Them's Fightin' Words!

Cool video

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:30:50 GMT

A friend's blog clued me in to this. Pretty cool. But at the end, they should add "...unless you're a dumbass."

The robot cyborg apocalypse begins!

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:50:09 GMT

A company named Cyberdyne is making a robot-cyborg suit named HAL?

This can't be good... read the full story.

I really dig my new car

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:31:21 GMT

'Totaling' my old car wasn't how I wanted to come into a new car, but ultimately it's proved to be a good thing.

I liked my old car (1999 Saturn SL2) when I bought in 2001.

It was loaded with features I'd never had (cruise control, sun roof, etc.), and it was a nice car. But by 2006 it was becoming a money sink. Little things kept breaking, and some big things as well, such as:

3 valve gasket repairs in less than 2 years at about $500 a pop. I didn't have to pay for the last one because it was still covered by the shop's warranty... so two of these replacements occurred within 6 months of each other.
The sunroof no longer worked.
The rear passenger-side window didn't work anymore.
The car burned oil.
The glove box was broken and wouldn't close properly.
And to top it off: The 'Service Engine Light' had been coming despite a $500 fix to the computer/control system and some sensors less than 3 months ago.

Bear in mind, I took my car in for regular oil changes, 30/60/90k services, etc. I didn't treat the interior real well, but I did the best I could to keep it running. Regardless, by 2006, it was just breaking all too often and costing too much money. (It never broke down, at least.)

That said, I really dig my new car (2004 Hyundai Elantra GT 4dr Hatchback). It's more fun to drive (has some pep), it's more organized and has lots of convenient places to put stuff -- and it still manages good gas mileage (old guidelines it's rated at 27/ 34mpg, but more modern guidelines peg it around 24/31mpg.)

I've never been much of a car guy, but I can say that the Elantra has given me some appreciation of 'sporty' performance.
The Saturn's response to the gas pedal/clutch was like "yeah, hang on a sec" whereas the new car basically says "right away sir!"

Throw in a hatchback for more storage, better stereo, etc. and it's a winner. Hopefully it holds up better over time.

Little bit of irony...

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:49:59 GMT

So I was sitting with my son last night at dinner, and noticed a huge spider (probably a 'hobo' or 'brown' spider I think) up on the wall in the corner of the room.

I decided not to splat the spider and collected him in a cup.

Then I walked outside and tossed him gently into the brush...and into the web of a garden spider.

So in an attempt not to kill a spider, I basically fed one spider to another. Oops.

New week, new car, better 'Car'ma

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:52:20 GMT

So, the Week from hell is done and behind me. I've collected the dough from my insurance company -- dough for 'doh!' if you will -- and I am now the proud owner of a spiffy car: A 2004 Hyundai Elantra GT 4-door hatchback. (Pic below)

I think we got a good price (all told, a little under 10k). It gets excellent gas mileage and it's fun to drive -- it's a 'sport' sedan, so it's a good bit zippier than my last car. -- although it's still primarily an economy/family car). It looks nice and it has a nice, organized interior. It's a pretty big step up from my last car (a 1999 Saturn SL2).

My eldest son is particularly happy with it. This morning he insisted that I take him to school in 'the red car' and he was running around telling the other preschoolers about his 'new red car'.

One thing about leather seats -- while they may be durable, one cold-clammy connection with my ass this morning (I was wearing shorts) was all it took to inspire me to buy a seat cover and a steering wheel cover. Brrrr.

Funny article about creationism

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:15:57 GMT

This article about Creationism, by Roger Ebert, is actually quite funny -- as long as you're savvy enough to read between the lines.

And if you're not, you should probably read this follow up article by Ebert as well.

Worst. Week. EVAR.

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:06:15 GMT

So last week was a real loser for me and my family -- kind of like a whole week of bad karma. Briefly:

My wife had a (very minor) stroke.
I got in a car accident which totaled my car.
Work was generally busy and stressful.

Fortunately:

My wife's stroke was very minor and had no lasting effects. We did have to go to the doctor's for various tests and such, which pretty much killed her whole evening... but overall she's fine.
The car accident really wasn't that bad. No one was hurt. It was my fault, unfortunately (extenuating circumstances, pending some traffic court mitigation).
Work is gradually lightening up this week, and may slow up by tomorrow.

I'm still awaiting the check for my car (which I should get today). The car accident is poorly timed, and now I'll have to spend a bunch of money I don't want to spend (I'm still shopping on the cheap, relatively speaking -- under 10k). On the other hand, my car was on its last legs anyway. (I was planning on getting rid of it next summer.)

Sarah Palin: Gun toting, bible thumping redneck?

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 13:22:42 GMT

I don't identify myself as a democrat or republican, although my general leanings are liberal democrat.

That said, I don't much care about what the media reports on various candidates for office. It is, after all, easy to misread or misinterpret facts separated from their subject. In other words, the only way to get the real, whole story is from the subject.

However, one thing I am flagrantly biased against are freakshow religions--such as Pentecostals--and (in general) all the bible-thumping-anti-evolution-fire-and-brimstone bullshit superstition that thoroughly fly their flags of ignorance in the face of common sense and science.

Sarah Palin went to a Pentecostal church (full article here). That pretty much lands her on my idiot list, regardless of anything else. Being as she's a die-hard Republican and a fan of the NRA just adds to my imagining of her as a bible-thumping-gun-toting-flaq-waving-beauty-queen-redneck hired for popular appeal and not any genuine ability to lead.

Some quotes from various folks in her political party say she 'represents America' in the sense that 'she's one of us' ('the common people' is my take on that).

I'd like to see her 'common people' ultimately supplanted by my 'common people' -- the educated, successful, and still thoroughly middle-class people. She doesn't represent 'my' America, and not the America I'd like to see decades from now.

Cool science!

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:04:51 GMT

The Hadron Collider gets ready to collide stuff.

It give us amazing information about the inner workings of the universe, or it might tear a hole in the time-space continuum and bring about some bizarre, inter-dimensional Cthuulu-style Armageddon.

A few facts about the collider:

"Experts say the collider has the potential to confirm theories about questions that physicists have been working on for decades including the possible existence of extra dimensions."
It could create tiny black holes."Although physicists acknowledge that the collider could, in theory, create small black holes, they say they do not pose any risk."
"You're talking about such incredible power inside both the accelerator and detectors that you never really know until you turn it all on what's going to happen."

Here's an article on CNN.

Dinosaurs helped build the pyramids...

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:57:06 GMT

I remember this was covered on a funny Monty Python or other BBC comedy show.

Here's a screwball that actually believes this nonsense.

Ass=best swear word?

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:48:33 GMT

Today at 2:30pm | Edit Note | Delete

Ass is truly one of the greatest swear words.

It's primary advantage over other swear words: it is usually uncensored because it can refer to an animal. Other strong points include:

It is easily mixed with words like "dumb" and "hat" to make whole new descriptors for virtually anything. It even pairs well with some partial words, such as -tacular, to make new words.
It is generally easier to adapt to polite company, as long as it doesn't get paired with "hole" in which case it's almost universally offensive.

It is generally much funnier than most other swear words, because virtually anything that involves our backsides is generally damn funny, no matter how much we may may pretend otherwise.
It's definitely funnier than sh** and bitch, although f*** is a close call because it's so damn versatile (although it's virtually always censored).

Finally drove my kid to therapy...

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:06:19 GMT

I have no idea what came over my oldest son, but yesterday he apparently decided his TMNT costume (Raphael) was, in fact, his buddy.

So he's been carrying it around on a coat hanger. He even insisted my mom put a seatbelt on it in the car.

It's very funny, actually -- and very out of the blue. I've no idea what prompted this sudden 'imaginary friend' phase.

Some people don't wear their costumes

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:38:13 GMT

My oldest son asked me to help him put on his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume, so I obliged him.

Five minutes later, he asked me to take it off of him. I asked him why.

"Some people just don't want to wear their costumes," he said.

Then he explained further, very matter-of-factly: "Some people want to wear their costumes, some people just don't want to wear their costumes."

I think he was teaching me some sort of lesson about something.

Funny video

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:12:12 GMT

Courtesy of a friend's blog I found this. Amazing grace, beauty, strength...and humor, in action. :)

A return to gaming

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:25:38 GMT

Two events to report:

My first Dungeons and Dragons game since about 3.5 years ago will be taking place soon. We'll be playing 4th Edition for the first time. It's not the beginning of a campaign or anything -- just a sort of "D&D Night" with some old friends -- but I'm still looking forward to it.
Thanks to a friend and colleague from my Sierra On-Line days, it looks like I'll be writing (freelance) to provide content for an actual video game -- scripts, color and story text, that sort of thing. I'm pretty excited, really. the pay won't be great but it ain't bad. I've really been wanting to get more fun, creative work like this. It will also make a good addition to my already highly varied writing resume, and the money will also help with the next item...
We've also officially booked our Disneyland Vacation for next April -- 7 nights of the Disney hotels/theme parks/merchandise.

This weekend looks to be both fun and potentially hellish at the same time. The next three days (Sat-Sun-Mon) will just be me and the boys mainly. Amy works, and my usual weekend 'help' (my mother) won't be available because she has to watch my nieces while my older brother moves.

Facebook killed blogging...

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:44:45 GMT

My blogging efforts have slowed greatly, largely due to 3 things:

An increase in work
Working from home
Joining and using Facebook

Work has increased, although not so much that I'm swamped. Working from home, however, often means 'downtime at work' is spent getting things done around the house. And Facebook, of course, is just faster and easier than blogging.

Blogging still serves it's purpose, though. I blog mainly as a medium to 'practice' my writing, and I don't think I could start an anti-Chung Moo Doe list on Facebook. :)

A little more about the LG Dare

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:52:46 GMT

The camera on the LG Dare rocks, easily it's best 'extra' (or standard, these days) cell phone feature. Here are some other quick thoughts:

The touch screen works pretty well, although it seems bit wonky occasionally. [Sometimes I'll touch something to open a Web site or application and it does nothing, requiring a 2nd or even 3rd attempt. The virtual keyboard is surprisingly accurate though--more so than I would have thought.]

I like the customizable 'desktop' and the fact that I can put my own shortcuts on it.

The music player seems good enough, but I haven't dug into it yet. I may be soon, though, as I'm growing increasingly interested in using it for music playback.

The only real downside is that Verizon is still a pain in the ass with regards to giving you easy access to your phone's ringtones, music, pictures and videos.

Basically, to really do all the things you want to do with a new fancy multimedia phone, you need to spend some time Googling and searching forums for information (unless you're happy paying $1.99 for ringtones and

In a nutshell, you need to do the following:

Download Bitpim (a free application) -- or something like it -- to be able to access the phone via your USB cable. You can transfer files from the PC via Bluetooth, but only one file at a time and only in a limited fashion.]
Figure out the arcane file system on the phone to learn where things like ringtones are kept (see below for some more info on this).
Download a program that can convert .3GP/.3G2 media files to a more suitable format (.WMV, .AVI, etc.). I've found a few, but I'm still trying out different ones.

For anyone interested, if you're using Bitpim to browse your phone here is where to find media files:

Ringtones are stored in Brew\10889
Video, music, and sounds are all stored in under MMC (at least on my phone, which I've equipped with an SD card and I've set all video/sounds/pictures to be saved there.)

LG Dare: A damn good phone

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 19:51:17 GMT

I've spent a week with my new cell phone: The LG Dare, courtesy of Verizon Wireless. Here's a quick 'review':

The best auxiliary feature hands down...

...is the built-in 3.2 megapixel camera. It's suitable for photo-quality (300dpi) 5x7 shots and near photo quality (200dpi) 8x10 shots.

The camera also sports quite a few advanced features (rapid shot, face detection, and various options for adjusting white balance and other attributes), as well as a flash. The on-board photo-editing features of the camera allow you to resize, crop, and do panoramic stitching, as well as a host of other options.

If you want a secondary digital camera (which I did, because my wife always seems to has ours), the Dare can't be beat. I have a good camera and a great phone without having to carry two separate items.

The other features are new to me, but I'm getting quickly spoiled by them. The virtual keyboard works surprisingly well, and the touch screen in general has practically ruined me for ever wanting to use a standard phone ever again. I've never been a big digital music listener, but I think I may load up an SD card with some tunes.

As it happens, I already own Bluetooth USB adapters for my PC, a Bluetooth stereo speaker system, and a Bluetooth stereo headset/microphone (courtesy of a review I wrote about a year ago). This gives me unprecedented flexibility and new integration options for using my phone, which I'm only beginning to explore.

I'll write more tomorrow in order to keep this short. :)

Kids=Better than TV (again)

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:11:12 GMT

I went to Fred Meyers last night to pick up some milk.

Unfortunately, I was bitten by a shopping bug, which tend to run rampant when I see signs like "take an additional 50% off." I ended up buying three small 2-packs of Marvel comics characters for my youngest son.

He doesn't know any of the characters--Thor, Loki, Dr. Strange, Iceman, Pyro and Antman -- but that didn't stop him from waging terrific battles between both the various characters and some conveniently located toy dinosaurs as well.

And now he knows who all the characters are and to an extent what their superpowers are, and if they're good guys or bad guys.

Thor smashed a number of bad guys. Pyro and Iceman fought by shooting at each other ('shoot shoot, shoot shoot' he would say, with little shooting noises). Towards the end of the evening, Pyro spent a lot of time riding on an Allosaurus while Iceman rode on a Stegosaurus.

Yeah, kids are totally better than TV.

Weekly wrap-up

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:51:15 GMT

Work has been light this week, but looks to pick up next week. I got a lot done though!

Trimmed some trees
Drained, cleaned, and refilled the pond
Got some landscaping done around the kids' Big Toy, putting down anti-weed fabric and filling in the area with 13 bags of play sand.
Grilled some great food -- I think 3 times -- this week.
Lots of other miscellaneous, mundane chores around the house.

I also got something new and shiny

I upgraded my phone to an LG Dare this week while upgrading our cell phone plan.

My main reason for the upgrade was that I have been lamenting my lack of a personal camera good enough for snapping shots of the kids (my wife usually has our main digital camera with her).

The Dare has a camera good enough for photo-quality (300 dpi) 5x7 shots, and near photo quality (200dpi) 8x10 shots. It's also got a flash and a slew of relatively advanced features like face detection, rapid multi-shot, panoramic stitching, and others. Best part of all -- I don't have to worry about carrying an additional item about, as I (almost) always remember to carry my cell phone.

Our cell phone plan hasn't been updated in about ten years. Now we get nearly twice as many minutes and better features for basically the same money we've been paying.

It's strange to think that when we got our first cell phone plan you could potentially go 100 miles away from your designated 'home area' and be considered 'roaming' (and get charged ridiculous per-minute rates for roaming calls). Now, cell phones are so ubiquitous the plans are easier to buy and understand (thank goodness).

Of course, I had to do some Googling and download a free program -- BitPim -- to be able to get around Verizon's iron-fisted control of their phones and network so I could do simple things like copying music and ring tones to and from the phone. (I hate Verizon's closed network, but unfortunately it's still advantageous for us to remain in it.)

I also learned that if you buy a grill, buy brand name

Getting some simple replacement knobs for my grill was a chore.

I bought my grill at Lowes -- Perfect Flame brand -- and it's a nice grill. But that brand is made in China and distributed by BBQTek (a Canadian company).

I had to do some serious digging just to figure out who I could get parts from (admittedly, I don't have the manual anymore) and how to get them. I ultimately got the knobs, but it took too much work.

Bottom line: I like the grill, but next time I'm in the market I think I'll pay more and get a Weber or other brand name.

Photo Album: 2008 July through September

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:23:27 GMT

2008 July through September

Katsuya is all "hulked out" with his hulk hands.

Photo Album: March-June 2008

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:48:33 GMT

March-June 2008

Kazu Rock Star Drummer_1

Kazu Rock Star Drummer_2

Kazu Rock Star Drummer_3

March of Dimes Walk 2008_1

March of Dimes Walk 2008_10

March of Dimes Walk 2008_11

March of Dimes Walk 2008_12

March of Dimes Walk 2008_13

March of Dimes Walk 2008_14

March of Dimes Walk 2008_15

More Photos...

Photo Album: Dec 2007-Feb 2008

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:23:17 GMT

Dec 2007-Feb 2008

Portrait collage-1.jpg

portrait collage-2.jpg

Halloween collage-1.jpg

portrait-both boys-1.jpg

portrait-both boys-2.jpg

portrait-both boys-3.jpg

katsuya portrait-4.jpg

kazu portrait-2.jpg

katsuya portrait-5.jpg

kazu portrait-3.jpg

More Photos...

Photo Album: Dec 2006-Feb 2007 (2)

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:42:41 GMT

Dec 2006-Feb 2007 (2)

122506_15492

katsuya and kazu shoemageddon - december 2006

katsuya at his play table - december 2006

katsuya shoemageddon - december 2006

katsuya shoemageddon 2 december 2006

katsuya sliding thanksgiving 2006

kazu and katsuya - xmas tree- december 2006

kazu and katsuya 1-december 2006

kazu sliding - Thanksgiving 2006

katsuya-xmas1

More Photos...

Photo Album: Dec 2006-Feb 2007

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:40:24 GMT

Dec 2006-Feb 2007

020407_18481

120506_16301

120506_17201

120506_19411

120906_18471

121706_17091

122306_08081

kazu-kasuya-1

kazu-kasuya-2

020907_14591

More Photos...

Photo Album: March-May 2007

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:36:47 GMT

March-May 2007

both boys with bubbles

katsuya with bubbles

kazu with bubbles 2

kazu with bubbles

both kids in stroller

katsuya with balloons

katsuya with glasses

katsuya-elton john 1

katsuya-elton john 2

katsuya-elton john 3

More Photos...

Photo Album: June- August 2007

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:17:44 GMT

June- August 2007

aquarium-1

aquarium-2

aquarium-3

both boys at the farms

both boys at the farms-2

both boys in a canoe

both boys in a canoe-2

both boys in fountain

both boys in the pool

boys swinging 7.2007

More Photos...

Photo Album: Sep 2007 - Nov 2007

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:13:47 GMT

Sep 2007 - Nov 2007

science museum 10-2007_1.jpg

science museum 10-2007_5.jpg

science museum 10-2007_10.jpg

Kazu and Katsuya play at the science museum

Katsuya plays at the science museum.

science museum 10-2007_6.jpg

One of Kazu's favorite rooms at the science museum.

Halloween2007-1.jpg

Halloween2007-2.jpg

Halloween2007-3.jpg

More Photos...

Photo Album: Hawaiian Vacation 2007

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:09:27 GMT

Hawaiian Vacation 2007

Kazu checks out the local flora.

Both boys at the plantation.

Katsuya likes Tikis.

Katsuya "hides" in our condo.

Katsuya checks out the aquarium.

Aquarium - overpriced but a good place for kids.

Katsuya

Rainbow off our deck at our condo.

Katsuya takes a short respite at the Aquarium gift shop.

Katsuya on a tramampoline. :)

More Photos...

Photo Album: Martial Arts

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:24:34 GMT

Martial Arts

Curious George armbars Spongebob

Home Dojo (1)

Home Dojo (2)

Home Dojo (3)

Various rank certificates

Workout area - to be cleaned.

Photo Album: 2001-2004

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 16:51:04 GMT

2001-2004

dogs-1

kaminari cat tree

Kaminari suticase

kaminari tennis ball

seaturtle

kaz-12.5.2003

2003 Hawaii Hike

2003 Hawaii-Amy with our horseback guides

December 2003 - kazu and daddy

December 2005 - Baby Kazu swinging

More Photos...

Photo Album: Fall 2005

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:43:12 GMT

Fall 2005

kazu-2yr.2

kazu-2yr.3

kazu-2yr.4

kazu-2yr.5

kazu-2yr.6

kazu-2yr.7

kazu-2yr

Kazu-cake2-2yo

Kazu-cake-2yo

Kazu-Face-2yo

More Photos...

Photo Album: Winter 2005

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:43:12 GMT

Winter 2005

kazufloor

kazu-train

Photo Album: Spring 2006

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:43:12 GMT

Spring 2006

Katsuya - Face

katsuya with puppet

katsuya-face2

kazu - deely bobbers

kazu and katsuya 2

kazu and Katsuya napping

kazu and katsuya

kazu arms crossed

kazu in chair

kazu with candle - 200x150

More Photos...

Photo Album: Summer 2006

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:43:12 GMT

Summer 2006

happy katsuya 2

happy katsuya

Katsuya-baptism

katsuya-baptism2

kazu amy and bird

kazu and bird 2

Kazu and I at Gym 2

Kazu and I at Gym 3

kazu and I at Gym

kazu and Katsuya at Home

More Photos...

Photo Album: Fall 2006

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 13:43:12 GMT

Fall 2006

katsuya-halloween1

kazu_halloween2

kazu_katsuya_halloween1

kazu_katsuya_halloween2

kazu_katsuya_halloween3

kazu-halloween-1

kazu cowboy 3

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Kazu and Baby together

kazu sitting

More Photos...