Archive for the ‘Random’ Category
Mythbusters Paint Mona Lisa with 1100 Barrel Paintball Gun
Thursday, August 28th, 2008MMM. . .Good!
Sunday, May 18th, 2008
Last night I took the family out for dinner after a busy day. Of course neither Em nor I could decide where to go, but we knew what we didn’t want. We finely landed on grabbing dinner at Toyko Bay in Naperville. I ordered a 7-piece nigiri sushi platter, Naperville Roll and a Godzilla roll, which ended up being too much food. Connor asked for a piece of my shrimp nigiri. I had to warn him that it was different then the shrimp he was used to eating and that he had not eaten it before, but he wanted it anyway. He ate the whole piece and asked for more. I was out of shrimp, but still had some salmon, which he chose from the platter. To Em and my amazement he took the fairly large piece and started and ate it with a little soy sauce. After eating the salmon I explained that the piece of fish had not been cooked to which he responded with a weird face and said he wanted it again, but he preferred the shrimp. I now have another companion when the sushi bug hits me.
Rising Popcorn Prices
Wednesday, March 19th, 2008Theaters rely upon on snack sales to stay afloat, especially since they account for nearly 50% of major chain’s profits and their most profitable, popcorn. Popcorn continues to get more expensive as corn is more increasingly being used for alternative fuels. Read More . . .
Mom is going to kill me!
Tuesday, March 4th, 2008 |
I got my third tattoo (1 is covered) on Saturday, March 1 by Kevin Harden at Ronin Tattoo. It is a black image of a raven in a tree branch. I could tell you some elaborate story about why I got a raven on my shoulder, but there simply isn’t one. I chose the design because I thought it would make a distinct tattoo and the elements do hold some significance, but nothing like you hear on LA Ink. |
I am really not sure what to say . . .
Thursday, January 31st, 2008
Observed in Buca di Beppo in Chicago and it leaves me asking one question; before or after dinner?
Funny Tree Name
Sunday, January 6th, 2008Walking through Morton Arboretum I just happened to notice the name of this tree, Twiggy Norway Spruce. I had to wonder if the Botanist that named it happened to be a friend of “Laverne and Shirley�
When Pigs Fly
Friday, June 1st, 2007Beta 3 Build was finally successful at 7pm, so much for our 4pm plans. That put me on the 8:40pm train to the burbs and puts me home at roughly 10:30pm.
I have a small conference room right next to my desk that we use for quick meetings. The walls are all whiteboards, which is highly effective and everyone should have at least a single whiteboard wall. Shortly after we launched Beta 2 a pig appeared on the board. We tried to get someone to confess on the art, but no confession ever came. Over the coming weeks the pig was mysteriously grow wings, gained a bow-tie, clouds, etc. For whatever reason no one could ever bring themselves to erase the pig and there he lives.
The Messiness of Church Planting
Monday, May 7th, 2007Church! at Bethany meets in a an auditorium in Rock Creek Community College. It is an incredible space. Well, as I was checking out the space I found an incredible example of the messiness of church planting.
The Ringing Bell
Friday, May 4th, 2007
I am a huge fan of Derek Webb; yes he was great with Caedmon’s Call, but I am so happy he is out soloing it. On the 1st of May he released a new album, The Ringing Bell. I eagerly downloaded it from iTunes in anticipation of hearing those convicting and prophetic lyrics that can make you squirm in your chair.  I was not thrilled after my first review and disappointed. Once I left work I grabbed my iPod and headed out to the train and decided to give it a second chance. There it was disguised in the beats and rhythm that I generally don’t associate with the Webb I was seeking, the conviction and in your face lyrics. There is a couple of light tunes on the album, such as ‘I want to Marry you all over again’, but the conviction exists in songs like, ‘Savior On Capital Hill.’ I would highly recommend this, but be sure to give it a couple of plays before you rush to judgment.
Are garage door openers a threat to national security?
Monday, December 4th, 2006I was perusing the web and ran across this interesting article about a Top-Secret facility producing signals that disrupt garage doors in Colorado Springs. I first thought that I must be on a conspiracy theorist website, but it wasn’t it was a local newspaper. It turns out that the Air Force was testing radio frequencies that are to be used for first-responders to any homeland security threats. These radio frequencies happen to be in the same range as an estimated 50 million garage door openers. The Air Force has the right to utilize the frequency range that is being produced by the Garage Door Openers, but Air Force Officials will attempt to adjust the signal to prevent overpowering the openers.  
Here are a couple of my general thoughts after reading this short article:
- Buy stock in any company that sales garage door openers.
- If the military has the right to use the frequency, why were garage door manufacturers allowed to utilize it?
- I am fairly certain blunders like this just means the need for more tax-dollars.Â
- Research and Development at the Air Force may need to look into requirements management and impact analysis.
- How Top-Secret is a facility when everyone knows where it is located and whom to point fingers at whenever the unexplained happens in the city?
I really just find the whole thing, funny.
New Job, New Position
Monday, November 27th, 2006
I started a new contract gig last week at the Chicago Tribune. I am actually working in a division of the Tribune companies that develops and delivers accompanying websites to many of the Tribune’s papers. Cool environment in a great location; Tribune Building on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. The building has to be one of the most interesting buildings in the area, a grand ornate cathedral. The architecture has famous quotes carved in the walls and pieces (literally stones, door plaques, etc.) of significant buildings form around the world, such as a block from the Whitehouse, a pebble embedded in brass and glass star from the identified cave of the nativity, etc. You could spend hours, if not days, reviewing the treasures imbedded in the building. The building can be quite inspiring if you consider the history in the building, but the location has caused me to pause.Â
Michigan Avenue can be seen as gleaming badge of American’s success and our way of life or can be viewed as the pacifier for hungry souls and our willingness to swallow the lie. The latter statement was not necessarily easy to write, because I have been there for most of my life, greedy and materialistic. Only recently have I started to truly learn how to turn away from these sins that plague me and to look to God for my satisfaction. The sickness of sin still suffers me, but now I understand how to allow this flaw in my character to keep me dependent on Christ. In my efforts to subdue the sin it has driven me to search for a deeper meaning in my life in Christ, one that has truly slain all that is me so He can be seen.Â
Observations:In the midst of the apparent success of society that can be seen from Michigan Avenue there are lonely people trying to feel a void in their soul and in their life. If you want to see an obvious parallel to the life’s of those that are busy with the external view of success, take stairs below Michigan Avenue to Lower Michigan Avenue and Lower Wacker Drive. Just below the surface of all the success and temporal happiness is some of Chicago’s poorest; the often overlooked and unseen on the “Magnificent Mileâ€, the homeless.  Â
‘Your Best Life Now’ the game
Thursday, November 2nd, 2006Yes, you read it correctly. I was in an unnamed store on Sunday with my family to allow the kids to take pictures of items they wanted for Christmas. As we were walking down the aisles I stumbled upon the oddest item in the entire store, the Joel Osteen “Your Best Life Now†the board game. My first reaction, once I was able to pick myself up off the floor, was disbelief and amazement. I checked the box; yep it was Joel Osteen’s picture and the quotes kind of sounded like him. 
The claim, “The game will make a difference in the lives of people that play it.†Everything we do changes our lives, therefore makes a difference. My question, “Will the difference be for the betterment of the person or their walk?†Also, would a skeptic or flat out disbelievers take this seriously or will it be seen as an attempt to make money. I myself couldn’t help but question the integrity of the game and the driving force behind it, could it be dollars?
I do realize that this was developed by game manufacturer, but there still is some responsibility on the celebrity, Joel Osteen, to monitor his endorsements.
I may be a little cynical and narrow minded at times, but I am not sure I see how this can really glorify God or the kingdom. If you have thoughts share them.
