Last night's dream was a strange one. My wife and I entered a Gothic chamber, something out of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland. We were going to see a live audioanimatronic performance of a magician, flourishing cards and bursting out of the wall. Then it came.
Breaking through a large window, the spider attacked with an unstoppable force. My wife screamed, I jumped on its back and began my brutal task. Punching into its hard carapace, I burst it as though it was made of plastic. I ripped off its antenna, its jaws. I was victorious.
Forgive the following. I can't cement my thoughts.
Even as a kid who lived during the advent of the internet (BBS to AOL to WWW), I'm amazed at the leaps and bounds that The Network is taking every day. I'm not really sure where it's all leading and even if it's a good thing. But I'm enjoying the ride. Facebook has been making some huge strides lately.
They've taken their clean, adult interface and allowed external web applications to have a presence. They're basically becoming an amped up version of MySpace, but not as dumb. Almost total integration of all online social activity.
Combined with things like Vox, Typepad and Wordpress, we're definitely in an interesting point in time. Google has access to the world's knowledge. Every person with internet access and a computer (even a $100 OLPC) can edit photos (picnik) and share their knowledge. Write a book, make money. Live a life. Connect with friends.
Certainly, it doesn't go after the basic human necessities of food and shelter, but what if The Network could provide help for that too? Architecture for Humanity, microloans,
When is skynet going to become sentient? And might that be a better world?
I'm officially in the last place for my office NCAA tourney. I'm not going to win. I suck bad. Worse than 50%. There goes my $10. But that's not the worst thing I have to tell you.
Today, we spent all day outside with a rented, giant woodchipper trying to get rid of all the massive bundles of branches and recently cut juniper bush that we had sitting in our backyard. Juniper is an awful thing and should never be planted by any one for any reason. It grows like a weed and the branches from one intertangles with another. The branches can also grow into the ground and begin another plant.
It's Satan's weed.
So, all told, I didn't do too terribly.
8 points / 67 percent. Better than guessing, so that's something. But I was guessing.
But Stanford good god. I had them going on to the next round (then getting eliminated). They couldn't have been beat any worse. At all. Check it out below.
If you could write like one fiction author, who would it be?
Submitted by Marilyn.
I'm inclined to say Chuck Palahniuk, because I'm such a fan of everything that he does. Not only is he an Oregon native, bounding around some of the same places that I tread, but his stripped down minimalism brings such joy to readers used to overly ornate language that means nothing.
But I don't know that writing like him would be the best thing I could accomplish. There are already plenty of people trying to unsuccessfully ape his style. Nope, instead I wish that I had the emotional touch of Philip Pullman, who has such a richness to his writing that you're held spellbound by every turn of golden phrase. Honestly, when I read "The Golden Compass" I was astounded that Pullman, as highly praised as he is, hasn't been more celebrated on the level of Hemmingway and the like.
I hope that in retrospect he gains the respect that he so obviously has earned.
I love getting some well composed spam. Here's the latest:
Hello!!!
How are you? My name is Nadejda. I am 26 years old. I live in Russia,
city Yoshkar-Ola. I am cheerful woman, and like to do many things as
sport, camping, go to the cinema, theatre etc. In a word I like to do
all what like all people. I work in marketing structure on sale of
cosmetics. My dream this travel abroad. I know the english language
well enough.. I began to study english language approximately one year
ago. I wish tell to you history which have pushed me write to you. 8
months ago I have got acquainted with the man from other country by
name Justin. During this time we had good relations. We have
understood that our relations become serious and we have decided to
meet in his country. I wrote the application for reception the visa. I
waited reception of the visa approximately half of year. All time I
kept in touch with Justin through the internet and often called to
each other. I and Justin waited reception of the visa to our meeting.
I have received the invitation from the ambassador for reception of
the visa. My director has given me long-term holiday from work and I
have gone to Moscow to receive the visa. I informed good news to
Justin, but he has answered, that does not want our meeting. He
played with me. He has informed that has the wife with two children
and at all has no plans to meet me. I was not ready to such turn of
events. I could not think what even after 8 months of acquaintance he
can so unscrupulously act with me. Now I am in Moscow trip to Moscow
and reception of visa. I do not want that all was gone for nothing and
will be glad if my visa will be useful to our meeting. I could arrive
already through 4-5 days, but a problem in that that now I have no man
which would like my arrival. Probable it will silly sound but if you
will be interested in a meeting with the good woman I shall like to
meet you sometime soon! As Justin was dishonest with me I have
decided to find the man which is interested to meet the woman from
Russia. I do not know your ideas about my letter, but it would be fine
if we could meet and have some weeks or months together. On my trip I
want to receive rest from my work and a life in Russia. Also the basic
purpose for the future it is search good men for serious attitudes
which go to a marriage. I have no children, but I want to have
children in the future. I am the mature woman and ready to creation of
family with good man. I do not know what you really search in the
future but if we could meet I shall be happy to discuss with you more
about our meeting. What are you going to do this time? It would be
fine if we could meet, do friendship or more than simply friendship. I
shall be happy if you also have a free time and we could meet soon. I
do not know your interests, but anyhow write to me back and I shall
tell to you more about myself. Write to me all that you want. Maybe we
have similar plans and it will be interesting to us together.You can write all that you want. Ask any questions which interest you.
Write to me back and I shall tell more about myself and send more my
photos.Please, write to me back on my regular e-mail: zolnadja@bk.ru
Have a good day,Nadejda.
Good, eh?
Who was your first celebrity crush?
Submitted by Glory.
I'm guessing that there were a few before the one I'm going to reveal, but I can't remember very well. My memory is hazy and milky. I wouldn't say it was a crush (truthfully, more like a lust), I'd probably say Salma Hayek. Dusk Till Dawn, Desperado - not only were they great movies, but she paraded about in her underthings.
A good argument could be made that if I really thought about it, she'd still be fairly high up on the list.
Do you buy products made locally? Is there anything made in your area that you love?
Beer. Lots and lots of beer. Seriously, we have the best independent and micro-breweries in the US here in Portland and the Pacific Northwest. Bridgeport, McMenimins, Red Hook, Full Sail. Probably beers that you can find in your local supermarket.
But the king, in my eyes, is Widmer. Good lord do they make some good beer. My favorite? Heffeweizen from the tap. Cloudy, bready and couldn't be more delicious.
I love horror films like this. Hell, I love movies that are like this, period. Independently minded, shot and edited with a restraint that's refreshing. It's a horror film, yes, but it's also a great film in general. When I think of this when compared with something as silly as a Paul WS Anderson film, it's a wonder that films like this are the exception rather than the rule.
A group of women, seeking a sort of emotional rebirth, enter some caverns (which we learn have been unexplored). And few return.
Really great. Highly recommended.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? Why?
Submitted by abcdefg81.
This is easy because it allows for such an amazingly extravagant answer. If I had Bill Gates money, I would have a home in the following cities:
- Portland, OR
- Portland, Maine
- Las Vegas, (suite in a casino will suffice)
- Ranch in Montana
- House on the Northern California Coast
- San Francisco
- London
- New York
- Miami
So greedy. But it's true.
But seriously, if I had to pick a place to have a second home, it'd probably be a ranch in Montana. A ranch with no animals, mind you. But a place where you can look around and see nothing but sky and dirt. That appeals to me.
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