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Wednesday, March 30, 2005
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When you think that you are doing something orignal there are a million other blokes wearing a tie for no reason.
I have no idea why I decided to wear my tie today. I was feeling a little spunky or in actuality I got a little carried away with the extra time that I had by waking up way too early. The morning actually started with jeans and a T-shirt since HPS is on spring break this week. I then questioned my pants choice because I realized that I have 8 pairs of jeans and 3 pairs of 'nice' pants. I needed to make a change I put on my comfy brown pants and felt good about it. The pants felt so good that I decided to open my new bag of Hanes socks. My feet were happy. About three weeks ago, in the ongoing battle of my parents getting rid of every trace of their oldest son's boy hood room, she handed me an assortment of items that I had left. One of these items included a white button up shirt, which to my dismay, fit really nice this morning. After this strange behavior I stood in front of the mirror to check the ensemble that that I was feeling so good about. The white shirt was too plain; it needed something. A tie. I haven't worn one of these in about 2 years maybe.
Feeling glib and gleeful, I jumped in my car ready to be original. Of course, I was mentally berated by my boss after arriving at work. After enduring the jabs, I proceeded to surf my sites and read convoginatos.
So here I am astounded that billions and billions of years of evolution (yeah right) and chance leads me to the fact that 2 seemingly different members of the convoginators got tie complusion within 24 hours of each other.
Naturally Jeff wanted in
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
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You call this "professional?"
I wore a tie today for no reason whatsoever. On second thought, I guess just wanting to was as good of a reason as any and better than most. It's actually the culmination of a long line of dress code violations on my part in an unspoken contest with my fellow instructors as to who can get away with it the longest. I'm ahead by at least three weeks. In fact, I didn't wear a uniform (black polo shirt with "OSU Flight Instructor" emblazoned upon the breast) for an entire month, and not a thing was said. I noticed our assistant chief chiding others for wearing blue jeans, or not having their shirts tucked in. I on the other hand went an entire month out of uniform and didn't elicit so much as a raised eyebrow. My secret? I chose to dress in a manner that showed at least as much if not more professionalism than the current code.
Thus, I finally decided to step it up a notch. I finally got some people other than fellow instructors to mention my apparell. Even the assistant chief quipped that I was a little "over-dressed." Not so, I haven't even pulled out my sport coat yet. It is getting a tad too warm for that. *Sigh* I guess I'm just a rebel without a cause.
Anyone know what it takes to get into grad school? I'm kicking a couple of ideas around in my head concerning possible masters degrees in History or Political Science. I was even contemplating law school for about a day. Then I realized I'd end up being the butt of more jokes than your average Polish immigrant... back to square one.
Jeff C.
I hate it when you wake up and find your copilot asleep.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
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Secrets of eating right
In an effort to make me more well rounded in what I eat, Ms. Phynerk insisted that I eat at least one stick of asparagus last night. Asparagus, however, falls into the same category with me as vegetables that are the color of orange - none should ever be placed in one's mouth . Anyway, I succeeded in eating the asparagus ! My secret ? I simply cut the little demon into pieces so small that their detection was only possible by using a cobalt-strontium laser research microscope and mixing each of these pieces with other stuff I was eating. The only downside to all this was the fact that these small pieces required extra bites to mask out their taste. So many extra bites that I ended up having to consume an additional 46 pounds of mash potatoes, six cans of sweet peas and five loaves of bread, but I did in the pesky asparagus stick. I am VICTORIOUS !!!
Phynerk
Friday, March 25, 2005
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Top three reasons why 'Good' Friday is GOOD
3) We can be (REALLY) forgiven.
2) We can be (REALLY) free
1) We can (REALLY) live forever
DISCLAIMER: Top three reasons not valid to those who have not placed their trust in Jesus for their eternal well being. So...duh...it's a no-brainer. Get on board !!!
Phynerk
Thursday, March 24, 2005
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Home Not-So-Sweet Home
This is for the bored folks. My wonderfully crafted honors paper discussing a debate within one of my many communities...
Everyone at sometime has felt hot. In the same right, everyone has also felt what it’s like to be cold. Normally people become hot during the summer months and cold during the winter. Any time in between anything can occur, but when the season is definite, there are usually standards that most people go by as to the range in which the indoor temperature should be away from the extremes of the outdoors. The vast majority of us use the heater in the winter and the air in the summer. Now, I knew when I came to college that I would meet students with views totally different from my own. I did not, however, expect to find those who like to use the air conditioner all year long. I’ve always simply assumed that everyone (in our region) used their air conditioners in the summer and their heaters in the winter. I have been proven wrong by my suitemates, who seem to like it cold inside all year long. My roommate and I are both cold natured, but this has nothing to do with the fact that we like to be warm inside during the winter. We simply realize that one should be able to come in out of the cold and feel at home in her dorm room. This may seem like an unimportant argument, but it has actually caused many problems that can greatly hinder a college student’s progress. It simply should not be cold inside during winter.
Our tiny suite is comprised of just four small rooms—a living room, a bathroom, and two bedrooms. Marissa and I share one bedroom while two other freshman girls share the other. There is but one thermostat that controls the temperature in all four rooms, which would be perfectly fine if we all preferred the same temperature. That would be an ideal situation. However, living with new people who have different tastes, opinions, and wants is many times anything but ideal. It is possible for a great number of situations to arise in which the parties involved have different opinions. There can be problems involving the right to a certain space, decorating, guests, volume of television and radio, cleanliness, and a host of others.
Problems such as these require compromise. If compromise is not attained, the community will eventually fall apart. Compromise can involve many forms of communication, often in great amounts. With this sort of communication we run the risk of confrontation. We must learn how to make this confrontation positive, thus arriving at a compromise. Marissa and I are extremely non-confrontational and have simply been suffering in our situation rather than attempt to compromise with our suitemates. We are instead riding on the fact that this school year will be over soon, and we will be back home where our families know how to control a thermostat. We realize that this is not the most effective way to handle our problem, but we also do not believe we could compromise with our suitemates. I do not wish to explain how to compromise. I only wish to defend the claim that it should not be could inside, especially in a college dorm. It is simply not a proper environment.
The cold state of our room affects many things, including ability to feel ready to face the world. My hands are so cold in the mornings that I do not even want to put on makeup. This may seem like a trivial point, but with a face like mine, makeup is quite necessary for any kind of interpersonal contact. I had acne for about four years, and at that time no one would want to look at me without a bit of makeup to cover it. Now that my acne is gone, it has been replaced by scars that will probably not go away for years. I still have to have makeup to cover my unsightly face, but it is quite difficult to even touch my face when my hands feel as if they’ve been sitting in a bucket of ice water for ten minutes. Now even when I do feel brave enough to put on makeup, I do a very poor job of it as I rush to get the icicles off my face. Also, because the cold causes chill bumps and chill bumps cause the hair on my legs to grow quickly, I am forced to shave too often. Even if I shave every day my legs lack their usual smoothness. When I step out of the shower and chill bumps have already formed, I feel like not shaving at all, which is usually what ends up happening.
Everyone knows that college changes people, and that it is usually for the better. However, there is one good thing about me that has changed for the worse. I have always been a morning person, which I see as a very desirable trait. I have begun to lose my desire to wake in the early hours of the morn. It is quite difficult to get out of bed when I know I will have to face the cold air. I usually go to bed feeling cold but warm up as I lie beneath my many covers. I like to wake early in the morning so I can go over the things we will be discussing in my morning classes so they will be fresh in my memory and I will be more apt to learn, but more and more I find myself hitting the snooze button just so I can stay warm for nine more minutes. I no longer pop up out of bed at 5:30 ready to face the day. I now wait until all I have to do is take a hot shower and rush out the door as quickly as possible so as to escape the proverbial igloo in which I live.
Everyone knows that people get sick more often in the winter, usually with the flu, bronchitis, and many colds. For me this is true because I cannot escape the cold air that weakens my poor immune system. Last semester I was sick with a respiratory infection for more than a month because of this. I actually became ill when winter started and instead of coming out of the cold into the warmth, I came in to even more chilly air. This was something I simply was not used to and did not believe others were, either. What’s the point of coming inside during the winter if I am going to be just as cold inside as I would be outside? I might as well just stay outside in the fresh cold air than go inside to the stale cold air. I can become ill either way and would rather do it outside with nature. Now, I realize that it was probably not the state of our room that caused my sickness, but it certainly did not help cure it. My over-worked immune system continues to battle the cold, as I have had more colds this year than I have the last four years of my life. More often than not this year I have had a cold, and I cannot wait until spring comes and I am once again healthy. My roommate has also had health problems because of the coldness of our room. We have been friends since the seventh grade, and I know for a fact that she is not used to getting sick, either. She has also been sick many times this year. Moreover, when she gets a cold, she snores a lot more than usual, and because she usually falls asleep before me, I am kept awake longer than I would desire. In this case I’ve got the cold and Farsheshe’s (that would be Marissa to the rest of the world) thunderously loud snoring to keep me from that beautiful thing that is sleep.
The cold does in fact keep me awake at night. I usually cannot fall asleep until my body has warmed up, which takes a very long time even though I am under a sheet, a comforter, and three extra blankets, one of which is down, the warmest kind to which I have been exposed. This delay of sleep could also contribute to the difficulty I have getting up in the mornings. When 5:30 comes around I have had less sleep than I normally would have even though I went to bed at my usual time. Many nights I have even been reduced to throwing the covers over my head and breathing heavily inside my cocoon in an attempt to warm myself up quicker, but to no avail. The cold remains, as does my wakefulness. The cold also greatly affects how well my schoolwork is done. As I sit at my desk doing homework, the chill bumps come and set up house. It is extremely difficult for me to work when I am that uncomfortable. Concentrating on the assigned Honors reading is next to impossible when I’m thinking about how cold and uncomfortable I am, especially since the air vent is right above my desk and there is nowhere else to put the desk. I even get sore sometimes from shivering too much. I also have to add many layers of clothing in attempt to get just a small bit of warmth, which gets really bothersome, as it is hard to move while wearing two shirts and a heavy coat. In this case, I can either be extremely cold, or I can be sore, irritated, and a little less cold. And because I have already lost sleep, I feel my eyes start trying to close, as I get about halfway through the reading. In fact, to write this very paper to the best of my ability, I had to leave what should be my “home away from home” to find a comfortable environment.
A person’s dorm room is essentially her home while she is at college, but Baridon 227 does not feel like a home at all. I like everything about our suite except for the air situation, which is enough to destroy everything else. The place is nicely decorated and is kept quite clean by my roommate and myself, but it is uninviting simply because it is too cold. This makes me even more ready to leave Conway on the weekends in search of warmth. I feel unwanted and unwelcome in my own “home.”
I would be totally willing to compromise with my suitemates if such a thing were at all possible, but I am beginning to think that this will never happen. One morning as I was trying to get ready for the day, one of my suitemates woke up just to talk with me about the problem. Apparently she was hot, even though I was quite chilly. She said she wanted to make a compromise, but by the end of the conversation I felt that she walked away with the thought that my roommate and I were never to turn on the heat, even though there was frost on the ground. That was about a month ago, and since then we have only had the heat on twice, while our suitemates were not even in the room, yet the air has been on at least three times a day. This doesn’t sound like much of a compromise. Many times they come in, turn on the air, stay for ten minutes and leave without being considerate enough to turn the air off. Once when it was below freezing outside, both girls came in after working out and turned it on. Now, I realize that people do get hot after that kind of physical activity, but is one not supposed to cool down gradually after a workout? They are also hot natured, which I try to take into account in this situation, but I was hot natured the entire time I was in junior high, and I can say that I would rather be hot natured than cold natured. It is irritatingly painful to be cold. It is only irritating to be hot. Marissa and I have told them many times that they could open a window when they are hot, much like we did during the summer when it was also cold inside. We took into account the fact that most people like it cool in the summer and let them turn on the air while we stayed warm in our room beside our open window. It would only be fair for them to do the same. My roommate and I hate confrontation and have tried to be very considerate. Every time we happen to casually mention our indignation, we are shot down without any reason except, “It’s hot in here,” and the debate is never resolved.
Because I hate confrontation, this has been a great way for me to get my feelings out there. Perhaps there are others in the same dire situation. I can only hope that they all, at this moment, are in a more comfortable, work-ready, home-like environment. I, however, must now go find another jacket.
seashell
For the Seashell and the mac users
MAc uSeRs...
CTRL click the link and COPY. Open Windows media player (if you don't have it click HERE) select file and click Open URL...Paste in the link and watch the movie.
OR
CTRL click the link and download it to your computer. Then click the WMV file and watch the movie. That is if you have the Windows media player installed (if you don't have it click HERE)
HERE IS THE LINK: THE MOVIE by Phynerk
manteca
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
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*Stands and Applauds*
Bravo, Phnyerk!
An inspirational piece about overcoming adversity and standing up for what you believe in. It brought a tear to my eye. *sniffle*
I especially loved the soundtrack. The Gurdon Elementary Kazoo and Recorder Symphony is one of the most happening all-plastic instrument bands in Southwest Arkansas. Maybe we could get them to play our Fourth of July Extravaganza: "Freedom to Convoginate."
So that's what we're after, people. Send in your videos!
Jeff C.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
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May we pause for a moment of reverant reflection?
Let's not forget who we are !!!
Roots of Convogination
P.S. If there's a video contest, this is my entry
Phynerk
Sunday, March 20, 2005
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hmmm...
You know it has been hard for me as of late. I haven't been as solid as I used to be. Things don't mesh, don't fall into place as easy as they used too. Some people would say that I need to get right with the Lord. I promise that isn't it. That's right. I have always been a bit wishy-washy. I do believe that I have the right to change my mind, which I do on occasion. This time it is something different, something I just can't put my hand on. Like a panic attack with a small side of schizophrenia.
I have approximately 12 projects that I have not finished. They vary in degree of content and difficulty, but are all related to either technology or music. I suddenly have this overwhelming need to bring finality to them. I'm not sure why, just this gut feeling that the time is here to get these things done. No, this is not some impending doom thing, just the recognition of life overdue. I think that the sudden influx of people who "don't know what they want to do" and "are bored," "hate Hope," etc. has made me realize that I have always known what I wanted to do; I just haven't done it...all!
Little sidebar here: Wherever you are, that's where you're at. Every timeyou move, you just pack up the same old stuff and take it with you...
Anyway, I have been blessed with everything I have been given on this earth. I have been allowed to do everything that strikes my fancy. I just realize that its time to give back. What does this have to do with comedy, politics or chocolate milk? Not a darn thing, just the ramblings of a human on the edge of sanity realizing that life is one big bin of grab bags. Every time I reach in, I get something great!
Whew, it was good to get that off my chest. So, I will be away for some time. I have a test to take (thanks Matthew). I have to go see Tim play at NT, Cara play in Nashville, and get a few things done for myself and this great family I have. Oh yeah, and make music (once again, thanks Matthew and most importanty phynerk). I'll keep checking in, and I look forward to the movies.
manteca
Saturday, March 19, 2005
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Media online in 2014: Google Grid, GoogleZon, EPIC
I caught wind of this on Fox All-Stars about 15 minutes ago, and I looked it up. It's a flash movie basically depicting the future of journalism. I found this article about it on WebTalkRadio.com
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*************************************************Media online in 2014: Google Grid, GoogleZon, EPICFictional flash video makes dramatic predictions about our new media future By Dana Greenlee, WebTalk Radio Imagine your electronic world of 2014. What are the possible future outcomes for Google, Microsoft and Amazon? How will news and media be disseminated? What is the Google Grid? The predictions are made by a popular online eight-minute flash movie called Epic (the Evolving Personalized Information Construct). Robin Sloan and Matt Thompson, both staff at the Poynter Institute for Journalism in Florida, look back at the history of the Web from 10 years in the future. Their story is fascinating, amusing and unnerving. The video, available at www.robinsloan.com/epic from the Museum of Media History, is presented like a video transmission from the year 2014. It suggests possible future outcomes such as Google and Amazon merging to form GoogleZon, Google creating the Google Grid, visual bracelets, how Microsoft will acquire Friendster and gobble up other companies and the creation of EPIC by 2014. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Listen to the audio discussion with:
Matt Thompson, Voice-over, Co-Creator of EPIC 2014
43 min. at 32K Stream
WinMedia
mp3
(full 43 min. show; 12 MB download)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Following is an excerpt from the narration: It is the best of times. It is the worst times. In the year 2014, people have access to a breadth and depth of information unimaginable in earlier age. Everyone contributes in some way. Everyone participates to create a living, breathing mediascape. However, the press as you know it, has ceased to exist. The fourth estate's fortunes have waned. 20th-century news organizations are an afterthought, a lonely agreement for not too distant past. The road to 2014 began in the 20th century. In 1989, Tim Bernhers Lee, a computer scientist at the CERN Particle Physics Laboratory in Switzerland, created the World Wide Web. 1994 sees the founding of Amazon.com. Its young creator dreams of the store that sells everything. Amazon's model, which would come to set the standard for Internet sales, is built on automated personalized recommendation, a store that can make suggestions. In 1998, two Stanford programmers create Google. The algorithm echoes the logic of Amazon. It treats links as recommendations and from that foundation powers the world's most effective search engine. 2006: Google combines all of its services— TIVO, Blogger, Gmail, Google News and all of its searches—into the Google Grid, the universal platform that provides a functionally limitless amount of storage space and bandwidth to store and share media of all kinds, always online and accessible from anywhere. 2008: This year sees the alliance that will challenge Microsoft's ambitions. Google and Amazon joined forces informed GoogleZon. Together, they use their detailed knowledge of every users social network, demographics, consumption habits and interests to provide total customization content and advertising. 2010: The News Wars of 2010 are notable for the fact that no actual news organizations take part. GoogleZon finally checkmates Microsoft the features the software giant can't match. Using a new algorithm, GoogleZon's computers construction news stories dynamically, stripping sentences and facts from all kinds of content sources and recombining them. The computer writes a new story for every user. In 2011, the slumbering fourth estate awakens to make its first and final stand. The New York Times Co. sues GoogleZon, claiming that the company's fact-stripping robots are a violation of copyright law. The case goes all the way to the Supreme Court, which on August 4, 2011 decided in favor of GoogleZon. On Sunday, Mar. 14, 2014, GoogleZon launches EPIC. Welcome to our world. The Evolving Personalized Information Construct is the system by which our sprawling, chaotic mediascape is filtered, ordered and delivered. Everyone contributes now – from blog entries to phone cam images to video reports to full-fledged investigations. At its best, edited for the savviest readers, EPIC is a summary of the world, deeper, broader and more nuanced than anything ever available before. But at its worst, and for too many, EPIC is merely a collection of trivia, much of it untrue, all of it narrow, shallow stand sensational. But EPIC is what we wanted, is what we chose and its commercial success preempted any discussions of media and democracy or of journalistic ethics. Today, in 2014, the New York Times has gone off line. In feeble protest, the Times has become a print only newsletter for the elite and elderly. But perhaps there was another way. For the complete video, visit http://www.robinsloan.com/epic
It's been a while...
Visited Hope for a week and did almost absolutely nothing of any value at all. I did manage to do some work on the back porch (the same one I tiled last spring break. reference March 2004) I managed to earn enough money that my expenses for the week were met vis-a-vis gasoline and food. I also have to tip my theoretical hat to Manteca for picking up the tab at Amigo Juan's this week, thanks. It was good to see everyone again, I even got to wave at Phynerk as he drove by my parent's abode on his way home from work. I wasn't conscious at hours which would have been prudent for him to be heading to work, so my waving opportunities were somewhat hindered by this action or more appropriately inaction on my part. Matthew seems to be his usual self, and I am now going to razz him viciously for not dropping whatever important duties he was performing and joining his fellow convoginators for lunch... uh... consider yourself razzed, Matthew.
Other than my widely noticed and undermentioned absence from posting, very little has occured which would give me reason to post anything of consequence. I think my neighbor sold his annoying loud car... we're really not sure, but we're praying like hell that he did. Um... Welcome Home Mike! I'm about out of random comments now... hmm....
Oh... I propose the first annual Convoginators Film Festival Contest Thingie. To enter you should send in a film that you yourself have created... I guess we'll figure out some other rules later if anyone else is interested. Also prizes that may be necessary for this to actually be a contest.... I'll just let the other convoginators kick that idea around a while.... I've got to go watch a movie...
Jeff C.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
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Check this out...and geeks pack your bags !
Check out this company that is planning to move to Texarkana SOON !
OSI HOSTING
Phynerk
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
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I thought the Cap'n would enjoy this
Sunday, March 13, 2005
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Late night...
OK...I am not as young as I used to be. I apologize for the bad link on the video. I finished about 3:15 a.m. I then passed out until about 9 a.m. I actually passed out about 1:30 a.m., so the events that transpired after that are a little blurry... SO...thanks Josh...again!
manteca
DMP
We had a good time..Vocals were soft, but we still had a good time. Wanna see some video? Click Here!
p.s. Thanks for the Theater Josh!
manteca
Saturday, March 12, 2005
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You've GOT to be kidding !!
Let me first preface everything I say by the fact that I like dogs, cats, and birds as much as any one. In fact, we own a dog.... and Ms. Phynerk will tell you that I am an animal. Anyway, I was listening to NPR ( National Public Radio Ridiculous ) on the way home from work last night. They were doing an interview with a prominent architect that had just finished hosting a week long seminar with other cutting edge architects in Chicago. The seminar was on the topic Building Design For Bird Safety. Now can you imagine a seminar filled with these highly paid and intelligent folk discussing something for a WEEK of such shallowness. The interviewer asked one question that floored me. She asked " what does a building owner do now if his building was not built with the thought of bird safety ?" The architect responded by saying that "next time the windows are removed, they could be replaced with windows with much less reflectivity". Now how many times do you think they are going to "replace the windows " in a structure like the Sears Tower or the Empire State Building…heck, what about the band hall ! ! Now I'm not an architect, but seems to me with all of their education, training and experience in the area of building design and construction, they could have spent their time a lot more wisely talking about ways of constructing affordable yet sturdy structures for the homeless or maybe inflatable 'homes' to quickly house the poor tsunami victims. Oh well, seems to me the piece I heard on NPR was for the birds.
On a serious note...I know I speak for all of us Convoginators...We are glad you are home, Major Mike and EXTREMELY proud of you. May God continue to bless and keep you and your family deep in His MERCY.
Phynerk
Friday, March 11, 2005
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Don't Tell Me I've Nothin' To Do
No, I did NOT fall off the face of the planet, and yes, I am in Hope, and yes, I am a dork because the first thing I did when I got back (after unloading massive amounts of crap in the kitchen floor) was go see the Chote, Mr. York, and Mrs. Manteca. Yeah, I too am a loser, but no one was home. What would one expect me to do but go check out the new cafeteria that only holds about 200? Well, you certainly didn't expect me to come home and clean my room did you? Or unpack my crap? Surely not, and I'll call you Shirley if I wanna. And homework? I won't be starting that until at least Friday night. Now I'm playin' solitaire til dawn with a deck of fifty-one. Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo...
seashell
Man, Blogger Sucks
It took me approximately 12 minutes just to get the page where i write my oh so clever posts, why is blogger so SLOW? anyways. my spring break just started, so in yer face. Its really awesome to hear that mr. spraggins is home (he is right?) This last year seemed really long now that i think about it. In the last year i have done some amazing things, some of which im sure most of you dont even know about.
Things eRic has done in the last year:
1. Went bear hunting with my bare hands.
2. Spent 12 months in the hospital
That pretty much brings us up to date.
Things at davis discounts tech desk have been good. Ive actually got to work there tonight. Im pretty excited b/c today is "casual friday" which means i dont have to wear pants. no, wait... i do, but they can be crotchless.... no.. thats not right. I can wear blue jeans... yeah, thats it.
I had the strangest dream last night, that I stole a firetruck from conway, and drove it all the way to Hope where i convinced jeff and paul to help me take it back, all the while trying not to get in trouble. Paul was all for it, but jeff was being a panzy so we had to use the water cannon on him in order to change his mind.
So in case paul and jeff have been wondering... YES, i HAVE been dreaming about you.
Jeff, i know how you feel about losing a good post to the monster that is blogger. Here is a little hint though. What i have started doing is... after every word you type go back and control+V what you have so far, so that you dont lose one word. You may be asking yourself "doesnt this take a long time", and the answer is "yes". to be honest i started this particular post last thursday. but all in all i think its worth it, just to aviod the anger that will consume you after you see 5 or 6 hilarious paragraphs of genius get lost due to bloggers crappiness.
wellp.. i gotta go to the "Misty's Sassoon and Dog trimming"... i work the the tech department there also.
Post Coming Soon...
It's not that I've been particularly busy, but I have. It's not even that I don't have anything particularly interesting to say, which I don't. It's simply that Blogger thwarted my latest rant on OPEC and I am rather dissapointed as it took quite a while to compose. So... I'll post soon. Must work... Need money... coming home tomorrow.
Jeff C.
P.S. Welcome Home Major Mike!
My new Career choice...
Notice the RazorFish hat....hardcore!
Manteca
Phynerk is RIGHT!
Where is everyone? I am too fat, middle-aged and loserish to keep posting!
Take a look at these stats...unacceptable!
manteca
Thursday, March 10, 2005
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Hello, anybody home?
It seems that several of our 'family' have gotten to be fancy-pants and have started their own blog spots. Thus since they are busy managing their new empires, the brisk, daily, content here has begun to wane. I will, however, not give up hope that we will continue to be enlightened ( if but on a more occasional basis ) by the wit, and keen observations of our beloved 'regular' crew.
P.S. You can check out my new web site at www.MSN.com. It's a little something I put together last weekend.
Phynerk
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
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Happy Birthday To You...
You know who's birthday it is???
Your picture on the internet...PRICELESS!!!
manteca
Monday, March 07, 2005
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Ramblings of a musician wanna-be
Even though I've been playing "music" for most of my life, the opportunity to play with a group of people has always been elusive like the carrot at the end of a stick….just out of reach. So when Manteca asked me to play a 'gig' ( that's musician's lingo for a playing engagement ) this coming Saturday….well, I jumped at the chance! Last night we had our first practice, and you need to know that when you find yourself playing along side the Manteca, Matthew and Jamie, you realize right quick you are "in high cotton". I've got to admit, though, I always find it refreshing to learn something new-no matter how strange it may be. For instance, after one attempt at a song Matthew leans over to me and says, "Dad, play 'ADD 9 ' here". ADD 9 ?? I was already using all the fingers I had !! To add 9 more would be more than impossible; it would be intolerable ! Then between another song the Manteca and Matthew actually broke out in 'other tongues' . If I remember correctly it went something like this: " We'll play intro verse chorus verse verse chorus intro middle verse verse chorus out". Believe me this made me quite uncomfortable as you might expect as this was something that was never allowed in our church. But I'm not complaining. I enjoyed every minute. I still wish I knew how I could get me a few more fingers though.
Phynerk
Friday, March 04, 2005
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Happy Birthday P!
In Honor of P...a movie from his past!
manteca
Thursday, March 03, 2005
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How busy am I?
I know, everyone thinks that I am busy all the time. Am I really? The answer is no! I really don't do anything. Matthew does all the work. On occasion, there is a problem (like packet loss) and I have to step in and do some heavy thinking. That is really my job, the heavy thinker. Yes, it is funny that I use heavy in that title...since I am heavy (fat). I digress! So, my job is the thinker. Stop giggling seashell! It's not that funny. I may seem stupid in person, but thats just a ruse, if Im stupid then people dont expect it when I STRIKE! Actually, Matthew is probably smarter than I am...OK...most people are smarter than me! I am loveable...well, except by those people who hate Middle-Aged Fat losers! (I should probably get over that).
So I posted, BE HAPPY!
manteca
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
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Old dogs don't want to know new tricks
There's something about me you need to know. I have a total aversion to any thought of cooking. But, there comes a time in our lives when we all must meet our deepest fears head on. That opportunity came my way last night. I came home starving after a hard days work. There was nothing in the house to eat. Ms. Phynerk was at (college) school. [Soon I will be known as Ms. Phynerk's husband. You know, Ms Phynerk - she's the one who has the Master's Degree]. Anyway, I gathered all my courage and went about to cook my first meal. "What to do ?" I thought…"Where should I start?"….. THE FREEZER ! It was there I found the answer to my dilemma. It was a box marked "Savory Beef With Sautéed Vegetables In Rich Gravy". Next, I knew from experience with other such delicate procedures, it would be necessary to follow the instructions carefully. Let's see, Oven Instructions: Bake 28 minutes at 325 Degrees. NO WAY….I'll be dead by then. There must be a better way; wait, what's this? Microwave Instructions: Peel back film from corner of potatoes. Heat on High for 3 minutes. Remove film; stir potatoes. Heat on High for 3-4 minutes. Already I could see I could improve on what the 'experts' had laid out as instructions. Why, I asked, should you stop mid-stream to stir potatoes that looked to be pretty much stirred already??? Heating straight through could save me an easy 30-45 secs. ! I can do this !!!!! So, I set the microwave at 5 and a half minutes and waited for my Savory Beef. My mouth was already watering. 'Ding'; the familiar sound that caused me to run back to the kitchen so I could begin to enjoy my first cooked meal. It was at this point that things began to deteriorate. When I peeled off the film covering my Savory Beef, the smell that hit me was like no Savory Beef I'd ever sensed. In fact, it was more like the smell of a gut-wrenching belch from a pit bull. Next, where were those beautiful, delicate, colorful vegetables that were pictured on the cover? In fact, I would be willing to bet that the Hubbell telescope on it's highest intensity aimed at my plate could not have detected a trace of bell pepper, peas or celery. In fact, the only thing I could find were three big honkin' pieces of carrots. I have always strongly held to the belief that no orange vegetable should ever be put into your mouth. I also found that there were more words used to describe the meal ("Savory Beef With Sautéed Vegetables In Rich Gravy") than the number of pieces of the 'so called' Savory Beef. Then there was the matter of the ice particles in the mashed potatoes. How could this be ? I followed the instructions !!! So, I guess during this trip trough the culinary arts I learned three things. First, I gained a deep appreciation for people that cook. In fact a deep, humbling awe for anyone who knows how to actually use a stove, mixer or bowls in food preparation. Next, I realized I need to stick with things I know to be quite easy and understandable, like process automation control, PID loop tuning or heat transfer flow calculations. Finally, I realized that if I ever find myself in a desperate situation again requiring cooking, I should try something a little easier like a mayonnaise sandwich.
Phynerk
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