There's a match-the-clue-to-the-symbol game at http://www.thelostsymbol.com/ that's a teaser for the new Dan Brown book.  I think I've read one of his books -- not a huge fan but not a hater either.  Anyway, if you beat it, you get a super-secret message that probably contains a coded "Don't forget to drink your Ovaltine".  I managed to get through it on the second try.  Spoiler below.

( If you don't want to know, don't click... )

I was tagged by quaryn_dk .
I'm not tagging anyone -- do this if you like. I know there's certain people whose answers will be interesting.

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Pass it on to 15 people you like and include me.  You can't use the band I used. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Repost as "my life according to (band name)".

[ I'm using songs the Beatles recorded, including covers.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Beatles_songs ]

PICK YOUR ARTIST:
The Beatles

ARE YOU MALE OR FEMALE:
Here, There, and Everywhere

DESCRIBE YOURSELF:
I Am the Walrus

HOW DO YOU FEEL:
I'm So Tired

DESCRIBE WHERE YOU CURRENTLY LIVE:
Across the Universe

IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE, WHERE WOULD YOU GO:
Memphis, Tennessee

YOUR FAVORITE FORM OF TRANSPORTATION:
Drive My Car

YOUR BEST FRIEND IS:
Golden Slumbers

YOU AND YOUR BEST FRIENDS ARE:
Don't Ever Change

WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE:
Good Day Sunshine

FAVORITE TIME OF DAY:
I'm Only Sleeping

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A TV SHOW, IT WOULD BE CALLED:
The Fool on the Hill

WHAT IS LIFE TO YOU:
Think For Yourself

YOUR CURRENT RELATIONSHIP:
We Can Work It Out

YOUR FEAR:
Tomorrow Never Knows

A FOND MEMORY:
Honey Pie

WHAT IS THE BEST ADVICE YOU HAVE TO GIVE:
You Know What To Do

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
All Things Must Pass

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO DIE?
Please Please Me

YOUR SOUL'S PRESENT CONDITION:
The Inner Light

MOST FAITHFUL COMPANION:
Leave My Kitten Alone

YOUR MOTTO:
It's Only Love

• "Why, is it some kind of anniversary?"
• "Why did you cry when you read me the 'In Case of Moon Disaster' speech?"
• "Oh, is that where 'The Eagle has landed' comes from? Because that's like a catchphrase, right?"
• "Is that [The guy who said 'one giant leap for mankind'] Buzz Aldrin?"
• "Is that how they named Buzz Lightyear?"

Mind you, I was -5 years old at the time, but still!

moving day redux

a likely story...

New Message

waiting for the audition

We didn't plan it as date night, but it was.  After dinner we went to Piedmont Park and spent 75 minutes walking around (Jodi in her wheelchair, I pushing her from behind).  During our promenade digestive, we watched the sunset develop, met Canada geese and a variety of dogs and people, saw capoeristas doing their thing, visited a robo-loo, and watched someone toss and steer a remote-controlled glider.

Oh, you want a visual aid?  Here's the map of our 1.25-mile route.  And if you're looking at the map below, we basically went around Oak Hill and looked out onto The Meadow.



And then we went to Trader Joe's and got some groceries.  Nummers!

An acquaintance is asking for people to take a survey about "Internet pornography" and addiction.  The survey seems to be meant seriously, and thoughtful comments will likely be taken seriously.  I'm concerned that, because most of her friends seem to be conservative, we won't be represented proportionally.  If you feel like influencing the results, the survey is here:

http://freeonlinesurveys.com/rendersurvey.asp?sid=9gfr55dzlv9avls599290

The password is "survey".  And remind me to change the combination on my luggage!

I'm watching High School Musical for the first time (since there's no Glee until the fall). Here are my impressions:

• Kelsi is totally hot for Gabriella and wouldn't mind Troy joining in.
• The hip-hop intellectual looks like callmeinfrench.
• The music seems to be Disney-standard tripe, elevated by good performances.
• The writing? Christ have mercy.
• Dancing made it fun -- the best musical about high-school students since West Side Story, and Grease, and... okay, this is faint praise, but ultimately the proof of my satisfaction is that I'll be watching High School Musical 2 sometime soon.  ...-ish.

I've never heard people say "kill two birds with one shot" or "kill two birds with one throw". So maybe "killing two birds with one stone" might just mean thrift: you get back the same stone (which might be a particularly good one for slingshot use) and use it again for the second bird.

Apologies to my feathered friends. Now back to sleep.

I'm watching the pilot for "Glee", and I think it's going to be really good. The a cappella bits as part of the soundtrack are mostly cute, but then you get something like the series of scenes beginning at 32:52.

( Read more... )

What follows is a pretty decent speech for a pilot episode, followed by a decision that you probably didn't predict. And the music swells... this time, classic rock by the original artist.

If you're not sure whether to get into the show, just watch that part: "Glee" pilot, 32:52-35:00

1 bell pepper: $0.40
1 onion: $0.23
1 jalapeño: $0.09
A few cloves of garlic: $0.15?
1 lb black beans: $1.29

Now that's a freaking "value meal".

Well, I tried to post this on wiki.linuxhelp.net, but I don't seem to be able to create an account, so here it is for posterity:

( Cutting because it's extremely wide... )
You're welcome.

This song's been in my head all day. Now it's in yours -- an enjoyable infection for once!

Thanks to loucheroo (via knobody) for inspiring me!

INGREDIENTS

• 100 grams ground coffee (I set my mill for 18 cups)
• 2-quart pitcher
• Water
• Milk and sugar to taste

Put ground coffee in pitcher. Fill with water.  Refrigerate for 4-12 hours.  Pour through a filter (drip filter is 100% fine; cheesecloth will also work).  Add milk and sugar to taste.  Jodi prefers about 1/3 cup white sugar in this much coffee, plus enough milk to make up the lost volume of the soaked grounds (maybe 2 cups).

Makes 2 quarts.

From the kitchen of Jon Vallee.