Words

AUGH WHAT

2010-07-03T12:28:00.002-05:00

I keep forgetting this crap exists! I mean really is it so hard for me to remember something so simple as having a diary? Or journal or "web-log" or whatever? Yes, it is too hard. I don't remember things like that.

Amber is playing sing-star, but i have no idea what songs she's singing. Oh well. I think she wants me to, but I can't sing and I don't know any of these songs so no I don't think I'll be doing that.

Also i think i'll use my other twitter account more, like for when i'm feeling introverted (which is basically all of the time) so i don't have to unfollow people and then have them hate me forever and kill me with a hook that looks like the blue oyster cult logo.

Toxoplasma gondii / Toxoplasmosis

2009-12-08T10:00:00.000-06:00

This is the coolest parasite ever. It spends its life cycle in cats, but can live in other animals. It spends time in other animals mostly in brain tissue and is pretty clever about it. It's mostly harmless (a healthy human or cat can easily keep it completely at bay,) although may be harmful to fetuses, so it's a concern for pregnant women.

It lives and reproduces in a cat's stomache, and, like most parasites that do, it spreads through feces. But, here's the problem: cats avoid feces. Some other animals (like rats and mice) do not and since fecal matter is good fertilizer, it could end up in humans via plants.

Here's the awesome part: rats and mice are instinctively afraid of the scent of felid urine. This helps them to avoid cats and cat territory. Toxoplasmosis selectively alters their brain chemistry to make them attracted to this scent. It doesn't change any of their other fears (if the rat dies from something else, so does the parasite.) So now that rats are attracted to cats, T. gondii is suddenly and happily back in a cat's stomache!

Sinister, eh?

T. gondii has also been shown to have effects on humans, basically raising estrogen production in women and testosterone production in men.

Meh

2009-11-15T19:07:00.001-06:00

Senators in favor of gang rape:

2009-10-15T22:33:00.000-05:00

Alexander, Lamar [R], TN
Barrasso, John [R], WY
Bond, Christopher [R], MO
Brownback, Samuel [R], KS
Bunning, Jim [R], KY
Burr, Richard [R], NC
Chambliss, Saxby [R], GA
Coburn, Thomas [R], OK
Cochran, Thad [R], MS
Corker, Bob [R], TN
Cornyn, John [R], TX
Crapo, Michael [R], ID
DeMint, Jim [R], SC
Ensign, John [R], NV
Enzi, Michael [R], WY
Graham, Lindsey [R], SC
Gregg, Judd [R], NH
Inhofe, James [R], OK
Isakson, John [R], GA
Johanns, Mike [R], NE
Kyl, Jon [R], AZ
McCain, John [R], AZ
McConnell, Mitch [R], KY
Risch, James [R], ID
Roberts, Pat [R], KS
Sessions, Jefferson [R], AL
Shelby, Richard [R], AL
Thune, John [R], SD
Vitter, David [R], LA
Wicker, Roger [R], MS

ALLEZ CUISINE!

2009-10-11T21:16:00.000-05:00

   I love Iron Chef. It's the best show ever. It's almost campy, but ends up being completely genuine. After all, we have contests of trying to put balls in holes that we take seriously, why not cooking? I love everything about the show. The food, the music, the commentary, the theatrics/story: it's wonderful.

   But Iron Chef America sucks. There isn't the same rivalry they have in the original: even when they have some competitive spirit, there's no real pride or honour, there's no respect. It seems like they don't take cooking as seriously. It's not their profession, it's their job. Overall, the commentary isn't as insightful, though Alton Brown is certainly a fantastic commentator (I'd say as good as the originals.) They put no effort into the story, or presentation: the food is supposed to stand alone. And, how can it? Frankly, the chefs on ICA aren't of the same caliber as the originals. The creations never look (or even sound) as good, and don't show the same skill or creativity. It ends up typical of boisterous-America: loud, irritating, and without substance.

   So, it's time to make a new version; a truly world version of Iron Chef. Nine chefs chosen from around the world: Japanese, Chinese, Thai, French, English, Italian, Mid-Eastern, Bavarian/Russian, and Latin. Each from the region of their cooking, and each a true master of cuisine. Judges would also be internationally chosen, as to avoid a 'home-taste advantage.' The stadium would be as grand as CS-I, but have the professional appliances of CS-II. Costumes would of course be required, to keep with the grandiose nature of the program. Commentary would be done in the original style (a host and color commentator joined by one or two judges, with a floor-commentator to provide details,) but would involve Alton Brown (by kidnapping if necessary.) CS-III will be high in the mountains in an undisclosed location. To compensate, the battles will be lengthened to 90 or 120 minutes. I haven't decided whether to use the score from Blackdraft, or an original. The story will be as grand as the original, with the chairman frequently traveling by stagecoach, always beginning stories with "If memory serves..."

Good idea!

2009-10-07T13:47:00.001-05:00

Stephen Colbert had a good idea: send Max Baucus your healthcare bills. Since he wants to help Americans with no health insurance, but not, you know, do anything about it, he clearly just wants to pay it himself!! He can just take it out of the $1,196,463 the insurance industry has contributed to his campaigns!

SO! Send all of your unpaid healthcare bills to:

Max Baucus
511 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510

Ugh

2009-10-04T23:11:00.002-05:00

"For god's sake, democrats, they're countering your arguments with nonsense, and crushing you."
-Jon Stewart

Oh right!

2009-10-01T17:47:00.001-05:00

I got a third interview set for next friday, and the apartment is held until then.

Nothing

2009-09-28T19:07:00.001-05:00

That's what I got done in the rest of the day.

Woah!

2009-09-28T11:21:00.000-05:00

Today I have:

Cleaned the bathroom/threw out Erin's old stuff
Replaced my passenger-side headlamp
Replaced the knob/deadbolt on my door

And it's only 11:00! I wonder what I'll do this afternoon :)

P.S. someone buy me a set of Snap-on tools. In addition to all the usual things, I'll need an 18V cordless drill, impact drill, reciprocating saw, extra batteries, and battery charger.

Your mom graduated from college with honours!

2009-09-25T22:32:00.000-05:00

Erin has left. That chapter of my life is, for all intents and purposes, over.

iPhones, carries, and 4G

2009-09-25T12:41:00.000-05:00

Okay yes, I want an iPhone. I'm not fond of AT&T, but I'm equally disinterested in Verizon. AT&T has a slight advantage in customer service, but it still leaves vast amounts to be desired, and their network infrastructure isn't as strong. Verizon's 3G service is better, and the 4G service is much closer, but their customer service is abysmal at best.

I like Sprint for their network strength (they ay not have 4G ready as soon as Verizon, but their tech looks promising) and T-Mobile for their customer service. I'd really like Virgin the best (they operate over Sprint's network and have fantastic customer service,) but I don't see that happening.

Whatever happens next year, I hope i can get an iPhone, and not be limited to AT&T or Verizon.

What?

2009-09-25T11:01:00.005-05:00

James Turner did a little B&S update a few months back, figure this out:

Oops

2009-09-25T10:18:00.000-05:00

I forgot two webcomics! These ones I don't so much watch, or bookmark an RSS page, as I'm subscribed to by email.

Copper, by Kazu Kibuishi. This one updates rarely, but is well worth the wait. Kazu's artwork is amazing.
Beaver & Steve. This was my favourite for years, but as you can see, it's on indefinite hiatus, probably never to return.

Letter From an Occupant

2009-09-24T21:01:00.000-05:00

Still my favourite from Neko or The New Pornographers.

Would this be crazy?

2009-09-23T16:10:00.000-05:00

   The current per child tax credit in the US is $1000 per child, set to reduce to $500 per child next year. The current system just sets people up to have too many kids, rather than help raise them, since even $1000/year is a drop in the bucket next to the cost of raising a child. How about instead of simply dropping it, we change it:

For a couple:
$1000/year for one child (the same as this year)
$500/year for a second child (75% total of this year's system, or 150% of next year's system)
$0/year for a third (50% total of this year, or 100% of next year)
$-500/year for a fourth child, bringing it back down to the credit for one)
$-1000/year for a fifth child (bringing it to 0)
$-2000/year for a sixth child (you would owe MORE taxes for having so many children)
$-1000/year for each additional

For a single parent:
$2000/year for the first
$0 for the second
$-1000/year for the third and subsequent

   The extra revenue goes to schools, WIC programs (which will be expanded to single fathers,) and other community programs for kids.

   This way having a responsible number of children is encouraged, while having more is discouraged. The one child policy china had wouldn't really work here; it's too communist. This is capitalist at its very core, and would go a lot farther to help disadvantaged kids, while making it so there are fewer of them.

Two turntables and a microphone

2009-09-21T17:49:00.000-05:00

Why, internet? Why must I use you so often? The internet is so ubiquitous in modern life that I doubt most people see it as an activity any more than breathing, or merely perceiving. It's simply a natural extension. I wonder how long until transhumanism injects the internet into my brain... I can only hope it comes with an off switch.

What websites must you visit daily? I have many webcomics: Dominic Deegan, Penny Arcade, Ctrl-Alt-Del, AppleGeeks, Dresden Codak, Anders Loves Maria, PvP, GodMode, Rooster Teeth (makers of Red vs Blue,) Count Your Sheep, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, Girls With Slingshots, Three Panel Soul (formerly MacHall,) Overcompensating, WIGU, The Noob, Get Fuzzy, White Ninja, Sore Thumbs, Candi, Questionable Content, Marry Me Movie, No Pink Ponies, and Pajama Forest! I check Oddee and The Chive for funny pictures, Digg, Reddit, SlashDot, and Current_ TV for news. Twitter, Blogger, and gMail for networking/blogging, and I usually watch a video or two on Hulu.

Most of those, I visit daily. Sometimes I let Slashdot, Reddit and Current_ go, since most of the things I'm interested there are also on Digg.

There are some other links I would hate to lose. Although I rarely purchase, I have several online stores bookmarked. I also have a dozen or so Wikis, to keep all of this information I'm supposed to know handy.

Things to say?

2009-09-19T11:10:00.000-05:00

I feel discontent... I suppose I just want next week to be over, and a new job to be secured. It feels like I'm just waiting for the future to arrive.

Also!

2009-09-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

Try watching this without doing air guitar:

Everyone saw this ,right?

2009-09-17T14:22:00.001-05:00

waaauuuggghhhh!

2009-09-16T16:32:00.001-05:00

Okay, I've been super busy um.... doing something more important than watching Naruto: Shippuden. I did finally get all three outlets going, ran the r6 cable through into my room, and moved my desk. It turns out I can't have more than one modem, but I found my wireless card.

Also got new tabs. win!

Bleah

2009-09-11T23:15:00.001-05:00

     I didn't really get anything done today, I'm just too tired. I did get the outlet up to the loft yesterday, but not back down to where the old one was (will be.) I may feel up to that tomorrow, so we'll see. I did get my week off, and I hope to find it most relaxing. Although disappointing that I won't be able to visit Madame W, I'm sure that will occur at a future juncture.

   Twitter updated their TOS, but it's nothing unusual or out of line. I'm sure someone will bitch about it, but they'll probably do it on twitter without even meaning to be ironic.

   I have some ideas swirling in my noggin for a real entry, this may also be done tomorrow. For now, I'm going to just go to bed.

At last!

2009-09-09T20:01:00.001-05:00

My room is looking much better now. Both under the bed and on the loft got completely cleaned out, I did about 10kg of laundry, and I got the bed up on the loft. I also hung up my guitar to encourage me to pick it up again, put up a peg for my savannah hat, and hung an old picture. But wait, there's more! I got rid of the cat's old broken litterbox, and replaced it with her older not broken one! Huzzah! I laid out the carpet in my new found space, and got one of the chairs from my parent's house.

Yeeap, my room is looking pretty great. What? The closet? Don't look in the closet. No, sto... [a bunch of crap falls out of storage] ..p... Okay, so it's not 100% yet, but it's good enough for now, and once Erin moves out, I'll have a tonne more space. Okay, volume, so a kilolitre. Happy? Gosh you're picky!

I'm really tired now, so more tomorrow.

Uffda!

2009-09-07T17:50:00.003-05:00

Cleaning is hard!

   I honestly had no idea that between Erin and myself we owned so much clothing! I gave her about two 100l tubs, a laundry hamper and a shopping bag. This is in addition to the one 100l tub from yesterday, and I'm sure there's more to come. I'll probably end up keeping a lot of my stuff, although I'll donate some pants that don't fit, and throw out some old ratty t-shirts.

   Does everyone in the internet know about SnURL and TinyURL? I'm sick of big URLs so make sure to use them. Or, use Giant URL just to piss me off. Better yet, do something like this so no one knows that's going on.

   I think I would save up for the Olympus PEN camera before a TV. I mean who cares about tv?

[Post Script]
My room is big! Who knew?

Cleaning!

2009-09-06T22:34:00.000-05:00

   My goodness can cleaning be a lot of work. sorting out things, whether they're mine (and I want to keep them,) mine (and I don't,) hers, garbage, or who know what; it's exhausting! In the end, it feels good, though. By tomorrow my room will start to look nice, and soon after it should all settle down.

   Michael has created the possibility of moving into a condo with him as a roommate. This would have advantages: cheaper rent, a good location, someone to keep me somewhat social. Then again, there are disadvantages: I'd have to have a roommate (solitude sounds delightful,) I'd have less control over my domain, and it's not exactly something I've wanted to do. I suppose it's contingent on both him acquiring the condo and me liking it. He's mentioned it needs work, but I'm not sure what that means to him. I should also consider the cat; she likes it here fairly well, and I'm unsure how she would handle the move. All in all, it's not something I need to do, but could be an attractive option.

   I'm still interested in employment with MN district 1. There are certainly drawbacks (no pay over breaks, at least three months with no job certainty,) but would pay better overall (even without a summer job I'd come out well ahead.)

   Wikipedia is a dangerous game. I logged on to see how Cherries were related to other plants (they're in the genus prunus with other pitted fruit, and the family rosaceae with roses and berries,) but soon began to wonder how all of these classifications worked! I discover there are currently three domains of life: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarites (all complex celled organisms.) Under Eukaryotes, there are the familiar Plants, Animals, Fungi, and Amoebae, but also Chromalveolates (things that can photosynthesize, like algae and chloroplasts,) Rhizaria (things like plankton,) and Excavates (single celled parasites.) I still don't get how Archaea are different from bacteria.

Also this

2009-09-05T09:48:00.001-05:00

My avatar is courtesy Evan Diaz of Pajama Forest, check it out!

Internet

2009-09-05T09:44:00.000-05:00

"Ahh, the 'day off.' The best invention by man since the introduction of the atrocity that is 'work.'"

-Lucas Davidowicz

   I have a love-hate relationship with the internet. I love how easily I can gain information: knowledge of all kinds. Political news, inspirational stories, music and videos, history, science and anything else at my fingertips.

   But, it's very difficult to know what I want to see, what information I want to absorb. I'm honestly not good at multi-tasking: absorbing multiple streams of unrelated knowledge. Sure I can accept information, process it, and respond to it, but I can't do it for two things. I can watch a video, but if I want to chat, I have to pause it. It's absolutely inundating me with stimulation.

   Even so, I can become bored with it easily. Sure there's an endless supply of information, but what If I can't find anything I care about? It's astonishing I could be bored with so much stimulation, but I can. More perplexing is that the solution, in my case, is to turn off the computer and do something else. If I'm bored with a castrophany of information, I find silence enjoyable in a plethora of ways. That said, a good story will engage me anywhere. I think today I'll read instead of surfing.

   Listen to Sir Elton John!

Surround is for pussies.

2009-09-05T02:48:00.001-05:00

Thanks to the internet, I can Imagine what I would spend the lottery on. I'm sure many people have "stereo" or "sound system" on their list. To this, I scoff. Scoff! Have you put no thought into what components? Or, are you content with some phillips "surround sound in a box" POS? See the title of this post for my opinion on that. I have compiled a list of the necessary components for this system; feel free to copy (or buy them for me) if you win the powerball. Let's start at the loud end, and work our way back.

JBL K2 S9800 floor-standing speakers - $22,500/pair
35hz-50khz frequency response, 400W RMS power handling

AudioQuest Volcano speaker cables - $6,600/2 pair

Thorens TEM 3200 Amplifiers - $25,900/pair
400W / 4Ohms power output

AudioQuest Sky XLR audio cable - $2,500

Thorens TEP 3800 PreAmplifier (Receiver) - $20,000

AudioQuest Sky RCA audio cable - $2,500

Thorens TEP 302 Phono-PreAmp - $2,050

AudioQuest Sky RCA audio cable - $2,500

Thorens TD 550 turntable - $13,000

AudioQuest LeoPard tonearm interconnect cable - $900

Thorens TD 125 12" "Davinci" tonearm - $7,100

--- Richard Gray's RGPC PowerHouse power conditioner - $9,000

Live! at the Village Vanguard by John Coltrane, 1961 - $15

Yes, I think $114,565 is a reasonable amount to spend on listening to that album, assuming you had millions to throw around. I mean, have you heard Live! at the Village Vanguard? It's artistic perfection!

Should I stay, or should I go?

2009-09-04T14:39:00.001-05:00

   I'm contemplating the possibilities of the future today. Although it does depend on employment, it looks more and more likely I'll be employed in the cities. Minneapolis Public Schools are a strong option: they have several jobs and have expressed initial interest. Target remains a possibility moving forward; of course, not in its current capacity; there are a number of other positions available in the southwestern suburbs, although I doubt any of them will seriously consider me. Few possibilities remain in Duluth, though the future remains ever uncertain.

   A few near certainties remain: Erin is planning to move out on the 25th of this month, a mere three weeks from today. In two weeks we will finally split finances, which should leave me with more per week than I've been accustomed to for the past three years. I will need more gainful employment, and this seems less uncertain as time progresses.

   So what to do on that magic move-out day? Should I myself seek better accommodation? Although this had seemed almost certain, I now question it. Is this apartment not adequate for one person? Am I not allowed certain freedoms in exchange for the low level of building maintenance? These are both true, of course, so I find myself with less reason to move, should I stay in the cities. I am still more interested in Duluth, but knowing Erin will not be nearby does make the Cities more appealing, or perhaps, less unappealing. I will still owe money, meaning either way I'll be paying Chuck. Should I stay, I can likely pay less per month. Indeed, I am unlikely to find a more affordable apartment either way. Beyond the immediate finances, I am not currently subject to a long term lease, allowing me to leave at a moment's notice. Indeed either way, I would be here for some amount of time. A month? Six months? Not a huge difference.

   Should I remain, some changes should be made. Of course much cleaning will be necessary. As of now, I plan to request the week after Erin leaves for vacation time. There is a loft in the bedroom, perhaps I should move the bed up there. I could then have the lower area as a study. The living room could be better spaced out, making room for a small dining table, which I may be able to procure from my parents. In addition to their old table (which they have offered in the past) I could get the chairs which match my sofa (they're currently un-used anyway.) The kitchen faucet could use replacing, a task I feel more than able to complete. Beyond that, a small rug would likely be necessary on the loft. None of this would be expensive; most is entirely free. Those few changes could really make this a reasonable abode.

   What about school? I am still interested in finishing my bachelor's degree. Augsberg and Metro State are both possibilities.

   In all, staying for the time being seems reasonable. One step at a time!

[Post Script]

If I did leave, I wouldn't see random drunks getting arrested on the street!

New!

2009-09-03T23:59:00.000-05:00

Well here's a blogger account. Thanks to our benevolent overlords at Google for their support. I'll come up with something to write tomorrow. Until then, go on a luxury Mongolian hunting expedition with Urbane Nomads. Trips include horseback falconry!