I had a dream last night the Matt Dillon won an Oscar. I don't really care if he wins and I'm not a big fan, but that was really kinda funny I dreamed he won.
I'll guess we'll see if dreams do come true...
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Vacation Day 3
No, you didn't miss the Day 2 post. I never did one. I was busy in the morning around the house and then got into online gaming in the afternoon, so I didn't take time to blog.
But today on the other hand, has been busy but good. I have one important task today that must be done and here it is: I am going to our local audiologist to have a hearing test. I spent way too many years in a rock band without any hearing protection, so I want to find out how bad any hearing damage I have really is. I still play in a band at church that isn't all that loud, but that still doesn't guarantee I'm not hurting my ears. I already have Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), so might as well have it checked out.
I'll let you all know how the results turnout. I have to admit, I am a little nervous.
UPDATE: Well, that was one of the quickest, most painless tests I have ever had. And the good news is, my hearing is normal. No damage, even despite my audio negligence, thank God!!! I am still going to get the musician's earplugs. No sense in causing damage now.
So, I guess when I can't hear my wife it IS selective hearing...
But today on the other hand, has been busy but good. I have one important task today that must be done and here it is: I am going to our local audiologist to have a hearing test. I spent way too many years in a rock band without any hearing protection, so I want to find out how bad any hearing damage I have really is. I still play in a band at church that isn't all that loud, but that still doesn't guarantee I'm not hurting my ears. I already have Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), so might as well have it checked out.
I'll let you all know how the results turnout. I have to admit, I am a little nervous.
UPDATE: Well, that was one of the quickest, most painless tests I have ever had. And the good news is, my hearing is normal. No damage, even despite my audio negligence, thank God!!! I am still going to get the musician's earplugs. No sense in causing damage now.
So, I guess when I can't hear my wife it IS selective hearing...
Monday, February 20, 2006
Elephants before and after
Here are the elephant pics, pre and post, well, the waste.
Nothing groundbreaking I know, but still looks better than before.
Nothing groundbreaking I know, but still looks better than before.
Vacation at Last!!!
Vacation is here at last, and it seems like it's been a long time comin'!!!
After sleeping in this morning (usually up by 5:30 AM doing some sort of workout), here is my day in a nutshell so far:
7:00- 8:00: Had a nice breakfast with my wife, caught up with the world on the Today Show, and got the trash out (exciting I know).
8:00- 9:00: Great workout because I well, have no time constraints. Shoulders and legs today. If it is nice enough, maybe a walk later. That is if my legs will work. Legs are a huge muscle group and usually sucks the life out of me. Where is my protein...
9:00 -10:00 or so: Our friend Esther sent us some elephant photos from her trip to Africa to give as a gift to someone. Great photos, but as we all know Nature can be unpredictable, so there is a HUGE pile of elephant pooh in the middle of the photo. A little Photoshop magic and poof, the pooh is gone. I'm posting the cleaned up pic and the original. Thanks Big E!!!
10:00- 11:00: Time to hit the Xbox and play some MechAssualt 2. Halo is on the afternoon playlist. Then maybe some actual housework of some sort.
11:30- 12:15: OK, I hit the Halo a little early. Played with my buddy Slubgob.
12:15- 2:00: Got some actual work done around the house, and made lunch for my wife. Nothing fancy, but the highlight of vacation is being able to have lunch with the Mrs. Watched some Olympics, including a nasty crash by the Danish Women's Bobsled team. It was ugly to watch...
2:00-4:00: More Halo with Slubgob. Eyes burning...
4:00-5:00: Signed up to be a member of Seasoned Gamers, a place where old people like me that like to play games online go to get away from the kids that play Xbox Live.
Well, that concludes Day 1 of the vacation. My wife and I are planning to have a relaxing evening watching the Olympics.
After sleeping in this morning (usually up by 5:30 AM doing some sort of workout), here is my day in a nutshell so far:
7:00- 8:00: Had a nice breakfast with my wife, caught up with the world on the Today Show, and got the trash out (exciting I know).
8:00- 9:00: Great workout because I well, have no time constraints. Shoulders and legs today. If it is nice enough, maybe a walk later. That is if my legs will work. Legs are a huge muscle group and usually sucks the life out of me. Where is my protein...
9:00 -10:00 or so: Our friend Esther sent us some elephant photos from her trip to Africa to give as a gift to someone. Great photos, but as we all know Nature can be unpredictable, so there is a HUGE pile of elephant pooh in the middle of the photo. A little Photoshop magic and poof, the pooh is gone. I'm posting the cleaned up pic and the original. Thanks Big E!!!
10:00- 11:00: Time to hit the Xbox and play some MechAssualt 2. Halo is on the afternoon playlist. Then maybe some actual housework of some sort.
11:30- 12:15: OK, I hit the Halo a little early. Played with my buddy Slubgob.
12:15- 2:00: Got some actual work done around the house, and made lunch for my wife. Nothing fancy, but the highlight of vacation is being able to have lunch with the Mrs. Watched some Olympics, including a nasty crash by the Danish Women's Bobsled team. It was ugly to watch...
2:00-4:00: More Halo with Slubgob. Eyes burning...
4:00-5:00: Signed up to be a member of Seasoned Gamers, a place where old people like me that like to play games online go to get away from the kids that play Xbox Live.
Well, that concludes Day 1 of the vacation. My wife and I are planning to have a relaxing evening watching the Olympics.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
The Mrs. rants
Here is the first post by my lovely wife. As she watches the Today show each morning, she is getting completely fed up with Dick Cheney's accidental shooting. Her thoughts:
Ok, I don't know if it is just me, but if I hear one more thing about Dick Cheney shooting his friend and hunting partner, I'm going to scream!
Don't you think that we could have done with a little less coverage? I mean really, it was an accident. I'm sure Dick didn't wake up that morning thinking what fun it might be to shoot someone (at least not a good friend). I don't think we need to put him, the poor man that was shot and the country, through 24 hr. coverage and the fact that is wasn't disclosed as soon as it happend. What has happend to a little privacy these days?
Maybe we have forgotten that people get shot all the time and they don't get wall to wall coverage and that is when it isn't even an accident. Why don't we just hang it up and leave this subject alone? The media must be able to find something else to talk about. Like the Olympics or maybe a nice uplifting story.
But on another note I think I might get the T-shirt I saw this morning that said "I'd rather hunt with Dick Cheney than ride with Ted Kennedy."
Ok, I don't know if it is just me, but if I hear one more thing about Dick Cheney shooting his friend and hunting partner, I'm going to scream!
Don't you think that we could have done with a little less coverage? I mean really, it was an accident. I'm sure Dick didn't wake up that morning thinking what fun it might be to shoot someone (at least not a good friend). I don't think we need to put him, the poor man that was shot and the country, through 24 hr. coverage and the fact that is wasn't disclosed as soon as it happend. What has happend to a little privacy these days?
Maybe we have forgotten that people get shot all the time and they don't get wall to wall coverage and that is when it isn't even an accident. Why don't we just hang it up and leave this subject alone? The media must be able to find something else to talk about. Like the Olympics or maybe a nice uplifting story.
But on another note I think I might get the T-shirt I saw this morning that said "I'd rather hunt with Dick Cheney than ride with Ted Kennedy."
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
The Bode Miller Blues
Great commentary by Mike Celizic on why Bode Miller has blown his chance at greatness during the 2006 Turin Olympics.
It wasn’t the beer before the downhill or his hell-bent-for-leather style in the combined slalom that did in Bode Miller. It was all the beers in all the months leading up to the Olympics and all the years of living his life as recklessly as he skis his races.
You don’t get many chances in life to climb to the pinnacle of your business. For Olympic athletes, three cycles is usually the max, and one of those is when you’re young and brash, one is when maturity should compliment talent and the final one is when you’re riding on experience and conditioning.
Was Miller over-hyped as being America’s best shot at gold? You betcha, and even Celizic admits the media is partially to blame:
It takes years of training and dedication to win an Olympic gold medal. It doesn’t take nearly as many years of taking yourself and your talent for granted to lose it.
Blame all of us in the media for some of this. It has been evident all year that Miller was not the same skier this year that he was last when he won the World Cup, skiing’s equivalent of NASCAR’s Nextel Cup. We kept writing about him as if a return to form was just around the corner.
Silly us. The reality is clear now that Miller took his talent for granted for too long. Last summer especially, when he should have been getting himself into supreme shape for the biggest skiing meet he’d ever be in, he partied instead. It had always been there for him. It would be there again.
Will Bode win gold? Perhaps. But unfortunately more attention has been paid to what has come out of his mouth rather than what he has done on the slope.
At least Ted Ligety picked up the slack and the gold.
Read the whole Miller article here.
It wasn’t the beer before the downhill or his hell-bent-for-leather style in the combined slalom that did in Bode Miller. It was all the beers in all the months leading up to the Olympics and all the years of living his life as recklessly as he skis his races.
You don’t get many chances in life to climb to the pinnacle of your business. For Olympic athletes, three cycles is usually the max, and one of those is when you’re young and brash, one is when maturity should compliment talent and the final one is when you’re riding on experience and conditioning.
Was Miller over-hyped as being America’s best shot at gold? You betcha, and even Celizic admits the media is partially to blame:
It takes years of training and dedication to win an Olympic gold medal. It doesn’t take nearly as many years of taking yourself and your talent for granted to lose it.
Blame all of us in the media for some of this. It has been evident all year that Miller was not the same skier this year that he was last when he won the World Cup, skiing’s equivalent of NASCAR’s Nextel Cup. We kept writing about him as if a return to form was just around the corner.
Silly us. The reality is clear now that Miller took his talent for granted for too long. Last summer especially, when he should have been getting himself into supreme shape for the biggest skiing meet he’d ever be in, he partied instead. It had always been there for him. It would be there again.
Will Bode win gold? Perhaps. But unfortunately more attention has been paid to what has come out of his mouth rather than what he has done on the slope.
At least Ted Ligety picked up the slack and the gold.
Read the whole Miller article here.
Hulk Arrest!
Lou Ferrigno, better know as the Incredible Hulk from the ‘70s, has been sworn in as a sheriff deputy reservist.
I don’t think anyone is going to argue with big Lou if he pulls them over.
I don’t think anyone is going to argue with big Lou if he pulls them over.
Distractions
Sorry posting has been so light, but I'm so wrapped up in Xbox Live that I just can't stop playing.
Halo 2 is currently the game of choice, but my wife and I have been putting in some serious mileage playing Project Gotham Racing 2.
Expect a rant within the next few days on my experience playing Halo 2 online so far, poor attitudes and Xbox mods.
Halo 2 is currently the game of choice, but my wife and I have been putting in some serious mileage playing Project Gotham Racing 2.
Expect a rant within the next few days on my experience playing Halo 2 online so far, poor attitudes and Xbox mods.
Friday, February 10, 2006
A Walk in the Woods
This post receives this title for a couple of reasons. The first, I just finished reading A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. The second reason stems from my desire to actually walk in the woods once the weather improves.
I'll start with the book. My insurance company has a health rewards system based on a virtual Appalachian Trail. I wear my pedometer and log my daily steps. The site then adds up my daily mileage and adds it to my total. I have now gone something like 300 miles on the virtual AT. They have pictures that pop up along the virtual hike when you get to a shelter or state line.
Next, I somehow got involved with a book club at work, where we read a book pulled at random and then discuss it. I had no real interest in the club until they decided to read Bill Bryson's book, which is about his experiences on the Appalachian Trail, which led me to read the book because of the virtual AT. Bryson is a writer by trade, and was completely ill prepared for the trail. But the stories he related about Bear attacks, getting lost in the woods and incurable diseases killed any desire that I had to do the real AT. As I was reading the book, I had some grandiose idea that I would someday hike at least the Maine leg of the AT. After reading A Walk in the Woods, all desire to do this is gone (maybe not all, but most of it).
But, that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to actually start hiking. I got myself some decent day hikers and a backpack/hydration system, so I figure this is the year to get outside and see God's creation.
Another impetus for the outdoor activity is that I have diabetes. On March 16, 2005, I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, more commonly known as adult onset Diabetes. I was very overweight and was a 9 on the blood glucose scale (which is considered the "dangerous" level). Since then I have dropped 45 pounds and am at a 6.5, which is the "Extreme Control" category. I have about 15 pounds to go to reach my goal and figured hiking would be a great way to get outside and get these last few pounds off. My wife and I already walk three times a week. On the off walking days, I do some weightlifting. Hiking seems like a great way to add an enjoyable element to my current workout routine.
Plus, we have a lot of beautiful wilderness here in Maine (actually the state is mostly wilderness). Acadia National Park has the best of both worlds, wilderness and seacoast with Cadillac Mountain right smack in the middle. Even our own little metropolis of Bangor has a city forest with plenty of trails and sights.
Now the tough part is 1.) waiting for spring and warmer temperatures and 2.) breaking away from Halo 2 and Xbox Live…
I'll start with the book. My insurance company has a health rewards system based on a virtual Appalachian Trail. I wear my pedometer and log my daily steps. The site then adds up my daily mileage and adds it to my total. I have now gone something like 300 miles on the virtual AT. They have pictures that pop up along the virtual hike when you get to a shelter or state line.
Next, I somehow got involved with a book club at work, where we read a book pulled at random and then discuss it. I had no real interest in the club until they decided to read Bill Bryson's book, which is about his experiences on the Appalachian Trail, which led me to read the book because of the virtual AT. Bryson is a writer by trade, and was completely ill prepared for the trail. But the stories he related about Bear attacks, getting lost in the woods and incurable diseases killed any desire that I had to do the real AT. As I was reading the book, I had some grandiose idea that I would someday hike at least the Maine leg of the AT. After reading A Walk in the Woods, all desire to do this is gone (maybe not all, but most of it).
But, that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to actually start hiking. I got myself some decent day hikers and a backpack/hydration system, so I figure this is the year to get outside and see God's creation.
Another impetus for the outdoor activity is that I have diabetes. On March 16, 2005, I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, more commonly known as adult onset Diabetes. I was very overweight and was a 9 on the blood glucose scale (which is considered the "dangerous" level). Since then I have dropped 45 pounds and am at a 6.5, which is the "Extreme Control" category. I have about 15 pounds to go to reach my goal and figured hiking would be a great way to get outside and get these last few pounds off. My wife and I already walk three times a week. On the off walking days, I do some weightlifting. Hiking seems like a great way to add an enjoyable element to my current workout routine.
Plus, we have a lot of beautiful wilderness here in Maine (actually the state is mostly wilderness). Acadia National Park has the best of both worlds, wilderness and seacoast with Cadillac Mountain right smack in the middle. Even our own little metropolis of Bangor has a city forest with plenty of trails and sights.
Now the tough part is 1.) waiting for spring and warmer temperatures and 2.) breaking away from Halo 2 and Xbox Live…
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Friday, February 03, 2006
I must be a browser junkie…
There it is, I’ve admitted it, I have an addiction. I love web browsers. Not the old school browsers, like Netscape Navigator and the insipid Internet Explorer (Microsoft stopped developing it for the Mac at version 5), but cool, new ones, and there are a couple I am trying out.
Of course, Firefox is my browser of choice, and the old standby, while my wife’s is Safari. Here are a couple of new designer browsers I am trying out to see how I like them.
The first of this new batch is Flock. Built on a Mozilla platform, it works great, is aesthetically pleasing, but adding favorites is hard and I am still trying to get the hang of it (reading the how-to would probably help about now). Overall, though, very nice.
The newest addition to my hard drive is Shiira. This browser is being developed by a Japanese company and is based on the same platform as Apple’s Safari browser. The Shiira people however are touting their browser as being better than Safari. We shall see how this browser treats me. I’m downloading it as I am posting this. Link to Shiira via Monkey Bites.
Of course, Firefox is my browser of choice, and the old standby, while my wife’s is Safari. Here are a couple of new designer browsers I am trying out to see how I like them.
The first of this new batch is Flock. Built on a Mozilla platform, it works great, is aesthetically pleasing, but adding favorites is hard and I am still trying to get the hang of it (reading the how-to would probably help about now). Overall, though, very nice.
The newest addition to my hard drive is Shiira. This browser is being developed by a Japanese company and is based on the same platform as Apple’s Safari browser. The Shiira people however are touting their browser as being better than Safari. We shall see how this browser treats me. I’m downloading it as I am posting this. Link to Shiira via Monkey Bites.
iPod Lawsuit?
Most of the time when I see this kind of story I cringe at the state of our society. A man is suing Apple because apparently the iPod is an unsafe device and can cause hearing damage. The man has new proof that he has hearing damage, but that doesn’t stop him from getting all sue happy.
However, he might have a point. Not that he should be suing because of it.
A friend of mine who worked at a speech and hearing office did say that using the earbuds can cause hearing damage, because it is closer to the ear canal and can damage the precious little hairs in your canals, therefore leading to deafness (at least this is how I remembered be told). Plus, the earbuds just don’t diffuse enough sound. Since I have some tonal loss and tinnitus due to the idiocity of my youth (a rock band), I’ve switched to headphones that sit around my neck and cover my ears. They let plenty of sound out.
Nevertheless, here is a good way to listen to your iPod and keep your hearing. Turn it down!!! Just because it can push out more than 100 decibels doesn’t mean you have to you have to listen to it at 100 db. Use some common sense (hysterical laughing breaks out at the mere mention of these two long-forgotten words).
However, he might have a point. Not that he should be suing because of it.
A friend of mine who worked at a speech and hearing office did say that using the earbuds can cause hearing damage, because it is closer to the ear canal and can damage the precious little hairs in your canals, therefore leading to deafness (at least this is how I remembered be told). Plus, the earbuds just don’t diffuse enough sound. Since I have some tonal loss and tinnitus due to the idiocity of my youth (a rock band), I’ve switched to headphones that sit around my neck and cover my ears. They let plenty of sound out.
Nevertheless, here is a good way to listen to your iPod and keep your hearing. Turn it down!!! Just because it can push out more than 100 decibels doesn’t mean you have to you have to listen to it at 100 db. Use some common sense (hysterical laughing breaks out at the mere mention of these two long-forgotten words).
Tom Cruise gets Razzie Nominations
And well deserved it is. This is the year most people wish Tom Cruise would just fall off the radar, or perhaps even the planet.
Tom Cruise may have survived a Martian attack in last year’s remake of “War of the Worlds,” but he has failed to elude Hollywood’s movie police.
The actor was among the contenders announced Monday for the annual Razzie Awards, which “honor” the worst achievements in film.
Cruise will compete for the year’s worst actor award with Will Ferrell (“Bewitched,” “Kicking & Screaming”), Jamie Kennedy (”Son of the Mask”), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (”Doom”) and Rob Schneider (”Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo”).
Maybe we can convince the Martians to take him with them when they film the War of the Worlds sequel.
Tom Cruise may have survived a Martian attack in last year’s remake of “War of the Worlds,” but he has failed to elude Hollywood’s movie police.
The actor was among the contenders announced Monday for the annual Razzie Awards, which “honor” the worst achievements in film.
Cruise will compete for the year’s worst actor award with Will Ferrell (“Bewitched,” “Kicking & Screaming”), Jamie Kennedy (”Son of the Mask”), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (”Doom”) and Rob Schneider (”Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo”).
Maybe we can convince the Martians to take him with them when they film the War of the Worlds sequel.
Nature Strikes Back Again
Remember the mouse that burned down the house? Another story of nature striking back at “the Man”.
Bull jumps into stands and injuring several.
And the half-ton bull’s name translates into “Little Birdy” no less.
Bull 1, Humans 0
Bull jumps into stands and injuring several.
And the half-ton bull’s name translates into “Little Birdy” no less.
Bull 1, Humans 0
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