American Idol 9 – Road to Hollywood
Feb 18, 2010 Brainwaves
Ryan’s promising the “best” of the auditions before Hollywood in February 3rd’s episode… are these actually the best, or are some misfits sprinkled in? Read the rest of this entry »
American Idol 9 – Denver auditions
Feb 11, 2010 Brainwaves
Playing catch-up, I know. First up, February 2’s Denver auditions episode. Read the rest of this entry »
Resolutions
Jan 5, 2010 Blog News, Brainwaves, Photos
The question is always asked this time of year: “What’re your new near’s resolutions?”
I don’t usually have many, if any. Like many people, they’re forgotten about within a few weeks, and there’s no real accountability in the whole deal.
This year, though, between a gift and a project, I’ve got two.
First up is the project, and this post is part of it. One week ago, I posted about Project52, an effort to post at least once per week for the calendar year of 2010. My first resolution, therefore, is to write more here on my blog. Being, now, the first week of the year, I’ve got this week covered.
The gift is a “new” camera, by which I mean “new to me.” 
As a Christmas gift, my wife Yvonne gave me her Nikon Coolpix 5400. It may not be brand new, but it’s an upgrade over my existing Olympus Camedia C3000, and has 100% fewer dead pixels to boot! So, my second resolution (camera resolution, get it? Ha ha! Heh… ok, never mind) is to shoot more photos.
Yeah, there are a few other things I’d like to do, too, but these are a couple that I know are easily within reach. Nothing wrong with starting with the low-hanging fruit, no?
How about you, humble reader? What are your new year’s resolutions?
Trade Wars 2002 now live on PauleyNet
Mar 6, 2009 Brainwaves
Kal Durak, if you didn’t figure it out, is a character who can be found in the telnet/BBS game Trade Wars 2002. I’m hosting a server running this game, which is now open to the public. House rules and how to connect can be found at my Trade Wars 2002 page.
40 years ago – Apollo 8
Dec 26, 2008 Brainwaves, In The News, Spaceflight
My previous entry notwithstanding, I do respect and acknowledge Christmas as a very important religious holiday. That in mind, and also to go along with my love of space travel and exploration, I present (albeit a couple days late) a commemoration of an important anniversary in human spaceflight.
We are now approaching lunar sunrise and, for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
– William Anders
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
– James Lovell
And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.
– Frank Borman
Hope you had a merry Christmas!
Dec 26, 2008 Brainwaves
I don’t consider myself particularly religious, but Christmas is still a big deal in my family. As such, much like Eugene Volokh, I don’t celebrate it as a religious holiday (though I respect its genesis and continued existence as one). All the same, it is the holiday I choose to celebrate, and will gladly tell you “Merry Christmas” over saying “Happy Holidays” or some such.
That said, I hope you had (and will continue to have, depending when your various and sundry parties and gatherings may be) a merry Christmas!
Quantum of Solace = WIN
Nov 15, 2008 Brainwaves
Saw the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, this afternoon. Great flick, though, unless MI6 is powered by Microsoft Surface, I’m not sure the computers can do everything they say they can… though, since Bond is supposed to have the super-awesomest stuff, maybe that’s the point. 
Bonus points for trailers for Star Trek and Fast and Furious.
Veterans / Remembrance Day
Nov 11, 2008 Brainwaves, In The News
To all of my American and Canadian friends, especially those with friends and family members who have served in the armed forces of your respective country, I wish a safe and peaceful Veterans Day or Rememberance Day. Do your best to find a veteran in your life and thank them for their service.
Have you ever served in the armed forces? Has someone in your family?
Remember the Weather
Nov 9, 2008 Brainwaves, Whoops...
So here I check in from the Peace Bridge Duty Free in Fort Erie, Ontario, prior to crossing in to the United States. I seem to have forgotten the message that appeared on screen while I was watching the NASCAR race (from Toronto, on a Buffalo-based TV station) this afternoon: I’m gonna be driving through some lake-effect snows before I get back to the paid section of the thruway between Buffalo and Rochester.
I’m not worried about getting home okay; I tend to be a safe driver. But maybe next time I’ll remember the weather before I make my travel choices.
Still My President
Nov 5, 2008 Brainwaves, In The News, Politics
I did not vote for Barack Obama.
For many of you, this does not come as a surprise. I’m a libertarian and a registered Republican, and I voted for McCain. It wasn’t blind party loyalty, but rather my support for his stand on the war on terror, his foreign policy, health care and tax plans, among others.
As it turns out, the guy I voted for didn’t win. Such are elections. Such is life.
I could be the mirror of those who opposed George W. Bush’s election in 2000, and start yelling about how the Democrats cheated, and Obama’s not my president, and to hang in there until 1/20/2013, America, and I’m moving to Canada, or whatever. But I won’t.
Because it doesn’t get us anywhere.
Because I love my country, regardless of who governs it.
Because the world isn’t going to end.
Because I have respect for the political and electoral process.
Because I have some class.
The electoral process worked exactly how it was supposed to. Voters turned out in sky-high numbers, and made their decision.
It may be drowned in the swell from everyone else in the country and the world, but I extend my congratulations to President-elect Barack Obama.
I didn’t vote for him, but he will still be my President.
