Period of Useful Consciousness

2007-10-20T08:40:00.001-07:00

The final countdown. Oh, wait. Zero.

2007-09-12T18:14:00.001-07:00

It's time to let Period of Useful Consciousness go.I know, I know... I'm expecting a flood of seven emails begging me to say it isn't so. I can't answer you all, of course, so let the following be enough.I've been a good blogger. Reasonably. Less banal than oh-so-fucking-many others. Yet too self indulgent. Too edited. At times funny, yet many other times presuming people actually gave a shit

Spoiler alert

2007-09-08T22:12:00.000-07:00

He crashed.Fossett crashed.He's dead.I'm really sad about it. I'm not kidding.But he's dead.Please prove me wrong. Please? I've dreamt I'm wrong. Please prove me so.

2007-09-06T20:17:00.001-07:00

Seahawk

2007-09-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

Hilary and Gail and I found this Osprey (or sea hawk, or hawk, or whatever it turned out to be) at Chelan. It was on the road coming down to my place, and a neighbor had warned us not to run over it.Eventually, before I shot it for just being wounded or sick or whatever, we got help from animal control. Hilary said, "call someone. Anyone. You don't have to just shoot it." She was right. They came

Lookin good

2007-08-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Random shots from a day here

2007-08-21T19:34:00.000-07:00

Odds and ends from a day at the lake. You'll have to pardon me - I just got the new version of Adobe Creative Suite. So I'm commitin' some art... click it and it gets bigger.Good GOD.That's enough tongue to feed a Scottish family for a week.Make a nun blush.

Human meat

2007-08-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

Yellow Jackets, or meat bees as they are often known, are a plague at the Lake this year. Kelly's hardware says they can't remember a summer when they sold more traps. Three weeks ago I put up the trap in picture below. Quite a mob.I have always thought meat bees only bite - they don't sting. Because of this belief, I have always been pretty fearless about swatting them. They're not like honey

August in Seattle

2007-08-20T08:01:00.001-07:00

Many people are bitter about the short-sheeting we got on summer this year. Yesterday, today, tomorrow... all more reasons for the bitterness.It's usually some cheery older person who says, "rain in Seattle - think of it as liquid sunshine!" Which is one of the most inane sayings imaginable. Insult to injury. A slap-able offense - "think of it as a hand kiss!"I'm going to Chelan.

Walt Whitman is 90 stories tall

2007-08-19T10:10:00.001-07:00

Click to make it big

2007-08-18T17:34:00.001-07:00

More dog blogging - click pics to embiggen

2007-08-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

Sweet, sweet Murphy. At least when he's being sweet.Look closely: there is a blackberry inside the maw of Jazzy.Pursued by the hounds of hell.

Friend in China

2007-08-16T22:01:00.000-07:00

I've got a friend who goes to China on biz a few times a year. His is pretty rough and ready travel, usually, but not this rough. His email just now, from Qingdao:Dude what's shakin'? This trip has been full of firsts.First lost bag, took 3 days to get it from Vancouver.First hour delay in the plane on the tarmac, no AC, 110 F. And very nearly a riot. The guy next to me was skimming the sweat off

2007-08-16T21:39:00.001-07:00

Go eat some berries. Man they're good. It's now or never.The very Bitch that is September is right 'round the corner.

2007-08-16T08:22:00.001-07:00

Preaching to the converted

2007-08-15T08:39:00.000-07:00

The conversation about who the Democrats are going to run for President all seems geared to who the liberals like. But every single liberal is going to vote for anyone who's not a Republican.The real conversation needs to be about who some portion of the conservative voters would vote for. Because they're the ones who need to get on board. Give them a distasteful option, and they'll keep voting

2007-08-12T13:04:00.001-07:00

What? What?! No, I haven't been doing anything. At all. Why do you always blame me?

Goat, passive. Pit bull... you must have a fetish.

2007-08-10T19:05:00.000-07:00

Man accused of goat sex charged with crueltyAssociated Press storyTACOMA — A man accused of having sex with a goat has been charged with animal cruelty. Charging papers say a witness saw 63-year-old Arthur Lawton having sex with a goat May 8 in a barn at Eatonville's Pioneer Farm Museum. He's the second person charged in the county since

2007-08-10T15:01:00.001-07:00

IT'S SUMMER. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HOT.

2007-08-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

News would be if there was Extreme cold, dry air blanketing the nation during August. Why is this a frontpage headline?Extreme heat, humidity blanket nation By JIM SALTERASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER Visitors to the White House try to beat the heat with fans and umbrellas, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007, in Washington, as they tour the

Tired or full. I'm guessing the former.

2007-08-06T19:46:00.000-07:00

Rome is burning

2007-08-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Hotdoll - A Love Doll for Dogs Does your dog try to hump everything around it? Protect your leg and other valuables by purchasing the Hotdoll. This “love doll for dogs” is a natural way to control a dog’s sexual urges. Designed to be grabbed easily from behind, the Hotdoll comes in 2 sizes and its body is covered with a 1cm technogel skin to create a soft touch.

Why no new posts?

2007-08-03T21:44:00.001-07:00

Because I'm on vacation.

Haka HAKA

2007-07-30T17:53:00.000-07:00

Energy of the ages

2007-07-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

My step sister and her son were here for the last few days. Christian is my nephew's name. He thinks I'm chocolate and christmas all in one. It's flattering, really, but it's exhausting. He was almost non-stop. There is no amount of "we're going to have a quiet contest" gameplaying that could contain him. (The Quiet Contest thing is lame - they catch on to the idea pretty quickly, and are more

2007-07-28T13:45:00.001-07:00

2007-07-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

“Things I Was Thinking in Hot Topic After My 3-Year-Old Daughter and I Were Greeted by a Very Provocatively Dressed Salesgirl,” by Wayne Gladstone So, is there, like, a backroom where you change for work, or do you walk around like that? Would it be possible for me to see that room? I used to have very long hair. And an earring. In fact, Trent Reznor and I went to Hebrew school together.

Gumwall

2007-07-23T14:38:00.001-07:00

I've always loved this place in Seattle. Just off Pike Place Market in a brick alley, right across from the Alibi Room: The Gum Wall. I happened to be there this weekend, and happened to have my camera, and happened to take a picture. It all happened so fast.There used to be a place in the village I lived in Holland like this, but it was a very narrow walkway between two buildings. Both walls

2007-07-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

This is the most profound error message I've ever gotten.

2007-07-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

I'm not a drowning man!And I'm not a burning building! I'm a tumbler!Drowning cannot hurt a man!Fire cannot hurt a man. Not the Government Man.

Reasons NOT to channel surf

2007-07-19T21:25:00.000-07:00

With the internet, you can surf madly, not knowing what you're going to find. But at least you're following a thread. You've had a taste. Some idea of where your spiral is going.On TV, you just push the button and it's like Russian Roulette. You simply don't know what you're going to see next. Especially on Larry goddamn King.Case in point.God damn it.

A TV listing

2007-07-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

Spawn 053 FXP | 1997 | PG-13 | 120 mins Thu, Jul 19, 8:00p - 10:00p A clown from hell allows a badly scarred man to return to Earth on a mission to conquer the world.Sounds fair.

2007-07-18T14:10:00.001-07:00

Last week, 99 degree. This week...different.

Best Headline of the Day

2007-07-18T07:19:00.000-07:00

Gay vets mountattack on military policy By Lornet Turnbull Seattle Times staff reporter

2007-07-16T14:06:00.001-07:00

Pissed off Pagans

2007-07-16T13:22:00.001-07:00

Someone has painted this Homeric image into a field just adjacent to an ancient fertility symbol favored by pagans. They're pissed. (The image looks to me like Homer is playing ring toss to the wood the big guy's sporting.)Story

Cellular - the worst technology we pay the most for (this is not a rant)

2007-07-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

I have long been amazed that we all put up with the crap that cellular is. It's gotten a lot better, but when was the last time you said, "oh wait... can you still hear me? >shit< I think I'm in a bad cell area... or you are... Dick? Dick?" And you then sit for a second wondering if you should ring Dick back, or if Dick should ring you. (Probably yesterday.)I have Verizon, and it's really very

USGS earthquake risk map, next 30 years

2007-07-12T08:10:00.001-07:00

It's Nirvana Baby

2007-07-11T08:39:00.001-07:00

This is the kid who was the baby on the cover.He just turned 16.(And already sick of explaining that the water was just cold.)

2007-07-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

Too sexy for my cat.

2007-07-05T20:12:00.001-07:00

55404

2007-07-04T16:33:00.001-07:00

This is a sign from a Greek cafe in Minneapolis from a blog called Living in 55404.

2007-07-02T15:07:00.001-07:00

A swallow catching a bug.

Sistah Leslie Trumpin Coulter

2007-06-29T22:40:00.000-07:00

My sweet sister gives me ...Kathy Griffin owns Coulter.Cheney says, "teabag my shit Ann."

suited

2007-06-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

I was on hold with the IRS today for about 15 minutes.They have a system where the voices for prompting, and to tell you that the help desk is still busy, is at about level 3 out of 10. Then the on hold music snaps on at about level 9.The music for the IRS? An endless loop of the theme from the Nutcracker. Of course.(I never did get through.)

2007-06-28T22:37:00.001-07:00

Hillary Clinton is tone deaf

2007-06-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

Hillary Clinton has an official campaign song. After a highly publicized selection process meant to "involve her supporters" she chose "You and I" by Celine Dion.And with that, I predict Obama to win in the primaries.

Adam Gorski

2007-06-24T21:09:00.001-07:00

The author of this scribble on a Winnebago down in Georgetown infers that there actually exist reasons to beat women. But Adam is a man of his own rules.

Flying the B17

2007-06-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

Geeks come in many stripes.I am a flying geek. Sitting in a beer garden (as I was this evening at the north end of Boeing Field, aka Georgetown) when an aircraft flies over, seconds from touchdown, I can identify about 90% of the aircraft without looking up. I know what they sound like. "Beech Bonanza." "Cessna 210." "172." "Cirrus 22." "Caravan." "RV4." "RV6." Helicopters. Jets. It's sad - and

2007-06-23T10:49:00.001-07:00

Name That Baby

2007-06-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

You get to call your baby anything you want. For (at least) the next 18 years every single thing you do in your life is based upon the needs of this person, so the naming is kind of the last thing you get to choose.Yesterday's news held that a couple had named their child "Georgebush" (insert last name). But today someone found this gem from a few years back. The first name is apparently a mash

Vatican 10 Commandments for Drivers

2007-06-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

The Vatican has issued "Ten Commandments for Drivers." The commandments include advising motorists to be charitable to others, to refrain from...Wait.Who gives a shit?

2007-06-18T13:48:00.001-07:00

The house is ready

2007-06-17T16:53:00.000-07:00

Just back from Chelan. New curtains (thank you Gail), new bed, mirrors, towels, tampax, toothpaste, soap dispensers, light bulbs, ice trays, y mas, y mas. And replaced the starter on the Jeep, so it starts now, with a key turn rather than a push.Now, summer just needs to actually begin.

Albania loves W. And steals his watch

2007-06-12T15:47:00.000-07:00

Finally W has found a country that starts with the letter 'A' that loves him.Albania! Albania is W crazy.K.M. from New Rochelle sent me this vid from Bruce Schneiers blog. It shows W in a crowd in Albania. You don't have to watch all four minutes of course. But if you watch from about second :45 onward you can see W is wearing a watch.Then, about ten seconds later, he's not.While being fondled by

Total Geek Attack

2007-06-11T15:42:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry... I don't know who else cares about this, but this is a Geek Alert. This thing is ridiculously cool. I do predict, however, death. It may set some records, but there is going to be heartache eventually. But for now... shitchyess. The new RP-4 aircraft shown here, is being built to attack the World 3, 15 and 100 Kilometer Speed Records. Engines: Two high performance V-8

Tower

2007-06-11T14:03:00.000-07:00

The Galer Impaler.

2007-06-10T13:42:00.001-07:00

Tower of Shower

2007-06-09T15:07:00.001-07:00

Prototype #2 of the Tower of Shower. And it works - made some serious hot water today.

Ahhh.... summer in Seattle

2007-06-09T09:03:00.001-07:00

Porn for the dog

2007-06-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

Red thinks this is one of the better picture sets I've ever run across.Wet Cats

Attitudinal

2007-06-05T09:59:00.000-07:00

Sister Gail saw this in traffic yesterday - a taxi with some attitude.A bindi and a nose ring - shout out to the sub-continent!

Labels of Mexico

2007-06-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

When we provisioned for our sailing trip in La Paz, we went to the CCC which is sort of the Mexico Costco. Our tactic was simple: four men, two carts, and we just started throwing stuff into the carts that looked like it might be suitable. We ended up spending $100 each, including beer, vodka, and scotch.The most remarkable thing was that we pulled back into dock after seven days with a pineapple

6,000 years and counting

2007-05-31T22:15:00.000-07:00

And this is four days of wildly delusional people who areHigh On God!Creation Fest 2007

And now... more Chelan

2007-05-28T15:27:00.001-07:00

Went to Lake Chelan to reclaim Chateau Marmot from the renters. They moved out a couple of months ago, and now it's mine for me. And maybe you.

2007-05-25T16:21:00.001-07:00

2007-05-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

underwater

2007-05-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

And here are the sub-aqua shots of joy. There are many pics. Unremitted blast. We were like little kids.They zoomed. We wallowed. They just laughed at us, and we had no defenses. Thank god they weren't hungry for human.It emerged as a real high point of the trip. Next time you're in La Paz, definitely take the trip to Los Islotes.

some baja pics

2007-05-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

There's a lot to say, but pictures do a pretty good job. And their commentary is rarely as cynical as my own words. So dig:Near Loreto, Mexico.Flying in. Bill and I flew the first day to Winnemucca, NV, and it was a poor choice. It was so rough when we landed (at noon) I opted to stay the night. (As pilot, I get to do that.) Not only was it rough going in, but Winnemucca is a depressing scab of a

And now... more pictures of places far away

2007-05-22T09:38:00.001-07:00

I'm back.La Paz is amazing.The trip was perfect.The pelican is my new totem animal.More pictures shortly.

I'm suposed to be gone

2007-05-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

I thought I was out. I read, I did, I worked, and I thought I was out. I'm leaving. But I can't help but read.I got home tonight - last gasp, I'm getting up early and flying - and I read this crap about W. Frontin' for the hard hit people:The president ambled down the road to a house with no roof, almost slipping as he picked his way across a chunk of metal on the lawn. He briefly grabbed a chain

not much more

2007-05-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

This is it for a while. I'm sorry to leave you. I must. It is long overdue. I am going to fly south until another language is spoken. Where they have a different president. Where dogs roam free. Where donkeys are revered for ... well, for a lot of reasons. I am going to swim with the creatures of the sea.Back 'bout the 22nd.

Kansas Tornado

2007-05-08T09:23:00.000-07:00

I'd heard the stories, but hadn't seen any pictures.This falls into the incomprehensible category.And of course, I have to throw in a Bush jab: local officials are saying only a few National Guard troops have showed up. Apparently the Guard is totally involved elsewhere. A country far, far away.Kansas Tornado Pictures

tornado vid

2007-05-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

This is a tornado shot in Oklahoma yesterday. Aside from the frantic idiocy of the guy shooting the video, it's an amazing clip.

Like meditation

2007-05-05T08:58:00.000-07:00

If you can put up with six minutes of eurotron techno, this is riveting.

You'll go blind if you become the best debater

2007-05-03T22:00:00.000-07:00

So now we have each party debating 18 months out to winnow it down to clear idiots versus somewhat veiled idiots.The dems did it, and now the other guys.And I just read the NYTimes coverage. This paragraph made my jaw literally drop open. I simply cannot believe someone raises their hand to say, "I don't believe there is anything on this earth older than about 6,000 years. Including the earth."

Go To Sleep

2007-05-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Putting the Ass in Disaster

2007-05-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

By Elisabeth BumillerMay 1, 2003 -- President Bush's made-for-television address tonight on the carrier Abraham Lincoln was a powerful, Reaganesque finale to a six-week war. But beneath the golden images of a president steaming home with his troops toward the California coast lay the cold political and military realities that drove Mr. Bush's advisers to create the moment.The president declared

week end

2007-04-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

I need to heed the days of rest.I did a long ride yesterday, and it hurt way more than it should at this point in my 'training' for the STP. But that's because I haven't been 'training.'Today, after a breakfast of two ibuprofen tablets, I spent the morning moving toward the finishing touches of the deck. Once that was done, my neighbor woman came over - a great inspiration of what your home and

2007-04-27T16:13:00.000-07:00

Mormons

2007-04-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

Though I'm barely paying attention to election '08 politics (it's way too far away to be relevant), I am taking delight in politicians putting themselves in the crosshairs right now only to be dropped like slow, proud old bucks. (Can John McCain take strong positions on any other unpopular topics? Not really. There aren't any more.)Mitt Romney is the best looking candidate the Republicans have.

2007-04-25T16:17:00.001-07:00

Details

2007-04-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

I've not been sharing much. I'm in the 'tween time. But some details...I have a birthday soon. I'm going to Mexico in the Glasair to go sailing for a week right after that to celebrate someone else's birthday. I'm busy with my business, but not busy enough. I'm riding the Seattle to Portland ride again this year and have not been training anywhere near enough. I'm finishing the deck on the back

What's in yer hole?

2007-04-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Run away

2007-04-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

Big snail.

Purest joy

2007-04-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

Illegal jaunt

2007-04-19T10:16:00.000-07:00

This is highly illegal in Seattle, but no one in law enforcement has ever been able to tell me why. My last dog and I used to do this - a perfectly voice-command trained Rat Terrier named Jasper - and I got a series of tickets for doing it. When asked at the time of ticketing why it's illegal... no valid response. ("It's the law, sir" doesn't count. I want to know why it's the law.) I got the

Flight in progress

2007-04-15T11:22:00.000-07:00

2007-04-14T13:48:00.001-07:00

Knot

2007-04-12T12:18:00.000-07:00

Sister Gail got this on a beach walk.

2007-04-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

2007-04-09T13:41:00.001-07:00

It's back

2007-04-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday it was 75 here in Seattle. Woke up warm, didn't turn on the heat at Studio Fe, went home warm at noon. Got an email from a woman in Hawaii canceling an order I've put quite a lot of effort into, and for which she'd been beating me like a donkey. ("Just talked to the building mgr - guess I should have checked with him first - but we can't use metal signs on the building. Sorry!!! Have a

The Easter Bunny Hates You

2007-04-06T08:28:00.000-07:00

Do not show this to anyone under 9. (And some people under 35.)Peter Cottontail hating you.

True Believers

2007-04-06T08:06:00.000-07:00

Japanese pornography. Melchor Montoya who is being nailed to the cross for the 12th time grimaces in pain as a nail is driven into his palm during his reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, April 6, 2007 at Santa Lucia village, San Fernando town in

Find X

2007-04-03T08:08:00.000-07:00

Algebra. Geometry. Seth Turunjian was my math teacher in high school. He was fantastic. Perhaps the only Armenian in Calaveras County. Certainly the only reason I knew the word 'Armenian' at the age of 12.He introduced the concept of "find x" to thousands of young minds. He was very good at it. But then again, I'm sure he saw his share of these responses:(thanks Jen Harrell)

With a post like this... if he finds a woman she will indeed be special

2007-04-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Seeking a special type of woman Reply to: pers-304973984@craigslist.orgDate: 2007-04-02, 3:59PM PDTSearching for a naughty woman who might want to explore the "lifestyles." I'm attractive, selective, muscular, std free, professional and a good guy... Location: Seattle Tacoma

Wee man

2007-03-29T18:14:00.000-07:00

There was a little guy driving this rig. Maybe he just looked small because the thing was so absotardedly enormous. When I pulled up behind him, the license plate was above the hood of my 4runner.When Viagra goes looking for a poster child, this guy's going to find a note under his windshield wiper.

My. Eyes. Burn.

2007-03-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

This is supposed to be a funny event. Rove is a total tool. A limpfisted bag of toady funlessness. Bush is...only alive because of the scotch he hammered down before going on stage. And it didn't make him witty.Could we be any closer to the end of days without the tar on the streets simply bubbling up and killing our pets?Karl Rove Raps

I miss Jack Handy

2007-03-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid my favorite relative was Uncle Caveman. After school we'd all go play in his cave, and every once in a while he would eat one of us. It wasn't until later that I found out that Uncle Caveman was a bear.The crows seemed to be calling his name, thought Caw.I