Michael Schilder

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:23:09 GMT

getting a little frazzled by the notion of xmas/sinterklaas shopping. For many years, the season meant shopping for buttongirl's family by and large, as that was who I spent the season with. Last year, that was out of the picture, and my holiday plans that year kind of were in a freefall drift, seeing many friends here and there, but not actually sharing the season with anyone in particular.

This year I feel a little more grounded again, with a different landscape of an intimate network, that it occurred to me I'd like to do this year's season right, but it also means rather new shopping patterns that I've not previously undertaken. I knew the type and style of gifts I would look for when it came to past christmases, not the same thing, but things with similar inspirations. It occurred to me recently that I really need to start innovating.

It's an interesting challenge.

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:06:14 GMT

apparently everyone and their dog is sick.

That may explain my currently level of energy drainage. I haven't been sure if it's a cold, but I definitely had a few clues yesterday and today, an extra sneeze or two beyond what I normally have, but by and large I've not had any cold symptoms, just a level of tiredness that I normally associate with a cold (usually the end of a cold). It's not the I've-had-a-long-day tired, it's the something-killed-my-battery-dead kind of drained feeling.

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 20:34:03 GMT

Yesterday was so very full of win. The day was spent fairly lazily playing video games and taking delivery of my new coffee and side table. In the evening I went to the birthday celebrations of xendis. Supper at Tucker's marketplace, then an evening .... out, it was too fun, that's all I'll say here, but I wasn't actually in bed until 4:00 am.

Y'all are awesome, you know who you are

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:53:05 GMT

**** THE PROOF THAT Mike Pictor IS EVIL **** (from here)

   M   I   K   E   P   I   C   T   O   R
  77  73  75  69  80  73  67  84  79  82     - as ASCII values
   5   1   3   6   8   1   4   3   7   1     - digits added
  \_____/ \_____/ \_____/ \_____/ \_____/
   6       9       9       7       8         - digits added

Thus, "Mike Pictor" is 69978.
Add 2971 to it - this is the year guillotine was first used, written backwards - you will get 72949.
Add 6891 to it - this is the year a postman in Okhlahoma gone postal, killing 14, written backwards - you will get 79840.
Subtract 0391 from the number - this is the year synthetic rubber was first produced, endangering the concept of intercourse for the purpose of procreation, written backwards. It gives 79449.
Turn the number backwards, subtract 166 - the year Roman Empire was devastated by a plague. The number is now 94331.
Turn the number backwards, and add 1181 - the year UFO was first observed in China and Japan. The number is now 14530.
This, when read backwards, gives 03541. This is 1889 in octal, the year Adolf Hitler was born...

Evil, QED.

Wow...I had no idea. Fear me.

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:41:01 GMT

My aunt has died.

I don't think I ever met this aunt, she lived in Holland, and I only knew of her existence by reference. My parents both had many siblings, 6 for one, 7 for the other (I think). I've met some of them, certainly the ones living in Canada, and a few living in Holland when I travelled there, but probably not even half of them. I am therefore not especially emotional about her passing...but I kind of feel somehow like I should be emotional. Apparently, I am actually getting a small slice of her estate (shared between her surviving siblings, and the children of her deceased siblings, I don't think it's much), and I am confess it feels a bit odd. Someone I never knew, and never met has passed on, and I am getting inheritance because of it.

Seems odd.

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:48:45 GMT

From cat_macros

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:38:22 GMT

Hm, my office didn't shut off the phones at 11:00, I just realized. They usually do.

in unrelated news, this is Keith Olberman with thoughts on Prop 8. He tends to put things better than I ever manage to.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/27652443#27652443

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:40:00 GMT

We learned a sign language joke today. I don't mean a joke, that is told in sign language, but a joke that actually only works if you sign it, you can't speak it. Obviously, I can't recount it here, but if you know sign, I can tell it to you sometime.

I has a silent funny.

Sun, 09 Nov 2008 23:18:45 GMT

Remeber folks. The speed limit on the parkway is 60kph. Stupid yes, but nice mr. Policeman takes it literally

I am forced to admit, 109 was pushing it

Stupid stupid stupid

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:49:46 GMT

If anyone is curious, there is a big leather clearance sale at the embassy west hotel at carling and kirkwood. The only thing that stopped me getting a long leather coat a la matrix coat was sleeve length ( story of my life )

Some real good prices

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:22:53 GMT

Spotted on the Sean Hannity website forums (ok, I was feeling pugilistic)
"He is half white and his father is from kenya not africa."

*headdesk*

If you can stomach seeing posts such as discussing how much longer it will be before the second american civil war, it's a fascinating forum......in the same way a car wreck is fascianting.

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:49:50 GMT

Quote of the day.
"He's so far in the closet, he can see Narnia"
I am amused.

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:42:10 GMT

The apparent victory of prop 8 in California is undergoing a legal challenge.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/05/BA3B13UM63.DTL
A lot of interesting arguments being made here. This particular fight isn't over.

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:47:33 GMT

Remember, remember the fifth of November,
The gunpowder, treason and plot,
I know of no reason
Why the gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

I had almost forgotten,moria73 reminded me. Happy Guy Fawkes day everyone.

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:52:33 GMT

Has anyone heard of the San Francisco ballot measure to rename a San Francisco sewage treatment plant, as the "George W. Bush sewage plant"?
http://www.smartvoter.org/2008/11/04/ca/sf/prop/R/
From the trying-hard-not-to-smirk folks of the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco.

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:30:27 GMT

Ok....ballot measures in the states to ban gay marriage is nothing new....it pisses me off, but there were several such measures last election, there are more this election.

Arkansas has a ballot measure to ban gay adoption....and it seems to be winning. That really pisses me off. Not only do you want to trample on the basic rights of gays and lesbians, but you also want to make sure more children go without families and willing and loving parents. Right on Arkansas. *growl*

Prop 8 in California....not off to a good start, but processing has only just begun, so this is very much up in the air

Measures about abortion rights seem to be fairing better overall.

Washington has a measure about doctor assisted suicide, and so far, it seems to be going in favour of allowing it. Interesting...I hadn't expected that.

Edit: The Human Life from Moment of Conception measure in Colorado is getting thumped.

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:21:06 GMT

ooooh, I just saw the trailer for Angels and Demons. I have another movie on my *squeeIwanttoseethismovienow* list. For all it's many flaws, I loved both Angels and Demons, and Da Vinci Code. I think for the same reason I love christian/biblical inspired suspense films, I also love books under a similar theme. Despite some obvious exaggerations, and liberal approach to history, Dan Brown's books are just almost-plausible enough to really enjoy. I found all his books that I've read gripping...but Angels and Demons is probably still my favourite.

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:47:37 GMT

I have never put snow tires on my car, ever since I've been driving my car. I've never felt a need, and I have always harboured a suspicion as their merit, though many would praise them. They are certainly better for traction in snow, but they can actually be worse for traction on ice, so is it a gain? Yes, it probably is, we deal with way more snow and slush than we do sheet ice on the road (especially after the salt trucks have been through).

View Poll: Snow Tires

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:03:35 GMT

wow...it's not only mild out there, relatively speaking, it's downright warm. My jacket very quickly just went over my arm when I went out for lunch. Why in the world did I not drive my bike to work? I'll probably take it out when I meet bixkitty for a drink after her ASL class.

Speaking of ASL, we had our mid term last night, on which I did fairly well, but there were a few questions that I know I missed. Some forgotten signs. One got under my skin a little...he used slang. I appreciate ASL has slang, but as a newbie, I am being very literal in my sign interpretations, so when I see one I don't recognize, I figure there is a very good chance it's something I haven't seen, instead of a slang for something I have seen. Now of course...it's a test, he's not likely to outright cover something we have never seen, but that doesn't change the fact that the particular sign is one I had never seen before. Bah! I fuss over nothing, the questions I think I am missing out on amount to maybe 5 points out of the 50 point test, I know I passed it. I'm just holding myself to a higher standard, and I want to ace it. This is the first course I have ever been on since a handful in high school that I am actually excited to be doing. I want to get to class, I don't want class to end, I look forward to the tests. Since I am both keen, and smart, I figure I should be able to nail the test, so I get annoyed if I don't.

We then learned a ton of words surrounding family and family structures, relationships, etc... I never did ask for a sign for poly, but someone did ask the sign for "friends with benefits".

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:56:03 GMT

Because this is so full of awesome, and because I know there are some rabid Anthony Head fans out there who will ready this....
http://www.repo-opera.com/

Repo: The genetic opera
Anthony Head plays a repo man in the near future who repossesses organs from people who have purchased organ transplants, but can't meet their payments. Yes, it's a musical, a rock opera to be specific, and it looks freaking awesome.

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:10:33 GMT

Seriously...I thought more people would understand my costume, would get the reference. I despair for their cultural education.

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:39:45 GMT

*groan*. It's USB Port...

Ok, it's not actually port, since it's made in California....so they can't call it port, but that's what they are going for. Apparently the binary in the logo actually spells out the winery name.

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:25:41 GMT

Hmm....I need to sharpen my skills.
40%

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:24:46 GMT

wow

I knew we were getting snow...I didn't know it was going to stay on the ground....we have achieved whiteness.

It's quite pretty out there. I may yet melt, but part of me is ready for it to stay. Although....seriously...need to arrange to winterize my bike now.

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:31:28 GMT

My car has a flat tire.

Well...correction, Canadian Tire now has a flat tire, and they will be trying to repair it for me today, and my car has a spare tire....but last night, as I was heading out to drive bixkitty home I may add, my car had a flat tire. No idea why, or when I got it.

Apart from that little blip, I had a very pleasant weekend. I got the gym on Saturday, got to clean up the house a little, picked up a pair of those half chaps I was looking at, and tried to find the one thing I still need for a halloween costume (and failed). I then picked up bixkitty and her puppy for some quality time. After dropping the pup off at my place, we met up with xiphia and blinkus2000 at Pub Italia for beer tastings, supper, and ASL storytelling. I had to leave bixkitty at home for Saturday evening, as I was doing outreach at the Mr. Leather competition. That was an entertaining evening from a venue perspective (desactified catholic church, a gorgeous one too), and all the entertaining outfits. The competition itself however was kind of dull. Still, we gave out copious numbers of supplies, and that was the point.

We enoyed a lazy morning on Sunday, including cinnamon raisin french toast, watching the latest episode of Dexter, and playing video games before I had to get off to rehearsal. It