Dream elements... crushing a can of black cherry soda that was still full on a hike... I dump out the sugar-water and flatten the can like a hockey-puck and slip it into my pocket for safekeeping. I'm walking through a rainforest, and there are 3-foot tall mechanical geese everywhere. They're made of clear glass and when they sing exotic plant seeds and bulbs shoot from their mouths and burrow into whatever they land on ... dirt, trees, rocks, water... One faces me, and I catch some seeds on my chest and arms... the seeds penetrate into my skin, but don't bloom back afterwards. A huge flock of parrots flies over head and the sounds of their wings is almost deafening as they retreat from a gigantic inky-black cloud that is swirling behind them, slowly pincering in and engulfing them. The mechanical birds fly up and feed on the cloud, going from being transparent to a deep, opaque crow-black. It seems to make them heavier, as they stop flying, and instead glide slowly back to the ground, lined up in formation, no longer distributing plant life (or shooting me, either.) Rain starts falling from the now-clear sky, and the surrounding plants are growing so rapidly, it's almost like I'm shrinking, instead. The scent of ozone fills the air, and mixes with some sort of heady, sweet smell, like honeysuckle and oranges. I notice that though a great amount of water is falling, I'm not getting wet, even though there's no cover overhead...a drowsiness surrounds me and I wake up, pretty comfortable and refreshed.

Dang, this week just blew on by. I can hardly believe it's Friday again.

Fantastic Kate Bush resources via -

rare mp3s - http://www.norbry.net/kate-bush/mp3/
Kate photos as a little girl.. http://home.att.net/~james51453/index.htm

How to swear in 113 languages.

a year ago - istockphoto, dead links, Shitou Xiqian, smiled at, fortune cookie, walkerbot, Liver Eatin' Johnson

2 years ago - hungrybaby, New Apes move lame, wiseacre, Champions stats for the Shadow, Dwayne Dibley?, Poul Anderson passes away, LJ moves in space,

3 years ago - Everway character- wanders the storm path

Sakes... what a little celebrety gossip-mongering list this is. Newest stuff in blue...Like all gossip, I'm sure it's best taken with a grain of salt. Maybe a whole salt lick. (Orson Welles possibly the Black Dahlia Murderer?)

Omniglot: A Guide to Writing Systems -For fun stuff, see the alternative writing systems, including alphabets from Fantasy and Science Fiction. See your name in assorted systems.

7/31/03

Fooling around with colors and design on my website, primarily text and link colors. I get the feeling of "Better Like This...or Like This?" from the eye doctor. I buzzed my self back and forth that I'm not sure right now.

A lot of fun talk about santorum, owl pellets and today. I surely held onto my crown of crap. This afternoon was just delightful, and I really mean that.

Speaking of dung...

Monday's audience burst into laughter during the seduction scene, when J.Lo spreads her legs for Ben and says, "It's turkey time. Gobble-gobble."

You couldn't make stuff like that up. From the new Ben and J-Lo debacle "Gigli".

And now some non-dung-

ROTK trailer

Duct tape superheroes.

Stereo ani-gifs. Neat effect, not work safe for artistic nudes.

Cool commercial fonts. I'm especially fond of fruitopia and cherry coke.

Got a call from the bro at the emergency room.. I swear, he's the most accident-prone person I know. I guess he cut his finger and needed a few stiches...The connection was bad, and I'm wainting for him to call me back.

a year ago - broken links, spamdemic map, floppy poll, dinner sick, new semagic client

2 years ago - hinterland, kickshaw, I like cooking, planet of ??? poll, Champions Spectre, my gal wants to leave me for the asian prince, shaking hands (not a real issue these days), treat pack,

3 years ago - idiot, the good and bad of the day, Good chinese food, bad April.

the quest to find the web's favorite color, MMS (or email) a photo to pic@favcol.com to help. (right now, it's a mild green) all pictures sent to him will be averaged out to his page's background.

I'll be sending him this pic of Newt, both because he's a sweetie, and orange is wonderful!


Read carefully the next coupon you get. According to Snopes, the rumors that telemarketers are trying to circumvent the Do Not Call Registry by hiding a little "It's ok if this guy calls me" agreement in the fine print are true.

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Inboxer Rebellion (Call Scam)

Want to see if your username is on the RIAA's list of Subpoenas? Mine isn't, but that'd make sense since I share public domain stuff. Helpful hints on How Not To Get Sued By The RIAA For File-Sharing (short of not sharing at all)

Last day of the month. Let's see what Keywords hit me...Looks like I got hit hardest by folks looking for Carnie wilson Nude, Heroclix, Lemmiwinks, and the John Belushi "little chocolate doughnuts" skit

Recurring themes every month are thermasilk commercials, giraffe penises, and swollen uvulas. I'm surprised that Netscape had as much as 10% of my hits this month... that new mozilla firebird must be skewing the stats. Normally, I max out at 4% total.

I've discovered that my journal has been syndicated at syndic8.com. Now I just have to work out how to let them know whats up regarding some info that's not filled in.

Other info -
Browser share -
66% IE6
21% IE5
02% IE4
09% NS5
01% NS4
01% NS3

Operating Systems
48% win2k
19% win98
16% winXP
06% MacPPC
04% WinNT4
02% Unknown
02% WinME
02% Win95
01% Linux

Organization Hits
29% COM
26% NET
25% only IP
04% UK
04% EDU
03% Canada
01% Slovakia
01% Saudi Arabia
01% ORG
01% Netherlands
01% Mexico
01% Italy
01% Germany
01% Chile
01% Australia

7/30/03
It's a lovely, bright morning, the sunlight slicing through blinds just a bit, drawing a yellow-orange set of thin lines on the opposite wall. I've got a brief morning meeting, and then in the afternoon I may be doing a little lunch with Danny, if all goes well.

I'm glad that I didn't have to call the law on Liberty Mutual, and I'm thankful for that. The only real downside of it now is that I don't get it directly deposited into my account.

Saw the last episode of Lovejoy, and I've got to say, I was rather disappointed. Everyone went different ways, and the manor is sold off. Very Sad, considering the rest of what I've seen of the show had some real humor and entertaining stories. The first episode begins tomorrow, and hopefully I'll get a chance to watch from the beginning. I wonder if my views on the characters will be colored by knowing where everyone ends up? From what I hear, the author of the books where the character comes from isn't terribly fond of the series, because the books have a much harder edge.

The honor of worst ending is still Blake's 7 (sort of an Anti-Star Trek)...where basically all the good guys die at the end. I prefer at least a glimmer of hope, not anything that bleak. Speaking of which. There's a Blake's 7 sequel series in the pipeline, set twenty-five years after the original series, and five years after the sequel they were planning three years ago.

From Tom Waits: "Never let the weeds get higher than the garden/Always keep a sapphire in your mind/Always keep a diamond in your mind." (From "Get Behind the Mule")

A bunch of other comic fonts more nifty than comic sans, from the aptly-named ban comic sans.

Random memory of going to Disney world, and getting "chocolate doubloons" in a bag of pseudo-suede with a skull and crossbones on it... later used to hold my gaming dice. From a spur of the moment trip with Pam in the mid-90s…We decided to go the day before. I wonder where that bag is now... if it got tossed out, or if it's paced up with gaming stuff in my closet.

The Geographical Directory of World Paper Money is worth browsing for the maps alone.

Find Sounds at findsounds.com... a good start is the examples page, or just "scream".

I wonder if it's too early to think about a Halloween costume.

I think the idea of a public gay high school is as bad an idea as a public fat school, or a public "can't afford nice clothes" school. People get beaten up and harassed for all sorts of reasons. I think that money would be better spent punishing and treating the thugs wanting to hurt the other students, rather than having people run away from the issue. Otherwise, you're just putting the violence off, not preventing it.

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City is creating the nation's first public high school for gays, bisexuals and transgender students.

The Harvey Milk High School will enroll about 100 students and open in a newly renovated building in the fall. It is named after San Francisco's first openly gay city supervisor, who was assassinated in 1978.

"I think everybody feels that it's a good idea because some of the kids who are gays and lesbians have been constantly harassed and beaten in other schools," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday. "It lets them get an education without having to worry."

The school is an expansion of a two-classroom public school program that began in 1984. A gay-rights youth advocacy group, the Hetrick-Martin Institute, has managed and financed the program since its inception.

The new school's principal, William Salzman, said the school will be academically challenging and will follow mandatory English and math programs. It also will specialize in computer technology, arts and culinary arts.

State Conservative Party Chairman Mike Long criticized the creation of the school.

"Is there a different way to teach homosexuals? Is there gay math? This is wrong," Long said. "There's no reason these children should be treated separately."

The Hetrick-Martin Institute's Web site says the school will give its students "an opportunity to obtain a secondary education in a safe and supportive environment. ... We believe that success requires the ability to respect and value the diverse human community."

Random Scotto factoid- before my palmtop, I would almost always have a legal pad with me for note taking and scribbling.

Scott is the #32 most common male name.
0.546% of men in the US are named Scott.
Around 668850 US men are named Scott!
source namestatistics.com

Newton is the #966 most common male name.
0.005% of men in the US are named Newton.
Around 6125 US men are named Newton!
source namestatistics.com

von Berg is a very rare last name.
Very few last names in the US are von Berg.
Be proud of your unique last name!
source namestatistics.com

Ok, I'm getting ready for my meeting. Until later, dear journal.

a year ago - random voog glimpse, infrasound, dinner timeline, GRASP, hate group mapping, Jen plans on being wed, FMM steals paid time from me, mach 8 jets

2 years ago - animal traits poll, Museum of Black Superheroes, remonstrate, Pompano info, evil news, mental health day, rainbow newt poll, icq/lj tech trouble

3 years ago - April stress, New everway group review, Babel fish translations, green lantern, Jerrys Birthday bash, Discover marquee, Bev Preggers, Bro working at Amici's, We Like Pie, 29th Scroll, 6th Verse

Meeting went well, and I was flattered that Brett visited my site and noted my web log. The foot brace seems to dig in a bit to the sole on the left-hand side, so I’m going to have to have the doctor adjust it for me. I'm looking forward to polishing my skill and learning some lasso...from what I understand, it's pretty straightforward and if I got php, I'm already well there. I look forward to hearing from them soon. The receptionist was an outstanding, friendly lady, as is the big chief and other programmer I met. They seem to have a really good team.

Journey home through the haunted tunnel via palm-cam. I was going to animate it, but it would've tripled the size. Good ol' jpeg wins again. Minor commentary on hover.












Getting together with Danny after Lovejoy today [update- Lovejoy's pilot episode was quite good, much better earlier in the series.] Not sure what we'll do yet, but the day is young.

Well, I stand corrected. I saw Charlie's Angels 2 today with ol' Danny, and expected just boobies and explosions, but it was so over the top and goofy that I found it genuinely enjoyable and entertaining. I still think Cameron Diaz is boring and has the personality of a turnip, but everyone else really did a great job for a campy over the top sort of chop-socky movie. It was full of loopy stunts and fighting... and also nice to see Crispin Glover back as the Thin Man. I think it was as good as it was because it knew it was a cheeseball movie, and decided to run with it. Mighty fine soundtrack, too. B-52s, Beach Boys, Bowie, and to name a group not starting with B, Electric Six. Planet Claire in particular a great ambient song to shoot folks to. I didn't mind the flock of cameos, but am embarrassed to say that I recognized Pink. I'd say it was far superior to the first one, which I'd give a 5 as popcorn and forget movie. I'd boil it down to just a good American-made wire-fu flick with some funny bits. I still really dislike the promotional tour of being giggly-girly buddies... Though, since so much of it is action and eye candy I wonder how much of it I'll remember story wise in a few hours. I'm happy that the T&A was secondary to cool combat sequences and silly banter.

Basically the girls and the villains are supers... I could see it as a particularly wacky RPG session on a night when folks needed a break from "serious gaming". Viewed in that context, I'd give it a 7 or an 8 out of 10. I'm really pleasantly surprised that it was as a good time as it was.

Additional Bonus - All of the Previews were *actual movie previews* and not Car / Soda Pop / Misc-Other Adverts.

During the film, I had some of the freshest nachos with the crispest and tastiest jalapenos ever, and a reasonably tasty flagon/fish tank/keg of raspberry iced-tea.

Afterwards, we went for a beer, where he had a burger, and then we both desserted on some chocolate mousse cake. Yummy yum. (After cleansing palates with ice water.) We got some good talking in, too.

Prior to going to the movie, I got some prezzies. Spark charts for World History and HTML… Both quite handy and very entertaining, and a build your own wooden frog model.

Random History Year Factoids - Featuring Weapons Development.
c. 8000 BCE - Bow and arrow Invented
c. 300 BCE - Crossbow in China
850 - First Gunpowder in China
1200 - First Explosive Rockets in China
1250 - Gunpowder introduced in Europe
1270 - First firearms in China
1320 - First European use of Cannons
1515-1520 - First Rifles Developed
1621 - First Modern Army under Gustavus II of Sweden
1834- Samuel Colt Develops the Revolver
1862 - Gatling creates machine gun
1915 - Germans use poison gas in warfare
1939 - Germany Atomic Fission discovered by Otto Hahn.
1941 - Manhattan Project to build atomic bomb begins
1952 - US explodes first Hydrogen Bomb
1953 - USSR Explodes Hydrogen Bomb
1998 - India and Pakistan test nuclear bombs

The speed at which knowledge builds upon itself is amazing. 7700 years from bow and arrow to crossbow. 700 years to develop firearms. 3 years to create atomic bombs. What does that say?

7/29/03
I found strange pleasure in this article in the Miami Herald. It seems we have a lot of ignorant "tour guides" roaming around, dispensing bogus history and celebrity information to unwitting (and probably uncaring) touristas. To rectify this situation, the Miami-Dade County Commission is considering licensing guides, and requiring a five-day, thirty-hour course to get the certificate. Needless to say, the scam artists (and guide companies) are against the idea.

I took the simple quiz in the paper, and I only missed four out of ten, and I've never taken a class in local history. I guess some stuff just sticks via osmosis.

Why is Joe Leiberman a member of the Democratic party? He is pro-war, pro-censorship, and just about Republican in everything but name.

Kerry or Graham seems to be the best bets... I like Graham, because he's got a pretty solid record on Capitol Hill. He has potential and appeals to a wide range of people, but he'll have to start making an effort real soon. Kerry is the one most likely to win the nomination. A decorated war veteran, he has become very outspoken in criticizing Bush on everything from the war to the economy to his Medicare bill. (I've bookmarked 'em on realchange.org, because I want to see what dirt pops up over time.)

I'm rather surprised that not much political advertising has risen up yet... I'd think that they need to get cracking, even with the current administration lately coming under increasing criticism on its policies in Iraq. Bush's approval rating has dropped to the pre-war level of 55 per cent, according to new Time/CNN opinion poll on Friday. As there is an eight per cent drop in President Bush's rating in May, 50 per cent of the respondents said they are very or somewhat likely to vote for Bush in the next year's election.

The landlord is knocking on the neighbor's door... My feeling is that if a person doesn't come after five minutes of knocking, or call out, leave 'em alone. Don't keep on banging like you're building a new house starting with his door.

I'm a big Bollywood dork for wanting to see both Saathiya and Kaante.

When I first saw this on my news collector, I thought it was going to take me to The Onion or some other gag news site. Sadly, this is a legit story. Pentagon's Futures Market Plan Condemned.

The Pentagon is setting up a stock-market style system in which investors would bet on terror attacks, assassinations and other events in the Middle East. Defense officials hope to gain intelligence and useful predictions while investors who guessed right would win profits.

[Democratic Sen. Byron] Dorgan described it as useless, offensive and "unbelievably stupid."

"Can you imagine if another country set up a betting parlor so that people could go in ... and bet on the assassination of an American political figure, or the overthrow of this institution or that institution?" he said.

Ugh.. and I thought *I* had a ghoulish streak.

7/28/03
Behold the wooly panda. It is plump and round. The nearby sound of a throttling chainsaw frightens him. 'Eek eek' says the panda.

No word from my brother this weekend. Dan took my advice and did his school work at the library today, given that his A/C has been out since Thursday, and won't be repaired until Tuesday. I'd find that pretty intolerable, but he's dealing with it pretty well, all told.

Newt is an insane spazmo today. Running around with his motor going a mile a minute. He was doing the "run so fast that the back end outpaces the front" resulting in a sort of sideways arc in pursuit of paper wads, his tail fully outpoofed like a raccoons. Very talkative, too.

Bro's got himself set up in an apartment for at least a month, and it looks like he'll do ok with a strict budget, if he really decides to run with it. I hope he can make it.

I dreamt last night of marketing "mood scents" a smart perfume that'd smell differently according to how you were feeling... and contact lenses that would show dashed lines exactly wherever you’d look, like laser pointers. I know I'd buy 'em. Be neat to see a roomful of them at a club sometime, too... girls would know if a guy was looking at their chest or not, as a handy side effect.

Best anti-piracy video ever. Don't copy that floppy.

showed me this pretty little thing.. Play full screen and with speakers on for most fun effect. (It's interactive)

Fill out the survey by typing in the first word that comes to mind that starts with the given letter/prefix.

A-lphabet
B-oloney
C-owabunga
D-ude (I have no idea why those appeared.)
E-ducation
F-lood
G-enghis
H-ayati
I-nformation
J-J Walker
K-mart
L-lama
M-ermaid
N-ewton
O-range
P-ollen
Q-uestion
R-odent
S-corch
T-itan
U-ncanny
V-olcano
W-ebbing
X-factor
Y-ellow
Z-enith
Anti-American
Bi-polar
Con-densation
Di-lithium
Euth-anasia (I don't think I use any other words that start with it at all?)
For-tean times
Gui-do
Homo-sapiens
Ill-uminati
Ja-son and the Argonauts
Kil-roy
Lu-xembourg
Min-erals
Ne-on
Or-der
Psy-chometry
Qu-enya
Re-ad
Sim-ulate
Tele-commute
Ur-anus
Va-lue
Wo-mbat
Xe-nomorph
Ye-ti
Ze-bra


Note. Orange Zinger Tea and strawberry pop tarts do not a healthy lunch make. Must preapre something extra tasty and healthy for din din.

Ok.. I need to do my shower/workout/shower. Until later, dear journal!

a year ago - Peter Gabriel bald, change the flavor of your sexual secretions, a bunch of broken picture links, worh1000 coolness - Persian elephant

2 years ago - chores, Tron 2.0, tick quote

three years ago got invited to an everway group, palindromes, food, translations.

Finally, no more waiting for a movie where Bruce Campbell is as brilliant as he was in ARMY OF DARKNESS. BUBBA HO-TEP

The Visible Embryo project is truly amazing. When I think about how many times I've heard ridiculous "facts" thrown around by both pro-abortion and anti-abortion people, I'm amazed sometimes to simply step back and marvel at how the whole thing works.

Wow.

A few notable deaths.... Bob Hope, of course, but also Matt Jefferies, Designer of the U.S.S. Enterprise, and Jane Barbe, famous phone voice.

Barbe was the queen of telephone recordings, whose voice was heard an estimated 40 million times a day in the 1980s and early 1990s on everything from automated time and weather messages to hotel wake-up calls.

She was heard on 90 percent of "intercept messages" - the recording played when something is wrong with a phone number - and 60 percent of automated time and temperature calling programs.

During her unusual 40-year career she articulated immortal lines, including, "I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is no longer in service" and "Please press 1 for more options."

Some people that undeniably touched everyone's lives in one way or another.

Okie doke... reunified my homepage, graphically. It was long overdue, but I'm still not sure how I feel about the linked journal page there yet. I dig that I can toss my blogrolling links below others on that page. My old one was looking sort of "1999", and has been long overdue for a makeover. Right now it's simple, but I can tweak and twiddle it. I think I might go with the gold and green text links rather than the white and gray.

Up next is reworking some of the text, revising my gallery, with maybe thumbs, and building a toy box.

7/27/03


The power went out at 11:54 this morning, and I called up FPL's good ol' 1-800-4-outage and was told by a pleasant machine voice that it detected my area by my phone number, knew of the problem, mentioned that it was affecting 1182 homes in the area, and would be fixed by 1:45. The system then offered to telephone me with updates on how things are going at different steps along the way. I accepted, but power came back up about 10 minutes later, so I guess it wasn't a big issue. The system called me about 20 minutes after that, assuring me that the power should be on, and to call them back if it's not the case. I think it's pretty groovy when automated stuff works so well.

Stuff Drawn on the palm, just fooling around this morning-



I've added All Consuming... It is an aggregation website that will let you know what the web log community is reading. learn more I'm impressed.. it went through and scanned for other book titles, as well as the one I entered into favorites. Yet another thing that uses livejournal's auto ping to weblogs.com, and helps to collect data.

Transforming Journey - covering the events in Pakistan. Using the power of burqas to get the job done, and (via ) I wonder how much of this is propaganda itself, or if she does suffer from Stockholm syndrome, or if she was just *really lucky*.

American Technology Corporation is on the cutting edge of audio developments. They make woofers and speakers... and, oh yeah, sonic bullets.


Sound and Fury
Sonic Bullets to Be Acoustic Weapon of the Future

By Judy Muller

Anyone who has seen Tom Cruise fire his state-of-the-art sound wave gun at his pursuers in Minority Report no doubt assumes it is a weapon from the arsenal of science fiction. But such a weapon, or at least a less-glamorous version, is scientific fact.

Woody Norris, the CEO of American Technology Corporation and a pioneer in ultrasound technology, has developed a non-lethal acoustic weapon that stops people in their tracks.
"[For] most people," said Norris, "even if they plug their ears, it will produce the equivalent of an instant migraine. Some people, it will knock them on their knees."

The device emits so-called "sonic bullets" along a narrow, intense beam up to 145 decibels, 50 times the human threshold of pain. It usually doesn't take that much to stop someone, as we learned in a demonstration in the company parking lot. The acoustic "weapon," in the demonstration model, looks like a huge stereo speaker, except this one sports urban camouflage.

The operator chooses one of many annoying sounds in the computer — in this case, the high pitched wail of a baby, played backwards — and aims it at us. At 110 decibels, we were forced to walk out of the beam's path, our ears ringing. Had we stayed longer, Norris said our skulls would literally start to vibrate.

Police departments and the Pentagon are flocking to Norris' headquarters in San Diego to see this revolutionary technology for themselves. The problem with past attempts to make an acoustic weapon is that sound traveled in every direction, affecting the operator, as well. Norris' narrow ultrasound beam takes care of that problem, meaning police could use it to subdue suspects or quell riots, without hurting bystanders or the operator, because the sound is directional.

"Tear gas lingers long after you've fired off the canisters," said Norris. "This, you switch it off and it's gone. And the damage is only temporary."

Army to Use as Sonic Cannons

The U.S. Army has already ordered its own prototype of the non-lethal acoustic weapon. It will be packaged in a camouflaged cylinder and either be handheld or mounted on an armored car.

Two security experts who were at the company on behalf of the Defense Department said it would be terrific for repelling suicide bombers and for rousting terrorists from their hideouts. Because the sound ricochets in tight, enclosed areas, said retired Marine Col. Peter Dotto, it would make it very uncomfortable for al Qaeda terrorists to stay in Afghan caves.

"They would have to come out," said Dotto, "and they probably would come out with their hands over their ears so they would be very easy to subdue at that point."

Practical Uses, Too

Not all the applications of this new technology are pain-inducing. Norris has invented a related acoustic device called the Hypersonic Sound System. Only when he turns the speaker in your direction, do you hear the message. For instance, liquid being poured over ice was the sound requested by a soda company to inspire people within earshot of a vending machine to quench their thirst.

Norris tried out the acoustic beam at a mall near his office and passers-by all stopped to listen when the sound was aimed at them. "That is absolutely amazing," said one woman, "it sounds like the sound is inside your head."

There are dozens of potential commercial uses, from shooing away pesky birds (geese off of golf courses, for example) to directing television sound so it doesn't disturb a sleeping spouse.

Whether friend or "friendly fire," this new technology is likely to affect almost every aspect of our lives, in ways we can only begin to imagine.

a year ago - some day tripping, cool squirrel, Belgium is a myth, tongue-trimming, lj hot-or-not

two years ago - overtired & grumpy, cockaigne, evil news, flash, evil news

three years ago - wanting to go on a group outing, discover marquee

7/26/03
Had to swap out my weather.com magnet on my user info page as it was expiring, and they only offer Javascript for it now.. since LJ hates any external scripting for security reasons, I had to go with wunderground. (I would've used weather pixie, but it's down half the time.)

Slow starting this morning...I think the body caught up on the slumber it lost the other night. It looks like a couple of my vampire children from the game have gone dormant. Interesting little location, a graveyard southeast of Larch and 50th. "One fresh grave particularly stands out. Here Lies Pazuzu. Brother We Hardly Knew Ye."

I like to play fishy, too. (hint, download it, so you can play it while off the net.)

Still no word from Brother regarding a trip to the movies. Dan's not in the best of moods, not feeling sociable.. I'll hear back from him in a little while, but I'm guessing not much is going to happen with him today.

Ok, the hunting for bambi guy admitted it's a hoax, at last.

LAS VEGAS - A promoter who offered to take men on "Hunting for Bambi" safaris in which they could hunt down naked young women with paintball guns admitted that it was a hoax designed to sell videos, the mayor says.

Michael Burdick found himself in the crosshairs of women's groups after he told a Las Vegas TV station that he was selling reservations to men willing to pay $5,000 to $10,000 for the safari experience.


Las Vegas officials investigated and found that the purported safaris were nothing but a hoax to promote the "Hunting for Bambi" videos that Burdick sells. The videos show nude women being hunted by men.

The footage in the videos "was all staged," Mayor Oscar Goodman said Thursday. "There were actors and actresses and there wasn't even the real shooting of paint balls."

Burdick did not immediately respond Friday to messages from The Associated Press, but he had previously insisted that the hunts were real.

John Redlein, an assistant city attorney, said Burdick offered the hunts at high prices to discourage bookings, and told investigators his Internet site could not even accept credit card charges in the amount necessary to reserve a hunt.

"He's told us in great detail ... that it's a scam to sell videotapes," Redlein said.

A report on Burdick's "Hunting for Bambi" first aired July 10 on KLAS. Burdick staged a paintball hunt for the station's camera crew, city officials said.

want to create your own freedom rock album?

Disc 1:
1. the byrds-turn, turn (to everything there is a season)
2. ten years after-I’d love to change the world
3. jethro tull-locomotive breath
4. joan boez-the night they drove old dixie down
5. edwin starr
6. santana-black magic woman
7. nilsson-jump into the fire
8. deep purple-smoke on the water
9. the brotherhood of man-united we stand
10. coven-one tin soldier (the legend of billy jack)
11. joe cocker-feelin’ alright
12. canned hear-going up the country
13. friend and lover-reach out of the darkness
14. america-a horse with no name
15. lynard skynard-free bird
16. the allman brothers-ramblin’ man
17. the guess who-share the land
18. elton john-friends
19. ocean-put your hand in the hand
20. three dog night-black & white

Disc 2:
1. derek and the dominos-layla
2. the moody blues-the story in your eyes
3. five man electrical band-signs
4. jonathan edwards-sunshine
5. the o’jays-love train
6. cream-white room
7. the guess who-no time
8. judy collins-both sides now
9. seals & croft-we may never pass this way again
10. zager & evans-in the year 2525
11. alice cooper-eighteen
12. deep purple-hush
13. the youngbloods-get together
14. sonny & cher-the beat goes on
15. dion-abraham, martin and john
16. melanie-lay down
17. spirit-I got a line on you
18. james taylor-fire and rain
19. lobo-me and you & a dog named sue
20. otis redding-(sittin’ on) the dock of the bay

I'm gonna sing the Doom song now.

a year ago - some missing pictures, wondering about my eyes, watching TV, evil news, some palm pics, Newt pics

2 years ago - senescence, thegosis, arrival as a pod, loving thoughts

3 years ago Buds for lunch (I'll miss that rare treat), dealing ok with winding down.

Soft rains coming down, not so heavy that it stopped folks from being outside, but heavy enough that I can hear water on the glass. Still no word back from the crew, so it's looking like not much is going to happen today. Looks like a good day to curl up with a book.

Earlier, I heard what I thought was my neighbor out front screeching in anger, but turned out to be a visiting boy who hasn't had his glands drop yet. He must've been 10 or so, but sounded for the life of me like a young woman.

Something about LJ that amazes me is the national diversity of folks on my list here. Off the top of my head, there's Canada, UK, Korea, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, not to mention folks all over the USA.

Just for fun...


I dig that they brought out Dr. Light for teen titans, though Trigon isn't my fave. Interesting that the Fearsome Five have all been given "youth potions" and renamed hive. gizmo, mammoth and jinx, now Dr. Light (still older). You can really see where Marv Wolfman's influence is poking through.

Just too a mental leap from Hive's Gizmo, to Invader Zim's Spider pack, to Doctor Octopus. I wonder if there were any other mainstream folks that hang from a backpack by four extensor-tentacles?

If they decide to do "Spider-man Three, in 3-D" (a la Jaws, Friday the 13th and Spy Kids), they'd better use Mysterio. (That'll keep with them using dead villains that dress in green and purple as the main foil, too.) Optical illusions, Psychedelic gas, freaky costume with eyes as a cloak holder and opaque head-dome.

7/25/03
Woo! The Hulk liked the word search graphic I made for him, and he linked to my journal!

7/25/03

scottobear is a Giant Ant that spins Vast Webs, is Highly Flammable, and has a single Horn on its Forehead and a Massively Swollen Skull. Strength: 6 Agility: 4 Intelligence: 12 To see if your Giant Battle Monster can defeat scottobear, enter your name and choose an attack: fights scottobear using Strength Agility Intelligence

newton is a Giant Lizard that spins Vast Webs, is Undead, and has X-Ray Vision. Strength: 10 Agility: 4 Intelligence: 3 To see if your Giant Battle Monster can defeat newton, enter your name and choose an attack: fights newton using Strength Agility Intelligence

The above is a very cool meme.. I like it even better than battle monkeys or battle imps.

Ah, a lovely morning and afternoon, culminated by a super-scaldy shower o' doom after my stretching workout.

I was up and about at about 10:30 (fell asleep at about 6:30... already heard from the brother (he seems to be doing well) and from a contractor for workman's comp... giving me guff about traveling again. I've sent an email off to my HR person, and hope that she can straighten out Liberty, before I'm obliged to trot out the attorney. I've got no problem blasting the insurance if I'm in the right and they don't want to do their job properly. I'm one step from getting tough. (HR/WC was the only crappy part of my day)

Ideally, I'll be going to see a movie with the brother or Danny tomorrow (maybe both? they don't mix really)... we were thinking maybe sinbad or T3, depending on the mood. I'd like to catch whale rider if the time is right. It’ll be a brief excursion, just a movie and maybe a nibble. Speaking of nibbles, groceries came today, and the "lite key lime pie" yogurt is *REALLY GOOD*. yum.

I just heard about the guy who setup key-stroke capture software in multiple Kinko’s stores in New York City.
Don't let it happen to you.

NEW YORK - For more than a year, unbeknownst to people who used Internet terminals at Kinko's stores in New York, Juju Jiang was recording what they typed, paying particular attention to their passwords.
Jiang had secretly installed, in at least 14 Kinko's stores, software that logs individual keystrokes. He captured more than 450 passwords and user names, using them to access and even open bank accounts online.

The case, which led to a guilty plea earlier this month after Jiang was caught, highlights the dangers of using public Internet terminals at cybercafes, libraries, airports and other establishments.

"Use common sense when using any public terminal,'' said Neel Mehta, research engineer at Internet Security Systems Inc. "For most day-to- day stuff like surfing the Web, you're probably all right, but for anything sensitive you should think twice.''

Jiang was caught when, according to court records, he used one of the stolen passwords to access a computer with GoToMyPC software, which lets individuals remotely access their own computers from elsewhere.

The GoToMyPC subscriber was home at the time and suddenly saw the cursor on his computer move around the screen and files open as if by themselves. He then saw an account being opened in his name at an online payment transfer service.

Jiang, who is awaiting sentencing, admitted installing Invisible KeyLogger Stealth software at Kinko's as early as Feb. 14, 2001.

Mehta said that although millions of individuals use public terminals without trouble, they should be cautious.

"When you sit down at an Internet cafe, ask the owner or operator about the security measures in place,'' he said. "If they don't know or don't have anything in place, you could consider going somewhere else.''

Encrypting e-mail and Web sessions does nothing to combat keystroke loggers, which capture data before the scrambling occurs.

Data cookies also contribute to the risk of identity theft. Cookies are files that help Web sites remember who you are so you won't have to keep logging on to a site. But unless you remember to log out, these files could let the next person using the public terminal to surf the Web as you.

Furthermore, browsers typically record recent Web sites visited so users won't have to retype addresses. But such addresses often have user names and other sensitive information embedded.

Secure public terminals should by default have provisions for automatically flushing cookies and Web addresses when a customer leaves, Internet security experts say.

Kinko spokeswoman Maggie Thill said the company has "succeeded in making a similar attack extremely difficult in the future.'' She would not provide details, saying that to do so could make systems less secure.

Nonetheless, Thill said customers have a responsibility to "protect their information as they would a credit card slip.'' She said the company is trying to educate them through signs and other warnings.

7/25/03
Can't sleep... just sort of occupying myself. I treated myself to General Tso's Tofu, white rice and broccoli.

I highly recommend China Panda Take Out & Delivery
112 Davie Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Phone: (954) 765-1080

Awesome food at a reasonable price. They do custom orders and are really amazingly friendly.

My fortune -

Your heart is pure, your mind clear, and soul devout.
Lucky Numbers 17, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30

Mom came by and brought me a present form her trip to Sweden... a little crazy-looking eye-patched Viking guy figurine (Odin?) with a huge beard and wielding a dagger. I'm going to have to take a picture of him to do it justice. I love getting loot from Sweden... probably my favorite knickknacks have come from there.

I have mixed feelings about the coming changes. Mage Knight is adding more rules for magic items, terrain, and domain. Downside is that since I'm only trading into it, I may never see any of those nifty features. Maybe I can parlay some of the unique items into other loot, but that's just me being over interested in a game I really haven't played in months.


WIZKIDS ANNOUNCES ALL-NEW MAGE KNIGHT
The Game That Started It All Revamps Miniatures Gaming All Over Again

July 25, 2003 (SEATTLE) — The game that started the hottest trend in the gaming world is set to once again twist tabletop recreation in a whole new direction.

WizKids, LLC, inventors of the collectable miniatures game (CMG) category, today announced a massive redesign of the world’s first CMG, Mage Knight™.

The revamp incorporates more than three years’ worth of worldwide tournament and play experience acquired by the company since the game’s release in 2000. While the mechanics of play remain the same, nearly everything else about Mage Knight has been updated. There are new game pieces, new rules, new victory conditions, and a new combat dial. In addition, Unique-level figures can be custom-equipped for every battle. The entire redesign has been accomplished while still retaining the playability of the more than 40 million Mage Knight figures already sold, as all figures from previous versions of Mage Knight will be 100% playable in the new game.

“Now Mage Knight is more exciting, more action-packed and more fun than ever,” said Jordan Weisman, founder and CEO of WizKids, LLC. “We’ve learned a lot in the past three years, from players and from our other games, and we’ve incorporated all our learning into the Mage Knight redesign.”

Three new elements in the game add to the level of strategic depth available to players. “Relics” are armor, books of magic and powerful weapons that players add to Unique-level figures to customize and further enhance their ability in combat. “Terrain” can be assembled to create landscape features that change the battleground. The set also includes “domains” that add battlefield variables such as weather, and help determine battle conditions. The new pieces will be randomly inserted into Mage Knight Starter Sets and booster boxes, giving players more game, and collectors more excitement, in every purchase.

Another thing Mage Knight fans will notice about the game is the new combat dial, which adds more depth to play by giving game figures attack and defense values that are more in line with their character’s individual strengths and abilities. Instead of the L-shaped stat slot that fans of WizKids’ CMGs have come to know and love, the new Mage Knight combat dial features a more pie-shaped window that adds a new dimension to game play. A new “ability nexus” can modify a figure’s speed, attack, defense or damage value to reflect his or her special abilities as they change in combat.

The Mage Knight rules changes also allow for bigger armies without a dramatic increase in game time, so players get more action into every game. There are also new victory conditions that focus on gaining and holding battlefield objectives, keeping action at an exciting pace right up to the end of the game.

“We listened to our fans and we think they’ll be very pleased by the new game. At the same time, there’s a lot more in Mage Knight to capture the attention of new players,” said Weisman. “This means there’s more to play, more to trade, and more to collect. This is a very good day for everyone who enjoys games and fantasy.”

Recently acquired by Topps Corporation, WizKids manufactures and distributes collectable miniatures games. The company invented the category in 2000, and its games are now played in more than 56 countries worldwide. To date, WizKids has sold more than 100 million miniature figures under the Mage Knight, MechWarrior® and HeroClix™ game brands, making it one of the fastest-growing game companies in the United States. For additional information, visit www.wizkidsgames.com.

Well, I guess I'll try hitting the sack, before it's time for me to get up. Until later, dear journal.

7/24/03
The Hulk's Diary is Great. Finally, a glimpse into ol' Green-eyes' thoughts.

Bonsai Potato! Containing the answer to the eternal question: "How can I maintain aesthetic balance in a multi-variety arrangement dominated by a mono-planar asymmetrical alternating branch stalk?"

The Black Food Dish Project. (Kitties/Blair Witch), this cracked me up.

Well, I sold my first blue flame oxford last night, 19 to go. (or 2 to go to make the auction pay for itself.)

Brother is in a hotel rather than a hostel right now, and it looks like he'll be packing into an apartment shortly. Also in the works is a cell phone, so he can get back into his regular boat detail. It seems like he had folks over last night, but hopefully it was just a celebration that he's out and about now, and not going to become a habit. He's taking my advice and going to see a financial counselor to help him with how he handles his dough. Hopefully it'll sink in and he doesn't just scatter his funds to the 4 winds. Upside of him getting a settlement is that he'll be giving me a portion of the funds he's borrowed from me over the last couple of years. I'll consider that found money if I get it.

I had some wonderful thoughts and dreams of my sweetheart last night / this morning... She can warm my heart so easily. I really am amazingly fortunate and happy that she's in my life.

That Batman film is available online now. I'm not sure which is funnier about this film... the fact that Batman is played by "America's Most Trusted Fitness Professional" or the fact that Joker is played by Growing Pains' very own "Boner" the son of Star Trek's Chekov or the fact that the director has directed a Japanese commercial for Pocari Sweat, the most disgustingly named drink ever. Sadly, I can't get it to play on my system... some missing QuickTime elements. I'll try to download a newer version later tonight.

A note on Monty Python: Pie Iesu domine/Dona eis requiem *whap*--It's from the Dies Irae, and (roughly) translates: Merciful lord Jesus/Grant them rest

Play a little witch that likes to catch kids, and put 'em in a cauldron!

Skits from The State available for viewing. I think it's the whole series. Eating Muppets was one of my faves.

a year ago - palm doodle-strip, lost hosted photos, crank yankers 80% sucks. Fortean times, F-ing Mongorians!

2 years ago - important people, ne plus ultra, anile, evil news, more majestic, now defunct Newton ICQ-bot

3 years ago - junky food, prepped April for launch, budgeting, hung out with bro, me no like stinky!

7/23/03
I never did take myself out for a bit to eat. Maybe tomorrow after getting my brace fitted.

Brother came by at the wee hours and broke me out of a sound sleep in order to get a clean shirt for the meeting with the lawyer this morning... hopefully, he'll get the money from his settlement, and be well on his way to a more comfortable living arrangement. (And to a place that he can store all of his stuff, too. It's been underfoot for a long time now.) I'll be really happy when he's back on his feet in a place of his own with a phone, and ready to start rolling in the workforce again.

This fish just looks hostile to me. You know it's thinking bad things. He's got the evil eye. I think he's more sinister than the monkfish.

Just wait until it finishes his breathing apparatus and robo-legs. Then we'll all be sorry. Click here and see.



For me, this bizarre fish (the size of a tennis ball) is one of the most fascinating creatures in the deep sea. It has it all, it's black, has big savage teeth, little nasty pin eyes, a big flabby stomach ready to fit in anything it can catch (irrelevant of size) and a rod lure off the top of its head with a glowing tip to coax in stupid prey. It doesn’t stop there: its flesh is watery, its bones are very light (barely coated by a thin layer of calcium carbonate) and it can barely swim (there’s not much of a tail). This animal just hangs mid-water waving its little lure and waiting to chomp. And this is only what the female looks like! The male is completely different. He's very small and looks like a black jellybean with fins. He has no lure, has big eyes, huge nostrils and a fairly small mouth with curved hooked teeth. His body is made of strong red muscle for swimming long distances. Why the difference? She's looking for food, he's looking for her. She releases anglerfish-type perfumes into the water and he spends all his time swimming around looking and smelling for her. When he eventually finds her (in the dark), he latches on to her side (with his hooked teeth) and drinks her food-rich blood in return for producing the sperm she needs when it comes time to release her eggs.

The perfect couple. Man, those things are scarier to me than sharks.

Cool seimens commercial. -A futuristic society with a ban on dancing meets a dedicated rebel fighting for his rights to free expression.

Note, opinion/belief questions could change at any time.

YOUR NAME
The singular boring question: What is your name?
.:. Scott
If you had been born a member of the opposite sex, what would your name have been?
.:.I'm guessing I'd be named Jean, but I'm not sure.
Would you name a child of yours after you?
.:. Sure, it's a bit of a tradition, but I'd be just as happy to not to.
If you had to switch first names with a friend of yours, who would you switch with?
.:. Scott. (Is that Cheating? If so, Benjamin)
What's the way people most often mispronounce any part of your name?
.:. Todd, Scout, John, Gus (?!) ...don't get me started on my last name
If you were to become famous, would you drop your last name (like Madonna, Cher, Roseanne)?
.:. Doubtful, I'm proud of my last name... I'd probably opt to be known as Scotto than Scott
DEEP THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS
Do you believe in the traditional view of Heaven and Hell?
.:. No. I really feel we can't quantify that stuff with the measuring equipment we have.
Do you think God has a gender?
.:. No, I don't imagine a creative force of nature having a mate in a sexual sense. (But what do I know?)
Do you think science counteracts religion?
.:. Not when either is done right. Science is a method of asking questions. Religion is a way of seeking guidance.
Do you believe in organized religion?
.:. I believe it exists, and works for some people. It's not my thing.
Where do you think we go when we die?
.:. I have no idea. I'd like to know.
Do you feel a little funny thinking about the questions in this section?
.:. Nah. I do think they're pretty unanswerable, though.

HUMOR
How easy is it to make you laugh?
.:. If I like you, *really easy*.
What person you know makes you laugh the most?
.:. Oh, man, my sweetheart cracks me up nearly every time we talk.
Do you laugh at jokes you know you shouldn't?
.:. Yup.
Do you tell jokes you know you shouldn't?
.:. In mixed company, no. To People I know that can take it, yup.
What words instantly make you laugh or at least smile?
.:. Kumquat. Shiznit. Victrola. Many many more.
What do you think is the funniest thing you've ever said or written?
.:. I have no idea. I can be really funny sometimes, and other times, incredibly lame. It's a question of timing and position.

MUSIC
Do you ever dance to music when nobody's watching?
.:. Sure.. I more often sing along.
What is/are the worst song(s) you have ever heard?
.:. Your Body Is A Wonderland-John Mayer comes to mind but I'm sure there are worse.
What song(s) do you wish you could understand a little better?
.:. A lot.. any that are well written but poorly articulated... Bob Dylan / Stevie Nicks are wonderful, but sort of slurry.
What song(s) are constantly in your head?
.:. Oh, it mixes up, Boogie Man, Assorted Dean Martin, TV Themes all pop up at different times.
What song(s) do you think describe your personality best?
.:. varies, but right now... The Ancient Egyptians by Poi Dog Pondering
If you were to serenade the object of your affections, which song(s) would you use?
.:. #36, DMB... it depends on the style of mood happening
If the object of your affections were to serenade you, what song(s) would you hope he or she used?
.:. I'd just be delighted to be serenaded. She has a wonderful voice and well-suited to it.

MOVIES
What movie(s) do you love that nobody else seems to?
.:. The Monkees- Head, Robin Williams - Popeye, Sean Connery - Zardoz all stand out in my mind.
Do you agree with the idea that sequels are always worse than the original?
.:. Usually, but not always. (see Star Trek, Aliens, and Star Wars.)
Who's your favorite Star Wars character?
.:. Han Solo / Chewie (they're a single unit.)
What kind of movie do you think there should be more of?
.:. Well written "non-formula" flicks.
What movie(s) do you simply not understand the appeal of?
.:. None... they all have a crowd that likes 'em.

FOOD
When eating, are you more concerned with taste or healthiness?
.:. I'm bad, and prefer flavor to health but try to balance the two when I can.
What's your favorite kind of cheese?
.:. Cheddar, but I like many varieties
What do you think your answer to the previous question reveals about your personality?
.:. More live for the moment than for the future?
If you knew exactly what went into Chinese food, hamburger meat, etc., would you still eat it?
.:. I still eat Chinese food, and make it at home, so I guess so.
Do you ever feel guilty eating meat?
.:. No.

COMPUTERS
Mac or PC?
.:. Whatever can get the job done... usually that means PC
How much do you actually care about the inner workings of your computer, as long as it works?
.:. If it works, it's not a problem.. but computers can be constantly tweaked, and made to work better.
Do you ever begin preferring IMs to other forms of conversation?
.:. Depends who I'm talking to.
Do you find you're different talking through IMs than face-to-face or on the telephone?
.:. Not really.
Have you ever ended bid on something on eBay and regretted it later?
.:. not yet, but I imagine that day'll come.

THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES
Have you ever wished you could experience being the other gender?
.:. Some elements, but certainly not all, and certainly not permanently.
What do you love most about the other gender?
.:. How they complete the "other half of the puzzle" and make us a whole people. The way they can carry different emotional and physical weights than men
What do you dislike most about the other gender?
.:. When they live up to the negative stereotypes. (same as my own, really)
What do you understand least about the other gender?
.:. Again, the big stereotypes.

CELEBRITIES
Do you sometimes see a movie or watch a show just because a good-looking celebrity is in it?
.:. Nah.
What celebrity's autograph do you want most?
.:. William Shakespeare, if only to sell it.
Have people ever said you looked like a celebrity, and if so, who?
.:. A few.. Kevin Smith, Greg Allman, Grizzly Adams, Travis Tritt, Mick Foley, any burly, bearded dude with long hair.
If there was to be a movie about you, who do you think should play you (in personality, looks or both)?
.:. John Goodman
Does it ever annoy you when you know someone is a celebrity but you can't remember why?
.:. Not sure what's meant by that.. I don't think I've had that happen
If you could enter any celebrity's mind like in "Being John Malkovich", whose would you enter?
.:. Arnold Schwarzenegger (He has political elements and a lot of information available to him)
Do you want to be John Malkovich?
.:. Sure, I'd try it.

NUMBERS
Do you laugh when you hear or read the number 69?
.:. not generally, but if feeling juvie, yeah. maybe if I was playing at being Bill or Ted
Were you lying about your answer to the previous question?
.:. Nope
Do you actually know your Social Security Number?
.:. sure do
Do you actually know your IP address?
.:. it's dynamic. I could find out quickly, though
Do you know what an IP address is?
.:. Yes
Do you know the four-character extension on your ZIP code?
.:. Yep
Ever thought there were too many numbers floating around in our lives?
.:. Only too many if you need to know them. Many can be ignored. Rather, not generally.
Does your head begin to hurt when you think of infinity, imaginary numbers, irrational numbers, etc.?
.:. No, it's just a useful data construct.
What do you think of pi?
.:. It was a nifty black and white movie with a neat sound track.

LOVE, SEX AND ALL THAT
Did you get a little frightened or uncomfortable seeing this as a section title?
.:. No
If someone you had no interest in dating expressed interest in dating you, how would you feel?
.:. Depends on who they are. Generally flattered.
Do you prefer getting to know someone first before dating them or going in "blind"?
.:. Known, preferably
Could you carry on a relationship with someone with the same first name as a family member?
.:. Yes, but I'd probably use a nickname
Have you ever wished it was more "socially acceptable" for a girl to ask a guy out?
.:. Only if it'd benefit me.
What's your opinion on sex without emotional commitment?
.:. I think commitment is far better.
Have you ever been romantically attracted to someone physically unattractive?
.:. yes, though my mind paints people I like as more attractive, and people I dislike as less so.
Do you think the opposite sex finds you good-looking?
.:. Some do, some don't.
Would you be willing to give up sex in exchange for an emotional commitment you knew would last?
.:. Yes, but I prefer having both.


POSSESSIONS
What is your favorite possession?
.:. If Newt counts as a possession,(he does, according to the law, I think) Newt. Inanimate? my box of memories in my top drawer.
What physical, tangible possession do you want most?
.:. Hmm... My own house, with a library.
How badly do you want it?
.:. I'd like to have it one day. I won't kill for it or anything.
Have you ever seen 'The Exorcist'?
.:. Yes
How long did it take you to understand why the last question is in this section?
.:. immediately

HOLIDAYS
Does Christmas music too far away from Christmas annoy you?
.:. nope, as long as it's not the same tune repeated over and over
How old do you think you will be before you stop liking getting older?
.:. Heck, I think I'll always prefer that to the alternative.
What was the best Halloween costume you ever had?
.:. I make a mighty fine pirate, if I do say so myself.
What was the worst Halloween costume you ever had?
.:. ghost/sheet, with skull-mask
What holiday do you think has still managed to retain its original meaning?
.:. New Year's seems to have.
There are currently no federal holidays during August -- what should be put there?
.:. Women's Equality day, August 26 Celebrate the day they were given the vote.

MEMORIES
How good is your short-term memory?
.:. Wildly variable. Sometimes superb. sometimes non-existent.
How good is your long-term memory?
.:. Very good.
What is your earliest memory?
.:. Going to the Zoo with Michelle, My mom, and Vera. I think.
What is your happiest memory?
.:. Hard to say.. I've got a lot. Finding love and finding it reciprocated is certainly in there.
What is your strangest memory?
.:. A lot of strong dreams as a kid...so vivid that that seemed real, but so surreal that they couldn't be.
What song, movie, etc. do you wish you could memorize?
.:. hmm.. I think you can learn anything like that with enough repetition.

TEARS
What movie makes/made you cry?
.:. Oh, I can be a big sap at times. Any good mush can do that, if the setting is right. Charlotte's Web is a good example.
What book makes/made you cry?
.:. See above, ex would be Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury in parts.
What song makes/made you cry?
.:. see above.. but an ex. would be Little Twelvetoes - Schoolhouse Rock
What makes/made you laugh so hard you cried?
.:. Oh, good friends can get me on a laughing jag, if the mood sets it. I know that my sweetheart, bro, Dan, Doug, Ray, Dave, Kev, Island Boy, and I think maybe Sappho have all done it at one point or another.

A captive female crow, confronted with a task that required a curved tool, spontaneously bent a piece of straight wire into a hooked shape -- and then repeated the behavior in nine out of ten subsequent trials. Though these crows are known to employ tools in the wild using natural materials, this bird had no prior training with the use of pliant materials such as wire -- a fact that makes its apparently spontaneous, highly specific problem-solving all the more interesting, and raises intriguing questions about the evolutionary preconditions for complex cognition. Video available.

a year ago - Janet Reno, 1000 blank white cards, lost links, Dumpster Diving, singing kitty, palm sketches, snickitty-snackitty man, managing activism

two years ago - melted heart, epizootic ,hair bears, playing majestic

three years ago - bedtime thoughts

Well, since lj is now (finally, after some months of it trying to work) sending auto-updates to weblogs.com (if you checked "yes" to send it) journals can appear on utilities like blogrolls or technocrati now. In addition, if you geocode your journal, you can have your entries automatically pop up on a world map as you update. (within 3 minutes at the most.)

Of course, that's for folks that want to be seen on the web... kind of pointless if you have all private/friends-only posts.



While I'm on the subject of Lj… it seems that they've run out of South park names for the assorted clusters. Recently the "Green" cluster was having trouble, and that's the first I've heard it mentioned. I guess they shuffled some folks around again, though I'm still on the Chef cluster.

If you'd like to know which one you're on, you can click here. (It may be different than the last time)

On a totally unrelated note -

Doctor Octopus...

...gave up evil to pursue a career as a musician.

7/22/03
Perhaps the best ever episode of Samauri Jack last night.. a really good treatment of a exciting and yet spooky posessed house story. Speaking of which - Real-life ghost stories. I don't know if any of them are real, but I like to pretend they are, and then proceed to scare the tar out of myself. After about twenty or thirty minutes of them, sitting in your room with the lights off, you start to hear things; start to imagine what might be outside the window right now, waiting for you.

The MRI company screwed up, and thought that my appointment is today rather than wednesday.. so I had call to reschedule cancel my appointment for the foot piece. I'm sure the MRI has priority. I've left a message, and hopefully they canfit me in wednesday about the time of my last appt.

Semi-cheated and added more feeds to my friend's list. I don't feel too guilty, because there's no huge text, just comics and pictures of the day. I made a filter that will allow viewing of feeds that are primarily "pictures" I don't know if it'll work for folks that aren't me, though. (warning, some of the photos can be bandwidth suckers)

I would also like a swimming pool to work in, and a Jacuzzi to soften up before, and relax in after. While I'm making wishes, I haven't had takeout in forever, and the last time I've eaten out was with Dan at Subway the other week. I'm in the mood for some delicious, not-made-by-me, fresh food. There's an assortment of things I'd really enjoy, but I would really like some Thai or Indian food especially, but I could go for just about anything that didn't come out of the freezer or cupboard. I suspect the latter is more of an immediate possibility.

I noticed that the userpic page is now 2-up, rather than one long strip of icons. I'm not sure which style I prefer.

Three words as reasons to see The Pirates of the Carribean movie: Zombie. Pirate. Monkey.

Microsoft chosen as exclusive Homeland Security contractor +
Microsoft admits critical flaw in nearly all Windows software =
Terror Alert raised to Blue Screen Of Death

Former Ugandan leader Idi Amin - whose 1971 to 1979 regime was one of the bloodiest in African history - reportedly remains in a coma after three days on a life support machine.

Random Scotto factoid - As a boy my parents would slip me a lifesaver before taking communion, because I didn't like the taste of the bread or wine served as host at my church. (preferably butterscotch, rather than a mint... mint just made it worse)

a year ago - dreams, sounds, guns, action comics #1, hello kitty stress test, bike named, infinity

2 years ago - Cohort, fwap, morning speech quiz, coloring game, kitty cookies, sunflower bread, web indexes, english language, Olestra conspiracy

3 years ago - X-men with Dan, Robb's Radio, went to Hops, April reading my LJ

pythoness (PIE-thuh-nis) noun

1. A woman with the power of divination.

2. The priestess of Apollo at Delphi in Greek mythology.

[Ultimately from Greek puthon (python).]

"The coffee finds nothing else in the sack, and so it attacks these
delicate and voluptuous linings; it acts like a food and demands
digestive juices; it wrings and twists the stomach for these juices,
appealing as a pythoness appeals to her god ..."
Honore de Balzac; The Pleasures and Pains of Coffee; 1830s.
(translated from the French by Robert Onopa)

Dear scam lotteries,

You'd be at least a *little* more likely to trick me if the reply address didn't go back to yahoo, hotmail or Netscape. If you’re going to give me $500,000, you could afford your own domain. megalottery@hotmail.com and standardtrust@netscape.net make me assume that you're just a big ol' fibber. (In addition to my not using the mail address you sent to register anything, especially on-line lotteries or quizzes.)

Sincerely,
Scott-you-no-fool-me-O’Bear.

Ugh... my doctor is going on a 3 1/2 week vacation. Even though I got a MRI this morning, I won't get to see him until 8/25 9am, at the very earliest to review it. I am glad that he straightened out worker’s comp before launching. (I've not heard hide nor hair from them since I talked to the doctor.)

Overall the MRI went very well, and I got to talk to the guy who took the best care of me in the Delray hospital when I first was hurt. The only downsides were that due to a loose cable, I had to be rescanned twice, and it got pretty uncomfortable in my sarcophagus, and the "scanning dye" injection went in without feeling a thing... but when I removed the band-aid, it took a good bit of hair with it, as well as a surface layer of skin. My blood pressure was decent at, 116/76.

The Likely Story posits that George W. Bush may have epilepsy, and that the disease or its medication may be responsible for several otherwise hard-to-explain Bush moments, including "the Pretzel Incident." There's some anecdotal evidence to support it, and Bush has never released his full medical records. Most people thought that was perhaps to hide his younger drug abuse, but maybe not... I do feel that medical records are a public interest piece, and that if he does have something along those lines, it should be brought to the public's attention, if only to raise awareness of the disease.

secondhand bad breath causes spontaneous human combustion.

Sometimes it feels like...

Random Scotto factoid - When I think of 80's songs appropriate to Halloween (As I just was), I think of Rockwell's "Somebody's watching me"


I'm just an average guy with an average life
I work from nine to five, hey hell I pay the price
But I want is to be left alone in my average home
But why do I always feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone

*I always feel that somebody's watchin' me
And I have no privacy
I always feel that somebody's watchin' me
Is it just a dream?

When I come home at night
I bolt the door real tight
People call me on the phone
I'm trying to avoid
Well, can the people on TV see me or am
I just paranoid

Chorus

When I'm in the shower, I'm afraid to wash my hair
I might open my eyes and find someone standing there
People say I'm crazy, just a little touched
But maybe showers remind me of Psycho too much
That's why...

I always feel like somebody's watching me
Who's playing tricks on me
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Tell me it can't be

I don't know anymore
Are the neighbors watching me
Well is the mailman watching me
And I don't feel safe anymore, oh what a mess
I wonder who's watching me now?
Who? The IRS?

I always feel like somebody's watching me
Who's playing tricks on me
I always feel like somebody's watching me
I can't enjoy my tea!

7/21/03
I slept long and hard last night. I think I got 10 hours.. the best night's sleep in an age.. and after a 2 hour nap yesterday. I can only hope it's an element of solid healing.I've had the devil NingPo MahJong introduced to me this weekend.. probably one of the best versions I've seen. (I probably have 8 versions between my palmtop, and public domain game disks.) I could just leave the music playing in the background all day.

UNDEAD: The Movie.... very promising (not much at the imdb entry yet.) (warning, images are typical zombie monster beasites.. may not be suitable for squeamish or work places) The Trailer in Quicktime...think Night of The Living Dead meets Peter Jackson's Braindead (aka Dead/Alive)

I haven't done a word of the day in a while, but this one showed up and I had to include it.

beestings (BEE-stingz) noun, also beastings, biestings

First milk produced by a mammal, especially a cow, after giving birth.
Also known as colostrum or foremilk.

[From Middle English bestynge, from Old English bysting.]

"Two thriving calves she suckles twice a day,
And twice besides her beestings never fail
To store the dairy with a brimming pail."
Publius Vergilius Maro (translated by John Dryden); The Works of Virgil.

Careful of google image search. The dangers of searching for something as simple as "peasant blouse" can result in a naked woman nibbling a banana as the first result if you have safesearch turned off. (and you have to, if you want to find most of the useful art)

A peek at doc ock from spidey 2, electric boogaloo, via the Gray Pumpkin. I don't mind this look over chubby guy in the green jumpsuit / moe haircut. he's got the dark glasses and a look of general menace, so it's cool by me. Hopefully he'll still smoke cigars. I wonder if he'll have his "spidey signal" next movie? I also wonder if they'll explore the romance between him and Aunt May (since he seems much younger now.) I hear he's dead in the current comics. Also a nifty Batman Movie.. looks more comic booky, less "latexy". (text is fan-written so there may be some potty-language there.)

1 year ago - Vistiing Danny, played pokemon, orcs n the hood, reign of fire with Dave, beef recall

2 years ago - eremite, watched the sun come up, poll creation, why I trim, cooking poll

3 years ago - got the first LJ client, movie pondering

7/20/03
Saw my brother yesterday, briefly. It seems that he will be getting his long-awaited settlement some time next week if all goes well. He says that he'll give me a healthy chunk of it, to go towards the money he owes me, and put the rest toward getting a regular monthly apartment and activate his cell-phone in order to get on track (rather than his current hostel/ floor space/ day labor situation. I want him to get some council on how to handle money, and I may help him to open an account, if only to keep him form pissing it away as soon as he gets it. We'll see where it goes.

I've been drinking a *lot* of water / iced tea these days. I keep a few liters nearby at almost all times. Freeze half a bottle the night before, and fill the rest to keep it cool all day long.

A 3,500-4,000-year old mummified monkey is seen on display in the Egyptian Museum's new section for ancient mummified pets July 6, 2003. Ancient Egyptians loved their pets so much they even wanted to take them into the after life. REUTERS/Aladin Abdel Naby

I'm enjoying playing with these weird Asian monkey mazes

Teen Titans last night wasn't bad, but I was braced for the anime nods and it skewing to a younger crowd. I'm not sure why it's on at 9pm... Perhaps 7 or so is a better slot. I think that they got the vibe right for the core characters, and the music was very appropriate. The Hive kids were good basic villains, too.

Happy 34th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and moon landing!

On researching with Google, I get so many crank sites that feel the landing was a hoax. NASA has a site to refute those claims. Badastronomy.com has a nice list, too.

Noises from the world's largest archive of animal sounds are being made available for use as ring tones for cell phone users, the British Library said yesterday.

Cell phone ring tones will soon go ape

London: Noises from the world's largest archive of animal sounds are being made available for use as ring tones for cell phone users, the British Library said here yesterday.

Among the sounds available are the thuds of the male gorilla beating its chest to impress females and scare off competitors, the grunting of various species of pig and raucous bird calls from the Amazon jungle.

The library claims to have the world's largest animal sound archive and is now making its 100 000 recordings available to two companies that will in turn put some of them on the internet by the end of the week.

Users can allocate different calls to different callers - perhaps the gentle cooing of a dove for calls from a girl- or boyfriend, the grunting of a pig from the bank manager and an outraged squawk from the wife or husband.

The global market in downloading ring tones is put at $4 billion a year.

Richard Ranft, the curator of the wildlife section at the British Library Sound Archive, is pushing British birdsong.

"Many bird sounds are proven to be relaxing - we provide a lot of doctors' surgeries with bird calls for their waiting rooms for exactly that reason," he said.

"They can also be very evocative: the fiery-necked nightjar song is tremendously beautiful and serene."

Not to be outdone, the Royal Opera House is making some of its recorded music available for the same purpose, and the National Gallery is making its paintings available for picture messaging. - Sapa-dpa

1 year ago - bike name poll, palm doodles, planning to visit Danny with his busted leg

2 years ago - rough night, slake, ambisinister, voice activated tech, how far would you go poll

3 years ago - counting days, finished first Harry Potter, books I repeat read, abortive attempt to track intake

His knowing brown eyes held her gaze for a seeming eternity, his powerful arms clasped her slim body in an irresistible embrace, and from his broad, hairy chest a primal smell of "male" tantalized her nostrils; "Looks like another long night in the ape house" thought veterinarian Abigail Brown as she gingerly reached for the constipated gorilla's suppository.

Ok, Snopes has revised the "Undecided" on Hunting for Bambi to a False. I'm very happy that it turned out to be a hoax, but I would like to see some accountability held to folks both failing to properly check facts and reporting outright lies to the news.

Wow... I must've needed a nap desperately, earlier. I nodded my head for a moment, and woke up like 2 hours later. It was like I had a total system shutdown. Newt woke me up with a couple of swabs and a desire to chase paper wads. There's something to be said to being awakened by a little furball that wants to just play.

Skimming around assorted communities and discovered consumer reports review on condoms.

This spectacular “blue marble” image is the most detailed true-color image of the entire Earth to date. Using a collection of satellite-based observations, scientists and visualizers stitched together months of observations of the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds into a seamless, true-color mosaic of every square kilometer (.386 square mile) of our planet. These images are freely available to educators, scientists, museums, and the public.

The hungry tiger gave me a recipe for sort of a mock uttapam (Indian style pancakes).. Designed primarily as a method to get curry from your plate into your mouth. Claims are that they are "chewy, flavorful, plentiful, and excellent for transporting curry from plate to mouth. They would make a nice snack on their own, too, and I think they would even do well made ahead of time and reheated, so don't be afraid of leftovers."

The proportions below make about 10 pancakes if you make the batter on the thin side and the pancakes about the size of a saucer.

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon yeast
1 1/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon salt
Pinch sugar
A teaspoon powdered buttermilk (optional)
1 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
Generous pinch ground fenugreek

Mix the yeast, warm water and sugar in a large mixing bowl and let rest for five minutes. Stir in the flour, salt, and buttermilk powder (if you have some around -- or you could substitute buttermilk for some of the water) until just mixed. Let rest 1 1/2 hours.

Heat the mustard seeds and fenugreek in the oil until the seeds begin to pop. I find it convenient to use a metal ladle for this purpose. The oil and spices go in the bowl of the ladle, and then I swirl them gently as they heat, holding them about two inches above the surface of my gas burner. Dump the hot oil and seeds into the batter, and stir in, being sure to stir up from the bottom of the bowl.

Let the batter sit another 15 minutes. Turn the oven to some low temperature, just enough to keep things warm, and put a plate inside. Heat a nonstick or well-seasoned cast iron griddle over medium-high heat, and then make the pancakes: Drop about 1/4 cup of batter onto the griddle (which you can brush with oil first, if you like, and if you want crisper pancakes) and use the bottom of your ladle to spread it out thin, in a quick spiraling motion. You can thin the batter with more water if you want the pancakes to be more cakelike. When the entire top of the pancake has lost its wet sheen, turn it over. Cook, turning a couple of times, until both sides are speckled reddish brown. Transfer to the plate in the oven, and repeat until the batter is all gone.