Affenwald

FRSHCRK

2006-02-14T09:32:00.000-05:00

So I have started playing with that other weblog site that Dan found and I think that I will now be switching over. There are a couple of things that I want to try to figure out (how to easily transfer over comments, ads, maps, make new post types [articles, reviews, e&c.]) but for the most part the back end is easier to use and, hopefully, the frontend will be easier because of this.

The new link:
http://zipymonkey.eponym.com/blog

If you use RSS shit this is what you need:
http://zipymonkey.eponym.com/blog/index.xml

Yatta, yatta...

Black and White

2006-02-09T16:05:00.000-05:00

Ah... it is refreshing how our administration makes everything so clear cut! Check this out: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/.

I learned that the National School Lunch Program is failing, because "The program does not have a reliable measure of the level of erroneous payments it makes. The number of children approved for free meals each year exceeds estimates of the number of children who should be eligible." Maybe that is because there are more and more people below the poverty line.

The poverty rate in 2004 (12.7 percent) was 9.7 percentage points lower than in 1959, the first year for which poverty estimates are available (Figure 3). From the most recent trough in 2000 both the number and rate have risen for four consecutive years, from 31.6 million and 11.3 percent in 2000, to 37.0 million and 12.7 percent in 2004 respectively.

Good job Mr. President.

Supervising@uhf I

2006-02-07T18:00:00.000-05:00

Okay today I started with a career development course. There will be 6 more weeks of this so I hope you enjoy this. :p

The first seminar/class was basically an introduction followed by a basic introduction to different personality types courtesy of Myers-Briggs. Before the start of the class we had to take the Myers-Briggs personality test (if you want to take on go here or here). Now I think that whole purpose of this exercise was for us to become aware that there are different types of people because they did not tell us how to determine different personality types (without a test) or how to interact with these different personality types. I guess it is another one of those be sensitive to other people things. If you are interested my results were as follows:

Extraversion

Intraversion

Sensing

INtuition

Thinking

Feeling

Judging

Perceiving

Figure 1. Crappy Table

Another way to look at this is:

Reported Type:			E			S		T		P
Perference Scores:			3			19		39		27

Here is a description of me:

ESTP: Good at on-the-spot problem solving. Like action, enjoy whatever comes along. Tend to like mechanical things and sports, with friends on the side. Adaptable, tolerant, pragmatic; focused on getting results. Dislike long explanations. Are best wiht real thing that can be worked, handled, taken apart, or put together.

Or:

ESTP: "Promoter". Action! When present, things begin to happen. fiercely competitive. Entrepreneur. Often uses shock effect to get attention. Negotiator par excellence. 13% of the population.

If I had been a little be more intraverted I could have been this:

ISTP: "Artisan". Impulsive action. Life should be of impulse rather than of purpose. Action is an end to itself. fearless, craves excitement, master of tools. 5% of the population.

Master of tools?! I missed out.

Fraudulation

2006-02-02T09:08:00.000-05:00

Good morning. A couple of links I thought were interesting.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/2/1/195344/1903

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/13767738.htm?source=rss&channel=krwashington_nation
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/02/02/BUGINH17FL1.DTL

"The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable." - James A. Garfield

From Lack of Desire

2006-02-01T10:44:00.000-05:00

I have not felt the desire or need to post recently. This is partly because I, like that guy, feel that nothing I have to say is interesting or important, and partly because I am trying to avoid posting at work, where it is most convenient as I sit in front of a PC all day. The reason I am trying to avoid posting at work is because I am not getting paid for it and, more importantly, I end up only posting about work and news both of which are bummers. No need to rain on your parade... you have your own work and, hopefully, read the news.

So what does one write about when not bitching? I guess I could jump in on this more but I cannot see or plan ahead. I guess my college education has made me capable of looking back but not forward. I have difficulty finding solutions if they haven't already been found before. Hmm... it seems that I will be self deprecating if I have nothing else to write about. I got nothing else. Bis Spater.

[Update]

I found this shortly after posting. Free downloads if you want to learn some basic German. Perhaps, I'll download a bunch of these and put them on my iPod. Study, study, study...

Reminds me of my chemisty lecture

2006-01-25T09:05:00.000-05:00

No. This article is not funny. It is bad, but the photo CNN is using is amusing. The look the lady in the middle has is nice. 'Caaabin'

[Link to Article]

A Struggle to be Concise

2006-01-24T09:36:00.000-05:00

Okay, so, like I said earlier, I have started reading the Daily Kos. Yesterday, Bush gave a speech that irked me and this post pretty much sums up my feeling on the subject (which I is why I like to read the site). I thought I would share. It seems that fighting abortion is the only way this administration can seem compassionate. It has done nothing good for the majority of the country, even if most of it either does not know it or does not care.

The book that I am reading is forcing my mind to think about current events. Many of the ideas the Victorians struggled with (existence of God, purpose of God, purpose without God) are ideas that many people still struggle with. One of the more interesting points the author makes is that for all extents and purposes the 'clockmaker God' (God as the creator) has died and needed to die for society to continue to advance (i.e. have science). While I do not think that this God is quite dead ('D-E-D, dead') I do agree that it needs to die. The fact that people believe that God is active in this world allows people to avoid active thought and put forth old prejudices as truth. While there can be a god it needs to be more of a paradigm and less of a monarch. Of course, many people want God to give them a purpose and to make them special (i.e. judea/christian tradition states we were created in God's image and that we inherited the Earth). Suck it up. You are an (pseudo-) intellegent ape.

The mouse squeaks

2006-01-20T08:59:00.000-05:00

It has been a while. Not sure why I have be avoiding writing outside of, 'I have nothing new to say'. Well, maybe I do, but I have been running around at work with little or no time to goof off (well I do go skating once a week or so). I really do not want to want to talk about work; currently it is a necessary evil.

In its place I do not know what to talk about. I went out with Heidi on Wednesday for pizza and beer after she got home from visiting family and a job interview. I played guitar hero last night while watching the Bruins win. I am reading a very interesting book which I recommend to all (perhaps I'll actually review it!). A while back I wrote a crappy thing in that other weblog, which remains barren. I have started drawing a little bit every week, I am still looking for new jobs, I still feel kind of lost. Some person once said about life (where is my Bartlett's?) that it is not about the destination but about the journey. But this does imply that one should have a destination. But what is a destination?

Goal to be completed by Monday: Write something for the other weblog.

God, I am whinny. I keep thinking that I need to do some soul searching to figure out what I want to do. I am starting to realize that it is not about contemplating doing shit it is about doing shit. Don't think, do. Or at least think less. I cannot advocate not think in any way, there is enough of that already. Has anyone else watched this?

So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them. (19:25)

2006-01-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

And sayeth he, 'organize thy music according to iTunes'. And so it was done. Er... or at least started. I did not realize that we had collected so much music. I guess that it was in a format that discouraged use (CD), so disuse caused me to forget about it. It looks like I will be spending many a night ripping our CDs.

Then he doth say, 'Woot'. I think I have a plan in my head for the next couple of nights (though wanting to watch the Bruins game may interfere with them). Tonight: go home rip some more CDs, eat, then play hockey. Tomorrow: go to the Coffee shop and write a response to an essay I recently read (or watch hockey). I can understand why the romans spent so much money on the Colosseum. Sports (violent or no) are very distracting. I could spend much of my free time watching or playing sports leaving little time for me to think, read, discussing or doing other things. People could do some pretty shady stuff and I might just be too distracted to notice.

And, 'Though shalt not steal, lie or covet stuff that is not porn'. I randomly followed a link the other day and found this. It seems to share many of the concerns I have for what is going on around us, and it seems to be one of the few places that actually quotes Dean. You would think the news media would be interested in the person who is trying to reform the Democratic Party (you know the one that loosely represents 1/2 of our population). And by reform I mean 'grow a backbone' not 'stop taking bribes/kickbacks', which apparently is a problem among Republicans.

He then concludith, 'for the LORD thy God is a jealous God, and thou shalt not belevith in Evolution'. I saw this in one of Heidi's Science News's. It is always good to see stupidity mocked by in humorously ingenious ways.

Postchen

2006-01-04T21:38:00.000-05:00

I am currently interrupting Heidi to make this post so I will make it quick. I know that I suggested that we use that other weblog for creative purposes (besides the defunct pseudo-shakespearean play). I would like to make another suggestion that we, perhaps, make up assignments to force our hands. To halt the, 'that's a good idea we should do that' and replace it with 'look what I wrote! it is shit!'.

Dunny says, 'Meeeow'.

Droidel, Droidel, Droidel

2005-12-27T08:51:00.000-05:00

http://starwars.com/kids/activity/crafts/f20051216/index.html

And who says you can't learn anything from TV.

One for the Money

2005-12-27T08:25:00.000-05:00

Right. So that's done. This year I received the correct amount of clothing: 2 shirts, 2 pairs of socks (taken from my father in-law because I am a failure at packing), 2 vests and 1 pair of pants. My body is like the Ark. Woot. Instead of clothing I received fun stuff: a DS, a Nano-rific music device, a large stack of porn, a NAS, a campin' stove, and some other things.

Currently I am watching an NECN report on Kwanzaaaa. It looks like this is coming becoming more popular, but that practitioners are worried that it will become commercialized like Christmas. Haha. If you really think about it all American holidays are commercial... even personal ones like birthdays and anniversaries. I mean there is Christmas (gifts), Valentine's Day (candy/flowers), Halloween (candy), Mother's Day (candy/flowers), e&c (candy/flowers). The only holiday I can think of that actually does not involve me buying something for someone is Thanksgiving (food/drink). Hmm...

Now go, kids, go.

Mittwoch

2005-12-21T09:03:00.000-05:00

A quick post. Caveman outfielder is going cosmopolitian. ID is found to be not science.

If you have been reading this for a while you know my stance on intellegent design. The only thing that makes me a little sad is now the Flying Spaghetti Monster will not be taught about in school (at least in Dover, PA). Don't you want to put this on your car? I heard this on NPR yesterday while in the automobile; listen if you wish.

I put some ads up. The are a little fucked up... I think that has something to do with the preview server for blogger displaying my weblog differently than the live server. I'll mess with it later.

vainglory: excessive pride or vain display

2005-12-18T15:34:00.000-05:00

I want to write about something that is completely unrelated to anything, sort of. I was thinking, now that this jawn has a total of 49 hits a week (see below) I should start trying to cash in. 'It is a material world and I am a material girl... or boy.'

Figure 1. Who the fuck do I know in Reston, Virginia?

I wonder how long it would take to make a dollar? If I do do it (doodo, hehe), it will more of an experiment to see how what type of percentage they give out and to see what types of ads would be put up (mit und ohne filters). I doubt there is much money to be made as my audience is pretty static. Maybe I should start a generic site with lots of "stuff".

That aside, Heidi and I have done a little discussion of moving south. Do I know anyone who computes to the Boston from the north? Not that I have a new job or anything but there are a lot more jobs down there than up here, just look at the number of libraries there are (keep clicking right). Where would be good to live that is close to the Hub, has good schools, has a nice downtown, isn't too expensive, e&c.? Maybe it is too early to think about this but if you cannot find someplace you'd like to live near where you work, you probably shouldn't work there. (On that topic, is Sgt. Doom back in Texas? If so, hahaha.)

Lastly, it looks to be a busy Christianized pagan holiday and arbitrarily assigned end of year. Perhaps, I will see you all and, perhaps, I will put snow in your shoes.

Train Ride

2005-12-18T15:11:00.000-05:00

I am on a train from Boston, waiting to move. I am in Boston because of I had an interview at a little school in Cambridge. This is the first time I have actually had an interview since the last time I applied for a McJob. One could argue that that is not really an interview as they will give anyone a job. I did not have an interview for my current job... they just gave it to me. So, to the point!, I did not know what to expect. This is what I got:

12:30 - Show up for a brief orientation (I guess that's what it was) at the main Library and drop off some paper work.
1:00 - Move on to library number two, for interview one with a librarian.
1:30 - Brief tour of the Library.
1:45 - Second interview with an IT guy.
2:20 - Imprompto interview three with department head (who is moving to Rome).
2:30 - Luncper consisting of a stout and a meatloaf sandwich.

It appeared that the whole thing was haphazardly done. Why wasn't there one large interivew? I would think that would be the most effecient method as it would take less of their time and allow them to gain a better perspective of me (everyone asked different questions of me, hell the IT guy just talked at me). Hmm... Maybe, I'm just used to interviewing people using that method.

Oh, I am guessing that you are currently wondering what type of job I interviewed for? Well, maybe I'll feel like writing about that when I actually post this. Snarf! {Answer: No.}

So, outside my interview, I had one errand: pick up a physical representation of my knowledge. I called to make sure that it was there and told them I would pick it up at such and such a date, namely today {12/15}. It turns out that the registrar closed early today, at 3pm! Bastards. Now I have to pay money for them to mail the piece of shit to me. You give someone $25,000 and what does it get you?

Melt you banana, melt!

Haha ha hahaaahaha, ha.

2005-12-12T11:38:00.000-05:00

So I came in this morning oppressed by a feeling of dread. I knew that I would writing emails all morning and most of the afternoon. I knew this because I tried to send out a bunch friday but our VPN is the suck and, as it was blizzarding outside, I decided not to drive back into work.

So I walked into my office, turned on my computer, fired up thunderbird (with which I am currently underwhelmed) and started downloading my email. I had 102 new emails. I started applying to new jobs. Haha. Now I am a little more right in the head, now I can actually do this. I think I have come to grips with what I need to do... for now at least.

On a side note, I really need to get fluent in another language. It appears that a lot of academic library jobs either require or desire fluency. Do audio CDs actually work?

Craziness

2005-12-08T13:06:00.000-05:00

So today has been okay so far, though now I get to catch up on some shit that I should have done early but couldn't because I was catching up on other shit that should have done earlier. I woke up and didn't have to crawl out of bed. Spent about 2.5 hours at work then went to open skate for an hour (which is free to staff, woot) , which was directly followed by a trip to the B. Once back in the clutches of this foul pit I call work, I told my boss that I cannot accomplish everything that I am tasked to do.

The way I figure it, I would have to work 60+ hours a week to get everything I want to get done in both groups I work in (this does not include any projects and only minimal testing). I refuse to work that much. I wonder what will happen? Everyone here either just bends over and takes it or just doesn't do the work they say they will. I can't do the first because I'll get ulcers, and I can't do the second because I'll feel shitty. Currently, I am a beer.

Full of anger with a bit of frothy bitterness on top. All contained in an attractive glass.

Voice Of God Revealed To Be Cheney On Intercom

2005-12-07T16:09:00.000-05:00

"President Bush sits at his desk in the Oval Office, where he received messages from an intercom voice identifying itself as "God" and thought to have been Vice President Cheney."

For the complete story check this out.

More Hawaii Pictures

2005-12-05T12:52:00.000-05:00

I finally uploaded all the Hawaii pictures. They can be found here.

A trial by the fire

2005-12-05T09:39:00.000-05:00

Yeah! Only 35 new emails! Okay, now that the is out of my system, I was flipping through the radio today as I have no CDs in my car except Xtort and Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy or, as I like to think of it, the Zombie Penis Machine, and because my iPod nano does not exist, and I heard something. Good luck with that sentence. It was some celebrity update! Apparently, Al Franken is getting a SitCom on CBS and the DJ chick didn't like it (it was a Clear Channel station, if you were wondering). One of the show ideas (where 'liberal' parents find out their kid is conservative) didn't seem to sit well with her. Hasn't there been a plethora of shows/movies/books highlighting the opposite? Don't kids tend to rebel against the ideals of their parents? I would say that this was just a DJ being stupid but as she took several shots and Franken and at CBS it seemed like more.

An interesting story about the second CD. I was at Newbury Comics with either Frank or Dan when I purchased the CD, and the only reason I purchased it was because of the nice pink sticker on it. The sticker that said, "Be the first person on your block to throw out this CD". I wanted to be the first but it was so winey and weird I kept it. I am glad to see that they have several more albums.

Wading backward through email

2005-12-01T14:18:00.000-05:00

My Inbox has 375 emails in it. My goal is for it to have less than 100. Will I succeed or will I fail. On a side note, I think that I will send away for some gifts for some of you... just remember, I am a cheapass. Woot.

Wanted Man

2005-11-29T10:31:00.000-05:00

Now I am receiving emails from the FBI and the CIA! What did I do! I visited more than 30 illegal sites?! I didn't know there were illegal sites! I guess I will have to open the list of questions and then answer them.

Ah, spam. Couldn't they pick a different name for each?

Long time no post

2005-11-29T09:31:00.000-05:00

I guess the holy day week end went well. Heidi and I went northwest to almost Canada to see my aunt, cousin, his wife, their kid, my parents, brother, his fiance, my grandparents and my uncle who is not married to my aunt... they are siblings. We did the turkey eating thing and pretty much hung out.

We were back home by Friday night but missed the DDRing and such proclaimed by this guy. I hate driving or sitting in a car for any lengthy amount of time. I was tired. It is too bad though perhaps my sunny personality would have made the night more enjoyable. Ha. Ha. The rest of the weekend basically consisted of me reading book 11 with Harold and Kumar, some eating and some running thrown in.

Last night was hockey night. We got thromped to the toon of 5-0 (actually I did score a goal but the stupid ass ref whistled it dead... after it was in the net). After the game several of us went out for some beers. I returned with some smelly clothes and a severe case of the hiccups. I was up quite late waiting for them to go away. Currently I am tired, drink a coffee and eating a bagel. You?

Provocative Prose

2005-11-22T10:35:00.000-05:00

I have started delving into the fun that is google maps api. It is much more amusing than what I normally do at work... I am not sure why though. I think that the only time I have actually enjoyed myself here is when I am trying out something new or learning something new. For example, I enjoyed the email I wrote yesterday which involved reading through the UPnP ContentDirectory1.0 [pdf] and figuring out what was amiss, but today I did not like writing the email that said, 'Sorry someone working for me fucked up and we need to redo some testing.' I do that too much. I know that being in charge is supposed to give you privileges in addition to the extra responsibilty but I don't see it. All I see is more work with less reward (don't say traveling).

Anyways, in the near future you should look forward to seeing a map of all the exciting and exotic places I have traveled in the last year or so. I also plan to keep going places but I will enjoy it more when I can go with Heidi to where I want, when I want, even if it is on our own dime. Al, when I'm finished I can give you the script and you can make your own dealy, but only if you want. You've been more places than I.

Good is dumb

2005-11-18T08:29:00.000-05:00

Ah, guten morgen meine Herren und Frauen. All I have to say is, what the fuck did you expect?! People are so pompous sometimes.

Stupid FedEx! I called several times last night to get a package returned that I had shipped out a little too soon (well not too soon but someone fucked up). It seems that a package can only be halted if it has been removed from the truck that picked it up and scanned. If it has been scanned, however, it is generally then put on another truck and moved someplace else and once it gets packaged up to go someplace far away it is difficult to stop... apparently. I talked to several people last night and they all were quite nice and helpful with one exception. This guy was rude and I am pretty sure spiteful because the package I tried to halt is now in Japan (and I am really not going to fight customs to get it back). The dick head hung up on me before I was satisfied that I would actually get the package back! Very frustrating in the fact that I could not get the package back and that I needed to get the package back. Sigh.

Stick, stick, stick.

Blurst of Times

2005-11-17T10:43:00.000-05:00

I am sending packages this morning. It is fun near mindless work, though everything seems to be broken this morning (but just for me, joy!). So I am feeling a little bit more relaxed since I got back. I think that being around people you know and just taking it easier is helping. For example, I woke up this morning, then went back to bed for a hour, then went for a run, after which I stretched a little and sat around. Only then did I get up and go to work. Now I am here and things are not looking to bad. There are a couple of things I need to do today, but nothing really urgent. I just need to keep on top of things so everything does not get out of hand. The only annoying thing is I forgot to bring a lunch again, but that is easily remedied.

Not much else to add here but that there is a hockey game tonight, and most likely turkey, football and beer/wine/spirits this Sunday with some friends. And next week it is up north to the hippie state to repeat next Sunday with my family.

Also, Heidi is putting together a froogle list for the upcoming celebration of commercialism. I wish everyone would do this so that I would not have to think about what to get people... blah. People do it for weddings! Why not this!

I apologize in advance

2005-11-14T10:47:00.000-05:00

A comment from the last post was from Chloe. I cannot help but think of anyone whose name is Chloe as a pornstar. I do not think I've ever actually see a porno with a Chloe in it! Maybe it is because I've never actually met one. Hmm... best to ask, "Chloe, are you a pornstar?"

So I am home again. Hopefully, I will be here for a couple of more months at the least. I am bad a this traveling thing. I do not take the time to get flights that don't suck, I am terrible at packing, I can't really sleep on planes, and I am terrible about talking business. The last is especially bad when you are on a business trip because that is the most important thing you can do. Blah.

Now I, who has never been able to keep track of what's going on, will try to come up with a system of keeping track of what is going on. What a terribly good idea. If only I knew how to start.

I really have nothing to say so I will stop writing now.

Guten Morgen

2005-11-11T13:53:00.000-05:00

I awoke this morning tired. I have not slept well in the last couple of nights. So I turned on the TV (which always defaults back to the Hotel channel and sets the volume to fucking loud). On it was our president doing his speaking thing. There are a couple of things that I found interesting. First was his continuous comparison of the 'war on terror' to the 'cold war'... this is probably the one thing in the whole speech I would not argue with him on. Nothing like fighting a concept. Though, I am pretty sure that intimidation and threats is not the best way to get someone to agree with you (I guess that comment can go for Bush and the 'terrorists').

The other thing I noticed is that he would often cough to stop the smirk he'd get when he was applauded. It makes me feel that he is either an egomaniac or lying to me. It makes me feel uncomfortable that someone like that has so much say in what happens around me.

I have a bunch more to say about a bunch more things, but there are things to do, people to see, e&c.

Photo

2005-11-10T15:42:00.000-05:00

I went to a Luau last night. It was cheesie. I just wanted to show off some stuff I have seen now that I found a USB cable.

What you I do!

2005-11-06T15:08:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I promised that I would let everyone know what I have been doing here in Hawaii. I would like to start by saying a couple of things: (1) I lost the USB cable to our camera in Seoul so I will only be able to show you photos when I find someone to borrow a cable from, (2) I have been trying to do as little work as possible, while I started working on that thing described in the last post, all I have to show is a list of tasks. This is not really what I was going for but as soon as I start examining what I am supposed to do I become befuddled. Hmm...

Thursday: Fly from Manchester to Detroit to San Francisco to Honolulu to Lihue. Get to Lihue to late to rent a car and very hungry as none of my flights served food (at least free food) and none of my lay-overs were long enough for me to eat. Checked into my hotel and slept.

Friday: Wake up and help myself to buffet in the hotel. The eggs are not runny so it may just be a good trip. Go to the airport to rent a car and drive up to the north shore. After a wrong turn and a short detour south where I bought coffee I headed north. I tried to stop at all the vistas and stuff but the highlight was definitely Limahuli Garden. I always like to find a nice relaxing place when I travel as it counteracts the fact that travel (at least traveling for work) is not relaxing. In Seoul there was the Changdeokgung Palace, and in Finland it was pretty much anywhere. I picked up a sub and beer on the way back to the hotel, watched hockey and worked on that thing.

Saturday: I ran into Alex, CJ and Cassie at breakfast. I decided not to go with them to the beach but to go hiking in Waimea Canyon. After a long and winding drive the views and the hike were very fulfilling. There is nothing like standing at the top of a 200 foot waterfall. Meet up with everyone for dinner and a few drinks (I had passed out while watching the Hulk when they called). Then retired early.

Sunday: Today I returned my car after a leisurely meal with Dickens, and I am now writing this and reading up on some stuff I should have done before I left NH. Perhaps I will go boogy boarding this afternoon... the future is not clear. Wish me luck.

What we call crap

2005-11-04T03:02:00.000-05:00

I write this for lack of anything better to do and purhaps to better myself. I keep telling people that I have chalk the day I travel up as loss, but I also see it as a time of introspection (and reading). While I have been complaining a lot lately about my situation I have not really taken the time to actually see what part I have played in making myself miserable. I can honestly say that I know that it stems from me despising anything that has to do with work, but how did I get into this situation? Is there anything I can do to remedy the situation outside of a full-scale retreat? I think the answer to the first question has something to do with taking on a new project that I really did not see actually coming to fruition. At first it was a fun side project with little investment and some fun traveling. The problem was I did not properly invest in the project so when we did get the contract, I did not have everything planned out as well as I should have... I had to react. So now I am running around feeling the proverbial chicken sans head (is that really proverb or just a colloquialism? perhaps, colloquial chicken sans head). This is my fault. I accept that. This is a position I will try not to place myself in again. Moving on.

What can I do now? This is a more difficult question. Before, I would come into work and address problems as they came up but now I am shying away like a chicken (I am very good with metaphors today). As I have told Heidi, I am lacking confidence and this has caused me to lack desire to do anything. She has also told me that I should tell my boss(es) that I am unhappy. While this would be the stand up thing to do, I do not like admitting that I feel under prepared and unqualified for what I am doing. This trial by fire shit does not work for me. I almost always fail the first time, then become so embarrassed that I try my hardest to never put myself in a similar situation. I need to have a clear idea of what is expected of me for me to actually succeed at something. I need some structure, some support. Thus I have decided to write down what I expect myself and my employess/co-workers to do for the project. This will help myself and those under me, who most likely feel I am not directing them in any reasonable manner. While this is just a start it will hopefully allow me to move forward in a constructive manner. Maybe then I can actually tell my boss(es) what is bothering me and that I am going to quit as soon as can, and that I will not leave the group in a pile of shit. Attack!

Wow

2005-11-01T17:10:00.000-05:00

This will be a quick post as I am writing it at the end of a meeting. I just want to say that I will be enjoying not being in the office for the next week plus. It is unfortunately I will not be going with anyone but what can you do. Maybe I will be less crazy when I get back.

I will try to update with photos and exciting stories, such as I went for a hike or I drank so coffee... yum. That is all for now.

Cockbag

2005-10-31T09:46:00.000-05:00

In an interesting turn of events I purchased DDR: Mario Remix yesterday. I would give you pictures of Heidi and me making fools of ourselves but I was too busy making fools to go get the camera. It even has a long jump mini-game in it (a la Nintendo Track & Field). My thighs burned. Speaking of burning my next purchase may just have to be a footbag, as bagging feet also makes my thighs burn. We also purchased a new tank for the little shelled creature that lives in our living room.

He seems happier now, though he's a nasty bastard when you get him out of the water... all hissing and biting. Also, if you live in the Dover, NH area the local book repository is having a book sale, but if you are looking for a 1908 (?) copy of Faust too bad, I already bought it. I give it one read before it disintegrates. At least it has a cloth binding so there will be no redrot. It could ruin my white gloves! Poor sod.

In an aside, I can't wait for it to get really cold. I want the water to freeze on the ponds so I can go out skating and, if it snows, snow shoeing. I do not know why I am so excited for winter... it is not something that often comes over me. Perhaps, it is because it is only light during the day so if I want to do anything outside I have to leave work early or not go in. Perhaps, when everything dies or hibernates or whatever it reminds you what is good about life.

A Season in Hell

2005-10-28T12:30:00.000-04:00

While I was at the bookstore last night I picked and read through part of a translation of A Season in Hell by some long dead french jackoff named Rimbaud. I really do not know what to think of the work but I am intrigued to read more (perhaps I should have bought). It seems to be little more than an internal dialog that the auther has with himself, but rarely have a read something so angry. The author seems to hate society for what it has made him, himself for what he is and God for making him feel shame and guilt. The introduction says that he was a proto-bohemian poet (a non-conformer if you will) but he seems to me to be a hateful, egotistical, though intellegent, prick. Interesting.

The work ends with the dates April-August, 1873. This was apparently his season of hell. (I am sure that Dan is contemplating posting a comment about his season of hell). It is possible that this date could simply be when he wrote the piece, but it seems more appealling to think of this as a time when he examined himself and the world, and liked not what he saw. Perhaps, a more pessimistic person would say that life is more than a season, while a more optimistic person would say that he needs to stop focusing on the negative. I would say, ...

Z.Monkey

What would you say...

2005-10-27T10:08:00.000-04:00

...if you went out to a bar and forgot to settle up your tab? Assuming that you go back that is. Last night Heidi suggested that we go out and have some beers and I reluctantly (Haha) agreed. So we went out to Trophy's nee Daniels. As the bar recently changed ownership there was work being done, which made conversation difficult. Why it was being done at 9 O'clock at night when the place is empty during the day? I have no idea. Itt seems like a bad idea to me. Anyways, we watched the B's game mostly in silent (noise) and drank our beers. I enjoyed myself. Then, when the game finished up, we got up and left. I remembered this morning that I did not pay the bill.

I leave for Hawaii in a couple of days. Woot. I have allocated a couple of days for non-work related stuff, hopefully everything works out.

Z.Monkey

Major Tom

2005-10-24T08:55:00.000-04:00

Okay, now that I have made sure there are no fires here at work I will take a little time to write. This last weekend Heidi and I went to her grandmother's brother's grandson's wedding with her grandmother and mother. Not necessarily my first choice for a weekend but I'd do much worse things for my wife and, besides, I put her through enough crap. So we drive down to the Cape, pick up the mothers, eat some sandwichs and head back north to Woburn/Stoneham. I was giving directions and I like to think that I did a pretty good job at it. The only mistake was based on the different titles 'From 93 South' (read north) and 'From 93 North' (read south). I forgot to read the 93 and turned us the wrong way off the offramp. Normal the next direction will bring an error like this to light, here are the next rest of the directions (as remembered by me):

Follow Montvale Ave to its end and then turn right on Main St. Immediately turn left onto Pleasant (this is the first overhead light). The Church is on your left (Center St).

Now it appears that Woburn and Stoneham are mirror images of each other. We were able to follow the directions upto the 'look there's the fuck church' step without suspecting there was an error. Incidently, there was a church on the right. Here is a map (Pleasant St. in Woburn is one way so the directions are a little messed up). By the way the Woburn Public Library has a cool ass building, and in case you cared the wedding was nice.

Yesterday, much to Heidi's chagrin, I played B&W2 and was much amused. I must train my stupid creature to not play with his toy and with the villagers as much. I could probably right for a while longer but there is work to be done.

Z.Monkey

Posting for Evil

2005-10-19T11:35:00.000-04:00

I came in this morning and was forced to listen to this (make sure you can hear it, you may have to use IE). Now I am grateful. What a inconsiderate pig I must be. Anyways, today is third day of my illness. I have composed a poem about my illness (can normal rhyme with normal?):

You make me feel crappy
from dawn until dusk,
You make me take nappies
til I feel full of rust.

You are not so terrible
that I can skip work,
Which is why you are terrible
you miniscule jerk.

I snort and I snuffle,
I cough and I sneeze,
I watch crappy TV
more than I please.

My mind's in a fog
much thicker than normal,
I update this blog
with complaints as normal.

I stilled played hockey
though I was ill,
I must make a mockery
while I skate standing still.

Enough of this shitkit
you've read quite enough,
now buy me a powerball ticket
so I can be sick at home.

I sometimes am in awe of my greatness. By the way coffee with cream is very soothing on sore throats (or at least my sore throat). I would drink coffee all day if I did not know what too much caffeine did to a person. Ah, stupid, stupid No-Doz. Also, I finally found the image I put in my English 501 paper on procrastination, which I wrote cranked up on coffee and cigarettes.

Z.Monkey

Undeadly

2005-10-17T09:25:00.000-04:00

So I finally uploaded pictures from my/our recent trips (Finland, San Diego, Cape Cod). Below are wonderful advertisements I saw in Finland and San Diego. Awesome.

I am feeling under the weather but I am trying to recover as we have a hockey game tonight. Maybe I should have stayed home today so I'd feel better tonight. Haha. I am one dedicated fellow.

Jeff, Heidi, Jared and I went to see Wallace and Gromit last weekend at Smitty's Cinema. This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience as we were able to drink beer and eat whole meals of food! Plus the movie had the most amusing use of the word loam I have ever seen in a movie. It was also the first time I have seen a short film at the movies since Roger Rabbit. Ramble, ramble, ramble...

Z.Monkey

P.S. Who shits with a skateboard?

Bedlam

2005-10-13T09:42:00.000-04:00

There is another thing that I remember from the interview with Vonnegut on the P to the B to the S (Stupid Bush and by Bush I mean anyone who would cut funding for PBS). It was a comment by Vonnegut that people were meant to 'fart around'. While I may not like the wording (haha... I do like it!) I do like the idea, we should take our time doing things. We should get distracted by stuff that interests us. While there needs to be a balance with Getting Shit Done (GSD), being distracted and reading up on something a little outside the scope of work, homework, e&c. can be helpful, or at least sane-itizing. Hmm... I think I have been complaining enough, I am trying to look at things differently (Per request from the Heidi).

Anyone up for watching some hockey tonight? I am. I am also up for playing some... I am hoping that the water that flows near my apartment freezes. Anyone have any reading suggestions? A Tale of Two Cities, while more interesting than the opening sentence would suggest, is not really holding my interest.

Z.Monkey

Images of...

2005-10-10T16:02:00.000-04:00

Here... look at these:

Joe Ledbetter

Sebastian Spreng

Bob Dob

Depressive Cant

2005-10-10T11:12:00.000-04:00

I feel that I should write something today, but what? Last night as I was flipping between football games (52 - 3?! Stupid Green Bay) I came across an interview with Kurt Vonnegut.

Pop Quiz: What TV station was the interview on? Fox, PBS, History Channel, A&E or Discovery.

The interview only seemed to reinforce my view of the man as a pessimist with a negative view of humanity, though with a bizarre love for people. One thing I did not know is that he is a self proclaimed Luddite mainly because technology is fucking with the way we live. It keeps us isolated from one another... ex: my name is not Z.Monkey. I can stand on my soap box without worrying about anyone knowing who I am. This weblog does not come up when you do a search for my name (this is not necessarily a bad thing as a future employer could then find this and not hire me because of views I express here). It does, however, cut down on my chances of actually meeting new people (the obvious exception being spammers). It is also a one way discussion, mostly. Wouldn't it be better if my friend's and family were all able to post? It could become a community of ideas and not just me spewing trash. Sigh. With everyone moving around and shit it is difficult to form many solid relationships.

Last week we did a power hour and Maletas decided to call up our friend in Georgia. It was good talk to him, and reminded me of all the good times we had together. It also made me realize how bad I am at actually keeping in touch with people... maybe its because I have nothing to say or because I am too self-absorbed.

By the way, this shirt is very amusing.

Z.Monkey

Stop pushing

2005-10-06T16:17:00.000-04:00

adopt your own virtual pet!

Thanks Bino. Now I can abuse virtual animals.

ID

2005-10-05T12:50:00.000-04:00

Had to add this in case someone did not read the Onion.

I especially like the final bullet.

Z.Monkey

I need a release!

2005-10-05T12:05:00.000-04:00

So I have a paper due next Thursday for my class. I have not started it nor have I done any research for it. The topic is Outsourcing. No idea. My team also has a Mid-Term project due next Tuesday. On what? I have no idea. This class is a flaming pile of shit. I does not matter that I do not pay any attention... no one else has any idea what is going on. As a group member of mine said, "What amazes me about this 'professor' is that he never actually says anything." You know what? I think that is the skill we are supposed to take from this class. Bullshit.

As far as work is concerned, I am very unproductive today. I just cannot bring myself to care. I should be writing code, working on our website, doing the finances for two groups, e&c. but I just cannot really bring myself to do it. Sigh. I think I will bail early today, eat some delicious Heidi food, and watch the Hockey and the Baseball. Sigh.

Z.Monkey

Cup of Joe

2005-10-04T09:07:00.000-04:00

[From Friday September 30th - Somewhere over the Atlantic]

It was interesting being in Frankfurt even if I only spent 1 and 1 half hours in the airport. I would have liked finding some Henninger beer as I am personally interested in seeing if it sucks. Anyways, while in the Airport I noticed that I was actually able to understand a fair amount of German, not that I stopped and had a conversation with anyone...

Okay, the plan is get to NH without missing my flight this time [HA! Fuck you Newark Airport]. Get a large DD regular coffee and drive home. Jesus writing on paper takes a long time... this thing is barely ledgible.

So, my last night in Finland was fun in a sad sort of way. It seems that the frustrations that have been just under the surface all week boiled over. The Thursday meeting got out early and I went to downtown Helsinki with Lindsey and Julie. Yes, these were the only women at the meeting and they were also the only people even remotely near my age. I do not mind older people but I get sick of having reference explained to me... the only thing I have in common with many of them is work and travel so all conversations end up being about work and frequent flyer miles. We next met some people for dinner. I ended up having 'Dog Food'... sausage and bacon hash with a fried egg on top all served in a metal bowl. I was informed by Julie that her dog ate from a similar bowl.

The last stop of the night was the ice bar; a walk in freezer with a bar and tables made of ice... they only served tropical vodka drinks. Only two of us (Iwahara-san and myself) decided to go in: it was cold, it was stupid, it was fun. After being chilled we sat around complaining about other people, had a few more drinks and listened to show tunes. I think this was the sad part. Sitting around drinking and making fun of people who were not there. Think about it.

Z.Monkey

Guess what I am doing

2005-09-28T18:07:00.000-04:00

See previous post.

I talked to Heidi (which was nice) but I was still antsy, so I went for a walk. I got lost in the local technical college, found a landmark and headed back to the hotel. When I walked in I noticed on the guys from meeting at the hotel bar and, as I also wanted a drank, I sat down next to him and ordered a drink. We talked about work, Japan, meetings, being recently married, alcohol (Japanese, Finnish), school, friends. It was a good conversation even if I was a dick and didn't even know enough of his language to even say hello to him. It made me think of languages and how... odd they are. This is a thought I have a lot that makes me feel uncomfortably stupid. I will avoid it now.

Anyways, we closed the hotel bar together (after sampling some liquor similar to Jagermeister but gross), then I headed up to my room. There is nothing to do here! I do not the concentration to read and the TV is incomprehensible to me! So I write this. Good night.

Z.Monkey

"To the as-yet-unborn, to all innocent wisps of undifferentiated nothingness: Watch out for life." - Vonnegut, Deadeye Dick.

Late night weblogging

2005-09-28T10:42:00.000-04:00

Weblog... blog. What crappy works. Anyways, I was up til around 4 am last night. I should have tried to get internet of our own sooner (I was supposed to talk to Heidi last night using a little program called Skype but our internet at home moved out). I waited around til around 3 to see if she would be able to call but no dice... I wasn't really tired. While I sat around I messed around with the tabs to the right.

Not too exciting but it is something I've been meaning to mess with for a while now. I will probably be up late again tonight, going to sleep early is difficult as I am seven hours ahead. Falling asleep in meetings though...

Z.Monkey

What is your Passion?

2005-09-27T15:27:00.000-04:00

Answer: The Usual. Oy! Nokia House is very nice! Do not be confused by the its name it is actually a six building complex which has two cafeterias, two parking garages (one for bikes, one for cars) and god knows what else. The building is a new and it is designed in the modern style; lots of wood, metal and glass. And, even though, I do not often like modern it is nice.

My description of Finland as similar to NH seems to be appropriate, as three or four people have already made comments in that regard. I've eaten smoked Roudolph but, as of yet, I have not been able to do any site seeing, and as I leave at 8:10 am on Friday I do not know how much I will be able to do.

I really do not like this getting email only after I get 'home' from work. Email is something that you should do during the day unless you have pressing concerns. In case you are wondering I am 10 hours ahead and I do not have email at the meeting. So I get a bunch as soon as I get back to the hotel. Blah.

Z.Monkey

P.S. This was written over two days with no editing so please excuse any mistakes.

Anarchy in the FL?

2005-09-25T15:25:00.000-04:00

I feel like writing something but I do not really feel like writing. Hmm... I think that is my way of saying plagiarism is fantastic! Ha! As you can see I borrow the title for someone who borrowed it from someone... something, something. What?! Anyways, I am not actually in Florida. I am in Finland, you know, where Huck Finn was born. It is odd here. It seems a lot like NH if you are listening to 'Oh, Canada'. I went for a walk earlier today. It was refreshing... it is Autumn here. 'O, Canada. Our home and native land...'

Interesting things I've seen, heard, done, had done to me, e&c:

Apparently Brits start drinking when they wake up.
When our plane landed in Manchester (England) it bounce what felt like 5 feet into the air. I surmise that the pilot was trying to wake everyone up.
I heard, "Someone tell these Spanish how to use camera's on the back of motorcycles" from the TV which is showing the cycling world championship.
The one Swedish channel on the TV shows nothing but Hockey, as far as I can tell.
The towel rack is heated. How do I know (besides the nice warm towels?)? I put my hand on it every time I pee. I cannot help it; it is at the perfect height.
There is no alarm clock in my room. The phone in my room does not work (so wake up call). Why did I leave Eric's portable alarm clock in Seoul?!

I am going to sleep. When I wake, I will shower again. Traveling makes me feel dirty.

Z.Monkey

Eat your Fiber!

2005-09-22T10:23:00.000-04:00

I have been regular lately.

There are two things that I wanted to write about today, and neither of them are me complaining. First off, Heidi and I watched Life Aquatic last night. It was an excellent movie and I especially liked two things (where's my fucking Ark?), the Bowie remakes played throughout the movie, and the ridiculousness of the action scenes. A good example of this is when Steve flips out and starts shooting at the Pirates who have taken over his boat. Bullets everywhere but the only two people are hurt: the intern, and the pirate who matchets him. This helps to emphasize the importance of the dialog while giving the view an amusing side show. Well done.

Second off, I am almost done reading Hocus Pocus and I am continuously surprised about how viciously the wealthy are describe in it. In the world of Eugene Debs Hartke the rich have sold all the property to foreign companies, then bought stock in those companies. This allows the wealthy to stay rich without having to be responsible for anything. The rich are a different species, they are no longer American, they do not care about Americans, they are detached. An example of this in the real world could be the growing number of gated communities (the idea behind these is to lock undesirables out so you no longer have to see them... for safety's sake). Anyways, I have to write a paper on outsourcing for my class and I think I might make a juxtaposition between how Sony runs the Athena prison in Hocus Pocus and how American multinational companies run their businesses in other countries. At the very least I may make a reference, just to sound intellegent.

Z.Monkey

Ringed with Fire

2005-09-21T13:26:00.000-04:00

I am currently sitting here. Wondering what I need to do. Wondering what I can do. I need to get shit done but I am handicapped by other people, people I cannot yell at, people who I cannot plead with, people who are 'too busy'. Yesterday in class (Organziational Behavior, blah) we talked about the four types of people, called Dominator-a-tron, Bullshit-a-tron, Passivator-a-tron, and Analretainer-a-tron. These are the names! I am not bullshitting you! Anyway, I think that I have been dealing with only dominator-a-trons (with an occasional passivator-a-tron) lately. These people go around yelling, "Get Shit Done! Get Shit Done!" Even when you ask, "What shit?! How does one do Shit? When does shit need to get done? e&c." Sigh.

Also, it turns out that I am going to Finland next week. This is something I knew, but as stuff keeps getting pushed back (Can you keep a deadline?! Because I know some people who can't!) it so happens that I will have a lot of work to do here next week. Which means that I have to make sure that other people have the knowledge I have, or at least think I have, but people I need to lean on do not seem interested in learn/practicing/e&c. Sigh.

Does anyone actually enjoy what they do? If so let me know and let me know why? Are you a Dominator-a-tron, a Bullshit-a-tron, a Passivator-a-tron, or a Analretainer-a-tron? I am apparently a Bullshit-a-tron with passive tendancies. What does that mean? Do I need to measure my skull size?

I can't wait for hockey to start so I can release some tension... I do not handle tension well.

Z.Monkey

Letter Block

2005-09-20T07:56:00.000-04:00

AHPUNCTUATIONITISACOMPANIONTHATHELPTOLIGHTTHEWAYWHENTHINGSLOOKDIFFI
CULTHEREISWHATHAPPENSIFYOUDONOTUSEPUNCTUATIONANDYESTHESPACEISAFORMO
FPUNCTUATIONANYWAYSHEIDIASKEDMEWHATTYPEOFWORKWOULDMAKEMEHAPPYLASTNI
GHTANDMYHONESTANSWERWASIHAVENOIDEAITHOUGHTABOUTTHATALITTLEBITLASTNI
GHTANDINASLIGHTLYPESSIMISTICMOODIREALIZEDTHATIWOULDLIKETODOSOMETHIN
GTHATISNOTUSEFULSOMETHINGTHATDOESNOTRESULTINTHEBETTERMENTOFMANKINDO
RANYTHINGGRANDIOUSKEEPINMINDTHATIDONOTWANTTODOANYTHINGDESTRUCTIVEOR
HURTFULTOEITHERPEOPLEORTHEENVIRONMENTJUSTSOMETHINGUSELESSOFCOURSEID
ONOTHAVEACLEARIDEAWHATTYPEOFUSELESSTHINGIMIGHTWANTTODOWHATCANIDOWOR
KONADICTIONARYWRITEABOOKDESIGNBATHROOMWALLHANGINGSPROOFREADSTUFFTHA
TWILLNEVERBEPUBLISHEDISANYOFTHATACTUALLYUSELESSMAYBEITISHELPFULTOSO
MEONESIGHIAMMOSTLIKELYJUSTBEINGGLOOMYPERHAPSTHISISJUSTARESPONSETOWH
ATIAMCURRENTLYDOINGATWORKWELLWEWILLSEEHOWTODAYTURNSOUTANDTHENTOMORR
OWANDTHENTHENEXTDAYZMONKEYPSIAMNOTUSINGIETODAYHURRAH

1876

2005-09-19T09:41:00.000-04:00

As I sit here right now, I wonder. I wonder what it is I have written in this pile. Is it anything worth while? Hmm...

This is my centennial post. I marks a turning point in my country. From this point forward we (I) will no longer look to simply survive but to spread our (my) righteous way of life to all corners of the planet. It is time for a new Monroe Doctorine. It is inappropriate for you to reprimand us (me) for what you see as exploitation and destruction of others. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS! It is your business you say? Because we (I) am exploiting you? That is what the destruction is for, to shut your ass up!

Sigh. I know not where that came from. I will attempt to keep my crazy outburst to myself... but then they would only be crazy internal dialogs. No, that's not right!

Z.Monkey

Bacchanalia

2005-09-18T10:58:00.000-04:00

I am attempt to put up a quick post just to keep everyone entertained... eventhough the dearth of comments leads me to believe that no one is reading this. Anyways, I here at work eventhough it is Sunday (much to Heidi's annoyance) for one reason. If I did not make some showing here today I would be freaking out Monday morning. I do not know why, but now that I have been here and done a little bit of work I feel better. I feel as if everything will not come unglued tomorrow. I know this is probably a false hope but if one feels positive, everything at least seems better. Now, as I just crashed Ethereal, I think that I will call it a day. I went through one device and worked on the testing notes.

Time to watch some football, perhaps play some Mario Baseball and read some Vonnegut.

Z.Monkey

P.S. IE still sucks.

Poop Collection

2005-09-15T08:58:00.000-04:00

I, for some reason, wanted to see if the image I sent to Engrish.com was ever posted. It is not but this was the post of the day:

I do not know why a collection of poop struck me (haha) as both funny and poignant. I guess I know why it is funny but poignant? Perhaps it is a metaphor for life, as people are, for lack of a more amusing term, poop collectors. We spend most of our lives collection stuff: business cards, TVs, books (woooh), kitchen appliances, memories, friends, music, e&c. Most of this we never really use to its fullest extent. Hmm...

Tonight I will go to a class with one of the most unorganized, sporadic professors I have ever had. At first I thought that it would be a waste of time but I think if I sit back and just watch it just might be an enjoyable show. It will be another piece of poop to stick with a whole bunch of other unrelated poop. It sometimes seems like the poop inside my head is not coagulating into anything... I think it should turn into something! At the very least a giant poop monster.

Sigh, I think this is something a lot of people feel. Things just do not seem to come together in any coherent way. One does not know where one is going and one barely knows where one has been. (That kind of sounds like something from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead) That is all I have for now, to work!

Z.Monkey

P.S. I would like to note that I am once again using IE for this post and it is bothering me.

Fucking Gaylord

2005-09-14T09:02:00.000-04:00

That is what you are UNH.

Yesterday I went to my (free) class and I needed to use my laptop to do some work on a presentation... apparently the person in my group who put together the presentation did not think spell checking was necessary. Anyway, UNH requires that everyone log there computer when they initially log on. But they are stupid. Now everytime I try to come to this weblog using Firefox I am required to logon. !&%&((@#+*%!! or Fucking Gaylord! This is annoying because I normally use Firefox because I hate the fonts in IE.

My life is pain?

With Shamelessly Disregard

2005-09-12T08:19:00.000-04:00

I would like to let everyone know that I have written many things for this weblog since my last post. I have simply never completed one. There is something difficult about being stopped in the middle of an idea and trying to pick it up half a day later.

So... Saturday, after doing some homework for a class I am taking, Heidi, Jeff and I went to my parents house for dinner. My parents recently got back from Hawaii and wanted to show us some pictures they took. For those who do not know, some equals ~500. While I was a little overwhelm by the shear volume of pictures (most of which were of volcanoes) there were some pretty cool shots. I would post some but I did not bring the photo CD with me to work.*

Some after departing we made our way to a bar in ManchVegas to see some friends of ours and a band. The tenor sax player was wearing some tight fitting jeans, just for the ladies. Anyway, the band played some blues (and not martini bar blues either) and some people danced to it (Including what looked like a pair of wife-swapping couples who danced terribly. It was so bad that I felt self-conscious when my wife asked/forced me to the dance). If you followed the bar link above you will have noted that the Strangebrew is a 'Beer Specialist'. Would a Beer Specialist run out of the Beer Special! Well they ran out of $2 Harpoon Octoberfest! I was forced to drink $2 Guinness instead! All in all a good night.

Yesterday was nice and lazy. I did nothing but play some Mario and watch TV (football and crap). It was nice. I cannot remember the last time I was able to be that lazy. Now I have to shake the desire to do nothing and start working. Booyah!

Z.Monkey

P.S. I did not proof read what I just wrote. I wonder how many examples of bad grammar you can find. My posts are like 'Where's Waldo' for English teachers... yes I am calling Waldo a mistake. I know his parents!

*Yes I am writing this at work. I will work my 8 hours, never you fear.

Colloquialism

2005-09-06T23:45:00.000-04:00

Hello. It has been a while.

I have noticed lately that I have started using cliches, banalities, colloquialisms or balderdashes more often. In the past I always thought of these phrases as unoriginal, but recently I have started to realize that they are simply a way of making a complex idea understood using relatively few words. For example, I keep hearing the following phrase, "Do more with less!" (I am pretty sure that the exclamation point is always included in this phrase.) This is not a phrase that I will be using in the near future for the following reason. It is not true. What this phrase actually means is that you need to do more work but that you will not get paid for it. Basically, you are (here comes a very derogatory cliche) being Jewed.

Aside: Being 'Jewed'... this phrase kind of amuses me, mostly because of what I imagine is its origin. I imagine that it comes from the middle ages when Jews lived in Catholic communities. These communities saw that the Jewish communities were not tithing (tithing supported many social programs: burial of dead, housing of orphans, keeping town records, e&c.) and assumed that they hoarding money. This was not helped by the Catholic rule against collecting interest, which the Jewish community took advantage of by becoming moneylenders. Here seems like a good time to make a token reference to Shylock... :p

Anyways, my point is Jebus was the name of Jerusalem prior to the invasion of the Jews so "Help me Jebus!" makes no sense. Also, the following are things I have been saying lately:

I can't remember any... Fuck off.

Z.Monkey

I Condone the Use of Pictures

2005-08-24T13:55:00.000-04:00

I will attempt to write something more substantial as my last couple post have been appalling. It looks like I will be going to Finland at the end of next month (26th to 29th of September)... I wonder if it would be easier/faster to fly out of Boston.

Anyway, more to the point. I just finished a book on the Great War, the War to End all Wars, or, as it is known today, World War I. The more times I read up on stuff like this the more I realize that nothing ever really changes. When there is a War or, in our case, an armed occupation of a country, there needs to be a compelling reason to fight. For WWII there was the attack by the Japanese and for the Civil War there was the South being stupid, i.e. A physical threat to the civilian population or the economy. I still do not know the reason for entering Vietnam or Iraq and I think that WWI also falls into this same 'What the fuck are we doing' category. There was no direct threat to the US population (thanks to the Atlantic Ocean), there was no direct threat to the Economy (we were making Billions financing the War), and the Bolsheviks were in Russian and did not come to power until after the US got involved.

To make the country ready and willing for war a huge propaganda program was created. This program played sections of the population against each other (Old Americans vs. Immigrants, Immigrants vs. Blacks) and gave everyone something to hate. End the end Wilson forced us into WWI to bring about his idealized future with Democracy for everyone and league of nations... he failed. This seems very similar to what is going on today. We have all given something to hate and something to fear, but what are we really fighting for? Is it something like Wilson's childish fantasy or something more grotesque?

The world may never know.

Objective Content

2005-08-23T11:45:00.000-04:00

A new feature has appeared!

But what does it do?

Ah... but what does this mean? The answer points to this link, entitled The Wisdom of the Crowds. A strange title considering that another term for 'The Crowds' is 'The Mob', which has not wisdom. No link because I am lazy. Hmm...

There is no real point to this post because I really do not want to spend the time and effort putting my thoughts into written proses. I probably should take some time a do a long post about last week and about the coming weeks, but we will see.

Z.Monkey

Email This

2005-08-22T08:20:00.000-04:00

As I sit here and wait for my email to download I thought that I would make a quick post. It was nice to not be at work for a little while, but now shit must be done. Sigh, I wonder how off track things are here at work. One of the guys here said that he would setup or have setup my new work area by today... it is not setup but I now have 6 new keyboards. Woooo...

Z.Monkey

Fuck Ya!

2005-08-12T08:16:00.000-04:00

This will be my final post before my vacation. I am mildly worried that I will want to leave work so much that I will forget to do stuff that needs to be done (i.e. change the message on my phone, make sure there are people to handle stuff for me while I am away, e&c.). No, I take that back... I think that everything will be fine. I know a lot of people think that nothing gets done if they do not do it themselves... and these people are mostly correct. The one thing that they are missing is most people are too busy to notice that it did not get done. There are a few exception, of course, and I am currently in one of those, but everything will be fine.

Anyways, I will have no Internet access next week, which is wonderful because it will force me to stop checking email (if anyone ever tries to buy me a blackberry I will kick them in the junk). Anyways, I am sure that I will see many of you there. Have a wonderful week... Mwah Haha!

Z.Monkey

How Much Longer?!

2005-08-11T11:39:00.000-04:00

There are only a couple of more days til we head down to the Cape of Cod. Some scenes from last year.

I do not really have much to say, other than I am having a difficult time concentrating here at work. I need to do stuff but my mind seems to have already stepped out.

Z.Monkey

Will Eat Lunch For Food

2005-08-09T12:35:00.000-04:00

So it is lunch time and I am eating my chicken salad wrap and write to you all. I really do not know what I will write so this could, but most likely will not, be interesting. Lets see my agenda today goes something like this:

7:00am Run/try-to-kill-myself-with-this-ungodly-weather (I thought it'd be cool out a 7am!)
8:00am Shower
9:00am Work
9:30am Interview #1
11:00am Interview #2
12:00pm Lunch/Write this thing
1:00pm Finance Stuff for GEC/POE
2:00pm Continue Redo of Labview Code/Emails
4:00pm Interview #3
5:00pm Home/Dinner/Reading/e&c.
11:00pm CTS Call (maybe... I can't stand these late night calls)
12:00pm Sleep

I would now like to say that Egg Salad is much better than Chicken Salad. There are a couple of things that I would like to complain about but I will refrain, instead I leave you with this.

Z.Monkey

President Makes It Clear: Phrase Is 'War on Terror'

2005-08-04T12:30:00.000-04:00

Thank you Mr. President.

Bush Remarks On 'Intelligent Design' Theory Fuel Debate

Thanks again Mr. President.

Post the Chicken

2005-08-03T21:38:00.000-04:00

In a shocking bit of originality Microsoft has put a new webpage. You can make this your homepage and personalize it with lots of stuff... but it kind of sounds familiar.

Just a funny aside. Anyways, I feel like I have not been posting much lately. I do not have a really good excuse like moving across the globe and then losing my computer. I have just been busy with work and other stuff (hockey, softball, hiking, drinking, GW, wifing[?]) that is not porn. Of course, this is in contrast to Heidi who seems to have bad luck with getting jobs, at least ones that she actually wants. Not that she does not keep herself busy but I can only imagine how frustrating it is not be floating in lim bo. I also think that going on vacation when you are not working would also be less than satisfying. Hmm...

Currently I am working harder than I have since I was in college, but when I was in college I could see breaks in the future (end of semester, graduation, e&c). Now I cannot really see any end. I see major accomplishments but the work does not stop. I see vacations but the work will still be there when I get back. I see weekends but they are never long enough and there is always stuff to do. Some guy put up this link up on another page and I can really see how just disappearing could be the way to go. Drop everything and completely start over. Hmm...

Good Night Moon.

All Quiet on the Eastern Coast

2005-07-28T10:10:00.000-04:00

It seems that everyone is currently busy. I think that the amount of webloggering being done by people I know has decreased significantly. I will now surmise why.

That Guy: He has been sucked into a world without light, without hope and without the deliciousness that is the B. His life is now an attempt to maintain his identity while having all of his creative energies drained by an unmerciful employer. He is alone. He is afraid. He does not realize that writing about shit he may or may not have done is a way to escape.
BastardFace: Something about traveling far far away, to someplace that does not have the internet or even electricity.
Maletas: I think that he is actually play guidewars right this moment. If he does take time out from his fantasy life and happens to read this, he should give me a linen because I still haven't found one.
Me: Unfortunately, I would say that my problem has been work. I have been working a lot this week and last. I think that I will be taking things a little bit easier next week... maybe actually go home before 7!

Also, it is summer and a lot of us are outside flogging, playing softball and other such things. There is little reason to sit in front of a computer right now.

Z.Monkey

In celebration of my 85th post!

2005-07-24T20:24:00.000-04:00

Apparently I write a lot of crap. Before I start complaining I would like to point out that someone you most likely know has started writing crap. I can only assume that it (read 'the crap that he will write') will be as asinine as he (read 'the crappy writer') is. If you can want an example of crappy writing here you go.

Alright, so it seems that I have a lot of work to do in the next couple of days. There is the plugfest that I am looking forward to as much as getting kicked in the mouth, the document that Al passed on to me before he left (to which shit keeps getting added everytime I think its done), documents to review, employees to acquire and train, equipment to buy, a budget to write (with little information), two conference calls to sit in on (11pm and 9pm), figure out the work load we will be able to handle, e&c, e&c. The worst thing is that much of this stuff 'needs' to get done this week!

Oh, and this week will probably only be 4 days long as it is Heidi's birthday on Friday and she, Jared and I are going hiking next weekend. I really wish I had Al's willingness to work long hours and never go home... wait, that's not right. Speaking of Al, we should all send our outrage to him about his most recent post.

Z.Monkey

P.S. In case you were wondering about the British royal family check out their website.
P.P.S. San Diego was fun but Hilton Hotels are crappy... they do not include anything (no breakfast, no gym, no parking...)

Not Writing

2005-07-19T20:41:00.000-04:00

I am not writing much this week. Partly because I am getting dumped with work and partly because I am not spending my nights alone in a hotel room with nothing to do put write posts. Instead my wife and I have been drinking beer and reading Harry Potter #6.

I apologize to that Bastard Turk for not being in NH and, therefore, not being able to give him a proper send off. If I am reading my notes correctly, and I like to believe I am, then I may be going to Tokyo or Osaka next February. Perhaps, I will be able to bother him there instead. We shall see.

Feel free to harass.

Z.Monkey

Writing for writing's sake

2005-07-11T10:24:00.000-04:00

I have not written anything in a while so I shall. I guess I have not had anyone mock me in a while (with the possible exception of Mrs. Mucus and Captain Caveman).

This Friday the wife and I leave to spend a week in San Diego. I have meetings four days of the trip but I will be spending three days and several nights living it up. Possible excursions include: the Zoo, Sea World (across the street from the hotel!), the beach and possibly a bar or two. If you have any suggestions on place to go let me know.

After I get back from San Diego I have to plan a plugfest, which starts Monday. Goodbye weekend. After plugfest it looks like it will be backpacking time! A perfect response to sitting on my ass for a week.

Z.Monkey

P.S. I really wish they had internet on the plane, because then I could play GW! I image the lag would be terrible.

You and your grammar

2005-07-05T08:25:00.000-04:00

This weekend was relaxing. I went kayaking, played Guild Wars, played disc golf and went out to the Brickhouse after a delicious BBQ. It is beddar with cheddar. I did not really want to come back to work today, but here I am! Sigh. I really do not think I have anything new or exciting to add here today but I will make sure to update if something does come up.

Zipy The Monkey[DTM]

[update]

http://www.mousebreaker.com/games/mmeoww/

Flying spaghetti Monster

2005-07-01T13:00:00.000-04:00

You may recall me complaining about this. Well I was shown another example of Intelligent Design. As my wife says, "Thinking about insignificant you are really allows you to put things in perspective."* If something put you here with some design, then that something is to blame for all your faults, or, you are only answerable to that something. Option one allows you to not take responsibility for your actions and option two allows you to do some fucked up things in the name of something (i.e. the end justifying the means). Go weekend! Woooo.

Z.Monkey

*This is not a direct quotation and it may not represent the views of my wife. Also my wife does not have a total perspective vortex.

Long weekend ahead!

2005-07-01T09:50:00.000-04:00

So we have a long weekend coming up and the weather is supposed to be nice. I guess this means that we will be doing lots of stuff. Right now I kind of just want to hang out at home, perhaps pick up Guild Wars, perhaps read, perhaps have a few drinks. But I know that there will be hiking, BBQing, flogging and the like. Perhaps, I will feel more energized tomorrow.

Also, I think my brain may already have gone on vacation. I am currently sitting here trying not to get any work done. I know that everyone here will be taking off as soon as they can... probably right after lunch. Blah.

Losing my mind!

2005-06-27T09:08:00.000-04:00

This is something that I ran across this morning on /. The topic is something that we went over ad naseum while I was at school to fulfill my ultimate dream. It is probably something that will more most everyone I know.

It seems that our civilization is creating more and more digital documents but not actually thinking of ways to store them. Now so many documents will be lost! Woo are we! I do not really think that losing these documents is the biggest issue. It seems to me that not being able to get access to the documents right now is worse (Government secrets are bad. How will I know who to vote for if all relevant data are hidden?). What good is keeping something if no one can use it? If these institutions focus on giving access to the documents and use system redundancy I think the major issue of storing the information in an archival manner can wait. My humble opinion.

Anyways, on a completely different note, tonight should be fun as I will probably be playing two hockey games. Also, Mr. Wilson will be filling in for me at softball this afternoon.

Z.Monkey

2005-06-23T10:51:00.000-04:00

Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem

2005-06-23T09:31:00.000-04:00

Ah, Wikipedia! I think that this post is really just an expansion of the last post. In my readings yesterday I was somehow directed to Occam's Razor. This has basically become the idea that the simplest theory is usually the best; assuming that it takes all evidence into account.

I think this is the theory that I, unknowingly, used when I was a kid. Back then I was often brought to Church and I was probably as strong a believer as a little kid can be (This brings to mind the Anabaptist argument that a child cannot be a believer). Anyways, I was a avid reader and, like many children, I loved dinosaurs. This is where I got in trouble; the stuff I was learning in Church did not make room for dinosaurs (many of whose remains I had personally seen). So, I took it upon myself to see if I could figure it out. I asked my mom and others whether it was possible for the 6 days of creation to actually be billions of years. I was flatly told "No". There was no discussion, there was no explanation. This forced me to actually look at the creation myth, which I will admit is a fascinating story, and decide that it did not take everything into account and must be wrong. Of course, once you stop believing that a god did not create you, you have a hard time following any of the rituals.

I think my argument here is that creationism becomes ridiculously complex if it tries to take everything into account (i.e. God hide the dinosaur bones in the earth), therefore it is probably not correct. I do not know why this is bothering me so much lately. I think religious people just frustrate me.

Z.Monkey

P.S. 'Entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity'

Incompetence

2005-06-22T15:05:00.000-04:00

I just finished reading this article in the New York Times. I really find it difficult to believe that people have such a hard time reconciling religion and science. I personally think that a god that created species based on evolution, or something similar, would be much more impressive than a caretaker god (one that makes something but has to keep fiddling because it didn't get it right in the first place). It just seems like they are unwilling to accept anything new, which is why I stopped going to church, stopped believing in god, stopped have faith (in god or man) and started feeling better about myself. Just be a good person and stop worrying about specifics.

[Name calling time] Pigheaded nutjobs!

If evolution is not taught in school then a whole bunch of people will be deficient (sort of like I am with grammar as I was taught none until I got to College).

Some interesting resources: http://nationalacademies.org/evolution/, http://www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=NEWS_letter_president_03042005_BA_evolution, http://skepdic.com/intelligentdesign.html

Z.Monkey

P.S. Delicious flood of death sweeps through Manhattan.
P.P.S. Actually, after thinking a bit it seems that I could not reconcile the two. I guess I am upset that people are willing to work so hard to disregard something... isnt it easier to go with the thing that makes more sense?

Will Post for Food

2005-06-20T14:30:00.000-04:00

I will be posting again soon with something substantial, but right now I am catching up with work and tonight I am playing softball. You will have to wait for the violent Canadian story, more photos, videos and me complaining about missing my flight.

Yatta!

Ich bin der Angst

2005-06-16T13:42:00.000-04:00

Nothing like nearly getting into a fight with some drunkin' Canadians to livin' up you night! If you live in Korea with your brother and your brother is a spaz, do not let him freak out and start a fight!

More tomorrow... I need to drink some sweat and get some sleep. Er.. argh!

Hizzah to three hours of sleep!

Fuck off!

Is it cold in here?

2005-06-14T22:51:00.000-04:00

One of the women here has this. An idea of the specs can be found in english here. Why are all the laptops in the US so farqing big? Why can't I buy one of those from Dell? This is the kind of laptop that I really want. Something I can carry with me everywhere! Too bad the battery life is only 2.5 hours.

Merry X-Mas? No nevermind. I believe that this will be a hippie christmas (not cheap mind you). We will be making presents or buying presents that are made locally and with respect to our environment. At least I think this is the plan...

Not much new

2005-06-14T00:03:00.000-04:00

Everything is starting to wind down now. Things are no longer new and adventurous. I am here for three more nights but I am ready go home now. So, I've been told that after a long rain you can actually see the ocean, which is 25km away (this happens once or twice a year)! I still have not purchased batteries so no new pictures. I cannot put two sentences together.

Besides meetings and working in the hotel room I went to see Star Wars. The theater was really nice even if it was owned by Loews; it also had DTS.

Tonight I get to go out to dinner with everyone here and then I think it will be the gym, a little work and sleep.

Z.Monkey

P.S. If you feel like buying me something...

Tired Dogs

2005-06-12T08:57:00.000-04:00

My feet hurt. Too much walking I think, especially after sitting on my ass for 7 days straight. I have a bunch of noteworthy photos to share but I had lost my USB cable, which I found, but then the batteries in the camera died. Also the backup batteries I brought are also dead... fuck. WTF by the way. I just got every email on my mailserver sent to my inbox... again. I do not need to read those 4000+ emails again. Fuck!

Crush kill destroy.

Random link: http://einstein2005.co.kr/ (remember to babelfish it)

If I get really bored this week I may learn the dance from the yogurting video, though I do not think it is physically possible to do. Also, I miss my wife... if you see her tell her I say hello!

Last Two Days

2005-06-11T19:02:00.000-04:00

Friday went over smoothly, with actual work only rearing its head once. After the event a bunch of us went in search of dinner and found it at The Outback. After dinner it we wandered around the wrong part of town looking for a place to have a drink, the only thing to be found were Karaoke and 'Hooker' bars. So, in a couple cabs we hopped and found a more interesting location (the name of which escapes me). We ended up in a beer bar til 4am. While there we were able to watch a bunch of Brittney Spears and even a game of Starcraft, the later being the more enjoyable. Also, feel free to check out this video... I did not know yogurt was a verb.

Yesterday I slept in past the DMZ tour... so I instead went out with some guys from Lamprey. We saw the reprocussions of Bush's meeting with Roh Moo-hyun while trying to see the changing of the guards. Then we went to Korean War museum. After, because we were tired, we went to get some beers, then to bed by 8.

I would put up some more photos but I cannot find my USB cable... I may have to pick one up today.

One observation I can make is that when people are tired after these events the response is to go find a bar. Now I am off to find someone so I do not end up spending the day walking around by myself.

Der Stiefel

2005-06-09T22:31:00.000-04:00

Four of us went out to do some drinking last night from a large glass boot ('Der Stiefel'). If you would like purchase a boot and give it to me please follow this link: http://www.straubs.net/Beer_Boots.html. For the game you need the following:

Ein Stiefel (2 liter glass boot)
4+ people
2x liters of beer (where x is equal to desired level of drunkeness)
a die
a glass (not clear)

First off you fill up the boot with beer and roll the die to get two numbers (from the top and bottom of the die). Then take turns rolling the die. If you roll the numbers chosen before you drink. You can drink as little or as much as you want. The person who drinks second to last buys the beer.

Photos from this and other exciting Korean activities can be found here.

Z.Monkey

Pictures

2005-06-09T02:53:00.000-04:00

Here are some pictures from Korea. They are really crap... I know because several people have told me. I will get more pictures from other people and put them up.

Oh, and Steve is alive! And he has a kid named Riley, whose sex is unknown.

Cleansing

2005-06-08T03:13:00.000-04:00

I have have been clean crap off of my laptop today in an attempt to make it run better. Bye bye Apache the broken, bye bye Musicmatch the obese, bye bye birdie. Yesterday, CJ, Cassie, Alex and I went to Lotte World and visited Lotty and Lorry. It was much like all amusement parks... only slightly amusing. But fun was had by all even if our understanding of Korean made the Haunted House less than scary.

This evening there is an appreciation dinner for those people volunteering. I will be partaking in Pulgoki. I think there was some of that in the Lunch buffet but I am not sure. I speak no Korean so I cannot ask the people with the food. Oh the pains of ignorance!

On a side note, I think that I am slowly recovering from jetlag though I may be getting sick again. Huzzah! Hopefully this does not happen because tomorrow is trivia night at 3 Alley Pub where we will be partaking in the boot. More on that later.

Thank you Babelfish

2005-06-07T00:57:00.000-04:00

Babelfish ad nauseum.

Why are you here today?

너는 왜 여기 오늘 있는가?

Why it spreads out here today it is?

그것에 의하여 왜 그것이 밖으로 여기 오늘 이는가 퍼지는가?

By it here it happens it spreads out why today at this outside of it?

그것에 의하여 여기 그것은 일어난다 그것의 이 외부에 밖으로 왜 오늘 퍼진다 것 을?

By it here it outside it this it happens spreading out why today at the outside?

그것에 의하여 여기 그것이상으로 그것은 이것 그것 일어나 밖으로 왜 오늘 외부에 퍼진?

By it it this it happened above it of here and at the outside it spreaded out why outside today?

그것에 의하여 그것은 여기의 그것의 위 이것 그것 일어나고 외부에 밖으로 왜 밖에 오늘spreaded?

By it it happens this it of up of here it, outside why only today at the outside the spreaded?

에 의하여 외부에 이것 여기 그것의 위의 그것, 왜이상으로 단 오늘 일어나는 그것에 의하여spreaded?

By outside it dignity it of this here, only it happens why today at above, me by it the spreaded?

밖에 그것에 의하여 존엄에 의하여 이것 여기의 그것, 단 그것 오늘 의 위에에, 그것에 의하여 나가spreaded까 왜가 일어난다?

Only by it by a dignity it of this here, only by it it goes out to the up of it today and, the spreaded it peels and it happens why?

단 존엄에 의하여 그것을거쳐 이것 여기의 그것은 그것의 위에, 단 그것에 의하여 그것 오늘 나가고, 그것을 거피한다spreaded에 의하여 왜가 일어나는가?

By a dignity only it passes by it and it of this here by it only it goes out to the up of it, today, by the spreaded which peels it it happens why, me?

존엄에 의하여 단 그것은 그것에 의하여 통과하고 이것 여기의 왜가 에 의하여 일어나는 그것을, 나 거피하는에의해 그것의 위에 그것에 의하여 단 그것, 오늘,spreaded나가는가?

By a dignity only it, by it it passes and this here why by it happens and me it, or it peels by by it only on up of it it, today, the spreaded it goes out?

존엄에 의하여 그것에 의하여 단 그것은, 그것 통과하고 그것에 의하여와 나가 그것 일어나는 까 왜 이것 여기, 또는 그것의 그것을거쳐 곁에 단 위에 위로 그것을, 오늘,spreaded그것을 나가는가 거피하는가?

By a dignity by it only it it it passes and with by it it goes out and it it happens and and me it peels and and and it it and and and spreaded it above grade this here, or it passes by in side comfort it, today, it goes out it peels?

그것에 의하여 존엄에 의하여 단 그것은 그것 그것 통과하고 그것을거쳐에 나가고는가 그것 나 그것 껍질 그것 그것 일어나고는가 급료의 위 그것을 이것 여기spreaded, 옆 안락안에 곁에 그것을, 오늘, 그것 나가는가 그것 거피하는가 통과하는가?

By it by a dignity it passes it it only and to it passes by it goes out and and it boils and and and to side it it of it or it shell to happen to here spreaded of this and inside side comfort it, today, it it goes out it it peels up it of salary it passes it and?

존엄에 의하여 그것에 의하여 그것은 그것에게 그것을 단 통과하고 그것에 그것에 의하여 통행은 나가고는가 이의 헌데 그것 편들는가 위하여 그것의 그것 또는 그것 여기에 일어날 것인가 포탄spreaded안 옆 안락, 오늘, 그것 그것 그것을 통과하는 급료의 그것높은 쪽으로 거피하는 그것 나가는가?

By a dignity by it it only passes it to it and to it by it the transit goes out and boil do it do sides of the different meaning boil go out for side comfort inside the thing authorization projectile spreaded which will happen to it or it here of it, today, it it of the salary which passes it it it it peels with the high piece?

Tuesday Morning

2005-06-06T17:31:00.000-04:00

Last night I went out to out a bar called the Nashville, which, being located on the roof of building and with the weather being so nice, made for an enjoyable evening. As I am running on little to no sleep right now (about 10 hours since I left the apartment) so I really do not think this was the best idea but it was fun. This was my first opportunity to actually leave my hotel and I made two observations: Seoul is fucking enormous and it smells like pee... I think that's because of the river... which is made of pee.

There is also a ridiculous subway system. I am not talking about the trains either, but the endless corridors underneath the city that are filled with people and shops. There are even sketchy alleys with sleezy bars in them. It is very interesting.

Skype. You are a good thing.

That's it for now... time for breakfast!

Unfortunate

2005-06-05T21:03:00.000-04:00

I went to dinner last night and learned that my credit card does not work here. This is a slight problem as I was going to put my hotel bill on it. I will call them sometime shortly if they do not respond to my email.

Sigh. I wish I was better at remembering names/faces. I have already misidentified several people and forgot the name of several others. I smooze with the worst of them I guess. Thankfully I will mostly be working with someone whose name I actually remember and whose device I have already worked with. I now have an hour to kill...

Fuck you Jesus

2005-06-05T09:07:00.000-04:00

I have successfully arrived in Korea and I was only searched once. There is bad news though. My credit card is not working! Fucking bastards. Now how will I pay for my room.

My room is fantastic! It even comes with a cellphone and free alcohol during happy hour! Sigh... I will need it. Time to clean myself and sleep for the first time in close to 30 hours.

Z.Monkey

Melancholy

2005-06-05T08:33:00.000-04:00

I am writing this post somewhere over Alaska. As the title states I am feeling a little down, perhaps because I will not see my wife for two weeks, perhaps because my ass hurts. I suspect the first. I feel like making a list mostly because I am unsure I can write a coherent sentence. Be forwarned, this post may be really long as I really have nothing to do on the plane.

Good/Not Bad*

The first inflight meal was not too bad.
Getting from LaGuardia to JFK was really easy.
Noise cancelling headphones I borrowed from N8.
Korean music videos. I am amused by them.

Bad

The air in this plane is really dry... my eyes are cracking.
I will not see my wife for two weeks.
The first inflight movie was 'I Good Company' (not what you think... the movie made me depressed but not because it was terrible).
The second inflight movie is... I forget because I am not able to watch it because it is in Korean and there is a talk guy in front of the subtitles.
I think I grabbed the wrong converter from the Lab... so I will have to pick one up upon arrival.
Final movie... 'Racing Strips'. Now I want to kill all zebras.

Blah, that is all I've got so far. It will still be light out when I land so I will post some photos tomorrow (time permitting). Oh, where is your prom king now.

Z.Monkey

*You may not think there is a distinction but right now I feel there is.

Updating?

2005-06-03T09:51:00.000-04:00

I will continuously post updates (along with some photos) of my trip to Korea... assuming there is time. Tomorrow I leave Manchester for NYC. Where I have to transfer from LaGuardia to JFK (stupid expedia), from there it is to Seoul! Woo?

Also if another person asks if I will have soul food in Korea or indicates that I might find soul in Korea I will punch them. Shut up Dan.

Z.Monkey

P.S. I am looking forward to partaking some Kimchi. I hear they serve it with everything.

Anxious

2005-06-02T09:01:00.000-04:00

I feel like I am faking my way through stuff right now. I am doing things I have never had any experience with but everyone seems to think that is normal. I am not really nervous about the flying to Korea, North Korea and Dick's insistance on pissing them off, working the DLNA event or going to the F2F meeting after. What I am nervous about is a meeting that was arranged for me by one 'Ben' fellow here at work. Am I really someone who can jump into an unfamiliar situation and buttshit about something I do really know about? What am I expected to do at such a meeting? Err! I think that I could actually enjoy this trip if I did have to fucking go to this meeting! Fuck you Ben, fuck you to hell and way to ruin my life [trip]!

On another note I actually have someplace to stay the second week I am there. Yeah! Time see if my credit card company will increase my limit; I don't want to run out of money while I am there.

Z.Monkey

To Whom it May Concern

2005-05-31T10:07:00.000-04:00

It appears that That Guy is finally writing! Hopefully, it will give him an outlet to vent his boredom. Personally, I am hoping that he will discuss his interpretation of Get Happy. I thought it was searching for childhood bliss but losing it when you think you've found it, but That Guy interprets it "In a way that's far more depressing and more than likely to ruin your week let alone your friday (so for now I'll keep it to myself)." Please share.

I purchased several books for my trip to Korea: Gulliver's Travel, A Tale of Two Cities and The Voyage Out. Nothing like brushing up on your brit lit while traveling to the far east. Perhaps I should read some more on the topic of Korean culture but, unlike other people I know, I am not very interested in Asian culture and history. I enjoy European culture and history, hence the reading and my bachelor's degree. I hope that in the next couple of years the wife and I will go to Europe for vacation... I am presently taking donations.

Z.Monkey

Its Grey Outside

2005-05-26T12:03:00.000-04:00

So I changed the color of the weblog. I really should figure out which colors work well with one ~~each~~ another. Sigh. Let me know if you have any good reads on this or if you just want to comment on it. Also, the page looks flat. Any ideas?

Update:~~Dan is a homo hob.~~ Dan is a wonderful person who likes to grammaticize my writing.

Z.Monkey

The Plague

2005-05-26T08:25:00.000-04:00

I left work early on Tuesday, and did not come in yesterday because of a sickness which seems to have completely debilitated my wife and me. This mystery illness made its appearance Monday just before a hockey game, though I really felt it right after my first shift. Symptoms included headaches, bodyaches, coughing, soar throat and an inability to string a coherent thought together. Anyways, I am back at work today feeling a little better, but not much, with a bunch catching up to do. On the other hand, the first thing I did when I came in was start writing this... maybe in is going to be a long day.

Last night the wife and I watch Finding Neverland. I never realized that the ticking crocodile was time... Peter Pan running away from time. I guess I am dense sometimes. Also does anyone besides me want to see the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? It kinda looks like Dr. Seuss designed the sets. Wait a second, Charlie is the kid who played Peter in Finding Neverland! Eh.

[Cough][Cough]

'Scrap

2005-05-23T09:44:00.000-04:00

I want to write something but I cannot seem to focus on one thing. I have a whole bunch of things I really should be doing (I am currently doing one... sitting on the phone trying to get a flight). Apparently if you want to change an international flight with expedia you have to ship back your tickets, call them when the tickets you shipped back to them get to them (!) and then figure out why you have to change all of your flights eventhough you only want to change your return flight.

Warg! The lady on the phone thought I was leave NH on the 16th... not Korea on the 16th. That would have been fuckered up! I would have missed everything... everything. Sigh... I really wish that I could see what was happening (i.e. see what dates and time are available). Yeah! Muzak! Good my ear is starting to hurt.

Sigh.

Hausaufgaben

2005-05-17T15:40:00.000-04:00

I guess that I have big shoes to fill. Everyone is a big fan of That Guy in this Face-2-Face meeting. I have been answer questions regarding his absence all morning. In reference to my post a couple of days ago I have kind of turned another leaf on the work I have been doing. For the most part the everyone in the group is pretty friendly. Even if I am not really interested in the work per se at least I will not be despising my existance.

In an aside, I notice someone I work with, someone who is very Bob, has over 6,000 emails in his inbox alone. He also filters out emails from certain reflecters (some of which contained more than 1,000 emails). No wonder he never responds to anything you send him.

Z.Monkey

Movement

2005-05-16T13:28:00.000-04:00

I am close to taking over That Guys identity. So far I have take on some of the work he was doing and moved into his office. Now all that is left is to close my door and sit in the dark for 8+ hours a day. I hear that That Guy and Jefe are almost to Atlanta. Hopefully they will get very, very drunk tonight to celebrate/mourn a change.

On another note I finally purchased Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead this weekend. So far I have watched it twice, but I really do not know the point of it. Maybe it is a commentary on death... maybe it is the story of two hapless individuals caught up in something they do not understand and cannot control... maybe it is a comparison of life and art that highlights the similarities.

Z.Monkey

P.S. The wife and I may purchase another car this evening. I think that I will still take the bus as much as possible; too many people drive too much. blah, blah. Public documents are fun!

Triskaidekaphobia

2005-05-13T14:00:00.000-04:00

The last couple of weeks I have been trying to take up some of That Guy's work (link wont work until he actually posts something). I am having trouble trying to figure out if this work is something that I want to deal with. I mean this group seems like they are going to do some cools stuff... but I cannot really make myself care. The problem is, of course, I do not really know anything that would be more interesting. Next week should be great, I get to sit in on meetings for most of the week and attempt to getting buddy-buddy with some people I do not know and that I have little in common with. Blah.

As I doubt we'll get selected to do work for this group I should not have to deal with this stuff for too long. Back to other, completely unrelated stuff.

Z.Monkey

P.S.Triskaidekaphobia: fear of the number 13.