4.35mi 31'37"

Rock Quizster

Well, here we go. I was going to wait until the new year to start this, but hey, I was folding laundry while the tunes raged and I was inspired. First off, I'd like to thank those readers who have held on and kept visiting. I'm such a needy person. I love it when you respond.

So, without further ado, back by popular demand, I bring to you, the rebirth of luke warm:

THE LYRICS QUIZ: REBORN

Ok, you remember the drill. We need the title of the song and the artist (or "artist" in some cases). Arguing over who did the best cover of an original is encouraged, but Janis kicks Kris' ass at Bobby McGee, and that can be changed by neither men nor gods.

I'm going to mix those standard questions up with some short answers - no True/False or multiple choices (so far :) ) Also, I've made no attempt whatsoever to reconcile these with the earlier billions or quizicles, so expect review questions of songs we've already covered. You have been reviewing all semester long, haven't you?

1.

She helped me with my suitcase,
She stands before my eyes
Driving me to the airport,
And to the friendly skies.

2.

Sometimes, tell me
While she's touching you
Just by mistake
Accidentally do you say my name?

3.

Old friends meet on the edge of town
Sharing conversation, hoping things will soon get better
While the children meet, got the world at their feet
Not knowing whats around the corner
Are we living for an uncertain future?

4.

Don't be afraid to try again
Everyone goes south
Every now and then
You've done it, why can't
Someone else?

5.

Out on the wiley, windy moors
We'd roll and fall in green.
You had a temper like my jealousy:
Too hot, too greedy.
How could you leave me,
When I needed to possess you?
I hated you. I loved you, too.

6.

I was living for a dream, loving for a moment
Taking on the world, that was just my style
Then I touched your hand, I could hear you whisper...

7.

I could leave but I won't go
Though my heart might tell me so
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes

Short Answer (Bonus points for title and artist)

8. Who might declare us "the nicest of the damned?"

9. What is it that brings out the man in me?

10. Where might you find a one-man band who'll toot his flute for you?

11. What did you swear the time before?

Digital Decadance

Well, there was a whole lot less work going on today and a whole lot more retail therapy. Oh, online shopping, how you seduce me with your reaching out to my laziness with your free shipping and random things I never knew I needed.

There were gift cards received this holiday, and I'm giddily shopping from the comfort of my home wearing much less than would be socially acceptable were I to be wandering around the brick and mortar stores, and that's a beautiful thing.

One thing that I did get out to shop for was a decent beginner's cookbook. Pretty much all I've got in my cooking toolbox are the bachelor specials, you know - omelets, chili, tacos, pasta, etc... So I did get out and hit the bookstore to find something that I hope will help. I'll blog it if anything I cook is notable in success or failure.

Also discovered while out today - Pear Cider. Oh, yum. Why is it so hard to find ciders here?

4.4mi 31'46"

Brain Dead Meme!

A Meme? Easy? A window on my dark dark soul? Sign me up!

Via the Janus-like Pilgrim/Heretic

I present to you the first line(s) for each month of the past year-o-blogging (minus run reports)!

January:

More rain - no run

February:

Bloody Vikings...

March:

I loved Choose You Own Adventure books - Something Awful has more of these right here - warning that some things there are, um... a bit tasteless.

April:

"Making Eye Babies" Not Allowed

May:

80 random people + blue polo shirts and khakis + plans to politely hang out at the local Best Buy = Hilarious

June:

First off, an apology to what few loyal readers I've got left for the lack of posts lately. I've been doing the thesis tango with my advisors and a whole lotta caffeine.

July:

Very bizarre surfing gets done late late at night when you're doing laundry (cause it's too bloomin' hot to do laundry during the day).

August:

子曰知之为知之不知为不知是知也。

The Master said, "to see knowledge as knowledge and ignorance as ignorance - this is knowledge."

I shoulda listened to Confucius.

September:

Hot:

Andre Agassi: Regardless of whether or not you've never actually seen him play or care to, that was a great match.

Not:

US Basketball Team: Further evidence that NBA players are just overpaid egomaniacal ball hogs who can't play as a team or the natural result of trying to throw together a team in too short a time? I vote both.

October:

Yesterday was mostly very cool. There was that incident - with the photocopier (I guess we're not supposed to say Xerox machine anymore, are we?). There was also the other incident with the photocopier. All I have to say is that I didn't do it. It was like that when I got there.

November:

I think part of the reason for my lack of posts lately is more than simply the fact that I don’t sit in front of the computer 7 hours out of every day like I did at Old U.

December:

There's a minor ick at USU (Urban Sprawl University - You like?).



So, the lessons learned here are as follows:

• Pretty much all I do is link - no real content to be found here
• I also whine.
• I need to learn to blog better :)

4.33mi - 31'21"

Funny thing is that I haven't run for awhile. (again. I know, I know.) I started out and it felt soooo good. I started running a little faster and my entire body felt like it was just made to glide over the sidewalk. My breathing was coming easily and my legs flitted back and forth snicker-snack.

That lasted about 100 meters.

Holy poop I got tired. Muscles tightened, breath wheezed, legs pulled forward through mobile tubs of molasses. It got a little better as I ran through the shock of it all, but still. Yeesh.

On the plus side I took a hint from Jayfish and listened to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, which now comes in handy, easy to swallow podcast form (it's on iTunes too, if you like it that way), while I ran. I'm sure the other folks on the sidewalks were wondering why I was laughing out loud as I ran by them. They probably just thought I was a cruel punk mocking their slowness. I'm sure they'll trip me next time.

Happy Holidays To All

After a wild dash across and back across the nation, I've come back from the land of wind and dry skin. Fortunately for me, it's also the land of family, lots of food, and some kick-ass presents. Old stories were told. Old songs were sung, and I was reminded how much I really like my family. I know so many people who really dislike their family, so I guess I got off lucky. Throughout multiple flight delays (I had the least troubles - one delay and one missed flight, but a first class upgrade and a free ticket on an airline that I'm not sure I would want to fly with again, so it was pretty much a wash for me), holiday cheer was retained.

The obvious stars of the entire production were naturally the nieces. To get all the cliches out of the way, They're HUGE! The youngest is walking around and talking (the best thing you can hear is a toddler squealing out "Again! Again!" after seeing a trick or funny face), and the eldest is the cleverest thing on the planet.

I'm using today as a recovery day and then I'll go back into the research and work stuff tomorrow. I really needed that break. I feel recharged. That could also be because I actually did get out and run this morning. That'll be int he next post. Err... you've probably already seen it though. It's up there above this one, I'll bet.

The Bird Is NOT The Word.

Ok. See, one of the problems I have when trying to convince people I'm not gay (happens more often than you'd think or I'd hope) is that I enjoy musicals more than most folks. I've mentioned before that I can sing almost all of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, but I'm also fairly fluent in some others, and well... one of those 'others' is Grease.

Although I cannot be convinced that Sandra Dee wasn't much more attractive before she went all slut-o-rific in the final scene, I really like the film more than perhaps than I should. I say film, because I've only seen it live once, and if I remember correctly, it was a high school production. I think. It better have been, because it was god-awful.

So, imagine my surprise when I see this. Go ahead. Go check it out. There's a video there on the main page so it might not be work friendly, but you better not still be at work anyway, right?

So, I'm really torn. I think I'd really enjoy watching the decent singers audition and all, but umm... Did you watch that video? Are they going to porn up the show? 'Cause that's what it looks like. Grease ain't Cabaret. T'aint Chicago neither. Hey, I'm no prude, and I've got no beef with porn (pardon that phrasing), but I think that the sexuality of Grease needs to be at least a little understated - else who would be surprised at Rizzo's pregnancy scare? If the Pink Ladies turn out to be a little gang of Paris Hiltons, then I'll be oh so sad.

Maybe I'm too stuck on the movie being the only 'right' version. I do that. Woe betide anyone who covers a favorite song of mine.

So, it'll be on my record list, but I'm wary...

Just FYI

Quick Note

Just dropping by to leave a quick note to wish everyone a very pleasant Global Orgasm Day.

Boo!

In honor of the discovery of the title of the upcoming Harry Potter book (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), I, having myself nothing worthwhile to present, pass on a link to some fun drawings.

Enjoy.

Quiz Dump!

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop."
Philadelphia
The Northeast
The South
The Midland
North Central
The West
Boston
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

You paid attention during 97% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

- Grrr... I want to know which ones I missed >:(

What type of person do you attract? Your Result: You attract geeks! Your stunning intellect and love of sci-fi and video games allures the geeks like nothing else. Maybe it is the sparkle in your eye that makes them want to text you, who knows. Geeks make good partners, but tend to be arguementative. If you are a TRUE geek magnet, you will know if that was spelled correctly, and actually care. If it is a bad-boy/bad-girl you are seeking, you are barking up the wrong tree, unless they are just 'bad' behind a PS2 console.
You attract Yuppies!
You attract artsy people!
You attract models!
You attract unstable people!
You attract rednecks!
What type of person do you attract? Quizzes for MySpace

Link Dump

Oh, yeah, I forgot:

• Cool physics game - the dots are attracted to the balls, so get out there and move those balls! (and you can make up your own joke there, I can't be bothered)
• The return of You Don' t Know Jack! - Do you guys remember this? It was a really funny trivia game many moons ago, and now it's back. I tried a few and the new ones seem pretty funny
• Movie scenes made out of stationery! How many can you guess? I got 12/20. That's an F.

Also of note. I actually was social and went out for dinner last night! Woot! Yea me!

Time Cop-Out of the Year

Ok, Ok, I know I'm behind the news-cycle with this one, but as I'm sure everyone has seen by now, the Time Person of the Year is out, and it's 'You.'

Har har, clever clever.

I see what they mean - as a bulwark of the "old" media, a magazine is going to see the disturbance of the YouTubes and blogs and their aggressive watchdogging and raking of muck that is aimed not only at the standard targets of such things like politicians and movie folk and such, but at all media outlets as well. So, yeah, it would be silly to deny that there isn't a big shakeup going on. Bush's forged military records, Howard Dean's scream, panty-less coke-crazed attention whores - none of these would be what they are without the "new" media.

But I'm still not sold that impact is more important than, say Rumsfeld, Ahmadinejad, Kim Jong-il, or Hugo Chavez.

I'm not saying that their choice was unfounded. Hell, it's their magazine, they set the standards.

Feh, I guess it's a good thing I don't buy papers or magazines anymore. They're all online, don'tcha know?

Holiday Meme!

From Jayfish, Zerodoll, etc...

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Nog is nice, but Chocolate is the best. My only trouble is that I can't drink hot drinks unless the weather is actually cold. I'm a human furnace.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Are you kidding? Santa? Feh! I'm sure it's the elves that do all the real work.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Many colors, I think. Different kinds of lights too. I like the little bubbling ones.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nah, I'm not too big on parasitic harassment inducers :)

5. When do you put your decorations up? I put up my decorations, oh... never. Maybe when I have a real place of my own?

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? White trash moment here. I love the canned cranberry sauce. Ya know, the kind that keeps the shape of the can - hehe.

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? The anitipation. Always the anticipation.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm with Zerodoll - I honestly don't know. I've always been a cynical guy, but I also am easily deluded. I can't remember. Maybe I blocked the memory?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We used to do a little of both.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Don't have one :(

11. Snow! Love it or dread it? LOVE IT. It may be a function of living in snowless places for awhile, but snow is the best! Building forts, snowmen, caterpillars (for those to lazy to pick up the snowman pieces), it's just the bestest.

12. Can you ice skate? Never tried really.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Geek moment. Mom got my brother and me the Vic20 with a drawing pad. Soooo cool. We loved it so much we promised we would only use it for school - hehehe liars!

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Getting together with family.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? All of it?

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? hmm... we don't really have any set traditions... maybe we need to start some...

17. What tops your tree? A better tree? Hmmm I can't remember right now... Angel start-thingie?

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? You need 'em both, now dontcha?

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? I like some of the old crooners doing the classics

20. Candy canes? Striped. What? Was this the free-association question?

21. Favorite Christmas movie? Honestly, all the old ones are ok - Rudolph, Wonderful Life, etc... I'm not sure I really would go out of my way to watch any of them. They're just all on, you know? so I watch some... Oh, I'd be remiss not to mention A Christmas Story. Because, you, know, he's going to shoot his eye out.

Edited to fix Zerodoll's link

Another Brick in the Mall

Yeesh. It's been a long time since I've been at the mall. random comments:

• Lots of creepy people hanging around at the back of the video store looking at Japanese cartoons
• The video store - weird. I guess it's been even longer since I've been in a video or movies store. Haven't they already been eaten up by iTunes and Borders yet?
  
• mannequins... um... what the hell is up with their boobs? I realize that surprise at the sexualization and commercialization of children is pasee, but holy crap! If the store is selling clothes to pre-teens, I don't what to see nipples, thanks.
• Do people really buy all those cell phone cases and accessories? By the look of the dude next to the little cart there, I can't imagine business is brisk.
• There was a Wii set up at the games store. It actually looks like a lot of fun.

Outstanding.

Which Historical Lunatic Are You?
From the fecund loins of Rum and Monkey.

from The Little Professor

Fascinating....

Is there anything more fascinating then the internets when there is work to be done? As in work that needs to be done tomorrow? Stumbleupon is an evil evil creation. It just sits there on the toolbar begging to be clicked. What will it bring? Pretty pictures? Funny stories? Outrage of the day? Wacky Japanese porn? There's no telling! Big money, big money, big money.... STOP!

Also - new record. My first grade complaint within hours of the grades being posted. USU students seem to be quite focused on the numbers. Sigh...

Sooooo tired.

Link Dump

• Rules for the table. Don't you dare talk to Rocheal (this seems to only apply to Becka - she's the weak one, I guess)
• More proof of my ignorance. I got a 48. I have no hope to get anything in Africa.
• More proof of my geekitude. Peanuts and Marvel Superheroes mashup.
• Excerpts from They Call Me Naughty Lola. My favorite?
  
• "To some, I am a world of temptation. To others, I'm just another cross-dressing pharmacist. Male, 41."

Sunday Haiku

Weekend? What is that?
Eternal grading. My paper?
a binary dream.