| AK-47 |
[Jun. 28th, 2009|09:20 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  good | ] |
Dad brought Thomas to a gun show as a late birthday present. They ended up buying an AK-47 kit for $400 there. Yes, we have a Romanian built AK-47 in this house. It's only semi-automatic though. The kit came with the gun, cleaning tools, bayonet with belt sheath, two clips, and a leather satchel with room for 2 more. I have the barest glimmer of understanding for why it's so popular. So utilitarian. The cleaning tools, for instance, fit in a thumb-sized metal cylinder which fits in a spring loaded hatch at the base of the stock. Very convenient.
Haven't had a chance to fire the thing because Dad bought full metal jacket rounds and our range doesn't allow those. |
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| Back in Dallas |
[Jun. 27th, 2009|10:50 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  tired | ] |
Arrived about 7am CST today. Hit three storms, two in Kentucky and one in Tennessee, on the way. They were short, but powerful ones. Cars were forced to turn on blinkers to see eachother. If it had been night, visibility would have been nil.
So far, Tennessee holds the record for largest bug smashed by my windshield. Sounded like gravel was hitting the glass.
Released Scratch just a short time ago in a local pond. Hopefully, years from now, there will be a segment on Animal Planet of a dangerous Alligator Snapper fished from the Murphy Townhall pond. That would be my buddy.
Typed this on the family computer, not my own. Can't hook it up to the family LAN yet. So, I'm unable to access all my programs like Ventrilo or Skype. Contact will have to be through other ways. |
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| Signed and Sworn In |
[Jun. 19th, 2009|02:30 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | accomplished | ] |
It's done. I've officially enlisted in the US Army. October 19th I ship out to Ft. Jackson, SC for three months of basic. Then I have 26 weeks of job training at Ft. Gordon, Georgia. Job chosen is 25-Sierra, or Satellite Communications Systems Operator/Maintainer. Five years active, three reserve, entering as an E-4.
I'll be leaving Dayton for Dallas late next week. Better chance of getting a job to fill the next 3 months...and I know more people to help me get a job in this amazing economy we're in right now. |
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| Movies and Funnies |
[Jun. 1st, 2009|05:36 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  blah | ] |
Saw Terminator 4 last night. I don't think they messed up any of the continuity of the previous movies. Not that I'm confident I remember the others at all.
One of the pre-movie commercials was for a new ABC-Family show based off 10 Things I Hate About You. My testicles nearly disappeared just watching the trailer. I don't want to imagine watching an actual episode.
For Twilight haters I find this to be rather funny. |
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| No Smiling |
[May. 26th, 2009|05:51 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  calm | ] |
The difference between computer recognition and human. They want people to keep neutral expressions when taking DMV photos so recognition software won't get confused. I find that interesting 'cause smiles are how I ID people in decades old photos. Smiles rarely change. There's one on my grandparent's wall of all her kids (including my mom) when the oldest was no more than 10. I know who is who by the smiles. |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 12th, 2009|08:01 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  amused | ] |
The plot for the next SciFi made-for-TV movie....or is it SyFy now? |
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| Entertaining Media |
[May. 12th, 2009|01:21 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | chipper | ] |
I did see the new Star Trek movie over the weekend. I greatly enjoyed it. I was never a fan of the original series. That's SciFi blasphemy to some (my father included), but it's the truth. As such I was able to enjoy the action and adventure and total destruction of the Star Trek universe. Yes, destruction. Star Trek reminded me of Casino Royal in that they totally restarted a beloved story universe. I don't mind that myself. One reason I enjoyed Batman Begins so much. My dad is probably gonna hate it.
I also learned that there's a TV series loosely (and I mean loosely) based off Terry Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule. Started in 2008, and is still putting out new episodes today. On ABC I think. It is nothing compared to the books. Most of it is bad TV, but there are a few pretties to entertain the eyes.
They get the Mord Sith costuming mostly right. Mistress Denna is made a blonde, so I keep thinking she's Cara, but it is cool seeing a red clad Mord Sith.
The backgrounds are gorgeous. Looks like they film in New Zealand.
And the actress playing Kahlan (if I may let my inner pig out for a second) has an awesome rack. |
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| Cut Grass |
[May. 3rd, 2009|01:46 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  lazy | ] |
The first weekend everyone is mowing their lawns. The smell is divine. I offered to mow the lawn for Shane (landlord/neighbor), but he's lost his mower....Yea, how do you lose a lawnmower? He used to use this side of the house as a shed. The lawnmower was kept in the kitchen for the longest time. When he renovated it for habitation the lawnmower moved, and he can't remember where. |
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| Writer's Block: What's the Plan? |
[May. 2nd, 2009|12:55 pm] |
When I plan things, they usually fall apart. It's not something I imagine. It's something I've observed over the last quarter century. Life works better for me when I let things flow. |
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| Wolverine |
[May. 1st, 2009|02:40 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  content | ] |
Saw Wolverine at the midnight showing this morning. Only the second movie I've done that with with. The first was Revenge of the Sith. Quality-wise I place it slightly better than Daredevil. It followed the same equation of a series of fights with some plot in between. Wolverine lacked Ben Affleck's whininess and that's what made it slightly better. I bought my ticket expecting a bunch of superhero fights, and that's what I got. |
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| What's hate in Greek? |
[Apr. 27th, 2009|06:51 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  irate | ] |
I ask because I don't fear birds, I hate them. Therefore I don't have ornithophobia. So what do I have? I just washed my truck, and what do I find on the windshield this morning? Bird vomit. At least I assume it's vomit since it's green and way too large a stain to be poo. I hate birds. |
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| Groceries |
[Apr. 24th, 2009|08:20 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  contemplative | ] |
In most grocery stores I've been in breads were towards the front and milk towards the back. Why?
From the time I was first going to the store with Mom (and could think in a logical manner) I saw the grocery store organized by how long food keeps. Refridgerated and frozen items were at the back so they'd be the last things you'd pick up. Then they spend the least amount of time thawing. Items that didn't matter, like canned soup, were towards the front because who cares how long they're in the basket.
But if stores are organized by basket placement, why is bread in front? True, it's not as dependent on ambient temperature like milk, but it's soft. Wouldn't bread be better at the back so it's on top of everything else you bought?
Maybe it's convenience. Bread is a staple food. It's not uncommon to go to the store purely for bread. And if that is all you want, it would be inconvenient to go all the way to the back. But milk is as much of a staple, so why not have that up front. |
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| Yay! I'm a torturer. |
[Apr. 19th, 2009|12:00 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | amused | ] |
Been reading those released "torture memos", aside from the waterboarding, I think I'm guilty of all the other torture methods. Closed my sister in a box once and dropped a harmless house spider on her, repeatedly struck my brothers across the face and stomach, threw them against walls, dunked freezing water on them, punished a student once by making them do wall sits (stress position) for an undefined amount of time...guess I should be brought before the Hague. |
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| Drive Through Booze |
[Mar. 24th, 2009|01:54 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  sleepy | ] |
Been meaning to blog about this for a while now.
I first saw a drive-thru liquor store in FWB, FL. I laughed for a good while when I realized the utter convenience of buying booze without getting out of your car. Hadn't recognized one since FL. They've probably been around me, the lack novelty just made them fade into the background.
Until I got to Dayton.
The FL drive-thrus were just windows on the side of building. Drive-thru liquor stores here are literal drive-thrus. They look like barns or car washes. You pull in, the vast selection of alcohol displayed all around you so you can make an informed decision on what poison you want to wet your whistle. |
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| Superhero Goodness |
[Mar. 20th, 2009|09:19 pm] |
When Meghan's friends were visiting, one of them mentioned a TV show called Birds of Prey in passing. It's years old. Came out the same time Smallville did (I think). Only lasted 12 episodes. It covers the adventures of Huntress, the daughter of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. Barbara Gordon is now Oracle due to the spinal injury caused by Joker, and Batman has been missing for seven years. Gotta love corny superhero shows.
Through some more internet surfing I've found a new Wonder Woman animated movie from this year. It stars Nathan Fillion who has some hilarious lines drawn forth from Diana's lasso of truth. Fillion alone makes it worth watching. |
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| Pi Day... |
[Mar. 13th, 2009|02:58 pm] |
...is tomorrow, but my old students are celebrating today. Apparently, I started a tradition of sorts. The school's built it up, though. Where I just had the kids bring in pie to eat (largely while taking tests), this year they've written papers, made t-shirts, games, projects, and brought in pie.
On another note, there's a historical bookstore on my way to campus. I've been passing by near every day since August, and I've finally gone in. Very cute. An old lady and younger guy run. Their focus is mainly on the Civil War.
I picked up a Jefferson Davis biography by Joseph McElroy. Last year I read biographies on the Washington, Hamilton, Hancock, etc. Ya know, the Founding Fathers. I figure I'll catch up on the Civil War now. |
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| Houseguests |
[Mar. 13th, 2009|11:47 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | sleepy | ] |
Meghan has a couple friends from MD staying here over the weekend. I met them briefly this morning. I can only remember one of their names; Amanda. The other one is 'taller blonde' until I relearn her real name Vanessa. |
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| Writer's Block: It's the Little Things |
[Mar. 12th, 2009|12:25 pm] |
I leave the room
EDIT
I'm confused. Does filling out one of these stupid writers block things open up my blog to anyone who does the same? Is that why random person I don't know has the first reply? |
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| Poo |
[Mar. 11th, 2009|05:18 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  cranky | ] |
Yesterday and the day before were great. The temperature was in the low 70s. I actually opened the windows. Now it's back down to 40 with windchill bringing it down to the low 30s. |
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| Castle |
[Mar. 10th, 2009|09:31 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  energetic | ] |
Nathan Fillion is starring in a new TV show on ABC. It's called Castle. Fillion plays a charming, yet immature mystery writer (Richard Castle) who gets called in by a hot, no-nonsense NYC detective (Kate Beckett) over a series of killings that follow a number of murders in Castle's novels. I watched the pilot online mainly 'cause Fillion's in it. The guy amuses me, and he did repeatedly in the episode. |
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