The Wild Wild West

Fri, 29 Oct 2004 21:22:02 GMT

SciFi Update

Thu, 28 Oct 2004 21:38:47 GMT

The Battlestar Galactica remake: catch the miniseries if you haven't already. Watch the series when it's out in January (or now if you know where to get that sort of thing online, heh heh heh). Seriously, based on the miniseries and first two episodes, this could very well end up being the best sci fi series I've ever seen. I don't use this phrase lightly, but it's got the emotional intensity of shows like "24"; I was on the edge of my seat when I watched the first episode.

So, in short, watch it! So says the great and powerful Oz!

Wed, 20 Oct 2004 00:02:16 GMT

More insanity for the bored.

All Hail the Hypnotoad

Tue, 19 Oct 2004 17:58:30 GMT

I was talking to my recruiter a week ago, and I remembered to ask a question I had been meaning to ask for some time: how long does flight training take, and where is it located? He said it would take about a year and a half, and I might have to wait up to six months for a slot to open up in the school. He also told me that there were five different locations.

I thought that sounded good.

Then he told me where they were located: "Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas, and Texas."

Hmm.

He rattled the base names off to me, and said that one of the Texas bases was actually near an actual place, but I don't know much (or anything, really) about Texas so it didn't ring any bells.

So I noticed in that newsletter (looked good, Tine!) that there's a Fifty Foot Wave show in Pomona on the twenty-somethingth. I think I'm going to try to make it; I've been way too lax in going to all the shows they've been playing around here, and I know I'm going to be kicking myself in the butt for it when I'm in OK, OK, TX, TX, or TX.

Here's a link I just found about that flight training stuff in case any of you are interested: http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/

Ejection seat and parachute training.. scary. Better start working on my zen-like trance state of mind.

Thu, 14 Oct 2004 18:41:20 GMT

I'm about halfway through my book about the Peloponnesian War, and I'm loving it. It's a pretty hefty book, about 300-400 pages (I haven't checked) but the war was so expansive and world-shattering (for the Greeks, at least) that it could easily fill out four more volumes on the subject and still be wanting more. In fact, this book is just an abridged version of a much longer set of volumes.

The Peloponnesian War has parallels all over the place, and you could in some fashion match it to any modern conflict. I'd probably say it's most like the first World War, although there are several structural differences. In the last half of the fourth century, BC, the Spartan Alliance and the Athenian Empire were in an uneasy truce. Democratic Athens was in undisputed control of the seas, and the oligarchic (and fearsome) Spartans had more than double Athen's number of hoplites, ancient Greece's heavy tank, who were better trained, to boot. The peace broke because of a minor dispute in a faraway land, and the alliance system pulled in every Greek state.

Both sides had something deeper to fight for, though. Athens was an imaginitive, enterprising state, whose empire and trading prowess were unmatched in the Greek world. The Spartans, whose slave-oriented and mostly stagnant society rightly felt threatened by Athenian progress, were pressed to war because if they didn't they knew they would be surrounded and eventually suffocated. Athens, on the other hand, knew that the Spartans would never accept a stable and long-lasting peace until they were convinced that the Athenians were their match on the field of battle. According to the previously established rules of Greek military engagement, the Spartans had every reason to think Athens didn't stand a chance. The previously established rules went quickly out the window, of course, as Athens walled themselves in from Sparta's invasions and tried to convert their mastery of the sea to an offensive capability. Coastal strikes, plagues, treason (all over the place), and civil war in several Greek states was the rule of the day. Armies and navies were fielded from Sicily and Carthage to the Black Sea and the Persian Empire. Man I love this stuff.

Tue, 12 Oct 2004 23:38:46 GMT

http://www.flyingthingz.com/videos/skycutter40.wmv

edit: just realized that link doesn't work. nevermind. it was a flying lawnmower. very funny.

Purty..

Wed, 15 Sep 2004 21:21:35 GMT

My new desktop background: http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA06475.jpg

A little political ranting..

Mon, 13 Sep 2004 19:01:43 GMT

Nicked off an article in Salon:

'At a Republican meeting this spring, (former three-term US Congressman Tom) Coburn warned: "The gay community has infiltrated the very centers of power in every area across this country, and they wield extreme power ... That agenda is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today. Why do you think we see the rationalization for abortion and multiple sexual partners? That's a gay agenda." ' (italics mine)

OK, fine, gays are responsible for the impending doom of western civilization, we all know that, right Falwell? But now they're responsible for ABORTION too? Come on. Really. I mean really. That's just stupid.

Speaking of End Times..

Wed, 08 Sep 2004 21:48:49 GMT

I am never going to sleep again.

Don't click on that. Seriously. don't

Holy shit..

Wed, 08 Sep 2004 18:58:25 GMT

I'm in love..

this too..

Wed, 01 Sep 2004 17:27:21 GMT

Sanrio got bit last week (by another cat I think). At first I thought it was minor but by Saturday it looked like it was getting worse, not better. So, I decided to try to get him checked out. Unfortunately, all of the vet clinics were closed for the weekend, so I didn't get him in until Monday. By then it was looking very un-good.

The vet did a cut-and-drain deal on him, and on Friday I take him back to get the bandage off. He sure isn't happy with me right now. I tell you, trying to get a cat to the vet with only a motorcycle is a pain in the ass. Yesterday I convinced a taxi driver to follow me (on my motorcycle) home with Sanrio in the back seat (in a carrier of course). Thank god he was cooperative about it.

Hopefully San will be feeling better by this weekend. I suppose it would be too much to ask that he stops getting in fights all the damn time. Little punk. Well, not so little; he's a bit of a plump kitty.

Thu, 19 Aug 2004 03:26:26 GMT

Bear guzzles 36 beers, passes out at campground

burp

Tue, 10 Aug 2004 19:22:54 GMT

Project: The Omega Sandwich

I am, as Space Ghost would say, "big into" sandwiches right now. It is my plan to create one single "master" sandwich, which will be capable of curing all of man's hunger with one tasty bite. I quest to find the finest ingredients: the crunchiest pickle, the freshest tomato, and the zestiest assortment of cheeses. My rye bread must be forged from the finest rye flour and dill and caraway seeds. There can be no turning back. The Sandwich Must be Made.

So, what I need from you guys are some ideas. What goes well on a sandwich? Remember, there are no stupid questions. But I'm not asking for your questions, so that's beside the point. Just ingredients. Thanks for your time!

Tue, 06 Jul 2004 22:35:13 GMT

I've been in a very philosophical mood lately. Not your standard postmodernist fuzzy philosophy, I've never much cared for that. It has a time and a place but it just doesn't interest me. I'm drawn more towards historical materialism (or materialist history, take your pick), minus all that Marxist baggage about revolution and what-have-you. The nuts and bolts of civilization.

I was talking to Jenny today about careers; I think that if I weren't going into the Air Force I'd try to do something along those lines. I know there's not much money in it so I'd probably teach engineering on the side to pay the bills. It's fun to daydream about all the different paths your life could take if you simply chose a different route. I think I'd be able to do well in most creative fields, despite my analytical nature.

Thu, 24 Jun 2004 18:30:45 GMT

Well, I don't want to be immodest or anything (oh yes I do) but I did super-well on that test I took last week. Assuming I can get everything together for my application on time, I think my chances of getting in are very very high. Huzzah for me. (sorry melissa)

color wheel

Mon, 21 Jun 2004 02:09:01 GMT

Thu, 17 Jun 2004 00:31:25 GMT

I just got back from SD.. they made me get up at 4am, because I had to "hurry up and wait" four hours for the actual test to start. Ugh, I'd better get used to that stuff. But I kicked that test's ass royally. Yee-haw.

Man am I beat. Zzzz...

Mon, 14 Jun 2004 17:08:23 GMT

I'm taking a test on Wednesday: the AFOQT (Air Force Officer Qualifying Test). It's like the SAT or GRE. Easy stuff. The only part that's going to give me trouble is the "general aviation" section. They ask you a bunch of in-depth questions about airplanes and flying and since I haven't ever, y'know, flown before, it's a little tough. I've been trying to memorize everything in the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (an FAA publication) but there's a lot of stuff to remember. I'll be happy if I can remember the difference between ailerons, flaps, and elevators.

If all goes well, I'll be in Officer Training School by November. My recruiter told me that the cutoff age for becoming a pilot when you're already in the Air Force is 33, as opposed to 28 when you're coming in fresh. So, going in now will give me an extra 5 years to play around with. I think everything is coming together very nicely.

They tried Doc-tor RO-BOT!

Thu, 03 Jun 2004 16:32:30 GMT

I got The Young Ones: Every Stoopid Episode on dvd last week; I've been watching an episode a night. The series starts out a little weak, the comic timing is often way off, but in later episodes the series is just as funny as I remember it.

Rick: "Look at you, Neil, swotting for teacher like a total spazmo! GOD I HATE you, Neil!" Not only is it funny, but I get two new vocab worbs to confuse people with. Huzzah.

I need to find some web space somewhere so I can host "Timmy" and various other piles of crap. Any ideas?

Well, that's it for this month. Hollis, I hope you're feeling better.. Melissa, I need to speak to you about that pizza job you mentioned..

Thu, 27 May 2004 22:28:42 GMT

TIMMY

Crap. I just realized that doesn't work. Don't you love that?

Fri, 07 May 2004 04:22:18 GMT

I didn't think I was going to bother posting what I got, but it turned out to be pretty interesting:

You are the Death card. Death is a stage in the
cycle of life. Without death, there would be no
room for new things to grow. When you receive
the Death card in a tarot reading, fear not;
Death is only an indication that transformation
is about to occur. Death allows us all to
evolve by removing that which is no longer
needed. The end of one cycle makes way for a
new one. Old behaviours and patterns which have
tied us down are released. Death cleans house
so that we don't have needless drains on our
energy. In Death's ruthless destruction there
lies compassion. Image from: Danielle Sylvie
Taylor
http://members.limitless.org/~morpheum/gallery.html

Which Tarot Card Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

throw me a frickin' bone here

Thu, 06 May 2004 17:25:12 GMT

The Network's down! Alarm klaxons are sounding! Redshirts are running about willy-nilly, and Geordi's stuck in a Jeffries Tube on deck six! Hull breach is imminent!

Today is apparently "everything go wrong at Toro" day, which is fine because it means I have an excuse for my usual laziness. But, I can't log onto to AIM and have to use MSN messenger. *hint hint, Jenny*

However I'm going to be taking a long lunch today, havin' some fun, eatin' some seafood. Should be nice. I cleaned my motorcycle last night, it looks pretty sweet. OK, -this- weekend, I swear upon the grave of my father who is not yet dead, that I will go out to the desert. Unless of course I have something better to do. Oh shit, I just realized I missed my Dad's birthday yesterday. Dammit, I had even managed to remember it yesterday, but then I forgot again by the time I got home. I need some of those brain vitamins.

Mon, 26 Apr 2004 17:48:31 GMT

I didn't watch the Alamo, I went and saw Eternal Sunshine of the Long Ass Title. I thought it was really good, but at the same time, very sad. It's not a first date movie, that's for sure. More like a first anniversary movie. I'm very rarely moved by a movie, but this one did get to me a little. If you've ever had to deal with memories you really didn't want, this movie speaks to that.

I also cleaned my room on Sunday. It's been a while, that's for sure. I found some things I wish I didn't have to see. Yuck.

Tue, 20 Apr 2004 15:52:11 GMT

I done bad, I done. I didn't go to any of the 50 foot wave shows when they were here. That's so lame, I really don't deserve to live. If any of you know how to use a Light Fifty, feel free to place a slug in between my eyes when I'm unaware. Just make sure you get it between my eyes, and not in my gut or anything. Then I'd be pissed.

However, this CD still dominates my musical landscape. Like Jenny said, almost every song is my favorite song ever (Glory Weed is the only one that doesn't utterly blow me away, but it's still great).

I saw Kill Bill Volume 1 over the weekend. Them's some fancy footwork they pull off. I liked it a lot more than Crouching Yadda Yadda Yadda, which to me felt overrated and silly in all the wrong ways. I'm hyped up to go see Volume 2. That guy "Budd" looked cool, and plus, his name is "Budd". Can't lose. Also, I need to get my hands on that soundtrack: it was quite, how do you say, "solid".

Somehow, I've misplaced my Ogre t-shirt. This makes me very angry. And of course, I know who did it. All together now: NEEEERRRRRDDDDSSSSS!!!!! Good job.

Mon, 12 Apr 2004 16:53:43 GMT

I finally got L`~ 001: it's great! I can't wait to see them tomorrow night in San Diego. Woohoo! That reminds me, I need to call a few people down there and see if I can rustle up a couch to sleep on. Fun fun fun..

Also, check this out! I got this in the mail too.. Can you say cheesy? Can you say kitsch? Can you say.. NEEEEERRRRRDDDDDDSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

What Throwing Muses song are you?
Name
DOB
Favourite Color
You are	Green

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