The Latest
Let me know if links don't work. I'm not sure how long some of these things stay on various websites.
Past ramblings...5/29-9/29/5, 9/30-12/22/5, 12/22/5-3/23/6, 3/23/6-5/13/6, 5/13/6-8/31/6
3/18/7
I’m moving to this site.
12/30/6
Microsoft Front Page starting working differently on my laptop, making it a pain in the ass to link to articles. If you read this site frequently, you know that the links are easily the best part of this site. This site will still remain, but I'm trying out another. Check it out. If you wish to leave comments, the process is fairly simple, just sign up for a ID and, if I've got it set up right, type the letters in the appropriate box. Don't feel bad if you don't get the letters right. I screw them up fairly frequently. See you there. I will be playing with things for awhile, so if there's something you don't like, let me know.
12/29/6
This would be very interesting if it works.
12/24/6
I've had a lot of weird thoughts today. Not that that's an uncommon thing, but I don't, or maybe I do, talk about them. I may or may not. I laughed at the cell phone guys, sitting at tables at Franx, pretending they were in demand or important by constantly monitoring them. I find them obnoxious, cell phones, not the people. Why not just talk to them? Why spend the time to text when you can speak unless you're just that cheap. That might say something about the person they're texting. I prefer a voice at a minimum, preferably a body as well. Bodies say a lot.
I guess I'm going to Franx for dinner/lunch tomorrow. I couldn't say no to pregnant Monica. She sent me a christmas card, which surprised me. I told her that I might not make it if the Seahawks suck and lose today and I decide to drown my sorrows, but I'm not supposed to be there until two and even with the time difference, I should be able to make it. Then again...my fridge is stocked up.
Merry Christmas everyone!
12/21/6
It's about time.
12/18/6
Awhile back I asked my dad to buy me a Chris Snelling Mariners' jersey with the name DOYLE on the back. Doyle is his middle name and was how people on a Mariners website I frequent referred to him in an effort to keep him from getting injured again. It worked...sort of. He was just traded to the Nationals and this article does a far better job of describing the way I felt when I read the news.
12/15/6
I finally got my laptop set up to update this page again. Someday I will.
12/9/6
Time to play B sides. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're too young, and if you don't know the song I'm speaking of you need to expand your musical horizon.
I really need to spend more time listening to music. I haven't been lately, but a recent connection with Moki from HS, and her remark that she sang in a band that opened for Jackson Browne caused me to look for an album of his. I found it, the song was "That Girl Could Sing", which Moki can, and I enjoyed the song on this system even more than before. There's a part near the end where the keyboard part was hovering above the speakers and it fit the mood perfectly. I had to open a box of albums I'd received months ago to find the albums, but other than showing how forgetful I am, it also allowed me to currently enjoy the Blue Oyster Cult albums I purchased along with Jackson Browne when perusing the "B's" in the online record store. Too bad they don't have Chantel working there, or at least a visual approximation. I didn't buy anything I didn't want because she worked there, but I went there a lot because of her.
Damn, this sounds good!!!!! It's not even set up right. If it makes me smile, it must be good.
12/5/6
The Swingin' Richards are 9-4 and have clinched a berth in the fantasy football playoffs. Now all I have to do is hope LaDanian Tomlinson breaks a leg so I can beat the Fantastic Fubars(Keith), before facing either atown(Anthony) or Chillin' the Most(Bryan). Then again, I could lose to atown in the final regular season game and play Chillin' instead, but I don't think so.
Based on the attitudes of a lot of entertainment personalities this thread surprised me. For those that don't know, Roger Waters featured prominently in Pink Floyd's music.
Apparently the latest trend in pro sports merchandise is wearing the jersey of your favorite player's favorite venereal disease.
12/3/6
It's a big day in Venezuela. Check the entries on the linked site from 12/1 and 12/2.
I should be out working on my tan it's that nice here, and yes, I being mean and rubbing it in to those I've been hearing from recently about their snow.
Ever sent a baseball card to a player to get it autographed? I haven't but the people in this article did, and finally got them back.
11/28/6
Yeah, it's been awhile, but I've actually been sort of busy. Here's some of the best news I've read in awhile. It's not only because John Kerry is more worthless than Clinton(Bill), but that those polled were smart enough to recognize that Obama hasn't done a fucking thing. I'm also a little surprised that Clinton(hillary) wasn't mentioned, or maybe I've developed such an aversion to her that I scan over her name without it registering.
I also like the message Bush is sending on his Baltic trip, although he may not be sending it quite directly enough to those that need to hear it. I feel the newer members of NATO know what's expected of them and although they now lack the resources to bring their militaries up to snuff, they'll do so when they can. The welfare states of old Europe are the ones that need to have bases moves out from under them unless they start contributing to their own, and the world's defense. It's their choice.
11/24/6
Thanksgiving was uneventful. In fact, I just went to buy some potatoes this morning, so it was any sort of foodfest. I could have hung around work and waited for the military's shindig, but while you're always invited, I've never exactly felt welcome, which is fine.
I went down to Franx for dinner and talked with Monica and Lanke, not Linke like I said earlier. It's a subtle difference in sound between the a and i. She like to practice her English with me. I should be more proactive in correcting her, but little steps are probably better. She's trying to help a friend of hers, also from Slovakia, I think, and also cute, find a job. The trouble is that her friend doesn't speak English or Greek, which leaves her pretty much out of luck.
So, now I'm putting off washing dishes so I have someplace to peel potatoes so I can make mashed potatoes. I'm going to try and caramelize some onions to add some flavor to them. I usually end up frying the mashed to warm it until I get tired of them so it's steaks, chicken breasts and hamburger for dinner this week, with steamed veggies of various types thrown in depending on my willingness to clean the pans promptly.
11/21/6
Yeah, it's been awhile. I haven't checked yet officially but I'm fairly certain I lost in fantasy football this week. Jerry's gone and things have gone smoothly so far. I've got a lot of little things to catch up on though. There's not really much new going on, just adjusting.
11/14/6
I need to remember to include this site in my daily visit routine. I even agree with the religious guy he quotes.
In sporting news...the Swingin' Richards are 7-3 in fantasy football, the Huskies' football team sucks, Seahawks have survived some major injuries, Sonics have won three straight and the Huskies men's basketball team is looking pretty impressive, albeit against some unimpressive opposition early in the season.
It's been a pretty wet fall here so far. I like it.
11/10/6
I think this is pretty cool and this is pretty funny.
11/8/6
Dammit! My hair's getting too curly. It used to be that I could shave my head and let it grow and look fairly normal for me. Didn't work this time. Part of the fault is the temperature and the lack of the A/C in my car, which leads to open windows and windblown hair, but it seems every time I cut it, it gets curlier. Another observation...the amount of gray seems to vary from cut to cut. I had to look harder this time for some. I guess that's a good thing as long as I time it right.
The elections...not much will change except I'll be forced to listen to the bleating more than I normally would. The power behind the Dems is way too far to the left and from most of what I've read so far the new members of Congress and the Senate aren't stark, raving moonbats. Time will tell.
11/5/6
Something to think about before you vote.
The History of Mr. Holmgren.
11/4/6
Hey! Looks like you guys back home are finally getting some needed rain. We've had a bit over here but nothing drastic. I hope Uncle Tom had a good visit and wish I could have visited. It was nice talking for a bit, but with so many years between visits, there were too many questions racing around inside my skull.
As some of you know, I was reluctantly promoted to site lead this week. I accepted the offer, but would very much prefer someone else had the job. Part of the reason for that is having to deal with year-end vacation coverage and the fact that our afternoon shift can't really take holidays. The holidays build up and it's always a pain trying to fit them in at the end of the year. It also sucked having to switch hours to afternoons and back to mornings again and I'm still feeling the effects from that, but that's just me bitching and not important.
Go Huskies! Basketball season started last night and the football team's playing the Ducks tomorrow, or actually today. There's been some decent discussion/banter on two sites I visit daily...UW and UO. It's been a pretty fun week of sharing thoughts on the game, so check it out.
11/2/6
Steven Den Beste is much more thoughtful about Kerry's gaffe than I was yesterday.
11/1/6
Anthony, send me an email. I don't know what to do with your octopussies and don't even want to think about what you and Tony will do with them when you get them, but I can't even imagine myself enjoying them unless I learn how to dive...which I should do.
It takes quite a bit to piss me off...yeah, I get riled at times, but it takes a bit to make me angry. I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but it doesn't take the smartest guy in the world to know whether someone has your back or not. John Kerry doesn't. There's no other way to state it and if you don't know what I'm talking about you need to read more. Granted, the lame mainstream media is probably spinning like crazy to minimize the damage of Kerry's stupidity, but it has to be out there somewhere. Like I said, I'm not perfect but I'm not stupid. I love my country and although I've been fortunate enough to find a well paying job helping support our interests, I also realize that there are a lot of others who are just as patriotic and intelligent doing so for a lot less money. Mr. Kerry, and I use the Mr. very loosely, we're not losers and I, at least recognize your, and other leftist loon's, snide comments for what they are. You're pissed off because things aren't like they were in the 60's. Everyone's no longer stoned. They have brains and are using them. I'd almost suggest shoving your head up your ass even further because it might improve your hair color, but UW's football team is causing mine to lighten more rapidly than I'd like as well. Please be a little more considerate of us in the future. I understand that your current spin is that it was a botched joke, but based on your previous lack of integrity...you, sir, are the loser....a term I might consider wearing proudly if it meets with your disapproval. I'm proud of my nation and the people I work with...basically...fuck off.
10/26/6
Baseball anyone?
What a fun morning I had! It's cool enough to sleep downstairs so I crashed on the couch watching TV. This is dangerous. Not only because I once put a couple of toenails through a speaker, but also because I don't have to get up and walk to turn off the alarm clock. I can just slide forward over the arm of the couch and switch it off. So, this morning I wake up at 0424 with an aching back from it being arched over the couch arm after sleeping for 24 minutes. Not a problem because we weren't flying, but still not an auspicious start to the day. It only got better. I got on the freeway and experienced smooth sailing until the Agios Silas exit. That might be the one Tony used to live off of but he lived close to the freeway so I'd never driven much around there. There must have been a nasty wreck just after the exit because there were two police cars parked across the freeway and officers directing us to take the exit. There were probably 6 cop cars and three ambulances farther up the road and that surprised me because there's rarely enough traffic that early in the morning for multiple-car accidents. I take the exit and decide to take the wider street, figuring it would take me down to the road to Kolossi. Nope. It took me back across the highway, which is how I got the count on the emergency vehicles. I turned around and tried again. For those that haven't driven in foreign countries, the streets aren't always logically routed. They may resemble a grid but in reality have a lot of missing segments. As an example, at the last place I lived to get to the market, which could have been a straight shot, I had to make a right, two lefts, another right, follow a couple of swerves and then another right. Back to this morning...I tried the larger road theory a couple of more times before saying fuck it and deciding to head downhill. I eventually made it. I also got a laugh from Jerry after I gave him an "arrrggghhh" in response to his good morning. He lives in that area and had gone through a similar exercise.
10/21/6
I was sitting at Franx early this evening and noticed Linke watching what looked from the distance like a well-built blond with very long hair. I looked myself and said hooker but I noticed that Linke kept staring and smiling at her. She has a female roommate and I wonder if that was her. It turned out not to be as she explained when I motioned her over. Transvesteeta. She was jealous of his/her chest but was laughing as she said it. First one I've heard of in Cyprus.
10/20/6
I voted today. I hope you do too when the time comes. It kind of sucks to vote for the party that disgusts me the least, but until there's a viable 3rd option, what's a conservative/liberal(note which comes first) to do?
10/14/6
Sorry dad. No photos of Marta. It's cooling off and she was wearing jeans last night and they just don't do her justice. TJ said he'd email me one though.
I went to dinner at Franx the other night. The meal was typically boring but right around the time I finished I saw a large party of wedding revelers coming across the street from the Mediterranean Hotel. They were Brits and if you think Americans are known for being fat, well...this family was trying to match us. It was mainly a bunch of large old ladies with plants in their hair but after a bit the younger generation ventured over and the fun started. There were a couple of young ladies that were far too inebriated for their ages and obviously thought way too much of themselves. What was Porky the Pig's girlfriend's name? Petunia...that's right...picture jiggling in a too-tight dress and staggering in and out of traffic while talking on her cell phone. I seriously thought she was going to fall. The best is yet to come though. The bride was cute, as were a couple of obvious relations to her, but there was also a small group that was of mixed race. One was cute, but dressed like a slut, the other on her way to obesity and the young man was skinny and on crutches, except for later when he was playing pool. Apparently something was said to the young lady seeking XXXL at the ceremony and the skinny guy on crutches felt the need to defend her flabbiness. A shouting match ensued between several members of both sides and soon degenerated into a lot of "FACK YOU" comments being exchanged. The previous isn't spelled that way for any reason other than that's exactly how it sounded. It was really pretty funny...old lady with a plant in her hair facing a skinny guy threatening her with his crutch. Even the waitresses were fighting to stifle giggles. The best part though, was grandpa. I don't think I ever truly saw his face because every time I looked there was a beer bottle in front of it tilted downward at a 45 degree angle. Things were calm after the outburst so I got bored and went home.
10/12/6
I remember when my grandfather was running for County Commissioner. In the primaries, the guy running against him had a sign in his yard that said "Get Us Out of the UN", or something to that effect. I think I was 7 and didn't really get the reasons behind it at the time. I've since learned how ineffective and corrupt the organization really is and will express that by saying I actually like this idea. It's the most effective thing they're capable of doing but I seriously doubt they'd have the balls to do it to NK and Iran.
The San Antonio RFC got their bus this past weekend. It's already on the internet and showing naked photos of itself.
10/11/6
This is a little more reliable than me scouring the internet.
10/10/6
I'm amused in a sick way at all of the BS politically correct reactions to the reported North Korean nuclear device detonation. One expects crap from the Iranians and of course a lot of gloating by the N. Koreans, but all the righteous indignation? Where's that coming from? Europe won't lift a finger to jeopardize their trade relations with Iran and they can expect a similar announcement from them in a relatively short time, so why should they be outraged at the DPRK? China and Russia? Give me a break! China's holding, or can hold, them completely hostage to Chinese assistance. They've been pretty effective with that tactic, eh? Putin's still trying to recreate the glory of the Communist economy and I'm not sure what he's doing other than being an antagonist.
Part of my amusement is the overreaction. It hasn't been confirmed by the USGS but there are reports that there was a second attempt. The USGS doesn't report seismic shocks of less than 2.5 unless they're in the US. The best info I can find online suggests that both were fizzles, partial or non-detonations. It is possible to achieve the magnitude of the first explosion with conventional explosives and I haven't found reports of detected radiation so noone really knows what actually happened. They could be faking it because they can't have a whole lot of plutonium, they could be fizzles and there's also speculation that the small seismic shocks were due to them testing suitcase bombs. I doubt if the speculation is true because that's supposed to be pretty difficult to do. Just don't overreact to this, although I must admit that the thought, "If they want nukes, give them one.", has crossed my mind.
10/9/6
This guy's NFL observations made me laugh my ass off.
10/8/6
Let's see...for some reason my 401k doesn't track the Dow and Nasdaq.
I need to take my camera to the City Pride and get a photo of Marta. She's the cutest thing I've seen in a long time.
Sometimes it sucks having a favorite football team when you live overseas. I went to bed at about 8 last night and woke up around 1130 to take a leak. I decided to check the score of the UW/SC game on the computer. 2 and a half hours later, after listening to the game and reading the dawgman chatroom, I managed to get two more hours of sleep before heading to work. Thankfully we weren't flying today.
10/3/6
Every once in awhile I do something right. Not often, but it does happen. I wrote awhile ago about my enjoyable experiences playing rugby in San Antonio and I still follow the team via their website. Not long ago they were complaining about having to travel to Louisiana twice in the coming season and the cost of hiring a bus. Brilliant guy that I am I referred them to this site, the Maggot Bus. Two of the guys are leaving on Friday to pick up this. No, I'm not hurting my arm patting myself on my back, but it was nice seeing what was a half-joking post turn into something that energized the club. I hope they can keep it going!
10/1/6
Oh yeah, here's why I originally started to write this before I got sidetracked onto sports...it's great to get all this info on what's happening due to claimed rising temperatures, but why assume it's a bad thing? I consider it evolution and it's an ongoing process. Humans will, and probably are, being affected by it as well. It doesn't entitle you to large grants to study the phenomenon. If that's what you like doing, great. I'll keep reading your reports. Please just quit trying to claim it's global warming and is caused solely by humans. It's life. It happens. Either that or paddle a canoe instead of taking a gas-powered boat to your destination.
Great sports weekend so far...USA Eagles rugby team won over Uruguay 42-13 and the return match is in the Bay Area so we should be able to keep from being beaten worse than that and get into the world cup. UW beat the University of Arizona as well, making them 4-1, which is the best start in a long time, but they play SC in LA next weekend. Bowling is a possibility, but we'll see. Go Seahawks! I think I mentioned my fantasy league awhile ago and possibly writing about it, but it's pretty much over. No one gives a shit, they can't, or won't, talk shit and there's one guy with two teams trading with himself. It almost makes me want to dump all my players to waivers just to get someone to say something. I probably won't, but I think it would be funny
9/30/6
I really don't have a good clue as to what's going on in Iraq, but this page gave me a better idea.
Best of Craigslist was updated again...
Publius Pundit has published several good articles over the past two days. Just keep scrolling until you get bored...it took me awhile.
9/29/6
Here's a caption contest for you. Don't read on if easily offended.
9/27/6
I received my Doyle jersey this morning. Thanks dad!
I've mentioned the Tucker Max page and its message board before and I believe I've given you fair warning as to what to expect there. I think comparing it to the end of a really good party is pretty fair. Most are drunk, horny and uninhibitedly honest. It's also not a very nice place. If you go on there and write stupid shit, you'll get called on it and surprisingly, although I've posted 16 times I don't have any negative points...yet.
Like I said, a lot of it just sophomoric ranting and making fun of blatant assholes, but every once in awhile, and this started out as previously described, a thread almost becomes a great thing. I haven't been around the board since its inception and have likely missed most, but I feel this one is worth sharing. Read the rest of what I write today before visiting either link please. It started with this thread, "Help plan Hotwheelz' birthday". I read a bit and saw a comment that said "If you don't know Hotwheelz, you haven't been around long". True in my case, but I did read part of the original thread, "Ask a Cripple". I won't give away too much, but I'd read the cripple thread first, and set aside some time. It begins in the normal merciless fashion the message board is known for, but after awhile the honesty of the 17 yr. old boy who asked the board if anyone had a question they'd like to ask a cripple changed things. He has Muscular Dystrophy. I learned a lot about human nature reading it and I'm only up to page 12 out of 49.
9/24/6
I haven't finished this but it's started off so well that I'm going to link to it anyway. The Ballad of Big Mike.
9/23/6
Boeing vs. Airbus or Airbus vs. Airbus?
9/22/6
First rain of the year yesterday. I knew it was supposed to but when I walked out to my car in the morning I was surprised with the clarity of the sky. By the time I got to Kolossi I could smell the rain but it didn't happen for a few more miles. What's worst about this is when it rains later in the day. The bug doesn't have A/C and even though it's raining it's still warm enough that you want the windows open. On the bright side, a visitor from the plant had to suffer through this with me.
I think I've bitched about this before, but Cypriots don't move their cars after an accident. In what was a typical incidence of stupid driving, meaning whenever Anthony and I sat and drank beer at this place we expected accidents to happen, two cars were sitting there blocking both lanes while they waited for the cops. City Pride Anthony, if you read this. Fortunately I was among the first to arrive and didn't have to wait for people to, again, not learn to merge smoothly. Jeff, the visitor from the plant, just about laughed on the way to his hotel when he heard me mutter "C'mon gramps, pick a lane". Apparently Jerry had uttered something a little more colorful the last time Jeff got a ride from him.
Jerry's headed back to Korea. I asked him if it was because he missed Popeye's fried chicken. It wasn't. That one of Jerry's quirks. He's a great guy to work for except that he's pretty skinny and likes warm offices. I don't. He's also one the most habitual eaters I've ever met. I was warned about this when I first hired on by the guy who hired me. Here in Cyprus it's been a morning Turkish, I think, coffee, they cook it in heated sand in a small cup and a couple of bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches, day after day after day... He even stocks up when he knows they'll be closed for holidays. In Korea it was Popeye's, which I like as well, a couple of Burger King burgers and eventually he switched to these microwaveable sausage, scrambled egg and hash brown things. I tried them and they're edible. I'm gonna' miss him...except for the warm offices.
9/19/6
Never let it be said I'm not an equal opportunity sports fan. There are some nice links in the comments if you can stop laughing long enough to click on them.
9/18/6
My time in Germany...there was a party on the day I arrived at the 7575th OPS Group OL-B. OL= Operating location. My career field wasn't supposed to be there so they told me to put down 99999 for my job description. They had just expanded the shop and a lot of the guys were new and guys I knew from tech school. I didn't really get off on the right or wrong foot because when I opened the refrigerator in my room I found it filled with a case of German beer. I sampled a couple and cleaned up and went to a unit party. We supported a Special Operations Squadron and although we were the electronics support part of it, part of the mentality carried over. It wasn't the professionalism exhibited by our current elite warriors, but more of a drunken craziness. I met the shop chief when he was competing in a bratwurst deep-throating contest and it didn't seem to piss off the captain when I told him I'd heard he was a dick. He had fallen down getting out of his car but that hadn't entered into my consideration of stating that. German beer.
It was an interesting unit and a great assignment. We went on temporary duty frequently to England and Greece mainly, and I had blast. I've written this somewhere else before but my supervisor on my first trip was telling English women that I was a virgin(not true) in an effort to get me laid and it worked. He drank free once I found out.
I also remember a trip to Norway to drop off some SEALS. Norwegian shots of JD are tall! I was used to flying on our 130 and was looking out the Norwegian countryside slide by when I heard the first SEAL wretch. When someone pukes it's usually a chain reaction. We usually flew in a ground-hugging mode that causes problems for those not used to it. This trip was also interesting because a speed switch on of the engines broke. We couldn't take off with three out of four but could fly with three with no problem. I held the ladder as Rowdy(crew chief) pulled a piece of string to move the switch to the right position once it started. I later roomed with Rowdy and his girlfriend. I brought home a couple of chaff bundles and he loved to throw them out the windows. Chaff is basically a sort of tin foil that aircraft eject to reflect radars and confuse them. He also tossed one out of his car, for what reason, I'm not certain. More later.
I enjoy reading the news on Mondays like today. Huskies won, Seahawks won, Mariners won and Doyle's homer helped them to do so. On days like this I could drive it home...with one headlight.
9/17/6
The Huskies pulled out a close one 21-20 over Fresno St. so the weekend has started well. I'm listening to "Smile" by Brian Wilson while waiting to order some food before napping and watching the Seahawks. Sometimes the morning shift isn't all it's cracked to be.
9/16/6
Just in case you ever want to join the club...
9/15/6
I just happened to be watching this guy's show when I ran across this article. He's actually pretty funny but it's on pretty late so I won't watch often. After reading the article, I want to watch and will when I can. He gets it.
9/12/6
Here's a nice article on one of my favorite sports personalities.
9/9/6
Some fun before this weekends UW/U of OK game, all in good humor and for the most part in good taste. They started it.
9/8/6
At least Paris Hilton has good taste in something...those In-n-Out burgers are damn good! The NFL season is nearly upon us, although I've had a very difficult time sitting through the pregame bs they're showing. Hines Ward is the only player from my fantasy team active tonight and he's only probable to play, so we'll see how that goes. I hope the game is better than the pregame...it shouldn't be difficult.
9/3/6
I can't say I'm thrilled with the Huskies' victory yesterday, since they were pressed by what I, in my arrogance, consider an inferior opponent, but they did fight back and win. Get rid of the turnovers and learn to adjust to different schemes in the second half and it would have been the blowout Husky fan's needed. I think the coaches failed there, but there's a lot more to it than that. Even though my hours don't mesh well with college football, they show so many replays, that I'll be able to see most games I really want to see.
9/2/6
Yes....football season again. I've already received an email from a friend whose nephew scored a game winning TD, the Huskies play in a couple of hours and just about all of my Seahawks' tickets are gone. They didn't last very long this year. Not much going on except that I'm on afternoon again and if you've read this site for awhile, you may have noted that I get lazy when on this shift.
9/1/6
Of course it would take something like this to get me to write something today. The discussion of cultures is interesting, but the last sentence...true or not, funny. This is pretty cool too!
Nothing new, just starting over again.
