Lots of things to write about, the first of which will be April Fool’s. Every year for April Fools, the staff at UO does something crazy (it also helps that it’s Dan’ni’s birthday). This year, Dan put together a great skin for the forum (honestly, it was great, I want to use it as my permanent skin) that looks like it came out of the sixties and seventies and recorded the beginnings of a song for our upcoming CD. The in-game staff then reported on the situation outside of the Library…Guildmaster Kadish holding the cavern hostage with a bomb Relto page (hence the title above). Quite a good time if I do say so myself.

Facebook also got into the action, leaving me messages on my feed such as "Harry and Voldemort have set their relationship status to ‘mortal enemies’ ," "Two oxen died when you tried to ford the river," and "you are reading your feed." I liked the last one a lot, especially since they were poking fun at their own stalker tool.

I saw it a while ago, but was recently reminded of it: AARP is offering a new cell phone service to its members, but in the commercial, they use one of the original cell phones that probably weighs close to twenty pounds. And they don’t use it as a comedy gag, they actually think people still use them…scary.

I’ve had a spambot trying to post things at my website. I’m not entirely sure how it’s doing it, although nothing is actually being published, just written and waiting for my approval. I quickly delete them, and it seems to have died down, just a bit strange. I’m going to be looking into it, just to make sure everything is ok.

Rusty (our neighbor) got new stones for the driveway, and he increased parts of his. When I left to go to SVC on Saturday he was getting the first loads in and by the time I got back, we had two very nice new layers of rocks.

I did get to meet his dog, as well as his girlfriend’s. Both are very nice and lots of fun, her dog tried to follow me inside once, which was funny, but as soon as I put my packages down, I could pet her and rub behind her ears and she was happy!

Speaking of, when I went up to SVC on Saturday I had a good time. I made sushi for people (we did run out of sushi rice, so we tried brown minute rice, and although it didn’t stick together well, it worked for the cone-shaped hand rolls) and I made definite improvements to the sweet California roll recipe I’ve been toying with. I got a "bulk carrot" for 16 cents (and felt like I was robbing a farmer) and a huge cucumber for 99 cents, it was amazing! I tried a few sips of sake and found out that I don’t like it, but overall, everyone loved the sushi and we had a great time.

As I was cooking in the room, we played some Wii games, including Cooking Mama. The game was interesting, although sometimes we didn’t understand the directions and Mama would become angry (literally with fire coming out of her eyes). But we had a good time making fun of her heavy accent and the weird catch phrases she would yell at us, our favorite being "You not trying!"

While I was on campus I got to see Godspell, which was good, I really enjoyed it. I saw the show with Mess and Alandra and saw others there as well, so all was well. There were a few things which seemed a bit odd, most of which were in the program, but no biggie.

So I did the summer session brochure for SVC, and it was awesome. I see the finished pamphlet, only to find that what I gave them wasn’t what they had printed! The back cover is now just white, without anything that I had on it, and the front cover image was changed. I can understand changing the logos to what they wanted, although really, they should have asked me, I would have been happy to do it. But the changes that were made, without consulting me (the artist) is really aggravating. Yes, it is their money, but still, I should have been the one to make the changes, or at least, be told what was going to be changed.

Speaking of SVC, an editorial cartoon from yesterday’s PG:

Volvo’s The Hunt is returning. A lot of it was "click around until you find the random pixel you’re supposed to" but I liked it, so I’ll probably try again. More updates as it happens.

The palm I got at church on Sunday was particularly stringy this year, kind of odd.

San Fransisco is reported to be putting a plastic bag ban into affect. They want everyone to carry their own canvas bags or plastic totes when they go shopping. Seems weird to me, but then again, we use plastic bags as trash bags, so we’re doing our part for the environment, just a different way.

Wow, long entry! That’s it for now, catch everyone later!
 

Quick update with a few things. Gearlive.com has reported on a couple new inventions that seem noteworthy: Mr. Roger’s in your Pocket, a solar-powered air conditioner, a program that takes your handwriting and creates a font for you and the fact that the French government has released all their UFO records on a public website (I can’t read French, but I think it’s pretty cool, and besides, maybe Julie or Liz, or anyone who does read French could look through).

Has anyone seen the Burger King commercial with the ballet dancers in the convenience store? Ever notice that the guy is getting a "breakfast hotdog" (as it is labeled on the machine). First off, what is a breakfast hotdog, and has anyone ever really eaten one? Makes my stomach gurgle (in a bad way) just thinking about it.

The cover art for the last Harry Potter (Deathly Hallows) book has been released, so I figured I’d post it here for people to see:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows cover

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows full jacket

Commissioner’s College was awesome, although it left me exhausted.  Tecumsa shared a house with Mon Valley and so it was decorated for Halloween (I wonder how we’ll decorate next year?).  We had tombstones, all kinds of lights, pumpkins, witches, people in costumes, it was a good time.  My first two classes were absolutely horrible but the other four were really good, so all in all, not too bad.  I saw all three rangers and a few people from camp (Chris and Al), so it was nice to catch up with all of them.

Friday night, one of the two Tom’s fell out of bed while shifting in his sleep.  His entire matress flipped off his bed and he almost landed in mine.  Mark and I bolt up from our beds to see if he was ok.  He was, just a bit disoriented, and we all went back to sleep.  Granted, I had a really hard time sleeping, as my bed was between the two loudest snorers.  The second night I ended up dragging my mattress to the classroom across the hall and slept on the floor there.

Saturday night, the cracker barrel was in the houses and everyone went house hopping.  Except at the beginning our house hosted the entire conference in a discussion of the new Centennial Quality Unit Awards.  So everyone crowded into our house while we played host, but thankfully, we had a lot of food: sloppy joes, pulled pork sandwiches, cookies, chips, nut rolls, apricot rolls, two veggie trays, a fruit tray, an entire pineapple, two trays of cheese and crackers, three loaves of banana-nut bread (one with chocolate chips) and 12 loaves of pizza bread.

The one thing that did suprise me though was how rude a few of the participants were (and of course, I kept having sessions with those same people).  Oh well, at least they aren’t in my district.

President Bush official accepted the invitation and will the SVC’s commencement speaker.  If you’re interested, you can see the announcement video at SVC’s webpage, notice how Mr. Donohue, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, let me remind you…the Chairman of the Board of Directors, does not know the name of the school.  He always says "Saint Vincent’s" instead of "Saint Vincent."  A small, but important distinction, especially when dealing with branding issues.

One very disconcerting rumor floating around is that next year, all the Prefects at SVC (R. A.’s to the rest of the world) will be required to go to Mass every week.  It’s becoming very scary some of the changes happening and little personal freedoms keep disappearing….and what I would like to know is, does that mean all the prefects have to be Catholic, what if they are Jewish, Muslim, or, heaven-forbid, Protestant?  And of course, the logistics of the whole situation, will there be cards to fill out like Grove City College?  What if they go to Mass at home?  Does it have to be Sunday/Saturday evening Mass?  What if they are on a retreat?  So many questions, and so many bad implications.

On a better note, rumor has it that Coke will be brining back Vanilla Coke and taking away Black Cherry Vanilla Coke.  There wasn’t a huge difference, but I like the plain Vanilla Coke a bit better. Some improvements around the site, working with the calendar and a few other things, still fighting with a lot of stuff behind the scenes, but things are getting done (even if they look messy for a bit).

One last thing, if you haven’t already, take a few minutes to vote for the New 7 Wonders of the World, so far there have been over 32 million votes worldwide and the announcement day (7/7/7) is quickly approaching!

 

Quick update before I head out to the College of Commissioner’s Science this weekend:

I came back from the mall a few days ago and as I was pulling down the driveway I see the slobbering, quizzical look of a Saint Bernard peering out from behind my garage. I get out and he comes over (slobbers on me a bit) and takes the affection that I give him (I really do think that most dogs are emotionally codependent). He stuck around for a little bit, mostly sniffing around the grill on the porch and then he began to wander into adjacent yards. I go two doors down to let them know their dog is loose (and out of his invisible fence collar). He gets a leash a dog treat and gets her back. All in all, a fun little adventure.

I’ve been watching "The Riches," a new show on FX, and it’s pretty good. Definitely worth watching.

I went and saw "300" last night at the Waterfront (or as the sign said, the Wat ront) and it was really good. Very artistic (with some fantasy elements added to the historical parts). I was a bit unhappy with the ending, how they went out, it seemed a bit out of character and a bit too fast, but still a wonderful movie. The friar from "Van Helsing" was one of the main characters, although it took me a while to place his voice.  I read an article in Newsweek saying that the whole film was shot entirely in a warehouse in Canada, it shocked me a bit.  I was also a bit shocked by the small child (maybe 4 or 5) that a couple brought with them to the movie, it was way too bloody, and in some parts, disturbing,  I think to bring a child to.

I also learned a new to get to the Waterfront from Monroeville/Pitcairn/Turtle Creek: take 130 past East Pittsburgh and through Braddock and at a red light there are two ramps to the right, take the second one (the signs are extremely small, but they are posted) and that will put you on the Rankin Bridge.

And just to supply some more entertainment, here is the new Fall Out Boy video "This Ain’t a Scene it’s an Arms Race." In the first scene where he is singing, I think the lead (I don’t know his name) looks like Lewis Black a little bit:

The trailer for Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End:

Supposedly this "pirate player" will update automatically with new clips from the movie as the release draws closer (May 25), we’ll see what happens.

Quick update today, I added a couple (around five I think) book reviews to the site and I’ll be adding more in the next few days as well.  I also added the summer sessions pamphlet to my portfolio, so if you haven’t seen a hard copy of it yet floating around SVC’s campus (if you see some extra, grab me a few please!) check out the digital version.

I’m very excited the Pens are sticking around in Pittsburgh.  Not looking forward to the construction though, since the arena is so close to Flag Plaza, hopefully things won’t be too bad.  I do find it a bit funny thought that I first found out they were staying through someone’s status on Facebook.  Sigh.

I am a bit disappointed in Mario though.  It seems he was playing unnecessarily rough, and I (and Myron Cope) expected better from him.  Yes, he was a phenomenal player and he saved the Pens by buying them, but he should have know better.

I’m doing ok in the basketball poll, about the same that I always do.  Of course, I picked the teams by which name sounded cooler, like I always do (a few exceptions in there), so I’m never really disappointed with how I do, seeing as I don’t really follow basketball anyway.

I started using a Sonicare toothbrush and my teeth are really really clean.  It feels really weird though, it moves a lot faster than I thought it would, but after a day or two I got used to the feeling.  If you ever use one, make sure to close your lips around it, like when you’re at the dentist and there is the suction thing to get the spit out of your mouth, it helps a lot with the vibrations.  It still feels really strange if I bump into some areas of my mouth, but overall I’m really happy with it.

Heading out to the airport to pick up Cat tonight and tomorrow we’re going out to celebrate Brad’s Birthday (and Happy Birthday Alandra! – you should come with us, although we’ll be in Monroeville).  I’m hoping to maybe go to Damon’s, since it’s a hockey night they have a wing special and besides, Cat would like to go back.

Some musings and a quick check-in I suppose. I happened to see a TV spot for Duquesne, and I was really impressed. It spoke to incoming students, not their parents, not benefactors, but to the people they should be trying to reach. It didn’t sugarcoat college too much, and actually showed the real aspects of long hours studying and minimal sleep. Duquesne really should be commended for it.

I went to Ikea for the first time ever today. Had a good time, saw some cool things, was a little unimpressed with the layout of the store (even with the map, some departments were just laid out very oddly).

Also on the list of "firsts" today was my trip to Half Priced books. Pretty cool store, although I didn’t find any books, it was nice to finally go there. I was expecting the store to be bigger, but really, it didn’t make a whole lot of difference, there were a lot of books crammed into that space.

There are two more episodes of Dirt (on FX) left until the finale, and I do have to say, it’s gotten better with each episode. Last week’s and this week’s shows were really good, and I’m excited for what we have left in the season. Hopefully it will be picked up again next year. I missed The Riches, but I want to check it out when FX plays the "encore episode."

I watched the movie Clue, which was really great, and then played two games of the board game the next night. Both times it was Mrs. White…And for your viewing pleasure, a short (but funny) clip from Clue (be sure to watch Mrs. Peacock as she flails about):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV_dm_oY7KY&NR

I’m currently reading book two of the Dark Nest Trilogy, and it’s so strange (yet fitting): I made a comparison that works very well. In these books, there is a colony of sentient insects that have a hive mind and completely believe themselves to be perfect and right in every way and that everyone else is out to get them and all of their problems can be blamed on others. And I realized how much they are like a (larger than I sometimes like to admit) group of people I interacted with in some way at SVC (and of course through other ways, such as Scouts). A bit sad, funny and scary all wrapped up in one nice package complete with pincers, six limbs and thoraxes.
 

Nothing too much to talk about, more or less a short update. I headed to SVC to fill out paperwork for the completed Summer Sessions brochure, so look for that soon to be added to my portfolio. It is spring break this week, so I got to see a bunch of professors and administrators while they were working. I also visited with Jan for a while (she’s student teaching and doesn’t get to take the time off with everyone else).

I picked up two more freelance projects while I was there (both for the summer), so those will be a lot of fun. I’ve also been checking out a lot of freelance websites, the one I found has barely any projects on it (and most of them web development projects, which I don’t know enough to successful complete) and the other, for whatever reason isn’t really working out for me (also, most of the bids seem to be from large companies looking for work, which makes it that much harder for individuals like myself), but I’ll keep trying (although I only get 15 bids a month unless I pay the subscription fee).

On a side note that I’ve thought about in the past (but I don’t think I’ve written about here), I always feel bad for the actors in the commercials for perscriptions that treat the more "sensitive" diseases. Case in point, the new Valtrex commercial has a couple riding bikes (he has genital herpes, and she doesn’t…and they want to keep it that way). Anyway, I feel bad for the actor, especially when he hangs out with his friends or sees his family at holidays or whatnot…must be awkward (even if he doesn’t have herpes, and then, he’d have to convince everyone that he really doesn’t, and auditioning for other jobs would be tough to, since he’s the guy with herpes from the commercial).

I did some cleaning around the house today, so I feel accomplished, and I’m planning on adding some more book reviews soon, so that is good as well. In the meantime, You Don’t Know Jack came out with their first episode (a lot longer than the other one’s I’ve posted), give it a shot if you have a few minutes, and enjoy:

Just a quick post to pass along some goodies:

St. Vincent’s rodent problem

The reaction to the media finding out about the rodent problem

While I do like the idea of a mousse party (I think the pun is great), rodents were seemingly always a problem, it’s just sad that they only really took action once it was brought out by the media. I personally never had any rodents, but I do remember lots of people with glue traps while I lived in Gerry for two years. Oh well, it’s an old dorm, it’s bound to happen. Although, I do wonder why the girl from the first article didn’t try washing her jeans before throwing them out, I know I would have.

I put up a new skin for my site today, now it’s green.  Hopefully that can coax spring to come out and play.  I hope you like it!

And a fun game from You Don’t Know Jack:

The above quote and title of this entry comes courtesy of Nom Anor.

So many things have happened since my last entry, and I really don’t have time for an entry, but wanted to write another one for February while I had the chance.

Work is quickly coming to a close on the wedding invitations (they are due/will be done for the first of March), which will be good to finally free up some room. They have been fun, but a lot of work. After a quick break, I’m going to make up a set for me and put up a picture of the set in my portfolio (with addresses and dates smudged out so as to discourage creepy stalkers).

The APO section 65/66 conference that I was the adviser for was last weekend, and it was great! There were a few things out of the hands of the staff (non-working elevator and chapters not really doing roll-call), but otherwise it was great. The conference planner and her staff handled everything with poise and stride and I was very pleased with how they pulled everything together.

I always feel a little bit out of place at these things though. I was there to do a job (to advise the planning committee and be an additional layer of support) but otherwise, I didn’t really feel necessary. I think it was more of a feeling out of place: I don’t necessarily know a lot of the people "everyone knows" so on those accounts I’m kind of on the outskirts, which doesn’t really bother me too much I suppose, just makes me feel a bit awkward when I’m trying to advise (which, aside from a few things, was really minimal really, everything was handled well). And I know APO is a great program, I just see it from a different perspective I suppose, and see where it could be even better (but mostly from a level I couldn’t even begin to imagine influencing), but really, any organization that offers students service and leadership opportunities is a good thing.

The business meeting seemed to go on for a long time (because it did), and sadly I did see some of the uglier side of the politics that are inherent in any organization (little league comes to mind as the general organization to compare to), which also diminished the wish for me to become more involved. That’s not to say I don’t want to keep helping out, I love the work I do, I just really don’t have any desire to become tangled in the crazy webs that could be woven, so I’ll keep doing what I’m doing: helping out where people ask me to and where I see I can lend a hand.

I was given a really nice certificate (Thanks Ka3ytl!) at the banquet which was nice, I wasn’t expecting it at all, so that was very nice, I was glad to know I did (I think) a good job helping out (sometimes I really can’t tell if I’m doing a good job with some of these things, especially since I feel like I was asking as many questions as I was answering). After the banquet I headed back to visit Matt and Nick (I stayed at their apartment on Friday night so I didn’t have to drive all the way back to Oakland from Monroeville) and we hung out for a bit before I headed home and promptly fell asleep for a good long while (that’s why you didn’t get me Tim, I was asleep, for once it wasn’t networking problems!)

The Summer Sessions pamphlet is off to the printers, which is really exciting. For the past who know how many years, the St. Vincent summer sessions pamphlet has had the same cover: two professors walking behind Prep during the fall. So I was asked to come in and update it. The whole thing is very bright and cheerful and actually shows summer-y scenes (what a concept!). Although I don’t think Zach knows he’s on the back cover yet…but it was such a great photo I couldn’t not use it. Once it’s all printed, I’ll put a copy in my portfolio as well, so look for that in the near future.

I’m still waiting to hear back from Public Safety about their pamphlet (also one of my favorites), but hopefully I’ll hear soon.

I just finished two Star Wars novels (although out of order) by Timothy Zahn and of course, they were excellent. I’ll have the reviews (along with many others) up soon, as soon as I have some time (read: hopefully next week). They were confusing and had character twists around every corner that only Zahn could deliver. The first (in the timeline came first, but actually written second, but I read first) was Outbound Flight, which tells of Thrawn’s first encounter with the Republic/Empire/Republic. It also lays out some groundwork for the New Jedi Order saga as well as the Thrawn trilogy. The second book, Survivor’s Quest, finishes up the story from Outbound Flight and again leaves more details for the NJO and ends with an absolutely phenomenal closing scene, leaving a lot of things hanging for the reader to ponder.

I always wonder whey I put myself through so much sometimes. The amount of crap the staff at UO takes sometimes is just incredible (in a bad way). I guess I’m just frustrated with some trends I see in the Myst community, and as much as it was crazy to be basically away this month, the few times I popped in, it seemed like I got hit with examples of all the horrible things wrong. Who knows, things always work out, and besides, we have some great things coming down the pipes for UO (only one of which the general public knows about, and one of which was suggested by me!), so onward we plunge (into the land of snow in even more Ages apparently…)

Ok, I think I’ve been rambling since the second or third paragraph, so I’m off for now, have a great start to March (I’ll be doing training at round table for the OA: the symbolism and symbolic progression of the Pre-Ordeal Ceremony) and I’ll catch everyone soon!