spookybarn dot com

and then there were none

I think this place has long past run its course.  The simplicity and effectiveness of Facebook and Google Reader have scored a critical blow in the effort of writing about myself, my life, whatever else this place was for.  The site won't go away, yet, but it won't see any more updates in the foreseeable future. (not much of a change from the past, to be honest.)

-- end transmission --

TLDR: a new year's day

2009: The Year I Get My Shit Together...

New Year Resolutions are kind of loaded, I expect, for most people.  A whole lot of nice ideas and good intentions, and you never hear another peep about them until the regretful self-apologies on December 31.  In other words, fuck resolutions.

... But I do have goals.  Optimistic but reasonable, modest but attainable.

2 lbs per week
    These years of fatassery are starting to weigh on me, pun most certainly intended.  Two pounds is a little anticlimactic when it comes to each week's weigh in... but one-hundred pounds and change by this time next year ain't no minor feat. 

2000 words per week
    Writing is something that I've always wanted to do, and something that people around me won't stop giving me shit about... maybe this can shut all of us up.  I'll be trying to put more (read: any) effort into this blog, but most of those words won't be here.

20% less debt
    Sort of an arbitrary number, but I thought I'd stick with the 2's. 

There you go, measurable goals.  There are other things I'd like to do as well, but I'll keep those cards in my hand for the time being.

Happy New Year, all.  Make this one count.

perspective

and... just because I've somehow never heard of Louis CK before, and in honor of my new diet...

too much geometry wars

year thirty

here's to 30 more years of awesome friends and a great wife :-)

i've never seen a better representation of how I feel about life...

than THIS.

long time coming

New PC parts are on the way!  I'm not getting my hopes up, but a little luck and Newegg/UPS love could have me building over the weekend.  Considering I've had my current PC for about 7 years now with minimal upgrades, I think it is time.

New Specs:

• Intel Core 2 Duo - 2.66GHz
• 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 Dual Channel SDRAM
• GeForce 8600GT 256MB  PCI Express x16
• 2x 250GB 7200 RPM SATA-300 Hard Drives (hopefully set up in an Intel Matrix RAID)
• Windows XP MCE 2005

Just about $950, after shipping, all told.  That also includes a little PC tool kit and anti-static wrist strap that I've been wanting to have for a while.  Here's hoping everything comes together as expected.  Thanks, Federal Income Tax Return!

wagons ho!

Dr. Atkins, meet EyeToy.  Eyetoy, Dr. Atkins.  I expect the two of you to get along marvelously, and do your best to kick my flabby ass.  Cheers!

Oh, and Budget should be joining us soon, he's just running a little late.  He's a bit of a bore, but it's really time I invited him over.  I'm hoping that he'll encourage some of our more annoying guests to move on.

Yes, America, I'm your real 2008 Candidate for Change.

P.S.:  There will also be attempts to actually write in this blog, instead of using it as a place to post any random link or video I stumble across that amuses or interests me.  If you find yourself missing that content, I point haughtily in this direction.

Mining Town

I think I've done one of these before, but they're always fun.  Brought to you via John and James.

The idea is, you start up your Zune. >_>  You set it to play all your music in shuffle mode.  To answer each question, you advance to the next randomly-selected song and write down the title.  No matter what it is, you use that title.

Here we go...

1. IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
What You Waiting For?

2. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
King of King No U

3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Number Nine

4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Christine's Tune (aka Devil in Disguise)

5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Android

6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers)

7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Vacation

8. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
My People Feel Like That in the Morning

9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
What You're Doing

10. WHAT IS 2+2?
Tango

11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Through the Wire

12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
No Reply

13. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
PLAY WITH THE NUMBERS

14. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Derelict

15. WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Tainted Lovers

16. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Mr. Brightside

17. WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Walking with a Ghost in Paris

18. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Homeward

19. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Solar Jetman - Braveheart Level

20. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Shout

21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Talons

22. WHAT SHOULD YOU POST THIS AS?
Mining Town

Introducing: Socrates Tiberius Lebowski Welsher

That's So-Crates, to you.  Hello!