where I get to be a viking

The Triangle update

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:07:22 GMT

Did you know you were made up of a bunch of little triangles? I was inspecting my sunburned shoulder when I noticed little tiny hexagons in my skin. Then I saw a bunch on my wrists and my knuckles. But I can't see any on my forearms. My feet have them. Alot of them. So does my belly. The back of my hands have a gagillion, but the fronts only have some in the webby skin between my finger and thumb. Wait which side is the back of your hand?

July 15th: Sneak into France through Ireland Day

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 05:39:19 GMT

In a weird chain of events, I am now an Irish citizen - or rather I have always been one since 1985 - documented and registered with the Irish Register of Foreign Births. My grandma is very proud.

This is weird because this lets me move to France without any (large) problems. Though, I didn't have the heart to tell my grandma that.

Better then Chainsword

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:37:28 GMT

Hey 40k - <href="http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/001752.php"> Black & Decker Alligator Lopper Chainsaw </a>

Claw WITH Chain Saw - is this is Ork material or what?

cool

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 03:53:24 GMT

Alien Landscape

Grammar

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:29:10 GMT

So I put on my traveling cap, and scurried with my fat little legs to the library to borrow The Road. Good good, no comment till the end of the show.

What I am confused about, and I can't figure out because I ignored my 8th grade English teacher to stare at girls - is this a proper sentence? (Leave you 'its for style' nonsense at the door)

"Watched shapes claiming him he could not see."

I read this and my brain hit the brakes, demanding to stop and take pictures. Is this proper grammar? On first read I feel like he left out a (that), but the more I read it, the more it seems to 'work', but I feel like I might be just getting use to it.

I'm assuming (watched shapes claiming him)is the object, (he) the subject, the rest the verb. If I was to say:

The bike mike could not ride.
The bike that mike could not ride.

These work, so I'm assuming the (that) is just a clarifier, and doesn't add or subtract meaning when it is or isn't there. And in this case he didn't didn't need to clarify which (watched shapes claiming him) because, there really there was only one. Right? or is he just an ass for forgetting a (that)?

Books

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 20:01:19 GMT

Ok I've been having a wonderful reading spree for the last month and I want to keep it going, with some new blood. I'd love some suggestions.

Currently on SF&F meter is clipping. Enders Game, Rendezvous with Rama, Most of Weaveworld, Colour of Magic, Hammer of God, another swing at Iron Council and probably going to drop Fer. 451 this afternoon. It would be very hard to have any more Really good SF books on this list for one month, so I think I need break from the genre.

Honestly - F 451 and Weaveworld put me in the mood for some good prose. Or at least beautiful thinking. If thats drawing a blank - I'll take the most interesting thing you read recently. I'll read anything.

When I say good prose I mean: On longing, Moby Dick, The Heart Breaking Working of... , Natural History of Senses, Swan's way. Dipped in poetry, but lacking the sentimental.

Languages

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 17:48:16 GMT

Drunk on the desert, I've been trying to focus on my languages - stoking the fires of my travel bug, to grace's chagrin - and downloaded Rosetta Stone in order to make me less retarded about the ones I half know. This is the first computer based language program I've ever used.

Holy shit I'm addicted. Its just like a video game, and I can't stop playing it - I've logged about 15 hours since Thursday evening on about 6 languages (which is out of hand, but I was shocked how it worked universally).

Its a really simple game: It says and shows a phrase( a boy, a girl) in a foreign language, and you have to pick one of four pictures. Pick the right one, it moves around the pictures, repeat. After those four it shows you another 4, building from just nouns to prepositions and verbs right away ( a boy on a table, a boy under a table, a girl on horse, a man on horse, ball on boy, girl running). Each group of 4 is based on the last group of four and its every attempt is made to teach through recognition. Nor does it spend time teaching you grammar, that is picked up as you begin to recognize the words in relation to other words. ( and leverage your understanding of your own language I guess)

The reality is - I think they actually are focusing primarily on grammar at this point by dealing with the smallest number of nouns, verbs, adj and preps to under stand how the are placed, congregated, 'sexed' - but nothing that explains itself. I, me, and We - I'm very curious how they will do that in pictures.

After trying it out in Arabic and French (the two I know) and a couple roman letter languages, I was a little curious how it would deal with Chinese or Hindi and the like - where the written language adds a layer of complication that seems like it would need hand holding, and careful explanation in English to decipher and comprehend. How hard would it be for someone to pick up on the grammar and division of words.

Not too bad it seems, at least at this level.

Like in Chinese (no accents and in 'han yu'(?)- sorry): zia fei ji xia mian de yi ge nan hai er
I'm pretty sure translates: (the) plane below in relation to (a) person male young
(I know its not completely correct because grace once told me there are no articles but I have no idea what yi or zia could be at this point)

How do I know this? because I learned plane, boy, and I was shown two pictures - one with boy above the plane, and one with boy under plane. You examine the symbols, and you see where they are in the sentence - you understand the order and how its marked. Just like reading a foreign newspaper with a translation book in hand - you learn through investigation

This totally too much fun. Are there any other programs like this that teach advanced math or science or anything really? Imagine it have to be a testable subject of sorts ( you can't really teach Russian lit through decoding)

(Ironically - Kevin Kelly just reviewed this as well)

screw you Civ 4

Thu, 17 May 2007 22:52:11 GMT

I hate you.
My eyes hurt and I'm tired. I didn't sleep last night... rather, I woke from sleep, to keep playing. And what did I get for my troubles? While I'm at it, screw you Aztecs. if you weren't so fucking spread out I'd have finished the game at like 10.

I'm deleting it, and maybe I'll feel better about myself. RIP The last 24 hours.

My sorta Guy

Wed, 16 May 2007 13:24:26 GMT

Michael Francis Wiley, I salute you.

Armless driver eludes police chase, again.

Wed, 16 May 2007 00:56:37 GMT

SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Not important

Wed, 09 May 2007 12:58:28 GMT

I just think Copyright yap is interesting - this is about the rights a person has who buys sewing patterns and patterned fabric. Real Serious Stuff

Baby vs. Cobra

Tue, 08 May 2007 21:22:00 GMT

Baby! vs Cobra!

Class Wars

Fri, 04 May 2007 13:57:13 GMT

"But not for everyone. About 10 percent of us are stuck in 1965, leisurewise. At the opposite extreme, 10 percent of us have gained a staggering 14 hours a week or more....By and large, the biggest leisure gains have gone precisely to those with the most stagnant incomes—that is, the least skilled and the least educated. And conversely, the smallest leisure gains have been concentrated among the most educated, the same group that's had the biggest gains in income."

Victory for the underbelly of the nation!

I know its a long shot

Fri, 04 May 2007 10:01:55 GMT

But if Hilary can:

1. repeal the Declaration of War (or authorization of force or what ever they called it this time)

2. In turn, finally force the Supreme Court to address the legality of War, the legality of the War Powers Act doing such things as repealing congressional authorizations, and finally rule on what powers Congress has in war at all - Though, it is very possible they may not give me vote I want.

3. And if all else fails - Start some sort of conversation about the legality of War, and how too much power remains with presidency on if a war starts or ends (not his right to guide the war). If War Powers does not have the teeth to do anything about it, a formal mechanism needs to be created. A way to end a war/conflict/situation/agenda that isn't cutting off money to Defense - hawk or not this is not sensible thing to do, where in the question of our ability to keep our military at peak performance should not be tied in with force ending a war.

if two of those happen - I'll really consider voting for her. Hilary Says big things to impress me, but there is possibility she is full crap

Help me sex up Ogreton

Thu, 03 May 2007 14:46:31 GMT

So we are looking for a new roommate- and though this processes blows normally - I seem to be having a very hard time getting people to want to come visit it. I was misled by a large number of early visits and two possible candidates that both flopped. The last two weeks have been no visits and only a few contacts. What I don't understand is why I'm getting so few responses: total of 7 calls over three weeks (super low compared to the last two times). So I need help. I need to sex up the craigslist ad, without lying outright.

Please help

The debate

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:18:14 GMT

I'm really letting my news media get me all excited about this election. And I was so excited to see Mr. Obama-rama talk, live!, since I have given him Twenty ($20) of my hard earned dollars.

Ugh. For all the yap that was said last night - I don't believe much of anything was revealed. Most of what they said was something I read before ( minus the second tier guys, but I was well informed at the end of the show).

What was revealing was what tool Obama can be. So much of what he said was without conviction, that his voice fell into the background of White People Speaking Loudly. And without that sense of honesty in what he was saying, his constant referencing of news articles of the past week ( I counted 4, including the Black Baby one) seemed like a shallow attempt at impressing me. So as I had to suffer watching him become mucked up in complicated and unfocused responses, I was wondering if this wasn't what I've been looking for.

I like Obama, I like the spin he gives me, I enjoy his persona, and if this goddamn thing is going to be a popularity contest between two pretty much like minded people, I'd pick him first. But what sold me on him, and the reason I thought he was a sure fit of what I want, was an article in the The New Republic - and how intensely forceful, politically speaking, he is. And every time people talk about his roots as a 'community organizer,' I just think about how he fought and stole the election for Illinois state Senate. I want a guy whom ideas I can agree with - but is going to be politically skilled enough to make it happen, to force - if by will alone - government to deal with those issues.

The Obama in my mind didn't lack the conviction to have someone listen to you and take you seriously.

Then he, for a split second, to the case to Mr. Kucinich after the Ohio-man picked a fight. And in that little squabble he forced a point the way I expected him to. And he didn't look so confused and pathetic. And I believed him.

That said, Hillary was fucking wonder woman last night (in comparison), though she lacks enough idealism for me to love her. I don't need to love her though, I just need to think she won't suck. I'm happy to let you know, its not likely she will suck.

Ah!

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:00:49 GMT

Time for Everyone to join!

Order of the Science Scouts of Exemplary Repute and Above Average Physique

Merit Badges:

The "I bet I know more computer languages than you, and I'm not afraid to talk about it" badge.
It could get ugly when two or more of these recipients get together.

The "I build robots" badge (LEVEL III)
In which recipients have built a fully autonomous robot.

Well, you don't say mom

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:18:34 GMT

"Hurry! I have urging in my anal sphincter."
-Grace's Mom

Obama steals good idea from NPR

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 02:13:22 GMT

So two weeks ago, NPR had a expert on threats to America on Talk of the Nation (I think - they all sound the same sometimes) and he said to the effect:

" You know what the crazy thing about all those (several thousand) loose nuclear weapons from the Cold War that are 'unsecured'? We know where each and everyone of them are, we just have to go 'secure' them. Essentially the president has to go and say, 'Go get'em boys' and it will be done, in well under 4 years, and cost us practically nothing. Why none of these political candidates have picked this up is beyond me."

And What Mr. I-support-my-NPR Obama says today:

"There are still about 50 tons of highly enriched uranium – some of it poorly secured – at civilian nuclear facilities in over forty countries around the world. In the former Soviet Union, there are still about 15,000 to 16,000 nuclear weapons and stockpiles of uranium and plutonium capable of making another 40,000 weapons scattered across 11 time zones. And people have already been caught trying to smuggle nuclear materials to sell them on the black market.

We can do something about this. As President, I will lead a global effort to secure all nuclear weapons and material at vulnerable sites within four years – the most effective way to prevent terrorists from acquiring a bomb."

oh politics... Its just not right you are finding out how to end eminent nuclear war AT THE SAME TIME I AM - WTF!

Is that sexy? Yeah thats sexy

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 02:24:52 GMT

Stranger Than Fiction

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 14:18:52 GMT

really cool

renewed my crush on Maggie Gyllenhaal.

I want to be the DJ of your visual Life

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 21:12:47 GMT

Two more from the getting-better-by-the-day new_sculpture - which really isn't up my alley I swear - that I feel fairly certain at least a large part of you will enjoy a third of the time.

Ponder this one

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:25:17 GMT

Sean Darby
Alpha Male

(note: Its a backpack - which may make it better)

The best just got a whole lot better

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:39:03 GMT

Mont Saint-Michel - stop number two on Mike's, "The Best things to see in France if you want to live like a vagabond, and drink a lot of wine" tour of France - just got an upgrade. Though it still not better then 3/4 of a mile of skulls and bones that is the Paris Catacombs, its still plenty to be glad about.

Built on an island off the coast of normandy - that is only accessable during low tide - Saint-Michel is comprised of two architecture styles: Romanesque and Gothic.

The large abby and chapel are the latter, and is the filled with huge (two people+ hugable), tightly columns packed into tiny rooms. This was not a time of light - light from windows is minimal and is cut off a few feat from you, and the columns cast these huge shadows. The main chapel is a stubby room of grey/green stone - and massive columns - that lead up to an alter circle - where to this day monks still do their daily chants/prayer there and hold mass. It was the only place that I could say was 'well lit'. Despite being the alter and the focus point of the mass it was near impossible to see the 8 monks past the dozen columns needed to support all those windows (3X4 squares cut from mighty stone). It was so gloomy, that it made them look like they were glowing with light.

Its the sort of place that makes Catholicism look like something out of a Lovecraft story.

Out side of this- and in the new parts of the structure - its all Gothic Architecture. Long, tall spires and flying buttresses that all cork screwing up this mountain (once a mountain) to the peak tower - Which the French army has just turned into the worlds largest sun dial!

I have no idea if you can see it from the top platform - but they made it so the shadow made by the long spire marks out time, by lying huge reflective Roman numerals into the water around it.

Man life is good

The First time I heard about this - it was in french and I thought I heard it wrong

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 04:40:09 GMT

This is really crazy - and I really thought it was something made up by a bunch of french kids I was hanging out with.

Well Call me fat and dumb.

How the fuck does this shit happen?

This is how:
Milgram Experiment
Stanford Prison Experiment

Its good to know, that in the face of authority I have only a 40% chance of not being a douche bag. Thats 10% better then the risk I run that I might eat the baby.