Semi-retirement

I turned 53 in December. My present to myself was to "semi-retire". From here on out, I get to do what I want.

"What's that?" Travel and buy art. So you can imagine that I'm in 7th heaven right now. I'm sitting in Louis' kitchen, helping him build a web site, having traveled to New York. Why? To see the Cartier-Bresson exhibit at ICP and to buy one of Stephen Shames' photos of the Black Panthers. Huey Newton with a copy of Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited to be exact. My only regret is that I have to go back to Seatown before Steve's 60th birthday party this weekend.

False prophets

I went to Vancouver this weekend for a Tibetan Buddhist training given by NKT. "Rogue" doesn't begin to describe them.

I'm no stranger to Tibetan Buddhism and am continually inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. These folks ain't the real deal. Not to knock anyone's spiritual path but after the first day "I reflected, I rejected."

On to bigger and better things...

LED bras

Now I'm a nerd. More important to this link, I'm a guy; a straight guy. So I'm pretty simple-minded.

Put those two together and what do you think the perfect bait for me is? Yep. An LED bra. Don't believe me? Gimme a beer or two and then parade around in front of me with one of these one.

Tweak those JPGs. Tweak!

Ready to edit the non-image data in your JPGs bucky? You know, the EXIF data etc.? Good!

Microsquish of all people has just release a tool to do just that. Best of all? This little puppy is free! Go git you one!

(Pssst... Bill. The .NET link is broken. Someone should get fired!)

Look, it's Mii, errr, I mean me!

So I disovered this site and made me. Or is that "Mii"?

And this just in from the CIA

Yes, that CIA. As in spooks and spies.

No, not that kind of spook. The scary kind.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

A Kodak moment

This is the funniest video I've seen cross my Thinkpad screen in quite awhile.

The funny thing is that a Kodak DC210 was my first digital camera oh those many years ago. I still miss the IR connection to my PC. Easiest uploading ever.

Looking back on the holidays

Well Mom got on the plane back home this morning. Quite the holiday season here chez Whiting.

6 days without power after a big wind storm
Mom comes 3 days earlier than I anticipated
Lisa was kind enough to host to weather refugees at her house
Azalea had an open house on the 22nd
The Evil Ex- abducted the kids over Xmas in defiance of parenting plan
I hosted dinner for 10 Christmas night
I got sick through it all
I'm now suffering from persistant hiccups. Don't laugh, it's almost 24 hrs now

Hanging out with Mom was great. She got quality time with the two youngest. My eldest even made an appearance Christmas Day. Significant given that I saw him on my birthday 12/12 for the first time since early Aug.

Lessons learned from Holiday Season '06? Family is everything. Lisa's the best. Next year's gonna be even better.

Office camping

Yep. That's what my neighbors accused me of when they saw me schlepping into work at 8 with a sleeping bag, pad, and luggage. Again. Why? Cuz I ain't got no 'lectricity at home. Still. The storm was Thu night. It's Wed. The utility workers I spoke to down the street from my house confirmed my worse suspicions. I live on a ridge with a great view. Why? Cuz I live above a two block long, two street wide green belt. A green belt on a steep hill covered with blackberries. They can't get a truck anywhere near the pole and lines. Probably won't for 2-3 days. Unless tonight's storm causes more damage.

Oh. Did I mention that my 82 yr old mother came into town Mon morning? Three days earlier than I thought. God bless my sweetheart for hosting us for a couple nights. And arranged for us to spend the holiday week at her daughter's house.

Christmas '06? Yeah, that was the year I office camped.

The Square Egg

Make has a piece on square hard boiled eggs.

It looks like they've been reading old versions of JetCityOrange.

Oh Santa...

This is both funny and clever. And so timely now that the holidays are upon us.

My question: will they keep it around til next year?

Birthday surprise

Good thing I checked my spam folder. What do I find but email from my oldest son inviting me to his therapy session today. Significant because a.) I haven't seen him for 4+ months and b.) today is my birthday.

Speaking of which today, 12/12, is my birthday. I, who was born in '53, turn 53 today.

Shaving

While updating my List of Links I came across this video. Funny yes but slightly disturbing as well. I quickly add I'm old enough not to apprciate the current style of shaved nether regions. This goes for the Hitler soul patch too. Bush. Gimme bush. Well, at least not in the White House.

48° 6' 57.96" -123° 12' 0.36"

Yes, I've stood at the corner of Woodcock & Kitchen-Dick. Felt good too.

Where was I you ask? Sequim WA 98382. Where else?

The 666 Key

I was just thinking to myself that this blog has been mighty text-heavy of late and could use a bit of photography. And what does life hand me but the perfect picture. Makes me think of 666, the mark of the beast.

Speaking of sex...

I don't care if it's in German or not, ya gotta read this product announcement. A spray-on condom. Whodda thunk?

Speaking of sex and protest, have you heard about global orgasm? No perv, it isn't about Russian brides, hittin' on foreign stewardesses, or white slavery. PC nookie!