Sunday, October 29, 2006

It's Another AC Halloween!

posted by John Blanco @ 10:04 AM

 

Last night, Michele and I enjoyed some AC Halloween Frivolity! We went over to Grinka's and partied with K and Shawn, Adri and Aaron, Colleen and Mike, Sean and Pam, Annie and Steve, and Blair.

Aside from the candy and cooking, we watch Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (not scary, but flippin' good). We also carved pumpkins (pics to come) and took some silly pictures in a nearby abandoned parking lot -- at which we were joined by a homeless guy.

The theme of the party was "Interesting Ways to Become a Zombie". Here's the rundown for those who dressed up:


  • Aaron - A zombified Barbie factory worker, died during explosion.
  • Shawn - A zombified street flasher. Shot by little girl afraid of the "goods."
  • Me - A zombified George W. Bush. Killed by electric chair. :-)
  • Michele - A zombified cow. Killed by jumper cables to the udders. Ouch!
  • Adriana - A zombified Donatella Versace. Killed by, uhhh, excessive boobage?
  • Minka - A zombified passenger on the plane with the snakes. ;-)


Very clever, guys. ;-)

There's No Escape!

posted by John Blanco @ 8:16 AM

 

AC Halloween Festivities '06

posted by John Blanco @ 8:15 AM

 

Zombified Adriana and Shawn

posted by John Blanco @ 8:14 AM

 

Zombified Aaron (The Barbie Factory Worker)

posted by John Blanco @ 8:13 AM

 

I'm Electrified George W. Bush!

posted by John Blanco @ 8:12 AM

 

Michele is Zombie Cow :-)

posted by John Blanco @ 8:11 AM

 

Friday, October 27, 2006

Ultrasound Complete

posted by John Blanco @ 6:17 PM

 

It's a boy! :-)

Operation: Ruby 615-DD LIVEBLOGGING

posted by John Blanco @ 7:51 AM

 

The operation has begun. Liveblogging is going on in the comments section. Here we go!!

Thursday, October 26, 2006

The Future Begins Tomorrow

posted by John Blanco @ 10:56 PM

 

On more than one front, the future begins tomorrow. Michele and I have a 2:20 appointment with the doctor, during which we may indeed find out the gender of our first child. Wow. :-)

And with that, a name. Though, you'll have to wait to hear that.

There's another front to. It's Operation: Ruby 615-DD. I'll update on that tomorrow.

Oh, so interesting. Now, rest time. Exciting day, tomorrow, indeed!

Rush Limbaugh Needs To Be Taken OFF THE AIR!

posted by John Blanco @ 12:50 PM

 

Rush Limbaugh is a racist, lying, ignorant son of a bitch. But he took a large step closer to the depths of the hell he is going to call home on his Judgement Day when he mocked Michael J. Fox's Parkinsons battle.



He needs to be removed from the air. He needs to pay for what he did. This can not pass as "Typical Limbaugh." It is disgusting and he is an EMBARRASSMENT to our country.

Yes, our country.

Tip to Crooks and Liars for the video.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Vote for the Vets on Nov. 7th

posted by John Blanco @ 1:52 PM

 

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Welcome to Angel Cress

posted by John Blanco @ 8:17 PM

 



On Sunday night, Michele and I decided to cure some of our boredom we were having by playing...get ready for this...

World of Warcraft!

Yes, yes, we did. There was a 10-day trial and the least I should do is try it, right? So, we did.

Our experience was lukewarm. It's just a small experience, so don't get too excited. ;-) We actually didn't get to play until late Monday night as it took all Sunday night to download the client program and then on Monday we spent time downloading patches and updating files.

But, at around 9:15 PM, we were finally ready to create characters and get in the game.

I made a Night Elf Rogue named Turquoiz. Of course, a chick -- as always. I did a couple quests and tried to get used to the items and economy. In the beginner area, there's not too much excitement. However, the big problem was that my laptop made the game look like shit. :-)

Michele created a Night Elf Druid named Emeralee. She chose the Druid because of their ability to turn into animals -- we believe, anyway. :-) Let me tell ya, the PC did a great job if displaying the game. Sooooooooooooo much nicer than the laptop, I tell ya what!

As a Guild Wars veteran, and not a hardcore MMO guy, it's only really possible to offer up a quick review based on my experience with these two games.

First, on graphics. Guild Wars can display a much better screen. It also does it much better on my laptop! Also, you can do any size window, which is helpful.

World of Warcraft has fewer surfaces, so it's not as *nice* as Guild Wars, but the environments are a lot more interesting. So, in the end, it's a more enriching experience in WoW than Guild Wars. Of course, I have played Guild Wars from time to time on the PC and it's even more beautiful...and some of the more advanced levels might provide some more interesting detail.

In terms of music, Guild Wars trumps WoW. Hands down. The music styles are a little different because they have to match the environment, but Guild Wars has a wonderful score.

In terms of UI, Guild Wars wins again. I found the quest presentation really lame on WoW. Perhaps there is a way to speed things up? Also, it's harder to get a quick idea what the quest is in WoW. Lots of reading. Guild Wars highlights the keywords and even used your map very effectively to direct you on what you need to do.

Character wise, WoW beats Guild Wars in terms of personality. You can do more in WoW, and it helps that you can scale the landscape in WoW moreso than in Guild Wars, which makes mere 2-foot drops impossible. Jumping is fun in WoW, even if it's a gimmick. Guild Wars does have lots of actions to do (dancing, air guitar, etc.), but WoW can match it easily.

Where WoW beats Guild Wars by miles is the fact that WoW is a true MMO whereas Guild Wars is not. In WoW, every area is a multiplayer area. In Guild Wars, only the towns are -- and there's no fighting to be had. You actually have to form parties in the towns and go to the quest areas to have multiplayer action. Not so with WoW, where the two areas are always integrated (with specific instances along the way where needed).

...

I'm not going to say one game is better than the other. It's not fair. Both games have beautiful graphics, sound, and solid gameplay. Where they differ is choice of environment, pricetag (WoW has a monthly fee, Guild Wars does not), and game style. Guild Wars was designed to be free to play, but sacrifices overwhelming server power to do it. WoW goes all the way with MMO-style gameplay while matching the beauty of Guild Wars -- easily making it the best MMO today.

I think players of either game would like the other. I also think it more likely that a Guild Wars player would love the expanded gameplay in WoW moreso than a WoW player coming to Guild Wars in its limited Internet environment. However, you can't beat the price.

So, in the end, both games are great. I'm sticking to Guild Wars, however, because my laptop told me so. ;-) It certainly is tempting to play some WoW and "join the worldwide sensation," but it will have to wait until I have more access to a powerful PC.

In the meantime, I am excited to start another Guild Wars character...meet Angel Cress. :-)

Good Is Good by Sheryl Crow

posted by John Blanco @ 12:10 PM

 

Some god advice for a couple of my blog readers. Love ya, all. :-)

Good is good and bad is bad
But you don’t know which one you had
She put your books out on the sidewalk
Now they’re blowing ‘round
But they won’t help you when you’re down

Love’s on your list of things to do
To bring your good luck back to you
And if you think that everything’s unfair
Would you care if you’re the last one standing there

And every time you hear the rolling thunder
You turn and run before the lightening strikes
And does it ever make you stop and wonder
If all your good times pass you by


I don’t hold no mystery
But I can show you how to turn the key
Cause all I know is where I started
So downhearted
And that’s not where you want to be

And every time you hear the rolling thunder
You turn and run before the lightening strikes
And you could find a rock to crawl right under
And let your good times pass you by


When the day is done
And the world is sleeping
And the moon is on its way to shine
All the friends are gone
You thought were so worth keeping
You feel you don’t belong
But you don’t know why

And every time you hear the rolling thunder
You turn and run before the lightening strikes
And does it ever make you stop and wonder
If all your good times pass you by

Every time you hear the rolling thunder
And you turn and run before the lightning strikes
Well does it ever make you stop and wonder
If all your good times pass you by

When the day is done
And the world is sleeping
And the moon is on its way to shine (shine)
And all your friends are gone
You thought were so worth keeping
You feel you don’t belong
Neither do I

Ned Lamont: Greatest Entrance Ever?

posted by John Blanco @ 7:13 AM

 

Ned Lamont is running for Senate in a very publicized race in Conneticut. Want to know just how enthusiastic his supporters are for him?

This video was taken at the last debate between he and ex-Democratic traitor Joe Lieberman. This is his entrance to the debate.

Best. Entrance. Ever.



Oh, and if you live in Conneticut right now, vote for NED LAMONT!!!!

Monday, October 23, 2006

Christmann Will Laugh

posted by John Blanco @ 8:57 AM

 

And it took all night to download. HAHA.

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Michele or Krystal?

posted by John Blanco @ 9:14 AM

 



This is Michele replicating the pose on my wallpaper, which is of Krystal (hottie!) from the StarFox series on Nintendo.

Not bad, not bad...she's got my attention.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Nothing Need Be Said

posted by John Blanco @ 7:13 AM

 

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Game 7: So Close, So Far Away

posted by John Blanco @ 9:15 PM

 

Brutal. We got 100x more pitching than we could have asked. Oliver Perez made a case for NLCS MVP before Endy Chavez earned it on one of the most clutch, spectacular plays ever seen in postseason play.

Yet, twice with rallies, the Mets could manage nothing. They didn't get a hit after the 1st until the 9th. And with the score 1-1, the usually feeble but suddenly fearsome Yada-something Molina hit a go-ahead 2-run homer.

With me in shock on the floor behind our couch, the Mets got out of the inning and then managed a dream-like 2 singles to open up the 9th. Floyd came up to pinch-hit, and it seemed that within the next few minutes I might be witnessing a historical ending to this great NLCS.

Strike out. Line out. Strike out.

I'm in a bit of shock, but I'm OK. This isn't a team built for this year, we're going to be contenders for a while. We were dealt an unfortunate blow to our pitching staff before the postseason -- and we still made it through just fine. Sometimes you just hit a slump at the wrong time.

Great season, Mets. You were wonderful! The next time you play a game that matters, you'll have a new fan rooting for you. :-)

Operation: Ruby 615-DD

posted by John Blanco @ 8:03 AM

 

It begins.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Game 7: Here. We. Come.

posted by John Blanco @ 8:56 PM

 

Chris Carpenter who?? The Mets beat Carpenter this time, after letting him off the hook in our Game 2 loss, and the Mets win 4-2!

It wasn't even that close. The Cards didn't get a hit after the 1st inning until the 7th inning. The 2 runs they scored came in the 9th when Billy Wagner had a minor implosion and actually allowed the tying run to come to the plate. A lot of ulcers in Metville.

GAME 7 TOMORROW.

Good Luck, Mets!!!

posted by John Blanco @ 4:04 PM

 

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Game 5: Back To Stinky

posted by John Blanco @ 9:11 PM

 

Mid-way through the 4th inning, someone stole all the Met players and replaces them with imposters. They couldn't hit anymore, and Glavine wasn't Glavine.

Bad game to lose. But we come back to Shea down 3-2. Focus on Game 6. Just win Game 6.

John Maine. You can do it, baby!

The 411 on ZaBlanc

posted by John Blanco @ 12:09 PM

 

It's snowing! It's snowing! Our first snow of the year...well, more of a sleet, but it's a mix. :-)

Things OK in my world. Lots of fun stuff going on. I'm finally healing from my ambiguous Race For The Cure injury. My left foot was hurting and caused me to walk around work with a limp for a week! (I had to take Mondya off to rest it.)

I've also started learning French! :-) Ignore the previous posting with the french subject, that was Google talking. But, I am learning French and not doing too badly.

Why French? Well, firstly, it has to do with the fact that I have a new car stereo. Mine died last week for some unknown reason, so I got it replaced and got a stereo with a CD player. Dat new technology is 'mazin!

So, while at Borders, I was by the foreign language section and thought it might be cute to spent my excess commute time learning the French language. Why not Italian? Well, I studied it for 3 years in high school and didn't do to tell - so I wanted something fresh and new.

Je m'appelle John. Je suis ne Yonkers, New York. Tres bien, oui?

I'm also now deep in study with JSP/Servlets. I need a new career track, and this is something that might get some use pretty soon at work. I'm also studying it as part of my other side job, so it's working out well. I will also get back to studying Ruby.

Delivering some Winter (no pun intended) yard signs today as well. And need to make a couple of purchases possibly. Mmmmmmmm, new DS game? Perhaps.

And that's all that's going on. Waiting for a certain some one to get back from lunch, so there's your quick update.

A plus tard!!!

Monday, October 16, 2006

Race For The Cure 2006 - Denver

posted by John Blanco @ 5:23 PM

 

Here's a video I shot while on the charity walk. Notice the line of people wraps all the way around and extends all the way across the bridge, about 25 people wide...and a HELL of a lot longer than that, too!

A Very Powerful Ad

posted by John Blanco @ 4:52 PM

 



Vote Democratic in 2008.

Vous voulez une plaisanterie?

posted by John Blanco @ 8:05 AM

 

President George W. Bush was scheduled to visit the
Episcopal Church outside Washington as part of his
campaign to restore his pathetic and dropping poll
standings.

Bush's campaign manager made a visit to the
Bishop, and said to him "We've been getting a lot of
bad publicity because of the president's position on
stem cell research, the Iraq war, hurricane Katrina,
and the like. We'd gladly make a contribution to the
church of $100,000 if during your sermon you'd say
"George Bush is a saint."

The Bishop thought it over for a few moments and
finally said, "The Church is in really desperate need
of funds and I will agree to do it."

Bush showed up for the sermon and the Bishop
began:

"I'd like to speak to you all this morning about
our President. George Bush is a liar, a cheat, and a
low-intelligence weasel. He took the tragedy of
September 11 and used it to frighten and manipulate
the American people. He lied about weapons of mass
destruction and invaded Iraq for oil and money,
causing the deaths of tens of thousands and making the
United States the most hated country on earth.

He appointed cronies to positions of power and
influence, leading to widespread death and destruction
during Hurricane Katrina. He awarded contracts and tax
cuts to his rich friends so that we now have more
poverty in this country, and a greater gap between
rich and poor, than we've had since the Depression. He
instituted illegal wiretaps when getting a warrant
from a secret court would have been a mere
administrative detail, had his henchmen lie to
Congress about it, then claimed he is above the law.

He has headed the most corrupt, bribe-inducing
political party since Teapot Dome. The national
surplus has turned into a staggering national debt of
7.6 Trillion, gas prices are up 85%, the people of
America cannot afford it...and vital research into
global warming and stem cells is stopped cold because
he's afraid to lose votes from some religious kooks.

He is the worst example of a true Christian I've
ever known. But compared to Dick Cheney, Karl Rove
and Tom DeLay, George Bush is a saint."

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Game 4: We Got The Good Perez!

posted by John Blanco @ 8:40 PM

 

The Mets averted disaster tonight, got a solid outing out of Oliver Perez, and are trouncing the Cardinals (the game is still in the 9th), 12-5.

Awesome. The series is now tied at 2-2, with Glavine going tomorrow. A HUGE game obviously -- a Game 5. With a win, the Mets could take a 3-2 series lead with two games in Shea to go. With a loss, we still go to NY, but have to win both.

Still, we take the series momentum with the great offensive performance tonight and retaking home field advantage.

Well played, guys!!

Sunday Sunday Sunday!

posted by John Blanco @ 2:13 PM

 

OK, not that exciting. I seem to be all caught up on everything. Hmmmm.

I have no DS games to play. I solved Mario v. Donkey Kong 2...I am waiting until Nov. 14th for FF III. Until then, no DS for me. Weeeeeeeeeeird.

I have no books to read. Political books, anyway. I am busy reading tech books for various projects.

Right now, what I'm doing is learning a whole bunch of new technology. This is a continuation of stuff I've been doing for months. I am reading "Head First Servlets & JSP". I have just now finished the Servlets portion of the book. I'm taking a break now whilst I do some side project code research concerning servlets.

I've been watching football today, aside from doing some errands. My fantasy team is doing well and I look ready for a win (I'm up 31 with an RB to go versus his D and kicker.)

The Mets begin in 2.5 hours, and I will have my mental energy ready. We need a solid performance from Perez tonight (not likely) and some serious hitting (more likely). We cannot have a repeat of last night's performance or this series is done.

Now for some Ruby, hmmm...

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Trachsel Kills Mojo in Game 3

posted by John Blanco @ 8:29 PM

 

Steve Trachsel put up the king of all stinkers last night. Again. He's likely bought his ticket out of New York as he's a free agent next year.

He gave up 5 runs on 1 IP, was knocked out by a line drive back in the leg, and walked off steaming and fuming and pathetic. I don't feel bad for him. We needed a great game from him, and he gave us a joke of a performance in such a big game.

Mets are down 2 games to 1, with *gulp* Carlos Perez tomorrow. Game 4 will either be the beginning of the end for us with a terrible Perez pitching, or a shocking comeback to even the series with a terrible Perez pitching a surprising gem.

Suppan was unhittable tonight. Hopefully, we don't get his duplicate tomorrow!

Friday, October 13, 2006

Oh the 0-2 AB's kill us...

posted by John Blanco @ 9:38 PM

 

The Mets bullpen failed to execute on at least two distinct 0-2 AB's tonight:


  • Spezio ties the game with a 2-run triple on an 0-2 pitch to Mota.
  • So Taguchi hits the go-ahead homer in the 9th after being down 0-2 to Wagner.

    Ballgame. Mets blow an early 3-0 lead and lose it 9-6. Carpenter pitched, but we beat him up pretty well. Still, they won. Oh, well.

    Gotta come out in St. Louis and try to win a pair.

    Let's Go Mets!!

Daily Kos: State of the Nation

posted by John Blanco @ 9:33 PM

 

Why Our Shift?

As we prepare ourselves to make political endorsements in subsequent issues, I can tell you unequivocally that this newspaper has never endorsed so many Democrats. Not even close.

In the 56 years we have been publishing in Johnson County, this basically has been a Republican newspaper. In the old days, before the Republican civil war that fractured the party, we were traditional Republicans....

The point is, I can name on two hands over a half century the number of Democrats we have endorsed for public office.

This year, we will do something different. You will read why we are endorsing Kathleen Sebelius for governor and Mark Parkinson for lieutenant governor; Dennis Moore to be re-elected to the U.S. Congress; Paul Morrison for Kansas attorney general; and a slew of local Democratic state legislative candidates. These are not liberal Democrats. They are what fairly can be described as conservative Democrats, and we can prove that in our forthcoming endorsements.

But I could not help but put in perspective a more global phenomenon that has led us to re-evaluate our traditional support for Republicans....

The Republican Party has changed, and it has changed monumentally.

You almost cannot be a victorious traditional Republican candidate with mainstream values in Johnson County or in Kansas anymore, because these candidates never get on the ballot in the general election. They lose in low turnout primaries, where the far right shows up to vote in disproportionate numbers.

To win a Republican primary, the candidate must move to the right.

What does to-the-right mean?

It means anti-public education, though claiming to support it.

It means weak support of our universities, while praising them.

It means anti-stem cell research.

It means ridiculing global warming.

It means gay bashing. Not so much gay marriage, but just bashing gays.

It means immigrant bashing. I'm talking about the viciousness.

It means putting religion in public schools. Not just prayer.

It means mocking evolution and claiming it is not science.

It means denigrating even abstinence-based sex education....

But everything else adds up to priorities that have nothing to do with the Republican Party I once knew.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

METS WIN GAME 1!

posted by John Blanco @ 9:11 PM

 

Beltran ressurects the old magic of 2 years ago and haunts the Cards with a MASSIVE 2-run shot that holds up.

Mets win 2-0!!!

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Cory Lidle Feared Dead

posted by John Blanco @ 2:05 PM

 

The small plane that hit the building in Manhattan was being flown by Yankee pitcher Cory Lidle. OMG. Very sad.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Oh, Well I Feel Not

posted by John Blanco @ 8:54 PM

 

Likely staying home from work tomorrow. Hope Yukon will be OK.

Race For The Cure 2006

posted by John Blanco @ 6:12 PM

 

This morning, Michele and I raced for the cure by participating in the Race For The Cure.

This is the annual charity walk to raise money for breast cancer. Susan G. Komen is a hoss! There are 65K registered for the walk, and it was very clear there were more than that walking. Shoot, there were more than 65K at OUR walk, and there were THREE different walks!

It was 50 degrees when we left the house, and we spent a lot of the time cold. :-) But, Michele and I had a grand time. She bought a scarf and I got a pink bracelet. We walked, stopped for a drink at Safeway, and despite physical pains to our bodies managed to make it to Croc's for lunch before going home.

The walk was great. So many powerful messages to see and hear and especially read while we went. There were even some protesters, for god's sake (literally), near the beginning.

Apparently, the religious findies deeply care about women getting breast cancer. They care so much they are courteous enough to warn that if you get an abortion, your chances of getting breast cancer go up 40%. Just so ya know -- they don't have any anti-abortion agenda they swear it.

Oh, and there's no scientific evidence supporting it. Just one flawed study -- done by a right-wing group.

Shocker.

When we passed by, I took some pictures -- they came out fuzzy because anti-christs can do that to a camera. I also spontaneously raised my fist in the air and yelled, "VOTE RITTER!!"

Good times.

Owwwwww, my body hurts...this is bad stuff.

The Happy Walkers

posted by John Blanco @ 5:20 PM

 



Sure, we're happy now. But our muscles will be screaming at us later. :-)

Start!

posted by John Blanco @ 5:19 PM

 



Three miles? Phbbbbttt...piece of cake!

From Invesco Field to Downtown!

posted by John Blanco @ 5:18 PM

 



This picture was taken with Invesco Field right on our left. You can see people all the way down the Colfax Exit from I-25.

John Walking

posted by John Blanco @ 5:18 PM

 



My legs are killllling me...

Michele Walking

posted by John Blanco @ 5:18 PM

 



Do you like my scaaarf?

Picture From Overpass

posted by John Blanco @ 5:18 PM

 

Winding Down the I-25 Colfax Exit

posted by John Blanco @ 5:17 PM

 



The overpass winds around down to the highway.

The Finish Line!

posted by John Blanco @ 5:16 PM

 

Saturday, October 07, 2006

I must be doomed; cause it's OH so GOOD...

posted by John Blanco @ 9:25 PM

 

METS WIN! METS WIN!!!!! HOW SWEEP IT IS!!! The Mets just swept the Dodgers to advance to the NLCS! First game is Wednesday, at SHEA!

What a smooth week I had...finished my book, finished FF IV, cleaned house at work, gorgeous weather, Mets winning, Yankees losing.

And now, Saturday, the Mets complete the sweep and the YANKS GET ELIMINATED!!! Hear that Calabro?? You're team is gone.

Now check this out...for the first time since 1988, the Yankees will be at home whilst the Mets continue on!

YEAH BABY!!!!

The Yanks loss today was spectacular...the $15 million dollar man, Jason Giambi, was BENCHED. The $25 million dollar man, Pay-Rod, was BATTING 8th!!!!

HHAHAHA!

The $200 million dollar ripoff lost to the Tigers in a measly FOUR GAMES!

God, I hate those pay-to-win Yankees.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Mets Rule!!

posted by John Blanco @ 11:18 AM

 

The Mets are up 2 games to love against the Dodgers! One more win, out of the next three, and we advance to the NLCS!

David Wright WE LOVE YOU! As for Floyd, you got jobbed by the wind! That ball was a goner!!

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Fun With Power Tools

posted by John Blanco @ 9:42 AM

 

I have plenty of flaws, but I've never had a problem with confidence.

I think I developed a great, positive attitude by playing my brother in Nintendo for years as a kid. We're both ultra-competitive. Not the sore-winnery type, I mean the Brett Farve type competitiveness. We always wanted to win.

As the scrawnier of the two Blanco boys, sometimes our battles seemed fruitless. Take, for example, playing basketball in our driveway on Heights Drive in Yonkers, NY.

My brother was taller, stronger, quicker (I was a 215-pound heffer as a kid), and just plain better than me. We played a lot. I could never win.

But anyone who knows me canb probably guess my attitude for each game we played: I AM GOING TO WIN!

It would never happen, but I still fought tooth and nail, changing up my strategy and practicing as much as I could to finally beat him. And one day I did.

And the same has always applied in everything I do. I made a New Year's Resolution to solve a Rubik's Cube in under 2 minutes when I'd never solved it ever for crying out loud. Oh, and I played Afronova until I could AA it. ;-)

...

So why all this background? Because, I lost my confidence.

I *hate* power tools.

I spent 2 hours in my garage last night putting a cat door in our basement door. TWO HOURS. I don't have the right tools, and I can't use the tools I have correctly either.

And I couldn't glue the black plates to the door.

And it took forver to cut a decent square in the door.

And I had to lean the door on my bike, hanging from the ceiling, because I don't have a workbench.

And I hate power tools...and always will.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

OMG OMG OMG I'm Ready!

posted by John Blanco @ 9:04 AM

 

T minus 4 hours til GAME TIME! Mets versus Dodgers, Game 1 of the NLDS! The Mets representing the NL East for the first time since 1988 when we took on...

The Dodgers. :-)

We lost that series. Time for some payback 8 years in the waiting!

...

OMG OMG...however...El Duque is now OUT of the NLDS. Now, we will be going to our THIRD Game 1 pitcher in only a few days. (Pedro is out for the postseason already.) It's John Maine!

Come on, Johnny Boy!

Monday, October 02, 2006

Can We Get Competence Back, Please?

posted by John Blanco @ 9:10 PM

 

Here's Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld today being questioned on military build--up by Venezueala:


Asked whether he believes Venezuelan officials' contention that the weapon buys are strictly for defense and not a threat to the region, Rumsfeld said, "I don't know of anyone threatening Venezuela — anyone in this hemisphere."


I can't name anyone either, Donald. Oh, except for -- I don't know -- THE US!

How about Pat Robertson, former Presidential candidate, just a year ago, on August 22nd, 2005!


You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he [Hugo Chavez] thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war.


Or how about our position on the coup against Hugo Chavez 4 years ago?


The Bush administration regrets its hasty embrace of the short-lived coup against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, experts in touch with U.S. officials said on Tuesday.


Yeah...Donald, does that answer your question?

The New US Map

posted by John Blanco @ 5:09 PM

 

I put this together for a friend of mine a while ago, and thought it would be nice to post it for the blog:



Clever. :-)

Sunday, October 01, 2006

A Winter Day?

posted by John Blanco @ 8:07 AM

 

It's Sunday! And no, not Football Sunday (tm), sadly, because the Broncos are off this week. It's OK, though, because we won a big game in New England last week and it's nice to have 2 weeks to feel proud for the guys. ;-)

Today is, however, the last day of baseball! Next week is the MLB Playoffs! NL East Division Champ NY Mets take on the world! Let's Go Mets!

...



So today is officially a Winter day. No, not *that* Winter! BILL WINTER!

Today in, oh, about an hour, I go to meet Vincen and Art (from the Winter campaign) and we're going to start planting some yard signs in the public roadways. This should be fun...there's something almost dangerous about it. hahaha...not really...but it will be a bit of a different thrill than going to people's houses.

After I get back, Michele and I, along with her parents, are going to a Bill Winter house party in Parker. Actually, it's my boss's house...and no, I didn't convert him. ;-) He's a rabid Dem as well!

So, Bill Winter will be there to give a speech and there will be other party festivities. Winter has done a lot of these as a way to get people to hear his message without having to spend $$$ booking an auditorium. It's grassroots campaigning and I love to see it from candidates.

After all, Winter can't compete with the special interest fund-raising Tancredo can do...and that's exactly why we need him OUT!

...

Yesterday, Michele and I went to Flatirons mall in BFE (Broomfield, actually...) to go to the Love Sac store. They sell giant beanbags essentually...though of good quality and of epic proportions.

We wanted to get one for our office. We expelled the guest bed (Sorry Chris!) from our office and instead decided we wanted to move some stuff in there...a bookshelf, some other things...but to maintain some seating area we'd throw a big beanbag in there.

Well, we got to the store and dropped a pretty penny on a MovieSac, and accidentally bought a high quality canvas to put it in. (The inset is the beanbag, the canvas is the outer part you customize). To our surprise, because we did get the high quality canvas...we were offered a GameSac for free!!

Well, this was cool cause those things are pricey. A GameSac is a MovieSac, but holds one person, not two.

Needless to say, this threw off all our plans. So now, instead of having the big MovieSac in the office, we have it down in our living room. The GameSac is in the office instead.

The next change had to do with where to put the MovieSac! After much debating, we tried removing the coffee table and putting the MovieSac there instead. To our surprise, it works really well!

Here were the advantages:


  • The MovieSac is situated perfectly in front of the TV, perfect for movie watching and gaming.
  • When on the couch, the MovieSac makes a perfect footrest.
  • When playing DDR, I merely have to chuck the MovieSac over the couch, and the play area is ready!
  • The same applies for board games, etc.


A faster DDR setup time? You know I like it. :-) I look forward to lots of sac-ilicious evenings with Michele in the future.

(Pun intended.)