Today's Mighty Oak


Today marks the 200th birthday of Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., and the start of a year-long celebration at St. Vincent of their founder’s bicentennial.  As I write this, I’m actually watching the Vespers service as it streams online.  Also, aside from the camera being a bit titled to the side and the audio not as loud as I would have liked, it’s pretty good.  They should stream more things online.

It also looks like the book, Boniface Wimmer: An American Abbot has a new cover:

And speaking of covers, my NaNoWriMo book from this year came in (all the winners get one free proof copy from createspace.com).  Here are the front and back covers (they aren’t centered because of the bleed area that was needed to be included, in case you were wondering:



A bigger post to come (including another big link update), but I wanted to post this awesome sketch from SNL last night:

 



Happy New Year everyone!  Be safe out there, the weather can’t decide what it wants to do.  I got off the Parkway and it was bright and sunny, blue skies, and then I headed maybe 100 yards up to the junior high and it looked like the end of the world.

Anyway, could things for everyone.  First, apparently Best Buy now has vending machines in airports.  A bit extreme, but strange and interesting nonetheless.

This is a cool video, although overloaded with gadgets, a cool concept and some nice music:

And finally, 10 items or less will be coming back in January.  The show is awesome, I highly recommend it!  If you’d like to see the specials at the Greens and Grains, check out their listings here.

I think that’s it for now, be safe and catch everyone later!



Yes, according to my neighbor (from college) I celebrate the birth of the Episcopalian wonder baby!  Oh, I love religion.  Anyway, a quick update I’ve been meaning to link to: George Lucas has lost his mind.  He’s authorized the rights for a Star Wars musical to open in England.  I think he has forgotten the monstrosity that was the Star Wars Holiday Special.

Ok, back to work tomorrow, I’m updating my mp3 player as I type this for my ride to work, all kinds of fun podcasts!

Have a great one everyone!



Another quick media update for everyone.

If you haven’t, check out Improv Everywhere.  They create scenes around the world, although mostly in NYC.  Some of the stunts they pull are really cool, I especially liked the synchronized swimming of 2004.

I really like this ad for United Way, the song is great and of course, a great cause:

And this article takes a look at how Pittsburgh will fare during this recession.  Interesting, and short, article.

And on another note, I think I’m going to start a semi-regular column over at Pittsburgh Metblogs to chronicle my adventures on the bus.  So make sure to check that out when it starts up!



Happy Festivus everyone!  If anyone comes across any Festivus miracles, let me know!

I took my keyboard all apart last night and cleaned it out, which it really needed.  I did that while watching Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs, which was good.  Less confusing than Benders Big Score, but seemed to end really quickly.

And now, a few more items to get everyone into the Christmas spirit:

Ever want to have a Super Mario themed Christmas?  If so, use these instructables.

And if all you want for Christmas is a new liver, check it out:



A fun Christmas themed video update:

 

 



Just a quick post for two links really.  The first is something really cool I’m going to be keeping my eye on, the first ever collaborative symphony.  Youtube is asking for submissions to tryout for their collaborative online symphony.  Finalist will be flown to play in Carnegie Hall, and I’m hoping everything will somehow be edited together.  The piece is pretty cool, and of course, the French Horn part is in a wacky key (and way beyond what I could play with the time I would have to practice), but still cool nonetheless.  The web does work in mysterious ways!

Also related to Web 2.0, this article disucsses the state of user-generated content in video game.  It centers on consol gaming, so doesn’t take into account what I’m most interested in: URU.  A good read however, and fairly critical from what I can gather.

That’s it for now, a short update, but things I wanted to post before I lost them.  My office Christmas party is this weekend (scavenger hunt in Pittsburgh!) so look for pictures soon after, and then I’ll have the week to get caught up on more links, movies I need to see, and all kinds of other things!  Have a great one!



Alright, two pieces of video game news.  The first, URU is now going to be released as open source software!  This means a return to The Cavern, fan-written Ages, and who knows what else.  Hopefully the guilds can keep things moving and everyone on task, and we can see where we go.  Hopefully we get some kind of guidance from Cyan, at least about Ae’gura and the City Proper.

Second, a group from the PA Legislature concluded a study (three years I believe) and basically said that the current gaming regulatsions (ESRB) are good, and no more should be enacted.  Ok parents, take some iniative, and find out what you’re buying your kids before you shell out the money, be a parent, and we’ll all be fine.  Also, good job PA!

In a previous post, I promised to talk about some of the podcasts I’ve been listening to lately, here’s what I have feeding into my iTunes (becasue for whatever reason, Windows Media Player still doesn’t support podcasts):

Distorted View Daily
IGN’s voice chat
Jim and Randy will talk to anybody – weekly rundown of the headlines at Carbolic Smoke Ball
The Onion (audio)
The Onion (video)
Pittsburgh here and now: Tech Talk (from the Post-Gazette)
President Elect Obama’s weekly radio address
President Elect Obama’s weekly youtube address
Slate explainer
Slate political gabfest
Slate culture gabfest

And the couple ‘hit or miss’ ones, where I decide each episode to download or not:
Slate’s bookclub
Slate V
Slate daily podcast

I was out at SVC’s Christmas party last night, which was awesome.  It was in the Fred Roger’s Center, which is beautiful!  Also, I know someone who helped build it, so that made it extra awesome!

That’s about it for now, I finished my Christmas shopping and now just have a few left to wrap.  Have a great one everybody!



Ok, a couple quick things for everyone:

This is just amazing, and really cool to listen to and watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIRCzbBB99E

Also, it’s been making its rounds here it is, Prop 8, the musical!  Also, Maya Roudolf is in it.  She was my favorite cast member from SNL, so it’s great to see her on stage again!

 

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