his noodliness
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Biking to Grandview
So, I rode my bike to work for the first time on Friday, and after work I rode down the Olentangy Trail to visit a friend of mine in Grandview. This was the route I took. After riding to work 0n Friday morning, from work to my friend's that evening, and then back home on Saturday morning, I calculated that I had gone about 25 miles. Not bad for my first real bike ride all season.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
My First Rain Barrel
First, I bought the barrel, which was $15. It once held Kikkoman Soy Sauce.
Then, I drilled holes in the lid so that I could cut the lid off. I used a saw to cut the lid off.
Once the lid was off I was able to clean out the inside of the barrel with soap, water, and a scrub brush.
Next, I drilled a hole for the tap. I forced the tap into the hole and sealed it with plumber's caulk, which turned out to be a bad idea. That stuff just erodes away. Use silicon. I made my own rubber gasket out of a piece of rubber.
Then, I tested the seal. The seal was great when I first tried it out, but eventually, the plumber's caulk gave way.
I screwed some longish screws around the inside edge of the barrel to hold the lid up, because it shrank up. The lid had already been outfitted with a PVC pipe adapter, courtesy of the guy who sold me the barrel. But, that would be the next step if you were to cut your own hole and add an adapter. This adapter makes it easy to go directly from a gutter or PVC pipe into the barrel.
The next part was screwing some mesh screen to the bottom of the lid to keep the mosquitoes out. They're bad this year.
After that, I set up a PVC pipe / adapter / gutter system to run from the roof to the barrel. And that was that. It works great!
Two more to go.
Young Buck at Rush Creek
We were only 8 or 9 feet apart, so I am very grateful that he let me get that close to him and just sit there and shoot. Maybe he was just as curious as I was, or maybe he was just cautious and didn't care that I was there as long as I didn't make any sudden moves. He had a companion off in the woods a little bit away, but I couldn't tell if it was a male or a female, adult or younger. Rush Creek can seem like a magical place sometimes.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Down With The Military-Industrial Complex
Read this USA Today article, by Edna Gunderson, about Bob Dylan. Pay close attention to paragraph 22, which is the part where Dylan's words about his song, "Masters of War", were placed. Then, after you've read that paragraph, go back up to the byline of the article and check out the date.
"You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you sit back and watch
While the death count gets higher"
More than 6,000 Coalition Troops, from over 20 different countries, have been killed in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many more 'insurgents'/'anti-occupation' forces members have been killed, whether they were members of Al Quaeda, Taliban, Iraqi army, or some other armed force, or whether they were just lone operators. Many, many more civilians have been killed in these conflicts.
"You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
Then you sit back and watch
While the death count gets higher"
More than 6,000 Coalition Troops, from over 20 different countries, have been killed in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many more 'insurgents'/'anti-occupation' forces members have been killed, whether they were members of Al Quaeda, Taliban, Iraqi army, or some other armed force, or whether they were just lone operators. Many, many more civilians have been killed in these conflicts.
A Perfect Circle - Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drum
From cowtown to the rest of the world... the sheep are warring...
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
An old friend's words... still relevant
We interrupt this program with a special bulletin
America is now under martial law
All constitutional rights have been suspended
Stay in your homes!
Do not attempt to contact love ones, insurance agents or attorneys
SHUT UP!
Do not attempt to think or depression may occur
Stay in your homes!
Curfew is at 7 p.m. sharp, after work
Anyone caught outside of gates of their surveillance sectors after curfew WILL BE SHOT
Remain calm, do not panic
Your neighborhood watch officer will be by to collect urine examples in the morning
Anyone caught interfering with the collection of urine examples WILL BE SHOT
Stay in your homes, remain calm
The number one enemy of progress is question
National security is more important than individual will
All sport broadcasts will proceed as normal
No more than two people may gather anywhere without permission
Use only the drugs described by your boss or supervisor
SHUT UP! BE HAPPY!
Obey all orders without question
The conformity is now mandatory
BE HAPPY!
At last everything is done for you
Sunday, June 06, 2010
How To Make Your Own Rainwater Harvesting Barrel
Using Google Documents I have created a folder dedicated to rainwater harvesting, and in that folder is a PDF document that contains a great set of "how to" instructions for making your very own rainwater catchment system, using a 55 gallon plastic barrel and some very low-cost pieces of hardware. It shouldn't take much more than a half-hour to build one of these.
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Friday, June 04, 2010
Central Ohioans For Peace Tent, ComFest 2010
If anyone interested in speaking briefly at ComFest 2010 (Friday - Sunday, June 25-27, Goodale Park, Columbus, Ohio), leading a discussion more than giving a long presentation (about 10-15 minute presentation, followed by discussion & q&a), at the Central Ohioans For Peace tent please email docrivs@gmail.com or jay@docrivs.com. There is a recommended list of topics, but if you can speak about a peace-related topic, then let me know. Thanks!
About COFP: http://www.centralohioansforpeace.org/aboutus.asp
COFP Meetings Info: http://groups.google.com/group/central-ohioans-for-peace
ComFest: http://www.comfest.com/
About COFP: http://www.centralohioansforpeace.org/aboutus.asp
COFP Meetings Info: http://groups.google.com/group/central-ohioans-for-peace
ComFest: http://www.comfest.com/
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
FW: CITIZEN OR CONSUMER?
From: Adbusters Magazine [mailto:jammers@lists.adbusters.org]
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:59 AM
To: 74730
Subject: CITIZEN OR CONSUMER?
On July 4, declare independence from corporate rule.
A corporation is not a person. It’s an organizational structure that has no morality and feels no remorse. Yet the modern corporation enjoys the same rights as you or I: free speech, the ability to own property, the right to lobby government officials and protection against self-incrimination. Decades of deregulation and laissez-faire capitalist ideology have allowed corporations to steer the world's political, economic, environmental and cultural agendas.
We need a contemporary insurrection to reclaim our democracy, our freedom and our country. We must challenge corporations and take back what is rightfully ours. Flying the Corporate America Flag as a symbol of our rebellion, let's make this July 4 the beginning of the second American Revolution. Let’s declare our independence from corporate rule!
====================================================================
HELP US!
We’re thrilled about our recent victory in the BC Court of Appeal, but the battle is far from over. Leonard Asper and his CanWest cronies have appealed our victory to the Supreme Court of Canada. Our lawyers tell us they don’t stand a chance … they’re just trying to deplete our coffers.
This fight is about media democracy, the voice of civil society and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which gives every human being on the planet the right to seek, receive and impart information without hindrance.
Don’t let Leonard get away with his blatant censorship of the public airwaves. To continue this fight, we must raise $50,000 to cover legal costs – we’ve already raised $12,000. Please go to www.adbusters.org/donate and put something into our coffers.
====================================================================
SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS ...
Adbusters #85, Thought Control in Economics, is only a few days away from deadline. We’ve got maverick economists like Herman Daly and Lourdes Beneria offering their views about the current crisis and interviews with Nobel Prize winners George Akerlof, Paul Samuelson and Joseph Stiglitz. But we need your intimate epiphanies peppered throughout … send something juicy to editor@adbusters.org.
If you’re an economics student anywhere in the world craving a different point of view, get in touch with us and we’ll send you a complimentary copy of the issue.
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Version: 8.5.374 / Virus Database: 270.12.89/2197 - Release Date: 06/23/09 05:54:00
Monday, June 22, 2009
this is one of my favorite songs, and i love this cover! very good rendition of an old dylan song @DJSomeMoSir ♫ http://blip.fm/~8p9my
'and the cat came back... the very next day... you know the cat came back... he never went away!' ♫ http://blip.fm/~8p9a0
but then again you could know someone all their life but might not know their a freak unless you see them at n... ♫ http://blip.fm/~8nvk9
Saturday, April 04, 2009
A Taste for the Blues in Cowtown
I've been looking at the page for the Columbus group, and I thought I'd post a collection of blues music-related links.
Columbus local bluesman, Damian Knapp seems to be a success story. He's won a Columbus Blues Alliance award, and he has a few CDs on the market that appear to be doing well. I like a rather somber acoustic/slide blues tune he does, called "Goin' To Realsville." It's on my MySpace page right now, and Damian has his own MySpace page. Also, I found another page on Damian, indie911. His music is posted on there, and there is a lot of good content.
The Sean Carney Band also has a following in Columbus. He has a voice like Tom Waits and he plays blues guitar like a mf'er. There was a little write-up on Sean in the Columbus Alive.
Dirty Linen has a good page on Events in Ohio.
There is a site for Blues Festivals that has a page on Blues Societies, and on that page, there are links to Ohio blues societies.
You can always check out "The Columbus Dispatch" Weekender page on their website. There are always good blues happenins going on in Columbus.
ColumbusArts is another good place to check for blues events in and around Columbus, for any night.
You can check out the Columbus Alive for any nightlife, concert, and event info. There are restaurant and bar reviews, interviews with chefs, servers, and bartenders. Although, the Alive doesn't necessarily specialize in blues music, it's a great source of info for what's going on in Cowtown.
The Cringe seems to be another great Columbus entertainment-related website. Again, this is not a blues site, but you can find info on events related to all kinds of musical styles here. It's a great site to check out, if you love music.
If you want another place to check out blues events in and around Columbus, then check out BuckeyeBlues.Com. Here, you'll find info on blues festivals, organizations, artists, and fans.
In the Arena District, you have a place called Park Street Tavern, and here you will find great live blues or jazz music just about any night of the week, and the atmosphere is kickin'. Plus, you'll be close to some of the best bars and restaurants in Columbus, and Nationwide Arena, home of the Columbus Blue Jackets (if you're into that kind of thing).
For other music, you can check out the site of the New Basics Brass Band, who have been jamming out brassy funk for years. These guys know how to rock a party with that N'Awlins style white boy funk.
Another band that's been rockin' Cowtown for decades is the Hoodoo Soul Band.
I don't know much about this next band, but Terry Davidson & The Gears have been entertaining all over Columbus for a long time, as well. Check them out.
There is an infamous venue for great blues, located in Grandview. It's a little place on 3rd Street, called The Thirsty Ear. Great place to check out some down-home blues and soul.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
“There is no security on this earth, there is only opportunity.” General Douglas MacArthur
i knew i'd find it. i've been trying to think of the exact words of that quote for awhile. there are many ways to say what you said above, but the main point is that with change comes opportunity. i like how general macarthur put that into words, because he included the reality that we sometimes feel the illusion of security when we do things the same way we have always done them. however, there is no security in that. life gives us situations, and it is what we do in those situations that determines our destinies.
another reality is that it is usually action alone that defines us in our own self-perceptions and our 'selves' in the the perceptions of others.
i've sought love and trust and respect from people, based on 'who i am' (as you put it) - based on my own perception of who i am, as a person. other peoples' opinions that have been voiced to me (directly or indirectly) about myself have colored my own self-perceptions also, and have become part of my self-perception. what i've found, in reality, is that people give love and trust and respect based on one's actions - not some illusion of who you are as a person.
life deals your cards, to put it in another way, and it doesn't matter what you've done in the past, how good or bad of a card player you are, or what kind of a history you've had as a person, the only thing that really matters is what you do with that hand - right here. right now.
you'll remember what you made of a situation. other people that were touched by the experience also will remember what you made of that situation. most people won't take the time to analyze your history - where you came from, your childhood, your younger years, your middle years. what they'll remember is that one moment where you shined (or bombed?) and they saw it happen.
you've probably heard the phrase, 'never rest on your laurels'. it means don't hold so much pride in your past achievements that you forget that you are still alive - that life hasn't stopped putting you in challenging situations and opportunities to shine and grow and develop.
life seems crazy and chaotic most of the time, but when you reach the final years of your life i think it will all make sense. you'll look back and say, now i see how i came to be where i am today. this led to that. that led to this. this allowed this to happen. that prevented this from happening. that led to this. the road is much clearer then.
i'm not that old. 36. i just know enough from my own experiences that this is what we can expect when we look back at 40, 50, 60, 70, or more years of life - if we have the ability to recall that far and are cogent enough to synthesize all that information.
i've been in a similar situation as you are in - looking forward to change - to a new job in a new place - possibly a new lifestyle. i know how it can be exciting, scary, hopeful, and sad, all at the same time.
i wish you well.
...and (*clink*)... here's to new beginnings and the possibilities for further adventures.
Monday, March 23, 2009
How to master an artistic skill
"mastering the guitar has been one of my greatest accomplishments so far."
How I did it: it's something i worked really hard at, although i've enjoyed it all the way. i don't think you ever really 'master' something in the sense that you couldn't improve somehow. it's just that i've reached a level on the guitar where i can say that i feel like i can do what i want to do with it and make the music i hear with it. how did i do it? discipline, practice, hard work, open mind, listening, and practice... oh... and practice.
Lessons & tips: practice. find a teacher. love what you do.
Resources: videos. books. the internet. other musicians. teachers.
It made me rock!
See more progress on: master an artistic skill
making room for new goals
i just haven’t had the desire to really do this. the idea is interesting to me, and i’ve actually followed other people online who do this. it’s very cool – portable art that people find. i just haven’t done anything with it, and i don’t mind saying that i think i can live without accomplishing this task. it’s not a goal. it’s an idea.
See more progress on: write anonymous, loving post-its for strangers to find
10 weeks of walking to work everyday
it’s been about 10 weeks since i found a new job within walking distance of my home, and i have never regretted having to walk to work. it’s just a short walk – about 10 minutes – but if i get up early enough it is a relaxing time to shuffle down main street towards the office. after work, i love not having to fight traffic. i’ve felt much more free than i have for a long time. now… grocery shopping is a different story. walking home with 5 or 6 bags of groceries really sucks. i did that last week, instead of taking a cab home, and it was a bad idea. the plastic bags stretched almost to the point of coming apart, and they were much too heavy for walking. my backpack can only hold so much, and i am not going to be dragging a wagon down the street or sneaking off with a grocery cart. i’m thinking about an electric scooter or maybe a very fuel-efficient or even hybrid personal vehicle. i’m still walking to work, though.
See more progress on: Walk to work everyday for a year
i've been thinking a lot about design, style, and fashion lately
for most of my life i haven’t really put too much thought into what i wear – the clothes that i pick off the rack. if i have an unconscious liking for a t-shirt, a button-down, or a pair of shorts or pants, then i try it out. however, i’ve mainly shopped in the ‘big box’ kind of stores – target, kohl’s, walmart, marshalls… i haven’t really wanted to spend a lot of time picking out clothes, trying them on, and spending a lot of money. now, however, i realize that i just have no unique style. i just wear these generic clothes that don’t really fit me well. my favorite clothes are usually the clothes that certain people in my life have given to me as gifts. on the other hand, i have all of these other bits of clothes that i don’t even really wear, that i bought, and they just take up my closet space and keep me from buying newer clothes. i see things i like, but i feel like it’s a waste of money to buy them. then, when i feel like i need clothes i go buy clothes that i see on the rack – generic, boring, and tiresome. so, now, i want to empty my closet of a lot of what’s in there and replace them with clothes that i pick out – that i really like and will honestly wear – clothes that make outfits. this is not a gay thing. this is not a ‘metrosexual’ thing. this is an ‘i want to look how i want to look’ thing. the same goes for the haircut. i tend to shave my head when i get tired of my hair being in that mid-way point between short and long. i want a haircut that i can actually maintain and ‘style’ without having to do much with it. that’s what’s so great about a shaved head – no need to do anything. but, i guess i’m bored of having no hair.
See more progress on: develop my own style
Friday, February 20, 2009
getting up when the clock radio chimes
it’s tough to do. i like to hit that snooze button.
See more progress on: Get up when my alarm goes off
Thursday, February 19, 2009
stuff everywhere and too much distraction
i’ve got to move a huge pile of things over to a storage unit, or something, and i need to do something with my memorables, cds, books, and documents, so i can have my living room back. i have a very small condo—582 square feet, but it has 13’ ceilings. so, plan on redesigning at some point. i’ve already been looking at books full of design ideas and suggestions.
See more progress on: clean my living room
Thursday, February 12, 2009
it's about time i've written more songs
i’ve written a couple dozen songs, but i could have written about 100 times more than that if i wasn’t so lazy and such a procrastinator. i am going to set a new goal for myself: 12 new songs before the end of the summer. that’s only 2 songs per month, and they don’t have to be masterpieces, just songs.
See more progress on: write more songs
How to have a job by feb. 28!
"I moved back up to Ohio without having a job lined up, and three weeks later I was working at my own desk, making money."
How I did it: Well, I did tell some people that I was looking for work to spread the word around. I went to one of my old places of employment and told them I was back. Then, I went on Craig's List and looked up administrative, design, writing, and computer jobs. The first job I replied about, though, was the one I ended up getting an interview for, and I was working for them 7 days later. It was unreal, but it made me realize that I just needed to get in there and start looking and make it happen. Noone else is going to make it happen for me.
Lessons & tips: Do the same. Grab your life by the cojones and take it where you want it to go.
Resources: craigslist.com
It took me 3 weeks.
It made me sane
See more progress on: have a job by feb. 28!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
haven't done much...
i haven’t about this goal for a while. i’ve been doing so many other things: reading ‘the tender Bar’, reading a Robert Bly book about freelance writing, learning how to get the most out of twitter and rss feeds, playing with stumbleupon and facebook, and playing a lot of myspace mobsters. on top of all that i’ve recently moved back to columbus from savannah, and i have been unpacking and gradually finding places to put my things. it’s going to take me a long time. i just started a new job, so i might be able to get some drapes for the windows soon. i don’t have a car right now, so it’s more difficult to do any kind of shopping, like that. so, i’ve put this goal on hold for awhile. then, i’ll get back on byki and learn some more kazakh.
See more progress on: Speak Kazakh
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
How to play soccer twice a week for the next 3 months
"i had a great summer and fall, playing soccer with the guys up at lake mayer. they're awesome soccer players. i suck. i played goalie a lot."
How I did it: i showed up. there were some rainy weeks and nights when i had to work, but i played whenever i could, for about 15 weeks. it was fun. there was nothing hard about it. i looked forward to showing up, so i think the lesson is that if you enjoy what you're doing, then your goal is more likely to get accomplished.
Lessons & tips: find a fun group of people to play with and stick to it. show them that you're as committed as they are, and it will be ongoing. we had about 40 people there on some nights.
Resources: soccer ball, willingness to take a beating, humility
It took me 3 months.
It made me strong like bull
See more progress on: Play soccer twice a week for the next 3 months
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The last time I saw LaKari
we chatted about sticky post-it note notes, and she started a blog that featured some sticky notes she had left in random places for people to find. it’s been awhile, though…
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
My music on LastFM and AnywhereFM
Because it's been awhile since I've posted to this blog I thought I'd post up a pic I took a while ago and let you know that I've got music posted up on the web, at LastFM and AnywhereFM.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Hit in the face
Played again tonight with two teams, both of which had some common members. The first game was pretty quick and I blocked 2 or 3 shots and then they were successful at getting it by me. My young defenseman kept standing in my visual area, and I couldn’t see the shot. The next 3 games were great, but I took a shot in the face. I thought it was going to be header level but I didn’t position myself right and I let it hit me in the face. However, I made my first realy head save tonight, as well.
See more progress on: Play soccer twice a week for the next 3 months
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Translation of a cat conversation
Through StumbleUpon, I landed on this "People who like pages about cats..." page, and I found this webpage that features a hilarious video of cats doing very silly things. It took me a while to load, for various reasons, but once it did I felt it was worth it. I like the cats that were scaring each other, especially the one staring at itself in the mirror. The more acrobatic cats were a trip, jumping off of tables, falling off of shelves, doing flips, and leaping. If you are in the mood for a laugh you might like this video.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
A Polka Dot Extravaganza
I found this photo, uploaded by "marusia", on Flickr, while learning the URLs for particular search terms. This one was all photos with the words "kazakhstan" and "girl" in the description or title of the photo. You can also search for certain words in the tags. You can search for Flickr Groups that contain certain words in their titles or descriptions. You can search for User Profiles containing certain words in certain sections of the profile, like in the interests. This photo is really cool. It expresses life, movement, human intimacy, contact, and connection. It expresses human artistic expression. I love it!
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