent crimes, alcohol-related crimes, methamphetamine busts, etc. Now they've been ordered to follow suit.
Seattle to Portland, Vol. 4
Tuesday, 15. July 2008, 16:12:37
Eight years ago, I rode my bicycle from Seattle to the hamlet of Vader, Washington, with some friends. We spent the night and rode to Portland for a total of 200 miles (320 km) over the course of two days. I had caught the bug that has kept this annual event, the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic, going since 1979.
This year, for the (I think) eighth time, I finished the "STP" ride yet again but in just one day. As one can imagine, it was an eventful ride.
This year, for the (I think) eighth time, I finished the "STP" ride yet again but in just one day. As one can imagine, it was an eventful ride.
Dream so real
Wednesday, 9. July 2008, 04:48:14
M. John Harrison might be my favorite writer. For a long time I was totally enamored of Tom Robbins' whimsical imagery and his ability to weave unrelated ideas together. Robbins' novel Jitterbug Perfume, for example, builds a common thread among beet pollen, perfumerie, and eternal youth.
Not that such a connection naturally exists. Robbins just makes it happen with some great storytelling. What he lacks, though, is lyricism. Harrison's ideas are great and so his words and his turns of phrase. You can read it out loud, and it just sounds... cool.
In any case, he also has a really cool blog. Way cooler than mine. One of his entries, it's about one of his dreams, got me to thinking.
A few weeks ago, I woke up literally gasping for air. No, it wasn't asthma. It was a dream about water skiing. It seems that I was dreaming about skiing behind a boat on very choppy water. I skied right up on a big wave thinking, "This can't be real." Then it hit struck home: I'm dreaming.
This has happened to me before. It's called lucid dreaming when you take control of your own dreams. Some people do it regularly, some never. This time, I was calling the shots and started flying a hundred feet above the ground because I wanted to. Then it got weird. I hit the water and plunged deep down. Suddenly I was breathing underwater
and thinking, "This doesn't make sense." Then the panic set in. 
The gasping started and got bad enough that it woke me up.
Fortunately, a couple of weeks later, things weren't making sense again: another lucid dream! This time, it wasn't happening near the water so I conjured up a lake, jumped in, and started breathing normally. It didn't last because the alarm went off.
Still, it was a great experience. I can't wait for it to happen again!
Not that such a connection naturally exists. Robbins just makes it happen with some great storytelling. What he lacks, though, is lyricism. Harrison's ideas are great and so his words and his turns of phrase. You can read it out loud, and it just sounds... cool.
In any case, he also has a really cool blog. Way cooler than mine. One of his entries, it's about one of his dreams, got me to thinking.
A few weeks ago, I woke up literally gasping for air. No, it wasn't asthma. It was a dream about water skiing. It seems that I was dreaming about skiing behind a boat on very choppy water. I skied right up on a big wave thinking, "This can't be real." Then it hit struck home: I'm dreaming.
This has happened to me before. It's called lucid dreaming when you take control of your own dreams. Some people do it regularly, some never. This time, I was calling the shots and started flying a hundred feet above the ground because I wanted to. Then it got weird. I hit the water and plunged deep down. Suddenly I was breathing underwater
and thinking, "This doesn't make sense." Then the panic set in. The gasping started and got bad enough that it woke me up.Fortunately, a couple of weeks later, things weren't making sense again: another lucid dream! This time, it wasn't happening near the water so I conjured up a lake, jumped in, and started breathing normally. It didn't last because the alarm went off.
Still, it was a great experience. I can't wait for it to happen again!Lightning in Seattle? Yup!
Saturday, 5. July 2008, 00:54:46
Lightning is one of the great unsolved mysteries because we can't observe it directly. It's nearly impossible to know what's happening in the middle of a roiling, black cumulonimbus cloud without being right there. And that carries some inherent risks. The most promising explanation today involves cosmic rays, radiation from supernovas. Granted, this theory has its supporters and its detractors.
Not that it matters what causes lightning, so much as what keeps it from happening more often here in Seattle. For all the rain it gets, this city sees precious little lightning. That leaves me pining sometimes because I grew up in an area with plenty of thunderstorms. I especially miss them at night because the rolling thunder puts me to sleep. (yawn!) I'm getting tired just thinking about it...
The other night, contrary to climatological convention, we had a gorgeous thunderstorm that merited a video on a local paper's website. Enjoy!
Not that it matters what causes lightning, so much as what keeps it from happening more often here in Seattle. For all the rain it gets, this city sees precious little lightning. That leaves me pining sometimes because I grew up in an area with plenty of thunderstorms. I especially miss them at night because the rolling thunder puts me to sleep. (yawn!) I'm getting tired just thinking about it...
The other night, contrary to climatological convention, we had a gorgeous thunderstorm that merited a video on a local paper's website. Enjoy!
It all worked out in the end
Tuesday, 1. July 2008, 14:55:05
Three weekends every summer, I work at a camp for disabled adults. This will be my fourth year. The campers run the gamut of syndromes and developmental disabilities. Some of them are described as "high functioning": they have a good grasp of language and can learn some new skills. Others are stagnant in their cognitive abilities.
While the latter group is restricted in their intellect, they're equally unrestricted in their emotional abilities. They really do love you unconditionally. Well, some of them do. Others are more independent, shall I say. We had a big scare with a chronic "wanderer" on Sunday afternoon.
A little before noon Sunday, one of the counselors looked around doing the usual headcount every five minutes or so. Then she posed an unsettling question. "Where's Melvin?"
While the latter group is restricted in their intellect, they're equally unrestricted in their emotional abilities. They really do love you unconditionally. Well, some of them do. Others are more independent, shall I say. We had a big scare with a chronic "wanderer" on Sunday afternoon.
A little before noon Sunday, one of the counselors looked around doing the usual headcount every five minutes or so. Then she posed an unsettling question. "Where's Melvin?"
Every Bird Should Get to Fly
Thursday, 26. June 2008, 13:35:55
This is actually a commercial for the Washington State Lottery. I don't see the connection between it and playing the lotto, but it's still a very cool commercial. My favorite part is the penguin waddling excitedly through the grass. Ya gotta love the music, too.
A little Memphis Music
Wednesday, 25. June 2008, 19:09:26
I'm working at home today. It's warm and sunny, no deadlines. It harkens to one of my favorite songs, by the most famous unknown Memphis band. When you live in Memphis, whose name locals pronounce "Meffis," two things are in your blood: great food and great music. Some of the best music was by a group named Big Star.
Some of the most influential artists of the modern era made Memphis their home, even if they weren't originally from there. Elvis Presley was a native of Tupelo, Mississippi, but spent most of his life in the River City. It has also been home to W.C. Handy, B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, among them.
These are all easily recognized artists, each with a solid foundation in the blues and gospel music. Most fans, however, probably aren't aware of the two most influential acts in alternative rock: Big Star and Television. The latter formed in New York City in 1973, working with the other founders of punk and new wave.
Big Star, who took their name from a local grocery store, formed in Memphis in 1971. Their first album hit the stands in 1972 and likely was an influence on Television's own sound. This seminal distinction defines their status: mythic figures among modern musicians. Outside of their hometown, few folks know them as a band, despite knowing some of their music.
Today's laid back atmosphere reminds me of the first song, Thirteen, the rest are tunes that other bands have covered or that I just like. Enjoy!
Some of the most influential artists of the modern era made Memphis their home, even if they weren't originally from there. Elvis Presley was a native of Tupelo, Mississippi, but spent most of his life in the River City. It has also been home to W.C. Handy, B.B. King, Isaac Hayes, among them.
These are all easily recognized artists, each with a solid foundation in the blues and gospel music. Most fans, however, probably aren't aware of the two most influential acts in alternative rock: Big Star and Television. The latter formed in New York City in 1973, working with the other founders of punk and new wave.
Big Star, who took their name from a local grocery store, formed in Memphis in 1971. Their first album hit the stands in 1972 and likely was an influence on Television's own sound. This seminal distinction defines their status: mythic figures among modern musicians. Outside of their hometown, few folks know them as a band, despite knowing some of their music.
Today's laid back atmosphere reminds me of the first song, Thirteen, the rest are tunes that other bands have covered or that I just like. Enjoy!
Showing posts 1 - 10 of 185.
James
smug (but not too)
Chat
Nerak
2008-07-22 22:53:22No offense, but I don't dance for ANYONE. Can I purchase a stripper for you instead?
unlisted
2008-07-22 21:44:01Yes, verily I rule. Now dance, little minions. Dance!
2008-07-09 05:16:55You are the ruler of all who rule!
2008-05-20 19:29:49I feel like a complete putz. I thought I was subscribed to your blog...apparently I was wrong. :doh:
odradek
2008-03-15 20:07:14+(*_*)+
Recent visitors
A proud member of the My Opera community. | Help | Disclaimer