Procrastinating my way to Nirvana

Whohoo!! An X-Wing fighter in the garage!

Sat, 22 Sep 2007 03:06:43 GMT

I think they missed the massive burning man stuff storage area, and the seeecret labratory.

Your home is a

Futuristic Coder's Ranch

Your kitchen consists of dilithium-powered food replicators, manned by obedient robot slaves, who are sure to never, ever rebel. I mean, it's preposterous to even consider it. There's a pantry stocked with beef jerky. Oh, and deer jerky. Your master bedroom has an on-call masseuse and sports therapist. Your study has every language reference book ever written, including now-useless titles like Learn Javascript 2.0! and C++ Programming for Windows 95. (Why are you keeping those?) One of your garages contains a life-sized X-Wing fighter, and KITT. (KITT was a gift from a well-meaning uncle.)

Your home also includes a robot repair bay, where your mechanized servants are routinely fitted with new restraining bolts. (It's just a precaution.) Your guests enjoy your home theater with 37 different sports channels. Outside is your radio telescope, listening constantly for alien transmissions. Especially invaders. They'll come eventually, even if nobody believes you. (Nobody does.)

And, you have a pet -- a taun-taun named "Padme".

Below is a snippet of the blueprints:

Find YOUR Dream Home!

In 3, 2, 1...

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 07:10:31 GMT

Happy Birthday To Mee!!!!

Also Happy B-Days to:

kashira_maho's Derrick and Ian

And

tonyawinter

Damn I know a lot of people with the same b-day as me. Actually I met one more at our local Burning Man event, Critical Massive. Can't remember her name though. We did snuggle in the ball pit though (and the world didn't explode. Good thing her name wasn't Sam... that much coincidence could just cause some sort of paradox).

Are there any "Burning Buddhists" Out There??

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 08:04:51 GMT

Hi All sorry for not being very up-datey, but this is what I've been up to.

There's a few Buddhists here, so I thought I'd post this here too.....

Hi

After many years I'm acheiving a goal that I have had for years: Bring Nichiren Buddhism to the Burning Man Festival (http://www.burningman.com). Burning Man is a huge alternative arts festival in the deserts of Northern Nevada where nearly 40,000 people now go yearly to create a temporary community free of commercialism, and absolutely filled with alternative art, and interactive "theme camps". Its definitely a complete 180 from what most of see as "reality" in our daily lives. But there are 2 things about Burning Man that make it a great place to share Buddhsim: 1) Everyone is very open to talk to... you can talk to complete strangers, and it isn't "weird". 2) There are lots of people seeking something sprirtual.

Burning Man has been described as "spritual without meaning", which means it's up to the particpants to fill in the gaps of what people are looking for. That being said, Myself, and few other Seattle based SGI Buddhists are creating a Burning Man theme camp "Buddha Camp @ the Lotus Dome". Our goals for the first year are very simple: We're going to have chanting sessions every morning at 11:00am, open to everyone, and since the theme of Burning Man this year is "The Green Man" (looking at the enviornment), we are going to host a lecture/discussion on esho funi... Oneness of ourselves and our enviornment.

We are also going to have some Buddhist Chant cards, done up Burning Man-style, and tell as many people as we can about Buddhism

It should be noted that while we are SGI Buddhists we realize we are not representing the SGI in any way, and we are making it clear in the material we hand out/use that we are not representing SGI (we will of course have the #s of several SGI-USA centers with us, should they want to call and get more information)

Soo.... It's a little late in the game (Burning Man happens Aug 27th - Sept 3rd... the week before labor day), but we are looking for Buddha Camp Mates! If you have an interest in going to Burning Man, we may be your group.

Please see our website, http://www.buddhacamp.org for a little more information, and you can reply here or email contact@BuddhaCamp.org if you'd like to contact us.

Thanks!!

LightMan

Memmes!

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 21:57:57 GMT

What??? A B- in Science???

Would I survive Zombies?????

35%</small>

I think... I'm just too nice.

Tue, 01 May 2007 06:13:24 GMT

Haiku² for lightmanca
hope everyone is doing well hugs hmmm for sam weiss howmanyofme
@

Created by Grahame

Refi Madness!!

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 03:49:20 GMT

(I just realized how close the title is to being "Reefer Madness" heh. That will now be the unoffical title of this post :p )

So the last few weeks, I've been in the process of doing a refi on condo. It would seem that any large financial transaction is filled with problems. However, the end result is good. I really dropped down my payments while only raising my debt of the loan about $6,000 (typical closing costs)

So I decided to go with a *gasp* interest only loan that converts to a straight loan at a fixed rate after 10 years. I say gasp because I have always been against interest only. But I never knew of one that would be interest only and then convert to fixed. I always thought they blew up in 5 years or so, and if you hadn't refi'd your place or sold it, you'd be caught holding the bag.

My new payments are almost lower than what I was paying for rent at my old place W00T.

The loan guy I used was someone I know from the Burning Man community. He found me a great rate (5.875%), and suggested this cool loan to me. Congrats to him for this. However, we changed the loan several times, and I never got a final "good faith estimate". Which for the most part is OK--it was what I thought it was. However I thought I was still getting some cash back from the deal, which he took off to get me lower payments--he just never told me.

So the last week has been filled with delays as some loan person first needed all my homeowners/home association insurance. I was a little peeved... they could have asked for it to begin with and avoided the run-around as I get what they needed.

Then a bomb dropped... Numbers weren't adding up (and this was just today). I needed $1697!!

Apparently Wells Fargo (my old loan) didn't have enough to pay my property taxes, which are due April 31st. They even tried to pay what they had, and county refused it because it was the wrong amount (I'm glad I found that out!). So the property tax amount was due at signing for the NEW loan. At least there's a good explanation for it, but for me to have to pull $1697 out of my ass at a moments notice is inexcuseable, though I hear it happens all the time with larger amounts. Fortunately I had it, and moved some money from savings.

The silver lining is that I will get most of that back when Wells Fargo closes out my accounts. The property tax money they were holding for me will come back, and I had just paid April's mortgage payment, and I'll get that refunded. So it will come out even. But I was pissed.

In even (mostly) better news, I got the final statement for my car payment today! This month I will also pay off my car!

However the final payment is almost twice the regular payment. I was looking forward to sending a payment out as soon as I got the statement. But now that it's twice as much as normal (this I think is because I asked them suspend my payments for 3 months in 2004 because I had unexpectedly had a loss of employment and didn't know what the hell to do), it might have to wait. Or I could take more money out of savings and be done with it (I'm actually leaning toward this option right now--Be Free!!!).

That is all. Hope everyone is doing well *hugs*

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 01:06:02 GMT

Hmmm....

For "Sam Weiss"

HowManyOfMe.com

There are
26
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Now my *real* name is aparently even rarer. Yes my first name is actually Owen. Don't ask... its what my parents decided to do (it is my Grandpas name)

For "Owen Weiss"

HowManyOfMe.com

There are
7
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Now its your turn ;)

You can't defeat Logic!!

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 06:34:21 GMT

Stolen from roisnoir

<Extreme Sarcasm>
Now tell me folks does this not make perfect sense

No life in peanut butter validates creationism

Oh yeah the guy really convinced me. Indeed! It all makes total sense that
because there is no life in peanut butter is proof that God, and God alone
created all life in just 7 days! Just throw out all the billions of years
of collected evidence of life evolving. There were no protozoa, no
bacteria, leading to amphibians, reptiles, mammals, etc. The *whole* thing
can be thrown out, just because his jar of peanut butter had no life.

Are you all with me?? Who's a believer now!!!
</Extreme Sarcasm>

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 04:26:25 GMT

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Social Nerd You're interested in things such as politics, psychology, child care, and peace. I wouldn't go so far as to call you a hippie, but some of you may be tree-huggers. You're the type of people who are interested in bettering the world. You're possible the least nerdy of them all; unless you participate in other activies that paled your nerdiness compared to your involvement in social activities. Whatever the case, we could still use more of you around. ^_^
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Anime Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Drama Nerd
Musician
Literature Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

Child Care??? Umm no.
Hippy... yeah.

They didn't have anything related to the "freak nerd". They should have.

This is great!

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 08:25:21 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM_MkWgbt3k

That is all!

Learn to write!

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 01:50:34 GMT

I got my tax return, and now I'm shopping for front loading washer & dryers. I want to stack them, see (which can be done for most of these, from what I hear).

Anyway I'm reading some online reviews here: Hey You wanna buy a washer? And while the washer got great reviews, the reviewers are questionable. One starts like this:

"I got this washer and dryer as a set. I love them. I can put close in and just leave it. there are alot of choices and most of the setting are already set when you turn it on."

Another right below it:

"by far the best washer i have ever had the controls are easy to use my cloths dry faster in the same dryer usually 20 too 30 minutes faster uses less soap, bleach and faberic softner but you do need to use special soap thats says HE on the bottle witch Purex does make that i use i do a double spin though to get it to dry faster no need to spend a lot for one this one is the one to get"

wtf?

This actually looks like a really good washer for the price, but from the pic the door doesn't open the way I'd like. My laundry "closet" is very small, and that could be an issue. The dryer isn't as pretty. Hey You wanna buy a dryer? But the price for both is quite good. $1100! I was expecting to have to pay more. Hopefully I'll get to Home Depot tomorrow to look at them (hope they have them locally in stock. I really just don't want to buy from the pictures)

Delivery and installation might be issues. As mentioned, the laundry closet is small & is right off the bathroom. Currently the washer & dryer are on opposite sides of the door when you enter the "closet". I want to stack them, so I'll probably have to install some sort of extension for the dryer duct so that it goes to above where the new dryer will be. Also the same with the electrical. Can you have a safe (short) 220 extension cord? To complicate matters more, to navigate these new beasts into the laundry room might be interesting. I think the toilet might be in the way, so either the toilet has to move, or some really strong movers will have to lift the things.

I'll try to post some pictures tonight so you all can see what the hell I'm talking about. I doubt this is uncommon... My last laundry room was like this too.

---
Edit:

I've got some ideas ideas for do-it-myself extensions to the laundry duct and the electrical. One of my neighbors did this. I'll have to see if I can have another look at it. Both will be outside the walls, but it's a laundry closet! I'll do it in such a way that I can remove it when I sell it (if the new buyers don't want them). Hmm should be interesting. Bending conduit for fun and profit. lol.

A Conspiracy Theory to end all conspiracy theorys!!!

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 08:16:29 GMT

http://tinyurl.com/3yen6p

Funny as hell, and not serious at all, btw.
bluerose_3, You would really enjoy this.
(I should credit allyn for this wonderful piece of conspiracy.)
----
I suppose I should mention to you all....

I found out several weeks ago that I'm type II diabetic. The good news is that probably some pills will straighten me out, and I won't need insulin. The bad news is getting my meds right has been... weird.

I've been perscribed metformin (also called glucophage). It tells the liver to stop producing so much sugar. The first dose of 500 mg 2/day did a lot! Brought me from a morning (before eating) level of about 300, down to about 200 or so (normal is roughly 70 - 120). Then the doc upped the dosage to 1000mg 2/day, which I thought was high, but he saw the numbers I wrote down from my meter (I have to stab myself twice a day. fun). Oddly my blood sugar numbers were still all over the map. I just started the new dose this Sunday, so maybe it takes a while to work. The Dr. assured me that a low blood sugar reaction while taking metformin is low... it doesn't increase insulin, just tells the liver to not make as much sugar. Also another fun thing is that Metformin also seems to make my ears ring more, especially when I take vitamin C (or some other element common in both Airborne and Emergen-C). I've always had a slight ringing in my ear, but this is loud [And its not generally listed as a cause of tinitus... I only found one off reference to metformin causing tinitius]

What I didn't know is that you're supposed to take metformin with a meal, and that taking it with a meal apparently improves it's effectiveness. And today because I took one rather late last night, I waited until noon to take the "morning dose" with lunch. I measured my blood sugar around 3:00 and it's high, 188. Not so great. So I go about my day, and around 5:00 I decide go up stairs to play a video game, and all of a sudden I feel warm, sweaty, kinda hungry (but not too hungry), and also... rather panicy. Hmm... see high blood sugar can make you feel weird too (and the symptoms are somewhat the same... except for the panic and the warm feeling). I figure I need food... now! I go downstairs, buy some cookies from the vending machine and start eating them while hoofing it back to my office to check my blood sugar level.

It was 85. Thoretically not a "low" but I sure felt weird. Also I had been eating on my way back to the office, so it could have been lower. Even after my blood sugar level had recovered I was still off. I also ate too much. probably the "bounce" was a little strange for my body too (20 minutes later it was 194, which I'm ok with given the circumstances). Grr... I need stability, not up-down up-down. I haven't enrolled in a diabetes class yet, but I think I'm sure going to tomorrow. I've been eating much more sensibly lately, especially watching carbs. I ate a candy bar a few weeks ago, and discovered very quickly I didn't like how that made me feel.

Anyway, just so you all know... I've got a can of sugared soda in my car, and on my desk at work, so I'm pretty well prepared for another problem like this (I'll carry one with me if I need to). I'm quite hoping I'll get this combination of med & eating down so that its under control. This is something I know I have to treat, and keep on top of. Probably, as we move into spring I'll get more active, and get rid of it. 36 is way too young to have type 2. Sadly I can't fix it while sitting on my ass!

More Snow....

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 07:06:02 GMT

Yup. Again. Weird

This really cracked me up!!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070301/ap_on_fe_st/counterfeiting_god;_ylt=AtV.EKCPc5zWfOPpei1nJpjMWM0F

I wish I had a check from God.
I guess I could just make my own. lol

Disturbing...

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 04:31:13 GMT

allyn had this in his journal. I'm quite at a loss for words

http://www.komoradio.com/home/video/5001856.html?video=YHI&t=a

Too offset that sad sad video, maybe this will cheer people up! (This is a must for those of you who absolutely hate valentines day)

Will It Blend?

And this is a favorite from the same site

ooohhhh Prettty

I love the retro "game show" theme.

Dating explained for geeks!

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 06:47:06 GMT

http://www.bitquabit.com/2007/02/14/smart-guys-date-in-parallel/

Pretty hilarious if you ask me. I like some of the comments below, stating what happens if the girls are hooked into other "circuits" with different power sources.

---
FYI:
My Mom went to the Cardiologist. He seems to think it was all caused by a very persistent sinus infection my Mom has. Part of that is its been dripping crap down into her throat, and messing up her breathing. She doesn't quite beleive that (and neither do I), but getting rid of the sinus infection would be a relief! He says her heart and lungs are fine.

Mom is now much better, and HOME!

Thu, 15 Feb 2007 06:07:15 GMT

Thanks everyone

What a weird 36 hours. She obviously responded to treatment, which is basically to give her drugs to make her pee until her lungs cleared, which happened sometime this morning.

After many tests, including an angiogram, they couldn't find out why this happened to her, but weird things happen to my Mom for unknown reasons (several years ago the Dr. Office did a blood test, and discovered she was anemic, and needed a blood transfusion. They never found the cause, but it hasn't happened since). But she is now aware of the symptoms of this happening again, and with that knowledge can get meds to stop it, and keep her out of the ER.

That is all for now. I just got home after taking her home (My Aunt is looking after her now), and going to go eat.

Oh and Happy Valentines day everyone. (grumble grumble. lol)

In other news...

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 07:44:26 GMT

Did I talk about this? Not sure....

Last Nov, at the local Burning Man decompression party (SeaCompression), I happened to run into a whole bunch of Buddhists (or rather, they ran into me... I didn't recognize any of them at first). It was very very strange hearing "Buddhist Speak" at a Burning Man party... that has never happened before. Many of them were at the Burn this year, and they definitely want to return. (and they are convincing their friends to go, though I've gotten that far myself, only to have it fizzle out)

Anyway, talks are now underway to create a Buddhist oriented theme camp! This has been a goal of mine for years, and in fact one that I had given up on. I never thought I'd be able to convince enough Buddhists to go to Burning Man. Very cool that this has surfaced again. And at a time when I have otherwise been not so interested in returning to Burning Man. But... making one of my longtime dreams come true... that's awesome!
----
Now... all I need to do is find a wife!
eHarmony hasn't helped much so far*. But who knows what the future brings. I feel like I'm very close! Grrr. Frustrating.

*I have been talking to a few very interesting women, but most of them have been very far away. Something's got to give.

Porn for Pyros!

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 07:35:40 GMT

Very work safe, though you might be labled a terrorist!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdCsbZf1_Ng&eurl=

----
You know... the discovery channel has a show called "Future Weapons", which shows the military's latest and greatest ways of destroying things. I can't stand to watch the show, because I know the weapons will be used to kill people.

However!!! This kind of thing... Wanton destruction that hurts no one... Oh yeah. I can dig it (I know I know... these "stunts" could surely take someone out accidentally. I'm assuming these folks aren't stupid)

Edit: One more. Holy Crap!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNaFWq4JzS8&mode=related&search=
I didn't understand a word said, but I can understand BOOM!

Holy Crap!

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:51:29 GMT

We got snow!

Looks like I will have more pictures to post soon. We got a lot! But I need to try and get myself to work. If I can get out of the driveway, I'll be able to do the rest no problem (well providing no one hits me, and I don't wind up in a ditch! Whoohoo. Never thought life on the edge would be driving to work).

Dear weather gods... obviously I was mistaken

Thu, 11 Jan 2007 04:23:17 GMT

Yep. I called your snow "snot" last night. If it will help (which it won't) I duely apologies. We got slammed again, during evening commute. I even left early (4:30), and it took a while to get home. Aparently everyone left as soon as the whole thing started (which was with about 1/2 hour of *hail*). Instant gridlock!

Thank goodness I stopped and spent an hour in a pub drinking a drink called "Irish Mint". I know I was in a pub and not drinking beer, but the Irish Mint was hot and yummy.

Gah! I really don't want one of those horrific commutes again! It really takes the fun out of the snow!

Like woah man. You're harshing my mello.

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:35:33 GMT

This should, in the least be interesting...

News Flash: BM Founder John Law sues Burning Man
http://bm.tribe.net/thread/d1c97f04-0a07-4299-9be8-b7e5dc7a3c1f

I've only read a part of it, but it looks like this guy wants the name "Burning Man" to be public domain. I'd be all in favor of this, but it also means that anyone can pick up the words "Burning Man" and do what they want with them, including something like "Burning Man: Girls/Guys/Freaks/You Name it Gone Wild". Not to mention picking up the Burning Man brand magarita mix for those harsh playa days. Burning Man Beer? Well hopefully it will taste better than PBR, but you never know (wait... everything tastes better than PBR)!

This would be bad. I appreciate the atempt to make it free, but I think it could fail. This reminds me of the art grant schizm that happened a few years ago. How that one turn out? I didn't notice any difference.

Snow??? Snot!

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:20:33 GMT

I guess tomorrow may be different but the big wind, rain, and snow for today didn't really happen. Well Seattle got wind. We didn't get much, or it lasted a very short time. I just looked outside. It looks like we got a smattering of snow, and the skies are clear. I'm quite glad, actually. Another day without work due to weather (I've had 2 so far) is not good. I drive a desk! If I'm not working due to weather problems or power problems, that's bad!

I survived the holidays. Hanging out with Mormon Family. My came up last weekend. That was fun to see him. I took Fri off work, and went on a very cold sight seeing trip with my Aunt and Uncle. We drove out to Whidbey island from the north. Decided to turn around when it got really rainy.

I really want one of these!!! http://www.apple.com/iphone/. I think its one of the sexiest devices I've seen, providing it does everything they say it does. Perhaps it will, since Apple makes it. My Pocket PC smart phone that I bought last Summer has given me nothing but trouble. It's just been an expensive piece of crap. The battery barely lasts a day (on a good day... on a bad day, it last less than 4 hours), and something is always hanging or freezing so I have to reboot the damn thing. But this Apple smart phone! Damn! I must be really geeky to think a phone is sexy, but it looks awesome.

That's it for now. Hopefully tomorrow doesn't suprise us too much, and create another 2 hour+ commute home.

Wow!

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 04:22:20 GMT

I just got a check for $320, some sort of Escrow account refund. (Wells fargo is keeping an escrow account for me for property tax. Its already figured into my monthly payment).

Umm.. Ok. You forced me into it... I'll take your check, right before the holidays, just when I need it to buy presents!
Here's to unexpected money!

[and it was in one of those "for your information envelopes" I often do not open until I file things away. (you have to understand.... having a mortgage produces a bunch of crap mail, some you need to keep, and others are just a bunch of spam for Mortgage insurance)]

Ahem. This was too funny not to share.

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:50:39 GMT

On the 7th day of Chrismas, the random Chrismas Song Generator sang to me

Jingle kumquat, Jingle kumquat,
Jingle all the way.

Jingle Bells
from the Christmas Song Generator.

I'll just not say anything. Um. Yeah

"Seattle Hurricane"

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 08:15:06 GMT

Well Ok... I don't think it qualifies as a hurricane at all, but the wind sure as hell blew!

The power was out for 24 hours. Thats the longest outage I've encountered in a surbuban area. Trying to find ice today was fruitless, and downright annoying. I had heard power was on up 405 2 exits. I got there, and yes the power was on, but the store parking lot was a nightmare, and alas no ice. I got quiznos though. Places that were open were running out of nearly anything useful.

Well I'll probably write more later. But yep I survived "the big wind"