Backyard getaway

Someones backyard patio in old town alexandria.  Very pretty.

Modern Anachronism

Cobble road and the newest kind of vehicle.

Natural Beauty?

Motley Fool

At king street metro

Some big tower

At king street metro

Diamonds are forever, like roaches

Thanks to Wesley for passing this critique of diamond gift giving along. :)

Badvertising: If Jewelry Commercials Annoy You, This Is The Video To Watch

Little walk in Bethesda for lunch

I went to M&N Pizza and remembered to turn on the GPS Tracker when I headed back to work.


GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com

Todays travels

Went to Earls and had french toast with maple sausage. It was fair but not as good as I'd expect for eating out. I'll stick to sandwiches I think.


GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com





Then I rode the short distance to Java Shack and had a quad macchiato. Pretty good eye candy today.


GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com





Then I rode to Giant to do the grocery shopping.


GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com





Then to home of course. :)


GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com

GPS tracker and instamapper

There's a nifty application for the G1 called 'GPS Tracker' that is made by or works in conjunction with instamapper.com. It enables the GPS for the G1 and tracks your position and sends it to your account at instamapper every 1 minute or more frequently when you are moving faster than walking. It's neat because it let me see some of the range I cover just riding my bike for errands and how far I actually travel. I'll post all of my tracks here now and then add new ones as I make them.



GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com







GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com







GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com







GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com







GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com







GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com







GPS tracking powered by InstaMapper.com

Photosynthetic slugs, awesome :)

Solar-powered sea slug harnesses stolen plant genes

Magnapinna squid

Alien-like Squid With "Elbows" Filmed at Drilling Site

Fresh linens!

Yay clean sheets for the snoozing!!

Thanksgiving Stew

I decided to break out the crockpot and make stew for Thanksgiving.  I substituted turnip for rutabaga and it worked well.  Rutabaga is tastier but as a filler the turnip was fine.   I usually use yellow curry but went with balti spices today and it has a wonderful flavor.   I served 2 bowls of it for myself with dollops of greek yogurt and fresh challah.

Heading to dim sum

On my way to Rosslyn to meet Wesley and Jamie for dim sum.  In the Metro is a large sticker on the escalator that says, "I love my body. Fuck you for not."

I hope this advertiser didn't get paid

The signs are mispelled.

WSJ editor some kind of bizarre imaginary religious buffoon?

He claims that some monotheistic phrase falling out of fashion indicates that people in the country are less 'virtuous' and 'moral' and that is why the mortgage crisis happened. That is complete nonsense. Being a religious person absolutely does not make you a 'moral' or 'virtuous' person, ask all the inmates in a prison and I'm pretty sure they'd all tell you they belonged to some wackadoodle imaginary god religion before they committed their violent crimes. People with a personal sense of responsibility and a larger sense of collective benefit are the kind that do good deeds and refrain from poor decisions, whether they are based on greed or flimsy projections of accounting gains.

He should be ashamed.

Mad Max and the Meltdown
How we went from Christmas to crisis.

The embed code for the video doesn't seem to work. You can click on the article and see the 3 minute video there.

Proposition 8 protest via farce

This is very funny and illustrates how inane and bizarre the Prop8 in California is. Well done, students!

Princeton Proposition 8 to protect traditional sidewalk values

Tmobile G1 hotspot access

Well, I thought I had figured out the Tmobile G1 hotspot service but now I'm not so sure. Yesterday I went to my local Barnes & Noble because it was listed in the Tmobile hotspot locator application as having a Tmobile hotspot. When I was there I tried to connect but could only find the att ssid, so I connected to it and went to the regular login page and also the roaming partner login page and entered my telephone number (with and without dashes) and the last 4 of my SSN, that never worked. I called Tmobile hotspot customer care and they explained that the hotspot service that is included in the G1 data packages only allows access to ssid's of tmobile and not on their roaming partners.

I went down the street to starbucks and the Tmobile hotspot application automatically sensed the ssid of tmobile and logged me in and displayed the pink bullseye in the status bar. I was impressed that it was seamless and was happy.

But later I rode my bike down to the grocery store and decided to stop outside of another starbucks and see what happens. I was attached to the ssid of tmobile but was constantly redirected to a login page and the pink bullseye for a Tmobile hotspot never showed up in the G1's status bar.

All in all I am very unimpressed with the Tmobile hotspot service because it is unreliable.

Dinner

1 cucumber
2 roma tomatos
Greek yogurt
Pile of dates
Scattering of pecans
1 apple

Delicious. :)

Great quote from Charlie Jade

Mrs. Threnody says to Charlie:
"If you let big corporations tell you what to do, Mr. Jade, you're working for them, you're just not getting the benefit packages."

I love this show.

Meteor caught on police dash cam in Edmonton

Hundreds call in spectacular meteor sighting

Single Celled Organism the size of a grape, Gromia sphaerica

Wow. This is amazing. I've never heard of this organism before and it's fascinating.

Single-Celled Giant Upends Early Evolution

A large testate protist, Gromia sphaerica sp. nov. (Order Filosea), from the bathyal Arabian Sea

The Second Species of Gromia (Protista) from the Deep Sea: its Natural History and Association with the Pakistan Margin Oxygen Minimum Zone

FREE research paper :)
High diversity of deep-sea Gromia from the Arabian Sea revealed by small subunit rDNA sequence analysis

What the fuck?

.....i mean, what the fuck?? I love it.

What a retarded skank

A Totally Straight Dude's Take on Proposition 8

Radical Religion in the U.S.A.

Wow. I'm really struck by how these religious people sound exactly the same as the radical Islamic regimes in middle eastern countries, in power and trying to set restrictive policies, they're just christian. They are completely disconnected from reality.

I think it's completely bizarre how they frame everything in their lives and worldview through their imaginary religion. Are they actually incapable of having an independent thought or considering an issue based on scientific facts?
Unfortunately the answer seems to be 'Yes' to the former and 'No' to the latter, which is why I always say they are weak willed regressive degenerates.

QUOTE
They want to destroy the institution of marriage. It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth.
/QUOTE

Gingrich: There is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us

CurseBird

Watch people on Twitter curse. :) CurseBird

Believe it or not

This is actually a guy wearing all purple, with purple purse, and purple slippers.   Ah the metro, if only you were even more interesting.

Holy fucking shit, you've got to be fucking kidding me!

This retarded assmonkey, Cowboy Bush, has tried to push through a rule that would allow medical practitioners to withhold care from those most in need on 'moral or ethical ( meaning religious!) grounds'. What complete and utter bullshit!
If these weak willed religious types are so squeamish then they should get the fuck out of medicine and go live in a cave and die around 35 years of age. That's the best thing they could do for all of us. Fuck their goddamn twisted morality and cold hearts.


Protests Over a Rule to Protect Health Providers

QUOTE:
As an example of the policies to which they object, Bush administration officials cited a Connecticut law that generally requires hospitals to provide rape victims with timely access to and information about emergency contraception.

I'm frightened

The Where-Is-Your-God-Now? Burger from MAKE MOVIES on Vimeo.

Dinners this week

I decided to switch from making panini's, like the last couple of weeks, and go back to all vegetable and fruit dinner. This week I'll be eating a cucumber with greek yogurt, 2 or 3 roma tomatoes, a few dates, some soy nuts, and an apple for dinner. The yogurt or the tomatoes may be salted, cuz I'm a wild man. :D

Metro Viewing

I've been remiss in blogging about what I've been watching on the Metro lately. I watched most of these over the last few weeks and 2 of them today. I've taken to watching movies usually on the metro but if it's a good movie then there's a fair chance I'll become engrossed and miss my stop. It's happened more than once in the last few months ;)

I like to watch one or 2 of these a week so they aren't rushed and think about them and let them sink in. I wish everyone was as thoughtful as the speakers here.

More thoughts on the economy and bailouts

I forgot to mention that with all this fear about collapsing companies and lost jobs no one is talking much about potential new manufacturing industries that the U.S. could become home to. There would be new car companies that would start up and new or expanded industries like solar power plants, wind, wave, thermal energy converter manufacturing could absorb some or all of the people displaced by other rotten failing companies.

Plus, let's not forget, if our country would stop fighting illegal undeclared wars then we could have those multiple billions of dollars back in the economy as projects to support infrastructure and research in any number of fields.

Jackie Mason is my voice?

I was looking through youtube at the propaganda GM put up today about what impact letting them meet their natural end would have on the country and stumbled upon Jackie Masons video. I disagree with bailing out useless car manufacturers that haven't significantly innovated in years and that have suppressed any attempt to raise the CAFE standards. They should die publically and all of their workers become unemployed and angry at the mismanagement that has taken place for decades that ultimately resulted in the loss of their incomes. Then they can find new jobs and adopt the attitude of watchdogs for the companies they work for to make sure they aren't filling their own pockets while they produce inferior goods.

What's burning through my skull today?

Fedde.le.Grand-Put.Your.Hands.up.for.Detroit



Ida Corr Vs Fedde Le Grand : Let Me Think About It : OUT NOW



Alex Gaudino - Destination Calabria



Camille Jones Vs Fedde Le Grand - The Creeps



Freaks - The Creeps (Get On The Dancefloor) Out NOW!!



What have I learned this evening?

1. The guy that appears in 2 of the videos is _awesome_.

2. Apparently I really like the music Data Records UK distributes.

Freedom!

Well, progress anyway. I just finished paying off a semester of my Masters degree that I had to put on a credit card for some reason a few years ago. That was an $8,000.00 weight that I've removed since getting the wonderful job I have now. Next up is the last payment on my macbook that I got 2-3yrs ago as a present to myself while I was still in the program. That happens the first week of December. After that the only recurring bills I have are Sallie Mae *shakes fist*, rent, cellphone, and...I think that's it.

Woops

Here's the pics I forgot earlier.

Sunday adventure

Today was a nice quiet day. I relaxed this morning and had 3 cups of coffee and joined Yelp and wrote several restaurant reviews before getting showered and starting the days errands.

I decided to GPS track myself via the G1 and the program 'GPS tracker' from the Android Market while I was out and about. I went to Cherrydale Hardware to get a key copied for a housemate and had put laundry in the washer when I left. When I came back the laundry went into the dryer and I skipped out to the grocery store for the weeks breakfast and dinner items.

When I was home later I looked at my GPS tracks and was able to assign start and end points to my checkins and found that it calculated the distance traveled. All told I rode 6.4 miles today just doing errands. It makes me wonder how far I ride when I'm actually out for a real ride and not just tooling around having fun or on errands. It will be interesting to use GPS tracker in the spring when it's warmer and I can go out riding again.

Sunday clothes

I feel like I'm in a cat suit.  I decided to wear a thin long sleeve covering to go under tshirt and coat for bike riding across town to run an errand.

Wellness and friends

The sickness is defeated! Actually I was feeling better Friday after another long nights sleep and on Saturday I went out with Brian and Michael to celebrate Michaels birthday. We had a great dinner of sushi at Momiji in DC at Chinatown and then headed over to Dupont Circle to have some drinks at Cobalt and then over to Larry's Lounge for more drinks. It was nice hanging out with them and watching a guy pick at his ass at Cobalt...classy....then having severe geek conversations at Larry's where, Thank God!, we had seats.

I have a sickness

The germ train (Metro) has gotten me.  I have a cold or something.  Its very mild but I feel it with slightly swollen tonsils, general body ache, not weak but de-energized feeling, and warm flashes/very mild perspiration.

This started yesterday, or that's when I noticed.  There's also a sore muscle in the back of my neck on the left going down under my left shoulder blade.  I think its seperate from but aggravated by the cold.

I had been doing 40 pushups this week per day and yesterday was more difficult than I expected.  Now I think it was the weakness setting in.  I skipped pushups this morning and went to bed at 10pm last night, 2hrs earlier than usual.   I think if I sleep 8-10hrs per night for 2 more nights I should be fine.

The great unknown

Well, proof this cold is affecting my mind, I forgot the usb cable I've taken to work the last 2 days to charge the G1 with.  The great unknown is whether it will make it through the day.   I may try some energy saving tips.

Reflections on Prop 8

I'm not one to get overly worked up about this issue but these photos, though staged, and succinct comment on Prop 8 really touched me.

First pic from G1

I've had it for 1 day now and love it. Its a lot more useable than the ipod touch for comms because apps run concurrently. I don't really have anything negative to say about it except I wish the keyboard was a bit more raised. Touch typing isn't as easy as on the sk2's rubber keyboard. Aside from that, I like using the SD card for movies, mp3's, and pod/vodcasts. I just copy them over manually from itunes.

It would be nice if there were sound profiles for quiet hours like on the sk2 and the battery life could be just a touch better. Id have liked more weight to the G1, its very light, if it meant more battery.

G1 unboxing

The G1 arrived today and here's the unboxing. It came with a return bag
to recycle the sk2, that was nice. Usb cable, wall charger, battery,
earphones. Instruction books but its not like I'll read those.

Now to take the sim out of the sk2 and put it in the G1!

Earl's Sandwich

Earls Sandwich
2605 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA

Earls is located on Wilson Blvd between Clarendon and Courthouse. I had
ridden by it before and always meant to stop in but always forgot
because I'm rarely around for lunch. Today I was working from home and
remembered it so headed over and ordered the Chipotle Chicken sandwich
with a side of fries.

The sandwich came with the chicken breast flattened and cooked so it was
juicy and tender and bacon, cheese, and a chipotle salsa. It was very
tasty but I could have used a bit more kick to it, but it didn't detract
from how good the chicken and bacon were.

The french fries were fresh and good, nothing remarkable but just nice.

I'd like to go back and try a couple more things off the menu, there is
a salmon sandwich and the Arlingtonian. They also have a breakfast menu
I'd like to try.

Good Morning Fall!!

Walked out of my house and saw these trees in the median that had
finally fully switched from green to firey red.

Get your twangers out!

Vote Early!

I did last Monday :)

SAD!

Tennant: “When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won’t be with me.”

Yay! Tina Fey!

Sundry Glossolalia

a refreshing view and discussion on personal opinions

Critical thinking about personal beliefs

My first article by Anil Dash

What Sarah Palin Is Saying

Ignorance run rampant

Sarah Palin's War on Science

QUOTE
This is what the Republican Party has done to us this year: It has placed within reach of the Oval Office a woman who is a religious fanatic and a proud, boastful ignoramus. Those who despise science and learning are not anti-elitist. They are morally and intellectually slothful people who are secretly envious of the educated and the cultured. And those who prate of spiritual warfare and demons are not just "people of faith" but theocratic bullies. On Nov. 4, anyone who cares for the Constitution has a clear duty to repudiate this wickedness and stupidity.
/QUOTE

Prop 8

My First Anti-Gay Marriage Rally

Oh funny heterosexuals, when will you ever grow a pair?

Meanwhile, this is a great rejoinder :)

Todays haul

Trying something a little new for me. The whole long sleeve shirt
under short sleeve shirt. I think I'm doing it well, the long sleeve
is a techwick which is polyester and very light and the short sleeve
shirt is cotton. I kind of like the tree on the shirt, usually all my
shirts are plain without a pattern or picture.

I also found a really thin pair of gloves exactly like what I was
thinking I wanted for riding my bike in the morning. Just enough to
cover my skin but not try to keep me warm.

Wow. This is a dim bulb.

Lee Bohlsen Embarrasses Herself Royally, Is Behind The Learning Curve. (Her Words)



This makes me wonder if there are any people running for office in Arlington, VA similar to her? Wow. I really wouldn't have thought someone would show up to a question session/debate so ill prepared.

Just in time for the holidays...

I think I'm going to try something new. This week I switched my dinners to a panini/quesadilla general hot sandwich and vegetables and I'm also trying to eat something in the morning even though usually food makes me feel sick. I also did 10 pushups today and I'm not going to lie, it was hard. I've been thinking about doing 10 each day for a week and then increasing by 10 each week after to try to get a little bit of exercise in the mornings without having to go outside in the cold as well as, hopefully, making some arm muscles. I'm not going to mention my complete failure to do even 1 situp though. nu-uh.

Scientology protestors at Dupont Circle

As I was walking to the Farragut West station after dinner with Brian I
saw people looking vaguely zombie'ish and wearing the masks from
Vendetta and Michael Jackson Thriller dancing. I was puzzled but
stayed out of their way and crossed the street. While I was waiting to
cross again I was looking around at them and reading their signs and
this exchange occurred.

Woman in Vendetta mask: "We're protesting the scientologists."

Me: "Cool."

Her: "Want some bacon?"

Me: "Bacon?" *immediately interested and yoinks card from her*

Guy with sign: "Yeah and we're crazy Internet terrorists!"

Me: *gives 2 thumbs up* "Awesome."