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Wednesday, August 31
Engulfed coast
The devastation, it's all sort of... Unfathomable. I don't have much to say about it, I've tried to stay away from the news reports, throw back a cold one and hope that the people down there are hanging in there.
And it's having such rippling effect that we're just beginning to see.
As you may have noticed today, gas prices broke through the three dollar mark here in the capitol region. I've seen some pretty damn ridiculous prices, as much as $3.19 a gallon for regular unleaded. If you feel you've been the victim of price gouging, the Department of Energy wants to know about it.
And I just have to say that so far, the 21st century sucks.
posted by: Zung @ 9:10 PM
Monday, August 29
Junque
One mans treasure is anouther man's garbage.
I like junk mail. Yep. I said it.
Certian kinds, actually. I love catalouges. I'm a sucker for them. I keep them in the bathroom. I remember doing this even as a kid (Although not in the bathroom, I don't think) I could have hours of fun making wishlists out of catalouges. I'd sit there, pouring throught the toys and games section of the big old sears catalouges of the 70's and 80's... Circling the ones I wanted... I'd be playing with them already in my head... Daydreaming of the soiree's that G.I. Joe could get up to with that delux set of lincoln logs. It worked for me after I got into computers too. I used to buy the big phone book "Computer Shopper" and pour through it for hours upon hours. Researching and comparing the prices.
I love musical and technical magazines and catalouges to this day. I actually today went looking on CDW to see how I could get on thier mailing list here at work. (I Subscribed to 3 of them...) I'd love to get a few periodicals to read... The Linux Journal ranks high on my subscription wish list.
Mail in my in-box, even junk mail, makes me happy and wanted.
Love me...
posted by: Skeeve @ 11:11 AM
Friday, August 26
Zero's Friday Five: Bone Us Edition
It's that time of year again: Pizza for breakfast (at 2pm), daily hangovers, walks of shame... and if you know what I'm talking about then you have started a new semester back at the college of your choosing. Yep, it's time to crack open the textbooks and pretend to learn things. It's time to amaze that pretty yet nerdy girl in your astronomy class by telling her your feelings on Ort's theory and what it tells us... Ok, that happened in that Rodney Dangerfield movie "Back To School", and probably won't happen to you in real life. Real life sucks. That's why I'm giving you the all-time Top 5 College Movies. No fancy write-ups here, just a list of must watch college flicks.
1. PCU
2. Animal House
3. How I Got Into College
4. Road Trip
5. Kelly The Coed 19: Sorority Escorts!
Ok, so that last one is a little out of place. But, what would college life be without a little free time between classes to watch a little porn? And don't worry if you haven't seen parts 1-18. You can pretty much figure out who's who and what the deal is in the first five minutes.
Bonus Friday Fives (aka My Attempt To Make Up For Skipping Last Week):
The All Time Top 5 TKOP Members Who Look Hot In Black Vinyl Catsuits -
1. Evelynne_Darkstar
2. Version2PT0
3. Veryne
4. Eyeball
5. Muddseye
The All Time Top 5 Worst Alternate Uses For A Bottle Opener -
1. Butt Plug
2. Toe Nail Clipper
3. Snow Shovel
4. Lunch
5. Bikini Wax Applicator
The All Time Top 5 Words I Should Type Next -
1. This
2. Has
3. Gone
4. On
5. Enough.
You are now free to move about the TKOP.
posted by: Zero @ 1:41 AM
Wednesday, August 24
I got nothin
This is my vacation week. The in-laws are away, and we're making good use of their central airconditioned home. We've spent just about every night drinking, and in fact, I'm a little tipsy right now from a lovely Mojito my true love made earlier. A pity the weather has been cool, as there is a inground pool that is being severly underused.
Next week starts my fall semester at schooly school. Sculpture, Cinema class, painting, wi-fi access to play world of warcraft between classes... Yes, I'm quite estatic about the beginning of my last year of undergraduate study.
I hope everyone is enjoying the final days of Summer, and looking forward to a beautiful Autumn (my personal favorite), long pants and warm coffees.
But for now, I'm needed poolside.
Cheers!
posted by: Zung @ 8:59 PM
Monday, August 22
Twentyfive or six to four.
Waiting for the break of day
Searching for something to say
Flashing lights against the sky
Giving up I close my eyes
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Twenty-five or six to four
Staring blindly into space
Getting up to splash my face
Wanting just to stay awake
Wond'ring how much I can take
Should I try to do some more
Twenty-five or six to four
Feeling like I ought to sleep
Spinning room is sinking deep
Waiting for the break of day
Searching for something to say
Twenty-five or six to four
Twenty-five or six to four
.. So, today has been a long week. I'm not really sure what's going on, but people I know and adore are going through alot... I'm constantly battling a headache (Is it bad to take Motrin almost every day?), and they showed WoodStock all weekend on VH1.
And Zero was sick.
I know I posted about it here but I've just seen FireFly. And yes, Joss Whedon is my master now. It shipped today. Joy.
Work has been a challenge... I've been battling issues for 2 weeks, which means never getting ahead on the day to day regular work, much less the 70 or so special projects that constantly seem to be due. (Or have time to post in the forums, or make an image manipulation. Top that off with the fact that Bliss is working most weekends, so even when I have time off, she doesn't and the Kid needs to be taken care of. Neither of us have abundant free time.
But then, who does? I'm sure not many of us are clamoring for jobs to do. Many of our co-sysops, or sub-ops are rolling in free time. I mean, we'd have to be losers to hit our blogs everytime on time... ; )
And now I must go, cause it's been swell... But the swelling has gone down.
posted by: Skeeve @ 4:31 PM
Friday, August 19
Zero's Friday Five
Ok, I know I said that there'd be a Friday Five later today, but I'm putting the axe to that, and here are the Top 5 Reasons Why:
1. I'm sick as hell.
2. I'm tired as hell.
3. I have no good ideas except a re-hash or last weeks Star Trek idea with Star Wars characters and I decided that was crap.
4. I'm not exactly sure how, but it's totally Zung's fault.
5. Evelynne Darkstar enslaved me and told me I'm not allowed to do another Friday Five unless I agree to live in her basement and pleasure her and anyone else she brings over on her command... and then I woke up all sticky.
I'm going to take a lot more Advil then recommended and lay down.
You are now free to move around the TKOP.
posted by: Zero @ 7:13 PM
Wednesday, August 17
Photomanipulation Contests
Some of you might be wondering, where have the photomanipulation contests gone?
What's that? You haven't? Oh. I see.
Well, in case you're mildly interested, we're starting them back up again. With some new rules. There'll be a contest EVERY week now instead of every OTHER week. Every contest will last a month (giving you guys plenty of time to churn out a submission), and winners will still be posted to the Tuesday blog space.
Exact information on the new guidelines can be found here, and another wonderful topic has been started called "The Scrapbook"
I had been noticing that some people had been interested in and enjoying the photocontests but not getting involved because they just aren't into art programs.
So I came up with a way for people get involved without any artistic skills. The Scrapbook topic is a place you can link to pictures, for use in future photomanip contests. How many times a day do you surf the internet(s) and see a picture that makes you giggle or think "WTF?" These are the kinds of pictures that make excellent fodder for photomanipulation contests.
I hope that this new revision in our photomanipulation contests will make it more enjoyable to all. Keep in mind that all this is very fluid, and guidelines will be open to future changes to better suit the contests and the people involved. I also humbly apologize for the long delay in getting them started back up.
P.S. You can use this thread to add your comments to the changes, gripes, praises, additional suggestions etc.
posted by: Zung @ 6:16 PM
Tuesday, August 16
Awww, carp.
Sorry I missed yesterday's blog guys. I had every good intention of not missing, but the long work day, mated with my lovely wife and son coming up to take me out to dinner in Saratoga and the expectation of two early days this week... Well. You know what happened.
The silly season here in Saratoga is nearly over. It's not like I'll be getting my town back, tho. It's far too far gone for that. I mean there's a Starbucks downtown. A STARBUCKS! Yeah. And a Gap.
Overall, Saratoga is still lovely. But it's not the little town I fell in love with and lived in for 8 years so long ago. It's a bigger, busier, more commercial version of that town. People keep trying to say that Glen's Falls is the new Saratoga, or Ballston Spa, but they're lacking.
It's the history. The odd and interesting little things that went on here. It was the aging hippies and the art. (There were almost as many little art galleries as there were bars then... And we've had our share of bars. Caroline street was once in the Guiness Book of world records for the most number of bars per storefront on a single street. It was 100%.)
We've had speakeasys. Cat houses. Casinos. Gangsters. Victorian Gardens. Book Stores (Some of the best used book stores I've ever been to.).
Now we have Walmart... And Panera. And Barnes and Noble and Borders.
Don't get me wrong, the little shops are still here. We have a lively downtown (how many cities can say that these days?) some awesome eateries. (And some not priced through the roof, either. Bliss and I ate for under $20 at the Parting Glass, and neither of us had the ability to have ice cream at Ben and Jerry's afterward.) There's still a pool hall... And Uncommon Grounds. The musicians still busk in the street at the parking lot near Professor Moriarties.
So, come on by for lunch sometime. I'll take you to the places that still feel like the town I loved and lived in... And we can throw rocks at the Gap.
posted by: Skeeve @ 10:05 AM
Friday, August 12
Zero's Friday Five
You find out things when you stay home from work. You find out things like Spike TV shows nothing but Star Trek reruns all morning and afternoon long. You find out that having a whole day to do whatever you want blows when you end up spending the entire time watching Star Trek reruns on Spike TV all morning and afternoon long. You find out that writing about Star Trek reruns on Spike TV all morning and afternoon long can go on forever. Seriously... It... Never... ENDS!
This week: The Top 5 Worst Excuses for Characters In Star Trek History.
1. Captain James T. Kirk - That's right, I said it. Kirk. The man. The stuffed sausage in a Starfleet uniform. Exactly what was his purpose again? To boldly go into the pants of every alien (that looks oddly like a human with a weird facial blemish) in a short skirt? To... talk... like THIS!... for... the DURATION!... of... the... EPISODE! I mean, good lord. Nothing against Shatner. We all love the new album and everything (snicker), but Kirk was useless. He never followed orders, got his son killed, blew up the Enterprise, peed in the shower, and had space AIDS... NEXT!
2. Natasha Yar - What a bunch of crap. She banged Data like a screen door in a hurricane and was killed by a big puddle of melted turds. I'm not impressed, but the writers on "The Next Generation" really wanted me to be, having often brought back her and her stupid, blonde half-Romulan daughter (who was even more useless, but left off the list because Romulans are just like senior citizens... they don't count as people). Alas, the only time this character was worth anything was that 1st season episode where the crew arrives on some planet that I assume was called "Africa" and she challenged the wife of Umbubumaumau to a duel to the death. Ah, racism... thy name is Star Trek. Those who know the episode I'm talking about know how messed up that was. The only thing that might've made it worse would've been doing the whole thing with white actors in black face... that's how messed up it was. But, I digress.
3. Seven Of Nine - No one was watching Voyager (because it sucked harder than Jenna Jameson in a six disc DVD set of her best oral sex scenes), so the brilliant Rick Berman and Brannon Braga hired a large breasted woman to do something on the show each week in a tight outfit. I'm pretty sure that was the whole idea. The first rule of television: Titties = Ratings. Sadly, for Voyager, all the plastic racks in LA couldn't save that steaming pile of Klingon dung.
4. Ezri Dax - You guys, seriously, Terry Farrell doesn't want to be on the show anymore... let's kill her character and then bring her back as a younger, sexier, incredibly useless shadow of her former self for the final season, and let's have her do nothing but make Worf angry and get hurt a lot. I hear Nicole de Boer is free for a couple weeks, maybe she'll do it... you can't see, but I've actually got my head in the oven right now.
5. Troi - Oh. My. God. The Next Generation's very own 40 year old psychic cheerleader did nothing for 7 seasons and 4 features. She has a voice that sounds like somebody stuffed a paper bag full of nails down her throat. She senses things, but couldn't sense how useless and annoying she was. I mean, she was a frickin' guidance counsellor on a space ship! She was possessed several times, sexed up by Riker and Worf, and her mother was a MILFy crack whore... also psychic. Sorry, Troi... you're not hot. You're not anything. You're a stain on the bridge seat 2 left of the Captain's chair. An icky stain... the kind private investigators find with a black light. Ewwwwww.
*Characters from "Enterprise" were not valid for the list, because that entire series was useless. There, I just saved you 4 wretched seasons of the worst show on television. If Voyager was bad, then Enterprise was liquid ass. Yet another Star Trek series that relied on the big titty principle, and still couldn't get ratings. Was it the bad acting? The disregard for established Star Trek history? Scott Bakula? Check all of the above and then go kill yourself.
You are know free to beam up to the TKOP.
posted by: Zero @ 5:50 AM
Wednesday, August 10
Death and unpaid taxes
My life, it's not so interesting. I've recently slaughtered a few creatures in the forests of Azeroth, and saved the Nuclear Reactor from exploding in Paragon City. But the video card did most of the work. On the other hand, my fiance has a few stories to bring home everyday. She's a Medical Social Worker at a local hosptial, so most of the stories are sad. People dying of terminal conditions are enough to depress the best of us, but her skin is tough as bark, and it doesn't get to her. What usually bothers her are their families. Whether it's people fighting for legal control over someone (and their money), or people dumping their parents in the ER to get rid of them, the worst seems to come out in humanity when people need them the most. We usually assume people step up and behave valiantly when there is suffering around them. But that's not always true. The stories all start to sound the same, and I can understand why social workers burn out. People suck.
I didn't mean for this post to get so depressing, I was actually trying to get to something kind of exciting that happened last week for her. She got to deport someone.
There's a man, lets call him Pedro (I actually don't even know his real name). He's been in the hospital for quite some time with a serious condition and he doesn't speak a word of english. And recently, they found out he's an illegal immigrant. Then they found out, that he's been deported five times already and has kept coming back, only to end up in some American Hospital, which eats eats his medical costs. After months of my fiance wading through buerocratic bullshit, it turns out that unless he's of Middle Eastern descent, selling drugs or holding a legal job, immigration doesn't care. The Mexican embassy didn't want to do anything either. So since a plane ticket to Mexico is cheaper than another day of medical care, the hospital waited until he was feeling better, and sent him packing. She even got to escort him to the airport. Airport immigration officials were nice enough to take him past the security check points, since she couldn't go into the terminal. Supposedly he tranferred in Cleveland on a flight to Dallas, and then flew onto Mexico. Maybe he didn't, but that's ok. He's Ohio or Texas's problem now.
I really wanted to say something deep and meaningful about the whole thing, or even rant about immigration and our borders. But I can't bring myself to do it. His story is so pathetic, I just want to forget about Pedro. He's like some mangy alley cat that keeps trying to get into the neighboorhood homes, but no one wants anything to do with him. He'll probably die alone, lost in the cracks of American Immigration policies.
posted by: Zung @ 9:20 AM
Monday, August 8
Busy workday.
I neve got near my computer at work today, or at home (which is where I am now) really, so I'm sorry if I haven't posted before now.
I offer you lyrics again, tho...
Tiny Dancer by Elton John and Bernie Taupin
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
Jesus freaks out in the street
Handing tickets out for God
Turning back she just laughs
The boulevard is not that bad
Piano man he makes his stand
In the auditorium
Looking on she sings the songs
The words she knows, the tune she hums
But oh how it feels so real
Lying here with no one near
Only you and you can't hear me
When I say softly, slowly
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
you had a busy day today
Blue jean baby, L.A. lady, seamstress for the band
Pretty eyed, pirate smile, you'll marry a music man
Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the sand
And now she's in me, always with me, tiny dancer in my hand
posted by: Skeeve @ 8:44 PM
Friday, August 5
Zero's Friday Five
At the offices in which I work, we have an MP3 server that streams pre-selected "work safe" tunes over the intercom all day and all night. You know the tunes I speak of; vanilla cookie cutout pop, rock and country from the likes of Faith Hill, Night Ranger, and (gasp!) Clay Aiken, etc. It's the kind of music that's easy to ignore (and thank god, because paying attention to it for more than 5 minutes will have any person with a speck of taste pulling a Tchaikovsky* on himself.
Anywho, the other day I was asked to clean off the "slow songs" and update the stream with newer friendly music. It was hard to resist the temptation to upload my collection of Swedish death metal and strip club songs. Thusly, I bring you The Top 5 Songs You Should Never Upload To Your Employer's Music Server. Take off your pants and enjoy the ride...
1. "**** The Pain Away" by: Peaches - What's in the teaches of Peaches? I don't know either, because she sings like a crack whore, and her lyrics serve no purpose other than to be vulgar and confusing. This little musical gem is required listening for anyone who has a little freak in them, but I somewhat suspect your staff and your customers will be a little taken back when our drugged up harlot vocalist chimes in for the first verse with "Sucking on my titties like you wanted me..." Personally, I prefer the second verse where she fulfills her community service requirements with the lyrics, "I.U.D. / S.I.S. / Stay in school cuz it's the best." What's an S.I.S.?
2. "Young, Dumb & Full Of Cum" by: Whale - You have to love a Swedish band that apologized to America for Ace of Base, where the lead singer got braces on the condition that her guitar player get circumsized, and that has a video comprised almost entirely of said singer licking the bare armpits of muscle men. If that's any indication then you already know that "Young, Dumb & Full Of Cum" isn't the best song for your company boombox. Of course, you may have already guessed that from the title. Behold this lyric as further proof: "Pink's my favourite colour, let's **** one another". Ah, Swedes. Incidentally, this song is an odd blend of metal and techno with trip-hop pioneer Tricky at the helm. It's a great listen, especially if you need to lighten your load (no pun intended).
3. "Ass & Titties" by: DJ Assault - Words cannot do this song justice. DJ Assault is to rap what Wesley Willis was to Casio-Keyboard inspired dance music. Or whatever. The lyrics in this song are mostly the title, repeated over and over and over and over... It's funny as hell, and playing it at work will have you laughing all the way to the unemployment office. Incidentally...
4. "I Kicked Batman's Ass" by: Wesley Willis - Sorry, Wes.
5. "Pussy" by: Lords of Acid - So many LOA songs to choose from, and only one space left on the list. I'm going with "Pussy" since it's the most obvious. The words, "I want to see your pussy. Everybody says it's nice." have no place in an office, unless you're selling vagina molds or something. This is just one in a long line of delicious tracks from a band known for singing about the clap, bondage, submission, vibrators, child pornography and a partridge in a pear tree (shaped like a penis). Look, I don't care what you people listen to at home, but golly cheese whiz!
* He cut off his own ear.
You are now free to pinch your nipples around the TKOP.
posted by: Zero @ 10:52 AM
Wednesday, August 3
A short window of opportunity
So I was all set to blog today. I even wrote up an entry last night. It turned out to be kind of a depressing entry, but I was going to use it anyway.
Then my cable went out. Lost my Internet, TV and phone service. Thankfully Time Warner said they'd have someone comeout the next morning.
Fast forward to this morning. The lights are dimming again, and it's getting worse. I had my landlord/future father-in-law call Niagra Mohawk to check on the power. They were sending someone out right away.
Finally, Time Warner showed up, and after an hour or so, he got the signal working again. He said the wires in the basement were fried. Must of been a lighting strike he said. So he left, and I'm getting a cold beverage in anticipation of finally playing World of Warcraft (since my first attempt playing lasted twenty minutes after an hour of fixing a video problem). Oh yeah, and I was also supposed to be making this post. :)
I was about to turn the computer on when the Niagra Mohawk guy shows up. I tell him about the supposed lighting strike the cable guy suspected, and he checks things out in the basement. It doesn't take him long to figure out that there wasn't a lightning strike. The Nuetral wire is bad (the wiring in the house is almost a century old), and it's causing a problem with the voltage. He has to call a Line Crew and have them repair it. They should be here sometime this afternoon.
Guess what he tells me. "Turn off everything, except your fridge until they fix it. No air conditioning, microwaves, televisions, or COMPUTERS."
#@&%
So I've got the computer on anyway, and I'm typing this out as quick as I can.
After that, I guess I'll have to read a book or something. Probably my World of Warcraft manual. (What, did you expect James Joyce or something? Actually, I have a Tom Robbins book I've been meaning to start).
This is what it must have been like for cavemen. :)
posted by: Zung @ 11:25 AM
Monday, August 1
Work work work, how've you been boys? I've missed you!
Today was my first full day back on the job after going on on leave for the birth of the boy.
I tell ya. It's not what I'd rather be doing.
It's not like my job sucks or anything. In fact, it was a pretty good day. I got to install a couple servers and had lunch with a buddy of mine from work. He's cool. You'd like him.
I've been trying to hang out and post, even if I lack the occasional update. (Thanks for that hysterical blog, Zero... Heheheh. Boner time...) Yeah, you see me in your forums. Hanging out and occasionally posting something. But for real updates on my life and times I'm sure you look at my blog here on the front page.
TKOP has celebrated it's 100th user and it's.... Zero! Wheee! So good you had to have him twice. ; )
I can tell you, I'm really excited about my new toy. I'm going to post about it soon in the forums. It's a neat bit of geekery for my car, called a PhatBox. It's a MP3 changer that integrates perfectly with my car's factory stereo.
Bizarro Skeeve was actually pretty hard to get rid of. I had to dupe him into going out for Kobe Beef and make sure his Bizarro mastercard didn't work in this universe. He's somewhere out there washing dishes... And probably will be for awhile.
-I'm outty!
posted by: Skeeve @ 7:21 PM
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