Thursday, March 26, 2009

Workspace!

I haven't had a desk since I lived on Lawrence street in Ann Arbor -- that was about three years ago. My last apartment in Ann Arbor didn't come furnished with an area devoted to work, so I used the kitchen table. This was a perfect solution, since it meant I was near food, and had two lovely windows to look out of. All I could see was a parking lot and some tree trunks, but it was better than nothing.

Since moving to Virginia I've been a nomad. Sometimes, I work from an easy chair, sometimes from our small dining table, and sometimes from the toilet. Each of these locations has it's pros and cons, but the real problem was that I had no space devoted to work. I often had to pack up all my materials on whatever I was doing, and clear out long before I was finished.

That's all changed now.

The local consignment store had this very nice antique solid wood desk at a very affordable price.

From Virginia Apartment: Awesome


From Virginia Apartment: Awesome


From Virginia Apartment: Awesome


From Virginia Apartment: Awesome


I was told by the woman who sold it to me that the former owners had the table in their family for years, and that it was once used as an altar in an outdoor wedding.

I am eminently pleased with my new acquisition, and I have now removed one more excuse to not get any work done.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The Last 25 Things Meme

I am the last person on the face of the earth to do this, but who cares. Primary posting will be on FaceBook, but reprinted here for your general amusement.

1. I did not own any real nice clothes until I got this job with SAIC. The weekend before my first day I got tricked out, and probably taken for a ride, by the people at The Men’s Warehouse.

2. I still get kind of freaked out by the idea of ghosts and creepy monsters like the Mothman. I was a total sucker for the paranormal stuff when I was a kid, but now I have a childhood’s worth of creepy memories that make me jumpy at night.

3. I went for nearly a year without tying my shoes. I have gone for more than year without washing my sheets. I have never washed my car since I purchased it in 2002.

4. I think the serial comma is completely essential, and that the semi-colon has a bad rap.

5. I often worry that I don’t have enough personality problems to be a great artist, and will therefore be a mediocre writer for my entire life.

6. I did not listen or watch any news for most of the Bush administration. On the few occasions when I did, I would get incredibly angry and frustrated. As a result, I did not own a TV for two years of college.

7. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to everyone who has or will serve on the Gargoyle. This debt will be repayed in the form of one (1) beer that I will buy anyone current or former member of Garg staff.

8. I am writing this on a pirated copy of Microsoft Office that I lifted from the Gargoyle five years ago. Someday, someone will notice that when I work from home, what I turn in has track-changes that are attributed to "Gargoyle Humor Magazine."

9. Here is a brief list of words I cannot spell: thurough, resuarant, garuntee, admitadly

10. I am very self-conscious about my writing, and over work projects to the point where I forget about them. For instance, I drafted this at least two times before starting over with this list.

11. My metric for success is NPR: if I get interviewed for All Things Considered, I am doing pretty well; but if I get interviewed on Fresh Air, I know I will have made it.

12. I don't believe anything is above ridicule.

13. I really have no interest in meeting famous people. I don't really have anything of substance to say to them, and I am sure they'd just be annoyed.

14. I feel so lucky to have my family. I know people who's families are hornets nests of infighting, or are just too much for them to bear. I love my family, and I a grateful for them (and especially for all the Lyons', who have been wonderful to me).

15. I own and listen to seasonal music.

16. I am continually frustrated by how humanity’s imagination greatly outpaces our abilities. We can dream starships, and theorize about how to build and propel them, but we can’t find the cash or the will.

17. I lack the drive required to be a visual artist, or musician, though I so desperately want to be both.

18. Though I enjoy video games, I am often disappointed by them. I think they come up short on their promises.

19. I love breakfast foods, especially the stuff that’s really bad for you. Strata, biscuits and gravy, and sweet loraine are among my favorites.

20. During my freshman year of college I read Ralph Waldo Emerson's “Self Reliance.” It was the first time I read something that spoke to me and made me feel like I'd discovered a piece of my soul in someone's book. It seemed like those 15 odd pages contained more about myself than I knew. It was as if those words had taken all the conflicting ideas and ideals that I had struggled to communicate and understand and laid them out plainly and beautifully.

21. My childhood room was yellow. The doors were old wood, and had big rusty knobs with comicly large keyholes that you could look through, like in the movies.

22. I want to tell stories.

23. I don’t understand why necessities like pants and housing are so damn expensive. If everyone needs it, it should be cheap and freely available. There’s something very wrong with a world where cheese doodles and cell phones are more readily available than affordable housing and pants.

24. In preschool, I was jealous of my friend Drew because all the girls wanted to kiss him.

25. I don’t know if I’ll ever feel like I have things sorted out, but I hope I can at least look like I do, and do so stylishly.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Phil + Susie

Sittin' in a tree
gonna get m-a-r-r-i-e-d

To commemorate this momentous occasion, here are some pictures of the two of them together in a variety of settings.

From MarsEdit Images


From MarsEdit Images


From MarsEdit Images


From MarsEdit Images


From MarsEdit Images


From MarsEdit Images

Sunday, March 22, 2009

10 Seemed Like A Good Place to Stop

I struggle with this blog sometimes, especially when I have fallen weeks behind in updating it. 'Oh, no,' I think to myself. 'Yet another recap post that will cover weeks. Is this all I ever put on here?'

Fortunately for me, Stephen Fry seems to have the same problems with his blog. However, his blog is infinitely better than mine and he has much more interesting things to say (although I do wish he'd say a little less about how great Oscar Wilde is).
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So, here's the inevitable wrap up:

1. On the 7th, Claire and I took advantage of the nice weather and checked out the National Arboretum. It's a beautiful, sprawling park that, unlike most gardens, is car accessible. In fact, driving is something of a necessity given it's size. I know several of you are planning on visiting the area soon, so be sure to set aside time to visit this place. Don't let the fact that it's surrounded by a terrible neighborhood stop you!

Here's some pictures; please enjoy them!

National Arboretum


2. New assignment at Ft. Belvoir continues to take me places I never imagined I'd be. On the 11th I was attending a hearing on Soldier weight where the Army's Vice Chief of Staff and the Assistant Commandant of the US Marine Corps testified before the sub committee on defense spending. My journalist friends can roll their eyes at me, but it was still fun.

3. I have spent more time with a General than you have.

4. On the 12th I was at the Pentagon, which is kind of a frightening experience. It has very tight security, is frantic on the inside, and is the kind of place where the security detail has assault rifles. In a word: stressful. Add to that being late for the first of two meetings, and it made for an interesting day.

5. In a lot of ways I am still finding my feet at the fort. My first two weeks were especially difficult since I had two deadlines on top of getting used to the place, and figuring out how everything worked. Thankfully, everyone is patient and supportive.

6. Did you notice that 2009 has had two Friday the 13ths? I did. I think it's unusual.

On the most recent Friday the 13th, Keith, Claire, and I went to see Watchmen. When Auntie Barb sent me the trade paperback of the series for Christmas some years ago, my mind was blown. I had no idea that something so sprawling and wildly creative could be done with comics. As Crime and Punishment and Catch-22 changed my conception of literature, Watchmen changed how I viewed comics. Obviously, the movie could never live up to that, and in the end it's not that great. It's pretty, and has some fun moments, but I think Snyder was trying way to hard to get Alan Moore to like him by making a 100% faithful reproduction of the book, and the movie suffered for it.

I did, however, get to hang out with a cardboard cutout of Nicholas Cage that I found in the garbage behind the theatre.

From MarsEdit Images


7. My brother recently had a birthday. He's 14 by my count. My sister has a birthday coming up in May -- she'll be 12. They continue to amaze me.

8. My NCAA picks for this year are at 70%, and given that I usually have the worst picks in my family, I am more than pleased. I would have done much better if Arizona hadn't decided to win and shove Utah off the map.

Despite screwing up the whole Utah thing, I am proud of calling the exact measure of UM's basketball prowess: one game. Hail to this victor.

9. I've been having some trouble sleeping lately, which is unlike me. I am usually asleep within five minutes of getting into bed, and I will stay completely asleep until morning. On the rare occasions I do wake up in the night, I am back to sleep within moments. Lately, I've been waking up at odd times, been unable to get back to sleep after waking, and had some trouble getting to sleep at all. This is a new development I do not approve of.

10. I want to try and post every day next week, starting Monday.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

These Feelings Are Natural

Day01 at Ft. Belvoir summation: Oh crap crap crap! The woman I am replacing is far more experienced/talented/competant than me. Oh my god what am I doing here? I am going to screw up and everyone is going to hate me oh god. Maybe I should drive my car into a tree and use some disability time to get off the hook. No no no, if I start driving funny the Army guys will think I am a spy and shoot me a thousand times!

Day02 at Ft. Belvoir summation: Ok, I think I can handle this.


The big change between the two? Well, today I got a much more concrete feeling for what needs to be done in the coming weeks. Most of it just nerves; changes in my routine always throw me off like that. It's also kind of nerve wracking for someone like me to work at an army base. I get freaked out when a cop goes by me on a bicycle, so you can imagine what working at a place with Area-51 signs around does to me.
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I don't think I'll be as good a job as the woman I am (temporarily) replacing. But I will learn a hell of a lot about how to be a better writer. She's got years of newspaper and Army experience. She knows how to write for these people, and can make writing a task in a way that I am still learning how to do. She, and others I have worked with at SAIC, are able to build an article like they're building a table.

The closest analog I can think of is writing college essays. You take a stack of information, and you make something cohesive out of it. Now, it's true that I could (and probably still can) churn out college essays like a machine, but this is like a whole other level.

The other skill that I have not fully developed is a journalist's scheduling. These pro-writers track story ideas in terms of what will be available when and from whom, and various aspects of the approval process, in addition to deadlines. I am truly amazed at the information handoff going between the two of us. This is the kind of skill-reinforcing activity that really need.
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So, to my family and my employers: I am OK, and I think I am going to do well.

Monday, March 02, 2009

What I Want You To Take Away From This Is That I Have Not Been Fired

It's been a rough month, here on DeWitt, and I apologize for the lack of updating.
Claire's schooling has become increasingly time consuming. We both knew this would be a rough semester, but it only recently reached an apex of difficulty. To ease the situation, I've been picking up some of Claire's duties -- mainly, giving the dog a morning walk. The upside of all of this is that Claire will finish her MA in two years, as opposed to the two years +1 summer term recommended by the school.
The downside is that we've been extremely busy. The past few weeks have felt very "rat race:" I get up in the morning, I walk the dog, I go to work, I come home after dark, do dinner, and then have about an hour before I go to bed. I can't say I've been in the best of moods, so it's probably for the best that I was staying off the Blog Horse. That is, unless you want to read a bunch of "OH, WOE IS ME"-isms.
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As you may have gleaned from Twitter, I have moved out of the McLean offices of SAIC. From today until June, I'll be operating out of a cubicle at Ft. Belvoir. So:

I have not been sacked.
I have not been promoted.
I have not joined the Army.

Although that guy I met in the elevator while I was leaving McLean with my office in a box probably does think I got fired. Oh well!
Hopefully, Belvoir will be a shorter commute. But with all the security and driving through the base, I am not sure.
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This morning was meant to be Day 01 at Belvoir, but that's in question now. I scoffed at last night's Winter Storm warning -- they issue those things for a few flurries. However, the 4" of snow and more coming down gave me pause this morning. In Michigan this would be annoying, but mostly a non-issue; once I got the truck to the main roads, everything would be fine. But here in the good ol' NCR, the situation is more complicated.
There are no plows here, only salt trucks. So, main roads aren't so much "clear" as "incredibly slushy." There's a two-hour delay at the base, which I am utilizing to blog. I am going to take it nice and easy on the way in. I like my job, but I am not willing to die for it. Or crash my car for it.
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I took the dog down to check and see how bad Route 1 was, and also grabbed my camera. Please enjoy these pictures of a snowy Virginia, and a puppy.

From MarsEdit Images

From Tenzing

From Tenzing

From Tenzing

From Tenzing

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I met a man while walking the dog today. I mentioned that Tenzing was an Icelandic dog, and from Chicago, so he was used to snow. The man said, "that's why I figured the President didn't shut down the government today!"

Along with all the other activities, the Obama administration ushers in a new era of shutting up and dealing with the weather.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day (Baby)

Hello, young lovers.

In case you missed it, I made history this evening when I live-tweeted my romantic dinner for two with Claire. You can relive the magic below.

At restaurant; in finery. http://twitpic.com/1h4dc
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elecray7k Appetizers: BLT mac'n cheese gnocchi, duck spring rolls. http://twitpic.com/1h4ek
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Salmon with spaetzel and artichoke purée; beef tenderloin on mashed potatoes over steamed spinach w/fried onions http://twitpic.com/1h4wn
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Champagne sorbet, and champagne with rosepetal sorbet. http://twitpic.com/1h5ec
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Our escpades did generate some response. This from pal-Kris:
krishva @elecray7k Oh heavens that sounds delicious.

And this from pal-Justin:
ExploderFace @elecray7k Amazing live-tweeting of a romantic dinner out on the town! It's almost like I'm there with you guys!

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The restaurant in question is called Evening Star, and it is easily the best place in town. Possibly one of the best places in the NCR. The food is certainly gourmet quality, but comes at reasonable prices and healthy helpings. You certainly don't feel ripped off when you eat here.

Here's the menu for tonight's meal.
"BLT" Mac & Cheese
Spinach Gnocchi, Tomato Concasse, Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Onions, Triple Truffle Cream

Duck Spring Rolls
House Cured & Braised Duck, Caramel Garlic Basil Sauce

Pan Seared Salmon Filet
Crispy Spaetzle, Artichoke Puree, Fennel Choke Salad

Grilled Beef Tenderloin
Roasted Garlic and Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Spinach, Rosemary and Parmesan Onion Crisps, Bordelaise Sauce


Evening Star is very close to where we live in Del Ray, and is actually where Keith and I went to dinner before we even knew I was going to move here. Fate, I tell you!

The beef tenderloin is truly fantastic, and probably the best steak to ever cross these lips (the giant piece of meat once prepared for me by Jan Wagner excluded). Usually, the salmon is served on a ever-changing market setup, but tonight's was excellent -- if static.

Oddly enough, a place this classy only has one beer on tap: Pabst Blue Ribbon. I wonder if Frank, from Blue Velvet, is one of the investors?

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Evening Star has a deal with the wine shop next door, which provides a truly prodigious selection of wine. I stick to the beers, though.
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Claire got me this for V-Day. It's awesome!
From MarsEdit Images

There was a first edition of this book in my house growing up, but it has been long out of print until recently. Fabulous!
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I'm not really big on this holiday, but I do wanna say that my family and friends are so dear to me. Love to you all, and happy Valentine's Day.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

A Look Back

It was June 5, 2004.
A dinner, or perhaps a brunch, was held in Rochester Hills, Michigan. In the home of Jim and Sherri Lyons, their family gathered. In attendance were Jim and Sherri's two daughters, Jamie Lyons-Eddy and Julie Gillikin, and their families.

I was there.

Politics was the discussion of choice after a delicious dinner (or brunch) had been cleared away. George W. Bush was the incumbent in the election; Kerry had already been picked out as the Democratic candidate; and Barack Obama had already burst onto the scene with his stirring speech at the party convention.

Two predictions were made that night, which I think are worth considering at this juncture.

Jim Lyons said, "Kerry will go down in flames."

Jamie Lyons-Eddy said, "Obama will be President in 2012."

Was Jim right? Did Obama defy destiny? Please, discuss!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Move Along

I had a great long weekend. You see, last week I put in 80hrs by Thursday so I took Friday off. I felt totally recharged, which was excellent since I went north to Michigan to see my brother and sister perform in their middle school play.

Y'all missed out, that's all I can say. These kids put on a hell of a show; I left very impressed. Made me wish I had the nerve to do such things.

Grandma and Uncle Mike also made surprise appearances, and we all learned the true meaning of Facebook!

Thankfully, I also had enough time to just hang around and I enjoy myself. And interview dad. I'm hoping I can cut it together to be something worthwhile, but there's some technical difficulties. Best laid plans and all that.

If you're keeping score at home, this week has been pretty rotten for me. I've had some foul ups at home that kept me from getting the work done that I wanted to. Nothing earth shattering, but when work doesn't go as you plan it's just frustrating. Thankfully, I think the Weapon System Handbook will be off my plate pretty soon. It's been interesting, but I'd like to get some closure.

Anyway, not too much going. Nothing interesting, at least. Here's some stuff that's far more entertaining.

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I cannot embed the video, but The Mysterious Stranger is absolutely fantastic. You must watch it -- this is not optional.

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Behold, the History of the Internet! You've always wondered, haven't you?


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I remember seeing part of an episode of Twin Peaks when I was child, and being terrified by it. But after hearing so much about it, how offbeat, weird, and influential it was, I simply had to see it. In my Sophomore year of college, Justin and I watched most (if not all) of the series, and were completely blown away.

I remember saying, "Why can't TV be like this all the time!?"

Anyway, it's all available for free now. So you have no excuse but to watch it. That and The Prisoner. You gotta watch 'em both!

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Best name you'll read today? Probably Adolph Blaine Charles David Earl Frederick Gerald Hubert Irvin John Kenneth Lloyd Martin Nero Oliver Paul Quincy Randolph Sherman Thomas Uncas Victor William Xerxes Yancy Zeus Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenberdorft Sr. He's a leap year baby!

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I you like terrifying snow globes, then have I got something for you!



Someone should buy me one of these for my office. Or maybe buy me all of them.

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Oh, hey. I forgot, but last night I got caught up on all my emails yesterday. That seems stupid but for me it's a big deal.

Ok, move along now.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Habits

I don't think I have an addictive personality, but I do make habits quickly.

For instance, I remember the first time I bit off one of my nails and held it in my mouth. It didn't taste like anything particularly interesting, but I do so love to chew on things.

Thus: a decade+ long habit was born. One which lead to many other mouth-based self-destructive habits: cuticle biting, compulsive zit popping (not with mouth), biting-off-the-skin-inside-your-mouth, etc.

I've finally managed to quit all of those. Now I'm working on knuckle popping (down to only popping thumbs and index fingers: progress!).
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It wasn't long ago that I realized I could also form good habits with as much ease as I had created bad ones.

New Years eve 2007: I was alone in my apartment, listening to the Beatles and feeling sorry for myself. Around me, the raucous calls of Frat boys rang through the night. After my ludicrous pronouncements at midnight I decided that I wanted to eat better, and I would do it by only drinking one pop per month.

And I am proud to say I have stuck to this pledge (with rare exception) for over a year now. It might be the first time I have a made a personal choice and stuck with it. As a result, the few pops that I do drink are nice treats that I can let myself indulge in.

Just a few months ago, I added flossing to my list of "good habits." I've been trying to floss regularly for years, mostly at the behest of my dentist. Their warnings about gingivitis were constant:

2001: You might get gingivitis unless you start flossing!
2002: You're going to get gingivitis.
2003: You've got bleedin' gums, kid. But your teeth are great!


Anyway, I've stuck with that one, too. And my teeth are even more fantastic, now that my gums are healthy and firm.
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This past week, I've been fed up feeling like a rat in the proverbial wheel. So, I am making more habits.
First, 30min of banjo everyday. I had really let the ball drop on practicing, but just after a few days I'm already feeling like I have improved. Who knows how my garbled version of "Wild Horses" will sound by next month?

Second: 1 hour of reading per night. I've fallen behind on the New Yorkers around here, so I may as well put them to good use. It's also given me a chance to make some headway in my Collected Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson, which I've been meaning to do for years. Who knows? Maybe this is the year that I finish Gravity's Rainbow?

The next step: make writing a habit. And blogging. And cleaning. And laundry.

Well, it's a start.
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Even I thought that was boring. Here's a cool video to make up for it.

Cornstarch is AWESOME.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

The Blog Horse Won't Move

I planned to blog today. Set aside time and everything.
But I just don't have anything to say. I am very blank this evening.

Maybe something will come to me!

Saturday, January 31, 2009

He's the Question Mark Suit guy

Barb writes:

OK. I'll bite. Who's Matthew Lesko?


Who indeed?
matthew_lesko_list_view.jpg

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Famed more for his dress and ridiculous advertisements, DC native Matthew Lesko has made his mark on American culture by staring into a camera and repeatedly shouting "FREE MONEY!"



Any avid watcher of late-night basic cable, or mid-day Sci-Fi channel has seen his shtick. The suit, the shoes, the screaming; all to push his book, or website, or whatever he's got these days.
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There's more than a few people online angrily "outing" Lesko as a fraud, which I think is in poor taste. Of course the man is a fraud! He makes his living jumping around on TV in a question-mark suit with multi-colored socks screaming that you can get free money from the government, for goodness sake. Out him if you must but I really don't feel like he deserves the vitriolic fervor that is laid upon him. He's just a guy trying to make living like everyone else -- he just does it with books of fake information and a Riddler motif.
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So that's Matthew Lesko. If I ever see him around DC (and I am told he wears the question-mark suit all the time) I will be sure to get an autograph.


Friday, January 30, 2009

Blog Horse

Fell off the blog horse this week. Work got very hectic, and the weather took a famous turn around these parts. Between the ice, the editing, and everything else I just couldn't keep up.

My reflections on the inauguration are forthcoming. I started working on it last week and realized it could be even better than I anticipated. Look forward to it!

In the meantime, here are some things I think you should know about.
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George Herriman has finally been immortalized and digitized. Take a look at this fascinating digital shrine to him and his seminal creation: Krazy Kat.

For those unaware, Krazy Kat is a delightfully surreal comic strip from the 30's/40's based around a simple premise: Ignatz the mouse throws bricks at Krazy Kat, which Krazy takes as signs of affection, and Offica Pup tries to intervene on Krazy's behalf to win her heart.

With this simple, Sisyphusian triangle at its core Herriman was able to experiment wildly with the setting and the dialogue eventually creating a bizarre desert world with it's own inflected language for the residents. Like Pogo, Lil' Abner, and the writings of Mark Twain, the language and setting become almost as important (if not more so) than the stories themselves.


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From out of nowhere comes SPACE GIRL! In the proud tradition of newspaper adventure comics (see: Flash Gordon, Prince Valiant) Travis Charest (who I know I have seen the art of, but can't remember where) gives us a beautiful side project that is sure to please. Though it has older, prouder roots, I cannot help being reminded of the occasional Calvin and Hobbes feature SPACE MAN SPIFF! In fact, I am almost certain that Waterson did a panel identical to Space Girl! #3.

It's a hoot.


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Noted friend and artist Kris Jacque has a moving reflection on the end of VHS casettes. The only thing I can add is:

Remember duplicating bootleg anime tapes to exchange with friends? Remember taping every episode of the Simpsons between 1991 and 1998? I do.
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Gorgeous photos of the most destructive devices made by humanity. Beautiful and terrifying. A must-see.


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And to cleanse your pallet: a car covered in singing fish. It even has a conductor.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Inauguration Pt. 1

Part one? Is he making promises he can't keep again?

I hope not! I'm just incredibly tired from my adventures today, and I want to put up something worth reading -- not just something off the cuff.

To tide you over, here are some vital links.

More than one person told us that more than anything, the sight they wanted to see at the inauguration was George Bush flying away via helicopter. I can't say it didn't make me happy to see him get outta town, but I was non-plused by some of the booing in the crowd during the swearing in.

Out in the field, we had only hearsay and rumors to work off of. For instance, I learned via text message and rumor that two people had been killed when they fell onto the tracks of the metro around the China Town stop. I was relieved to learn that while one woman did fall on to the tracks, she was not struck and did not die. A pretty harrowing tale.

As of right now, just under one million people used the Metro today. That's amazing; especially because Metro has said that the system can only move one million when running at full capacity for an entire day. Personally, I think we're going to pass that figure before the day is out.

Possibly the most amazing thing that happened today: Obama receives the nuclear launch codes.

How crowded was it on The Mall today? CNN has an interactive satellite photo, but you can take it from this eyewitness that it doesn't look right. I think this picture was taken well before the crowds started to come in.

The big question is: Was Matthew Lesko at the inauguration? From the "Manifest Destiny" blog.
MOST EXCITINGLY: I'm pretty sure I saw Matthew Lesko walking down my street as I returned home. I mean, okay, it could have been someone else. But whoever it was, he was wearing a leather jacket emblazoned with question marks, pants with question marks on the back pocket, a question mark hat, and ludicrous shoes (which seem likely to have also involved punctuation symbols of one sort or another).

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Inauguration and Packages (non-stimilus)

For those unawares, I'm going to the inauguration on Tuesday. Claire's dad is coming in and staying with us for a few days, so we figured we'd give it a shot and try to get down to The Mall.

It will be cold, it will be crowded. But I'm probably never going to have another chance to see a presidential inaugural, let alone one I care about.

Pictures to follow. Tweeting will likely be limited on the day of, due to the huge bandwidth draw of so many people.
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The USPS lost some serious business today, since they closed at 1pm on Saturday. Who does anything before one on Satuday? Nobody, that's who. I'll bet you $50 that the post office didn't even bother opening today, since no one would show up anyway. Jerks.

As a result, the UPS store down the street got a lot of business out of me today.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE FOLLOWING CITIES, YOU'RE RECEIVING A PACKAGE FROM ME
LONGMONT
CORVALIS
ANN ARBOR

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Have you ever wondered what Archaeologists think of tv and movies vaguely related to archaeology? WELL, NOW YOU CAN FIND OUT! (Hint: They tend not to like them.)

If I ever need this, I can just show the movie Troy to Claire again. Hilarity ensues.
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The Greek Orthodox Church has a wiki. That's kinda cool, actually.

Patrick McGoohan

Wired has an excellent obituary on the late great actor/writer/director Patrick McGoohan, who was apparently born an American and adopted the UK.

While many probably know him from Ice Station Zebra, I believe McGoohan made his mark with the incredible 1967 television series The Prisoner. In this 17-episode series, a nameless former spy (called #6 by his captors) is kidnapped and taken to a mysterious place called The Village where he is to spend the rest of his life. Isolated from the world and controlled by omnipotent yet unseen forces, the Village is a place of terrifying mindless existence which #6 struggles against.

He also fights against a large, white weather balloon named Rover. This show is amazing.

As I've blogged before, it's also being remade with Ian McKellan as the nefarious #2. A nifty by-product of this remake effort is that all 17 episodes are available for viewing online.

You should watch them now.
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I first saw The Prisoner at my uncle Gary's apartment in Detroit. Mom was very excited by it, and I'd like to say that I was instantly enraptured by the series but it lacked spaceships so I played on the computer instead.

Up until pretty recently, the presence of spaceships was my benchmark for quality.

However, I have grown to love the series as a touchstone for how powerful television can be. It is remarkable that 31 years after it's original run, these few episodes are still celebrated. I can think of few things that have accomplished so much.

So watch it.
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It also has the most amazing intro.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Barb and Gary on NPR

Barb and Gary Ratner, my dear aunt and uncle, appeared in a recent story on NPR about the wide-spread effects of the economic collapse.

Listen to it here.

Maybe I am just being protective of my family, but I am a little miffed about the rather unsympathetic tone of the comments. Personally, I don't think it matters how much money you have; anytime the situation is such that you need to eat the money you've set aside, rich or poor, it's unfortunate.
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Regardless of what the Internet thinks, my aunt and uncle (and their dog) are smart, loving people in a tough spot. Both of them have had a tremendous influence on my life -- instilling a love of Douglas Adams, river freighters, the Prisoner, Pogo, and the Detroit Tigers among other things. They're good folks, and I sincerely hope they have a change of fortunes.
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Need a painting? Call my aunt!
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Also, Patrick McGoohan, creator and star of The Prisoner, died the other day. Ricardo Montalbán, too.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Bowling for Mason Proper



Some of the Gargkids (read: the new staff) took out 3/5 of popular band Mason Proper bowling in order to produce an article and a very neat video.

For those unaware, Matt Thompson (the tall one in circular glasses) is a Garg Alum himself. And I don't know if it's clear from this artistically edited movie, but the entire band is a bunch of really nice guys. They even let me and Keith hangout backstange with them when we saw their show in November -- gave us free beer with them and everything!

Mason Proper at the Black Cat


Oh, and buy their album. Buy it for real, or download from iTunes.
And subscribe to the Gargoyle.

Monday, January 12, 2009

This Post To Be Chiseled Into Solid Rock For A Nominal Fee

This is an interactive display based around a 1000 year old rune stone currently on display in Denmark. Without words, the stone tells the story inscribed on the stone, and then has some cool interactive stuff to boot.
There are not words for how cool this is. WATCH IT. READ ABOUT IT.


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Get the DMZ trade paperbacks for only $43. It's a good deal, but this series got pretty dull for me by trade #2. It's been called the "best comic of the Bush era," but I hope that's not true. DMZ strikes me as far to self-concious -- so much so, it is occasionally preachy. I think of Pogo, another incredibly pointed comic that took on world politics, and it's truly remarkable how effortless it felt and how forced Wood's work is. But if you like his stuff, you could do worse.
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This lineup for the Inaugural Concert sounds pretty good, but I am pretty disappointed that Wilco isn't on it. Especially after they did all those concerts for Obama, and shilled for the new Prez on Colbert (1 and 2).
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Saturday, January 10, 2009

The Weather Under (the mason-dixon line)

You can see the music I am listening to, and see what I have been listening to. It's not very surprising if you've met me.
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I got Spore for Christmas (Thanks, Grandma!), and I adore it. However, Claire has really taken to the game and has used my account to create all sorts of bizarre wonders. Take a gander. The Moa Kuus are mine, everything else is hers.
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Winter in Virginia is an odd experience. Around late October and through November, it was genuinely cold -- and getting colder! I fully expected to get a little bit of snow come December.

Instead, it just got very, very wet. It sometimes rains for days on end. The temperature also fluctuates greatly. Before Christmas (and I mean, a few days before Christmas) it was 70ºF outside.

In reality: Virginia Winter == Michigan Late Fall/Late Spring.

We've only had one or two frosts here, and they weren't very severe at all. Everything still smells wet and alive. I think the flowers have only died back out of habit or a feeling of obligation.

I'm told that it will get worse come Inauguration time, but honestly I can't imagine it could be bad at all.

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It's 39º out right now. It's 28º back in Troy, Mi. In Reykjavik Iceland, it's 34º. Has the whole world gone mad?