tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67693132024-03-13T11:34:41.047-07:00Terrible, terrible thingsThis blog is the wine.<br>
<a href="http://galootix.blogspot.com">This other blog</a> is the cheese.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.comBlogger200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-1573439149275675062010-07-04T22:48:00.001-07:002010-07-04T22:54:41.927-07:00I've been badLast week, I bought an unauthorized <a href="http://www.mec.ca/Apps/wishList/wishlist_items.jsp?bmForm=mec_quick_search&bmFormID=1278307592780&bmUID=1278307592780&bmIsForm=true&bmPrevTemplate=/Apps/wishList/wishlist_items.jsp&bmText=quick_search&quick_search=Katadyn+Base+Camp+Filter&bmImage=search.x&bmImage=search.y&bmImage=search&search.x=0&search.y=0&search=Search&bmHidden=Ntk&Ntk=">water filtration system</a>, (plus a generic flashlight to get over the free shipping limit). By "unauthorized," I mean "Uh, honey? Guess what I bought." I'll pay more than money for this purchase.<div><br /><div>We get to test it all out in the field (the tarp, the sleeping pad, and the unauthorized water filtration system (plus a generic flashlight to get over the free shipping limit)) in two weeks. We're stoked.</div><div><br /></div><div>We're trying to get another weekend at Sombrio Beach in August with both kids, too. This makes us happy.</div></div>Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-49853702598557293752010-07-04T22:27:00.000-07:002010-07-04T22:53:42.388-07:00Day Trip<div><div>This weekend Corinne, the kids, and I took a short day trip to Port Renfrew. This is my lovely daughter <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=5790828&id=716143938">Laura and I</a> a few feet from the surf. </div></div>Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-13284592469192122162010-06-29T19:41:00.000-07:002010-06-29T20:17:55.254-07:00What weighs 27 ounces but comfortably sleeps three?<a href="http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302702975&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442505763&bmUID=1277623808636">This does</a>, and it arrived today. It's over 11 square meters and you can pack it into a one-pound coffee can. The cord and stakes needed to pitch it would weigh more (but we don't use stakes on the beach, we use whatever driftwood and rocks we can find).<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.mec.ca/Apps/wishList/wishlist_items.jsp?bmForm=mec_quick_search&bmFormID=1277866452754&bmUID=1277866452754&bmIsForm=true&bmPrevTemplate=/Apps/wishList/wishlist_items.jsp&bmText=quick_search&quick_search=5009-939&bmImage=search.x&bmImage=search.y&bmImage=search&search.x=0&search.y=0&search=Search&bmHidden=Ntk&Ntk=">sleeping pad</a> came, too, but I don't have an opinion yet. It's light, sure, but right now it's recovering from the tight rolling they do in the factory. Trying to find a place where it can self-inflate without the cats walking over it was a trick (it's on the closet shelf), but hopefully it will all work out. We'd really like two of them, but we want to test it before getting another.<br /><br />One <span style="font-style:italic;">really</span> cool thing about <a href="http://www.mec.ca/">MEC</a> is their liberal return policy. I haven't had a chance to try it out yet (obviously), but my shipment came with a "fill this out to return your stuff if you don't like it" form. How freakin' amazing is that? I think I'm a fan.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-96291110718960102010-06-27T00:51:00.000-07:002010-06-27T01:09:50.915-07:00Tarp camping/Beach campingThis mid-July, Corinne and I will be <a href="http://thegaloot.blogspot.com/2004/06/best-anniversary-ever.html">revisiting Mystic Beach</a>.<br /><br />We lost our beach camping virginity there six years ago, in a far-too-heavy tent, but haven't been back since. That makes us sad. Don't get me wrong. Our beach camping excursions since then have been wonderful, but we haven't actually hiked in to a site since that one trip. We're looking forward to taking what we've learned in the last six years and putting it to use at Mystic.<br /><br />We've been experimenting with tarp camping, and have come to the conclusion that it's perfect for our needs -- at least at a beach where bugs aren't a problem. So last week we bit the bullet and bought an <a href="http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302702975&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442505763&bmUID=1277623808636">MEC Silicone Guides Tarp</a>. It should arrive this week, and I'm looking forward to experimenting with various pitching methods.<br /><br />Expect pictures.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-53544674550004653682010-06-26T23:37:00.000-07:002010-06-26T23:54:06.009-07:00New templateWoo. Hoo.<br /><br />I anticipate renewing my blogging vows this summer, for a few posts anyway. I foresee lightweight camping pictures and HOWTOs. Stay tuned. All two of you.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-85037982546217127722009-04-01T19:26:00.000-07:002009-04-01T19:28:51.622-07:00Here ya go, KristianAs per request, I'm updating my fucking blog.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-74922534437512658182008-02-06T01:05:00.000-08:002008-02-06T02:01:09.410-08:00Dr. DoodoolittleLast night we made a large pot of chili. Being a large pot, we had chili for dinner tonight, also. As you might imagine, after two days of chili dinners the discharge of flatus gases from my fleshy parts has been both loud and copious. Go ahead. Imagine it.<br /><br />Just now I came inside from an amusing smoking session. Seconds after loosing a long blast of chili-flavored wind, a frog answered my call from a nearby grove. "I'll be," I thought. Having ample reserves, I released three more quick bursts: "toot-toot-toot." From the trees came a reply: three <i>ribbits</i>. My anal sphincter and the lovelorn amphibian discussed things while I smoked and listened.<br /><br />"toot-toot-braaap-toot"<br />"<i>rrib-rrib-croak-ribbit</i>"<br />"braap-crackle-toot-toot"<br />"<i>croak-chirp-rrib-ribbit</i>"<br /><br />I found the frog's capacity for mimicry astounding, and as I smoked I pondered whether the Discovery Channel would see in this an idea for a show. Not for an entire series, of course, but perhaps an hour-long special. Was I using intestinal gas to announce my willingness to act as mate to this frog? Were we discussing territorial issues, he with his larynx and me with my rectal opening? Was I misleading him toward food? I'm sure the Discovery Channel would know.<br /><br />Sadly, I didn't record the exchange. All you have is my word. It was an entertaining five minutes, nonetheless.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-62346478987337726222008-02-05T01:41:00.000-08:002008-02-05T02:53:47.399-08:00To my Canadian Facebook friendsPlease consider joining the Facebook group <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6315846683">Fair Copyright for Canada</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6315846683"><img src="http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/5/fairc4cango9.jpg" /></a><br /><br />If you don't live on the web, or if I haven't already talked your ear off about it, here's a quick run-down of what it's all about. Canada's Industry Minister Jim Prentice is pushing forward with a Canadian version of America's draconian DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act). In fact, it will be worse than the American DMCA. Canada's version of the law will contain an "anti-circumvention" clause that prohibits breaking the locks off music and videos you already own. No exceptions.<br /><br />This means that, if the law passes, it will become illegal to break the locks off your music or DVDs in order to move them to new devices. If the DRM (Digital Rights Management) scheme associated with a DVD or CD "calls home" before allowing it to be played -- if that isn't happening now, it will happen very soon -- and the company it's calling goes out of business, or even merely changes its verification scheme, it will be impossible for you to continue enjoying what you've purchased. Not because DRM schemes can't be broken (they can, and very easily), but because it will be illegal to even <i>try</i> to break one.<br /><br />If you make the terrible mistake of buying DRMed music and later decide you want to burn it to a CD to play in the car, or convert it to MP3 to play on your Creative Zen, you're shit outta luck. It will be illegal to convert it. Instead, you'll have to buy a second copy for the car, and a third for the Zen. A DVD that plays fine in the ultra-modern player in your entertainment center (because it knows how to handle DRMed discs) may not play in your Chinese cheapo portable player. Breaking the DRM to make it do so will not be a (legal) option. Compressing it to play on your video iPod will also be illegal. You'll be forced to purchase more copies of the same thing.<br /><br />It's American companies that are lobbying Canadian politicians to push this law through. American companies want to force you to buy multiple copies of the same thing, <i>removing rights</i> we've enjoyed for as long as any of us can remember.<br /><br />Joining a Facebook group may not feel like much (I sure won't stop you from writing your MP, too), but as the group grows it becomes something those who are actively fighting the Canadian DMCA can point to as evidence that Canadians just won't stand for it.<br /><br />Please join. Please encourage your friends to join.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&domains=boingboing.net&q=%22canadian+dmca%22+Copyfight&btnG=Search&sitesearch=boingboing.net">Click here to learn more about the Canadian DMCA</a> and the damage it will cause you, your freedoms, your wallet, our artists, and our Canadian culture, and to find out other, even more effective, ways to fight it.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-33859946021777117972007-12-10T15:07:00.000-08:002007-12-10T15:17:03.441-08:00The End of AmericaLisa recommended this chilling lecture by Naomi Wolf. She makes a very strong case. The only problem is, if you're willing to listen to what she says, you're probably already part of the choir. If you know anyone who's on the fence on this, though, it's worth sending it their way, or at least worth watching yourself to help you organize your own arguments.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc">Ten steps to start a dictatorship</a>:<ol><br /><li>Invoke an internal or external threat (real or not)<br /><li>Create a secret prison system and military tribunal system outside the rule of law<br /><li>Create a paramilitary force<br /><li>Create a surveillance apparatus against ordinary citizens<br /><li>Arbitrarily detain and release citizens<br /><li>Infiltrate citizen's groups<br /><li>Target key individuals<br /><li>Restrict the press<br /><li>Recast criticism as espionage, and dissent as treason<br /><li>Subvert the rule of law / declare martial law</ol>Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-61288659277838512252007-12-01T16:16:00.001-08:002007-12-01T17:20:52.702-08:00AnswerTips™<img src="http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/1503/image2044898ob8.gif"><br /><br />The graphic above asks "What's this?" The correct answer to the question is "a stupid user interface."<br /><br />I'm seeing this on more and more sites. Double-click on a word and up pops a definition or a link to more information. Like on <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/01/ap/preswho/main3562125.shtml">this page</a>:<br /><br /><img src="http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/7920/answertips1jz8.png"><br /><br />This isn't bad information, but it's bad UI design.<br /><br />Double-clicking may or may not be how a user <i>starts</i> making a selection, but it certainly <b>isn't how most users have learned to signal that they're <i>done</i> selecting text</b>. <br /><br />For instance, when reading the news story above, perhaps you want to learn more about <a href="http://www.judicialwatch.org/">Judicial Watch</a>. You might double-click on "Judicial," drag your cursor over the second word, then release the mouse button to indicate that you've finished highlighting. Afterwards, you'd use your favorite method of searching for highlighted text.<br /><br />Or maybe you'd do it differently. You have that choice. Just not on this site. On this site, double-clicking indicates that you're done selecting text. That's totally contrary to every mousing habit you've ever learned. This "feature" assumes we all have the same mousing habits as the designer, or what the designer thinks we should have, and if we don't we're shit out of luck.<br /><br />I don't particularly want to have one site react differently to how I use my mouse than other sites do. It's akin to disabling my right-click menu or my browser's Back button. It's not a feature, it's a non-standard UI that users may or may not want to deal with.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-31243711740029419002007-11-02T01:54:00.000-07:002007-11-02T02:27:09.002-07:00pingHow is it that I can go months without reading a single blog, yet when I finally do I see that <a href="http://mmmustard.blogspot.com/2007/10/memed-again.html">someone tagged me</a> not four days ago?<br /><br />I turn 40 in just over a week (which makes me older than <a href="http://www.wonderfulpages.com/">Kirby</a>, yet much, much, <i>much</i> younger than Larry), so I guess I'd better finish typing this post before my hands cramp up from the arthritis.<br /><br /><br /><br /><b>1. Name one person who made you laugh last night.</b><br />My 15-year-old daughter. At the last minute she decided she <i>had</i> to carve a jack-o-lantern, even though she wouldn't be home to enjoy it. It wasn't knee-slapping, but it was cute. You live for the cute moments when they're 15, mainly because you're trying so hard to avoid admitting they're outnumbered by the hawt moments.<br /><br /><b>2. What were you doing at 0800?</b><br />I wasn't even born until the 1960s! What the hell kind of question is that?<br /><br /><b>3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?</b><br />Fighting to get RSSOwl to properly display HTML. I gave up and installed Akregator, instead.<br /><br /><b>4. What happened to you in 2006?</b><br />I embarked on my second (or is it my third) career. I'm now a gigolo.<br /><br /><b>5. What was the last thing you said out loud?</b><br />"Of course you can." (My son asks to take a shower, yet helps himself to my cola. WTF?)<br /><br /><b>6. How many beverages did you have today?</b><br />A generic Boost, four cups of coffee, one tall glass of pop, a glass of milk, a glass of water. That's eight. Gotta run.<br /><br /><b>7. What color is your hairbrush?</b><br />I checked while I was in there. It's blue. But I once had a woody, too.<br /><br /><b>8. What was the last thing you paid for?</b><br />Gasoline. We should be good for another couple months, now. Right?<br /><br /><b>9. Where were you last night?</b><br />Home.<br /><br /><b>10. What color is your front door?</b><br />White. Except for that streak of spider guts near the bottom hinge.<br /><br /><b>11. Where do you keep your change?</b><br />I carry it in my front left pocket. When I'm not carrying it, it sits in Mister Christmas Bear.<br /><br /><b>12. What’s the weather like today?</b><br />It got up to 11 (52F) today, with a fair bit of sun. It's supposed to drop below freezing tonight, though.<br /><br /><b>13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?</b><br />A rare treat would be Häagen-Dazs Coffee. But I love peppermint or pistachio, too.<br /><br /><b>14. What excites you?</b><br />A job well done. Playing with our cats and dog. When a new issue of Make hits the stands. A good debate. Chili.<br /><br /><b>15. Do you want to cut your hair?</b><br />No. Is this one of the questions you added to the list, Larry?<br /><br /><b>16. Are you over the age of 25?</b><br />Not on Mars, no.<br /><br /><b>17. Do you talk a lot?</b><br />No. If silence --or a man in a bra-- makes you uncomfortable, find someone else to hang with.<br /><br /><b>18. Have you watched any television series, regularly, to which you be ashamed to admit your regular viewership? What was your favorite episode?</b><br />Nothing I'd be ashamed of, no. Who doesn't like Tony Danza?<br /><br /><b>19. Do you know anyone named Steven?</b><br />No. Sorry, were you looking for him?<br /><br /><b>20. Do you make up your own words?</b><br />All the time, but I can't for the life of me think of any examples. I must have blockosis.<br /><br /><b>21. Are you a jealous person?</b><br />Not at all. Would <i>you</i> be insecure if you were hot like me?<br /><br /><b>22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’.</b><br />Anni<br /><br /><b>23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’.</b><br />Kim :D<br /><br /><b>24. Who’s the first person on your received call list?</b><br />I don't know what this means, but I was tagged by an ex-lawyer type so I figure it's nonsense anyway.<br /><br /><b>25. What does the last text message you received say?</b><br />I haven't sent or received a text message in my life.<br /><br /><b>26. Do you chew on your straw?</b><br />No. But I do chew my ice.<br /><br /><b>27. Do you have curly hair?</b><br />Yes. It's annoying as hell.<br /><br /><b>28. Where’s the next place you’re going to?</b><br />Bed.<br /><br /><b>29. Who’s the rudest person in your life?</b><br />Me.<br /><br /><b>30. What was the last thing you ate?</b><br />A Halloween-sized candy bar.<br /><br /><b>31. Will you get married in the future?</b><br />I may renew my vows, but otherwise, no. If I outlive her, I'll die lonely.<br /><br /><b>32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?</b><br />I watched Much Ado About Nothing, the one with Keanu Reeves, the other day. I was surprisingly pleased.<br /><br /><b>33. Is there anyone you like right now?</b><br />Mrs. Galoot is always at the top of my list. But I like Randy, the W1K Admins (even the old ex-lawyer type), and my kids, of course. I think this question's supposed to be a follow-up to the movie one above, though, in which case I like Al Pacino.<br /><br /><b>34. When was the last time you did the dishes?</b><br />A couple of hours ago. It's my favorite chore.<br /><br /><b>35. Are you currently depressed?</b><br />Devalued, yes. Depressed, no.<br /><br /><b>36. Did you cry today?</b><br />I banged my knee of the box spring while playing with the dog, but I didn't come to tears.<br /><br /><b>37. Why did you answer and post this?</b><br />I wanted to try out my new <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4125">It's All Text!</a> Firefox extension to see how it works. It works well.<br /><br /><b>38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey.</b><br />Other than <a href="http://nike.lotekk.net/">Nike</a>, I can't think of anyone but <a href="http://www.imagicreation.com/woman">Ali</a> who'd be interested, and Larry already tagged her.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-2008118965293421642007-08-12T04:06:00.000-07:002007-08-12T04:06:32.253-07:00YouTube - Eddie and the Hagfish<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYRr_MrjebA">YouTube - Eddie and the Hagfish</a> is an amazing video about the hagfish, something I recently rediscovered thanks to a <a href="http://www.plime.com/science/animals/l/31177/1/">post at Plime</a>.<br /><br />While the video itself is pretty neat, YouTube's "related videos" feature struck me as even neater.<br /><br /><img src="http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/9518/hagfishdebatevf8.jpg"><br /><br />I know it's just timing. That doesn't mean it isn't funny.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-57192392320001422252007-06-28T01:33:00.000-07:002007-06-28T01:33:20.798-07:00My friend is wellHe's home. Wobblier on his feet than he ought to be, but home nonetheless.<br /><br />I said that the angiogram they did came up negative. They couldn't discharge him in the shape he was in, however, and the attacks were continuing. They scheduled a second angiogram, thinking that they might have missed something. That, too, showed nothing, so they performed an IVUS (intravascular ultrasound) procedure. A bit of Googling tells me it's quite expensive, which explains why they didn't do it in the first place.<br /><br />They went in through his wrist and found the trouble spot, which was at a bend. Because of the difficult location, they had to confer on whether to use a stent or perform bypass surgery.<br /><br />On the way to the neighbouring room to talk it over, one of the assistants snagged the tube going into his arm with her x-ray gown, jerking the wire. Everyone went "whups" but the heart monitor didn't blip so thought nothing of it.<br /><br />They talked.<br /><br />When they returned, they saw more than a pint of blood pooling under the table. The blanket under his wrist was soaked as well. The snagged wire tore the artery in his wrist, and he was bleeding heavily while they talked. One tourniquet later (yeah, a tourniquet) the bleeding stopped. But it was a complication that kept him in the hospital for another day so he could regain his strength.<br /><br />The final decision was to balloon the site and then insert two stents (because of the bend).<br /><br />I picked him up yesterday morning. It was a very happy day. Here's hoping things stay that way for a while.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-45738435389893016532007-06-21T15:57:00.000-07:002007-06-21T15:57:37.022-07:00ArghI've dumped in the Sugar Shack enough lately that I figure everyone there needs a break. So I'll dump on you, instead.<br /><br />It's amazing how much I've come to love Randy like a brother in the past <a href="http://thegaloot.blogspot.com/2004/05/galoot-gets-out-of-house.html">three years</a>. We've both gone from cautious and wary of getting close to "if you need anything, anything at all like, say, a kidney, just call." It's the only real-life friendship I've had since my highschool buddy passed away in 1990.<br /><br />It's not that I have trouble finding people I have something in common with. The world's full of geeks. It's that I'm the world's harshest judge of character. I'd have snubbed Jesus as a drinking buddy if I'd known his plans in advance. "Oh, a martyr, huh? I hate those!" I hold my friends to impossibly high standards. It's totally unfair of course, because I seldom meet those same standards, but there you have it. Too many times have I ignored my first impressions and lowered my guard, only to regret it later. I'm very protective. I often say people are jerks, but I know that's a huge generalization and unfair to a lot of people. I just don't feel like putting in the time to sift through 100 jerks to find the one diamond in the rough. I've got a happy marriage and great kids. My life is full enough.<br /><br />But then there's Randy. Somehow he slipped through the cracks in my wall and we connected well enough that I never treated him as unfairly as I do everyone else. He's got his flaws, just like me, and I find that I don't care. Just as long as we can spend some time together every few weeks, it's all good.<br /><br />It's nice to have a friend.<br /><br />...<br /><br />On June 5th, he had a heart attack. The ambulance got to him fast enough that there was no actual damage to his heart. As a result, because there were several compelling reasons to think it was nothing more than an esophageal spasm and with no evidence to the contrary, that was their diagnosis. Painful, yes, but non-threatening. Within the next week he had two more minor episodes and figured it was just more of the same, so he went about his business.<br /><br />On the 17th he collapsed on the floor at the grocery store. This time the ambulance wasn't so quick, and they found evidence of damage to his heart. He's been in the hospital ever since. Since then, he's had five more, three of which happened while wearing a nitro patch. They're not having any luck finding the cause. The angiogram showed nothing. Yet the attacks continue.<br /><br />His heart is badly misfiring, and nobody can tell him why. The doctors are baffled. His wife and mother are freaked. Randy's scared. So am I.<br /><br />I don't want to lose him.<br /><br />If you're wondering why I haven't been around Worth so much, or why my jokes fall <i>even flatter than normal</i> when I am, now you know.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-82670426684764203892007-05-15T01:13:00.000-07:002007-05-15T01:13:09.531-07:00I'm a gurlie-manBeing such a manly and crushingly macho guy, I hesitated to take this quiz because it has pictures of wine, flowers, kissy faces and hand-holding. But my boyfriend insisted.<br /><br /><br /><embed allowScriptAccess="never" allowNetworking="internal" enableJavaScript="false" src="http://dna.imagini.net/friends/swf/widget.swf" quality="best" bgcolor="#000000" width="340" height="240" name="widget" align="middle" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" flashvars="bgcolor=#000000&i1=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_43E105EB.jpeg&c1=&i2=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_1D1068AF.jpeg&c2=&i3=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_-7858FD0F.jpeg&c3=&i4=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_57EDBD35.jpeg&c4=&i5=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_-35BAE085.jpeg&c5=&i6=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_-3A16A102.jpeg&c6=&i7=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_71114A35.jpeg&c7=&i8=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_-63B0E5ED.jpeg&c8=&i9=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_631B702E.jpeg&c9=&i10=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_-79837A73.jpeg&c10=&i11=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_-74F8AADA.jpeg&c11=&i12=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_-3B3CA847.jpeg&c12=&i13=http://dna.imagini.net/i/RESIZE_-7D3E11DD.jpeg&c13=&moodlabel=DREAMER&lovelabel=LOVE BUG&funlabel=CONQUEROR&habitslabel=JUNKIE MONKEY&uid=319815-463f&srv=iwebcl5" ></embed> <div style="text-align:center; width:340px;height:25px;margin-top:0px; border-top:1px solid rgb(150,150,150);background-color:rgb(0,0,0);padding:5px 0 0 0; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:11px;"><a href="http://networking.imagini.blueorange.co.uk/vdna.php?uid=319815-463f&srv=iwebcl5" style="color:rgb(255,255,255)">Read my VisualDNA</a><span style="font-size:10px;color:#cccccc">™</span> <a href="http://imagini.net/" style="color:rgb(255,255,255) ">Get your own VisualDNA™</a></div>Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-22269067067999508602007-04-06T22:40:00.000-07:002007-04-06T22:40:40.632-07:00MovingWe rent. I think we always will. It's a philosophy of ours. We can spend 25 or 30 years paying a mortgage and, in the process, end up paying twice what the house is actually worth, only to sell it later for less... or we can spend a couple hundred dollars less every month and not have to deal with property taxes or repairs, and we can pick up and move whenever the heck we feel like doing so.<br /><br />It's because we're renters that we managed to get from Alberta to Vancouver Island as easily as we did. We didn't have a house to sell, we didn't have to find something "perfect" in BC to replace it with, and we didn't have to time everything perfectly. We just rented a van and went for it, letting the chips fall where they may.<br /><br />There are a couple of down sides to renting that I can think of. Landlords can change their minds and give you the boot (which has happened to us twice), and some people assume that, because druggie crack-users are generally renters, all renters must be po' folk. To those people, I say "I own little, but I owe even less. I'm in debt to the tune of about $1000. How's <i>your</i> mortgage?" About the only thing that might make us consider buying a house is if we won the lottery and could just hand over the cash. But even so, we'd be more likely to spend the money on more important things than "stuff" and travel instead.<br /><br />The reason I'm talking about the rental life is that Patti, our landlady and a wonderful woman, has finally finished her reeducation and has met someone, and they both want to move back into this house to settle down together. She told us this in December, and gave us "as much time as you need" to find a place we liked. That was bleemin' awesome of her, because in a town with only 3000 people the number of houses that go up for rent is... small. What's opened up around here has, indeed, been rented by druggie crack-users. You can tell by the torn up carpets and the holes in the walls and floors.<br /><br />It's taken us this long, but we finally found a clean, cared for place that suited us for a price that wouldn't break the bank. It's only 12 years old, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a garage, a little yard that I might not hate mowing too much, and a nice little deck, all in a quiet little cul-de-sac and, literally, a stone's throw from the lake. For the first time, ever I think, we're not dreading a move. Patti's giving us two weeks, rent-free, in May to get our stuff out and clean the old place up. And I think we'll be able to get the keys to the new place in mid-April. Having an entire month in which to move makes it pretty easy, all things considered.<br /><br />We don't generally accumulate a lot of cruft, but there's some chunking out we'll have to do. For one thing, the new place is smaller than what we're in right now, and for another it's about time we replaced some of the furniture that's been abused by growing kids over the years. Now that our youngest is 13, we're finally at the point where it makes sense to have some new and undamaged stuff again. To that end, we've decided to replace two beds, three dressers, all the living room furniture, the kitchen furniture, and other, smaller, odds and ends. We'll also be getting some real desks instead of the tables we've been propping our computers on. Sadly, we can't afford to do it all at once and will have to haul some of the old junk over, but I suspect we should have what we want by the end of the year.<br /><br />What with Jaq's non-smoking, her improved weight and health issues, her job (which she still likes), my new training, our dual income (we waited until the kids were older for that), and the fact that our rent is going to go up only $50 instead of the $300 we feared, things this year have actually improved enough that it makes <i>Hell Year 2006</i> worth it.<br /><br />I'll try to get some pictures. Not for you. You don't care. A house is a house. No, for me. If I post 'em here, maybe it'll be neat to see them ten years later so I can reminisce. That's what I do as I age. Reminisce.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-35390901345254308582007-04-06T19:47:00.000-07:002007-04-06T19:47:48.851-07:00What would Jesus really do? - CNN.comKirby pointed to this CNN commentary:<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/04/martin.jesus/index.html">What would Jesus really do?</a><br /><i>"When did it come to the point that being a Christian meant caring about only two issues, abortion and homosexuality?"</i><br /><br />After reading the article, I couldn't control my fingers and had to fire off the following comment:<br /><br />"I'm not a Christian, but I couldn't agree more. Despite the fact that we know we shouldn't, people generalise. We base our opinions of a group on the most visible or vocal members of that group. When we non-Christians think of Christians, we often think of precisely the ones you've named. It's difficult not to reach the conclusion that you're ALL a bunch of judgmental loudmouths rather than the gentle and giving souls I've come to know over the last few years.<br /><br />Your spokespeople do you a disservice."Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-1168733156250058412007-01-13T16:03:00.000-08:002007-01-13T16:07:44.573-08:00Which Super Villain are you?Because I am lately unable to write anything without copying others' ideas, you can again blame <a href="http://mmmustard.blogspot.com/">Larry</a> for this.<br /><br /><B>I am <FONT SIZE=6>Apocalypse</FONT></B><br /><TABLE><TR><TD><TABLE><TR><TD>Apocalypse</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=65></TD><TD> 65%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Magneto</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=64></TD><TD> 64%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Dr. Doom</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=61></TD><TD> 61%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>The Joker</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=59></TD><TD> 59%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Poison Ivy</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=58></TD><TD> 58%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Riddler</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=57></TD><TD> 57%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Catwoman</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=56></TD><TD> 56%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Dark Phoenix</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=55></TD><TD> 55%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Lex Luthor</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=53></TD><TD> 53%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Mr. Freeze</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=53></TD><TD> 53%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Mystique</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=52></TD><TD> 52%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Juggernaut</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=48></TD><TD> 48%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Venom</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=45></TD><TD> 45%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Green Goblin</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=36></TD><TD> 36%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Two-Face</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=28></TD><TD> 28%</TD><br /></TR><TR><TD>Kingpin</TD><br /><TD><HR ALIGN=LEFT NOSHADE SIZE=4 WIDTH=28></TD><TD> 28%</TD><br /></TR></TABLE></TD><br /><TD WIDTH="250">You believe in survival of the fittest and you believe that you are the fittest.<BR><br /><IMG SRC="http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/villain/pics/apocalypse.jpg"></TD><br /></TR></TABLE><A HREF="http://www.thesuperheroquiz.com/villain"><br />Click here to take the Supervillain Personality Quiz</A><BR><br /><br />Oh. Hi, <a href="http://nike.lotekk.net/">LadyMin</a>. Welcome to the (side)bar.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-1168500175084783402007-01-10T23:22:00.000-08:002007-01-10T23:22:55.210-08:00A quote"The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger."<br /><br />- Herman GoeringGaloothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-1167970240458361532007-01-04T20:10:00.000-08:002007-01-04T20:13:19.273-08:00MeanMrMustard's Musings: Movie MemeI've been tagged by <a href="http://mmmustard.blogspot.com/2007/01/movie-meme.html">Larry</a>, who knows that's the only way to make me blog. Damn you.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.</span><br /><i>Spice World</i>. My daughter loved it until the label wore off. When that happened, I put a similar label on a known bad video and told her that the movie wouldn't play without a proper label. That's not true, but I thought about it. Did you mean "10 times willingly?" In that case, <i>The Changeling</i>, starring George C. Scott.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.</span><br />Oddly enough, <i>The Changeling</i> again.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.</span><br />Even Pacino and De Niro have disappointed me. So far, Denzel hasn't.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.</span><br />Any Scientologist, Bruce Willis or Demi Moore.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5. Name a movie that you can and do quote from.</span><br />I can't think of a single one. People who walk around quoting movies instead of coming up with their own lines annoy me. Occasionally I'll join the fun online, but almost never purely from memory. Google is my pal.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.</span><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080321/maindetails">Let There Be Rock</a>. None with a plot.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.</span><br /><i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i>. No, I'm not trying to be funny.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.</span><br /><i>The Life of Brian</i>. Trying to find someone who hasn't seen it is tough, though.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">9. Name a movie that you own.</span><br />I only own <i>It's a Wonderful Life</i>, and that's because it was a gift. The family owns movies, I don't.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.</span><br />I guess he was always an actor, first, but I first heard of Kevin Spacey as a comedian and I loved him. That's why I started watching his films. Another comedian who bridged the gap that I admire is Robin Williams.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?</span><br />I saw pretty much every major film released between 1973 and 1983 at a drive-in. My parents snuck me in to see <i>The Exorcist</i> when I was six. I was scared and I cried. A year later they snuck me in to see <i>Jaws</i>. I was scared and I cried. When I was thirteen my buddy Randy and I snuck over the fence to look at Bo Derek's boobs in <i>Tarzan, the Ape Man</i>. I was scared...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">12. Ever made out in a movie?</span><br />There was no actual penetration involved.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't yet gotten around to it</span>.<br /><i>Heat</i>. I have no idea how I missed this.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">14. Ever walked out of a movie?</span><br />Never. What would be the point of that? To show my displeasure? My disappointment? It's not like the producer will know if I left early. I paid my money, damn it, and I'll watch it through to the end.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.</span><br />When Harry Met Sally. Shut UP!<br />Actually, I tear up easily at movies. Hell, I teared up when reading a Tom Clancy novel once. I'm fucking sick.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">16. Popcorn?</span><br />I used to. But lately the little skins get caught between my tooth and my gum, and it drives me insane. So I no longer buy popcorn. Oddly enough, my neighbour's popcorn doesn't seem to get stuck. Weird.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">17. How often do go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?</span><br />Wow. Uh, maybe every two or three years.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">18. What's the last movie you saw in the theater?</span><br /><i>Brokeback Mountain</i>. Yeah, yeah, I cried at that, too. Shove it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">19. What's your favorite/preferred genre of movie?</span><br />Anything <i>but</i> science fiction (sorry, Larry). With the exception of <i>2001</i>, Hollywood never gets it right. Most of the SF style movies that don't suck (the <i>Terminator</i>, <i>Alien</i> and <i>Matrix</i> movies) only don't suck because they're decent adventures. I like almost every other genre.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">20. What's the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?</span><br /><i>Jesus Christ Superstar</i>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?</span><br /><i>The Conversation</i>, starring Gene Hackman. Not that it wasn't awesome at the time, but I tried revisiting it 20 years later and it didn't even come close to living up to the memory. So I wish I hadn't seen it the second time. There's another movie I wish I'd <i><u>never</u></i> seen. I won't even talk about it. Sorry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?</span><br />The Cohen Bros. are responsible for all of them. <i>Fargo</i> probably wins the prize, though.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">23. What is the scariest movie you've seen?</span><br /><i>The Changeling</i>, hands down. <i>The Ring</i> was pretty spooky, too, but all the snobs tell me I'm godless for liking an American remake of a Japanese film. Screw you, snobs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">24. What is the funniest movie you've seen?</span><br />Just one? I can't. <i>There's Something About Mary</i>, <i>Airplane</i>, <i>The Producers</i>, and just about any Mel Brooks film would make the list.<br /><br />I guess I have to tag someone, eh? <a href="http://johnny-vw.blogspot.com/">Johnny</a>, <a href="http://kzanderall.blogspot.com/">Alex</a>, and <a href="http://coopergreen.motime.com/">Don</a>. You're it.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-1164704623064710942006-11-28T01:03:00.000-08:002006-11-28T01:03:43.493-08:00Terrible, terrible things: Watch this filmThanks, Larry, for <a href="http://thegaloot.blogspot.com/2006/11/watch-this-film.html#comments">your comments to my last post</a>. Yes. Idiocy. Thanks for the link.<br /><br />Not having any legal background (duh!), I'm far more likely to respect <i>your</i> thoughts than Russo's, who apparently owes millions in taxes.<br /><br />I suppose I could take the easy way out and say something like "Never watch political films while on meds," but that'd be a cop out. The truth is that, because of my dislike for being bamboozled, I let the guy telling me what I want to hear bamboozle me instead.<br /><br />I feel foolish. Again. I hate that. I think I'll blog more about the weather.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-1164519149350205752006-11-25T21:32:00.000-08:002006-11-25T21:33:10.063-08:00Watch this film<a href="http://www.poodlecrap.com/Hateliars/HL_Video1.asp?Part=0">AMERICA - FROM FREEDOM TO FASCISM</a><br /><br />Watch this film.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-1163071290299980952006-11-09T03:21:00.000-08:002006-11-09T03:21:30.406-08:00Merry Christmas, America.You got your gift a month early.<br /><br />Do it again in two years, 'kay?Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-1153812375018709422006-07-25T00:26:00.000-07:002006-07-25T00:26:15.020-07:00Frappr gallery removedThe Frappr widget I used to keep in the sidebar has been removed. I love your pretty faces, but it was slowing down the page loading time way too much. The <a href="http://www.frappr.com/worth1000">Worthmap</a> is still accessible in the links section, however.<br /><br />No new developments as far as my back is concerned. I still walk hunched over like an old man and I live for ice-packs and painkillers.<br /><br />Grrrr.Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6769313.post-1153561007009981412006-07-22T02:36:00.000-07:002006-07-22T02:36:47.163-07:00Oh, that lying bastard's still at it<a href="http://quizfarm.com/test2.php?q_id=204410">Can You Make Cute Little Pictures With Your Liver Spots?</a><br /><br />Well? CAN YOU?!Galoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14595801134445834942noreply@blogger.com0