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Saturday, February 24, 2007
Audio Crack
I deleted the bookmark folder containing my favorite webcomics. I now only allow myself to check them about once a week (for the record, I check Sluggy, Dominic Deegan, Something Positive, Questionable Content and Megatokyo most religiously).

Instead, I have been downloading and listening to music from a few blogs and in a way, it's unfortunate (and not just because I'm not saving any time).

I already have a lot of music to enjoy and listen to on my computer. And I know I can't absorb all this new music. I'm actually quite sure I would not be able to listen to all the music that I could get if I spent all day, every day listening to music.

So I've narrowed it down to these music blogs: Obscure Sound, Mike Went West, 20 Jazz Funk Greats, Can You See The Sunset From The Southside?, i guess i'm floating and Fluxblog.

I am hoping to keep my DJ/mixtape skills sharp by creating a regular mixtape set, probably about once a month. I would post 'em on my website, but we'll see. I will have to get my mp3's all sorted out once and for all before I do that: lots of old DJ CD's that were given to me by Maloney's are yet to be copied, and even then I have to clean up the ID3 tags. MusicIP Mixer will help with the duplicates (once it's done going processing my collection - will probably take a few weeks!), and I've been using MP3BookHelper forever.

With the exception of the DJ CD's, I probably actually will finish in a month or two, and given my level of obsession over the organization, that's great.
posted by Steve @ 7:41 PM   0 comments
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Greatest sex quote of all time
"I grew up as a fundamentalist Christian—taught that sex was dirty and nasty and should therefore be saved for the man you married."

- Happy Endings on Savage Love

I do love Savage Love. It's a real-world example of the value of communication in ALL relationships. It's also hysterical.
posted by Steve @ 2:57 PM   0 comments
Determination
I suppose if you're this determined, anything's possible. Let's see if I can work up the motivation to vacuum.

Edit: Vacuumed, took out the litter, finished financial back data to 2004, did laundry, and cooked dinner. Oh, yeah.
posted by Steve @ 9:14 AM   0 comments
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Debt parade
Paid off the Discover card in full today. Capital One's long since paid off. MBNA, CitiBank and Bank of America not close behind.

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posted by Steve @ 6:30 PM   0 comments
Vehicle repair plan
I have to do a bunch of stuff to both our vehicles, and this is the plan (each month, * may be pushed back to pay for other, more essential repairs if necessary):

feb.
Bug windshield wiper $100

mar.
Truck clean tank $150
Bug door $100
Bug paint the door $150* (need to get an estimate...)

apr.
Truck carb work $100
Bug professional waxing $50
Bug rubber/dynamat/headliner* $350

may
Truck A/C fix $70
Bug floor pan repair $300

jun.
Bug Rhinolining $300*

jul.
Bug hydraulic clutch $500*
posted by Steve @ 2:45 PM   0 comments
Friday, February 16, 2007
I admire creative professionals
I was just at a party celebrating the 40th birthday of one of Dreamco's clients, John. He owns a studio here in town that's in his backyard.

But don't let that fool you - it's a bone fide studio, complete with soundproofing, control room, wire snakes and more pretty equipment than I could drool at less than a few hours of staring.

Really, he has something more significant than I even hope for in my dream house, and that's really saying something. But that's not why I find it admirable. He designed it himself, and he makes money from it. He's a musician, and he's finding a way to make money in his backyard.

He's not unlike another client of ours, Michelle. She makes her living painting houses, but not just regular paint - multi-colored, artistic interior design. Very cool, none too cheap, and she's very professional about what she does.

The point is that I really like this group of people. I love the creative professional; the support community surrounding it is awesome. It's a world away from the tired, combative life of teaching I've had so far. Now, I know the circumstances of my two teaching gigs couldn't be described as idyllic - a paranoid, rich charter grade school and a pretty rough charter high school. But jeez, what a difference.

I suppose if I got a good gig teaching this sort of thing - graphic design, art, whatnot - I might still go for it, and I also understand that teaching is a MUCH more secure job. But really, honestly, I do love doing this kind of work; even if IE6 is the most horrible browser ever...
posted by Steve @ 9:04 PM   0 comments
Monday, February 12, 2007
Painting part zillion
Went up to Phoenix to paint Mom's condo again - well, not the same parts; we painted a different room, anyway.

We were going to go up on Saturday but got a case of the 'OH GOD do I ever not want to drive to Phoenix' virus.

Instead, we got up at around 7 (crazy early on a Sunday) and drove up. We decided to try our new 'relaxing' route through Florence, which goes up I-10, and then over to 77 on Tangerine Road. Problem is, I can't find my car map, so we spent a good amount of time wondering if Tangerine would ever actually end where we wanted it to go.

It did, but even then, I/we managed to completely miss the sign that directed us towards Tucson. After some worried mumbling, I turned around on the dirt side (fun!) and eventually we got towards Florence.

On the way, we noticed an unusual number of bikers. There's usually a lot of bikers on that highway, because it's slow and it was nice weather, but it was really crammed with them.

And then we got towards Florence, and there were cops. Lots of cops. We started counting cop cars. At one point, near one of the jails, there was literally a cop car stationed at every block; about 100 feet apart. We started counting. We were in the 40's and coming out of the city when we started seeing National Guard HumVees. By the time we got to Phoenix, we'd spotted about 50 cop cars, 7 or so National Guard vehicles, and guessed at somewhere between 200-300 Harleys in and around Florence. Weird.

Got to Phoenix around noon, painted like mad. Absorbed much fumes and I drank a lot of caffeine to get me through it. We didn't do nearly as good a job as we had done in the living room, and I'm tempted to say that while we were rushed, we did 2 good coats and most of the blame lies with the tape; it had been left outside a lot and we suspect it caused the paint to leak under where it had been masked. Most irritating.

We didn't make it to IKEA, either.

Another weird tidbit - my car got 36 miles per gallon on the way up, but about 20 on the way down. My guess is that she really liked going about 65 the whole way, but didn't like being pushed to 75-80 (her top speed is around 85). I'm also very, VERY thankful to my car for getting us there and back. My little bug generally hates going to Phoenix and expresses the sentiment by not starting, or breaking the clutch. Once she did both at the same time, and there's not a lot you can do to get your car going without either a starter or a clutch.

Got back home a bit cranky late at night, but at least Rachel could help with my grading on the way up and down. Mom paid us for the work, too, and I feel bad for taking it, but we needed it just for the gas and the food up in Phoenix. Worst part is that Rachel's now working in a different department at work, so she can't get weekends off; otherwise, we'd just plan on going up again.

At least now I know the car is theoretically capable of getting there and back. Now I just need to replace that map...

Edit: map bought, aaaand we have to go back up 1 last time. Again. Maybe we'll use my Christmas present (a Starbucks card) and finally deliver a bunch of stuff that needs to get back to Phx.
posted by Steve @ 8:32 PM   0 comments
Sunday, February 11, 2007
New design site!
Yay~! I've finished re-designing my Impulse Designs website. It's now up to fairly strict standards, and I'm happy with it.

Still have to update the resume, but that's OK.

I also still have a ton of work to do for Jen and Latitude, but with a little luck I'll be done Monday. Yay!
posted by Steve @ 12:22 AM   0 comments
Saturday, February 10, 2007
DragStar Burlesque Valentine's Day Show
Nyssa, AZ, Rachel and I went to the DragStar Burlesque at Club Congress last night. It was supposed to be an anti-Valentine's Day show, and I suppose it's curious that, you know, we're married and all, but there you go.

It was an evening of near-nudity and much (but not all) lip-synching by a bunch of soft-butch cross-dressing chicks. It was awesome.

There was one line of conversation that veered suddenly towards the topic of my castration. They said it would be 'interesting.' "Yeah," I said, "interesting like the Holocaust was 'interesting'."

'Cos, you know, there's lots of books on it. On the Holocaust, not my castration.

Burlesque, for the uninitiated, is a series of short skits, 90% of which involved canned music, acted out with props and the like. There's also a good Wiki entry on it. They like to have 'inside joke' music, and relatively obscure stuff. My favorite was knowing that the Japanese chick dressed in a suit and smoking a cigar Vegas-style was lip-synching to 'You'll Have Time' by William Shatner.

The show was opened by Courtney Robbins, who played an acoustic guitar. I admit when she got onstage I was worried that I was going to get some Lillith-fair inspired sentimental drivel. Because let's face it - a lot of chick-with-a-guitar is drivel.

Instead, she rocked that guitar. It's been a while since I saw someone really rock out on an acoustic; she forever won my heart with a full-tilt cover of "Fat Bottom Girls," complete with harmonies from a friend. I knew the harmony part and sang along at full volume. With my cranky neighbor, I don't get chances to sing my lungs out as much as I'd like. It might even be what finally pushes me over the edge to record the vocals to my album...

MMMMmmmm fat bottom girls...

Sometimes skits are good ideas but don't physically work well because of unpredictable reasons - the backlit sheet that showed a couple getting it on for "Mr. Brightside" was a good idea but was a bit blinding after being in a darkened club for a few hours.

Others are stunningly effective because of the sheer amount of fun the people are having on stage - a honey bee going from flower to flower (highly sexual, of course!), or a stunning jazz singer.

One of the sketches involved a super-nerdy guy in suspenders, who brings an inflatable doll onto the stage and begins the wooing. Totally gets shut down. The problem is that AZ is wearing basically the same outfit. She is distraught; I assure her she is 'dork chic.'

I also danced - and it's been quite a while since I got to dance when not in my knickers at home.

Followed, of course, by Denny's. Felt kinda bad because Nyssa's odds of finding a good guy at that show were plenty slim: she was more likely to find girls dressed like boys than actual boys. She also has a place near the U that I'm intensely jealous of. Driving all the way across town daily to Dreamco is a drag.

But yeah, it was a very nice evening and I do hope to dance/sing/go out more as Rachel and I work our way out of debt.

Evening concluded, of course, with a visit to Denny's.

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posted by Steve @ 7:59 PM   8 comments
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Driving tips
These are a few helpful thoughts that will prevent you from getting killed by an angry driver or killed in an accident. For them to be helpful, you must already know the basics, being the laws of the road and how to move your vehicle.

Thought #1, the most important one:
DRIVING IS EASY. AVOIDING ACCIDENTS IS HARD.

Rule #1, the most important one:
IF YOU ARE AWARE OF YOUR VEHICLE'S CAPABILITIES, AND YOU ARE AWARE OF EVERYTHING AROUND YOU, YOU WILL PROBABLY HAVE A VERY CLEAN DRIVING RECORD.

1. If you are going to turn, and there is a turn lane, use it to slow down. Do not slow down in traffic, and then pull in, because people might run into you.

2. You are not allowed to get angry at people going the speed limit, even if everyone else is going above it. You can mutter and such under your breath, but once any driver is driving at the speed limit, they cannot be considered a 'slow' driver. The only exception is if they are in the fast lane (in which case you still can't be angry if they are going 140% of the speed limit - that's 90 in a 65 MPH zone - since if that is 'slow' then you are 'insane'). Plus, they may have seen a radar cop that you didn't.

3. Do not tailgate. Tailgating is defined as the distance that the trailing car needs to avoid the car in front if it suddenly hits the brakes, gets into an accident or explodes for no obvious reason. If you can't do that, you're too close.
EXCEPTION: Sometimes traffic is tight and letting too much room will cause a cavalcade of aggressive drivers to cut in front of you. In this case, drive just close enough to prevent that.
TIP #1: You don't have to be able to stop behind the driver, if you know you have room on the right or left to avoid the accident. This requires constantly knowing if anybody's in your blind spots, even when you have no intention of going there.
TIP #2: A good rule of thumb is to have two seconds between you and the next car - whatever landmark (sign, light, etc) he passes, you should pass two seconds later.
TIP #3: If someone's following too close, tap your brakes (i.e., flash your brake lights) to let them know you think they're too close, and try to let them by. Note that if you're not going the speed limit or going slow relative to traffic, you need to move out of the way. If you're going a decent speed (see #2) and they actually get closer, slow down until they get all pissy and go around you. Remember, if they hit you for any reason, it's their fault. Call 911 and scream bloody murder for the insurance money. Don't take a settlement until you know exactly how much it'll cost to fix up your back bumper (not usually cheap!).

4. Use your turn signal, always. The more everyone knows, the less likely accidents happen.

5. If you are moving over into a lane, and another person is also moving into the same lane from the opposite side, whoever is in the blind spot gives up the lane and waits their turn. If both cars are even, give it up. Don't be the jerk and live to drive again.

6. When an outside lane is closed (left or right), don't be the jerk that tries to get all the way to the front of the line and then merge. Play the good driver and pull in after a reasonable time and then wait. If you happen to see one of these guys, don't let them in. It makes them think they can always do it.

7. Whenever possible, stay out of people's blind spots. Obviously, this isn't possible in medium to heavy traffic, but when traffic's relatively light, avoid that spot.

8. Find out where you're going before you go. No one wants to see you driving 15 miles per hour looking for a sign.

9. Don't do your makeup or talk on your cell phone when piloting a death machine. For that matter, don't do anything other than talk to friends, or listen to the radio, and drive.

10. If someone has done something bad, you may honk, but do not lean out and shout or throw something. You aren't paying attention anymore and YOU are now the jerk.

11. Never listen to music so loud that you can't hear sirens, squealing tires, etc. "Stop! My child is attached to your bumper!" is something nobody wants to hear, but nobody ought to have that cry unheeded, either.

12. You may dance to the radio only at stoplights. Singing is OK if you are still paying attention and still are obeying #11.

13. People may go under the speed limit in the slow lane, down to 2/3rds of the speed limit without penalty. Below that, pull over and figure out where you're going or turn on your emergency flashers if your car's broken and that's as fast as it goes.

14. LEFT LANE IS FOR FAST PEOPLE, RIGHT LANE IS FOR SLOW PEOPLE. If you're in a hurry, don't be angry at the slow person in the right lane (see #13). Conversely, don't go anything less than the speed limit in the fast lane.

15. Give very large vehicles room. They swing wide, can't dodge or slow quickly and they will probably kill you without remorse if you do something stupid.

16. Give motorcyclists lots of room. They have no metal around them. Give them even more room than cars (see #3, tip 2), so that they have a fighting chance of dodging or surviving an accident.

17. It's OK to slow down well before a red light so that you can go through the green upcoming light without coming to a complete stop, but you may not go less than 1/2 the speed limit to do so.

18. Regardless of the expiration date of your license (AZ licenses last roughly forever), get your eyes checked regularly if you are over 60. If you find people honking at you a lot, do not drive. Bug your kids, friends, home, etc. to do it for you or just use the public bus system.

19. TURN OFF YOUR STUPID FOG LIGHTS. They are designed to aim up in order to aid visibility in heavy fog. This means you are blinding everyone in front of you, and that is dangerous. If you want your car to look cool, give it a better paint job. Besides, I can't tell if you have a cool car if all I can see is spots.

20. That horrible squeaking sound that seems to emanate from so many vehicles is a loose belt. It's easily replaced. Please go do that.

21. If your stereo system makes your car rattle, you've probably spent more on the stereo than on the car, and that makes you an imbecile.

22. If you spot someone pulled over by the side of the road (especially a freeway) and can't be the good guy to offer help, at least try to put one lane between you and them. It's bad enough that they're stuck on the side of a road without people going 90 MPH about 3 feet away. This is also true of anyone who has been pulled over by a cop.

23. If you have kids in your car, you must be able to deal with them without looking at them. If you cannot, pull over. If you are a halfway decent parent, you will be able to do this. If you're still a pretty bad parent, I'm pretty sure the fact that you pulled over just to yell at them will get the kids' attention. If that still doesn't help, consider adoption. Also (from Drivl): If you have kids in the car, and are smoking, I may follow you home to beat the addiction out of you.

24. Don't block side streets when there's 1 or 2 lanes. For example, if traffic's backed up a few blocks on a stop light, don't pull your car in front of a residential lane and let people come in and out. If there's more than 2 lanes, though, it's not really safe to try to cross 3+ lanes, so no worries.

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posted by Steve @ 7:09 PM   0 comments
 
About Me


Name: Steve
Home: Tucson, Arizona, United States
About Me: I like to think about things, and I occasionally like to write what I think.
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