shawnp0wers

I'm a bloggy blogger who blogs.

Listen To My Dulcet Tones, and Win Stuff

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You know those videos I do all the time, teaching folks how to do stuff with Linux? Well, humor me and pretend you do. Anyway, this week Linux Journal is giving stuff away. And not a limited amount of stuff either. Everyone that plays can win. You can play. You can win. Watch this video for details, and if you don’t want to win, then you don’t have to play. See how easy I make it for you?

That thing over my shoulder is a speaker to our surround sound system. No, not that. That one is a clock, I meant the other shoulder.
Just click the thumbnail to go to the video contest page


Go now! Tell all your friends! Have your dog blog about it! Tweet it! Dent it! Tell your neighbors with smoke signals. (Be careful with that last one though, fire is dangerous, and this blog isn’t insured)

Stimulus or Pillage?

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Does anyone know where to get real information about mortgage assistance, etc, that the stimulus package is supposedly providing? Here’s the deal:

I get about 10 calls a day telling me how they want to relieve my overly-big mortgage payment. 10 calls. 8-9 of those calls are scams (Michigan is getting hammered with stimulus scams), and the others seem like desperate mortgage brokers trying hard to pay their own bills by refinancing anyone they can.

If I’m paying for this stimulus package, along with my kids and grandkids in the future, it only seems fair that I look to see if I am eligible for monies from it, no? Anyone know the proper way to find information?

Signed,
Big Bills McGrudy

UPDATE: Yeah, so I don’t qualify for anything. Figures. 😉

When I Grow Up

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We all have silly dreams about what we’d like to do. As a kid I wanted to be an astronaut. (And by kid, I mean last week…) Silly things like mortgages, food buying, and raising a family can often squelch our dreams. So what do you do with those unmet longings? Well, I’m not a soothsayer or anything, but I can tell you what I’m trying to do. Maybe you will find a way to scratch your itch as well.

As a career, I’ve always wanted to do one of three things:

  • Be a writer
  • Be a radio DJ
  • or own a coffee shop

My career is related to none of those. Sadly. Rather than live a life of disappointment, however, I’ve try to never forget my dreams and aspirations. As far as the first point goes, writing for Linux Journal has certainly scratched that itch a bit. THIS blog, however, really does allow me to express myself in any way I see fit. Since it’s just my personal space, and not a topic specific blog — I can write about anything I so desire. It’s actually pretty nice.

As far as being a DJ, well, you’ve all seen my attempts to fill that void. Videos, podcasts, etc. I’m actually cooking up the idea for a regular podcast over at Linux Journal, and I have some pretty good audio equipment. Every time I perform either live or recorded, it just feels good. Perhaps it’s narcissism. Perhaps it’s conceit. Or maybe I just like to entertain others. I’m hoping for the latter.

And lastly, a coffee shop. So far all I’ve managed to do in that venue is drink a lot of coffee. I still haven’t given up the dream, but the actual coffee shop itself might have to wait until I retire. When I’m 92. 🙂

What about you? Do you have any silly aspirations that you keep pushing back into your subconscious because it’s not practical? Do you have an itch that needs to be scratched? Are you living your dream? Inquiring minds want to know.

Holodeck or Replicator?

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Yes, a Star Trek question. But really, which would you rather have? With a replicator, you could create anything the size of a bread basket or smaller, as long as it wasn’t terribly complicated. With the holodeck, you could live a virtual world as real as life and have it go any way you desire.

I realize with the replicator you could replicate bars of gold or diamonds and *buy* pretty much anything… but which would you pick?

Leaving On A Jetplane

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Well, not really a jetplane. More like a big van. I’ll be away for a couple days at a youth group retreat. I may or may not have Internet access while gone, but I’ll be busy for sure regardless.

See you on the flip side!

Requesting Song Suggestions

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The thing you don't suspect is that this dog actually "Ahwooo's" with a deep bass voice.I like music, I really do. I don’t listen to music as much as other people, largely because I like music so much that it sucks me in. I can’t work with music playing, because I just stop and listen to the music. I can usually watch TV while working, because it doesn’t draw me an as much as music.

Here’s my problem: After my car accident, I don’t really recall all the music that I used to. I know of many artists, but my knowledge is usually responsive rather than something I can call up at will. (ie, I hear a song and I recognize it, but I’d never think of it before hearing it first)

I’m hoping those that read my blog can help with directing me to songs I might like. Please don’t hesitate to suggest something. My likes are widely varied, and change from day to day. The kind of music I really want to rediscover would be music that:

  • Shows off really good vocals
  • Showcases unique vocal talents, a voice that is easily identifiable.
  • I prefer lighter instruments. If it’s not terribly clear, I’m big on vocals. 🙂
  • Art trumps perfection. The reason Miles Davis was so great was that he was perfect at his imperfections. The way he would fall off a note at the perfect time would add character not attainable with mere musical perfection. You can feel free to disagree, but that’s the kind of music I’m looking for. (Ironic I used an instrumental musician to showcase what I mean about vocals I really like — but a really good instrument counts too. Maybe it’s not just the human voice I like.)
  • I really hope for specific song suggestions. Norah Jones, for example, I find to be absolutely brilliant. I don’t *feel* all of her songs though. So please, be specific.

So what do you think? Do you have any suggestions? Here are some random artists I enjoy from time to time:

Norah Jones, Jane’s Addiction, Nirvana, 3rd Day, Barry Manilow, Randy Travis, The Carpenters, Elton John, REM. I know there are tons more, but sadly I just can’t recall all the good ones. Please help me. 🙂

What it Means to Live in a Small Town

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Living in a small town means:

  • If you forget to tip your waitress, you drive back to the restaurant and do so.
  • If you take a sick day, you’d better be sick, and you’d better stay home. If you don’t, everyone will know.
  • You don’t have to lock your car. If someone steals it, everyone else will know who did it.
  • Police officers have a difficult time making friends, because if they showed favoritism to everyone they knew — no one would get speeding tickets.
  • Everybody knows your business. Everybody.
  • The only comfortable way to buy condoms, feminine products, or adult diapers is through the self checkout. Before that technology, it was either awkward or you drove to the next town.
  • You buy groceries locally, even though it costs a bit more. Because you know the owners, and they are good and honest people.
  • Everyone knows who gives the good candy at Halloween.
  • If you run out of a prescription, the local pharmacist will give you a few pills while they wait for the doctor to call in the refill. Even if the prescription is outdated. UPDATE: I don’t mean any controlled substances here, strictly things like blood pressure meds.
  • Fundraisers work. And you buy more candy, knick-knacks, and pizza kits than you’d ever need. Because it is benefiting the local school kids.
  • Phrases like, “I’ll have the regular” really works at restaurants.
  • School pride is a town-wide phenomenon.
  • The librarian knows what sorts of books you enjoy, and will offer some useful advice on new reads.
  • If your dog, cat, or child run away from home, someone will bring them back to you.
  • If you get fired for doing something stupid — it’s hard to get another job, because everyone knows the stupid thing you did.
  • Checking candy at Halloween is a lot less stressful. Sure, you still throw away the cupcakes from old weird Harriot, but not because they’re poisoned, rather because she’s really weird and put unwrapped cupcakes in your kid’s bags.
  • People attend high school sporting events. Lots of people.
  • If someone breaks down on the side of the road, you stop to help them. Even if it means you get dirty, are late to work/church/school, or aren’t dressed for the task.

That’s just off the top of my head. Feel free to add more.

This Email Wins the Crazy

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Putting the crazy frog in this post is really an insult to him. But really, stop holding your mouse over this photo and read the crazy. It's totally worth it.A co-worker forwarded me this email she received. It’s long, but I assure you it’s worth the effort to read.

The Beautiful Son of the King!
So lovely is the work of the beautiful Son of the King, the precious manchild of Revelation Chapter Twelve. He is a delight to see; and His works are heavenly works; for from Heaven He comes and to Heaven, He will soon return, and straight to the throne of our Saviour He will go. He is now over thirty-two months old and growing stronger and more full of the power, the strength and the light and fire of our Saviour every day.

Marvelous things He does to dissolve the massive amounts of hard plastic, which are put into me via the ships of the U.S. military and through the hands of Satan and all of his hoards.

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