| Random update |
[Feb. 26th, 2009|07:28 pm] |
I'm sitting in the Denver airport. Out of all the flights on the board, guess which one is delayed? I've about had it with air travel. I just want to stay home for a year.
I am reading an excellent book called "Gardening when it Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times." Lots of stuff about gardening has become clear by reading this book.
I'm also having a bit of a freak-out that we're headed for doom because the world is overpopulated. Reading this book and understanding the dependence our food supply has on oil and chemical fertilizers doesn't make me feel any better.
Let's just say I'm feeling strongly tempted to go out and buy 40 acres of farm land somewhere, move my family there, and start doing a lot of food growing myself. Pesky issue of income - I either need to change careers or live near a decent sized city. A bit of a simpler lifestyle would do me good though, I think. Lower standard of living but hopefully not lower quality of life, and all. Would they call me a "homesteader" or a "back to the land"er? Not sure. I'll tell you, I've been reading a lot of "survivalist" material over the past few months. I have become convinced that a majority of people who identify themselves as such really just want to play with guns. I did, however, buy a small quantity of silver coins.
My whirlwind trip to Minneapolis-Columbus-Kansas City seems to have been successful and productive. I ate decent BBQ in Kansas City, but I can cook better BBQ myself. Which I may do this weekend. |
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| Concert fun |
[Jul. 20th, 2008|09:24 pm] |
We went to see The Wailin' Jennys tonight in Berkeley.
Good concert. Didn't enjoy all the angry leftover hippies in Berkeley. You know, the women in their 60s with long stringy gray hair that they cover with a head scarf or a beret? Why are those people always so angry? I thought the hippies were all about peace, love, and happiness. |
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| Concert fun |
[Jul. 20th, 2008|09:24 pm] |
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We went to see The Wailin' Jennys tonight in Berkeley. See http://youtube.com/watch?v=-mm3JY5qmQs. Good concert. Didn't enjoy all the angry leftover hippies in Berkeley. You know, the women in their 60s with long stringy gray hair that they cover with a head scarf or a beret? Why are those people always so angry? I thought the hippies were all about peace, love, and happiness. |
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| Crazy |
[Jun. 14th, 2008|01:11 pm] |
This is my hometown:
My parents and my sister are out of any flood danger, although they are a bit worried about their water supply. Overall they are OK. I guess I gave up tornados and flooding for earthquakes and wildfires..
In happier news, we spent the last two days up in Grass Valley, CA for the annual Father's Day Bluegrass Festival. Had a lot of fun, saw a lot of good bands, and found my son likes to dance to bluegrass music and even seems to have a sense of rhythm. We flew a small plane up there - his first time in a plane with me flying it. It was a good use of a small plane - would have been a 3-4 hour trip by car, and only an hour by plane. Looking forward to going back next year - this might even inspire me to re-learn the guitar, or possibly the fiddle, or both. |
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| What's wrong with this country |
[May. 27th, 2008|12:13 pm] |
I'm not sure if it's a symptom or part of the cause. Maybe both.
Here are a couple picture I took on my phone at some airport (Detroit?) a few weeks ago. It's the newsstand inside one of the terminals. There are three racks - here's the left side:
( More ) |
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| Jeremiah Wright |
[Apr. 28th, 2008|10:09 am] |
I woke up at 6AM in Las Vegas this morning and turned on the TV and happened to catch Rev. Jeremiah Wright speaking at the National Press Club. You know, listening to the guy talk in non-soundbite form, he sounds entirely reasonable. I kind of like him. If he were a pastor where I live, I might even attend his church. I think it's unfortunate that many people (and many journalists) don't want to use their brains to think for a half second about what the guy is saying, i.e. regarding the "God damn America" comment - his point is that God condemns certain things, one of them being people killing other people. And so if our government policies promote the killing of people, then that is a condemnable act by God. If you just hear the soundbite with no other context, you think he's saying something completely different. The guy is not un-American at all - he is against government policies that oppress people.
Just another reason I hate the news media. And lord, some of the questions the reporters asked this guy? I think we've set the bar for journalists REALLY low these days in terms of intelligence and talent. Can any of these people think? It's now getting to the point where I have to do my own primary research on any topic I'm interested in because I can't trust what anyone else says.. I just don't have time to be well-informed when that's my option, and I find that disconcerting. |
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| PC liberals |
[Apr. 20th, 2008|01:07 pm] |
There's always been something I hated about PC liberals, but this guy articulates it much better than I have in the past:
"It is a reality of PC liberalism: There is only one credible side to an issue, and any dissent is not only rejected, it is scorned. Global warming. Gay "rights." Abortion "rights." On these and so many other issues there is enlightenment, and then there is the Idiotic Other Side. PC liberalism's power centers are the news media, the entertainment industry and academia, and all are in the clutches of an unmistakable hypocrisy: Theirs is an ideology that preaches the freedom of thought and expression at every opportunity, yet practices absolute intolerance toward dissension."
From http://news.yahoo.com/s/uc/20080418/cm_uc_crbbox/op_235852, an interesting review of Ben Stein's movie "Expelled". I had never heard of the movie before, but I think it's one I might need to see.
Why don't the close-minded conservatives inspire the same wrath? I suppose because they don't go around preaching the message of open-mindedness and then act in a manner 180 degrees counter to it. They still suck, they just suck less. |
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| (no subject) |
[Mar. 24th, 2008|01:43 pm] |
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Beaker: FUCK YOU!@#*)(@#(*)!!! |
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| The Christmas Spirit |
[Nov. 22nd, 2007|10:55 am] |
I apparently don't have any at the moment, because all the TV advertisements attempting to entice me into stores to buy "things for everyone on my list" are not working.
We have turned Christmas into a holiday where it's fashionable to go out and buy something for the people in your life. Maybe it's because of my fortunate financial status (which changes next week - more later) but I get no joy out of receiving something that someone picked up for me at Target. And I don't feel particularly thoughtful doing the same for them. It's like an even exchange of.. stuff.. stuff that was probably mass-produced in China and marketed to us as something we need or should want. Looking around my house, even in its currently packed-up state, I don't need more "stuff". And I don't think other people do either.
Therefore, my rules for gifts - both as a gift giver and as a recipient. These rules do not apply for children - remembering from my own childhood, I placed a lot more importance on getting something I wanted, and not on the throughtfulness behind it. :) I will see what I can do with my own child to give him a better perspective on things, but I doubt it will work..
- Unique things purchased in places where the receipient doesn't regularly go - say, Afghanistan - and that can't be easily obtained elsewhere, are interesting and thoughtful.
- Things that are hand made rather than purchased are most definitely acceptable. Unless they are complete crap. :) Like the homemade wine I gave out a few years ago.. that was an unfortunate mistake that I won't repeat..
- Things that take a lot of time and effort to obtain or make are acceptable. My wife wants a new digital camera for Christmas. She said "It needs to be small but have a big screen, and it needs to take the picture right away when I push the button." She knows that when I purchase such things, I do huge amounts of research to make sure I get exactly the right thing. So while a digital camera is a marginally acceptable gift for me to give, it will pass the test. If she had said "I want an iPod", that would not.
- Gift cards and gift certificates are a waste of time. They are appropriate for an employer to give en masse to employees. Or as a way to tip your barber, mailman, etc. Maybe. But frankly, why not give cash? A gift card just limits choices, while requiring zero extra thought for the purchaser. I like Peet's Coffee, but that doesn't mean I want a Peet's card.
- The MOST valuable gift to me (and my wife agrees) is time with friends and family. You want to give me the best gift you can? Invite my family over and cook dinner for us, and hang out with us. I try to practice that principle as much as I can throughout the year, not just at Christmas. My wife is going to a cookie decorating party next weekend - she said today "That is exactly the sort of thing I love to do at Christmas, not have people give me stuff." Those of you local to me, expect me to throw more dinner parties in our new house now that we should have sufficient space.
- I sent an email to lots of friends last year and suggested that instead of giving gifts, we pick up extra tags from the "giving trees" placed in office buildings all over the country. While I am not an over-the-top religious person, Christmas is about the birth of Christ, and Christ was someone who advocated tirelessly for the less fortunate and for children. These programs allow children to enjoy Christmas where they might not have been able to otherwise (let's ignore for a moment the consumerist society brainwashing that made them that way in the first place.. it is what it is.) In any case, rather than give gifts to friends last year, I put about $400 worth of toys under the "giving tree" at work, and donated some more in cash. And it felt a lot better than picking up a bunch of mass-produced crap at Crate and Barrel, wrapping it up, and handing it over to adults who are capable of picking out and buying their own "stuff". So this year I'm going to do the same.
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In house news, we have been under contract on a house in Campbell since late October. The closing date is November 30. It's been a stressful month because I don't have cash in the bank to buy this place - I'm depending on selling stock, which I'm not able to do until this Friday. And the stock market has not been kind to me in the past 30 days. Still, as of yesterday the stock price is above my minimum floor so if all holds up Friday/Monday I think we should be OK. It's not a great price, but I don't need to be greedy. I just need enough. And if something catastrophic does happen to the stock price, we're still prepared to walk away from the whole thing. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
My current house has been on the market for about 2 weeks now. I've done three open houses and will do another one this Sunday. This being the holiday season I don't really expect this place to sell quickly, but then again you never know. All it takes is one person. And lots of companies relocate people in January, so maybe I'll get part of that crowd.
That is all. |
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| Moving? |
[Oct. 28th, 2007|09:19 pm] |
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We made an offer on a house in Campbell tonight. They have until October 30 to respond. Wish us luck. :) |
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| BBQ Update |
[Aug. 13th, 2007|10:24 pm] |
I'm visiting North Carolina for a couple of days and then heading to Myrtle Beach to hook up with my dad's side of the family for three days of madcap fun.
BBQ #1: Danny's in Cary. Have been there many times before. They do not cook over wood coals, but I always find their food to be good. Today was no different.
BBQ #2: Tried to go to Allen and Son just north of Chapel Hill, but they are closed on Monday. :(
BBQ #3: After extensive research, stopped at Stamey's in Greensboro. Decent pulled pork sandwich but nothing spectacular. Had some bits of pretty dry/tough meat in it. Realized that when I make Carolina-style BBQ I need to chop the slaw into small cubes rather than shred it as I've done before.
BBQ #4: Based on more extensive research, went to Little Richard's in Winston-Salem and ordered the sliced pork plate with some hushpuppies. Very disappointing. The hushpuppies were vastly inferior to Danny's, and the pork was almost tasteless. It was tender enough, but it tasted like it was roasted rather than smoked. And despite there being a smoking pit at this place, there was no smoke coming from the chimneys and the place did not smell like wood smoke at all, which makes me suspicious. Either they have a *really* good ventilation system for those pits, or they are not using wood. The meat tasted nothing like smoke either. Granted I could have gotten interior pieces of meat (even though I asked for some outside brown) but still..
After #4 I *almost* drove down to Lexington. Unfortunately it would have added 60 more miles to my trip, so I drove on to Boone. Tomorrow I'll have lunch at a place called Woodlands in Blowing Rock. I hope it's good.
It is bad that after Lexington BBQ #1, Danny's is the best I've had in this state.. |
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| I don't know why this is so funny to me... |
[Jun. 22nd, 2007|09:43 pm] |
I am reading about the benefits I get as a Hilton HHonors Gold member:
Embassy Suites® New Benefits 500 Points or Complimentary Internet Access or a variety of snacks and fruit.
HHonors Gold VIPs may choose either HHonors bonus points, High Speed Internet Access or two (2) snacks/beverages.
Hampton Inn®, Hampton Inn & Suites® 250 Points or One (1) bottle of water and 1 snack item.
Homewood Suites by Hilton® 250 Points or Two (2) bottles of water and Pepperidge Farm cookies.
The "two (2) bottles of water and Pepperidge Farm cookies" one really got me laughing. I don't know why. Maybe because they put a (2) in there, just to make it absolutely clear. Oh, and "Pepperidge Farm cookies" as though this is some gourmet item rather than something they stock in the vending machines.
I stayed at a Hampton Inn two nights ago in Dallas. I apparently exceeded my benefit quota, as I was given TWO bottles of water (not just one) and there was a Twix package on the nightstand (which I didn't eat..)
Hotel upgrades just don't excite me much - I dunno why. All I really care about is a clean room and a quiet place to sleep with a bed that doesn't suck too bad. Airline status, on the other hand - dunno. I'm trapped in a very small space for several hours, and being able to upgrade on the plane, or get a seat next to me blocked off - that's important to me. I guess because I mostly hate people. |
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| Random |
[Jun. 21st, 2007|03:59 pm] |
Sitting at DFW airport, where I'll be for the next 4 hours waiting for a flight home. Just some random things:
- First, I saw a planeload of soldiers in the airport today leaving for Iraq on a charter flight. That is a sobering sight. Lots of crying spouses and children. I thought, "I should go up and thank them" but I'm not sure I could have handled it. I won't bore you with my opinions on the war - they are in line with most of the rest of this country. I do wish the jackass we elected as president (twice) had to be present to see every military sendoff like this one.
- I hate business travel, as a general rule. Why? Because it's a thing that mostly men do. Airline lounges? Filled with men. Usually people in sales, with the accompanying ego that seems to be prevalent in that profession (I am generalizing, I know..) Hotels? Filled with men. First class cabin on the plane? Filled with men. I just don't like hanging out with men that much.
- The Hampton Inn rules. Free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, comfortable room, and a decent price. I generally stay at Hilton family properties and find all of them acceptable, but the Hampton Inn is a great value. Given equivalent price I'll pick Embassy Suites instead, but usually Embassy costs more. Downside of Hampton? No bar.
- People, when you power up your laptop in public places (like airline lounges and airplanes) turn the freaking sound off, or at least down. Nobody wants to hear your Windows startup sound at full volume.
- I ate dinner at a place called "Bone Daddy's House of Smoke" last night. It was relatively decent BBQ. I had the smoked turkey, brisket, and ribs. Out of 10, I give the turkey a 6, the brisket a 6, and the ribs a 4. The beans were good, as were the fries. Nice scenery too - it was a Hooters-like experience, but maybe one level of class up, and a slightly higher degree of intelligence in the waitresses. Still, I am 100% sure that all of them also work as strippers.
I guess that's all for now. |
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| One year old |
[Apr. 4th, 2007|05:04 pm] |
(well, a week and a half ago anyway)
Can you believe we've kept him from killing himself for an entire year?
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| Ah yes... |
[Mar. 28th, 2007|09:53 pm] |
After 4 yeras...
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| Dear BMW Drivers |
[Mar. 7th, 2007|02:40 pm] |
Dear BMW Drivers,
Why is it that 90% of you drive like such assholes? Are you angry because you know that you overpaid for your car? Or are you pissed off because your car would be more at home on the track and instead you're forced to drive in traffic? Or are you just a person of low self-esteem to begin with, and you thought buying an overpriced car would make you feel better about yourself, and you're angry because it didn't work?
Whatever the reason, I hope you find some peace in your life before you cause a major accident.
Sincerely,
That guy in the '99 Ford Explorer who think you're a joke |
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| Voting |
[Nov. 2nd, 2006|01:55 pm] |
I got my absentee ballot last night and just finished filling it out. IT TOOK ME 2 HOURS!
Here are my future ballot propositions:
- Those that put ballot propositions on the ballot must pay for the book-sized voter information guide that gets mailed out (we got a total of 6 of them here. The statewide one in English and Spanish, and then the county guide - and of course one copy of each for both of us). How many trees died to produce those things? How much did the state spend to produce and mail them?
- Ballot propositions and referendums must not be longer than 500 words. If you can't express your idea in 500 words, it's probably a bad idea.
There is a good reason we live in a republic. I elect and PAY a set of legislators to go make law on my behalf. If I wanted a direct democracy, I'd move to ancient Greece.
I mostly voted in favor of bond measures for schools, and against everything else. Oh, and I voted for Ahhnold for Governator because mostly he seems to be less of a douchebag than the other guy. However, I still maintain that this state is doomed. |
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