via buzzfeed.com
December 2011
So it’s that time of the year again when I look back and wish I would have read more books. My “to read” list grows way faster than I can keep up with. I read 21 books last year, and 24 this year, but this year a few of them were short stories, so I’m reading at about the same rate.
My podcasting/blogging/Twitter buddy, who probably doesn’t even know who I am, Kreg Steppe, is going to try I start reading more in the coming year. I congratulate him, and hope he succeeds. That was my goal 10 years ago when I picked up The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, after not reading a book since high school turned me off of reading. I may not be as prolific as some readers, but I usually manage to read 20 or so books a year, so that’s not too bad.
The week I am finally going to read Death from the Skies! by one of my favorite guys on the planet Phil Plait. I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to get to it, but it is probably a fitting book to start the year since it’s 2012 and all.
Here are the books I read this year. They were all great, and I would recommend them to anyone.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot
God, No! – Penn Jillette
Ghost in the Wires – Kevin Mitnick
Between Two Worlds – Roxana Saberi
See a Little Light – Bob Mould
The Believing Brain – Michael Shermer
Death by Black Hole – Neil deGrasse Tyson
Idea Man – Paul Allen
Made by Hand – Mark Frauenfelder
Nonsense on Stilts – Massimo Pigliucci
A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
The Demon-Haunted World – Carl Sagan
And Another Thing… – Eoin Colfer
Daemon – Daniel Suarez
Hunter – Wil Wheaton
Packing for Mars – Mary Roach
Sunken Treasure – Wil Wheaton
The Day After – Wil Wheaton
Blood is Red – Scott Sigler
With a Little Help – Cory Doctorow
Paranormality – Richard Wiseman
The Cold Moon – Jeffery Deaver
Steve Jobs – Walter Isaacson
World War Z – Max Brooks
I wasn’t a huge Verve Pipe fan, but I loved their album Villains. By 1996 when this album came out, many of the lesser known bands that I loved were getting major airplay on the radio. As a result, much music from this era I still can’t stand from hearing it too much, including this song.
So Christmas is over for another year. Things are starting to slow down and get back to normal around here. It feels weird that winter really hasn’t gotten here yet. I hoping it hold of for a few more weeks so I get a chance to play with my favorite Christmas present.
I got a telescope for Christmas! I’ve always wanted a telescope, but never thought I would use one enough to justify buying one. As a kid I loved my microscope, and chemistry set, but I never had a telescope. It’s just an entry level telescope, but that’s all I really need for now.
Monday night would have been a perfect night with Venus and the Moon to the west and Jupiter still in the east as I left for work. Tuesday it was cloudy, and last night it was raining. Rain in December? WTF? Today when I got the mail it really felt like spring out. It’s really going to suck when winter finally gets here. I hoping to be able to try out my telescope tonight, since my next night off wont be until January 2nd, and winter might be here by then.
I originally had a long post about the stupid argument between “Happy Holidays” and “Merry Christmas”, but you know what? It’s Christmas, who the hell cares? Maybe ignoring that stupid argument will make it go away.
Instead here is my favorite Christmas song, “White Wine in the Sun”. Enjoy.
Here are the lyrics to “White Wine in the Sun”, and if you don’t understand the title, Tim Minchin is from Australia, and Christmas is a summer time holiday down there.
I really like Christmas
It’s sentimental, I know, but I just really like it
I am hardly religious
I’d rather break bread with Dawkins than Desmond Tutu, to be honestAnd yes, I have all of the usual objections
To consumerism, the commercialization of an ancient religion
To the westernization of a dead Palestinian
Press-ganged into selling Playstations and beer
But I still really like itI’m looking forward to Christmas
Though I’m not expecting a visit from JesusI’ll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun
I’ll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They’ll be drinking white wine in the sunI don’t go in for ancient wisdom
I don’t believe just ’cause ideas are tenacious it means they are worthy
I get freaked out by churches
Some of the hymns that they sing have nice chords but the lyrics are spookyAnd yes I have all of the usual objections
To the miseducation of children who, in tax-exempt institutions,
Are taught to externalize blame
And to feel ashamed and to judge things as plain right and wrong
But I quite like the songs
I’m not expecting big presents
The old combination of socks, jocks and chocolate is just fine by me‘Cause I’ll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They’ll be drinking white wine in the sun
I’ll be seeing my dad
My brother and sisters, my gran and my mum
They’ll be drinking white wine in the sunAnd you, my baby girl
My jetlagged infant daughter
You’ll be handed ’round the room
Like a puppy at a primary school
And you won’t understand
But you will learn someday
That wherever you are and whatever you face
These are the people who’ll make you feel safe in this world
My sweet blue-eyed girlAnd if, my baby girl
When you’re twenty-one or thirty-one
And Christmas comes around
And you find yourself nine thousand miles from home
You’ll know what ever comes
Your brother and sisters and me and your Mum
Will be waiting for you in the sun
Whenever you come
Your brothers and sisters, your aunts and your uncles
Your grandparents, cousins and me and your mum
We’ll be waiting for you in the sun
Drinking white wine in the sun
Darling, when Christmas comes
We’ll be waiting for you in the sun
Drinking white wine in the sun
Waiting for you in the sun
Waiting for you…
Waiting…I really like Christmas
It’s sentimental, I know…
“Hey Jealousy” wasn’t my favorite song on New Miserable Experience, but I loved that album. Every time I listen to it, it brings me back to the many college parties I went to my freshman year of college. It was actually pretty hard to get into parties as a freshman if you didn’t have boobs, or brought along someone with boobs. Luckily for me my roommate was a football player, so I was able to get into a few. That’s probably all I remember of that year of college, and that’s probably not a good thing.
via reddit.com
I ran across this comic on Reddit and it really struck a chord with me. I remember back in 1986 when Halley’s Comet was last visible. I was in the 5th grade, but didn’t actually get to see it. I still have a Halley’s Comet pencil that I got in school that year. I will be 86 when it comes around next in 2061. Hopefully I will be about to get out of my bed with my cane and see it then, for the last time.
Back in the mid 90s just being from the Seattle area was almost a ticket to stardom. The Posies were one of those bands that didn’t get as big as they should have. Frosting on the Beater was an amazing album. The Posies are still out there making music. Their last album, Blood/Candy, was released last year. While it’s good, it doesn’t compare to Frosting on the Beater.
via news.cnet.com
I usually hate when people destroy products for marketing. I guess what I liked most about this video is the up close shots at the lava. I was there in Hawaii two years ago running around in the harden lava. It was amazing to see. I wasn’t lucky enough to find any lava flowing over land though. Probably because I obeyed the hazard signs.
via consumerist.com
I wish my cat would sit long enough for me to wrap her up.
I’m sure by now you have all seen this Rick Perry video.
Is saddens me that someone this bigoted is one of our leaders, and can actually be considered a presidential candidate. It makes me hopeful by all the dislikes it’s been getting. I believe it’s the most disliked video on YouTube now. Granted, most of his bigoted fan base probably isn’t online, but it gives me hope that common sense will prevail. Wouldn’t it be nice if our leaders knew what the constitution was, and what it stands for, and maybe even used logic and reason to make decisions that are best for the American people. Is that too much to ask for?
In all honesty though, did anybody really think Rick Perry was a serious candidate? He is just another of the crazies in the likes of Palin and Bachmann, that are in it to further their careers, or to cash in on a book deal. I’m sure they know they don’t have a chance in hell at winning the nomination yet alone the presidency. I wish there was a way to get rid of these faux candidates. Wouldn’t it be nice if we had strong candidates on both sides that used reason and logic? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to vote for someone you wanted, and not just against someone you don’t want? Yeah, i’m dreaming.
I’ve always loved The Afghan Whigs, but for some reason, never bought any of their albums.
I think I’m pretty burnt out over social networks. I have Twitter for my online friends, and Facebook for my family and real friends, and that’s about all I need. I barely post to them the way it is. I love Google+, but I’m just not into it. I read it from time to time, but that’s about it.
While I’m sitting at my computer I usually have one monitor with Tweetdeck open. I try to keep up on Twitter then, but I gave up trying to keep up when I am away from my computer. I hate missing stuff, but that’s just the way Twitter works. It took me awhile to just let go and allow myself to miss tweets. With DVRs and RSS I never miss TV shows, podcasts, or blogs, so Tweets are about the only thing I miss. It drove me crazy at first, but I have learned to accept it. When I’m out and about with family and friends, I’m there to spend time with them, and not to have my head buried in my phone.
I just recently signed up to Instagram. When Instargram first game out I couldn’t get an iPhone, so it wasn’t an option. A few weeks ago I realized I don’t take nearly enough pictures with my iPhone, so maybe Instragram will get me taking more pictures. Who knows how often I will be posting to Instragram, but my goal is once a day.
I have never seen the point of Foursquare, or any of the location based networks, so I have never even signed up for any of them. They just annoyed me so bad on Twitter, that I set up my apps to block them.
I don’t need any more social networks. I’m sure a bunch more will come out, and I’m sure I’ll sign up, but I won’t like it. I don’t need anymore.
