Invites and Jobs

I have more GMail invites, by the way. Post and ye shall recieve.

Otherwise, the search continues for the Next Great Venture In Employment. From what I can tell so far, I've gotten some great response from some really cool companies. I'm a little iffy on details right now, but rest assured when something concrete is reportable, it shall be reported.

More good blogging soon.

Gmail for the masses

I got 3 invites, leave a comment with your name and email addy to get one.

Funny, Fo Rizzle

Oh man, this 'translator' is hilarious and needs to be seen to be believed.

For example, only using Tha Shizzolator would you get the following from a CNN article:

"Well, if tha dude wants has a debate 'bout izzle service in Vietnam, here is my answer: Bring that shiznit on n' shit."

And here is a classic passage of my own, in Shizzleze:

"Parenting is like riding a bike in da dark, know what I'm sayin'? Yo' ass just hope yo' ass don't do something stupid, or hit that unseen curb, make yo' ass fall off 'n feel even worse n' shit.

To further my metaphor, I'm afraid I fell off da bike da last time brizzle wet da bed, 'n I hope that brizzle'll quickly forgive dear ole dad n' shit. As wit shorties things change daily, 'n wit my lessoned learned I hope we can move on quickly n' shit."

Black Day

I no longer work for ORNL Federal Credit Union.

This sucks.

Even more Sin

Ah, take a gander at these other posters.

Mickey Rourke is a fantastic choice for Marv. Rosario Dawson looks amazing as Gale.

If you guys haven't read the comic its based on, I suggest you educate yourself. It is masterful storytelling. (And no, I make nothing off that link, it's just a link)

Sinister

Wow, this poster looks amazing. Jessica Alba certainly does the character Nancy justice. Not to mention the fact that Robert Rodriguez is directing (alongside original creator Frank Miller), something I simply can't wait for.

I've been a huge fan of Sin City for about as long as I can recall picking up the comics back in the day. I bought the issues then, and I've purchased the trade paperbacks at least twice. Amazingly good story (but from Mr. Miller, that's not surprise...and I can forgive him for Robocop 2), wonderful art, and I can't wait to see how it translates on screen.

Color me excited.

Parenting 202

Parenting for a small child is weird. I ask myself these questions when Ericka is gone to work and I'm alone with the kids:

1. Is it really this tiring?

2. Does Annie/Abby act like this around Ericka?

3. Am I being too strict/too lenient with Annie?

4. Is it really this tiring?

In the realm of all things parenting, I think I don't want to be feared per se, but I want respect like any other parent. I want my children to listen to me. Mind, as it were. Yes, when they're two years old they push every limit they have available to them, and I really would love to know when the line needs to be drawn.

I asked Ericka why they go nutty with me yet she handles things so much better. "You're being too lenient with her, so she thinks she can do whatever she wants," Ericka told me.

Now I'm going to pull back the curtain and reveal what might be some painful stuff.

Last night I was pretty harsh, I admit. I tried to let Annie have some freedom, but when she did things that I told her not to do (over and over, of course), she got a quick spanking on the leg or wrist.

So later that evening, around 9:45, after Annie went to bed and Abby was fast asleep in her swing, I retired to my computer (where else, heh) and heard not a peep. Ericka came home around 10:30PM, as usual, and the kids had been asleep for about 30-45 minutes...

...or, had they?

Annie was crouched behind the front door, her gown half soaked in urine, and no diaper to be seen. Ericka said "What's wrong honey?" She replied "I poo-pooed on the bed," and started crying. Ericka then saw that she had taken off her diaper and peed (no poop, thankfully) all over the place. Another thankful moment is that she didn't get it on her blankey, something that has grown to immense status in Annie's little world.

But the point is not that she took her diaper off and wet the bed (something that's happened 2-3 times now), but the fact that she didn't say anything about it to me. I have a baby monitor in the bedroom, and I would've heard her if she had cried or called for me.

Which begs the question: Was I too harsh the last time this happened? I tried to explain to Annie, sternly (perhaps a bit more than necessary, sigh), that we pee-pee in the potty, not the bed. At this point I hope she can see past my stern ways, as I certainly didn't say anything mean, harsh, or loud when the event occurred last night.

Parenting is like riding a bike in the dark. You just hope you don't do something stupid, or hit that unseen curb, to make you fall off and feel even worse.

To further my metaphor, I'm afraid I fell off the bike the last time she wet the bed, and I hope that she'll quickly forgive dear ole dad. As with children things change daily, and with my lessoned learned I hope we can move on quickly.

What Wasn't Meant To Be

Sigh. Well, Quakecon started today. I mourn the fact that I didn't get to go this year. I really loved it last year, I had an amazing time, I got to see friends that I don't normally get a chance to hang out with (Jimmy and Jon, in particular). Tony was also to be included in this mess to Dallas, but alas it was not meant to be.

I really wish I was there, as it looks just as cool and interesting as always. Well, I'd love to make it next year, and hope that my buds agree.

Here's to hoping...

Carb Counters Unite!

You know what's really odd? Is that while this whole Atkins thing is tough, it's not quite as hard as I thought it would be. Here are a few things I've learned so far:

1 - Diet Rite is the bomb. Don't cringe, I know how bad it used to be. But that's used to be. Now, it 'tis be the shizzle. Raspberry and Tangerine are both excellent, and I'm not just saying that now that I don't have access to sugar--they're really good.

2 - It's actually tough to find carbs sometimes. I've worked my way into a few of those Advantage bars per day (2g - 3g carbs each), and the S'Mores are very good.

3 - When in doubt, drink water. You need 64oz a day. Stock up quickly.

4 - It's fun to have something like bacon and cheddar cheese as a snack. There's just something almost sinister in the ability to eat such foods and still be on a 'diet'. Sometimes you feel like you're cheating.

Otherwise, I'm on my 3rd day here, and the results are slowly starting to show. I'm guessing that by today or tomorrow I will be in full blown Ketosis, which I learned they kinda freak out about if you're admitted into the hospital with it (especially pregnant women...but what pregnant women are on Atkins? Thats just goofy).

It can also mess with your Kidneys if you stay in the Induction phase too long. (However, read this as a rebuttal)

Knowing these risks makes me feel better in some ways, because I'd rather know than not know. It also doesn't deter me in the slightest: I'm starting to feel better (after a few days of headaches and a little nausea, the former probably due to me quitting caffeine as well), and I'm slowly starting to lose weight too.

All in all, I'm adjusting, and I think that's a good thing.

It Has Begun

Yes, I have started this new fangled thing. I have never, in my entire life, went on a diet/eating plan/whatever you'd like to call it. Yes, never. Which is kinda freaky, when you note how much my weight has fluxuated before.

Why now? Well, my daughters for one. Those little angels will spur you into all kinds of action, normally of the positive variety. Two, my bud Christian at work has lost almost 90 pounds in 6 months thanks to eating meals like mine this morning: 3 eggs and 3 slices of bacon. It was good too.

Anyway, so that's underway. I stare here at my water, thinking back on my cola-induced days. They say you may even have sugar/carb withdrawals. I wonder if I'll get some of those, as I have had breakfasts of Mountain Dew and M&M's (Peanut, thankyouverymuch). You know, the breakfast of champions.

In the meantime, it's protein and 15-20 carbs a day for me. They say within two weeks the results are astonishing. They also say if you cheat just once you'll fuck it up. I kinda like that strange strictness. It's comforting in that Nurse Ratchet sort of way.

Superheroes For Everyone

Oh man, sweet! The peeps who made the amazing Batman: Dead End have decided to embrace us with another excellent masterpiece: the World's Finest trailer.

These guys are just fanboys who have the capacity of creating images that are necessary to drive home the excellence of their devotion. Highly recommended, try not to get goosebumps.

Soapbox, anyone?

Oh, how the political debates rage in the workplace.

A co-worker of mine had a cool comment: "We represent the microcosm of the voter populus: We have a die-hard liberal," that is, myself, "a die-hard conservative," that is, himself, "and a swing vote." This refers to our student.

Inside this little world we have differing debates on different issues. Taxes. Military spending. Abortion. How money should be spent and where. What happens when the government spends money it doesn't have. Etc.

And still I find myself drawn toward factcheck.org. Man that is a nice site, and also has a new update today about the Vietnam vets who are dissing Kerry.

I'm not going to say that Kerry is the end-all-be-all canidate. But he's about as liberal as it gets (just check out this info), and I'm right up there with him. I think it's time for someone who sees more than black and white, and is ready to do more than lead us into war (mmm...rhymes) and create Bushisms.

I mean, let's face it: It doesn't get any more liberal than allowing minors to give themselves abortions, or allow the morning after pill in schools. Yes, I am for this. No, don't kneejerk here. The former regards letting the doctor have the final say as to whether the female is competent, along with acknowledging the danger in which the teen could put herself in by revealing the pregnancy to her parents (for example, her dad my beat the crap out of her).

I hope to God I don't ever have to hear those words ("Dad, I'm pregnant,") before It's Time (tm), but if I do I would certainly like for my daughter to tell me. However, if she chooses not to, I do respect her right to do that. It is a very line-in-the-sand issue, and pretty much determines what side you're on.

The morning after pill issue basically takes the idea that if school districts want to spend money to distribute them to teens who request them, they have the option of doing that. No government money is involved. It's basically just a go-ahead from the Big Guys.

I like that in a canidate. He's put out some real ballsy shit, and he's tried to get it into law. That's respectable, at least.

In the meantime we'll watch the sparks fly, and I'll do my best to create entertaining monologues for you, dear reader. I'll have more info on something other than political semantics soon...

Bring in the Good Stuff

Some real fantastic news here folks, of all sorts.

First, my best bud Jeremy was planning on moving to Nashville, the land of lots of traffic and an unhealthy amount of country music. So that sucked. But then he told me he's not moving back there, and that family/friends are more important than a few extra bucks from The Man. Yes! Call me a happy camper. It was just too depressing to think of him as yet another Good Bud Lost To The Wilderness of Earth (like this one).

Secondly, I now have The Game. Yes, it is installed. Yes, I have played about 30 minutes worth. Yes, it looks so good it makes you want to blush. Yes, it takes a very powerful machine to run in a low resolution. But regardless, you will fall down weeping as to how good this game looks.

I would've played longer but Ericka said she needed to go to sleep, so I promptly went to Magic Online and lost two fucking drafting tournaments in a row.

A draft tournament is where you use $13 worth of goods to compete against other players in hopes of prizes. Yes it's single elimination (lose 2 out of 3 games with another player, you're out). If you just make it through the first round you win 2 packs, which leaves you with only 1 pack and 2 $1 tickets left before you can play again. But nooOOooo, I had to blow it twice, something that is baffling in as much as I got 2nd place in the previous 2 drafts (which renders 3 packs). Ugh. Just so...painful.

Anyway, good news with the bad, with the former out-weighing the latter. I'm happy with those stats, but that doesn't make the sting of those losses hurt any less. Grr. You think after about 60 drafts (yes, 60), I would be more consistent. Hrmph.

We the Free

Our friends over at O'Reilly have recently released the new book We The Media absolutely free to the public via pdf.

Remember kids, when you share everyone wins!

And if you like the book buy it.

Fam Bam

And we're back with a weekly family update:

Ericka: We're trying desperately to find a child to babysit during the day so Ericka won't have to go Slave Dearly at her current job. This would bring us more money, give Annie a playmate, and less stress on my wife. A win, win, supah win for everyone.

We've invested almost a $100 so far, for advertising in the local paper (which is 3 times more than it would cost to advertise the Camry still hanging around our neck, because this is a 'service' and the car is just a car ad. That's really weird).

It runs for two weeks, and we're nearing the end of week 1 with one good call but no definites. Hrm.

Annie: Is a smart cookie, fo sho. She also loves Finding Nemo. That girl can't get enough of that clown fish. If she's not requesting Dora then she's asking about the fishies. Otherwise all is well, no sickness, no real problems, a few attitude adjustments but hey that's parenting for ya...

Abby: Getting more cute and vocal and active every day. She's finally settling down into a regular schedule and it's nice to see her eating stage 1 baby food (also known as Weird Mush). We'll see how she progresses and whatnot.

As for the rest of my fam, it's been awhile since I've seen anyone other than my mother. My sister is MIA, but we normally keep our relationship strangely seperated, and I really need to call my father.

As a last little treat, here are a few photos from my visit to Jeremy's parents, complete with Annie post-outside playing and Abby in the arms of Memaw Roberts:

The Village

So I saw The Village, M. Night Shyamalan's latest work. What can I say? I really dug it. Of course, Ericka figured out the Super Secret Twist(tm) within an hour of its two hour running time, but there were still a great number of twists that I really enjoyed and of course won't spoil for you.

I will say that with absolute certainty Bryce Dallas Howard, the daughter of supah director Ron Howard, will be a huge star from this role. She embodies everything needed in a leading lady: looks, talent, and charisma. Ze Star Iz Born! (cue dramatic music)

Anyway, I really enjoyed the laid-back pace of the film, though I think a few more minutes of editing would've been nice, and I also felt that it wasn't the strongest M. Night film (that honor goes to Unbreakable). It didn't draw me in quite like Signs, but it still kept me rivited and I really enjoyed the Twilight Zone ending, even if it did seem a bit hollow after all the fuss.

Does it stand up to plot-hole-finding? Probably not. But as a film and as a work I thought it represented some maturing of M. Night, and hopefully the lessons he's learned here by working in romance and even more beautiful and deliberate cinematography will carry over into his future works.

Out of 10? 7/10.