... and the two most fondly remembered music videos during my time at New Mexico Tech (NMT) are....
Chop Suey - the dorm room remake
and The Avalanches, Frontier Psychiatrist
Post 'em up, what were your favorites from back in the day?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
The Return of Buckethead
I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you Happy Valentines day with snowman (and snowwoman). Happy Valentines day Lisa.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Rogue Juniper Pale Ale
Dont walk, run to your nearest beer store and pick a bomber of Rogue Juniper Pale Ale. This stuff is incredible! I'm not sure how I've missed it till now - although its probably safe to say that my local distributors hadn't carried it till now. As I was pouring it out of the bottle I was slightly disappointed at the lack of head, but once poured a nice frothy head foams on top that stayed till the last half of the glass - leaving foam rings on the side of the glass. The smell is not particularly inspiring but grab a mouthful and your taste buds are unexpectedly filled with an awesomely bitter hoppyness that's uniquely crisper than most IPAs. I suspect its the Juniper berries that are to thank for the crispy dry finish.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Coffee Table: Step 3
Following up from Coffee Table: Step 2, I drilled an additional hole through the middle of each of the main table top boards and tightened them up. Also I finished cutting the legs to length and added a cross bar across the bottom for stability. I still want to put another rod though the bottom of the legs and then take it all apart one more time to re-assemble it using wood glue.
Friday, February 06, 2009
Twenty Five Random Things
Lisa is a sucker for chain letters. She tagged me on some facebook thing where you list 25 random things about your self and then rope 25 other victims into doing the same. I refuse to continue the epidemic of the chain letter but figured I'd indulge in a response just for Lisa's sake.
1. I have two middle names. Fuck you if you don't know what they are.
2. My brother Leif is much more exciting than I am, even though I'm older, better looking, and more successful.
3. Growing up Leif hit me on the top of the head with a large rubber mallet, I haven't been the same since.
4. I love beer.
5. Most times at work I have no idea what I'm talking about.
6. I used to play soccer in high school and run track but I was never any good at it.
7. I was born in Mesa Arizona, but I used to pick up girls at the bar by telling them I was from Belgium.
8. I suck at math.
9. Sometimes I have to flush the toilet 3 times after taking a dump before it begins flushing normal again.
10. My favorite food in the whole world is cream cheese, this infatuation started in Socorro when you could order a turkey sandwich with alfalfa spouts and cream cheese. Before then it was just something that made bagels taste better.
11. I wish I could ski for a living.
12. I dislike talking on the phone.
13. I miss the south west and would like to move back someday.
14. In high school I never did any homework.
15. I like getting lost in a new city.
16. I like my coffee black, with tequila in it.
17. Eggs? Sunny side up.
18. I hate onions.
19. I love going to art galleries and museums, they inspire me to be more creative and to be happy.
20. Some times I worry about hitting my head on ceiling fans.
21. I want to build my own house someday, I like building things my self.
22. I don't read enough books.
23. I love the internet, and sometimes lie awake at night worrying about what it would be like with out it.
24. I think one of the best inventions in the world is the ballooned neck on sparkling water bottles that prevent the water from fizzing out of the bottle when you first open it.
25. I like sitting at home and doing nothing.
1. I have two middle names. Fuck you if you don't know what they are.
2. My brother Leif is much more exciting than I am, even though I'm older, better looking, and more successful.
3. Growing up Leif hit me on the top of the head with a large rubber mallet, I haven't been the same since.
4. I love beer.
5. Most times at work I have no idea what I'm talking about.
6. I used to play soccer in high school and run track but I was never any good at it.
7. I was born in Mesa Arizona, but I used to pick up girls at the bar by telling them I was from Belgium.
8. I suck at math.
9. Sometimes I have to flush the toilet 3 times after taking a dump before it begins flushing normal again.
10. My favorite food in the whole world is cream cheese, this infatuation started in Socorro when you could order a turkey sandwich with alfalfa spouts and cream cheese. Before then it was just something that made bagels taste better.
11. I wish I could ski for a living.
12. I dislike talking on the phone.
13. I miss the south west and would like to move back someday.
14. In high school I never did any homework.
15. I like getting lost in a new city.
16. I like my coffee black, with tequila in it.
17. Eggs? Sunny side up.
18. I hate onions.
19. I love going to art galleries and museums, they inspire me to be more creative and to be happy.
20. Some times I worry about hitting my head on ceiling fans.
21. I want to build my own house someday, I like building things my self.
22. I don't read enough books.
23. I love the internet, and sometimes lie awake at night worrying about what it would be like with out it.
24. I think one of the best inventions in the world is the ballooned neck on sparkling water bottles that prevent the water from fizzing out of the bottle when you first open it.
25. I like sitting at home and doing nothing.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
If I Lived in Europe
Lets just say, I moved to europe and had to buy a new car. Now that I'm in Europe maybe I want something that you cant buy here in the states. For the sake of this discussion maybe price doesnt matter. Lets brain storm.
1. VW Ralley Golf, based on the mk2 chasis this special edition came with widebody fenders, projector head lights, a G60 supercharged engine, sport Recaro seats,and synco AWD. It was a euro only model, the engine would be easaly ugraded to make big power and the AWD would be tons of fun.
2. Audi A3, tdi, quatro. With the recent facelift, it's a gorgious car. Throw in a turbo diesel with more than enough torque and 50mpg and youve got a trackable grocery getter. You can get these here in the US now, but not with the TDI/quatro.
3. Cadillac CTS V Sport Waggon. Validated on the 'Ring with a supercharged v8 pushing just over 550hp. and now they're making it in waggon form - be still my heart. GM gives the MVP of the super bowl the car/truck of their choice, three years in a row these its been an escalade - clearly these players dont know about the CTS V, then again ner has there been a rap song about a waggon.
4. '09 Scirocco; what can I say, I'm a fanboy - I'll admit it.
5. Lupo GTI; small fast back to basics hatch with room for two people and a case of beer. Lowered on some splits this could also make a decent weekend racer. Do they even do club races like they do here in europe?
6. Alpha GT, this is a really cool looking car. Having the upscale 3.2L v6 in Europe probably wouldnt be very practicle but then niether would the 556hp v8 in the CTS V.
... but lets face it, if I had to move to Europe I'd probably just buy another Corrado.
1. VW Ralley Golf, based on the mk2 chasis this special edition came with widebody fenders, projector head lights, a G60 supercharged engine, sport Recaro seats,and synco AWD. It was a euro only model, the engine would be easaly ugraded to make big power and the AWD would be tons of fun. 
2. Audi A3, tdi, quatro. With the recent facelift, it's a gorgious car. Throw in a turbo diesel with more than enough torque and 50mpg and youve got a trackable grocery getter. You can get these here in the US now, but not with the TDI/quatro. 
3. Cadillac CTS V Sport Waggon. Validated on the 'Ring with a supercharged v8 pushing just over 550hp. and now they're making it in waggon form - be still my heart. GM gives the MVP of the super bowl the car/truck of their choice, three years in a row these its been an escalade - clearly these players dont know about the CTS V, then again ner has there been a rap song about a waggon. 
4. '09 Scirocco; what can I say, I'm a fanboy - I'll admit it. 
5. Lupo GTI; small fast back to basics hatch with room for two people and a case of beer. Lowered on some splits this could also make a decent weekend racer. Do they even do club races like they do here in europe?
6. Alpha GT, this is a really cool looking car. Having the upscale 3.2L v6 in Europe probably wouldnt be very practicle but then niether would the 556hp v8 in the CTS V.... but lets face it, if I had to move to Europe I'd probably just buy another Corrado.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Tax Retrun '08
This year was easy, I only had one W2 form, nor did I anticipate owing the government money. So instead of waiting till April (like I do every year), last night I finished my '08 tax return.
Last year I had to file for two different state tax return and include a bunch of random crap that went down including moving reimbursement, student loans, tuition payments, a 401k from Los Alamos... etc. On Justin's recommendation (or maybe it was Lisa's) I filed using Turbo Tax - the whole thing took for ever but was likely much less painful than if I'd attempted to do it all my self.
This year because Turbo Tax had last years return on record the whole process only took... maybe 30 minutes.
Hold your breath just a little longer failing economy - me and my tax return are coming!
Last year I had to file for two different state tax return and include a bunch of random crap that went down including moving reimbursement, student loans, tuition payments, a 401k from Los Alamos... etc. On Justin's recommendation (or maybe it was Lisa's) I filed using Turbo Tax - the whole thing took for ever but was likely much less painful than if I'd attempted to do it all my self.
This year because Turbo Tax had last years return on record the whole process only took... maybe 30 minutes.
Hold your breath just a little longer failing economy - me and my tax return are coming!
Monday, February 02, 2009
New Bike
I bought a new mountain bike. I'm particularly excited about this because I've been with out a bike for 4 years, and from what I remember of mountain biking - it used to be a lot of fun. It's an '08 Gary Fisher Cobia 29er with a few upgraded components. It came Fed Ex in this really big box (i guess now that i think about it, there's no way it wouldn't have come in a big box) completely disassembled. 
I've always enjoyed things that start as a pile of parts. In fact, when I was in 5th grade we were given a choice between choir or band. I remember making a conscious decision to go for band - not wanting to be one of those pansy ass choir boys. They piled us in to this back room where we were made to choose which instrument we wanted to play. I maintain that the reason why I chose the clarinet was because it came apart into several small pieces (unlike some stupid trumpet or saxophone where only the mouth piece was removable). Maybe this is also the reason I like puzzles so much. 
The majority of the assembly time was taken up removing the bubble wrap from each and every tube of the frame, wheels, shifter and brake components. The frame it self was crazy light weight, the entire package weight only being 38lbs. Mountain bikes have come a long way since my last bike. The extra large 21in frame is all aluminum with a bunch of small gussets at the seat post, the chain stay ends, and the brake caliper brakets. Also, some carbon fiber in the head post.
Conventional mountain bikes have 26 inch wheels. The key feature to this bike are the oversized 29 inch diameter wheels. From what I read its the monster truck of mountain bikes, the larger wheels allow one to travel with more momentum, decrease the angle of attack over bumps, and take turrns harder and faster. The only disadvantage beeing slower acceleration off the line, but I'd imagine the low mountain bike gearing would make up for this. 
Sunday we had a heat wave here in Michigan, the balmey high of 40*F was just what we needed to dry up the salted snow melt from the roads. I took the opertunity to take the new bike out on a test drive. I've never ridden a bike with disk brakes before and the first time i used them I nearly fell over the handle bars. Awesome. So here it is fully assembeled, back inside taking up space in the living room till spring time. Some time before which I'd like to pick up a decent shoe/peddle combo and a front fork with suspension.
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