Dude, Seriously, How Do You Confuse Montana with Australia?

I don't know that I would have admitted this.

Pan's Labyrinth

I really must go see this movie. Here is today's New York Times review.

Chelsea beach

Chelsea beach
Originally uploaded by eyecatcher.

This is an excellent photo from one of my favorite Flickr photographers. Flickr RSS feeds are the devil when it comes to time-killers.

Blu-Ray DVD

I understand some of the points made in this blog post, but I get so tired of the elitist DYI attitude that Linux disciples project. Note that I am not a fan of DRM, particularly the way that Microsoft and Sony try to shove it down our collective throat, but if this guy is really that ferociously defensive of his privacy, what the hell is he doing writing a blog?

Everyone Loves Goals!

Here are Fox Soccer Channel's nominees for soccer goal of the year.

I'm still searching for Paul Scholes' goal in yesterday's game vs. Aston Villa. It was a spectacular goal hit on the volley from about 30 yards out. Alas, it hasn't made its way to YouTube yet.

Less than 2 Months of Pregnancy to Go

I guess I haven't mentioned it yet, dear random reader, but my wife is just over 7 months' pregnant. We are super-excited and ready for the delivery day to get here (Ashley especially). Planning things and thinking about what it will be like to be responsible for bringing a life into this world has been too cool for words. Ashley has had it pretty rough, battling nausea, a kidney infection, and other pregnancy-related afflictions, but she has been a real trooper; I am so proud of her and l look forward to embarking on this next step in our relationship.

Last week some of our friends threw a kick-ass baby shower for our little 'un (oh yeah, we're having a girl and her name is Kennedy Elisabeth). Here are some pictures I took at the party.

Friends' Travel Blog - Tokyo

My friend Amy (really close friend of my wife's) and her fiancé Don are traveling to Tokyo for 19 days. They are renting an apartment that is, get this, 140 square feet. No, that is not a typo--one hundred forty friggin' square feet. But that's just Japan for you. Needless to say, Ashley and I are quite envious, but at least Don is all about the blog; check out Tokyo kara no aisatsu! I have also added the link to my friends' blogs list to the right.

Geotagging, or How to Have Hella-Fun With Flickr

Geotagging in Flickr is pretty damn cool if people will just use it. By doing a search for Little Rock, AR I discovered other Flickr users' work and came across some pretty amazing photography. Yes, a lot of it is like my photography--just documentation of having been some place at a certain time and if some neat photos come out of it, great, but there is an awful lot of quality work out there and this is one cool way of finding it.

Go ahead, see for yourself what is tagged in Little Rock.

Castle Stroud Christmas Party 2006

Here are some pictures I took at last night's party. Great time was had by all, but it was a very odd transition year. People missing (and missed), new location, and feeling more "grown up" all contributed to the feeling. I had a great time, though, conversing, drinking, and cutting up with friends old and new.

Autumn Colors

IMG_0601
Originally uploaded by twd3lr.

This is probably the best picture I took this past autumn. Ashley and I took a walk in the neighborhood and I tried getting some decent shots of leaves changing colors, but I was let down by my deficiencies as a photographer.

Out of Deference...

...to Ken I have changed my template to something else. That way he can continue to feel 'special' or something. ;)

Flickr is Aggravating

I have just about had it with Flickr. If you have had any experience with Google's online album, please let me know. I am tired of uploading sets only for them to not appear. Maybe it is just a latency issue today, but I expect an application to work correctly when I pay an annual fee for it.

UPDATE It appears that there is an issue that they are working to resolve, so I will not despair yet:

http://www.flickr.com/forums/bugs/30786/

Happy Holidays from the George Bushes

This old Christmas picture/card is oh-so-very wrong. Props to Daily Kos for pointing this out.

First off, I had no idea that the Bushes elder had so many children. Yes, I had previously heard of Neil along with the other two more notable nitwits, umm, I mean, sons, but Marvin and Dorothy? What the heck? Secondly, what is up with the ties tossed over the shoulders and where did Dubya's belt go? Man, that grin gives me cold shivers.

Ahh, Verizon

It's hard for me to like them, seeing that I work for a competitor, but they have been getting more clever lately.

Evil Chair

I must have this now! I demand it!

Back in the Saddle

I'm trying this thing again. Lots has happened. For a preview of what will be happening in my life (and my wife's) in a couple of months, check out my Flickr badge on the left side of this page. Also pay attention to the del.icio.us feed over there; links that I think are pretty cool but maybe not post-worthy will be there.

pantsketch: Battlestar Galacticsimpsons

Pure genius! Thanks Ken.

Wow!

I just realized I have gone almost an entire month without posting. Sheesh. To those of you wondering what is going on with my life, here are some details, in reverse order...

The weather sucked yesterday, and as a result, our custom-built (by my father-in-law) ginormous solid walnut entertainment center could not be delivered. Which is actually ok since we have a little bit of painting work yet to be completed in the living room. Three days to do it now...

Spam sucks, but I'm glad I have Gmail--over 130 messages in the Spam folder, and all I had to do was delete them permanently.

Last weekend Ashley and I went to Memphis Friday/Saturday for the INXS show at the Orpheum. It was hella-fun and they were better than I had anticipated. I knew the music would be good, but I wasn't so sure that JD's voice was going to hold up through a lengthy tour--I am very happy to say that it has. If any of you fair readers have reason to stay overnight in Memphis and want to splurge on the hotel, I highly recommend The Madison--beautiful architecture and decor and great service. This place is the quirkiest hotel I have seen. Pictures of our hotel room can be found here; I would have taken more photos, but I apparently broke the LCD on the camera and wasn't too sure that it was still working at all. As it turns out, I could have taken the camera into the concert and taken pics with reckless abandon . Must fix camera ASAP.

Three weeks ago I flew out to Charlotte mid-week for a quick business trip. Charlotte traffic sucks, and I mean sucks. I am convinced that I could never live in a big city unless I lived in a developed downtown/uptown and worked there, too. Driving in that kind of traffic would destroy my soul.

Before that Jessica and Ken had a fondue party. I got, well, erm, drunk, but I took some nifty photos.

Other than that, work, work, and, oh, work. I hope to blog more, but I am now a bit more limited about when/how I can post.

Wired News: 30 Years of Apple Products

More Apple Fun from Wired!

Wired: Apple Ad History

Courtesy of Wired comes this neat retrospective of Apple ads throughout their now 30 (!) year history. Even though I am currently not a Mac user I have always admired their innovative turns, even if some were absolute flops (see Newton and G4 Cube) or over-priced new tech (see Lisa). Apple has always been as much about the vibe as it has been the tech, and that's something that simply continues to confound the folks in Redmond; for that alone, I love what Apple has done over the years.