Month: August 2004

  • An Open Letter To My Subconscious

    Dear Inner Me,

    Stop it. I mean, really. Cut it out.

    This whole business of sabotage must cease, immediately. The random dark thoughts, the vapor-locking under pressure… I’ve had enough. And what’s this with the dreams lately? Last night I dreamed I had only a few months to live. Oh, great, like that is going to get me off on the right foot in the morning. Thanks awfully. The last dream I remember involved being utterly alone in the world, sort of a sadly pathetic Omega Man riff or some-such. Sheesh. Can’t I have some good dreams? You know, stuff like cavorting naked women? Something with lightness, humor, or even just a harmless pastoral scene? I’ll take what I can get at this point.

    Oh, and you can stop with the random emotional kneecapping at inopportune moments. Like, say, last night. If I wanted a guilt trip I’d phone up my relatives.

    And say, have you considered maybe doing something about the general agitation levels around here? The stress is probably killing me, and the sooner I go the sooner you’re gone, too. Maybe I’m a starry-eyed idealist but it seems to me that if we’re both happy we’ll live longer… and the whole secret to life is not dying, right?

    I’m hoping we can resolve things peacefully. You don’t want me to come in there, now do you? Hmm?

    I thought not.

  • Kim Wand in Portland

    During the first week of August, my friend Kim came to visit Portland for the first time. I like to think that she had a good time… and I’ve finally posted the photographic proof:

    There’s more where that came from. Follow the link, my friends!

    Kim Wand Visits Portland

  • We are the Knights who say… PING!

    Found over at Tech Support Comedy, this lovely bit of geeky homage:

    Knights of Ping: Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!
    Arthur: Who are you?
    Knight of Ping: We are the Knights who say….. “Ping”!
    Arthur: (horrified) No! Not the Knights who say “Ping”!
    Knight of Ping: The same.
    Other Knight of Ping: Who are we?
    Knight of Ping: We are the keepers of the sacred words: Lart, Ping, and Staar-fish!
    Other Knight of Ping: Star-fish!
    Arthur: (to Bedevere) Those who cross them seldom live to tell the tale!
    Knight of Ping: The Knights who say “Ping” demand….. a sacrifice!
    Arthur: Knights of Ping, we are but simple lusers who seek the porn site who lives beyond this modem.
    Knights of Ping: Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!
    Bedevere: No! Noooo! Aaaugh! No!
    Knight of Ping: We shall perform a LART on you… if you do not appease us.
    Arthur: Well what is it you want?
    Knight of Ping: We want….. (pregnant pause) CAFFEINE! (minor music)
    Arthur: WHAT?
    Knights of Ping: Ping! Ping! Ping! Ping!
    Arthur: No! No! Please, please, no more! We will find you caffeine!
    Knight of Ping: You must return here with caffeine… or else you will never get thru this call… alive.
    Arthur: O Knights of Ping, you are just and fair, and we will return with a caffeine.
    Knight of Ping: One that has sugar.
    Arthur: Of course!
    Knight of Ping: And is very expensive.
    Arthur: Yes!
    Knight of Ping: Noowwwww…. GO!

    The original posting, with snarky commentary and linkage (did you know there’s an Eric Idle musical hitting stages soon, called “Spamalot”? and that Tim Curry’s taking the Graham Chapman slot in the cast?) is linked forthwith.

    TSC: Knights of Ping?

  • Kung-fu Fighting Space Zombies

    In the midst of a useful guide to building a Leap Attack Barbarian, this bit of text appears:

    Kung-fu Fighting Space Zombies doesn’t have anything to do with Diablo II, but I think that someone should make a movie called Kung-fu Fighting Space Zombies, because if there ever was a movie called Kung-fu Fighting Space Zombies, I would see that crap like 400 times and I would totally dig it, and also I think that several chicks would dig it, and then I would take them to see Kung-fu Fighting Space Zombies like every single night for years and be all like, “Hey ladies, what’s goin’ on?”

    Aw Hell yeah.

    Okay, so a Leap Attack Barbarian may not sound like the most-fun-ever way to play Diablo II… but the guide’s certainly clever enough. Oh, and don’t forget:

    Finally, perhaps most importantly, and I want you to LISTEN to me here:

    Stop saying n00b.

    Truer words, my friend, were never electronically displayed…

    The Flying Booyaka

  • He’s a dozen, now.

    My son, Alexander, was born on the 15th of August, twelve years ago.

    Happy Birthday, Spud. I love you.

  • And while I’m good and angry…

    I want a new T-shirt. I want it to read, in large text, “YES, I AM A REGISTERED VOTER IN OREGON. NOW LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE.”

    You’d think that the headphones would deter them, but no, it only works on about half of them. You know who they are, the ones with the clipboards that want you to sign a petition, probably to let Ralph Nader get on the presidential election ballot in Oregon. (That, right there, is a good enough reason not to want to talk to these people.)

    I’m sick and tired of being accosted just because I happen to be downtown, waiting for a bus or MAX, and therefore a captive audience. I’m all for participatory politics, don’t get me wrong, but after the 50th time (this week!) of hearing “Are you a registered voter in Oregon?” I’m starting to get tired of the process. It can be November sort of now-ish, thanks.