The 2004 list of words that should be banished for “misuse, overuse and general uselessness,” according to Lake Superior State University:

Metrosexual: An urban male who pays a great deal of attention to appearance.
X: As in “X-Files,” Xtreme, Windows XP (news – web sites) and X-Box.
Punked: To dupe, popularized by the MTV show “Punk’d.”
Place Stamp Here: Printed on return envelopes.
Companion animals: Also known as pets.
Bling or Bling-Bling: Flashy jewelry.
LOL: E-mail speak for “laugh out loud.”
Embedded Journalist.
Smoking Gun.
Shock and Awe.
Captured Alive.
Shots Rang Out.
Ripped From the Headlines.
Sweat Like a Pig: The problem is pigs don’t sweat.
In Harm’s Way.
Hand-Crafted Latte.
Sanitary Landfill: Also known as a dump.

Check out this TI-99/4A emulator for Windows.. other OSes um, I guess go
install it on your friend’s Windows computer:

ftp://ftp.whtech.com/emulators/Win994a.ZIP

This emulator is especially cool because it comes with a whole bunch of old cartridge roms, the best of which is “Hunt The Wumpus”. Here’s how it works:

Open Win994a..
Go to “Carts > Insert Cartridge… > Hunt The Wumpus”
Press any key to begin.
Press 2 for English (3 for French and 4 for who knows what)
Pick the difficulty you want (probably easy to start out with)
Pick the option you want (only normal is any good)
Okay, the game begins!

Your goal is to find and kill the Wumpus, who is somewhere in the maze you just appeared in, but haven’t seen and doesn’t move. You only have one arrow, so make it count! When you’re next to the room with the Wumpus in it, press Q to mean you’re ready to shoot your arrow and then press in the direction you think he’s in. Your arrow will let fly.. if you hit him you win, if you don’t, YOU DIE! Who knows why? Perhaps I lie! You can also die by walking onto the Wumpus or falling into one of the two pits in each randomly-generated maze.

So, how do you find the Wumpus? You walk around with the arrow keys
looking for blood.. the Wumpus has left a trail of blood two “rooms” away from his location in every direction. There is also a little bit of warning for pits.. there’s green slime in rooms directly next to a pit. That’s it! Oh, except there are also bats in some rooms, and if you walk on them too many times, they’ll carry you to a random
location (which could be right in a pit or the Wumpus himself!) Also, there are curvy paths between rooms sometimes. These paths connect rooms as though they were right next to each other.. e.g. a room two away from the Wumpus but only connected via windy paths will still have blood in it. Also, if you shoot your arrow down a windy path it follows it magically until it comes to a room.

Sound confusing? Well, you must be stupid! It’s the easiest (and best) game ever! Just give it a shot and you’ll understand what I’m talking about way way better. If you like mine sweeper, you’ll love “Hunt the Wumpus”!

lots of these going around – almost like SARS
I figure, why not cough a little

1. What did you do in 2003 that you’d never done before?
Bought a steam clearner. Read the Dead Sea Scrolls (translated). Met up with LJ peeps I dodn’t already know IRL. Dressed up as an Indian god. Wandered around Glouceter MA. Went to a Crawfish Boil. Hung out with friends my own age in Maine.

2. Did you keep your New Years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn’t make any for 2003. 2004 holds 2, which I think I should be able to stick to.

3. Did anyone close to you have children?
Yep. Few people. Good for them.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yep. Couple people. Bad for them.

5. What countries did you visit?
Does Texas count?

6. What would you like to have in 2004 that you lacked in 2003?
More sanity and free time.

7. What date from 2003 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
My birthday, since pulled the GD wool over my eyes and surprised me.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I managed to maintain a lucrative yet time consuming side job while adding a nearly equal one to the works and STILL manage to keep my sanity.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Assuming certain things about people which left me in dire straits later.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No major illness, no major injury.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new GBA SP.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
, for not killing our ex-roomate. for doin the change of pace lawschool thing.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? appalled?
See comments re: previous roomate.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Moving, furniture, not wedding plans =/

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Starwars Galaxies (flop) and NWN (yay!). New books by King and Salvatore, as well as Umberto Eco. Sex and the City going away forever!

16. What song will always remind you of 2003?
Milkshake song. Definitely the milkshake song.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. Happier or sadder?
Happier

ii. Thinner or fatter?
Fatter

iii. Richer or poorer?
Both!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Write.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Waste time.

20. How did you spend your favorite holiday?
Watching Evil Dead. Going to couple days later.

21. What happened to 21?
Eh? That is a dumb question.

22. Did you fall in love in 2003?
Was already there =).

23. How many one-night stands?
Nada

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Carnivale – up to the finale – done with that now, and hoping that 6FU pulls up on the stick.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Not really.

26. What was the best book you read?
Nonfiction
Guns Germs and Steel and Mapping Human History: Discovering the Past Through Our Genes.
Fiction
Crossroads of Twilight or Baudolino.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Ken Nordine

28. What did you want and get?
An mp3 player (it is in the mail).

29. What did you want and not get?
A promotion.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Kill Bill

31. What did you do on your birthday?
I got surprised by my g/f and friends at a party at my ‘rents palce.

32. What’s one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Finding a non-ghetto apartment with a closer commute at a good price.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
fashion? feh.

34. What kept you sane?
, intense mental training

35. Celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
er, “fancy” is an odd verb – lets jsut say, i still think Tom Waits kicks ass.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
FOIA Vs Patriot/Homeland Security BS

37. Who did you miss?
Melissa.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
. Having a friend as a co-worker is definitely a good thing.

39. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2003?
Texas is closer than you think!

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Just another Dime Store novel.

obdormition
Pronunciation: /ob-door-MI-shun/
n : a numbness or tingling in part of the body; pins and needles “Sleeping on one’s arm sometimes results in an obdormition of the fingers.”


How much of the 80’s do you remember?


so last night was pretty goddamn cool. I have taken part in many odd, and some uncomfortable experiences as a result of mixing real life and the online world. Some of them (like ) have been the best of decisions. Others have led to more long term regret and loss than anything that could be labeled as “worthwhile”.

last night’s impromtu LJ meetup thinger was decidedly part of the cool camp. i met up with , (in from peach country, but talkin like a “fuckin newyorkah”), and outside at Le Figaro, where I have had a drink, but never a meal before. there was a moment of mouth-breathing glove shopping, followed by some banter while we waited for the rest of the party.

the MonkeyWife and met us shortly thereafter, followed by much eating, drinking, and hillarity.

it was very refreshing to meet a bunch of people with whom you have a tangetal (at best) connection at the beginning of an evening, and feel like you fit in with like old friends with by the end of an evening. i’m definitely on the outiside of many long-running gags than inside, but by the end of the night, i was getting as many as I was missing (which, IMO is pretty amazing).

so yeah, thanks for the invite and the laughs, to all involved.


in other news i am signifigantly bothered by two bits of information which slipped by me completely, yet seem to be hot topics of discussion today. pointed out the audacity of the activities described in this article, which, on principals alone (much less application) i am defintiely SERIOUSLY irked.

aside from that there was the recent bulletin posted by the fbi which throws suspicion on owners of a particular book who use it in public.

question for the audience, if al-qaeda was suspected of using the bible to transmit secret plans and messages of terrah (as opposed to all the others who just do it for laughs), do you think a similar blanket warning would have ensued from the holy house of ashcroft & co?

it was suggested to me by a reputable source that this act be labeled the “hoover act” or the “hoover bush act”. i think that is a good idea. henceforth i will refer to it as such.

So, I am about done with my reading list for the last quarter 2003 (which may run a wee spot into 2004, which is fine). However, I need to compile some further reading for the upcoming year. My personal list is already ~ 20 strong, but I average ~ 100 books a year, so I figure, why not lean a little on you folks?

Please reply to this post with one Fiction (F) and one nonfiction (NF) book you think I would enjoy – author names are apprecaited, amazon links are even better.

If I have read already, I will respond and let you know, otherwise, by EOW, I will repost the list in place of the call-for-books.

Thank you for your cooperation.

I will start with two from my list:

(F) Wolves of the Calla, Stephen King
(NF) Narrative Threads : Accounting and Recounting in Andean Khipu

One word and a number – doom 3


in other news, i had a productive and soemwhat eventful weekend. I missed a major rondevous for which I will have to make amends, but such is life in the big city (as they say). most of my angst has washed away, and has been replaced with the smooth custard of lethargy which i feel as if i am immersed in every day when i walk into my office.


I did not get a chance to meet up with or this weekend – i hope to do so before wombat flies back to the southern reaches.


is home as of today – i am sure she will enjoy her week off.


i need some sleep – i dreamt a 5 hour play in iambic pentamater last night – it was intellectually stunning (i never realized i had that capacity for linguistic patterning), but the plot was super distrubing, as was the cast. i could not escape either the meter no matter what I did – it was like my heartbeat in my ears everytime i went back to sleep. I would wake up for 20 minutes, then end up falling back asleep, only to pick up where the dream left off. that rarely happens to me.

i woke up tired – feels like i read all night (which i probably should have jsut done after i woke up the first time, instead of fighting it).


yeah, deadline looming – lots of people are writing about resolutions, so i will hop on the bandwagon:

i need to write more and play fewer games
i need to loose some weight
i need to save some mad loot

so i am home and alive

i didn’t have to move too much stuff, but it was a nasty experience.

rand took thier bigscreen tv, and “thier” laptop (it was dana’s from college apparently). he also took the stash of ~ 300$ in emergency money they kept around the apartment. he took most of his stuff, and what remained was thrown out the window bag by bag, then hauled half a block away to le dumpster.

apparently i got called because dana’s other friends are all friends of rands now, and she was uneasy about asking them to get involved. he is supposedly staying at the new girl’s place, as per note left in the bedroom. i advised against vendetta revenge hunting, but advised for filling out a police report re: tv, $, and laptop, in case this becomes a court thing. i don’t think it will though, dana is too flaky to follow through with soemthing like that. locks were changed, and i suggested dropping the landline and getting a new cellphone. i think dana’s lifestyle is gonna change somewhat without the double income, but i don’t think rand made all that much anyhow – he is a wage slave at one of the local grocery stores, though I am not sure which one.

I got a ride home from this kid justin, and his g/f sloane, who i remember vaugely across the haze of years, but who has changed nearly as much as i have from my active renfaire days. it was sort of a nauseating jab in the belly as the nostalgia was concerned.

talk about a downer evening – i am beat. at least i managed to get shit tossed out the window instead of walking up and down stairs all evening – ugh. i am glad i didn’t need to smush anyone’s melon, but it sure woulda been a good frustration outlet. it sucks when people are hurting and you can’t do anything about it.

in other news seems to be having a really bad night. i love her somethin fierce, and am missin her right now, especially in the midst of all this bad-breakup pea soup i was just tossed into the middle of. send good vibes her way if ya have the time, i am sure she would ‘precaite it. she is up visiting her dad right now, and i get the feeling it is kinda tearing her up a lil.

i’m gonna go eat me some lasagna, and give my feet a rest.

welp, i am waiting for a cab to take me to a train so i can take a bus and be a rent-an-enforcer once again.

angst.

my old friend dana (who i have not seen in about 2 years, though we email and chat occasionally) just called me in tears from the starbucks in mt.kisco. her live in of 2 years (who is not on the lease) was “surprised” earlier today when dana got back from visiting her folks for xmas ~ 4 hours earleir than he thought she would. dana walked on on Rand with another woman. I don’t know all the sordid details, but there was apparently a verbal and slightly physical altercation, which then led to her leaving the apartment and calling me. now i have to hike up there, meet her in mt kisco so we can get a ride from her friend BACk to the apartment.

if he is there, he has to go, and take his shit.

if he is not there, his shit needs to go, and locks are to be changed. supposedly the landlord knows about this, but doesn’t want to change the locks until all his stuff is gone “because he might come back looking for trouble”.

either way, this is gonna be a shot sat night – randy is such a dick. i kinda hope he IS there, part of me does, anyway.

plans=screwed.

why in fuck’s name do I always get called when someone has problems moving out?

fuckity fuck fuck fuck.

Dear Editor,
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Great Cthulhu. Papa says, “If you see it on Alt.Horror.Cthulhu, it’s so,” Please tell me the truth, is there a Great Cthulhu who will rise from the watery depth of the Pacific to clear the Earth of all living things?
-Virgina Marsh

~~~~~~~

Virgina, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the fever of enlightenment given to them by a so-called “enlightened” age. They do not believe in anything unless it carries the weight of scientific authority. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. Reality is that which can be cataloged and measured, to be spooned out in rational doses to the common people. All minds, Virgina, whether they be adult’s or children’s, are little. In this vast chaos we laughingly call the universe, man is a mere insect, a bug, whose intellect has as much chance of grasping the whole truth, as an ant has of understanding non-Euclidian geometry.

Yes, Virgina, there is a Great Cthulhu. He exists as certainly as the cold unfeelingness of the cosmos exits, and you know that this meaninglessness abounds and gives to your life its highest absurdity. Alas! how comfortable would be the world if there were no Cthulhu! It would be as comforting as if a Santa Claus truly did care and reward children for doing good. There would be childlike faith then, a world of sweet believable poetry and romance to make existence idyllic and appealing. The external light with which childhood fills the world would never end.

Not believe in the Great Cthulhu! You might as well not believe in Hastur or the Necronomicon. You might get your papa’s science books and Skeptical Inquirers to see if Cthulhu is mentioned in any historical contexts or if R’lyeh truly does rest under the Pacific Ocean, but even if you did not find either mentioned in your ‘holy’ books, what would that prove? Nobody sees or knows of Cthulhu, but that is no sign that there is no Great Cthulhu. The most real things in the world are those that we can not know through the senses. Can the headache of your friend be felt by you? No, but his pain affects your life regardless. Do you feel the angst of living a life you never wanted through any of your five senses? No, yet the despair remains. Yet if such realities are known but are never seen, then why should other’s ignorance of the unseen lead us to share in their blindness. By what right have they earned your obedience? Nobody can conceive of the inconceivable, including your leaders of thought.

You tear apart the rattle of a baby to see what lies inside to make such noise, but the tiny balls there can not explain or illustrate the fear of a hostile world, that makes that baby clutch and shake that rattle so. Only reaching for insanity can push aside the curtain of our hopes and view with stark madness the emptiness that lies beyond. Is that reality? Is that the truth? To give an answer is to replace the curtain with but one more. And it is this, that makes the Great Cthulhu as true and as real as any veil we place on the chaos beyond. If one must create a meaning, why not the Great Cthulhu. At least the choice is free.

Thank Azathoth! The Great Cthulhu lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virgina, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to await the time when the stars are right again. For with those which eternal lie, with strange eons even death may die.

(From Editorial Page, Arkham Advertiser, 1928)


The Big Lebowski (1998) 12/11/03 12/18/03
Bend It Like Beckham (2002) 12/01/03 12/15/03
Bowling for Columbine: Special Edition (2002) 11/18/03 12/11/03
The Dark Crystal (1982) 11/05/03 12/11/03
Labyrinth (1986) 11/18/03 12/01/03
A Mighty Wind (2003) 11/06/03 11/18/03
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989) 11/05/03 11/18/03
Legend (1986) 09/19/03 11/18/03
Short Circuit 2 (1988) 08/01/03 11/06/03
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) 08/11/03 11/05/03
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) 07/14/03 11/05/03
Stay Tuned (1992) 08/04/03 09/19/03
Batteries Not Included (1987) 07/15/03 08/11/03
I Spy (2002) 07/02/03 08/04/03
Waking Life (2001) 06/09/03 08/01/03
Fierce Creatures (1997) 07/02/03 07/14/03
Big Trouble in Little China (1986) 07/02/03 07/14/03
Adaptation (2002) 06/09/03 07/02/03
Barbershop: Special Edition (2002) 06/09/03 07/02/03
Murder by Death (1976) 06/09/03 07/02/03
Lilo and Stitch (2002) 06/03/03 06/09/03
Signs: Special Edition (2002) 06/04/03 06/09/03
About a Boy (2002) 06/03/03 06/09/03
Roger Dodger (2002) 06/03/03 06/09/03
Sex and Lucia (2002) 05/23/03 06/04/03
The Virgin Suicides (1999) 05/29/03 06/03/03
100 Girls (2000) 05/29/03 06/03/03
Two Weeks Notice (2002) 05/30/03 06/03/03
Spider-Man (2002) 05/23/03 05/30/03
A Fish Called Wanda (1988) 05/19/03 05/29/03
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Special Edition (2005/23/03 05/29/03
The Last Dragon (1985) 05/20/03 05/23/03
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) 05/20/03 05/23/03
Waiting for Guffman (1996) 05/19/03 05/23/03
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) 03/24/03 05/20/03
American Beauty (1999) 03/24/03 05/20/03
Caddyshack (1980) 03/31/03 05/19/03
Cannonball Run II (1984) 03/26/03 05/19/03
Shakespeare in Love (1998) 03/19/03 03/28/03
The Golden Child (1986) 03/14/03 03/26/03
Radioland Murders (1994) 03/17/03 03/24/03
Osmosis Jones (2001) 03/17/03 03/21/03
Clue (1985) 03/11/03 03/19/03
The Legend of Drunken Master (1994) 03/10/03 03/14/03
The Count of Monte Cristo (2002) 03/10/03 03/14/03
The Magnificent Seven (1960) 02/25/03 03/14/03
Prophecy 3: The Ascent (2000) 02/18/03 03/10/03
Seven Samurai: Criterion Collection (1954) 02/06/03 03/10/03
Spaceballs (1987) 02/24/03 03/10/03
Romeo + Juliet: Special Edition (1996) 01/17/03 02/24/03
Prophecy 2 (1998) 02/18/03 02/24/03
Prophecy (1995) 02/06/03 02/18/03
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984) 01/17/03 02/18/03
History of the World: Part 1 (1981) 01/17/03 02/06/03
Ran (1985) 01/27/03 02/06/03
Cube (1997) 12/26/02 01/27/03
Vanilla Sky (2001) 12/20/02 01/17/03
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) 12/26/02 01/17/03
Minority Report (2002) 01/13/03 01/17/03
4th Floor: Special Edition (1999) 12/12/02 01/13/03
The Mists of Avalon (2001) 12/13/02 12/26/02
Pi: Faith in Chaos (1998) 12/12/02 12/26/02
Magnolia (1999) 12/12/02 12/20/02
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1974) 10/29/02 12/12/02
The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) 10/29/02 12/12/02
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977) 10/29/02 12/12/02
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) 10/19/02 12/12/02
Four Rooms (1995) 10/18/02 10/28/02
Time Bandits (1981) 10/08/02 10/28/02
Gray’s Anatomy (1997) 10/02/02 10/28/02
Warlock (1991) 10/04/02 10/18/02
Being There (1979) 10/02/02 10/18/02
Metropolis (1926) 09/04/02 10/08/02
Ghost Story (1981) 08/30/02 10/04/02
Lord Of Illusions: Special Edition (1995) 08/30/02 10/02/02
Nadja (1994) 08/07/02 10/02/02
Legend of Lemnear (1989) 08/13/02 08/30/02
13 Ghosts (2001) (2001) 08/21/02 08/30/02
The Hobbit (1978) 08/07/02 08/21/02
Slayers: The Motion Picture (1995) 08/07/02 08/13/02
The Howling (1980) 07/23/02 08/07/02
Nosferatu: Original Version: Special Edition (1929) 07/17/02 08/07/02
The Terminator (1984) 07/30/02 08/07/02
Tomb Raider (2001) 07/16/02 08/07/02
Six-String Samurai (1998) 07/22/02 07/30/02
Cecil B. Demented (2000) 07/10/02 07/23/02
Mulholland Drive (2001) 07/10/02 07/22/02
Bandits (2001) 07/10/02 07/17/02
Rebirth of Mothra 1 & 2: Double Feature (1997) 05/24/02 07/16/02
Chaplin: The Movie (1992) 05/24/02 07/10/02
The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986) 05/30/02 07/10/02
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) 05/24/02 07/10/02
The Crow (1994) 05/10/02 05/30/02
Kindred: The Embraced: The Complete Vampire Collection #2 (205/09/02 05/24/02
Prince of Darkness (1987) 05/09/02 05/24/02
Kindred: The Embraced: The Complete Vampire Collection #1 (205/02/02 05/24/02
Bowfinger: Collector’s Edition (1999) 04/29/02 05/10/02
Wag The Dog: Platinum Edition (1997) 04/30/02 05/09/02
Gothic (1987) 04/30/02 05/09/02
Mystery Men (1999) 04/06/02 04/30/02
Galaxy Quest (1999) 04/06/02 04/29/02
Masters of the Universe (1987) 04/06/02 04/29/02
Planet of the Apes (1968) 04/13/02 04/29/02
The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988) 03/14/02 04/13/02
Druids (2001) 03/14/02 04/06/02
The Caveman’s Valentine (2001) 03/26/02 04/06/02
Quills (2000) 03/12/02 04/06/02
Godzilla 2000: Millennium (1999) 03/12/02 03/25/02
Gargoyles (VCI) (1972) 02/22/02 03/14/02
Snatch (2000) 02/22/02 03/14/02
Pitch Black: Special Edition (2000) 02/22/02 03/12/02
The NeverEnding Story (1984) 02/23/02 03/12/02
The Godfather (1972) 02/04/02 02/22/02
The Godfather, Part II: Disc 2 (1974) 02/04/02 02/22/02
The Godfather, Part II: Disc 1 (1974) 02/04/02 02/22/02
Jaws: Anniversary Collector’s Edition (1975) 01/19/02 02/04/02
The Cell (2000) 01/26/02 02/04/02
The Exorcist: Restored Version (1973) 01/19/02 02/04/02
Dune (1984) 01/18/02 01/26/02

posted a rather good comment here in , which she reposted to her own journal here for further discussion.


Initially, I assumed a debunking of Neo-Platonic ideas based on physiological evidence, however, reading further commentary suggests against that. Nonetheless, I made some minor defense on the part of Neo-Platonic ideals (as they relate to my image of human perceptions, and how _they_ relate to the “reality” around us) – which brought me to the commentary I am going to post below.

Clearly, my Neo-Platonic roots are visible, yet I find myself at a rather different crossroads than spohiaserpentia- as they are recently exposed, rather than buried. My initial exposure to Platonic ideals was met with rejection, based strongly on my understanding of neurophysiology, as well as my own personal experiences having to do with the malfunctioning of those systems as they relate to an individuals ability to form concepts. Furthermore, I still have very strong beliefs about the makeup of reality – as it relates to matter, energy, and the interplay between the two.

Recent delves into kabalistic literature (in preparation for a lengthy raking of the Dead Sea Scrolls) have left me re-evaluating my concepts of perception-reality, and how they relate to the (sadly) limited knowledge we have of what is going on underneath our hoods. I find it interesting that I was planning on rambling about this later this evening, but someone jumped the gun in their journal on it.

The contemplative ramifications of the Sepher Yetzirah, along with many of its commentaries have mentally shoved me away from (what I call) constant-dynamic reality, and more towards a symbolic-representative reality (which Neo-Platonics represent in their particular fashion).

For some definitions:

I see constant-dynamic as a world where chaos theory is predominant, and the physiology of reality is unassailable. Things are in constant flux, and the process of thesis-antithesis-synthesis grinds through all matter, conceptual or physical, as time passes. The only true constant is the flux, and the patterns of randomness it creates in it’s wake. All “ordered” activity within this pattern takes place in very limited bubbles of awareness (mostly constrained by time). Time, as it relates to constraining chaos, is “stuck” in forward motion, which allows for some “prediction” but never a revision of things which took place in the past (which, I realize, is an entirely separate debate).

Symbolic-representative reality is similar to the tenets of Neo-Platonism, with the exception (on my part) that the “ideas” do not have a divine origin. This version of reality encompasses far more universal constants than flux (as compared to my previous position above) – the entirety of reality is the physical manifestation ethereal legos (how is that for a rehash of ideal plastic?). I use “ethereal” here lightly (so as not to incite the Newtonians) – it is a blanket term which can be used to describe what is just outside the boundaries of physical interaction, yet plays an integral part in that interaction (see ZPE below). At any rate, these “ideas” (as the Neo-Platonist would label them) are the way in which the Mind (real substance) manifests reality – the base block forms of the legos form the “atomic ideas” of which all other “ideas” are made of. These elements are given from through the interaction of potential energy transferring to actualized energy, which creates zero point energy (this happens a great many ways).

Kabalistic literature is filled with what appear to be dualistic descriptions of a world of divinity and a world of creation. In particular, the literature suggests a possible dichotomy between two key conceptualizations, Ein Sof and the Sefirot.

A brief indoctrination, for the unindoctrinated:

Sefirot is the relationship of the manifested word of the Divine to the created world and to the hidden being of the Emanator (Prime Mover, in Platonic terms).

The Ein-Sof, “Infinite”, often referred to as god in itself, is the absolute Essence. It lies beyond any speculative or even ecstatic comprehension. The attitude of the Kabbalah towards this god may be defined as mystical agnosticism. I do believe that there is en element of absolute essence, but i do not believe it relates to a divine entity (or divine system), which figures in greatly once you get to the debate part below.

The debate is if the is Sefirot synonymous with this god or not, and, if not, wherein lies the difference? Some 16th century sages, including Joseph Caro said – “The Emanation is the Divinity,” while Ein-Sof cannot be subject to religious investigation, which can conceive of God only in His external aspect. The main part of the Zohar also tends largely toward this opinion, expressing it emphatically in the interchangeable identity of God with His Names or His Powers: “He is They, and They are He” (Zohar, 3:11b, 70a).

Regardless of the spiritual hair-splitting, what I think is important in this debate as it relates the topic at hand (what was that again? Oh yeah, reality..) is the division between a world of divinity and a world of creation. The constants of the “world of divinity” (what I call the ethereal) are what make up all of the elements of “the world of creation”, yet they do so without being a part of that world of creation.

How does this relate to the question spohiaserpentia brought up?

If you are still reading by now, I am sure you are curious.

Above I briefly mentioned potential energy and zero point energy. On a physics level, these are two distinct theories under a broader umbrella – they both deal with energy, but one is a well-accepted construct of physics, the other a contentious issue of quantum mathematical theory.

This is where my image of reality has shifted. There is still flux, and it is still a constant, of this world – the world of creation. It is a necessary byproduct of the interchange between the two worlds – and the release and absorption of matter to energy and back again.

In kabala, everything of the world of creation has a name, and the name of the thing is important, due to the combinations of letters (and the numbers those letters relate to), as well as how that name relates to the elements around it. The parts of the name make the whole, so to speak. Everything in the created reality is part of a huge mass of alphanumeric counterparts – all of which are either final products of an equation, part of another equation, or both.

Here is where the metaphysics comes in.

The building blocks of reality are broken into their simple elemental forms (like legos, above). In kabala, this system is symbolized by the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, their numeric value, and the order in which you examine the alphabet. I believe that this system is a method by which humans have attempted to catalogue the formulae in the world of creation – which they cannot experience firsthand, but can see the results of daily (duh). As it relates to neo-platonic ideas – these elemental blocks are, in fact, the simple and complex maths and variables which make up all those equations and results of reality. However, without the zero-point energy (ZPE), they would forever remain apart from a physical reality. Kabala is not a path to spiritual enlightenment – it is a rudimentary system for looking at quantum mechanics behind the goings on of “reality”.

Through the interaction of the physical world, the transfer of matter and potential energy allows ZPE to alter our reality across the veil of worlds. The activity of the mind which leads to creativity, inspiration, learning, wisdom, etc – these are all simply manifestations of combinations of elementary units within the realm of ZPE, that gain “form” in our minds through the electro-chemical interplay of neurons.

None of this is “new” stuff, as far as I know, but I haven’t really read much to suggest a strong reinforce able link between Kabalistic philosophy and Quantum mechanics, as a framework of our reality. In a search for a unifying catalogue of formulae, the Kabalists seek to find their “god” – the entity which drives the motion of the elemental aspects of ZPE. However, in my sketch of reality – there is no one entity which exists in a sentient manner. The amount of understanding required to comprehend the scope of the permutations of the variables involved is hair-whitening. If a collective were to, over time, come up with a standardized manner for doing so, the potential for change would be introduced on a new axle – where we were no longer changing through a passive process, but, rather, driving the process for change with a knowing predetermination.

In short, what I think the goal at the end of a search of several thousand years of scholars is not a god, but, rather, the way to become LIKE a god.

So, yeah, what is my point…

The point is, that the real workings of the universe are beyond simple physical examination and quantifiable form.

No, that isn’t it.

The point is that kabbalists have set themselves an impossible task?

No, that has been done better too.

The point is, revel in the now – that is where ZPE interacts – tomorrow may be something totally beyond expectation, and yesterday, sadly, is lost to the langoliers.

Yeah, that sounds good.


Bold means I have seen – note – I do not agree with the order here, but it is a good list nonetheless.

1. Godfather, The (1972)
2. Shawshank Redemption, The (1994)
3. Godfather: Part II, The (1974)
4. Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001)
5. Schindler’s List (1993)
6. Citizen Kane (1941)
7. Casablanca (1942)
8. Seven Samurai (1954)
9. Star Wars (1977)
10. Dr. Strangeloveor: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
11. Memento (2000)
12. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

13. Rear Window (1954)
14. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The (2002)
15. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
16. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
17. Usual Suspects, The (1995)

18. Amelie (2001)
19. Pulp Fiction (1994)
20. North by Northwest (1959)
21. Psycho (1960)
22. Silence of the Lambs, The (1991)
23. 12 Angry Men (1957)
24. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
25. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
26. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
27. Goodfellas (1990)
28. American Beauty (1999 )
29. Vertigo (1958)
30. Pianist, The (2002)
31. Sunset Blvd. (1950)
32. Apocalypse Now (1979)
33. Some Like It Hot (1959)
34. Matrix, The (1999)
35. To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
36. Taxi Driver (1976)
37. Third Man, The (1949)
38. Paths of Glory (1957)
39. Fight Club (1999)
40. Boot, Das (1981)
41. L.A. Confidential (1997)
42. Double Indemnity (1944)
43. Chinatown (1974)
44. Requiem for a Dream (2000)
45. Maltese Falcon, The (1941 )
46. Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
47. Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957)
48. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001) AKA – Spirited Away
49. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
50. All About Eve (1950)
51. M (1931)
52. Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
53. Raging Bull (1980)
54. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
55. Se7en (1995 )
56. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000 )
57. Wizard of Oz, The (1939)
58. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
59. Vita e bella, La (1997) AKA: Life is Beautiful
60. American History X (1998)
61. Sting, The (1973)
62. Touch of Evil (1958)
63. Manchurian Candidate, The (1962)
64. Alien (1979)
65. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

66. Rashemon (1950)
67. Leon (1994) This was released in the US as “The Professional”
68. Annie Hall (1977)
69. Great Escape, The (1963)
70. Clockwork Orange, A (1971)
71. Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The (1948)
72. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
73. Sixth Sense, The (1999)
74. Jaws (1975)
75. Amadeus (1984)
76. On the Waterfront (1954)
77. Ran (1985)
78. Braveheart (1995)
79. High Noon (1952)
80. Fargo (1996)
81. Blade Runner (1982)
82. Apartment, The (1960)
83. Aliens (1986)
84. Toy Story 2 (1999)
85. Strangers on a Train (1951)
86. Modern Times (1936)
87. Shining, The (1980)

88. Donnie Darko (2001) (waiting in my living room on netflix)
89. Duck Soup (1933)
90. Princess Bride, The (1987)
91. Lola rennt (Run Lola, Run) (1998)

92. City Lights (1931)
93. General, The (1927)
94. Metropolis (1927)
95. Searchers, The (1956)
96. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
97. Notorious (1946)
98. Manhattan (1979)
99. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
100. Graduate, The (1967)

That fucking scares the shit out of me.

if you could live anywhere in manhattan you wanted, with the only constraints being a budget of $10,000 (total living expenses, rent, food, juice, transporation) for three to four months, where would it be and why?

My LiveJournal 12 Days
My True Love gave to me…
12 bruteforcemethds a-sniffing.
11 bubbabobobbrains a-winking.
10 chellezs a-kicking.
9 evilshells a-wiggling.
8 fonems a-groaning.
7 fox_in_sockss a-sleeping.
6 gabsosteels a-smiling.
5 light orange grimbils.
4 falling idchilds.
3 Panamanian timaeusdaspirges.
2 rabbit twirlygurls.
And a wangch61 in a blueberry tree.
Get gifts! Username:
Another fun meme brought to you by rfreebern.

is in tha hiz-ouse – for those of you who care, this person is my coworker whom some of y’all came out to have drinks with – both in the city, and at a housewarming party.

online anonymity is such a wonderful thing…

This week is going to be a big’n.

Tonight I work after work, until who knows when. Tomorrow, I will have to work more, and hopefully do some gingerbread baking for my department holiday luncheon Wednesday. Stupid holidays. I can’t take Wednesday off because of said gathering, so I will watch LOTR Wed night instead of the midnite Tuesday show, complete with marathon.. Thursday, perhaps, I will be able to rest a little – as Friday is both my co-worker’s going away festivities, as well as ‘s holiday party!

In the midst of all this, I msut pay bills, send out my invoices for the month, and get done with my 9/5 app for testing next week.

If I am quiet, I assure, it is not due to a lack of things to say, but rather, because I lack the time to say them.

This is so cool – the first big commecrial application of a model SETI@Home has been useing for a long time now, and that GIMPS won a recent victory with. I kno there were some initiatives to put this model in place for low-cycle compensation years ago, but that was before the bubble burst, and, i’m sure, the funds that were going to fuel the initiative went the way of the dodo.

so lj got rid of invite codes
I understand them wanting to make an impressive free service available to all, but I have fears as to what kind of miscreants and spam this move might cause.
no, I am not one of the “doomsday prophetizers”, but I do think that, with it’s loss of exclusivity, that LJ is going to suffer.


01. When I was younger I made some bad decisions.
02. Mostly leftist… but moderate on some issues
03. I like to read
04. I like jazz music, as well as classic rock, and some 90’s alternative
05. If I had a super power, it would be ageless immortality.
06. Sometimes I wonder if anyone understands.
07. I hate when people complain about others not using lj-cuts
08. I know too many people who TypE LyKe D1s.
09. The only bonea I’ve broken are toe bones.
10. I have a brother and a sister.
11. I’ve been in an earthquake
12. I wish I was respected more at work
13. I have a love of computers.
14. I live with my girlfriend and her dog
15. I like my hair long.
16. I don’t like to sleep.
17. I sometimes overbook, then cancel everything.
18. I have a lot to learn.
19. I have no tattoos.
20. I have my own business
21. I have a 5 piercings
22. I hate when I have to yell at people.
23. I moved quite a lot in the last decade.
24. I like the way some tattoos and most piercings look on people.
25. I have never had a cavity.
26. I don’t have a Masters degree
27. I love hearing new kinds of (good) music.
28. I’m a pretty outgoing person
29. I don’t know what to do about the issue of having children someday
30. I also live with a dog
31. I think it would be neat to have an aquarium.
32. I love animals!
33. I procrastinate. Sometimes.
34. I wanna learn better Spanish
35. I want to write a book
36. I hate it when it is messy and i am looking for something specific.
37. I do not like pain.
38. I sometimes have problems staying asleep.
39. My favorite colors are red and black
40. I don’t care if people play with their journal layouts more, make them more personalized.
41. I really enjoy thoughtful gifts, even if they cost nothing.
42. I like fast food.
43. I wouldn’t call myself a philosopher, but I am capable of a thought provoking idea now and then.
44. I like going to the movies, sometimes.
45. Being easily amused is a good thing, I hate being depressed.
46. My favorite toys as a child were: Legos
47. I like shopping online
48. I’ve been “depressed” in my past, even to the point that suicide made sense.
49. I am addicted to LiveJournal.
50. I dislike messiness, and I like houses that look as noone’s living there.
51. I like silence at times.
52. I’ve been overseas.
53. Hate doing laundry.
54. I’m tired of worrying about shit.
55. I consider some photography art, but some of it is not art.
56. I don’t really like housework.
57. I would like to win the state lotto, and write for the rest of my life.
58. I do need to diet.
59. I like when my friend’s write me letters and emails, it makes me feel special.
60. I’ve been in love before.
61. I am not gay.
62. I hate the commercial breaks on commercial radio.
63. I overreact about things sometimes.
64. I don’t like to gain weight.
65. I sometimes remember my dreams.
66. I can’t tell if I am an artist.
67. I wanna sit on my ass, and be a lazy-fuck, but can’t afford it.
68. I generally avoid wearing socks, shoes if possible.
69. I rarely get ID’ed at bars anymore.
70. I am not a dog person
71. I am not thin
72. I’ve never had major surgery.
73. I only drink recreationally, and occasionally get drunk
74. I am a musical oddball
75. I rarely dance
76. I hold on to grudges, but they are really hard to make with me.
77. I like to read
78. I look my age
79. I laugh at people who are afraid of geese
80. I’m my absolute happiest when I’m with friends or family
81. I am not claustrophobic
82. Fake boobs suck
83. I like baseball
84. I try to discuss politics with people I don’t know very well
85. I dislike closed minded people.
86. I daydream sometimes.
87. I like clowns
88. There aren’t any places that I don’t ever want to go to.
89. I love what I do for work, I hate the politics of it though
90. I sometimes have the feeling that I’m not going to go anywhere in life.
91. I am rarely annoyed by other drivers while I am driving.
92. I prefer fiction
93. I like giving presents more than getting them.
94. I love Halloween
95. I’ve never romantically kissed a celebrity.
96. I always appreciate honesty.
97. I am fascinated by human behavior, what makes people tick.
98. I am confident.
99. I like to live life in the middle lane
100. I am an atheist.

so, aside from work, i have been doing little to nothing of note other than reading since thursday last. I did go to friend julie’s housewarming/holiday gettogether on sunday evening, along with and . that was a nice time.


I finished the Tanach. I also reread the Talmud.

I am currently working on a brief spate of Reformation history, specifically surrounding the creation of the King James bible. Centerpeice to this is the book, God’s Secretaries, something I picked up for a book club at the synagouge I do technology consulting for. The discussion of the book is going to be headed up by the younger of the two rabbis of the congregation, who is, obviously, going to discuss the signifigance of the KJ from a jewish perspective. This should be most illuminating, as he is a very learned fellow, but not seeped in the stoic agedness of many Rabbis of his position.

I am doing my homework for this little get together. Seth (the rabbi) is reading a goodly pile of cross-refrencematerial on the subject, and I want to be on an even footing, at least insofar as the particulars of what we are going to discuss is concerned. I am considering doing a research outline to keep my mental notes straight,despite the fact I am loathe to do so on something that will have very little long-term use to me.

My additional list to the centerpeice book is:

Why would an athiest spend so much time on religion? Theological literatre, and the impact it has had on history is central to much of my angst over where our race lost what I consider to be it’s roots. While I do not subscribe to a Campbellesque view of our various mythos, I do think that there is a common-root genetic issue which has a major part in SOME of the aspects of these faiths.

The problem is trying to compact several thousand years into one lifetime for reflection, without getting sucked into a particular time period.

TLC recently aired several short skits under the title Ancient Egyptians. I watched two last night, and while I was impressed with some of the detail, and blown away by the acting and costuming, it left me thirsty on the factual level. It was more of an Egyptology PR program than an informational one, which is fine, I guess, just not really for me.

Egypt has been heavy on my scope of late, what with my rereadings mentioned above, and a recent blitz on the subject by TLC/Discovery, Sunday’s airing of Stargate Director’s cut really brought back some memories though. I am reminded of my tendency to overindulge on certain subjects. The protagonist of that particular film is a hopeless Egyptologist, with whom, for the first 20 minutes or so, I make a scary (potential) ghost of the future connection.

I realzed at an early age, that while I have made commitments not to follow in the footsteps of my chemically addicted forefathers, I have, in essence, found new opitaes in the form of electronic entertainment (most specifically – games), and books. I collect books the way fratboys collect beer bottles. Most of what I own is dross, as I was a library whore when I was doing the bulk of my research.

I am getting off track.

What all this Egypt stuff reminded me of was the fact that, once upon a time, I had it in my head to be an Archeologist (Egyptologist), or a Palentologist (or both!). I backed away from it when I made the realizations about my obsessiveness. To devote myself wholesale to such a topic would be to eclipse any hope of experiencing the other aspects life has to offer. In a way, I wonder if that is not part of my scholastic apathy – a fear that if I were to truly stick to my guns, I would end up subsumed in irrelivance forever.

Now I look at the skeletal remains of nearly a decade of intellectual sojourining, what I have been able to raise from the depths of past hubris and indescretions of high emotion, and I am swep away by a sense of dread and hopelessness.

I had all my research, my outline, and my draft, and I threw it all away. Partially to prove a point to myself, and to someone else. Now I am listening to the echo of that stupid act, which is coming up on four years gone, and there is a terror at the pit of my stomach that I will never be able to recapture what I had.

Since this post has been mostly whining sofar, allow me to add that I do not bemoan the decisions I have made that has brought my life to this point. I live with a wonderful woman whom I love very much. I have a job that covers both the expenses I require as a part of my lifestyle, as well as paying for the costs of past mistakes. I have friends, old and new, some of which can tell me what I am thinking by the look on my face and the content of the preceeding comment, others of whom are nought but named entities online whose wits and words are constatnly intermingled with my own. Some are a little of both.

The point is, I want folks to get that I am not all suck here.

What really got me started on this little ramble was a brief moment of reflection (while on hold with product registration at Macromedia) on Angels in America. I only caught the last hour of part 1, I plan on watching the entire thing tonight (thanks to ondemand). I highly suggest it. Two of the most powerful films I have seen dealing with the post-Aids world are “And The Band Played On” and Citizen Cohn, both HBO productions. Angels seems to have the brilliance of both in the same package, furthermore, I never thought anyone would be able to surpass James Woods in his portrayl of Cohn, and Pachino does it.

Since I have not seen the whole thing yet, my opinions on this may change. For now though, I am calling it the best drama of the year. Bar none,

Anyway, the movie got me really thinking – about a lot of things. Combined with my worries about richelle’s recent bout with the flu, the future of my seemingly wasted work, and my usual perky maudalin outlook, I got pretty seriously dark and thoughtful. Been a good long time since I was really there.

I spoke with my mother last night, who informed me that my sister is now seriously caught up in some heavy psychosis over and i getting married.

So many things in my life have been altered by the course of her life, and the decisions my parents have made concerning her treatment and well being. When I was 18, I signed the paperwork that would make me a seamless legal guardian if anything were ever to happen to both my parents at the same time. This is important, as so much of her living is subsidised by state and federal programs, and my parents have invested gallons of blood, sweat, and emotional torment to keep her out of a state or federal mental health fascility.

My ultimate responsibility for my sister is a constant weight around my neck – not something I realize is there all the time, since that particualr area is well calloused, but now and again, things shift, and the weight makes it’s presence known again. Given the prodigious longevity of women on my mother’s side of the family (who my sister most takes after), the mass of the future obligations is, at times, a maddening eclipse. It is a horrible thing.

Last night was like that.

Without getting too much into the sordid affairs of my family history, the long and short version of where things stand in my family, as far as my sister is concerned work something like this:

My mother has always put forth “the solution”.

My father, never really having the time or wherewithall to do the copius research that my mother has, defers to her view.

My younger brother directly avoids all interaction, unless it has a direct effect on him.

Since I have been asked to have a say in it, I have not been offered a say. I get memo-type updates saying “this is what we have done…fyi”. When I asked, at 18, for a copy of my sister’s medical history, so I could be on top of things IF something were ever to happen to my folks, I was told, literally “Over my dead body” by my mother. Her belief is that I can figure things out when they are gone. I am of the mind that I will have enough to deal with without having to catch up on however many years of medical history and scientific research cross-refrences.

Since I was 15, the falling out between my mother and I has left a gulf that has never been filled. She fears that distance as much as I regret it. The difference, however, is thatI have made a peace with it – I truly believe it still haunts her. I think that this fear contributes to her desire to keep me in the dark on my sister’s history – the fear that I will challenge decisions past, or decisions yet to come keeps the illogic of the situation like a fresh toadstool – flowering and mouldering at the same time.

I can’t say I apprecaited her insistance that I take a firsthand part in the treatment of my sister’s current condition, without giving me any of the backstory. After many years of giving things up “for the good of the family” I feel it is important that I take a stand of sorts – despite the tidal waves of stress this is going to create, amplified by the upcoming holidays. The worst part is, since richelle has come up here, she has never seen the depths of depravity my family can sink to with regards to thier ability to hurt. I am almost wont to aquiesce to keep her out of potential avenues of fire.

I still ahve not made up my mind as to what I am going to do. I will have to decide by the end of the week though.

So, when people ask how I am, my answer is “tired”. I feel like I spin 20 hours a day – even my dreams these days are all hollow echoes of my daily stresses, worries, and obsessions. I truly wonder if the paths I have chosen are the right ones, and, while I cannot change the past, wether I should take the risks to make the potential changes. Will enough of what I have survive the metamorphasis to make it a worthwhile venture? Or will ten years down the road show a divergence point which could have led to brighter skies, but instead led to somewhere the heavens are not even visible anymore.

Yeah, so, I guess I need to go do some work or something. I am not getting paid to think, only do.

Barring a massive influx of additional information the polls are in – and they tell me this:
Breakfast Day 1
An equal amount of people want pancakes as they do quick cerals and bars and bagels. As such, I will offer a smorgasbord of options. There will be pancakes offerred for those who wish to take it slowly and enjoy breakfast – there will be breakfast bars, a multipack of cold cereal, a dozen bagels w/ butter and cream cheese, and instant oatmeal/cream of wheat for those who want to scarf and slope. Pancake innards will double as cereal toppings, for those who are so inclined.

Dinner Day 1
Wide spread here, but I will be making stuffed entres with an assortment of sides. Appetizers will be as follows:
an assortment of crackers (ritz, triscut, and water cracker)
cheeses (sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, a colby/jack, and a swiss or jarlsberg)
apples (red and green)
and grapes (also red and green – seedless)

Main Course:
Tricolor salad (with mandarin oranges, and three varieties of dressing – balsamic vinigrette, ranch, and french)

Green Beans Almandine (green beans and almonds with bacon bits – fake bacon bits for veggies)

Cookie’s Special Stuffed Pork Chops (a mix of sweet and spicy itallian sausage and vegetables in a butterfly-cut porkchop, breaded and baked, topped with melted mozzerella cheese)

OR (for those of the less carnivorous persuasion)

Cookie’s Special Stuffed Peppers (Large whole peppers, stuffed with a wild rice mix and portabello mushrooms, onions, and with a hearty tomato-basil ragout, topped with melted mozzerella cheese)

Rosemary Red Potatoes (red potatoes, garlic and rosemary in a light bath of olive oil, slow roasted crisp)

Breakfast Day 2
There was an overwhelming call for traditional breakfast stuffs.

As a result – there will be copious piles of scrambled eggs, bacon, and jimmy dean sausage. There will also be a special addition of “magic hangover crescent rolls” – a recipie handed to me frommy friend Steve, who got it off the cousin of the girlfriend of the great-great-great-grandson of one of the three magi. It works about as well as most organized religions as far as intended purpose goes,with the caveat that even if they don’t work right, they taste damn good.

Veggie folks will be treated to Morningstar Farms patties, and a couple magic hangover rolls made with the same.

As stated in the email, there will be coffee, tea, sugar, honey, cream, milk, and orange juice provided. I will probably also pick up a case of ghetto fab soda, for those who with to drink nonalchoholic for dinner. Anyone who wants to bring wine should have a good idea of what they are going to be eating to plan a type (I may bring a bottle meself).


So i just got out of a meeting. This is not abnormal, I have lots of meetings.

However, I was meeting with 4/7ths of the core of PhD’s and STATISTICIANS who needed to be told, by me, that thier data collection method was not only flawed, but, in it’s current form, made it impossible to work with in any other way than with the scantron form they have been using for the last 4 years.

To boot, as part of this meeting, it came up that the forms I used to MAKE the bloody online application are flawed. Hows about that for a fucking deadline pincher – this thing has to be done by the end of ’03!

I’m so glad I don’t keep a gun at work.


Random Trivia
In the world’s oceans, there are: 58 species of sea grasses. Less than 1,000 species of cephalopods – squids, octopi, & pearly nautiluses. 1,000 species of sea anemones. 1,500 species of brown algae. 7,000 species of echinoderms – starfishes, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and sea lilies. 13,000 species of fishes. 50,000 species of molluscs.


The guillotine was originally called a louisette. Named for Antoine Louis, the French surgeon who invented it. It became known as the guillotine for Joseph Ignace Guillotin, the French physician.


Writer L. Frank Baum chose “Oz” as the name of the fantasyland in his The Wizard of Oz stories while making up the stories for his children and their friends. He spotted a file cabinet marked O-Z, and impusively named the magical land was “Oz.”


Desi Arnaz’s father was mayor of Santiago, Cuba, and his mother the daughter of one of the founders of Bacardi Rum. His family went into exile after the coup that brought Fulgencio Batista to power in 1934. The family made its new home in Miami, Florida. Desi’s best friend in high school — Al Capone, Jr.


What drives us? Today is the kind of day that I feel like an inspiration abortion clinic. Ideas only change things when whispered in the right ears, or when they might make someone a buck.

Thanksgiving was decent. I was Thankful that I did not have to spend it with the fringe stresses of a family gathering, but, rather, enjoyed wine, companionship, and trivia.

Other than the brief away time, the long weekend was relaxing but uneventful for the most part. Last night was the season final of Carnivale, which convinced me I must once again resume my television hermitage. Fucking mass media.

If I can make it through December, then I can make it through anything. It is shaping up to be busier than the last three months combined, compounded by seasonal religious traditions.

When rats run through the maze, do you think all they think about is the cheese?

Last night’s adventure was to pick up my new portable dishwasher a la eBay.

The initial plan was for my bro to meet me after work, and we would sojourn to Brooklyn together. Instead he went to hang out with his friend Tiago IN Brooklyn, somewhere near the Carrol Ave stop on the F train. I got stuck at Rockafeller center for almost a half hour, only to finally emerge in Brooklyn to a brother whose cellphone battery was dead.

So I called Tiago, and he was gone already – no way to get ahold of him, hanging in a random train station in Brooklyn. He finally showed up around 20 minutes later. Then we got on the road to find the place where the dishwasher lay. Unfortuantely for me, the directions I had were limited to access from the Brooklyn bridge, which we were already well across. We got on 278 going the wrong way, for about 15 minutes, before the woman selling the dishwasher called me back. She informed us of the msitake, and we 180’d.

Around 8:30 we got to the dishwasher. It worked fine, except for the lack of a sink adapter (which, after a lot of seraching, I finally managed to track down from Whirlpool). In short, I payed around 200$, and enjoyed a lot of running around for a dishwasher that is not going to work for 7-10 business days =/. Still beats 500$ for a new one, I guess.

Overall, a sucessful venture. I am indebted to my brother for his aid in the endeavor.


In other news, chellez’ momutt escaped bedroom confinement yesterday (he has been on a destructive romp of late) and attacked the trash, which contained a turkey carcass from the previous night’s potluck escapades. As a result, he had some really rank gas all evening, an experience I would mch rather never experience again.

CT tomorrow, for a friend-filled fun Thanksgiving. Friday is post-tday bash at che Robinson north, and this weekend I need to tutor Richelle in Coldfusion and database stuffs.

Here is my update for a great many days:

Friday evening was very pleasant. Lots of cleaning, and some minor organizing, followed by lots of cooking. I made my red wine garlic duck, and bruteforcemethd came over to enjoy that, and some good conversation, and a bottle of decent red. I was pleased with the goose, though it was not quite the same without the mushroom stuffing. I guess that is just as well, because chellez didn’t really like the duck too much anyhow. However, the stuffing I did make, along with my creamy walnut rice, and the tricolor salad went over very well.

Saturday was a mostly lazy day. I am about 3/5ths of the way through Gladius, which is a pretty kickass game (it took a while to grow on me). Hooray for procrastination. I managed to get some work done, as well as a little writing as well. Hopefully Julie looked over some of my poetry while she was in Taipei, I dunno if she did or not, I keep forgetting to ask her.

Saturday I also decided that this was going to be a thin xmas. I usually go all out, but not this year. I hate xmas, but I enjoy making people happy, especially gift-giving, so I tend to try to outdo myself year-to-year. Money will just not be there – I have been considering doing writing gifts – poems and the like, but I don’t know if the time/energy will be there for that.

Saturday night brought a delightful repast at Trio with my old friend Dar, and Chellez. Dar is going to Brooklyn Law, and needed to borrow a laptop so she didn’t have to handwrite her exams. The food was rather good at Trio, though priced to match. Both Dar and Chellez had prosciutto-wrapped filet mignon with mustard gratin, wild mushrooms, sautéed spinach & roasted farmer’s potatoes. I had gorgonzola-stuffed breast of chicken seasoned with fresh herbs over sweet peas & broccoli rabe. The wine by the glass was adequate, the grappa was fantastic (along with the custard and fruit, and the best damn biscotti I have had in ages). The highlight of the evening, IMO was the olives. Definitely tops.

Sunday started slowly. Chellez had a headache, I made some pancakes, not a whole lot going on. I got a dishwasher over eBay (something we have been wanting since we moved), and then tried to get my bro to help me go pick it up. Instead we are doing it today, I hope. Sunday afternoon Chellez went out to get snowboarding gear, while I geeked around with the bro. Carnivale Sunday night – one episode left, I hope it is not a signature cliffhanger.

Yesterday was eventful – shot out of work a little early to get some serious shopping done for the NHPA bi-monthly potluck. I elected to make turkey pot pies for ~ 20 people (mini pot pies that is). Unfortunately, A&P had a rather anemic selection of turkey breasts, so I ended up buying/cooking an entire turkey. According to feedback today, things went very nicely as far as the pot pies were concerned, which is good, because I was horribly concerned over the reheatability of them.

Today has been a pretty awful day at work – exceptionally dismal, and wrought with many pressures. I am very glad this is a short week.

Today I go to get the dishwasher. I hope that it fits in my brother’s car. If not, I am going to be a very unhappy person. “Stabby”, to steal a phrase coined by sempereadem.

Ski trip plans are building – I’m psyched to be able to ply my culinary talents, but I am worried about having to prepare ion a kitchen which I have never seen. Such are the woes of vacation cooking I guess.


1639 – The transit of Venus (its passage across the Sun’s disc) was first observed by astronomer Jeremiah Horrocks.

1642 – Abel Tasman discovered Van Diemen’s land, named after his captain and later renamed Tasmania.

1859 – Charles Darwin’s controversial “Origin of Species” was published. His revolutionary theory of evolution had its critics, notably the church, which feared the book undermined religious belief.

1871 – The National Rifle Association was incorporated.

1874 – Joseph Farwell Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois patented barbed wire.

1903 – D.J. Coleman of New York City patented the automatic self-starter.

1922 – Robert Erskine Childers, Irish author and nationalist, was executed for his support of the republican cause.

1937 – NBC Radio broadcast music from the Raymor Ballroom in Boston, Massachusetts across the United States. Special guests during this broadcast were Glenn Miller and his Orchestra.

1937 – The Andrews Sisters, recorded Decca record number 1562, one of their biggest hits: “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen”.

1938 – It was decided that for a national tournament played in Wichita, Kansas in 1939, the National Semipro Baseball Congress would use a yellow baseball.

1939 – Imperial Airways and British Airways merged to form the British Overseas Airways Corporation.

1944 – Strasbourg was re-captured by a French armoured division under Leclerc with help from the United States Seventh Army.

1947 – The Cleveland Indians renewed Lou Boudreau’s contract as manager for an additional two years.

1947 – The first United States Postmaster General to be promoted from the within the postal service was named. J.M. Donaldson who became a letter carrier in 1908, got a promotion.

1950 – Frank Loesser’s musical comedy, “Guys and Dolls”, opened at the 46th Street Theatre in New York City. The show ran for 1,200 performances.

1952 – Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” opened in London.

1958 – Jackie Wilson’s “Lonely Teardrops” was released, as was a Richie Valens’ album featuring “Donna” on one side and “La Bamba” on the other.

1958 – Harold Jenkins, who became Conway Twitty, got his first #1 hit with “It’s Only Make Believe”, which was the United States’ most popular song for one week.

1961 – The Lion Sleeps Tonight became the first African song to hit the Number 1 spot on the American pop chart. The American version, recorded by the Tokens, was a translation of a South African folk song known variously as “Mbube” or “Wimoweh”.

1963 – Lee Harvey Oswald, assassin of President Kennedy, was shot dead by Jack Ruby at Dallas Police headquarters.

1964 – For the first time since 1800, residents of the District of Columbia were permitted to vote in a presidential election.

1965 – Sheikh Sabah al-Salem al-Sabah became ruler of Kuwait following the death of his brother.

1967 – Gary Collins, actor and television host, married former Miss America 1959, Mary Ann Mobley.

1969 – United States Army Lieutenant William L. Calley, charged with the massacre of over 100 civilians in the Vietnamese village of My Lai in March 1968, was ordered to stand trial by court martial.

1969 – Apollo 12 returned to Earth after its moon landing.

1970 – The United States’s outstanding collegiate football player of the year was awarded the Heisman Memorial Trophy. The winner was Jim Plunkett, quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal, who later went on to a sterling career in the NFL.

1972 – A Friday night show to compete with NBC’s “Midnight Special” premiered, “In Concert” featuring Chuck Berry, Alice Cooper, Blood Sweat and Tears, Seals and Crofts and Poco. Robert W. Morgan of KHJ, Los Angeles, California was the offstage announcer for ABC-TV’s show staged before a live audience. “In Concert” was created by the man who thought up fictitious group, The Archies, and brought fame to The Monkees, rock promoter, Don Kirshner.

1973 – After more than two years of retirement, Frank Sinatra returned with a NBC television special titled, “Ol’ Blue Eyes is Back”. Despite finishing third in the ratings, in a three-show race, one critic called the program, “the best popular music special of the year.”

1976 – An earthquake struck Turkey’s Van Province, killing nearly 5,300 and injuring more than 5,000 others.

1976 – At an appearance at Winterland in San Francisco, California, the group, The Band, aannounced this was to be their last public performance.

1986 – Buffalo Sabres center Gilbert Perreault announced he was hanging up his skates after 17 seasons.

1986 – The American Eagle silver dollar, like its gold counterpart, sold out on its first day of issue. Coin dealers ordered an additional 250,000 coins.

1989 – Elias Hrawi was elected president of Lebanon following the assassination two days earlier of the newly elected Rene Muawad.

1989 – The entire presidium and secretariat of the Czechoslovak Communist Party, including leader Milos Jakes, resigned following mass demonstrations in Prague. Karol Urbanek succeeded as General Secretary.

1991 – Flamboyant British rock star, Freddie Mercury, died in his sleep in England at age 45, just one day after he publicly announced he was suffering from AIDS. The charismatic lead singer of the group Queen, Mercury’s death was the result of bronchopneumonia brought on by the AIDS virus. His sudden death stunned the rock world.

1993 – In England, two 11-year-old boys were sentenced to be detained indefinitely after they were found guilty of the murder of two-year-old James Bulger.

1994 – The film comedy “Junior,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito, and Emma Thompson, opened in United States theaters. Schwarzenegger and Thompson were later both nominated for Golden Globe acting awards.

1995 – Director, writer, and cinematographer Louis Malle died in Beverly Hills, California, at age 63, from cancer. One of the French Nouvelle Vague (“New Wave”) directors of the 1950s and 1960s, he made Pretty Baby in 1978, which introduced newcomer Brooke Shields. Jacques-Yves Cousteau hired him as a camera operator on the “Calypso”. Cousteau soon promoted him to be co-director of Le Monde du silence (1956) aka “The Silent World”. For that film, they collaboratively won the Golden Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Years later, Cousteau called Malle the best underwater cameraman he ever had. Malle had been honored for his films many times, including receiving a British Academy Award and César award for Au revoir les enfants, and a British Academy Award and Golden Globe nomination for directing Atlantic City. Malle was married to actress Candice Bergen.

1995 – Ireland voted in a referendum on whether to end a 70-year-old ban on divorce. It passed 50.28 percent to 49.72 percent.

1996 – Following its United States opening weekend, Star Trek: First Contact brought in $30.7 million at the box office.

1998 – The Spice Girls’ “Live at Wembley” video was released by Virgin Music Video, and the following year was certified platinum.

This fucking song is going to be stuck in my head all day.

Over the years, I have worked up a method for removing songs stuck in your head. It involves memorizing the first four minutes of the 70’s classic by Iron Butterfly. Then all you have to do is get THAT song out of your head, which is easy to do, once you have mastered the trick to it.

Now, unfortunatley, his method is not foolproof – and Ipanema is one of the few that slips through my mental cracks. The reason? It boomerangs! This song can safely be out of your head for hours, hell, i’ve even gond days, then BOOM – it is back.

Last time I experienced this was from spme dumfuck movie a few years ago where this was the song playing in the elevator right before/during a gunfight. It took me WEEKS to get it out o me skull!

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