The Most Clever Use of Post-It Notes Ever

This is probably really old news by now, but oh well, I thought it was worth blogging. I have seen some pretty creative things done with office supplies, but very little has been on this scale or had this many co-conspirators involved. Bravo, InPhonic!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ableman/sets/72157594421824427/

Alltel CellTop

Ok, so I am guilty of pimping something for the company I work for, but I think it's pretty cool. All two of you who read this ;) have already seen the CellTop website and have conversed with me about it, but here is a pretty nifty YouTube preview of it done by Phonescoop.

Crave: Thirteen reasons to doubt the iPhone hype

Sorry for the short post, but here is a blog entry giving 13 very good reasons for why owning an iPhone may not be such a good idea.

Saw "Children of Men" Tonight

No spoilers, so don't worry. What a fantastic movie. It really has me lost in thought. I can't stop thinking about the questions posed by it. I also can't stop marveling at the cinematography and set design and overall production; simply outstanding. Be warned though, if you do not like handheld camera action, this probably isn't for you; at no time did I feel as if I were being intentionally distracted or confused by the camera work, but it definitely has a gritty, front-line news camera feel to it. Great stuff.

Choose Your Own Adventure on iPod!

I loved the CYOA books when I was a kid; I think I enjoyed guessing the alternate paths more than the actual stories after awhile--they just became so formulaic. That being said, I will have to download the free one referred to in this iLounge article.

"Religion is a good thing for good people and a bad thing for bad people."

My education fails me when reading about or discussing political movements in an historical or philosophical context. Damn you, Hendrix College, for only requiring that I take one basic history class and one basic philosophy class (I took logic, which is not very helpful when discussing philosophy :) ).

This interview with Chris Hedges, the author of "American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America" gave me a serious case of the heebie jeebies. Hedges does not back away at all from his comparison of the Christian Right to fascism at its worst. I have personally witnessed some of the characteristics of the Christian Right alluded to in the interview, but it is hard to swallow Hedge's entire theory because it so damn scary to me.

Is our nation on the verge of a revolution I do not want? Am I really naïve to think that Democracy is on my side? Is the culture I cherish (good and the bad) in jeopardy? Should I swallow the blue pill or the red pill? The questions continue to erupt in my head.

All of these feelings are becoming more amplified as fatherhood draws nearer. Coincidence? Doubtful.

Articles That Caught My Attention Today

These are seemingly random articles, but they all were on my Netvibes front page today. Netvibes is the coolest RSS web 2.0 ajax-based portal ever. Go sign up and use it now! I command it! Ok, now on to the articles.

Farm worker attacked by herd of pigs. Wow, what a pisser. Seriously, what does one do to prompt a herd of pigs to go all Mike Tyson on one's ass?

The Preteen: Betwixt and Bedeviled. As a father-to-be I am finding myself becoming entirely too interested in every article and study related to babies, childhood, and adolescence. This is a great article, and along with a segment on today's Talk of the Nation about public education, it heightened my awareness of just how early the drive to learn has to be instilled.

In Obesity Fight, Many Fear a Note From School. Repeat after me: "My daughter will not have an eating disorder. My daughter will not have an eating disorder. My daughter will not have an eating disorder."

Why Our Hero Leapt Onto the Tracks and We Might Not. I am still stunned by this story of heroism. I am hopeful that the hero-lauding period ends smoothly and we do not witness some sad backlash story that results from some over-eager journalist digging into Mr. Autrey's past for some mistake. God forbid we crucify the uncommonly common hero.

That's it for today folks. Lots of words from other people that made me feel as if I had learned something today.

Christmas Hibiscus

IMG_0858
Originally uploaded by twd3lr.

Here is a photo of a hibiscus plant blossom I took on Christmas Eve at my in-laws' house. I was surprised with how well the photo turned out, but pleasantly so. Here is a link to the entire set:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twd3lr/sets/72157594438876836/

William Rhenquist: "It's only in my head."

This is the stuff that feeds conspiracy theorists. I love it!

Oh, and Happy New Year and all that shit.

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. ;)