I was Chuck Norris as Walker, Texas Ranger:

Kim was an Angel:

Not bad, for 30 minutes of planning right before the party. We left at 2am, which was instantly changed to 1am due to daylight savings time.

Categories: Fun
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From here:

Initial tests focused on making objects invisible to microwaves, but the scientists said the same principles could theoretically apply to visible frequencies, making a true invisibility cloak like storybook hero Potter’s possible, according to a report Thursday in the online journal Science Express.

Categories: Tech
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My new printer came from UPS today, a Dell Laser MFP 1815dn. It retails for $419 (currently on sale until Nov. 1 for $339), but my work’s employee discount made it $279.

It’s a black-and-white only laser printer/scanner/copier/fax @ 27 pages per minute. It hooked up via ethernet to my network, allowing all PCs (Both our desktop and laptops, 4 PCs total) to use it without printer sharing in Windows. Some of the advanced functions are unique for any printer I’ve owned.

Beyond being a traditional printer, scanner, or copier, the 1815dn can scan images to any PC. It prompts you on its LCD screen which computer’s “My Documents” folder to save the image to, but it can also scan into other programs such as Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Word. To this extent, I can scan an image, select any of the four computers in our house on the LCD screen, then it will save the image to the selected computer. It can also scan to, or print documents from, a USB key plugged into the front of the printer. Last, you can type in an email address on the printer’s keypad and your scanned document will automatically be emailed out to whomever as a PDF attachment from the printer - no PCs even need be turned on.

Anyway, we were definitely due for a new printer. Kim and I print almost daily for school related papers. The ink cartridges on our inkjet printers were $40 and could only go about 300 sheets before needing more ink. A 5,000-page toner cartridge for the laser printer costs me about $70, which is definitely a better cost-per-page value that will make up for the cost of a new printer.

The status monitoring and setup is easy, too. Since it’s networked on the LAN (and has its own IP address), I can just type in its address in my browser (i.e. “http://192.168.0.5″) and I can see from any one of our computers how much ink and paper is available, and change options just as if I were at the printer’s LCD menu.

Categories: Tech
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Until Thursday, Adult Swim Fix is showing season 1 of The Venture Bros., commercial free.

Categories: Fun
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Former Representative Mark Foley never harmed anyone. He was minding his own business as the typical pedophile Republican congressman, when out of left field he was blamed for being a pedophile! This timing can’t be a coincidence. It was those hateful Democrats’ fault, playing dirty shortly before the elections. Thankfully, Foley was able to rebound after blaming his behavior on a combination of alcohol and being gay. Everyone knows that alcohol and gays can produce a lethal cocktail responsible for pedophilism, beastiality, terrible Star Trek fan fiction with grammatical errors, hope and optimism amongst the elderly, and the Iraq war.

Now there’s Rep. Curt Weldon, whose daughter’s offices were raided just because the congressman may have given his daughter lobbying contracts worth $1 million. Weldon denied the action, but was quick to point out that he would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for the election being 3 weeks away. He also successefully blamed alcohol and gays for his actions.

On top of this is the argument: which president gave North Korea nukes? Clinton says that it was Bush because N. Korea’s test happened during Bush’s presidency. Bush says it was Clinton so that N. Korea would test the nuke before the midterm election. Bush is quick to point out that, if it he did do it, alcohol and some degree of queering was involved.


Well, enough finger-pointing at the poor, defenseless Republicans! I’ve got a story that’s going to stop any momentum the Democrats have attained from their honesty and integrity. Big Nose George was an innocent citizen of Wyoming, minding his business and doing nothing wrong. After a botched train robbery in which a train employee was killed, Big Nose George was executed via impromtu hanging. The medical examiner was none other than John E Osborne, who later become the 1st democrat governor of Wyoming (1893-1895). J.E. Osborne had Big Nose George’s hide made into a medical bag and shoes! That’s right, a democrat wearing someone’s skin like something out of a scary movie, possibly starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. And he has no excuse: Osborne never - not even once - admitted to having an alcohol and gay sex problem. Take that!

Sincerely,
- The “Moral” Majority.

Categories: Rant
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I got the new mc chris album on iTunes, living up to everything one could expect from mc chris and definitely a step above his previous album.

“nerdcore hip hop” accurately describes the genre from the 31 year old white guy from Chicago suburbia with a self-described 10 year old pre-pubescent voice. His voice may be familiar to some, notiably the voice of MC Pee Pants, Sir Loin, and the elderly rapper Little Brittle and the C-Bag from Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Categories: Music
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Attorney General Phill Kline is going up for re-election in November against Paul Morrison. In a state shaded a deep hue of red, it’s uplifting to see that Morrison has a chance. His recent ads, mentioning Kline’s witch hunt for medical records of patients who had abortions, seem to be especially hard-hitting. On top of this, Kline dug himself deeper when his memo detailing his attack plan for the final months to the election was leaked to the media. The memo mostly discussed exploiting churchs so as to gain money. Some points I thought were amusing:

“Attempt to get the pastor to mention”
“Attempt to have reception as close to service time and as close to church as geographically possible… If out before 12 noon, make starting time before that time.”
“Get the pastor to invite 5 ‘money people’ who he knows can help. As much as possible get the pastor’s commitment to attend and to get these 5 people there.”
“Goal is to walk away with contact information, money and volunteers and a committee in each church.”
“Push freestatemedia, etc.”
“Get me out. I should not be the last of our campaign to leave an event. Usually we end with a plea for help. Someone from the campaign should stand up and say that they will remain to pick up pledge sheets, etc. someone should be assigned to get me out the door. I am spending too long at these events.” (Get the money and run, eh?)
“Work with Bob to try not to leave gaps in the schedule. If there is a gap — get me to a quiet place so I can make phone calls or write; feed me Slimfast.”
“Please try to get literature into every one’s hands. Check and work with pastor to see what is comfortable. In most instances we should be able to place materials under the windshield of cars. An invite and palm card? Can set up volunteers at or near exit of church to give out yard signs. We must heighten our profile as much as reasonably possible.”

In the end, I usually end up voting, regardless of political party, for the person that appears most likely to have a portion of his or her soul remaining, much like voting for the lesser of possible evils. In a state whose elected officials routinely and reliably become the icons of idiots everywhere - and an attorney general that supports them - the divide between the two evils is as large as ever.

As a post script, note the freestatemedia comment as an amusing mis-nomer. The “media” is typical sophomoric political bashing of the opposing political party, void of any author names and filled with 404 errors. They also have a funny video (25M) of Kline speaking to the background of angels singing.

Categories: Kansas, Rant
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A local news report detailed how some residents of Derby, Kansas are upset with their high school yearbook, which included articles on student pregnancy, body piercings, and controversial quotes such as, “The best study habit is to find someone nerdy and make friends with them. It’s a guaranteed A.”

A concerned parent said, “I want to see something good portrayed to our youth because they are at a critical decision making age in their life.” The rest of the news story goes on to say there’s a parent petition going on, which is going to amount to squat due to the Kansas Student Publications Act - the act protects the free speech of student publications.

I’ve never been able to shake the image of Derby as a “white flight” suburb of Wichita. I remember when I first moved to Kansas seeing a news story about a cross-burning on someone’s lawn in Derby. I thought I left hate-crimes behind in Indiana. Anyway, my white flight perception of Derby is supported with demographic data:

Wichita median household income: $39,939
Wichita racial makeup: 75.20% white
Derby median household income: $58,508
Derby racial makeup: 94.02% white

Note I’m not anti-suburbia in any way - cities will always expand - but in the mostly white, upper-middle class suburb it appears as though some parents felt the town would be a safer, more wholesome environment to raise a family. They hoped none of Wichita’s teen pregnancies, teen body piercings, and nerd-friendship would corrupt the minds of those “at a critical decision making age in their life.” I think this goes to show that, no matter where you choose to live, reality can’t be avoided.

Categories: Kansas, Rant
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Mom met me and Kim in KC for a last-minute birthday visit. Lots of shopping, eating, eating, and more eating. Here we are at the Hereford House:

Mom also got me a great book:

I haven’t got to the online quiz part yet to “discover my strengths,” but it’s a fun read. I have an interview for a supervisor position in a few weeks, and I know it’ll help out.

After coming home from KC, Kim went to the doctor and found out she’s got mono. Thankfully, she seems to be doing much better and isn’t as tired as she’s been for the last several weeks.

Categories: Family, Miscellaneous
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