Tuffy up close
Originally uploaded by Cecil2.
The animals we love so much!
December 25, 2006
December 13, 2006
December 12, 2006
November 17, 2006
Snow
This is silly site, but worth a giggle.
Click on the link.
1. Type in your name
2. Be patient and wait for a second.
Click on the link.
1. Type in your name
2. Be patient and wait for a second.
November 14, 2006
OK! Here it is!! The ultimate computer waste of time!
Neat! Folding socks in real life should be so much fun!
Try it! (hint - you can pull them out one at a time and leave them hanging in the air till you find the mate!!!)
See the link.
If the socks match, they will go together.
Drag the socks out of the bundle and match them and watch what happens!!!
Try it! (hint - you can pull them out one at a time and leave them hanging in the air till you find the mate!!!)
See the link.
If the socks match, they will go together.
Drag the socks out of the bundle and match them and watch what happens!!!
November 08, 2006
What American accent do you have?
An interesting website that is worth filling out to determine what your accent is.
November 07, 2006
November 04, 2006
And the rains have returned to the great Pacific Northwest
While wringing out my shoes and clothes from the weekend rains, I now remember why I continue to live in the great Pacific Northwest. The grey skies and dampness of the air and ground can be enough to drive a person crazy, but after living in Western Washington for 4 years, I sort of feel comforted by the wet weather. :)
October 20, 2006
Real estate and home maintenance
Why does preparing a home to put it for sale have to be so difficult? When I bought my first home in May, 2004, I thought that was one of the difficult times I had ever experienced, but as I prepare to put the same home on the market this fall, that particular process has been almost as painful. After a new roof, new gutters, new windows, new paint, etc., etc., I want to say "Enough is enough." Now, I think I have brought on much of this grief myself for trying to take on too much and not asking for help, but it certainly makes me never want to sell a home again.
Like I mentioned to several people already, maybe I'll get out of real estate altogether and go live under the bridge with the Fremont Troll in Seattle. :)
Like I mentioned to several people already, maybe I'll get out of real estate altogether and go live under the bridge with the Fremont Troll in Seattle. :)
October 12, 2006
Chad Vader: Episode 4 (official version)
Chad Vader continues his struggle as Night Shift Manager...
September 26, 2006
Varekia
In May, Cirque du Soleil put on Varekai in Marymoor Park, which is located in Redmond, WA. It was my first time to ever see a Cirque du Soleil performance, and even through the overpriced tickets and marketing hype, the show was entertaining.
September 07, 2006
September 02, 2006
August 22, 2006
Stephen Colbert's Green Screen Challenge
Even though Stephen Colbert used to really get on my nerves, his "Green Screen" challenge that he introduced in last night's show has struck a cord in how he appears to try and relate with colbertnation.com and today's internet generation.
Battlestar Galactica Season 3 Preview
Click on the link to see an AVI that contains a preview of Battlestar Galactica Season 3. Looks as depressing as ever, but I still can't wait for season 3 to begin. I've been watching season 1 via Netflix to keep me occupied in the meantime.
August 20, 2006
The Super Volcano
After living in the Pacific Northwest for the past 4 years where several volcanoes are spread apart by only a few hundred miles, this article on the volcano that Yellowstone Park sits on top of could either make you want to run for the hills or leave you in awe at the awesome forces of nature that churn right under the surface of our planet.
Rock on U of Utah for keeping an eye on this growing volcano for us.
Rock on U of Utah for keeping an eye on this growing volcano for us.
How are you going to explain this to the insurance
Quite the clip. Who knew a tire could travel that far...
August 09, 2006
July 14, 2006
What's Hot, What's Not: IT Skills You'll Need in 2010
After reading this article it looks as if that math degree might come in handy after all.
July 12, 2006
July 11, 2006
Arg says Tuffy the pirate
Tuffy wearing a pirate's hat from a McDonald's Happy Meal that Melissa had ordered.
Fred sleeping in a rather unusual position
No, Fred hasn't expired. He's just rather strange when it comes to finding comfortable places to take his long afternoon nap.
Viewing Mt. Rainier from the 520 freeway
Oh, maybe should I pay attention to the road, rather than looking up at the giant volcano covered with snow that looms in front of me.
July 10, 2006
Hybrid SUVS - Is this the answer to our oil dependence problems?
So what is the answer? In this blog on Wired, John Gartner debates whether hybrids could save SUVS. In some ways, I think investing hybrid technology in SUVs would be a blessing, but I believe this would also continue to drive America's need for these beastly vehicles.
When I compare a Ford Excursion to a Toyota Prius, the South Park episode of everyone driving hybrid vehicles comes to mind. Smugness all the way!
When I compare a Ford Excursion to a Toyota Prius, the South Park episode of everyone driving hybrid vehicles comes to mind. Smugness all the way!
June 26, 2006
The Evolution of a Programmer
Check out the "The Evolution of a Programmer" link, as it is so, so true. I just hope I don't fall under the "Middle Manager" or "Chief Executive" categories. :)
June 25, 2006
Will Novell last?
An article came out last week stating that Novell had fired their CEO and CFO all in one day. Now, I remember Novell in its hey-day, and it seemed like such a cool company back then, but I guess times change.
What technology companies will even be around in 20 years? It probably is not even a good idea to look that far ahead into the future when it comes to high tech since this industry changes so quickly.
What technology companies will even be around in 20 years? It probably is not even a good idea to look that far ahead into the future when it comes to high tech since this industry changes so quickly.
June 05, 2006
Can't take the burning
Many of my neighbors insist on burning their garbage and yard waste, and it drives me nuts. The neighbors just to the north of me were burning so much that I actually knocked on their front door and asked them to stop the burning as it was affecting my health and making it hard for me to breathe. While driving home about a week ago, I noticed another local neighbor burning something, and their fire was belching out large amounts of smoke that lingers over the road. I actually turned the car around, walked up to this house and asked the residents to please not burn as it was being extremely disrespectful to their neighbors and the community at large.
I just don't understand what is going on in these people's minds. Do they enjoy releasing noxious gas into the atmosphere that help contribute to the greenhouse effect? I've decided probably the next best step is to write to the local county representative and ask the county that I reside in to implement a law that enforces a permanent burn ban, since they implement a burn ban during the summer.
I just don't understand what is going on in these people's minds. Do they enjoy releasing noxious gas into the atmosphere that help contribute to the greenhouse effect? I've decided probably the next best step is to write to the local county representative and ask the county that I reside in to implement a law that enforces a permanent burn ban, since they implement a burn ban during the summer.
June 03, 2006
The Perils of PC Posture
Deborah Rothberg wrote an article recently for PC Magazine that details the proper ways to work on a computer, including posture, hand position, etc., and is definitely worth a read.
June 02, 2006
Dependable Software by Design
Being employed by a software company, and involved in the industry for the past 10 years, I can sympathize with those end users who are frustrated by poor software design. To add my two cents to this article, I am very supportive of anything that can help do away with bad software design.
June 01, 2006
Mt. Rainier from a far distance on a sunny day
Photo of Mt. Rainier that was taken while bicycling on a sunny day in Washington state
Go to sleep
My brother sent me the following
link that questions how much sleep the average adult should get a night. I'm not quite sure what to think of the blog, but it definitely did get me thinking.
link that questions how much sleep the average adult should get a night. I'm not quite sure what to think of the blog, but it definitely did get me thinking.
May 30, 2006
It's my B-Day and I can cry if I want to
Last Friday was my birthday, and I certainly felt a year older. Like they say, a year older, but none the wiser (at least I think that is how the saying goes). :)
May 25, 2006
Those who have contributed to the "Out of the DARKNESS Overnight" walk
I wanted to personally thank everyone who has generously donated to the AFSP "Out of the DARKNESS Overnight" walk for me. I'm now up to $770 out of $1000, and the walk is a little less than 8 weeks to go.
Now, I really need to step up the plate and start training for the walk. The next few weeks will be strenous, but I'm definitely looking forward to this journey.
Thanks again everyone!
Now, I really need to step up the plate and start training for the walk. The next few weeks will be strenous, but I'm definitely looking forward to this journey.
Thanks again everyone!
Cars can be so frustrating
I often find myself griping about various things, and try to avoid complaining, but some days it seems inevitable.
My 1996 Ford Probe GT is on the fritz and has been most of this year. It started having engine troubles last December, and I took into the mechanic after Christmas to have a major tune-up. The water pump was replaced as part of this repair, but a leak in one of the hoses near the water pump lead to more repairs. So, after a new-used engine and $5k later, the car now is in dire straits. The transmission, which was installed on the vehicle 3 years ago and was used, has given out. Now, given that Ford no longer makes Probe parts, I can pay ~$2k to have another used tranmission installed, but who knows how long that system will last. I'm thinking the car just wants to no longer be driven. Could that really be the case?
Cars, cars, cars... What next?
My 1996 Ford Probe GT is on the fritz and has been most of this year. It started having engine troubles last December, and I took into the mechanic after Christmas to have a major tune-up. The water pump was replaced as part of this repair, but a leak in one of the hoses near the water pump lead to more repairs. So, after a new-used engine and $5k later, the car now is in dire straits. The transmission, which was installed on the vehicle 3 years ago and was used, has given out. Now, given that Ford no longer makes Probe parts, I can pay ~$2k to have another used tranmission installed, but who knows how long that system will last. I'm thinking the car just wants to no longer be driven. Could that really be the case?
Cars, cars, cars... What next?
May 23, 2006
Vacations are necessary
I'm a frequent reader of many of the articles on cnn.com, and came across an interesting one today about how many Americans don't make use of all of their allotted vacation days. I am under the impression that taking vacations are necessary to keeping a person on an even keel, sane and happy. I try and avoid more than a week off a time, and sometimes don't even travel when I'm taking a vacation day (you know, a vacation from your vacation).
Vacations can often be as stressful as the job itself, but in order to keep my personal life apart from my work life, sometimes the only way to do is to take a day off here and there.
Vacations can often be as stressful as the job itself, but in order to keep my personal life apart from my work life, sometimes the only way to do is to take a day off here and there.
May 22, 2006
Email jokes that make me giggle
A friend emailed me the following that made me giggle:
-------------------------------------------------------------
This teaches you to appreciate your ability to think…
ONE Recently, when I went to McDonald's I saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets. I asked for a half dozen nuggets. "We don't have half dozen nuggets," said the teenager at the counter. "You don't?" I replied. "We only have six, nine, or twelve," was the r eply. "So I can't order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?" "That's right." So I shook my head and ordered six McNuggets
TWO I was checking out at the local Wal-Mart with just a few items and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine. I picked up one of those "dividers" that they keep by the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn't get mixed. After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the "divider", looking it all over for the bar code so she could scan it. Not finding the bar code she said to me, "Do you know how much this is?" I said to her "I've changed my mind, I don't think I'll buy that today." She said "OK," and I paid her for the things and left. She had no clue to what had just happened.
THREE A lady at work was seen putting a credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly. When I inquired as to what she was doing, she said she was shopping on the Internet and they kept asking for a credit card number, so she was using the ATM "thingy."
FOUR I recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car. "Do you need some help?" I asked. She replied, "I knew I should have replaced the battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I can't get into my car. Do you think they (pointing to a distant convenience store) would have a battery to fit this?" "Hmmm, I dunno. Do you have an alarm, too?" I asked. "No, just this remote thingy," she answered, handing it and the car keys to me. As I took the key and manually unlocked the door, I replied, "Why don't you drive over there and check about the batteries. It's a long walk."
FIVE Several years ago, we had an Intern who was none too swift. One day she was typing and turned to a secretary and said, "I'm almost out of typing paper. What do I do?" "Just use copier machine paper," the secretary told her. With that, the intern took her last remaining blank piece of paper, put it on the photocopier and proceeded to make five "blank" copies.
SIX A mother calls 911 very worried asking the dispatcher if she needs to take her kid to the emergency room, t he kid was eating ants. The dispatcher tells her to give the kid some Benadryl and should be fine, the mother says, I just gave him some ant killer..... Dispatcher: Rush him in to emergency!
Life is tough...
it's tougher if you're stupid.
-------------------------------------------------------------
This teaches you to appreciate your ability to think…
ONE Recently, when I went to McDonald's I saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets. I asked for a half dozen nuggets. "We don't have half dozen nuggets," said the teenager at the counter. "You don't?" I replied. "We only have six, nine, or twelve," was the r eply. "So I can't order a half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?" "That's right." So I shook my head and ordered six McNuggets
TWO I was checking out at the local Wal-Mart with just a few items and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine. I picked up one of those "dividers" that they keep by the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn't get mixed. After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the "divider", looking it all over for the bar code so she could scan it. Not finding the bar code she said to me, "Do you know how much this is?" I said to her "I've changed my mind, I don't think I'll buy that today." She said "OK," and I paid her for the things and left. She had no clue to what had just happened.
THREE A lady at work was seen putting a credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly. When I inquired as to what she was doing, she said she was shopping on the Internet and they kept asking for a credit card number, so she was using the ATM "thingy."
FOUR I recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car. "Do you need some help?" I asked. She replied, "I knew I should have replaced the battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I can't get into my car. Do you think they (pointing to a distant convenience store) would have a battery to fit this?" "Hmmm, I dunno. Do you have an alarm, too?" I asked. "No, just this remote thingy," she answered, handing it and the car keys to me. As I took the key and manually unlocked the door, I replied, "Why don't you drive over there and check about the batteries. It's a long walk."
FIVE Several years ago, we had an Intern who was none too swift. One day she was typing and turned to a secretary and said, "I'm almost out of typing paper. What do I do?" "Just use copier machine paper," the secretary told her. With that, the intern took her last remaining blank piece of paper, put it on the photocopier and proceeded to make five "blank" copies.
SIX A mother calls 911 very worried asking the dispatcher if she needs to take her kid to the emergency room, t he kid was eating ants. The dispatcher tells her to give the kid some Benadryl and should be fine, the mother says, I just gave him some ant killer..... Dispatcher: Rush him in to emergency!
Life is tough...
it's tougher if you're stupid.
Rent or buy, ARM vs. 30 year mortgage, SO MANY DECISIONS
I'm going in tomorrow into the escrow company to the sign the documents to complete the refinance of my first home that I purchased in June 2004. I'm also taking out a home equity loan as part of this part to pay for some home remodeling projects.
My ultimate goal was to completely refurbish the house so I could put it up on the market the spring of 2007. I'm starting to waver however considering the numerous articles I've read recently on the next hot real estate markets for 2006, and seeing several communities from the Washington State at the top of these lists. Now, I'm really thinking maybe I should still continue with the remodeling projects I had in mind, and rent the house out, but ugh, there are so many decisions. Making large decisions has already been difficult for me, so the next few months should be interesting...
My ultimate goal was to completely refurbish the house so I could put it up on the market the spring of 2007. I'm starting to waver however considering the numerous articles I've read recently on the next hot real estate markets for 2006, and seeing several communities from the Washington State at the top of these lists. Now, I'm really thinking maybe I should still continue with the remodeling projects I had in mind, and rent the house out, but ugh, there are so many decisions. Making large decisions has already been difficult for me, so the next few months should be interesting...
May 19, 2006
AFSP Out of the DARKNESS Overnight
While on a business trip to the San Francisco Bay Area, I heard a radio commercial for the "AFSP Out of the DARKNESS Overnight" walk. After losing my mother to suicide in 2000, I had always wanted to find a way to help those that suffer from depression or other-related illnesses.
Well, I registered for the Overnight walk and thought I would never be able to raise the minimum $1000 required to participate in the walk that will be used to help fund suicide prevention research. I created a personal fundraising page and send an email via the website to several of my co-workers, family, and friends. In one day, several of these generous souls had already donated $570 to this cause in my name. Their support is greatly appreciated!
May 05, 2006
The freakiness of online dating
I'm not sure if this is irony or a coincidence. A fellow that my sister in another state met through an online dating site sent me a flirt today. Now, this poor individual wasn't the right guy for my sister, and I highly doubt that he would meet the profile of the man I am currently looking for as well.
I am also positive if he knew I was her sister, he wouldn't have tried to contact me. I just thought this was a little freaky for a Friday morning.
I am also positive if he knew I was her sister, he wouldn't have tried to contact me. I just thought this was a little freaky for a Friday morning.
May 03, 2006
So what is it with current oil and gas prices?
I borrowed this image from http://science.howstuffworks.com/oil-drilling.htm. I read an article today on cnnmoney.com about oil prices dropping to $72 a barrel. Ironically it seems that a drop in oil prices leads to a rise in gas prices. I'm just like every other American who likes to complain about gas prices, but hasn't changed my drives habits to help with the current shortages, plus I don't own a hybrid.
I guess I'll continue ranting until I can no longer afford to drive to work, at which time I'll probably be walking, biking, flying or using a transporter to get around.
May 02, 2006
Rock on Stephen Colbert...
Also see an article on Stephen Colbert's hosting of the 2006 White House 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on mtv.com.
I was never quite sure what to think of Stephen Colbert up to now, but after reading about his remarks this past weekend at the White House Correspondents Dinner, such as "I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things, like aircraft carriers, rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message that no matter what happens to America she will always rebound with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world," he must a man who can stick by his guns. Good for you Stephen Colbert!
I was never quite sure what to think of Stephen Colbert up to now, but after reading about his remarks this past weekend at the White House Correspondents Dinner, such as "I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things, like aircraft carriers, rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message that no matter what happens to America she will always rebound with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world," he must a man who can stick by his guns. Good for you Stephen Colbert!
May 01, 2006
C is for Cookie
I'm sure many people have already seen this, but I just came across the "C is for Cookie" spoof/trailer on the "V is for Vendetta" film. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9rzMaAucI4. You gotta those Sesame Street characters. :)
Marketing mumbo gumbo
This is taken from www.woot.com where they were selling a Toshiba Gigabeat 40GB MP3 for $169.99. I thought the following excerpt plays so much into what I, and many other office workers, deal with on a daily basis.
Gigabeat Yourself Senseless
Toshiba Executive: I don’t get it. All these trendy music players use our hard drives, right? So we take the next logical step and manufacture our own. Sounds like a can’t-miss to me. Now, two years later, we’re dumping our overstock Gigabeat 40GB MP3 players on Woot while the other guys are sipping champagne with Larry Mullen, Jr. What happened?
Toshiba Marketing Guy: Short answer: we don’t know. Our metrics indicate solid brand penetration, strong CRM follow-through, and a robust heritage of integrity associated with the Toshiba identity. But the ROI figures reveal a profound disconnect somewhere in the schema chain.
Toshiba Executive: Damn right they do. I mean, this is a great product – forty gigs of hard drive space, but nice and compact the way the rubes like ‘em these days. That docking cradle is a thing of beauty, letting you rip CDs from your computer directly to the Gigabeat in minutes. You can use the big color LCD to view pictures, or even sync up slideshows to your playlists. It’s Plays for Sure-certified, so it’ll play DRM-protected files, and they’ll sound great thanks to 29 different EQ settings and SRS WOW processing. We could go on all day talking about the great features of this thing. It even looks pretty cool. So why are we drowning in unsold Gigabeats?
Toshiba Marketing Guy: Short answer: degenerating market literacy and unprecedented regimentation of key demographic segments produced a minor but detectable chill in positioning-repositioning flexibility.
Toshiba Executive: What are you talking about?
Toshiba Marketing Guy: Short answer: absent a compelling narrative for redeployment, household decision-makers maintain high levels of functional certitude toward aggrandizing top-down calls to action.
Toshiba Executive: I don’t know what any of that means. And you know, I’m starting to think you don’t even know what any of that means.
Toshiba Marketing Guy: Uhh, scalable co-branding? Destabilized convergence of action items? Synergy?
Toshiba Executive: You’re fired.
Gigabeat Yourself Senseless
Toshiba Executive: I don’t get it. All these trendy music players use our hard drives, right? So we take the next logical step and manufacture our own. Sounds like a can’t-miss to me. Now, two years later, we’re dumping our overstock Gigabeat 40GB MP3 players on Woot while the other guys are sipping champagne with Larry Mullen, Jr. What happened?
Toshiba Marketing Guy: Short answer: we don’t know. Our metrics indicate solid brand penetration, strong CRM follow-through, and a robust heritage of integrity associated with the Toshiba identity. But the ROI figures reveal a profound disconnect somewhere in the schema chain.
Toshiba Executive: Damn right they do. I mean, this is a great product – forty gigs of hard drive space, but nice and compact the way the rubes like ‘em these days. That docking cradle is a thing of beauty, letting you rip CDs from your computer directly to the Gigabeat in minutes. You can use the big color LCD to view pictures, or even sync up slideshows to your playlists. It’s Plays for Sure-certified, so it’ll play DRM-protected files, and they’ll sound great thanks to 29 different EQ settings and SRS WOW processing. We could go on all day talking about the great features of this thing. It even looks pretty cool. So why are we drowning in unsold Gigabeats?
Toshiba Marketing Guy: Short answer: degenerating market literacy and unprecedented regimentation of key demographic segments produced a minor but detectable chill in positioning-repositioning flexibility.
Toshiba Executive: What are you talking about?
Toshiba Marketing Guy: Short answer: absent a compelling narrative for redeployment, household decision-makers maintain high levels of functional certitude toward aggrandizing top-down calls to action.
Toshiba Executive: I don’t know what any of that means. And you know, I’m starting to think you don’t even know what any of that means.
Toshiba Marketing Guy: Uhh, scalable co-branding? Destabilized convergence of action items? Synergy?
Toshiba Executive: You’re fired.
April 30, 2006
Spring is here!
After several months of grey skies, soggy moss in the grass, lifeless tree branches, I'm so excited to say spring has finally arrived in the beautiful Puget Sound area. The trees are starting to bud, and I was able to clear out an old space in my backyard for a new flower garden.
Last fall I planted several daffodil and tulips bulbs, and was a little bit shocked to see that almost every single one bloomed, except for the ones that succumbed to the horrible snails and slugs. Even with the evil bugs and other critters that like to reek havoc on my beautiful plants, I've come to the conclusion that I can work around them to create a beautiful yard that I enjoy coming home after a busy day at the office.
April 29, 2006
Trip to Moab
I recently just returned from a trip to Moab, UT with a few members of my family and a friend. I hadn't been there for five years, and forgot what a beautiful area this place truly is. Moab has certainly become an adventure mecca where you camp, hike, mountain bike, sky-dive, four-wheel, and more.
Probably my favorite place in the Moab is Delicate Arch in Arches National Park. To capture the true essence of this arch, you must endure a strenuous ~3 mile hike round-trip. Half-way through the hike, you round the corner of a sandstone cliff edge and the arch is brought into view. I have been on this hike many times, as I usually traveled with my family to Arches once a year growing up, but every time I round that corner, I am in complete awe. This arch is a miracle of nature, and I hope mankind will be able to respect this creation for many generations to come.
Signing off...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)