Geistbear Musing

PromoGuy's Monday Mission 3.XX Been a few weeks since I had interest in doing this, but this one kind of appealed to me. 1. How old will you be on your next birthday? 32 2. One of the presents I was given for my birthday was a "George Foreman Grill." I've always joked about them, so it was kind of a joke gift. But it turns out, it is a really neat little grill. Then it hit me, this is a gadget, except it is for the kitchen. Then I thought about it and realized that "gadgets" aren't just techno-toys, gadgets are everywhere. What is your favorite gadget? My pocket knife, mjini flashlight on my key chain, and a pen, all three are useful far more often than you'd imagine. 3. Tell me about someone that you lost touch with several years ago. Would you like to get back in touch with them again? What caused the separation? Has enough time passed? Would you still get along? I made a friend when I first went to Germany, he helped me with my Germa...

Artemis Records, the label for Warren Zevon deserves credit, they have a download section of their site where you can check out new music in mp3 format. At least last time I checked they also aren't RIAA members so for those two reasons alone, I am willing to go buy music from them. So go check them out, buy an album and encourage them to continue on this path.

Gotta love Treacher, the latest his ' Anti-War ' posters. (Okay maybe not his latest, but still rather amusing.)

Prague Despite Da RapMaster's review I picked up Prague from the local library and while I am just getting started, it struck me that it does reflect some of the sense of the North Americans heading towards Central and Eastern Europe just after the Wall fell. I recognize it, because I had that same feelings in my gut a the time and while I was able to visit, I was not able to live there. I have on occasion wondered what happened to those cultural pioneers after their run to examine and experience an old culture, while their very approach harkening that cultures end. More specifically as an example just as the web began to take off there was a wonderful site called actofdog.com, a play on the dyslexic God joke. It was based in Prague and has long since been gone, but contained interesting short stories, poems and fiction in it's hay day. One of the few sites I really missed that has faded into obscurity, wish I had made copies and archive their work at the time. I just wonde...

I did some link maintance today mostly adding more Arizona blogs as the number has increased. I did however pull two Arizona blogs Uncommon Sense for lack of Updates and Liberal Desert. While Liberal Desert uses the blogger software former Representative Coppersmith only posts his weekly column to it and that is normally the only content. I kept hoping he would begin using the software for it's purpose and showing us more content. So I pulled it, both blogs are welcome to return to the list once Uncommon Sense starts to post again and Liberal Desert starts to be a weblog. Welcome to fellow Arizonians Short Strange Trip , Useful Fools , Event Horizon , Moronwatch , Blue Goldfish Cafe , Kieran Healy , Thousand Yard Glare , and last but certainly not least fellow Sedona resident Mark Watson . I was having an important conference ( beer ) with Soapbox Canyon recently and we got talking about how it would be nice to have the Arizona blogs met up, since Phoenix is the central lo...

Another bored public official with too much time on his hands... His excuse? " Plus, I'm bored. ... It's been a long winter ." Not surprising I suppose, it is Iowa, no offense to certain DC area bloggers.

Fun Google Hits Jen will love this " best burger in Tucson ", wow not even a week and it's gotten a hit. For the sick " Having sex in the toilet " For those looking for " tempatures in san francisco ", I recommend weather.com Hencio will enjoy the fact that I am getting a few hits by people looking for " poocano " Evidently Bear Droppings is popular at google for " 60's hippies " as well, but to quote Cartman " Dolphins, eskimos, who cares? It's all a bunch of tree hugging hippie crap ." We also are a popular stop for " getting rid of curry smell ", so pass those hints along, because I need them for our valued readers and as always the internet's number one source of " Bear Droppings " Postscript: and a few hits for " Protesting for Dummies "

I had a meeting to attend on campus yesterday, while I have been in town on a regular basis I only have been on campus a couple of times. Not that I have avioded it, but work just keeps me busy and I don't have a reason to really go on campus as I am not a student. For those readers unaware I am a graduate of the local university . As I drove through campus it was fun to what had changed and some of the incredible images of the snowcovered peaks, just another reminder to get a pencam I suppose. The Student Union has some new eateries, a few more than when I was a student but otherwise looked the same. The same smells and sights, it was a bit of a blast from the past. There was one recognizable difference, the number of televisions. There had always been one or two, but they seemed to be in every eatery and even a new tv lounge in a former office. I thought was a bit too invasive really, while never the most quiet building on campus, depending on where you sat you could sit, eat...

Morning Reminder Your in a Rural Environment - You have to stop on the morning commute for a herd of Elk in the road.

Poetry Wednesday " NOT LOVE, NOT WAR, NOR THE TUMULTUOUS SWELL " Not Love, not War, nor the tumultuous swell, Of civil conflict, nor the wrecks of change, Nor Duty struggling with afflictions strange-- Not these 'alone' inspire the tuneful shell; But where untroubled peace and concord dwell, There also is the Muse not loth to range, Watching the twilight smoke of cot or grange, Skyward ascending from a woody dell. Meek aspirations please her, lone endeavour, And sage content, and placid melancholy; She loves to gaze upon a crystal river-- Diaphanous because it travels slowly; Soft is the music that would charm for ever; The flower of sweetest smell is shy and lowly. - William Wordsworth

Sixteen people protesting against the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the U.S.-led war in Iraq lay down in a busy Manhattan intersection on Wednesday, halting traffic for blocks before being carried into police vans. - Yahoo news That will show Israel, they will learn the power of peaceful protest, oh wait, 5th avenue is in the US, not Israel isn't it? Idiots. These will be the same folks complaining when social services get cut and won't understand why the city doesn't have money for such programs.

Interesting story about the use of technology in political office no mention of blogging, but pretty hip regardless.

A good friend from college had her wedding yesterday, being a friend and able to get the time off I journeyed down to Tucson for the blessed event (TM). A nice side benefit was the wedding was late afternoon, so I sought out a brewery I knew for lunch and was not disappointed. Gentle Ben's has a great atmosphere, but even better beer. They have made it to the Made in the Shade festival a few tmes and make a killer hefeweizen, which was what I as craving as I approached the door. Sadly, they did not have the hefe in stock. So I pondered my options and tried a taste of the Amber, according to the bartender their best seller. It was pretty good so I went ahead with a pint, but I had not fully appreciated the character of this beer. As I enjoyed it I suddenly realized it was most like the best Amber I had ever drank. Full bodied, with a nice touch of florial hops, the perfect pub beer, or at least that afternoon, it was a dreadful shame I could not have stayed to enjoy another. ...

Review Snow Crash When I get in a good book the world shuts off, yes I go to work, I might eat, but otherwise until I finish the book consider me dead. I haven't been sucked into a good book lately until Snow Crash. I only recently the last year or so to read the cypherpunk genre. While I have enjoyed science fiction on tv and movies I had never found a hook to draw me into reading them. I think what has brought me to the genre is it is one of the few areas examining how technology will impact the human condition. While sociologists have looked at it, fiction can be alittle more entertaining an examination. Snow Crash is very readable and once you get into the world Stephenson's style which is about the first twenty pages or so, the story takes off, both in cyberspace and the near future. Very much an adventure of possible world's to come. His rye sense of humor shows through by the name of the main character Hiro Protagonist. The completeness of the world sells...

You know every once and a while you need some Tastes Like Chicken .

More on California, I have to agree with what the ultimate impact of their actions will be.

I have learned in life that with my natural smart-ass nature, silence can be the greatest kindness.

If you are a protester and Mayor Willie Brown is being critical of you, maybe, just maybe you ought to rethink your approach to protesting. You know California had enough economic problems and protest like this ultimately will harm the poor more than anyone else. Protest if you disagree, but this on the edge of providing aid and comfort to an enemy. Not to mention pissing off your base of support.

Some folks wonder why Flagstaff and mornings like this are part of the reason why.

Poetry Wednesday I saw this on my way home yesterday, something alittle lighter than the last post. Vivid explosion of contrast before my eyes, Powder white blanket rests across the horizon. Deep maroon cuts in the mountain, Accented by deep evergreen mushrooms, popping from the white cover. Deep blue horizon, focuses the contrasts. The stark images stratle me, awaken my senses Highway images are but a moment, The moment is etched into my heart. - Thomas Vincent

Ten years later, it starts again. I can't say I am happy about it, I sat in anguish in a restaurant waiting for my dinner while the President made his speech. The wardrums had been beating for a while, you’d have to be deaf not to hear them. Ever since that day in September when mainstream America lost it’s innocence. As I sat in the restaurant awaiting my food, the hostess cackled over the blare of the television. Saying non-sensical statements and not understanding the cost our country faces. Sadness is the best that I could muster. The lives that will be changed by this, it saddens me, yet I understand the necessity. A month ago I was on the fence, I understood the reality of containment and inspections hoping the best for them, but in my heart I suspected things would not go well. I have seen the heart of politics long enough to recognize a dishonest party. When South Africa, regardless of international thought, revealed everything of their program and freely gave to ...

Cody Moment Cody was, er is, a dear friend from college, haven't heard from him in years, but he influenced college life in a number of ways. Some of the studio audience may remember the Space Shuttle Challenger Incident in which he attempted to recreate said event with a pack of matches and proceeded to set a trash can, our dorm trash can, on fire not unlike Doc Brown in Back to the Future . The reason I mention all this back story was I just recreated my own version using a match and what's left of the hair on my head. The sulfur shot off from the match as it lit and then I smelled burning hair. I put it out with realitively little damage to the clear cut forest, but on the bright side I can cancel my haircut next week. Kidding. Sort of. About the haircut mostly.

Take the Long Way Home, Take the Long Way Home Looks like that is what I am facing as the Canyon road is closed until tomorrow morning.

I know I posted long ago no more posts on Michael Moore but I can't help myself, the Truth about Bowling For Colombine , documentary my ass.

The road through the canyon was closed last night and considering the condition of the roads I just stayed in Flagstaff. I thought I had an early morning meeting I say thought, but found out at 7am it had been cancelled due to Spring Break. That'll teach me to read my emails closer. So I had an amazing breakfast of trout and eggs at La Bellavia , which if you must be awake that early is great way to start your day.

Just for the record on International Eat an Animal for PETA day I had corned beef and cabbage, very tasty.

Had a post on online activism, blogger ate, maybe I'll retype in the morning.

This story and a conversation Friday evening made me realize that any geek quotient quiz worth it's salt must have a "Do you have an RMS story?" question ( For the record I do +100 geek points)

Yet more from the some people have too much time on their hands category.

To a certain little bother out there in the world, the following: 1 - I like the current background, but I'll get the site upgraded soon enough. 2 - The current one reminds me of Reemul , which of course imitation is the highest form of flattery, so deal with it. 3 - And what does yours look like? Thought so. 'Nuff said.

Scene on the way to a coffeeshop Me: Nice doggie! BARK! BARK BARK! Me: Maybe not. Flagstaff, somethings never change.

Yet, more Congresscritters with too much time on their hands , you'd think they would have stuff to do at this time of the year between the budget and the economy. Oh well.

You know those DVD players they are putting into the big SUVs are really dangerous, I nearly hit the guy in front of me three times last night while watching the movie playing in his Expedition.

Yes, as a matter of fact Bob Ney does have too much time on his hands. PS - Best response heard so far " so is it called Freedom Kissing " now?

Movie Time I am the first to admit I don't watch a lot of movies, generally the scripts are garbage and 95% aren't worth the waste of time. Life with no tv and a dvd player means I am watching the occasional movie. Some very bad, but occasionally very good. That said Chasing Amy was the best movie I have seen in a very long time. While I haven't been through the circumstances in the movie, well maybe some of them, it really spoke to an understanding of modern relationships. As it was written in the notes it was Kevin Smith's way of dealing with a relationship. It always amazes me how art and a specific case can relate out to the rest of human experience and help people understand the world. I laughed and I cringed, but overall I was impressed by the script and acting, so if you haven't seen it it's worth the time.

Your funny for the day Zagat's comments that didn't make the books.

Some of the Cluetrain gu ys are out raising hell again. Great read for people on the nature of the internet, http://www.worldofends.com/ . Okay folks you got your reading assignment for the day, I am busy working and stuff. ;)

I walk out of my office and see my favorite downtown neighborhood, I cross the street and walk two blocks over to one of my favorite coffeeshops. While I wait for my coffee, I talk with familar faces I have known for years, but haven't seen in many. Cold wind blows with light snow flurries shuffling by, I am home again.