elevation 6789

Letterpress

2007-05-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Letterpress printing is a technique that has gone out of favor, but not out of style. The output of a quality letterpress is visually impressive. Each individual letter set and spaced to within fractions of an inch. Imagine doing a whole book like that. Reading would cost a fortune. The type is really something to be appreciated as there is a whole other dimension to a letterpress print than there is to the laser printed copies we see today. To see a craftsman like the man in the video dedicate the time to master such an outdated skill is awesome, especially in these days of e=mail and xerox machines.

Another video documenting the Letterpress Process
A gallery of Letterpress Prints

Snowflakes

2007-05-30T03:45:00.000-07:00

No two are the same. Their formation is determined by the temperature at which they form. There are some various basic shapes like radial arms, plates, and even cylindrical shafts. They take up the familiar six sided shape because of the 120 degree bond found in a water molecule and its interaction with crystalline structure.

A snowflake observed with a scanning electron microscope reveals the intense symmetry and extremely detailed crystalline structure of a typical snowflake.

For more regarding these intricate little ice plates, National Geographic has a feature with some highly detailed photos, and more regarding the relationship between temperature and physical structure of various snowflakes.

Everything you see is fake.

2007-05-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

Video and photo editing are everywhere around us. It can be used to smooth over wrinkles, superimpose a background, or just make your average teenage girl feel insecure. People really don't look like those pictures in advertisements, and if you find one that isn't 85% plastic and doesn't need airbrushing, have her shoot me an e-mail. There was a saying back in the 1920's that called a woman 'waterproof' if she didn't need any make-up to be gorgeous. Now, the term would have to be Photoshop-proof which doesn't exactly flow off the tongue. Remember that Beauty is only skin deep and computer modified images won't be seen swaying down the street. It is nice however to see some uses of editing in good fun, like for instance this guy catching sunglasses with his face, or these mashups of fruit and vegetables with animals. Some of these editors are unbelievably good, even starting from a blank sheet they can make realistic looking images. Take for example this photo quality reproduction of an image of Scarlett Johansson.

L & P

2007-05-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

World Famous In New Zealand Since Ages Ago.

Back in the day...when mens fashion wasn't cutting it...

L&P advertisement: Stubbies

Back in the day...the place to be all summer was the school pool. Luckily your mum was on the PTA and had the pool key

L&P advertisement: School Pool.

For the record L&P is a sweet carbonated lemony soft drink bottled solely in New Zealand. Their (former) ad campaign is absolutely hilarious.

Also listen to the ...L & P radio spots

Back in my day at the pool it was Dr. Pepper and Payday candy bars. The depth charge was called a jack knife and it wasn't Teresa McKee getting soaked, it was the irritable half asleep lifeguards. Mr. Moore, the pool caretaker, was Mr. E and there was always too much chlorine in the pool. Blonde girls would come out of the pool with a nice green tint to their hair and opening your eyes underwater meant that you would need a nap immediately upon returning home. The diving boards were used to hone our quarterbacking skills by throwing nerf footballs at unsuspecting jumpers and no one wore a 'man skin.' The concrete pool deck was used as a towel if you just rolled over a couple times. The 'wait a half hour' rule after eating was constantly broken and touching the bottom at the deep end was a great accomplishment. There was no need to stop by the office because everyone knew that our pool pass was in the box. Nobody ever really swam except to get to the side after jumping off the diving boards and getting kicked out for 15 minutes happened about every 16 minutes.

New and Improved Stereotypes

2007-05-27T04:32:00.000-07:00

Australians get high by smoking skittles. Many more at...

New and Improved Stereotypes

Brad Neely...

2007-05-27T02:28:00.000-07:00

...might be the most twisted/hilarious guy ever. If one person has influenced the slang I currently use, it would be Mr. Neely. You can't watch these animations with any sort of preconceived concept of reality.

Professor Brothers

"I dropped some real flow on the cherriest of all shoes."
"The weather had just changed into bullshit."
"This eye pastry just kept buying me drinks."

Babycakes!

Walking Potion: 10 parts Sugar
90 parts Whiskey

The Brad Neely collection on Superdeluxe

Also recommended ...
Cat People
George Washington

Air Traffic Controllers

2007-05-27T02:09:00.000-07:00

Allegedly the German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They, it is alleged, not only expect one to know one's gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206.

Speedbird 206: "Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway."

Ground: "Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven." The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop.

Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?"

Speedbird 206: "Stand by, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now."

Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?"

Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark,... and I didn't land."

Air Traffic Controllers are funny.

Creative Photos

2007-05-26T03:14:00.000-07:00

Really interesting images by Chema Madoz

Creative Photos

An American Self Portrait

2007-05-26T02:35:00.000-07:00

Chris Jordan makes artwork using many small things put together to give a visual representation of American culture. This image is just a fraction of the actual piece which represents the 100+ thousand cans of soda consumed by Americans every 30 seconds.

An American Self Portrait

Intolerable Beauty

We could stop drinking so much soda, we could use canvas shopping bags, we could buy a Prius instead of a Denali. In America that is just what we do not. We do diabetes, pollution, and huge carbon footprints. Seeing it in a visual context though made me realize that perhaps this is all getting a little out of control.

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye

2007-05-07T03:54:00.000-07:00

True Romance

2007-05-07T02:45:00.000-07:00

A 1993 Tarantino written Tony Scott directed flick with what might be the best cast ever assembled.

Walken
Pitt
Oldman
Arquette
Slater
L. jackson
Kilmer
Hopper
Sizemore
Gandolfini
Black

Seriously, one hell of a movie.

Also, maybe don't tell a mobster who proud of his Sicilian heritage, that his ancestors bred with the Moors, making him part black. Christopher Walken will blow your head off because he hasn't killed anyone since 1984.

Thou Shalt Always Kill

2007-05-01T01:47:00.000-07:00

Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip

Thou shalt not judge a book by its cover, thou shalt not judge Lethal Weapon by Danny Glover.

Thou shalt not use poetry, art, or music to get into girls' pants. Use it to get into their heads.

Guns, Bitches and Bling were never part of the 4 elements and never will be.

2008

2007-04-30T23:00:00.000-07:00

If only Barry Goldwater was running...

Issues that concern me.

*Personal Freedom
No governmental intrusion on personal freedom, rights, or general carryings on unless there is a reasonable reason to do so.
I want the Patriot Act repealed.
The Department of Homeland Security should be dismantled and its responsibilities should be separated into the various pre-existing agencies specified for maintaining non-intrusive domestic security.
Gun control limited to background checks and automatic assault rifles.

*Education
The American system works only when there is an educated populace. Education is more important than anything. As the bodies of information and knowledge continue to vastly increase, we need a population that is ready and able to further this knowledge as a general contribution to the world as a whole. More and higher paid teachers, better learning facilities, and greater accessibility to a collegiate degree.

*Alternative Energy
Federally supplemented research, development, and implementation of alternative energy. Alternative energy will only serve to lessen carbon emissions, reduce dependence on foreign resources, and spark massive economic growth.

*Economic Opportunity
Encourage the growth of new business. Tax the wealthy to a greater degree than the poor and middle classes regardless of political contribution. Minimal taxes collected to keep a minimally intrusive government running. Government contracts awarded through a highly competitive process and wholly separated from political personal interest. Energy should not be falsely inflated in price. Companies proven to be engaged in predatory economics will be penalized.

*Separation of Church and State
Do not attempt to use political office to further a religious agenda. Do not use religious agenda as a motivation for political decisions. It is acceptable to use religion in regards to your personal morality; it is not acceptable to attempt to infiltrate any branch of government to further any religious cause to any degree.

*Immigration
Keep America diverse while still maintaining American ideals and culture. The American-Mexican border needs to be regulated much heavier. A national identification card should be required for all citizens to obtain employment or governmental services. Employers of illegal immigrants should be penalized. Forgers of documents for illegal immigrants should be penalized. Birth certificates and Social Security cards should have much greater security and counterfeit protection than they currently possess. Immigrants should demonstrate that they will uphold a mutually beneficial relationship with their new country, and should wholeheartedly identify with American ideals.

*National Security
A technologically superior and highly mobile military should be kept. Once again, military contracts will be awarded in a highly competitive process and held to their original budget. These contracts should not be extremely lucrative, but should also be lucrative enough to entice great amounts of private interest. Domestic security will be non-invasive and carried out in accordance with established individual rights.

*Environmental Issues
Alternative energy should be given great priority. National Parks should be increased in size and number. Alaska will not be relied on for oil resources of any kind. Greater emphasis on personal alternative energy generation and use. Lower emission rates for automobiles and industry. Clean efficient public transportation more widely implemented and emphasized. Consideration given to other countries to implement lower emission policies.

*Foreign Policy
Complete withdrawal from Iraq. Emphasis on mutually beneficial relationships with other nations. Rebuild relationships along with economic and political ties with Europe. Domestic implementation of alternative energy will reduce reliance on foreign resources and lessen American political interest in the Middle East. Foreign aid based on American interests. Congressionally backed entrance into conflict without exception. No preemptive conflict. Encouragement of domestic manufacturing and superior quality of American products.

*Taxation and Government
Taxes should be collected only to keep an efficient minimal government running. Government expenditures should be kept at a minimum but should still be able to cover all expenses necessary to this minimal government. All failing or non-essential governmental programs should be rethought and reimplemented or disbanded. Government employees should be given competitive salaries and demonstrate a high level of competence. Standards for governmental employees should be kept and promotion should be based upon merit instead of seniority.

What will you be basing your vote on?

Infographics

2007-03-21T05:51:00.000-07:00

Infographics

Really informative graphics about things from the Arms Trade to McDonalds and Starbucks worldwide distribution.

IQ

2007-03-21T04:15:00.001-07:00

Recipe for a Barbeque

2007-03-21T03:02:00.000-07:00

- Wake up at noon on a buddy's couch
- Watch college basketball
- Buy beer
- Buy chichen and barbeque sauce
- Invite good friends
- Drink beer
- Que up the chicken
- Drink beer
- Waste the day away

The Sneak

2007-03-21T03:00:00.000-07:00

The dapper swindler out of Tammany Hall
Put a bengal tiger in the Kaiser's latrine.

Its the SNEAK!

via homestarrunner

Dropkick Murphys

2007-03-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

"I'm shipping up to Boston"

See the Departed. Seriously.

ariel atom

2006-06-25T04:11:00.000-07:00

A big go-kart that looks like one hell of a lot of fun. They should definitely bring this thing to America. 2.9 seconds to sixty and for under $50,000.

...

2006-06-20T05:06:00.000-07:00

May you never go to hell, but always be on your way.

george washington

2006-06-12T02:06:00.000-07:00

Never told a lie, but fucked the shit out of bears.

'Six Foot Twenty, fuckin' killing for fun'

flying squirrel suit

2006-06-12T01:50:00.000-07:00

Strap on a snowboard and you have the equivalent of tow in surfing. The reason he doesn't slam into the face of the mountain is because of a 'ground effect' where the air is compressed between him and the surface.

quote

2006-05-15T03:01:00.000-07:00

"An invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come." - Victor Hugo.

puzzle

2006-05-10T03:40:00.000-07:00

Puzzle.
Fit 4 backwards Nevadas and a square into a bigger square. I sure as hell couldn't do it. Rotate the shapes by clicking while holding the shift key.

the brick testament

2006-05-10T02:50:00.000-07:00

The Bible depicted with Legos and a sense of humor. Awesome.

The Brick Testament

cia

2006-05-10T02:18:00.000-07:00

The right guy at this critical point in our nation's history?

Porter Goss resigns from the CIA, after his campaign in which he "led ably". Micheal Hayden will replace him. I am sure there will be way to much arguing as to who is appointed Director of the CIA. The only thing that I know is that there is no chance of finding out if the director is doing a good job or not, save another terrorist attack. Here is to hoping that the new director has no intention of wire tapping my phone.

work

2006-05-10T01:51:00.000-07:00

I am too young to have figured this out on my own, but I have heard from countless sources to "do what you love." This is the reason why I can't see the end of the college tunnel, first of all, it is just too much fun, and secondly, there is no reason to leave if I can't choose my own path in life. Payments on a house in suburbia just aren't for me.

airtoons

2006-05-03T21:12:00.000-07:00

Airtoons. Parody Airline Safety Procedures.

stephen colbert

2006-05-02T03:45:00.000-07:00

Stephen Colbert definitely took advantage of his opportunity and showed some balls in his monologue at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. The video of the monologue is tough to watch, both because of the utter truthfulness of it all, but also because of the blatant disrespect showed by Colbert to the President.

Here are a few quotes from the monologue.

"So, Mr. President, please, pay no attention to the people that say the glass is half full. 32% means the glass -- it's important to set up your jokes properly, sir. Sir, pay no attention to the people who say the glass is half empty, because 32% means it's 2/3 empty. There's still some liquid in that glass is my point, but I wouldn't drink it. The last third is usually backwash."

"Everybody asks for personnel changes. So the White House has personnel changes. Then you write, "Oh, they're just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic." First of all, that is a terrible metaphor. This administration is not sinking. This administration is soaring. If anything, they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg!"

Here is the painful video. White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

bullets

2006-05-01T23:49:00.000-07:00

Slow motion film of bullets passing through various objects.

panorama

2006-04-26T03:01:00.000-07:00

Machu Picchu

Eiffel Tower

Mount Everest

360 degree views in high resolution.

bunny suicides

2006-04-26T00:59:00.000-07:00

Bunny Suicides, the complete twisted collection.

for the blondes

2006-04-26T00:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some tests for blondes to prove that they aren't just good looking.

Blondes

be creative

2006-04-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

It is always nice to be creative once in awhile. These websites provide the
medium, you provide the creativity

create your own Jackson Pollock.

twirling a String.

can't really explain this one. Tracer.

unembedded

2006-04-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

unembedded

Four Unembedded Photojournalists on the War in Iraq.

These pictures really make you appreciate what we have in America. Where is all of the money generated from oil going? Why bomb a country with so little, and a people that are struggling to hold on to what they do have?

Seeing a picture is so much more moving than reading an article in a newspaper or hearing the latest death tolls.

I wonder what seeing a picture of New York City would make them think about.

animation

2006-04-24T00:54:00.000-07:00

A first attempt at an animation.

frank caliendo

2006-04-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Frank Caliendo does George W.

Frank Caliendo does John Madden.

gnarls barkley

2006-04-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

Gnarls Barkley - Crazy

This song is the definition of smooth, and the best song I have heard in awhile.

traffic

2006-04-20T01:56:00.001-07:00

Traffic in Saigon.

These people surely have no need and will surely never get a citation for

Manipulating a Traffic Signal.

orbit

2006-04-15T11:15:00.000-07:00

doom funnel chasers. I would call it orbit something, or a physics lesson.

sand

2006-04-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

world of sand. All you need now are the tonka trucks.

pictures

2006-04-15T05:24:00.000-07:00

cross your eyes. 3D pictures that only require a headache. very cool.

found. pictures of some found stuff of other people.

spell with flickr. pictures of letters put together at your command.

strip comic generator. for the creative and unartistic/lazy.

science

2006-04-11T02:48:00.000-07:00

thought this was funny.

daily lush

2006-04-11T02:11:00.000-07:00

"We at Daily Lush will not take issue with their arguments, although we often find ourselves wishing that the circumstances regarding America's youth were reversed -- that is, we are far more comfortable with 18- to 21-year-olds drinking than driving."

Concerning the Drinking Age

"Alcohol has inspired some truly terrible behavior. Here's some of the worst."

Six Really Bad Things to Do When Drunk

immigration.

2006-04-09T23:46:00.000-07:00

Immigration needs to be looked at and changed. Turn on the television, or come out of your hole and you will realize this. America lets in the most legal immigrants of any country. This has been and will continue to be one of the most rewarding contributors to our nation.

Illegal immigration however has become a great burden and has spun wildly out of control. The costs aren't hard to recognize. Illegal immigrants in accordance with the law cannot be legally employed, meaning that they get paid in cash under the table and taxfree. The deductions you see on your paystub do not apply to them. Ten dollars an hour under the table is equivalent to about thirteen dollars at an honest job. The costs of educating illegal immigrants is another burden. No person should be denied education, but the fact that it costs anywhere from five to twelve thousand dollars per student per year depending on the state (1), you can see how the costs start adding up. The fact that there are ten million plus people in America that aren't subject to the laws that I am required to abide by is what really gets me. As far as legislation reform goes, the two words that I absolutely can't stand in the immigration debate are amnesty and racism.

Amnesty.

The 1986 Immigration Control and Reform Act (2) was an attempt at quelling the flow of illegal immigrants from Mexico to America by granting amnesty to those who had been living in America since January 1982. It also made it illegal to employ an illegal immigrant and intensified enforcement on the Mexican-American border. This obviously didn't work. This legislation basically became the welcome mat on the doorstep of America for illegal immigrants. Any legislation reform put forth need not address amnesty. Illegal immigrants should be urged to return to Mexico and apply for legal status within the generous legal immigrant admission quota.

The numbers of deportable illegal immigrants located by border security from the years 1995-2004 have averaged more than 1.2 million people per year. (3)This is a problem and with enforcement of illegal immigration laws, deportation of illegal immigrants, and a more efficient legal application process this will not continue to be a problem.

As far as the labor demand goes, the government understands that immigration and especially the immigration from Mexico plays a massive role in our economy. The government should see to it that the benefit of the massive cheap mobile labor force of Mexican American immigrants continues to fill the demands of our economy, but that illegal immigrants dodging taxes and using public services provided for by taxpayers should no longer be relied on to fill that void.

Racism.

That American citizens are agitated by the fact that illegal immigrants are not paying taxes, not subject to the same American laws, and generally seem proud to do so through massive protests and the waving of Mexican flags is not the slightest bit racist. It is an expression of the founding ideal of our country that all people are subject to the same law in the same way, see: Magna Carta. One is not a racist because they believe that everybody should be subject to the same laws and pay their dues to society even if this is expected of a group who is a racial minority. This is not about civil rights because civil rights implies citizenship and equal treatment by the law. The fact that a person is inside our country illegally by choice does not mean that they should be held above any law and especially the laws regarding immigration. If and when the Mexican contingent in America is subject to inappropriate treatment by the law, I will be the first in line to defend their rights. This does not mean that I will do the same for a group that disregarded the laws of our country immediately upon entering.

My suggestion would be to first and foremost enforce the laws regarding immigration and the deportation of illegal immigrants. This is not to become a witch hunt, but when an illegal immigrant is located, they should be deported but allowed application via legal means. Illegal immigrants deported as criminals need not apply for legal admission. The labor demand does need to be met as this is a vital strength of America's economy and will be done through legal immigration. There needs to be much tougher enforcement and repercussions on employers of illegal immigrants as this will lessen the demand and motivation for illegal immigration.

(1) National Conference of State Legislators, http://www.ncsl.org/programs/educ/PupilExpenditures.htm

(2)Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Reform_and_Control_Act_of_1986

(3) United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2004 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, table 37 pg. 162. http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/yearbook/Yearbook2004.pdf,

CNN article. My motivation for writing this.

The Universe of the Illegal Alien. A good account of the life of the illegal immigrant.

I think I just wrote the conclusion portion of my research paper on Mexican immigration to America.

a take on college

2006-04-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

University of Rochester.

The University of Nevada isn't quite like this, except for the parking. I can't express in words how much I despise UNR Parking Services.

my spoon is too big

2006-04-08T19:04:00.000-07:00

my spoon is too big.

I have no idea why the Family Learning Channel would ever reject any of these cartoons, except for that, I mean except for all of them.

cinema

2006-04-01T10:20:00.000-08:00

Japan For. Probably the greatest moment in cinematic history.

Seriously, what happenened to Tom Green?

Slutmobile. Bam Margera has no idea how to mess with his parents.

a considerate skeleton

2006-03-30T03:47:00.000-08:00

A considerate skeleton walks into a bar, he says to the bartender, "I'll have a beer and a mop."

germ

2006-03-29T21:22:00.000-08:00

your moment of zen

2006-03-27T00:57:00.000-08:00

Jon Stewart is a genius. He has matured into a national leader, whether he likes it or not. Fake news has become a portal of truth in the vast array of 24 hour sensationalized fear instilling media. Call The Daily Show liberal, call it laughable, but never call it damaging and never attempt to supress the criticism of government. Remember, the side not in power is the side without the power to supress or distort the truth. The conflict between the followers and opposers of the president cannot be put in terms of liberal and conservative, it has become a conflict between the rational and the irrational, the educated and the ignorant, the New York Times readers and the NASCAR fans. Jon Stewart is on the rational side.

FOX News dialogue between Bill O'Reilly and John Stewart

I had no idea that 87 percent of Daily Show viewers are intoxicated.

Stewart on Crossfire with Tucker Carlson.

STEWART: Now, this is theater. It's obvious. How old are you?

CARLSON: Thirty-five.

STEWART: And you wear a bow tie.

This comment is one glorious moment in one hell of an admirable appearance by Stewart on CNN.

Stewart post 9/11 monologue.

What an American and a journalist should be.

Stewart on Larry King

"We would make fun of something else, if government suddenly became inspiring, moved towards people's better nature, and began to solve problems in a rational way rather than just in a way that involved political dividends."

I realize that I am blowing Jon Stewart with this post, but nevertheless he is inspiring. He can argue all day long that he has no influence, I can vouch otherwise.

draw it up.

2006-03-26T19:13:00.000-08:00

drawball

Going off drawball, it appears as if the general world population has no artistic talent whatsoever. There are some great drawings though.

Jessica Alba on drawball. amazing.
Hokusai Wave

Jesus

2006-03-26T18:07:00.000-08:00

Creep Can Roll.

Some Reasons I Tell Myself As To Why Staying In Reno For Spring Break Was Better Than Going To Mexico

2006-03-26T16:28:00.000-08:00

*I didn't want to practice speaking Spanish.
*I sunburn easily.
*I don't like rowdy atmospheres where hot girls act like sluts and lose all inhibitions.
*What happens in Mexico doesn't stay in Mexico if it happens to be an STD.
*I enjoy freezing my ass off.
*Even though I love cheap Margaritas by the cubic meter, drinking Bud Lights inside with the two people who stayed in Reno was a much more responsible decision.
*I never would have downloaded Civilization 1 circa 1992.
*Being pasty white really accents my facial features.
*I would rather not patronize the Mexican economy.
*Montezuma's Revenge.
*The potential third time in jail would not have been a charm had it occurred in Mexican jail.
*Wet t-shirt contests objectify women.

Milk

2006-03-24T17:38:00.000-08:00

Go to hell you potential osteoporosis candidate milk slandering whiny bitch. Milk just might be the greatest thing ever.

Furthermore, PETA is the biggest joke ever. Obviously animals need to be eaten, used for obsolete fashion, and produce milk for me to drink.

"But animals are so cute and stuff...feelings...blah blah blah." SHUT UP!!!!

If you want to protect animals, tell sharks or bears or kittens to mutate and gain an opposable thumb. Until then, I don't want to hear about it.

Family of six survives two weeks of being stranded in an RV stuck in the snow.

2006-03-22T17:13:00.000-08:00

A family driving through southwest Oregon in their RV encountered some bad weather, slid off the road, and was stranded in the Oregon wilderness. The family survived out there for sixteen days before sending out two of the members who found help.

Wow, what a story.....Sike! This story would be great if there was more than one member of the family killed by a bear, another dead of frostbite, and yet another eaten because they picked the shortest straw. This family, the Strivers were stranded in a 36 foot RV stocked with food, had propane for heat, and had fuel to generate electricity. People pay to stay in cottages smaller than this RV, heated by a fire, and which are probably more isolated and likely to be crossed by a bear. Surviving in a 36 foot RV with all the amenities still intact is not anything deserving of admiration. These fake ass outdoorsmen even had television.

"Wilderness rats" my ass. Try hiking firewood up a quarter-mile long driveway in winter storm conditions through four foot drifts every night for a month. If that RV was at the bottom, I would have been more than content to stay at the bottom.

Link

What is there to win?

2006-03-21T19:45:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Tuesday that he believes the United States will succeed in Iraq, and that if he didn't believe so, he would withdraw U.S. forces.

Implementing a national democracy during a time of civil strife in Iraq, what a proposition. Comprehending what this democracy will accomplish and how it is to the benefit of the United States is beyond me. Although I claim to have no great understanding of culture or government in the Middle East, I do know Islam will continue to govern the behaviors and habits of its inhabitants. A democracy stands a snowballs chance of hell of working in a tense civil and religious conflict.

Democracy will be rejected because the religious majority will easily seize control through majority rule and exercise their agenda with a constitution or without one nullifying the previously untested and untrusted system of government in the region. Although democracy has its roots not far from Iraq, it has become an Americanized symbol and institution, especially if America is the entity forcing it upon a nation. A Democratic system is just as likely to be shrugged off in Iraq because of their well founded general dislike of America as it is to fail because majority rule will continue to represent a religious majority, completely contradicting the system that is currently operating in America.

A few things about this bother me. One is that the president states that he believes that we can win the war in Iraq. What is there to win? The one and only thing that America should have and interest in in the Middle East is oil yet today I paid $2.63 a gallon for gasoline. I think I am missing the connection between a democracy in Iraq and me paying less for gas. Oh wait, there is no connection. Another is that over 300 billion dollars has been spent for what? A failed attempt at instilling a system of government which will inherently fail and a war which only increases anti-American sentiments in other parts of the world. I just don't see the incentives.

Over 2100 American troops have died and although I support those willing to fight for my freedom to type this, I wish that they were dying for a cause that I am supportive of. This war is not one for territory or retribution or defense, it is a war that is being conducted without Congressional approval, without public support, and one that America stands to gain nothing from.

What if America took those 300 billion dollars and spent them wisely domestically? What if Americans still had those 300 billion dollars and spent them as they pleased, which would in turn boost the domestic economy? What if we stayed the hell out of conflicts that weren't ours to fight and in turn set an example, an example worth fighting for to emulate? The American system could be the epitome of government if there was more domestic federal attention.

Lead by example not by coercion. Watch as the oppressed people in other countries follow the ideals of liberty and democracy. Democracy and freedom are ideals that are perhaps best learned from experience. Remember what this country is founded upon.

the current playlist

2006-03-20T23:05:00.000-08:00

low - cracker
lovefool - the cardigans
long train runnin - the doobie brothers
breathe me - sia
ballroom blitz - sweet
sultans of swing - dire straits
colorblind - counting crows
bound to the floor - local h
neighborhood #3 (power out) - arcade fire
nugget - cake
tonight she comes - the cars
obstacle 1 - interpol
addiction - kanye west

spring break?

2006-03-20T22:50:00.000-08:00

umm...no.

a tribute to Mitch Hedberg

2006-03-20T19:14:00.000-08:00

The funniest guy I have ever come across.

*If carrots got you drunk, rabbits would be fucked up.

*The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how much you play, you'll never be as good as a wall. I played a wall once, they're fucking relentless.

*This one time I was in a convenience store, and a guy came up and asked me, "What's the score?" and I said, "What is the game? If it's a competition between me and you, and the object is to ask the other guy questions he doesn't give a shit about, then you are winning, one to nothing."

*I have a cheese-shredder, which is its positive name. They don't call it by its negative name, cause no one would buy it: sponge-ruiner. Because I wanted to clean it, and now I have little bits of sponge... that would melt easily over tortilla chips.

*I don't have a microwave but I do have a clock that occasionally cooks shit.

*I saw a wino; he was eating grapes. I was like, "Dude — you have to wait!"

*I like an escalator because an escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. You would never see an "Escalator temporarily out-of-order" sign. Just "Escalator temporarily stairs. Sorry for the convenience." We apologize for the fact that you can still get up there.

*I don't have a girlfriend, but I do know a girl that would be really mad if she heard me say that.

Hedberg Comedy Central Special

Hedberg on Letterman

Hedberg Quotes on wikipedia

Hedberg Official Site

on putty. things to do with it.

2006-03-19T15:07:00.000-08:00

*stretch it
*cut it with scissors
*snap it apart
*press it onto jeans
*taste it
*make it into funny shapes and bounce it
*ball it up
*cube it up
*squeeze it
*throw it at Sam's face
*take your fingerprint
*protest the current shape of the putty and then proceed to change the shape of it
*take a profile off a coin with it
*make a bubble and then pop it
*put it back into its egg holster
*cook it into an omlette
*flatten it
*make it your friend
*knead it
*admire the current shape and or texture of it
*use the putty as the inspiration for a list
*re-enact civil war battles with it
*fold it
*name it Baxter
*roll it up into a roll
*even though it doesn't resemble a plane, fly it around making plane noises
*smack it
*get its number and don't call it in the morning
*talk dirty to it
*do other things between consecutive playings with it
*rename it into an adjective like speedy or green
*conduct an experiment to find out if putty ever dries out
*measure the length of it
*question its voting record
*conclude that the buoyancy of it determines on its shape
*after kneading the paper towel remnants stuck onto it after a failed attempt to dry it off, compare it to the blobs on the Ocarina of Time which take your shield away
*if putty is of the glitter variety, attempt to extract the valuable glitter
*cheat on it
*rename it into an adverb like rapidly
*observe how well it demonstrates entropy
*oppress it
*take advantage of it when it's compromised
*pick it last for dodgeball
*punish it by subjecting it to a week straight of christmas music
*explain to it where putty comes from
*explain the reasons as to why it is not responsible enough to own a dog
*explain to it the defects of title ix
*cheer proudly when putty hits its first home run
*be jealous of its popuarity and association with hot girls
*give putty an overbearing 10:00 curfew
*get mad at it for not doing the dishes
*withhold sex from it as punishment for it stumbling in late last night
*pinch it
*dismiss its rebelliousness as just a phase

entertainment

2006-03-16T04:41:00.000-08:00

Mario with yellow pants and sweet backflips. Fancy Pants

Am I a bad driver if I do more No's than Yes's? Yes and No

Whales? probably not. Funny? yes. How It Will End

Platypus Parasol. Semi Automatic Aqua. Word Disassociation

Like lemonade stand with bad food and deforestation McDonald's

March Madness

2006-03-14T00:06:00.000-08:00

The NCAA Basketball tournament is hands down the best sporting event in the world. A 65 team free for all. There are maybe ten teams that have a legitimate shot to win it all but the other 55 teams are playing with reckless abandon while ready and willing to knock off the favorites. Six games in row against never seen before opponents in often hostile conditions under a national spotlight is all it takes. I think I might take the month off school and put spend some quality time with my leather couch and television.

Growing up in Virginia City, we always had an annual school sponsored pool, two bucks per entry came out to be around 80 dollars to the winner. What an experience. It could be basically summed up as widespread underage gambling but being in Nevada no one thought twice about the legality of it. I won the thing twice, gaining hostile comments from the Principal and teachers who were also in on it, and at lest ten times the money I put up.

The past few years, Nevada has made the tournament riding teams led by Kirk Snyder and Nick Fazekas, knocking off teams like Michgan State, Gonzaga, and Texas. There is nothing more satisfying than watching your underdog team pull off an upset of a higher ranked school.

Nevada is on a 14 game winning streak, heres to hoping they make it to twenty.

Go Pack!

entertainment

2006-03-12T22:39:00.000-08:00

Most obscure game ever. Grow

Sim City meets Grow. Cityscape

Barry, this is all the proof I need.

2006-03-09T04:29:00.000-08:00

I don't need a book to tell me that Barry Bonds is juiced up. He shoots up more nuke than Ivan Drago from Rocky IV. Steroids are obviously prevalent in baseball and something should be done to keep the record books from becoming a joke. Home runs are entertaining, but if and when Major League Baseball cracks down on steroid use, expect to see those home run numbers fall off harder than Tony Danza.

Barry Bonds in a Pirates uniform looks like Hank Aaron in any uniform he ever wore. Barry Bonds in a current Giants uniform looks like a big asterisk.

Bonds broke his bat and still hit a home run. Period. End of story. Fans outside of San Francisco hate you. Why don't you hang up the cleats (and the syringes for that matter) and call it a career? Hank did it with no 'performance enhancers' and through the civil rights movement. Hank had pitchers throw at his head instead of pitching away. He received daily death threats while you just receive injections.

756 will come with a huge asterisk if it is achieved by Barry Bonds.

sunday mornings

2006-03-08T03:38:00.000-08:00

Gee, Bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage.

I would veto this sad sack of crap.

Things not found at Conjunction Junction:

run on sentences
8
?
keystone light
barbara streisand
.
trains
!
worthwhile animations
the population of appalachia

audio visual

2006-03-08T03:11:00.000-08:00

Radiohead Inspires

Fallout Boy Confuses

Wouldn't want to fight this guy.

2006-03-04T05:36:00.000-08:00

he is pretty much a badass.

some lists. some hilarious lists.

2006-03-02T04:12:00.000-08:00

These are truly a creative riotous breath of fresh air.

tribute to Z. Karmiol. no, too obvious. to Zach K.

Last Night's Top Five Alphabet-Soup Spoonfuls.

Phrases I Hope Never Appear in Front of My Name in Print.

Rejected Bond Girls

Methods Other Than Song by Which One Can Be Killed Softly.

Hot New Color Trends for 2006.

Geometric Relationships More Realistic Than the Love Triangle.

Fill in the Letter

2006-03-01T22:32:00.000-08:00

This test is entertaining. I got twenty one before I got frustrated and looked up the answers.

13 S in the U S F

Let me know how many you get...some are kind of obscure.

Things aren't what they used to be.

2006-02-27T01:11:00.000-08:00

A city of stone. Petra is in Jordan and is a pinnacle of architecture. This particular structure is a building carved into the stone face of a mountain.

Here is the history and more pictures of Petra.

A birds eye view.

2006-02-26T05:39:00.000-08:00

This presentation is absolutely amazing! It is a slideshow of
Satellite Images of the Earth.

The Current Playlist

2006-02-26T00:49:00.000-08:00

Talib Kweli - Get By
Rusted Root - Send Me On My Way
The Subways - Rock and Roll Queen
Bloc Party - Like Broken Glass
Sage Francis - Broken Wings
Queens of the Stone Age - Burn the Witch
Spoon - The Way We Get By
The Church - Under the Milky Way Tonight
White Town - I Could Never Be Your Woman

"I would rather be burned to death than be saved by this hairy piece of shit."

2006-02-20T22:57:00.000-08:00

This guy rips on Kids Drawings.
It is pretty messed up, but hilarious!

entertainment

2006-02-19T19:56:00.000-08:00

end of the world

if you haven't heard of Matisyahu, look him up. buy his cd. this guy is good.

Aspire to be Buckminster Fuller

I need to get one of these! It fires at a rate of 1,000,000 rounds per second

IQ test

2006-02-13T04:32:00.000-08:00

This test just took a few minutes and was like 30 or 40 questions. According to standard deviation, which is what the score is based on and making a rather large assumption that this test is accurate, this IQ score of 138 means that I am more intelligent than 99.4350805958% of the population. If you want to try, here is the IQ TEST. Let me know what you get by posting a comment.

A midnight trip to the store.

2006-02-13T00:02:00.000-08:00

I have nothing to drink in my apartment besides coca-cola, dr. pepper, old milk, beer, tequila, and tap water. The table in my room has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 soda cans on it from today alone. I am sick of soda, tequila and beer on a Sunday night...ummm no thank you, tap water...eh. So I pick my lazy ass out of my sofa and decide to drive up the street to get a snapple. I get to the counter and hand the clerk a c-note, the only bill I have in my wallet. The clerk can't change it out and sends me on my way.

Outside, I am approached by a man who looks like he's had one hell of a rough night, and who also saw me get turned down by the clerk. I tell him that I only have a 100 dollar bill and that he certainly isn't getting it. He tells me that he is out of gas by the Sands and ends up asking me for a ride down there. Still empty handed as far as snapples are concerned I tell him that I will give him a lift. My entire train of thought in saying yes to giving this guy a ride was that I had him by about 5 inches and twenty pounds if it came down to a scrap.

Well, the Sands turns into the Albertsons on Keystone, I get a snapple and hand him five dollars. He then tells me that by the Albertsons, he meant the Raley's up the street. Taking him up there and gassing up at the am/pm I found out that he isn't out of gas, but out of diesel, which the am/pm on Keystone does not offer.

Well, the arab mart on Fifth street does offer diesel. We travel down there and he asks me for another five bucks. Already in it for five dollars and a snapple, I think what the hell ecxept that I used the rest of the change for the snapple on gas, so now I only have four twenties. I go into the arab mart and buy a reserve snapple, changing my twenty, and hand him another five dollars.

I bid him adieu and drive home to the apartment that I don't pay rent or utilities on to do the homework for the classes that I get paid to take. This guy needed some help tonight and definitely needed a few bucks. I really don't know why I let him in my car, or why I shelled out ten bucks to a stranger but I feel like less of a pessimistic asshole, at least for tonight.

the fifth avacado

2006-02-12T15:36:00.000-08:00

ladies and gentlemen, the fifth avacado. if this doesn't make you laugh, you aren't my friend

some random crap...check it out.

2006-02-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

ahh high school...

bet you can't play it just once
burninate the cottages!
the big bro is in chile

check this out!

2006-02-11T01:25:00.000-08:00

if you haven't seen this already you are in for a three minute treat!

ultimate showdown

The Shit Doesn't Stop

2006-02-09T22:56:00.000-08:00

A piece in the Thursday, February 9th New York Times detailed the recent dismissal of a suit brought against "Donald Rumsfeld and other military officials". The suit was filed by four British citizens who were interned at Guantanamo and cited "repeated beatings, death threats, interrogation at gunpoint, forced nakedness and menacing with unmuzzled dogs." Regardless of the clearly illegal nature of the detention, a disregard to Amendments 4, 5, 6 and 8 in the Bill of Rights if the prisoner is an American and just plain fucked up for a person of any nationality, the reason for dismissal is equally disturbing. "Judge M. Urbina on Monday ruled that the defendants were acting in their official government capacity and thus a longstanding legal doctrine made them immune from such a lawsuit." Ah, of course, people in power don't have to follow the laws. Or you could take the other standpoint that no one is above the law. Seems to me that in 1215 the Magna Carta started the idea that no one, not even the Monarch, was above the law. So fuck an idea that has been central to the development of western political and moral thought for nearly 800 years, screw it. Please tell me people aren't so frightened that letting assholes off on a pathetic "well powerful people abuse their position all the time so who cares" exscuse won't fly. Grab a set, don't let people continually fuck you in the ass on the premise of protecting you without even putting up a fight.

Today's Entertainment

2006-02-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

don't play this game.
listen to this song
and this song
read this book
one funny kid