Monday, September 29, 2003

When I grow up

Marcy: "Breanna, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Breanna: "6, because when I'm 7, I'll have a loose tooth."

Ah, yes the true sign of adulthood. The loose tooth. Five minutes later.

Marcy: "Do you want to take a bath tonight or in the morning?"
Breanna: "Tonight, because if not my bed will get all wet."
Marcy: "How will your bed get all wet if you don't take a bath?"
Breanna: "Because I'll get it all dirty and jacked up."

Now, where she learned the term "jacked up" is a mystery. I haven't used that term since high school.

Saturday, September 27, 2003

Link Nazi

OK, so it's Saturday, I'm a day late. Sue me, what's that I hear. Are you complaining, No Links for you!! OK, not really...I think it much worse punishment to put these links here, I know you can't not click them.

Starting off this week with a couple from the "People with way too much time on their hands" category:

The T.W.I.N.K.I.E.S. Project & Bonsai Potato

Next we have one from the "Somebody's going to hell for putting up this website" category:

WWYS

My soul isn't worth much, so that's a good thing, right? Ok, I know some of you like candid camera, so our next entry comes from the "Talk like Michael Jackson" category:

A different kind of Candid Camera

Moving right along, we have one from our cullinary, or as I like to call it "Octupi should not be chefs" category:

Deep Fried, Live! Episode 7: Fleeb Cooks a Cow

If you are like me, a child of the 80's, then this next entry from the "Where did my day just go" category is sure to keep you busy for awhile:

Play your favorite 1980s arcade games online.

Ok, coming from the "I don't know what this is, but it looks cool" category, we bring you:

Liquid Man follows your mouse thingy

I know how you all love celebrities, so from the "Hurt or Mame a celebrity" category, we have:

mung

Half the fun of that one is what happens after you kill him. Ok, not a game of the 80's, but from the "Cool games, sure to make your work pile up" category comes:

Rockface Helicopter Rescue

Finally, with much ado, the link you've all been waiting for, the grandaddy of all links, from the "What the hell is he thinking" category:

Scampi

Well, that's all, hope you had as much fun as I did. OK, I know that noone is as easily amused as I, but hey, at least I had fun. Til next week.

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Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Shameless Plug

Speaking of selling on eBay... If you've been looking for a quilt or unique, one-of-a-kind tote for yourself, or to give as a gift, Marcy has some items, most of which are handmade by her, which she has up for auction at eBay. Check out her items here.

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I'm eating dinner, let me call you back

Just when one Court System corrects one of it's mistakes by reinstating California's original recall vote date, another Court, for lack of a better expression, really screws the pooch.

Court blocks Do Not Call Registry

And I was so looking forward to eating dinners in peace. Alright, so most of the time I'm in school during dinner time, it's a figure of speech ok?

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One month

I received an email today informing me that it has been one month since Marcy and I quit smoking. One month down, the rest of my life to go. Let's take a look at the stats shall we:

My Smoke-Free Stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 30 days, 11 hours, 33 minutes and 38 seconds

Cigarettes NOT smoked: 274
Lifetime Saved: 2 days, 2 hours
Money Saved: $46.73

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Tuesday, September 23, 2003

Sell What?

Here's one for ya. Breanna walks into the room from playing with her brothers and announces to Marcy:

"My brothers are bothering me, so I'm going to sell them on eBay"

Just in case you were wondering, when asked how much she would sell them for, she informed Marcy that she'd sell Michael for $2.50, and Tyler for $50.00.

Friday, September 19, 2003

Friday Links

Who's loved? That's right, I am. Upon reading this post, Marcy grabbed two boxes of Cookie Crisp instead of one, and now I'm happy. Cookie Crisp in my belly, what time is it again? Oh yes, time for another linky good time because it's Friday. It's also International Talk Like A Pirate Day, but we're not going there today. Unless you speak gangsta that is, cuz I've got a little buried treasure for ya, dar.

Everybody else come with me. Where are we going you ask, well to the land of disco of course, Stealth Disco that is. That's right, impress your friends and coworkers without them even knowing.

Hey, stop throwin stuff. Alright, alright, you want games...I got games. Plenty of them. Our first game answers the question, how far can cows fly:

The Flying Cow - Flash

And if your still unsure about the flight ability of barnyard animals, why don't you try some chicken throwing, huh:

POULAGA CHALLENGE

What's that you say, bossman comin your way, well then hurry up...go here:

The Office Space

Not quite sure what this one's all about, but it did keep me occupied for quite some time, even though I couldn't read a thing on the site:

xiiin.com

Here's a game for you "attention to detail" types. A Find the differences game that's a little frustrating to say the least...don't say I didn't warn ya:

::Differences::

Last but not least, I bring you a game sure to make you relax and, and throw your monitor over your cubicle wall, hitting Stan the copier boy and crushing his scull because it's just so much fun:

WIREROOT

There, now don't you feel better...I know I do. Until next time.

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Thursday, September 18, 2003

Growing every day

Ouch, it hurts to have something this big on my shoulders. I can barely look up anymore.

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Hopefully Houston

Since being stationed at Camp Pendleton by the Marines in 1994 and meeting my wife here in 1996, I have been a California Castaway. In the past few years however, it has dawned on both me and my wife that life here in good ole Cali is much too expensive to live. We tried in '99 to move back to my home town, Cleveland, OH, but it wasn't to be.

Presently, an opportunity has presented itself, and we are jumping at it with both feet. The company I work for has a parent company, which happens to be located in Houston. I've been there a couple of times, and while the traffic might not be a whole lot better there than it is here, the brief visits I had were enjoyable. Why am I telling you this? Because there's an opening in the corporate office that I feel I'm perfectly matched for. I have applied for the spot, and with a little bit of luck, I'll be bringing you this blog from Houston.

Now, Marcy and I have been looking at real estate pricing and such online, from what we have seen, houses in the area are relatively cheap. Here's my question for anyone who might be from Houston, what might I expect to pay to move my family into a good neighborhood around some nice schools? What should we look out for? Please leave comments for us if you have any suggestions.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Uncommon(ly) Sense(less)

The last few weeks, ok so it's been the last 28 years, but it seems that especially the last few weeks, have shown me that I need more than just my "Out of the mouths of babes" category. Children are not the only ones who say amazing things. They at least have the defense of not knowing any better. I now give you a new category, the Uncommonly Senseless. I will inaugurate my new category with a brief quote from my PLC instructor tonight:

"All the bits on the PLC Trainer are internal...except for the ones that are connected to outside sources"

So, what your saying is that all the bits are internal...except for the ones that are external? I bet his favorite baseball player was Yogi Berra.

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

Feeling insecure?

If you have Windows XP, 2000 or NT, you should. I ran across this post last Friday: Dave's Chalkboard: ALERT!. It made me comment about how difficult the process is that is involved in securing yourself and how tough it is to get around the internet once you are secure. I wrote:

Me: "Are there any Ramifications of turning the DCOM off? What limitations will I have to deal with by turning on the software firewall? Right now I have a router between the cable modem and my computer...am I safe enough? Thanks."

Dave quickly responded with some great free information:

Dave: "Remote Procedure Calls (RPC) are a type of protocol that allows a program on one computer to execute a program on a server. So a developer could write a client program to call a procedure on a server somewhere with parameters, then the server would return the results to the client program.

It's possible that in an office environment it's being used, but for home users, it's not being used.

Software Firewalls can be a bit of a pain initially. They will pop up a dialog anytime a program trys to access the Internet. Once they have been trained, if a virus or trojan horse tries to communicate with the outside world, you will be informed. You can disable the port right then and there and the virus/trojan will be unable to talk.

Having a router between your computer and your cable modem will protect you from getting the virus so long as you are not the "DMZ" computer. If you haven't gone into the routers settings, your computer won't be in the "DMZ". A computer in the "DMZ" means that it is "outside" of the protection that the router supplies. The comptuer is as vulnerable as if it was connected to the Internet directly. "DMZ" means the same thing with routers as it does with the military, "DeMilitarized Zone".

Now having a router will not protect the Internet if you already have the virus and it is trying to spread itself. The Software Firewall will do that job.

Hope that helps."

Eleven reasons why e-mail is like a male reproductive organ

Those who have it would be devastated if it were ever cut off.

Those who have it think that those who don't are somehow inferior.

Those who don't have it may agree that it's neat, but think it's not worth the fuss that those who have it make about it.

Many of those who don't have it would like to try it, a phenomenon psychologists call E-Mail Envy.

It's more fun when it's up, but this makes it hard to get any real work done.

In the distant past, its only purpose was to transmit information vital to the survival of the species. Some people still think that's the only thing it should be used for, but most folks today use it mostly for fun.

If you don't take proper precautions, it can spread viruses.

If you use it too much, you'll find it becomes more and more difficult to think coherently.

We attach an importance to it that is far greater than it's actual size and influence warrant.

If you're not careful what you do with it, it can get you into a lot of trouble.

...And the number one reason why e-mail is like a male reproductive organ:

If you play with it too much, you go blind...

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Sunday, September 14, 2003

Pinochle?

While we were back in Cleveland, I played some cards with my Mom and Grandma, as usual. We played pinochle. Now I had no idea that Breanna was paying attention, but she was. Today she came in the office, deck of cards in hand, and asked me:

Daddy, do you wanna play peanut-knuckle?


Friday, September 12, 2003

He's a Geocacher

My daughter told me when I got home from work that John Ritter died.

Me: I know, so did Johnny Cash
Breanna: Uh-huh
Marcy: Do you know who Johnny Cash is?
Breanna: Yes
Marcy: Who is he?
Breanna: He's a Geocacher

Friday's Links

Ahh, another Friday. Already? Actually, this Friday could not get here fast enough. It always seems that way after a short week doesn't it? The regular week takes just that much longer. At least it's almost over. Hey, it is Friday, and you know what that means. Time for some more links to entertain, thrill and make you think that I am the strangest person you have ever met.

We'll start off this week with one from the "awwwwwwwwwwwww" category:

Stupid Cat Videos

Moving right along, this link from the "How do you make it stop" category, is sure to have you drooling at you monitor for hours on end (Please be advised, this link is not for those who are prone to seizures):

Japanese Computer Art

Staying on that side of the globe, from the "Everybody was kung-fu fighting" (Yes I know, it's going to be stuck in your head all day now) category, I bring you:

Stick Figure Kung Fu

The next link is from the "Is nothing sacred anymore?" category:

And knowing is half the battle..

I know what your thinking....Your saying enough, no moremore, more. Well here ya go, from the "Even I can play this game" I bring you this little tidbit:

33

Ok, Ok, that's enough...wait, maybe one more. This one I found in the "These people really need to lay off the shrooms" category:

Badgers? Mushrooms?

Well, that's it for this week. I hope you enjoyed your journey through the worst best the web has to offer. Until next time.

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Thursday, September 11, 2003

It all makes sense now

I get it now. I understand why as a child, I was not supposed to eat the cereal out of the box. It makes sense, now. As I opened the cupboard this morning, I had an epiphany. My parents wanted some too.

I had forgotten all about the Cookie Crisp that we had bought for the kids this weekend until I went for my usual, Honey Nut Cheerios, this morning and saw the box. Instantly, my mouth started to water as I remembered just how good Cookie Crisp is. I imagined pouring myself a bowl and partaking in a little sugary sweetness. It was when I picked up the box that my daydream came to a screaching halt, the box was empty. I know that there is no possible way in the last three days that a whole box of Cookie Crisp could have been eaten in the normal way, which led me to only one conclusion. The children have been eating them out of the box (insert eerie music here).

To this, I just want to say: Mom, Dad...I'm sorry for hogging all the good cereal.

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Way Too Much Caffeine

I could not get to sleep last night. It was well after midnight when I finally fell asleep. Why?? Too much caffeine. I was tired and needed the boost to help me out with the homework I had to get done, maybe I should have stopped at one cup. Now, I've always been the sort of coffee drinker that could have a couple cups right before going to bed and not be affected by the caffeine, whatsoever. That was, however, until I quit smoking.

Caffeine affects me again. I've actually had to cut back my intake of coffee quite a bit, because by the third of fourth cup of the day, I start to get very jittery. Never affected me that way when I smoked, whether I was on my fourth cup, or my fourth pot. I'm starting to wonder if the nicotine, which is a stimulant, overpowers the caffeine and makes your system immune, or at the very least dulls your senses to the caffeine. Makes me wonder what other senses I will be regaining, besides smell, of course, and taste. I can't wait to find out. Anyone else quit smoking and had this experience?

Haven't posted these in a few days now (double the money saved to include Marcy):
Stats:

Time Smoke-Free: 16 days, 10 hours, 33 minutes and 59 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 148
Lifetime Saved: 1 day, 3 hours
Money Saved: $25.63

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Tuesday, September 09, 2003

What Kids Say

I've been hearing the strangest things and sayings come out of my children's mouth that I decided to start keeping track of them here, in this new category "Out of the Mouths of Babes".

As Marcy told the story, Michael was entertaining the other children with the sweet music of fake fart noises, when Breanna, through heavy laughter, stated:

"I'm lauging so hard, your going to give me a heart attack."

Trouble in Technophile Land

I'm not saying that I am a technophile, more like a wanna-be technophile. Why is it that every time I buy an electronic, something comes out later that same year that makes me drool. Don't get me wrong, I know that the Sony Clie UX-50 PDA is out of the wanna-be's price range...but that doesn't mean that I can't drool over it does it?

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RIP Weezer

On my way home from school last night, I was listening to one of the few local radio stations that I can actually stand listening to, when the DJ announced that the new song from Weezer was up after the break and it "rocked". I rarely listen to commercials, but for this I decided to wait them out. Why? Weezer is one of the few bands on the radio that has always had true originality, and I was eager to find out what they would sound like this year.

I should have changed the station. I would have been better off not knowing.
RIP Weezer
Cause of Death: Sampling

Just like bands that have crossed over before you, e.g. Sugar Ray, you are now completely and totally "mainstream". I can only hope that you sell many records as it would be a shame to sell your souls for anything less than mult-platinum. You will be missed.

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More from the RIAA

They are at it again, more subpoenas have been sent. Are you on the list? Find out here:
EFF: RIAA Subpoena Database Query Tool

This previous website also has tips on how not to be caught by the RIAA and continue file sharing...but I have some issues with their methods. The website instructs you how to turn off the file sharing as it is only the people that are sharing these files that the RIAA is sueing. I've even heard it on the radio, that by turning off the sharing feature of file sharing clients, you will remain safe to download music or files and not get caught. Now, if everyone was to turn their sharing off, would anyone be able to download any files at all? Also, what is stopping the RIAA from targetting the downloaders next. If there's noone else sharing, they'll go after everyone who logs on and does a search to find files to download. Simply turning off sharing of your client is not a valid way to stay away from being sued. It completely undermines the purpose of file sharing anyway, doesn't it. The reason you can get any file you want is because someone, somewhere, is sharing that file. Feature turned off, no files.

What can you do?? Fight legally. Turn off your service for now and fight to make file sharing legal. Otherwise, you'll be next in line to be put on the list.

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Friday, September 05, 2003

Yours for only $???.??

As I post this, the auction is not over...it will be over soon, but this was too nasty to wait til next week. This is definately the strangest auction I have ever laid my eyes on. This woman actually had a bra fall out of the ceiling of her 100 year old house. What would you do....sell it on Ebay, that's what anyone would do, right?

Weird Gross Bra That Fell Out Of My Ceiling

Friday Linkage

I know that you are all agog with excitement over what is to be the second installment of clickable goodies distributed on Friday. I know that this weeks links will make you say "Where the hell does he find this stuff". So without futher ado let's begin:

Our first entries today come to you from the "I need a day job" Category:

How to Stop Alien Abductions & The Compendium of Lost Words

Next, from the "Okay, I still need a day job, but at least I'm doing something funny" category, I give you:

More from our favorite Japanese Game Show Contestants & This Gentleman whose body gets a little over-excited when preaching the good word.

Our next entrants come to you from the "Fun Flash Games for all" or as I like to refer to it the "I'm so bored I could fart" category:

Slackman, Operation Slaps & Dodgeball

Speaking of gas....here's a link, sure to keep you occupied for hours if not days at a time:

Mister Nice Hands

Finally, with the recent ground shaking going on in the East Bay area, I will leave you with a little linky that's not only entertaining, but informative as well:

Make-a-Quake

Hope you enjoy this weeks links. Remember, if you come across any on your own, let me know about them in the comments section, and I'll post them right here next Friday. Till then.

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Microsoft sending e-mails now?

Nope they're not, but a new virus going around would like you to believe that they are. The W32.Dumaru@mm has been hitting Marcy's inbox like crazy the last couple of days. Whatever you do, do not install the virus. This one does require the user to run the attachment for the virus to work, but the e-mail states that it is from security@microsoft.com and tells you to apply the patch immediately. If you are infected (if you have Marcy in your address book you may be), or have run the supposed "patch", you can download the removal tool.

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Thursday, September 04, 2003

Happy B-Day

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL!!!! Marcy took Michael down to Magic Mountain yesterday for his birthday. Being that I just started back to school and had a first night of class last night that I could not miss, I could not join them. At least Marcy had our camera in tow to catch some of the action as they rode rides and perambulated around the park.

Day 11

Wow!! If you've ever quit smoking, than you probably know what it is to truely cough, and to truely sneeze. I have never cough or sneezed so deeply in my life as I have been in the last week, now that my body is expelling 13 years worth of smoke and tar from my lungs and sinus linings. I don't mean to sound gross, but let me tell ya...it's good stuff.

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Wednesday, September 03, 2003

Back to Life, Back to Reality

After a nice long weekend, it's hard enough to go back to work, but having to go back to school on the same day as you go back to work is doubly (is that a word?) tough. At least I can say that we had a full weekend. Sunday Marcy & I took the kids out geocaching up towards the Shenendoah Wine Country and fun was had by the whole family to be sure. Check out the pics of our day.

Monday we had a BBQ in the backyard and celebrated Michael's b-day a little early. He will turn 12 tomorrow, if you can believe that. Sometimes, I can't...other times, it seems like he's already turning 16. I might post some pics from the BBQ if I get around to it.

Tuesday was back to work and back to school. Should be a busy semester, I ended up having to throw in a third class (to be completed on-line) so that I would have the necessary credit hours for the VA to reimburse me. Sound like fun? Well, I can tell already, it's not going to be...helluva time for us to quit smoking eh? Actually...I can't think of a better time, except maybe two years ago. Anyway, at least we're doing it.

Stats:
Time Smoke-Free: 9 days, 21 hours, 34 minutes and 34 seconds
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 89

Lifetime Saved: 16 hours
Money Saved: $15.07