The Ciber World of Blade

Escalator of Life

2005-09-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

Standing at the bottom, you see a single escalator rising out of the basement and into the light. You know you must get to the top even though it is moving down towards you. So you start to climb, step after step you walk….getting nowhere. So you start running, gaining speed and you’re half way up when you get so tired from your efforts that stop and rest is what you must do. As you rest…back down to the bottom you glide. Nearing the bottom, your strength regained, you take off again skipping a step with each stride. Again, you are frustrated with failure as the physical toll weighs heavy on your body. Again you try, jumping two or three steps at a time, using your arms to pull you greater distances and yet, once again the weakness sets in.

Sometimes we may not realize it…but we are on this escalator. As we try to deal with the struggles that life provides us, the weakness sets in and we begin to glide back down towards the basement where the darkness of anger, depression, and fear reside. It is our ability to pick ourselves up when we fall that guides the light in our lives, that sets us apart. We may never reach the top…does not mean we will stop trying to stand strong in the face of things that are not right.

Life, don't talk to me about life.

2005-09-18T11:38:00.000-05:00

Each and every one of us has within us positive and negative forces. They each have their own energy, creating a life of their own. When you call forth one of these energies, focus on it, allow it to pass through your very being, you generate more and more of that energy than previously held.

So then the question becomes; what force do you want to rule your life? The answer will come when you are at peace, when you are calm. True power does not flow when you are angry, or sad, or scared, but when you are calm and centered. Only then will one begin to channel the essence of your life force.

Time in a bottle...

2005-09-11T09:02:00.000-05:00

The bottles cracked...the cork gone, at long last my journey has reached its conclusion. With a pleasant sigh of release, I begin to ponder what my new-found free time shall become filled with.

My old school pal had E-Mailed me once and said we should meet up--haven't heard from him since **huh**

Gas

2005-09-01T10:42:00.000-05:00

This is the part where I get frustrated by connecting some dots that the 'reporters' neglect to mention.
**bare with me**
I received some barbs when I asked why we needed the highway bill -- cause I knew that 18.3 cents of every gallon of gas sold went into a Highway Trust Fund. Now, like all systems, it has been modified over the years...as it sits currently, the tax from gas is split -- 80% of it funds the Highway Trust, and 20% funds Mass Transit.

The gas itself is regulated by additives, mixtures, burn rates, etc... These regulations vary from state to state, and cause the prices to increase because refineries must produce to meet the differing specifications rather than produce volume of a single standard. This is one of the problem points that can (and should) be addressed...IMO. Since fuel is an energy backbone of this nation and it falls into inter-state commerce -- I believe can be regulated federally (moreso than it is) (This is one of the few where I encourage fed to be more involved) As such, there could be a nation-wide fuel enrichment standard...this would enable the refineries to produce without modification -- and in situations like now where there are stations out of service...others can pick up the slack without having to change their mixtures.

As for Bush -- well, it's nice that he's tapped into the reserves...but we needed that before Katrina, not after. Although, he could drop 18cents per gallon by taking away the gas tax (temp) but that would only be a short-term ease...and not address the solution.

Back again....again

2005-08-04T06:36:00.000-05:00

It truly does seem that my time is a piece of wax that has fallen on a termite, that is choking on the splinters.

So how have Y'all been? Hopefully not as busy as I have been! What to say...what to say. I had wanted to talk about Rove...but not any more. Thought about the '06 elections, yeah -- too far away. Roberts will be confirmed (take it on faith)

Have you ever seen a person get upset because his new wireless mouse did not come with the cables to connect it to the computer? I have

In other news...Chick-fil-a's breakfast chicken biscuits are GREAT!!!!
This just in:
I've found a long lost friend and am looking forward to catching back up with him

There we have it...a nice little post about nothing. I'll try to pump a lil substance in next time

So-long to the fifth

2005-06-24T09:18:00.000-05:00

I guess this place will be more political while the numbnuts 'in-charge' keep this crap up.

The Supreme Court has said that local governments may seize people's homes and businesses against their will for private development.

I am far to disturbed to write in length about this currently...you can find this case by looking at Kelo et al v. City of New London, 04-108.

Flagamerica Burning

2005-06-23T11:58:00.000-05:00

I'm going to try not turning this into yet another political blog...still....my extrapolation...so....yeah.

Alright...some fool wants to set a flag on fire. Not my choice of demonstration, but fine. Now, Congressional nitwits want to make such an act against the law. An online pal sums it up as such: "If burning the symbol of a country in which you are free enough to legally burn it is hypocritical ......... then banning the burning of it must be twice as hypocritical." Direct and to the point!

This does not seem to fall into the same category as burning of a draft card. It was not considered protected speech, but an illegal behavior violating the Selective Service rules (United States v. O'Brien, 391 U.S. 367 in 1968).

And what about old and torn flags? The correct way to dispose of it -- is in a ceremony where it gets set on fire. And that is the problem with this bill -- it is worded so that the 'intent' is subjective to those who are charging the crime.

People gave their life for the freedoms we have...and if for no other reason...it should be respected! For those that want to read it, here is the bill:

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1974

To provide for protection of the flag of the United States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 28, 2005

Mr. BOUCHER (for himself and Mr. SCHIFF) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To provide for protection of the flag of the United States.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Flag Protection Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. PROTECTION OF THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES.

(a) In General- Section 700 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`Sec. 700. Protection of the flag of the United States

`(a) Actions Promoting Violence- Any person who destroys or damages a flag of the United States with intent to provoke imminent violence or a breach of the peace, and in circumstances reasonably likely to produce imminent violence or a breach of the peace, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

`(b) Damaging a Flag Belonging to the United States- Any person who steals or knowingly converts to his or her use, or to the use of another, a flag of the United States belonging to the United States and intentionally destroys or damages that flag shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

`(c) Damaging a Flag of Another on Federal Land- Any person who, within any lands reserved for the use of the United States, or under the exclusive or concurrent jurisdiction thereof, steals or knowingly converts to his or her use, or to the use of another, a flag of the United States belonging to another person and intentionally destroys or damages that flag shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

`(d) Construction- Nothing in this section shall be construed as indicating an intent on the part of Congress to deprive any State, territory, possession, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico of jurisdiction over any offense over which it would have jurisdiction in the absence of this section.

`(e) Definition- As used in this section, the term `flag of the United States' means any flag of the United States, or any part thereof, made of any substance, of any size, in a form that is commonly displayed as a flag and would be taken to be a flag by the reasonable observer.'.

(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking out the item relating to section 700 and inserting in lieu thereof the following new item:

`700. Protection of the flag of the United States.'.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of the Congress that the States should enact prohibitions similar to the provisions of this Act in an order to provide the maximum protection to the flag of the United States.

Gitmo

2005-06-22T16:47:00.000-05:00

I had wonderful and sparkling plans to post some more philosophy, but this torture crap just keeps floating back up to the surface. So after gathering all the facts, this is what I have come up with:

The Geneva Conventions reference the Strasbourg Court, specifically in regards to it's torture clause. It states that torture is defined as severe pain or suffering, which means there exist levels of pain and suffering which are not severe enough to be called torture -- such as sensory deprivation. (this is what the current reports of 'torture' refer to)

The five sensory deprivation techniques:

In 1978 in the European Court of Human Rights trial "Ireland v. the United Kingdom" the facts were not in dispute and the court published the following in their judgment:

These methods, sometimes termed "disorientation" or "sensory deprivation" techniques, were not used in any cases other than the fourteen so indicated above. It emerges from the Commission's establishment of the facts that the techniques consisted of:

(a) wall-standing: forcing the detainees to remain for periods of some hours in a "stress position", described by those who underwent it as being "spreadeagled against the wall, with their fingers put high above the head against the wall, the legs spread apart and the feet back, causing them to stand on their toes with the weight of the body mainly on the fingers";

(b) hooding: putting a black or navy colored bag over the detainees' heads and, at least initially, keeping it there all the time except during interrogation;

(c) subjection to noise: pending their interrogations, holding the detainees in a room where there was a continuous loud and hissing noise;

(d) deprivation of sleep: pending their interrogations, depriving the detainees of sleep;

(e) deprivation of food and drink: subjecting the detainees to a reduced diet during their stay at the center and pending interrogations.

It referred to the above as "the five techniques" and ruled:

167. ... Although the five techniques, as applied in combination, undoubtedly amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment, although their object was the extraction of confessions, the naming of others and/or information and although they were used systematically, they did not occasion suffering of the particular intensity and cruelty implied by the word torture as so understood.

These accusations that the United States tortures its prisoners does nothing but damage our image and place the troops in greater harm. The techniques currently being used ARE in accordance with the Geneva conventions, the Strasbourg Court, and the European Court of Human Rights!

Tagged...

2005-06-19T08:55:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged by Jenny!...WooHoo!

What 5 Things do you miss about your childhood?

But first the rules to this meme game: Remove the blog at #1 from the following list and bump every one up one place; add your blog's name in the #5 spot; link to each of the other blogs for the desired cross pollination effect:

1. Lu's News
2. Searchin' for a Rainbow
3. Aint it Amazing?
4. Spit Noodle & Joey
5. The Ciber World of Blade

Next: select new friends to add to the pollen count. (No one is obligated to participate).

1. Di
2. Rachel
3. Fish
4. Ry-Chuss
5. Hobbes

On to the fun:

1. I miss riding my bike endlessly. "stunts" where I alone would defy death...which at times would sound closer to: "hey death! Na-nananaana-na you can't catch me". Yeah, I was either very good...or very lucky!

2. I miss camping trips with my mother and sister. Hangin out in the woods...chasin down snakes, catching animals with homeade traps, chasing bats with a stick...Mmmm good times. HA!

3. I miss my woodland adventures...where I would explore every inch of the nearby wood. To know every 'hidden' cove. Kids games in the woods -- I was KING! And then search anything else of interest.

4. I miss spending hours at the library just reading and learning about all kinds of stuff. I would just look for a book on any subject...pick it up and read it. Yeah, I know I'm a geek -- don't act surprised.

5. I miss caring why my family is not a family in the traditional sense. I would wonder what happened, or what could be done to 'fix' it.

TV Time

2005-06-16T20:12:00.000-05:00

Hit me baby one more time....

It's neat to see the original artists perform their one-hit-wonders---but to watch them cover some of the 'new' music is hilarious!

Last week we got to see Haddaway cover "toxic" by Brittany -- but that will pale in comparison when Cameo covers a song by Bowling for Soup tonight :D

I could really get into this show!

At least I'm committed

2005-06-14T20:49:00.000-05:00

Michael Jackson

2005-06-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

Well...MJ has been found not guilty on all 10 counts. This comes as no surprize to me...for I have always said that there is not enough evidence to convict (even between both trials)

Yes, his lifestyle would not be considered "normal" but more is needed to make such a charge stick. I still think that his defense could have used "he is still a kid mentally" -- but now doesn't seem like they needed to.

Lighsaber spoons are cool.

Buddha says: A gift is never of little value when it is given with a sacrificial purpose.

2005-06-08T18:39:00.000-05:00

There are times when I wonder if that holds true. I have given of myself, time, money, and love. I should not expect a return from these gifts -- yet sometimes I feel for it. I do not know if my deeds have value to others, but I believe them to have value to myself -- for they are the right thing to do.

Ok....maybe I put a little bit too much crazy powder in my protein shake today.

So....yeah

2005-06-06T17:20:00.000-05:00

It's been so long since I've done this....I'm not sure if I remember how :eek: ;)
So much going on...there just is not enough words to describe. Memorial day has come and gone with the thought of posts long forgotten. I have been working hard to satisfy my countdown so that I may be released from this gilded cage.

At special request, I digress....back to Smallville. Where Lionel and Lex Luthor argue over the elements...Lionel tells Lex that he gave his piece to Lana, knowing that she is the key to it all. Lex disagrees. So Genevieve confronts Lana in her apartment. The two fight and Lanas inner sorceress kills her by plunging one of the stones of knowledge into Genevieve's chest. When she looks up she sees Lex standing in the doorway. About that time, Clark has a nightmare and wakes up screaming "it's coming." A meteor shower is headed Earth's way. *insert dramatic music here*

Lex comforts Lana and tells her she can't go to the police. He'll help her get a great lawyer and deal with the crisis. Later, Lionel shows up and blackmails his son. He wants the stone lana has and if he doesn't get it, he'll turn Lana in. Lois finds out that her sister is missing, so she tells the Kents that she's heading to Europe to try and find her sister. She helps Clark get ready for graduation and the two make up for all their bickering during the year in a really sweet hallmark moment. Clark tells her she should go into journalism, but she shrugs it off saying she'd end up sitting across the desk of some dorky guy.

Clark and Chloe graduate, but Lana doesn't show up. Half way through the ceremony the national guard rolls in and tells everyone a meteor shower is coming and they have to evacuate immediately. Chloe and Lois go looking for Lana, but not after another one of Choe's 'hints' about Clarks abilities...he's all like "what, and I'm not normal?" Back down on the farm, Clark tells his parents he has to be the reason the meteors are coming again...He has to do something...he just has to! Before he can, Lex talks to him about the caves. He says that his science team has found a hidden room and wants to know if Clark knows about it (knowing full well he does as he stole some of Clark's research to find the room) -- well and because Clark told him. Clark tells him he doesn't and Lex leaves knowing Clark is lying to him (poor poor Lex). Clark goes to the caves and talks to Jor-El who tells him mankind awakened the trouble by getting blood on the stones. The only way to save Smallville and himself is for Clark to get all three stones of knowledge and connect them (Oh yeah, there's a shocker!).

Clark tells his parents he has to stay behind and combine the stones. Johnathan reluctantly agrees with a touching 'I trust my son' moment and Clark heads into the barn where he finds Lana waiting for him. She gives him the stone and tells him she loves him. He replies he loves her too, and they play kissey-face for a bit, asking him to trust her, Lana turns and leaves. Lex tries to get Lana to give him the stone, but she refuses...Lex don't like that -- so he keeps calling it 'the murder weapon'.

Martha and Jonathan are about to leave the farm when Jason pulls up bloodied and upset (probably from being shot and dropped off a cliff). He pulls out a shotgun and demands to know where Clark is, like that is going to happen. Clark places the stone Lana gave him next to the one he already had in the cave. Lionel is telling Lex that he doesn't know where the third stone is, but as soon as Clark combines the other two, they both glow and so does the one that Lionel has in his coat pocket. Lionel has a seizure and drops to the floor. Lex puts the stone in his safe. Remember the noise from the season opener? Well, Clark is able to follow a piercing noise to the stone, but when he grabs it he's affected by all the kryptonite in the artifacts around it -- yup, those same artifacts that were in China :eek: and he falls helpless to the floor.

Jason holds the Kents hostage and demands to know where the stones are, Johnathan puts up quite a fight. Lex finds out Lana doesn't have the stone anymore and puts her on a helicopter to Metropolis. Chloe heads to the mansion to try and find Lana and instead finds Clark unconscious on the floor. She drags him away from the kryptonite and he super speeds away just as Lex walks in. Chloe says she's looking for Lana but Lex notices the stone is missing and demands to know who took it. Chloe feigns ignorance, but Lex sees thought the lie and drags her to the caves.

Jason is about ready to kill the Kents when the meteor shower his. The farm house is hit directly, with Jason and the Kents inside. Clark is able to save some people, but the town is hit hard and several people die. The helicopter Lana is in is hit and crashes into a field.

Clark makes it to the caves and places the final stone in place. It forms a diamond shape crystal and levitates into the air. Chloe tells Lex to be careful, and pushes him into a wall, and witnesses Clark grab the shape. Lex gets into the room just in time to watch a flash of light, and Clark disappears. He reappears in an Arctic snow field with nothing but snow and mountains in sight. Clark hurls the stone across the horizon....and it ends...just ends! Grrrrr! :mad:

Lana is alive but injured and crawls to a crater that contains a large spaceship in the same diamond shape as the now combined stones....and it starts to open.

Alrighty then...we can check Smallville right off -- WooHoo :D
In other news, the directors cut of Highlander has never before seen footage, Anakin thinks he can fly like Superman but gets his legs cut out from underhim on that. Trend Micro will accept software from 1995 to satisfy their $20 upgrade rebate. If you run out on your wedding claiming to be abducted and admit to lying about it all -- you get a two year felony charge....and the dope will still want to marry you.
In related news, if you're in the street and a car is coming at you...jumping out of the way is better than putting your arms out like your going to slow it down a little. And if you are looking for an IT professional, I can be at least one of them.

Now...look over to your right...I've added two button links....the first one is a guestmap...place your pin and sign it would you? And the other is a daily cartoon...which are funny most of the time.
Peace!

Finale

2005-05-19T15:44:00.000-05:00

It is that time of year again. That's right...finale time for our favorite TV shows!

So last night I'm sitting there watching Smallvile where there are finally going to wrap up over three seasons of story building. That's right, the three stones not of this earth...the elements of another world. All three found, and now in Clarks possession -- as I had predicted...the three combine to form the crystal that he uses to create his palace (in the beginning of the first movie). Make it through all the drama...there he is, in the snow...he throws the crystal..and . 'To be continued' Arrhrhrhhghgr! Come on...I mean, I know that they want a cliff-hanger and all -- but they could have hung us off a different cliff!

At this rate, 24 will end with Jack getting shot. Grrrr.

Found this at Spit Noodle who found it at mandy's livejournal

2005-05-16T15:47:00.000-05:00

Ive...
(x) smoked a cigarette
(x) smoked a cigar
( ) made out with a member of the same sex
( ) crashed a friend's car
( ) stolen a car
(x) been in love
(x) been dumped
(x) shoplifted
(x) been fired
(x) been in a fist fight (Again, and again)
(x) snuck out of your parent's house
(x) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
(x) been arrested
(x) made out with a stranger (Mmmm...chemistry)
(x) gone on a blind date
(x) had a crush on a teacher
( ) skipped class everyday
(x) slept with a co-worker
(x) seen someone die (It's not a pretty picture...I don't like doing it!)
( ) been to Canada (But would like to go)
( ) been to Mexico
(x) been on a plane
(x) thrown up in a bar (Boxing and beer do not mix)
(x) purposely set a part of yourself on fire (Yeah, it hurts)
( ) eaten Sushi
( ) been snowboarding (Another 'would like')
(x) met someone in person that you met online
(x) been moshing at a concert
(x) been in an abusive relationship
(x) taken painkillers
(x) love someone or miss someone right now
(x) laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
(x) made a snow angel
(x) had a tea party (Complete with crumpets)
(x) flown a kite
(x) built a sand castle
(x) gone puddle jumping
(x) played dress up
(x) jumped into a pile of leaves
(x) gone sledding
(x) cheated while playing a game (When I was an onion)
(x) been lonely
(x) fallen asleep at work/school
( ) used a fake id
(x) watched the sun set
(x) felt an earthquake
(x) touched a snake
(x) slept beneath the stars
(x) been tickled (I don't like that)
(x) been robbed
(x) been misunderstood
(x) petted a reindeer/goat
(x) won a contest
(x) ran a red light
(x) been suspended from school (That was BS...just cause you win the fight doesn't mean you started it)
(x) been in a car accident
(x) had braces
(x) felt like an outcast (Felt like, was like...same difference really)
(x) eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(x) had deja vu
(x) had deja vu
(x) danced in the moonlight
(x) hated the way you look
(x) witnessed a crime
(x) pole danced (Well kinda)
(x) questioned your heart
(x) been obsessed with post-it notes (They're evil!)
(x) squished barefoot through the mud
(x) been lost (Not fun!)
( ) been to the opposite side of the country
(x) swum in the ocean
(x) felt like dying
(x) cried yourself to sleep
(x) played cops and robbers
(x) recently colored with crayons/colored pencils/markers
(x) sung karaoke (Not a pretty picture)
(x) paid for a meal with only coins
(x) done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) made prank phone calls
(x) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) caught a snowflake on your tongue (There are just so many uses for that thing!)
(x) danced in the rain
(x) written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) been kissed under a mistletoe
(x) watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) blown bubbles
(x) made a bonfire on the beach
(x) crashed a party
(x) gone rollerskating
(x) had a wish come true
( ) humped a monkey
(x) worn pearls
(x) jumped off a bridge
(x) screamed penis in class (And other things)
(x) ate dog/cat food
(x) told a complete stranger you loved them (Very...VERY...drunk)
(x) kissed a mirror
(x) sang in the shower (Again, not a pretty picture)
( ) have a little black dress
(x) had a dream that you married someone
(x) glued your hand to something
( ) got your tongue stuck to a flag pole
(x) kissed a fish
(x) worn the opposite sexes clothes
( ) been a cheerleader
(x) sat on a roof top
(x) screamed at the top of your lungs
(x) done a one-handed cartwheel
(x) talked on the phone for more than 6 hours
(x) stayed up all night
(x) didn't take a shower for a week
(x) pick and ate an apple right off the tree
(x) climbed a tree
(x) had a tree house
( ) are scared to watch scary movies alone
(x) believe in ghosts (Somewhat, i guess)
( ) have more then 30 pairs of shoes
(x) worn a really ugly outfit to school just to see what others say
(x) gone streaking
(x) played ding-dong-ditch
(x) played chicken
(x) got pushed into a pool with all your clothes on
(x) been told you're hot by a complete stranger
( ) broken a bone
(x) been easily amused (Obviously, this quizzy thing here proves that)
(x) caught a fish then ate it
( ) made porn
(x) caught a butterfly
(x) laughed so hard you cried
(x) cried so hard you laughed
(x) mooned/flashed someone
(x) had someone moon/flash you
(x) cheated on a test
( ) have a Britney Spears CD
(x) forgotten someone's name
(x) slept naked (There's another way to sleep?)
(x) French braided someone's hair
(x) gone skinny dipping in a pool
(x) been threatened to be kicked out of your house
( ) been kicked out of your house by your parents

Damn....looks like I've done lots of stuff. Wonder what else I can get into *insert evil laugh here*

Pain

2005-05-15T11:37:00.000-05:00

It is a fact of life...we all experience it. I have recently watched those I consider friends argue their way to pain. whats worse is that I couldn't prevent it from happening. Now many of them just want to walk away an not talk to eachother anymore. I understand the need to 'cool-off' and encourage it! But to walk away from those you care about, or from trust all together only serves the dark side...erm...Sorry, Revenge of the Sith almost out....I mean, prolongs the pain.

Now: Revenge of the Sith!!!!
Saw the music video and....OMG!!! This movie will completely, and in all other ways, ROCK! Watch as Obi jumps from a crashed speeder, do a back-flip, out with the saber, and slice the droid. *insert face contortion here* Then when Mace walks up to ...erm... maybe I shouldn't say that one....but wOw!

Oh, and if you haven't tried the new Cheez-it Twisters 'Hot Wings & Cheesy Blue' -- turn off your computer right now, and go pick some up! Your taste buds will thank me later.

Add-ons

2005-05-11T16:16:00.000-05:00

I have succesfully revived my Bravenet account and have added a few new features...I'm sure there will be more to come ;)

The stylesheet is trying to argue with me -- so I may be tee'ing it up soon. I am open to feature requests...something you might like to see?

Mothers Day

2005-05-08T13:21:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is...the day devoted to greeting cards...erm...I mean your mother. Here I sit going through my checklist:
Time----check
Money--check
Plans---check
Gas-----check
Check--check
Mom---umm...mom? NO MOM! Looks like my mum has gone MIA for mothers day. Well I hope she is enjoying herself!

HHGG

2005-05-03T09:12:00.000-05:00

The singing dolphins was a bit corny...but I've a hard time thinking of another way it could have been done. Pluss the waving buh-bye made me chuckle.

Arthur could have very well had his exchange with prosser about the stairs being gone, locked filing cabinet, and the sign...but was one of the scenes shortened for time. The same with the arrival on the Vogon ship, the Dentrassis, and being thrown out the airlock. Fords character could have been further extrapolated at that point the way it was during the radio play...the dropping through the floor was a great touch! most of the audience laughed at that point. And what about the final non-existence of God? That could be a guide add-in as well when the DVD comes out.

This is the part where I should have an idea on what to write next *WHACK* but I'm just *WHACK* trying to ma*WHACK**WHACK*ke it through this part. Whew...made it.

*WHACK*

Marvin is great...but I miss his line about all the diodes down his left side. The changes that were made still fit into the story...like the Point Of View (POV) gun -- is either an adaptation of the total perspective vortex...or since it was created by the wife, leading us to the husbands response of the vortex in the next movie (yes there will be a next after the way it blew away the opening weekend). Marvin using the POV gun on the Vogons is another adaptation I noticed...takes the place of the ship committing suicide because Marvin talked to it.

Arthur killed the mice...OMG!!! But Trillian falls in love with him, how nice. Zaphod never once called him 'monkeyman' -- OhWell. The yarn skit cracked me up, and ofcourse...the whale. ouwowwow grouou...ground, GROUND...I wonder if it will be friendly? **chuckle**

Don't forget the best use for a light saber....to cut & toast bread. There seemed to be a hint of 3D imaging going on...Specifically on the factory floor. Might have to find a pair of 3D glasses and go back. And if you stay through the credits....you get a guide skit about the commander of the Vl'hurgs and G'Gugvuntts, resplendent in their black jeweled battle shorts.

*WHACK*

We are!

2005-04-13T17:42:00.000-05:00

So I'm sitting there eating my lunch waiting for my co-worker (sales dude) when I see this guy walking down the street. Now I know everybody has seen this guy. You know the one...shoulders back, artificially puffing his chest out, nose pointed toward the third star on the right, arm swinging just so.

Anyway, so this guy's walking, right. I start to hear his theme (bowchicka-bow.waunt-chickachickabow.waunt) when he stumbles over a break in the pavement. He takes a couple of recovery steps, and back to his coolness -- yeah, whatever.

Then, here comes sales dude -- walking the exact same way! I couldn't help but laugh. He joins me, and I'm telling him to chill a bit -- nobody really cares how cool you think you are, I mean nobody worth talking about anyway. Now I have to sit and listen to him go on and on about how perfect he is in every possible way. Then he does it...he asks me "don't you think I'm perfect" ( at this point, he probably should have listened when I told people about my stance of "do not ask the question unless you are prepared for the answer" -- he was not prepared.

Listen...there 10 basic people in the world...those that are enlightened and those that are not. The enlightened people know that everybody is just a little fucked up. For the people who just said "not me" to their screens...yes, you too! So relax! Just do it...every (sorry-I get carried away sometimes...or at least should be)

Let your freak flag fly high!

Vocabulary Abuse

2005-04-07T11:00:00.000-05:00

Diminutive Scarlet Equestrian Headcover.

Once (or possibly twice) upon a time, a girl known as Diminutive Scarlet Equestrian headcover (everyone called her “Hood”) was ambulating through the tree – strewn area. She was carrying a basket of “grandma’s Old-Fashioned Olive Dollops In Escargot Sauce” (GOODIES) that she planned to gift her father’s mother with. She instantly felt the horror of ending her previous thought with a preposition, and mentally deducted twenty-five cents from her purse to put in her “grammar jar”. This was one way she strove to continuously improve her effectiveness as a little girl. (The split infinitive would only cost her a dime, since she felt justified in inserting the modifier “continuously”).

She strolled effortlessly, having solved the problem of walking years ago. At a young age, she identified the need (that she would like to walk) and the problem (that she did not know how.) Rather than continue to exist in her non-walking state, she expressed her conundrum to an ad-hoc committee consisting of her paternal father and maternal mother. After much deliberation and research using the best available literature (Dr. Spock’s Baby Book), the delivered a recommendation for a new process consisting of the alternating placement of feet (differentiated by proximal location to the torso, as attached by the legs) and oriented using a vector. The direction of the vector was initialized to be parallel to an imaginary line emitted from the eyes toward infinity. The velocity was originally set low, around 1KPH, to allow the process to be tested with little danger to the subject (Hood.) The summary of the final 92-page report was a succinct phrase; “put one foot in front of the other.”

Even though Hood was very satisfied by the results of the new method, she continued to observer her own effectiveness as a walker, and asked for impartial reviews from her Committee for Little-Girl Effectiveness Evaluation. The committee was known by the acronym “FRIENDS”, since no one in the group could spell. The repeated application of this cyclic process led to the marked improvements in her walking speed and ability, and eventually endowed her with the power to not only walk, but to actually change directions by turning. The details of the work, both by Hood and her two dedicated committees, are too lengthy for this narrative, but have been documented in the proceedings of the Journal of Little Girl Effectiveness (Hood, 2001 p345 – 751).

The process of continuous improvement came to be known as the Continuous Improvement Circle, which Hood impetuously called the “Continuous Improvement Cycle” or CIC (sic). Thinking on these things as she strode down the path, she swung her basket in tiny orbit and hummed “Windmills of Your Mind”.

External factors beyond the control of Hood or her associates interrupted this tranquil scene moments later, when a predatory investor from the firm of Williams, Ogilvy, Lawrence and Fowler noticed Hood, and took interest in her inventory (the GOODIES), which was clearly undervalued as evidenced in the PE ratio of the Grandma’s Old-Fashioned Olive Company, Inc (stock ticker abbreviation “GOO”.) This investor, also on a walk through the wood, was named Barney Igbad, though he usually used only his first initial and last name for identification. B. Igbad of WOLF though this a stroke of cleverness, since it helped him remember his login name. He approached Hood.

“Oh, excuse me, little girl” he began. Hood felt a slight thrill at the words. This was external validation that her efforts at being a little girl were not without success. Even a complete stranger immediately recognized her profession, without so much as a name tag.

“Thank you” she almost said, but caught herself before the words came out, and instead retrieved the appropriate response from her Guide to Little Girlness (GLG), the working document that chronicles her professional development. “I’m sorry, I’m not allowed to talk to strangers.” Was the reply B. Igbad of WOLF heard.

B. Igbad was not so easily dismissed. He had not become the undersecretary to the third vice-chairman of the investment recommendation branch of the takeovers department by being timid. He had become the undersecretary to the third vice-chairman of the investment recommendation branch of the takeovers department by nodding thoughtfully whenever his boss paused.

“I don’t mean you any harm” he lied. “I seem to have lost my way in these woods, and was only hoping that you could point the way out” he lied again.

Hood thought for a second. The request seem innocuous, and she was pretty sure there was something in her mission statement about “helping others”.

“Well, Ok, I guess I can help. But I only know one path in these woods. It goes from my Grandmothers’ factory to her test kitchen.”

“And which way are you going now?” B. Igbad asked.

“To the factory. I have a batch of new product from the test kitchen.:

“Oh?” B. Igbad of WOLF’s interest peaked. “May I have a peek?” he punned.

“Well…I guess that won’t do any harm” said Hod, and opened the top of her basket.

Editor’s note: This action was in clear violation of GLG policies on interactions with entities outside of the firm. Hood was later reprimanded, and she promised not to do it again. She was eventually returned to her duties with a 10% reduction in allowance.

B. Igbad’s eyes raked over the new labels like a nervous Zen gardener. “Interesting…and what’s that paper on the side?” He answered his own question by withdrawing the document, and he saw that it was the recipe, and the initial profit calculations for the new product. His mind reeled like a cheap Zebco with 10-lb line after hooking a cigarette boat. He was having a very good day; both for business and twisted smilies.

-Tom Jones

New Code & Comments

2005-04-05T16:42:00.000-05:00

Made some code modifications...testing out a new method for you all to leave comments. If it works out, then it will stay...if not, I will go back to the original.

So I have two questions:
1)Does the page load faster?
10)What do you think of the new comments section?

The Mirror

2005-03-31T20:09:00.000-05:00

So I got up and looked into the mirror today. Not the life altering experience I know...but as I stood there looking at my reflection, I started to think about opposites. How nature presents us with pairs or opposites: male/female, white/black, hard/soft, mail/email, wet/dry, one/zero, ect...

So with that in mind I started to think about myself (big surprise I know) but what if there was an opposite of me? You know, a person with a skill-set similar to mine with a taste for destruction....how scary would that be? And would I have to fight this person?

Then today I when I came across a customer who was trying to email through fax machine....made me think, you know -- some people have lots of common sense, maybe this person is their opposite. All day now I've noticed these things.

Took a bike ride when I got home....and got chased by a dog. What a day :p

CSS Editor

2005-03-30T08:55:00.000-05:00

I've had a chance to play with my new Firefox extension....the CSS Editor. Loads in the sidebar, and what else is there to say? It is Suh-Weet! Changes show up real-time, you have cut & paste w/undo via hotkeys -- and the best part is, even if you completely screw up the code...all you have to do is reload, cause you won't be working on the real version

End of March Madness

2005-03-29T13:11:00.000-05:00

With a weekend of rest and powerful drugs, I have recovered from said illness at least until I almost died of asphyxiation from the UK vs Michigan St game. I still think UofL will not only make it to the final game, but win +7 -- out on that limb against all those who believe UNC will take it all. Just wait and see how Pitino weakens that inside strength

My Sunday chat was interesting (to me anyway) was more of the same...just more depth. Our conversation did wonder to Terri Schiavo...to which it is my understanding that she is officially brain dead, and that her body functions (breathing, sleep cycles, ect...) are being performed by her brain stem/spinal cord. If that is the case (medically verifiable) then there is nothing left to 'kill' because she is already dead. If that is not the case, then it becomes a battle of credibility of what her wishes were about how she should live. In either case, it has caused me to take a prolonged look into what I would want...prompting a living will stating that I do not want to live in that fashion. In addition, I intend to put a clause in there giving my wife full and binding legal authority over what she thinks is best in any given situation that I am unable to respond. (that should end family battles)

I completed the first book of the HHGG, and now on to 'The restaurant at the end of the Universe' my countdown is taking too long *hehe*

24 was rather slow, but gave plenty of detail for next weeks mishaps -- defiantly one to tape and re-watch.

I downloaded a CSS editor for Firefox -- will have to try that out a bit laters ;)

It found me

2005-03-23T21:15:00.000-05:00

Uhg! After a week of doing battle with the spreading illness around me...it has found its way past my defenses. So now it feels like I ate some crushed glass, then chased it with a shot of turpentine. In addition to that, an air compressor has been turned on inside my ears -- and I didn't know that you could get woodglue stuck in your nose :eek:

So here I sit...playing with my graphics program :p Making some low-nonweapons-grade jealousy pictures :D Uhg!

Signing off in search of better drugs.

Religious Banter

2005-03-22T10:51:00.000-05:00

I had a job to do at one of our local churches recently. As you might expect, the conversation quickly turned to religion. The pastor asked me if I was a member of a church, I was not. It seemingly struck him as odd, this affirmation...so he started the 'sales' pitch on why I should attend his church. I told him that I was pleased with the method in which my spiritual growth was being attended to. This answer did not appear to be 'good enough' to slake his curiosity. He continued to probe.

So I said: "I do not have a problem discussing this with you...I just feel that we have opposing views here, and since I am here in a professional capacity -- I do not wish to upset you." He said that he understood, and would still like to have an honest discussion about how I regard the church. I provided him with some history -- that I had at one time, been a member of the church. I went three times a week, paid my tithe, was devout in my study. Then my grandmother became ill -- so I went and cared for her during the time I would normally had been at church. I read her favorite passages to her, fixed her chicken noodle soup, that kind of thing. When the illness passed, I returned to my regular church schedule...and was met with a veiled attempt at disdain. I not only had members, but deacons and even the associate pastor tell me I was in danger of 'burning' for my loyalties 'were in the wrong place' -- even after the details of my hiatus.

So I found myself another church home, with similar judgmentalism. I kept looking for a few years before I came to the understanding that I was so caught up in seeking a church, that I was no longer seeking the lord. So I decided to focus on myself, and the path I was to walk. The pastor brought up the passage about not forsaking the church (which I fully expected) to which I responded with the passage about worshiping the church while forsaking the lord. He gave me a pleasant 'touche' -- and I continued.

I am not against the church, I said. Nor am I against attending, but I will not subject myself to those who tell you not to judge, then turn around and start judging. Not only is it hypocritical to the your declared focus, but it spreads like a cancer through those walking their inner paths around you. By this time, I had completed the work I was there to do.

The pastor thanked me for being so honest with him, and asked me for two favors. 1) He wanted to know if he could use some of what I had just told him in a sermon. 2) Would I consider joining him for a Sunday afternoon lunch. I agreed to both, and jotted down his phone number for later use. I plan to meet with him a week from this coming Sunday -- should be rather interesting I suspect.

Spring commencement

2005-03-20T20:10:00.000-05:00

Today is the first day of spring. As such, the aroma of new beginnings hangs in the air. Just as it was 20 years ago today, when Libby Riddles became the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Like all new beginnings, it is formed by the completion of the previous one...a commencement if you will. Commencement, the end of one journey...the beginning of another. Such is the process we all experience through life.

Walking our own paths, on the journey to self discovery can present us with many turns. It is often difficult to assess whether or not these turns present positive or negative influences to our lives. It is our focus that often determines that aspect. Clearing our minds of the clutter this world inundates us with is an important part in establishing a positive focus. With such a focus, we have more control over these turns...even those that are more negative.

So we clear our minds. Let go the conscious concerns of the job, family, walking the dog, washing the cat. Allow your mind to drift away from all that is around you, until there is nothing left. In this nothingness, you can feel your own energy as it recharges the soul. Energy that supplies our inner-strength. In times of hardship, our ability to remain calm depends largely on this strength supply.

42

2005-03-18T10:45:00.000-05:00

42 is significant in so many ways. Not only is it the ultimate answer, but today it is also the number of days left to the official release of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy -- the movie! I have a growing group ready to watch on release nigh -- dinner and a movie with a bunch of friends, I mean...could life get any better? I submit to you it cannot.

Like any true fan, I have been in preparation...listen to all of the original radio series, and now re-re-re-(you get the idea)-reading the five part trilogy -- naturally resplendent in my black jeweled battle shorts. Also, marks the end of a rather gruesome quarter -- with only two more to go **WOOHOO** Not to fear, even though these two may be the most difficult yet....I have my trusty towel with me!

Lets get it started...

2005-03-18T01:12:00.000-05:00

Look here! My own blog off the ground...ok, so maybe it's on a step. Still, it's off the ground :p

First order of business -- have to give the shout out to my friends at TSG who encouraged this madness. Hey there fellow bloggers Di :D, Ryan, and Stephen! Told y'all I'd make it ;)

Now all I have to do is find something to talk about. Well, I decided it would be a good idea to go back to school and add me a Computer Science BS degree with a focus on programming. In all honesty, work and school fulltime -- with a family, has to be the hardest thing I have ever done in my life! An accomplishment that is, for there are many challenges to choose from.

I'll try and keep this first post short and light :)

It was so nice of blogger to provide the cute little template design to get things started. I do believe changing the template will be one of my first cosmetic modifications...of which there will be many. This could be fun! I wonder what all I can do with the code, hmmm :rolleyes: :D

Currently work/school keeps me pretty busy -- but once upon a time I had interests and actually did stuff. Martial Arts is an important part of my life, I also enjoy bowling and working with computers and electronic equipment.

I believe that is enough for now....welcome to my world, muhahahah :D