blog.noetech.com

Archives

I changed where my archives are stored to give it some order. If you have linked to a post of mine it would be great if you could update them. A quick search of the title will give you the new link. I'll leave the old pages up for awhile so links don't break. Sorry for any inconvience. I just had to completely ignore the advice that Erick Barzeski gives about not changing your archives.

Stupid White Men

I finally got around to reading Stupid White Men by Michael Moore. I love his politics but his writing style leaves something to be desired. The book seemed almost too simple. I wish he would have gone into more of the details. He is definitely a better film maker, but still it's very funny and worth reading if you have a few hours.

The Sister

And here is my oldest sister living the good life in france.

Pics of the Family

My Mom and Uncle Bert.

Sorry Kate for beating you to it.

Ride on

Well I had a great ride today on my bike. It's a little chilly and I probably should have worn my pants, but none the less a great little trip. I'm starting to feel very comfortable on the bike and even took it out in the rain. If weather.com is correct and the weather is good I plan to take a ride out in the country. I may even do a day trip into Wisconsin. This is when motorcycling is supposed to be the most dangerous, when you start getting the confidence but still lack some of the skills. I was starting to wish I had bought a bigger bike, maybe a 500cc, but now that the bike is starting to break in it is getting much quicker.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin

Nothing is quite as funny as a group of terrified sorority girls meeting a group of mentally challenged boys. I have to say one of my top love stories. There is even a large fire ball near the end, what more could you ask for? Hank Harris kicks ass and kicks some ass. Christina Ricci puts in a good show as usual. They must have been icing her nipples between shots. It's hard to watch anything else. It's one to own.

Auto Focus

Auto Focus is great.

In a very demented way Bob Crane is my hero. Actually, no.

Day of Prayer

TooMuchSexy.blog and NSLog both have good entries on the latest in stupid national law. Just because a law doesn't mention or give preferential treatment to a particular religion doesn't mean it passes the constitutional test*. The right to choose no religion and no god is also protected, and this law obviously fails. How long do you think before they bring up moment of silence (i.e. prayer) in schools again? They are already trying to pass a partial birth abortion ban.

*Disclaimer - This is obviously my interpretation of the constitution and not necessarily the current Supreme Court's.

Road to Perdition

As in most Fridays, we stayed in tonight and watched a movie. Road to Perdition turned out to be very good.

It starts off a little slow but once the main plot line kicks in it is hard to turn away. The ending is predictable, but it is still good. There is something classic about the gangster with a heart. The idea never gets old (well maybe a little). Tom Hanks and Paul Newman pulled off their characters with ease. I thought that I would have a hard time believing Hanks as a killer, but I believed it. The whole having a heart thing helped I'm sure.

Old Friends

A received a phone call from my friend Matt last night as I was heading out the door. I have known Matt since the third grade (he claims it was the second) and although I don't talk to him often and see him even less, he is still one of my best friends. I can talk to him about things that my current friends don't care about, cars. Motor-vehicles in general actually. It was great to talk to someone about my bike who actually has one too. I'm going to try and ride my bike up to Fond du Lac after my MSF class. Telling Matt that I wasn't sure if I could make it all the way to FDL he promptly volunteered to meet me in Milwaukee with his trailer. Of course Matt has a trailer, and I'm sure a big truck to pull it.

I haven't seen Matt since my trip in November, which was the first time I had seen him in two years. I'm going to make an effort to see him and JD more often. I figure we can do a ride and camp thing. Camping in Wisconsin is great.

Experimental

I went to see Plaid at the Metro last night. I was a little disappointed. The opening DJ was great, but everything after that was just your standard dance tracks. It was very much a post-raver crowd. Plaid stuff is normally pretty experimental, the must have been playing to the crowd. Yet another lesson...I still hate shows.

Fucked

Appellate Court Rules Media Can Legally Lie. - SierraTimes.Com

This is fucked. Maybe it's time for Congress to pass some laws.

From Hell

From Hell (2001)

I've seen this film before but it was on HBO tonight and I had nothing else to-do. I love Johnny Depp and although it gets annoying that they but a love interest in every movie now, I liked the way they framed the story.

Nostalgia

Thomas Noe's Rants: Nostalgia

Feeling it again. This time towards high-school. I'm pretty sure I didn't like it though.

Internet Topic Exchange

Internet Topic Exchange

This is the first public implementation of the Ridiculously Easy Group Forming concept. It's a central server to host TrackBack-powered channels. It's designed to let anyone effortlessly create a channel to archive pointers to information on a given topic.

Similar to reversible.org, but it's up and running. Now every-time I post in my movies category, MovableType pings the movie category on Internet Topic Exchange. Same for Politics. What is also great is that each category is available as an RSS feed so you can keep track in say NetNewsWire. My only concern is if it gets to popular you will be over run with posts, to the point of being useless. For now though...

The Oscars

They boo a man off stage for being critical of our President. They give best directory to a convicted child molester on the run in Europe. Does this make sense to anyone?

Socks

You have to love Osco. 6 pairs of socks for 6 dollars! 3 packs and I can finally throw out all my old ones with the holes. It was getting pretty sad, let me tell you.

Patents

Forbes.com: Patently Absurd

Libertarian

kuro5hin.org || Why I am not a Libertarian

They do have a good stand on smoking though :-)

A Joke?

Mike Wendland's E-Journal: Who REALLY is behind these anti-war demonstrations?

This has to be a joke right? He can't actually be saying that, can he? Hey Mike, could it be that some American's believe invading a country without international support is a bad idea? Maybe not everyone believes in America's divine right to rule the world? Accusing these protesters of being puppets of terrorists is just a way to illegitimize (is this a word?) their goals. It's a smokescreen. It reminds me of the ads run after 9/11. You know the ones, where they tried to associate drug usage with terrorism. It seems that anytime someone wants to stop you from doing something, all they have to do is some how associate it with terrorism. No matter how far fetched.

For the record, I in no way support violent protests. Singling out a few a mist thousands is missing the point though. There is a huge amount of people in this country that don't want this war. Not just "spoiled Oakland and Ann Arbor Socialist types" either.

Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor was not very good. It is a cheese ball romantic drama with big explosions. Ben Affleck's character has the worst lines of any movie I have seen in a long time.

Trackbacks and fun

I received a trackback (did I mention how much I love that) to blog out: pensée universelle and although most of it is in French I thought this was great.

Congress

I wonder if this is true. I would not be surprised if it was fairly accurate. (You should read the comments, there are couple of funny ones.)

As a sidetrack, nothing makes me more disgusted than spousal abuse. My mother spent years working for a women's shelter in our hometown and I grew up not just seeing the women, but also their children. Those kids were so scared and lonely. They left such an impression on me, to this day I still get sick to my stomach thinking about it.

Just one more thing

I don't want to keep posting about Iraq but I needed to add to this. Disagreeing with the government during a time of war has always been considered anti-american. Probably always will be. It is a sad truth that a lot Americans don't understand the point of our freedoms. They talk about freeing Iraq but try to stop anti-war speech by shaming the people speaking. Calling them traitors, enemies and anti-american. To me freedom of speech means a lot more than government allowing you to say what you want. To truly have free speech the citizens and media have to let you talk as well.

It has started

AlterNet: Credibility Bomb

Bush tried to blame France for causing the war by threatening to use its veto. What hypocrisy: Since the United Nations creation, the United States has used its veto 76 times, and 41 of those vetoes in the last three decades concerned attempts by the United Nations to call Israel to account for its violations of multiple U.N. resolutions. Not just the Muslim world, but many outside it, find this record shockingly one-sided.

Scott comes back

Eve of destruction, postscript

Scott Rosenberg answers some critics.

Al Gore has a job

Former Vice President Al Gore Joins Apple's Board of Directors

It is an interesting choice. As you can imagine, the Mac web is filed with a lot of "he invented the internet" jokes. This was old when it first made the rounds.

For the record, he said "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.". Or in other words, he was key in getting the funding for the researchers during his stay in the senate.

My Uncle

Soleil

My uncle Bert and the Russian millionaire.

War in Iraq

Eve of destruction

Striping Wire

Yesterday I drove my bike down to Microcenter and bought a tool for crimping RJ45 jacks. It came with this neat wire cutter. So today while I took a nap (I knew it couldn't last long) I dreamed about cutting wire. Over and over again. I kept cutting through the cable. No matter what I tried, I always over cut. It was not a restful sleep.

My Diet

If you remember I was supposed to start a new diet. Well that didn't really work out so well. But I have improved my eating habits. I now eat twice a day. I have a bowl of Cheerios every morning when I wake up. I can't remember the last time that I ate breakfast on a regular basis. I will says this, I have a lot more energy through the day now. I haven't taken a nap in a three days. Let's see if I can keep it up.

Oh yeah, I haven't had a glass of chocolate milk in over a week.

New blog

Just made a blog for my friend Steven Shoup. He hasn't added anything yet, and not sure how much he will use it. We shall see.

More French

English Sans French | csmonitor.com

Google

How Google Grows...and Grows...and Grows

What a day

Spring is here, spring is here! Rejoice. 66 and sunny in good ol' Chicago. I took the bike out for a spin earlier. I wanted to rip off my helmet and coat to enjoy the temps. As it gets warmer and warmer it will be hard to keep fully protected. Riding in this weather was great. There were lots of bikes out today. Mine looks a little small. I may get a complex.

I'm just about to throw some brats on the grill. The first barbecue of the year with the friends. I love cooking out more than any other summer activity (the bike may change that). I make it a rule that I cook out at least once a week and try to do it twice. Nothing like some brats and the champagne of beer.
Spring, spring, spring!

New Mexico

New Mexico bill upholds Constitution, spits in Feds' eye

Quote, Please

kuro5hin.org || White House press staff rewrites attributed quote after the fact

Six Degrees of Separation

Six Degrees of Separation was on some movie channel tonight, so I was finally able to see it.

It was certainly funny and well written. I always like Stockard Channing, and she was very good here. Will Smith did not do quite as well. Normally I like him, but this time I felt it was lacking. Though it was 10 years ago, still early in his career.

The plot was interesting, but I wanted more of a back story on Paul. Not much, just a little motivation. Why did he con these people if not for money? Why did he want to be part of their family?

Definitely worth watching if you never have.

The French

I was going to write something about the whole "freedom fries" thing but this is better than what I would have said. I imagine the french are laughing at us. I'll have to ask my . She moved to france at the perfect time it seems.

Getting Out

It's fucking beautiful out. Mid 50s and clear skies. This sucks. I say this because I want to go ride the bike around, but I'm hung over and my head is pounding. Well tomorrow and Sunday are supposed to be in the 60s. I'll get some time to ride then. No drinking tonight.

Trying to find a motorcycle jacket that doesn't look like a racing suit is hard. I ended up compromising with the Joe Rocket Comet in yellow. Combine this with my new pants and ungodly large (all black) helmet, well I must look very weird. If I didn't have to buy all this I would be able to buy a digital camera and throw some pics of my bike up here. But then I would probably die, so it seems like a good trade off :-)

Dreams

Since I created a new category for last night's dream, I decided I should try to fill it. Problem is that I seldom remember my dreams. Well time to tack some paper to the wall above the bed. Oh yeah, a pen too.

Nightmare

Weird. I just awoke from a nightmare about an old friend from high-school who was chasing me around my childhood home. She was throwing knifes and generally being scary. With her was another friend from early high-school who I had a crush on. She had also gone crazy and was running around the house dressed in a 50s puddle skirt, laughing maniacally. My parents where in their bedroom, (they have been split for years) and I was eventually chased up there. I locked myself in and tried to use both our phone lines (my dad always had his own) to call for help, but they were dead. So I gave my parents some encouraging words and started to climb out the window to go for help. The I woke up. It my sound funny, but it was actually quit terrifying. I have a surprising amount of nightmares.

First Ride

The weather was finally nice enough to take my bike out. Just a couple times around the block(s). It is an incredible feeling. Tomorrow I'm going to venture out a little more and take it to a clients a few blocks a way.

_blank

Because of this, I am going to stop having my links open in new windows. He is right, advanced users know how to open new windows when clicking links, and the rest know who to use the back button. I will have to through all my pages and remove the _blank target. Boring, but it is something to-do.

Something New

I am going to do something that I have never done before; go on a blind date. Holly knows someone who she swears is attractive and cool. Steve complies. Well, soon enough we will know what I think. Wish me luck.

Did I mention that I love my keyboard?

Did you notice how much better my spelling is?

Bike

Well my bike was finally delivered this afternoon. Of course it started to snow an hour later. Hopefully it will melt by tomorrow afternoon so I can get in some riding time.

Stilts

Powerisers, Jump up to 6ft

I think I would kill my self, but still I want them.

Bike Watch part 2

After a call in to the bike shop I have discovered that their delivery guy called in sick. Thus no bike today. How hard would it have been for them to call me so I would not have had to sit around all day? The told me to call them in the morning. I guess that means they may deliver it then. That bastard better be sick, not that I could know either way.

Bike watch

3:15 - No sign

New Style

I whipped up a new style for the site tonight. You can see it being tested here. I'm not sure I like it, kinda boring. I will have to sleep on it. Let me know what you think. I'm sure I will tinker with it some more in the next few days.

Oh yeah, not every page will look right, take a look at the comments for example. If I decide to use this new style I will fix it of course.

The Internet

World of Ends

Puzzle

rc3.org | Puzzle

I know the answer. Feel free to ask if you can't figure it out. Though I'm sure you can.

More Google

Google's Memory Upgrade - How Blogger could do more than improve Google's Web searches

I always wanted a permanent archive of the sites I have visited. Add in searching and you have a wonderful thing.

Google

Over on Scripting News, he writes that he is trying to stop using Google.

Claiming he can't trust the company anymore now that it is a competitor. How lame is that? Just because a company is big doesn't mean that it is bad. Its' recent acquisition of Blogger is an attempt by Google to increase it's income. That is what companies do. It is not evil for them to do it. I'm sorry that you are scared now that a large company is going to be competing with you, but it was unavoidable. You should really be worrying about Microsoft. When they enter the picture, you really will have some thing to worry about.

Drinky drink

Until I get over this latest funk, I can't drink anymore. If past years are any guide, I won't be drinking until the end of May or June. One exception, if I'm hanging out with someone that I have a crush on. If I don't drink then, well, it would just be pointless.

Yum, yum. Time for bed.

Bike

Well it is official, I own a motorcycle. It will be delivered on Friday, of course the snow will keep me off it for awhile. Wish me luck.

Calming the Mother

My uncle who has been riding for longer than I have been alive has eased my mother's fears. Which is good because I already bought my bike and all. The next time I'm in France I'll have to take him out for dinner.

Contacts

I really should have my 's number. Trying to get a hold of someone who lives outside the country is a pain.

Joe Somebody

Josh was insistent that we watch Joe Somebody tonight. It has that annoying girl from Remember The Titans in it. I hate her.

Six Feet Under

Just finished watching Six Feet Under and I was a little disappointed. Hopefully the rest of the season will be better.

Bullshit

I don't know what it is. Everything in my life is perfect. I don't have a day job anymore, I'm making more money than ever, and I just bought a motorcycle. Still I'm sad as ever. I just can't seem to shake it. It drives me nuts that I can't ask someone out. There was this girl who I like at the my last place of employment that I really liked. She was lots of fun and seemed to have lots of things to say. She even seemed to like me a little, but there is now way I would ask her out. I just don't do that. It seems creepy to me. Oh...incognito girl. I'm pissed and pissed. Ha ha, get it?

Lunch

I went out to lunch today with the everyone (minus holly). We went to the Blue Bayou, a new restaurant that just opened across the street. It is trying to be very New Orleans, and it is fairly successful. My food was good, and I'm sure I'll stop in again.

Motorcycle

I bought my motorcycle today. I went with the Suzuki. They gave me a great deal. It's blue. The MSF classes won't start until April though. A little disappointing. Anyway, very exciting!