Portrait of the loudmouth as a young man.

I don't read a lot anymore. I really don't know why, it's not like I don't have the time to do so, however, I do consume media that can only be construed as literature. I listen to a LOT of audio books. Being a cheap (And frequently broke...) man, I find free books as frequently as I can...

Back when I discovered podcasting, I quickly discovered podiobooks.com and the things contained therein. As I searched, one name kept cropping up. I had no idea who Nathan Lowell was, nor was I all that enthusiastic about reading about the day to day life of intergalactic freight haulers, but the books were rated so highly, I had to see what all the buzz was about.

In a funny way, Nathan Lowell changed my life. His, "Golden Age of the Solar Clipper", series has affected the way I see my world on an elemental level. From really getting a grasp on how profits are calculated to a greater understanding for how academic achievement can be easy and later... He deeply affected how I manage people and the way I deal with future planning and dealing with adversity...

Nathan Lowell has a new book (For free) on podiobooks.com... I am going to tear through it as soon as it is done downloading. I hope that some of you will look at this recommendation and listen to it yourself. It might not have the same effect on you that it did on me, but the series is absolutely worth the listen.

That was faster than expected... This is a good thing.

Leah has a place to hole up for the duration. Can someone house me for a little while perchance?

I saw this story on grammar_whores

( Who the fuck writes in the vernacular for first graders? )

 I will be in Jersey next weekend for a wedding...  On the Sunday after the wedding, Leah and I will be in NYC for the day.

I'm still not sure what we should check out, other than Chinatown.  Thoughts?

 (Sitting around the table, having just finished our fourth game of the new version of clue for the evening...)

Me: I never thought I would have to say this, but I think I need to write Hasbro an email and ask for erratta for "Clue". 


The game has serious game balance issues since they added special abilities to each of the characters.  Yes, I just said game balance issues in reference to "Clue".

Is it just me or does that really make so little sense?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht96HJ01SE4&feature=player_embedded

Thank you kindly  kaote for finding something soo cool...

There's a reason that I was so irritated last night... I have an Idea.

So, my favorite YouTube life and style program, "Everyday Hardcore" has apparently breathed it's last. It's sad really. "Everyday Hardcore" was fun, honestly fairly informative and frugal as fuck. I did, however, have a thought:

It's a shame that the show was being produced by people, balls deep in the lifestyle... So deep that they don't have the distance to find the little tricks that might make their lives better. It always seemed that they were too busy eking out their hardscrabble existence to budget or find the little shortcuts that you find when you're on the other side I guess. I was thinking that it was a shame that the kids on the show didn't have the distance to save others the bullshit.

I wish I could produce something like EDHC with a slightly smoother, more mature feel, to help make things a little easier for people.

But that's just me...

I know it's been a while since I've posted... Deal...

I have discovered that I am entirely too much of a fucking moron to use a sewing machine.

That is all.

I'll be in the DC area Saturday and Sunday. If you want, ask for the cell phone number and we may be able to get together.

That is all.

So, I go on Craigslist occasionally for a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is schadenfreude. I got a good dose of it here:

( I hate your grammer - 21 (Indiana) )

( An open letter to the poster: )

Cross posted to the grammar_whores livejournal community

I am a ridiculous perfectionist without a sewing machine.

So, I have this idea... I want to finally produce a costume for "The Necromancer". ( For those of you unaware of this character... )

I want to make the costume now, but I lack the sewing machine and a few bits of fabric buying knowledge. If someone can help me with either of these, can you call me? I'll be eternally grateful...

Dear Mr. McCain,( do not read this if you are sensitive about poloitics and happen to be a McCain supporter )

 

I try and get involved in the SCA periodically and I inevitably run out of steam very quickly due to money restrictions and the following problem...  I love conventions, but, if I am not staffing, I'm usually bored to tears for this same reason.

I am an introvert who has never really learned to interact with others...  Sure, when I know the people nearby well enough, or when I have a job to do, I can be charming and chock full of charisma, but if I'm outside of those two circumstances, I am useless.  I find myself totally incapable of small-talk and I really have no idea whatsoever how to approach people.  I am not the king of social awkwardness, but I think there's a baronacy in my future in that regard.  So, I spend virtually all of my time alone in crowded rooms and I am phenomenally bored at SCA events since I am incapable of networking enough to get to the programs that interest me.  I know, it's sad.

To be totally honest, I'm envious of folks that learned to socialize when they were children.  Looking at learning these lessons as an adult, I am left feeling continually daunted, sort of like when I was in high school and I could never wrap my head around algebra.  I wish I knew how some of you did it...

So, unless something elementally goes wrong, i will be re-joining the working world Monday.  Sure it's a part-time job as a mail clerk at PNC, but it's a start.  i feel good about it, which means that my creative juices have started flowing again...  it's nice to be able to write more than a few sentences...  It's...  almost cathartic.

On a less positive note, i will be without internet for a few days as Leah and I switch from Verizon DSL to Comcast Cable...  Hey, we save five bucks and get cable...  That's a win to me.

Ground rules:
1. Reply to this post and I'll assign you a letter.
2. List 5 songs you like that start with that letter.
3. Post them to your journal with these instructions if you feel like it.

I got "Y".  It's hard to find songs I really, truly like that start with "Y"...    Let's start with:

"You've Got another thing coming"- Judas Priest: If you're looking for a thumping, rip-roaring, rock and roll anthem...  I can think of few better than You've got another thing coming.

"You Complete Me"- Stabbing Westward: I don't want to talk about the song so much as the band itself and more specifically, the album this song comes from.  Darkest Days is one of my favorite concept albums of all time...   It's a powerful soundtrack, an accurate portrayal of the anatomy of a breakup...  If you have any taste for hard rock, the album is WELL worth the listen.

"Youth Gone Wild"- Skid Row: Leah says the song sounds like me from ages nineteen to about twenty five.  I find that amusing.

"Yesterday"- The Beatles:  This is the trite answer, but it really is a beautiful song from a very influential band.

"You Can't Stop the Beat"- Hairspray Soundtrack: I'm not going to talk about my not so subtle love of show tunes.

And coming from me, who tends to be captain hard-hearted, that's saying something.  thanks, vadaleigh

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It's making a clicking noise and not finding the OS...  It's likely the hard-drive...  I don't have the cash to fix this kind of thing.

*sigh*