Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Spam Wording
You've all had wacky spam emails in your inbox. Today I had a good one:
Get your first look at the next Fearless Yacht
Sounds like a great new Transformer superhero show!
Get your first look at the next Fearless Yacht
Sounds like a great new Transformer superhero show!
Labels: random
Thursday, September 20, 2007
"Julia" Mug
When I was growing up, I could NEVER find any personalized anything with the name "Julia" on it. Apparently the world was full of "Julies" and never a Julia was considered. "Julie" is not my name but I had to suffer (oh yes, suffer) through mini metal bike license plates and souvenir mugs or t-shirts that said only "Julie". To this day, when I am in some tourist trap, I still absently look at the rows of names and expect to see and always find "Julie."
Until now.
There I was in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum gift shop. A huge rack of mugs faced me. I knew not to bother looking for my name and instead looked for "Kurt." There was no "Kurt" of any kind. Then I glanced over to the Js and saw this:
OMG!
Holy cow. After 35 years, there it was.
Did I buy it? No. I'm over the pain of having the wrong name tag growing up. So just knowing that tag is out there is enough.
Thank you NASM!
Until now.
There I was in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum gift shop. A huge rack of mugs faced me. I knew not to bother looking for my name and instead looked for "Kurt." There was no "Kurt" of any kind. Then I glanced over to the Js and saw this:
OMG!
Holy cow. After 35 years, there it was.
Did I buy it? No. I'm over the pain of having the wrong name tag growing up. So just knowing that tag is out there is enough.
Thank you NASM!
Labels: random
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Great Quote
Werner Herzog was on Fresh Air the other day, talking about his latest film, "Rescue Dawn." They were talking about documentaries (Mr. Herzog also made "Grizzly Man") and he said that he watched all kinds of things, Anna Nicole (when she had her show), Wrestlemania, etc. When asked why, he said:
My answer is the poet must not avert his eyes from what’s going on in the world. In order to understand what’s going on, you have to face it.
The poet must not avert his eyes.
That struck a nerve.
My answer is the poet must not avert his eyes from what’s going on in the world. In order to understand what’s going on, you have to face it.
The poet must not avert his eyes.
That struck a nerve.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
You Don't Know
I don't even remember where or when I took this photo. Clearly I was on some walk, somewhere on the westside. Funny.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Soothing
Nini's Atomic
For those few who know why this is cool...
Saw it in a hardware store parking lot today.
I dig the name and might have to use it for other things!
Saw it in a hardware store parking lot today.
I dig the name and might have to use it for other things!
Labels: random
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Please Check Out
My just-posted rant on Metroblogging Los Angeles about a specific telemarketer phone call I got today.
Shocking and hilarious.
Shocking and hilarious.
Labels: random
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Words of the Day
I got these two words over the last week in my daily email from Urban Dictionary. The first one: typeractive, completely refers to me in my non-paying job, sort of summer break, workless state. But I also think I've always been this way. Definition: Someone who is overly talkative on emails or text messages. As in: Man, this Emily (Julia) should get a job. She's been messaging me every 2 minutes. And there are 10 emails in my inbox from her. She is way typeractive today.
Then there was BGP which made me laugh because I've had it happen to me twice. Definition: Short for background props. Placing oneself in the background of another person's picture, usually striking some strange pose or making some other gesture, unbeknownst to the subjects or the photographer. As in: Look at this random guy getting his BGPs in your picture!
The first time was around college with friends at The Getty in Malibu. A waiter at a cafe took our picture and this guy stuck his head in the back and made a funny face. It made us laugh so hard when we got the photos back. Then in 2004 there was this very subtle version:
Click for bigger and look at the girl inside the window.
The thing with BGP is that it is a selfless act of fun. You will never know how much the person who sees the photo will react. I suppose in the digital photo age, there is a chance for immediate notice of the person in the background, but generally, you don't expect it or notice it until much later.
When traveling to very touristy spots, I had an idea about creating a freaky photo situation. Find a family or couple or group of people who are clearly in a city like Rome or Paris for only a day or so. Walk around behind them all day and constantly get in their pictures in wacky, obvious ways. If you have a partner, you can make it less obvious by having them "take your photo" at the same time. Again, though, this is a bit of performance art that you can't ever really see the results of. But hey, somewhere, you know you got your BGPs.
Then there was BGP which made me laugh because I've had it happen to me twice. Definition: Short for background props. Placing oneself in the background of another person's picture, usually striking some strange pose or making some other gesture, unbeknownst to the subjects or the photographer. As in: Look at this random guy getting his BGPs in your picture!
The first time was around college with friends at The Getty in Malibu. A waiter at a cafe took our picture and this guy stuck his head in the back and made a funny face. It made us laugh so hard when we got the photos back. Then in 2004 there was this very subtle version:
Click for bigger and look at the girl inside the window.
The thing with BGP is that it is a selfless act of fun. You will never know how much the person who sees the photo will react. I suppose in the digital photo age, there is a chance for immediate notice of the person in the background, but generally, you don't expect it or notice it until much later.
When traveling to very touristy spots, I had an idea about creating a freaky photo situation. Find a family or couple or group of people who are clearly in a city like Rome or Paris for only a day or so. Walk around behind them all day and constantly get in their pictures in wacky, obvious ways. If you have a partner, you can make it less obvious by having them "take your photo" at the same time. Again, though, this is a bit of performance art that you can't ever really see the results of. But hey, somewhere, you know you got your BGPs.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Fresh Pavement
There is a commuter park and ride lot behind a church in our neighborhood. Recently it got repaved:
Looking at that fresh, smooth, black pavement made me instantly wish I still had my roller skates. Nothing like virgin pavement for skating the hours away on a hot summer day. Remember when you heard about a street or a road or even someone's driveway being repaved and waiting waiting waiting for it to be done so you could have that perfect ride? Heaven.
Looking at that fresh, smooth, black pavement made me instantly wish I still had my roller skates. Nothing like virgin pavement for skating the hours away on a hot summer day. Remember when you heard about a street or a road or even someone's driveway being repaved and waiting waiting waiting for it to be done so you could have that perfect ride? Heaven.
Speaking Of Words Of The Day
Merriam-Webster has included the word "ginormous" in their update coming out this fall.
G-I-N-O-R-M-O-U-S
Pronunciation: \jī-ˈnȯr-məs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: gigantic + enormous
Date: circa 1948
Definition: extremely large : humongous
Dated from 1948!? Seriously? Where has it been hiding?
G-I-N-O-R-M-O-U-S
Pronunciation: \jī-ˈnȯr-məs\
Function: adjective
Etymology: gigantic + enormous
Date: circa 1948
Definition: extremely large : humongous
Dated from 1948!? Seriously? Where has it been hiding?
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
And When I Needed Another Break:
I got this in an email from a friend:
That is a big smile inducing clip!
Which lead to this one:
Which we can relate to as we laugh a lot at the wii (except when we are cursing at it.)
That is a big smile inducing clip!
Which lead to this one:
Which we can relate to as we laugh a lot at the wii (except when we are cursing at it.)
Working
So I'm working a "real" job this week. I have to go to an office and everything! Yowza. This makes me realize how much I need some new clothes. Luckily, the work I'm doing doesn't require more than very casual clothes (jeans/t-shirts if I want) and I'm only here for about five days, but sheesh. I have worn the same five shirts over and over for the past year and now it's summer time and I need some without holes. Yes, I'm grateful I have five different shirts to wear. I am also grateful for the income and grateful for the free coffee and diet cokes. Even more grateful that I live about seven minutes away from here.
Really, this post is me wasting time/taking a break. Now I will return to my work while looking forward to more hot BBQ action tmorrow!
Happy 3rd and 4th of July!
Really, this post is me wasting time/taking a break. Now I will return to my work while looking forward to more hot BBQ action tmorrow!
Happy 3rd and 4th of July!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Blimp!
We gets lots of aircraft over our house. We are in the landing path of Santa Monica Airport (Scroll down on that link for a cool picture) and helicopters hover often as we are also next to the 10/405 interchange. However, once in a great while, I'll hear a distinct sound coming from above and will run out to see this:
Blimps are cool.
Blimps are cool.
Labels: random
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Important Safety Instructions
I bought a new hairdryer yesterday. Big day. The old one literally blew up. Well, "blew up" is a bit overboard but it did snap, crackle and pop and then was dead. Anywho, I got the new one and noticed there were many many instructions and wondered how many a person needs. There were the usual:
DO NOT use while bathing
and
DO NOT use near, place in, or drop into water or other liquid.
(what other liquid would that be?)
But the one that just blew my mind (pun intended) was this one:
Never use while sleeping
WHAT?!?!
I'm all for effeciency and multi-tasking but, um, wtf?
DO NOT use while bathing
and
DO NOT use near, place in, or drop into water or other liquid.
(what other liquid would that be?)
But the one that just blew my mind (pun intended) was this one:
Never use while sleeping
WHAT?!?!
I'm all for effeciency and multi-tasking but, um, wtf?
Labels: random
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
iPhone Mania
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Most Dramatic 5 Seconds On The Internet
Friday, June 15, 2007
Well, I've Never Heard It Before
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Random Thing About Me--#9
The first CD I ever bought (you know, back when they were NEW, I'm talking 1989/1990 here...) was:
MC Hammer -- Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em.
Drove my roommates a little batty. Right John? Vince?
But you can't, you know. U can't touch this:
Come on, you know you love it. The pants, the moves, the lyrics, the amazing video technology! You know you are grooving to it right now even as you are laughing.
(Kurt just came in while I was watching the video and did a quick move a la Hammer. Something to behold...)
Did you know Hammer has a blog?
MC Hammer -- Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em.
Drove my roommates a little batty. Right John? Vince?
But you can't, you know. U can't touch this:
Come on, you know you love it. The pants, the moves, the lyrics, the amazing video technology! You know you are grooving to it right now even as you are laughing.
(Kurt just came in while I was watching the video and did a quick move a la Hammer. Something to behold...)
Did you know Hammer has a blog?
Friday, June 08, 2007
Meme-o-Rama
Yesterday I sent a meme around and also posted my response on my Bookshelf blog. I sent the meme to six people, one of whom informed me kindly that she doesn't respond to memes (they are like chain letters) and I totally understood. I haven't heard from three of the six at all and the two that took up my meme gauntlet wrote theirs out. They are Will and frazgo. Both are bloggers at my favorite morning read: Metroblogging LA.
I wanted to do a non-book related set of 8 on this blog so here I go.
Eight Randome Things about Julia:
8. The doctors told my parents I was going to be a boy (this was 1966) and my dad was over the moon as in all his marriages, save one, there were only girls. And I was probably his last shot for another boy. I was not out yet and already named Frank Paul Rivas (after my dad's father). Lo and behold, January 1967 rolls around and guess what? I'm not a boy. So they had to come up with a girl's name. My mom tells me thad my dad suggested Julie, but she said, let's make it more formal with Julia. Done. My birth certificate says Julia Louise Rivas.
7. Speaking of not being a boy, one of my most painful (non-family related) memories from childhood happened when I was about seven or eight. My hair was always short and I was a little bit of a tomboy. One day I was at Kahala Mall with my mom and we were in Hickory Farms. As she was shopping, I was looking at this giant wheel of cheese and reached out to touch the wax cover. A man in the store said, "Don't touch that, son." If I was ever in a situation where I had to act out a scene and cry, I would use that moment as a way to bring tears. Why was it so painful? Not 100% sure, I'll have to write about it later.
6. I love to drive. LOVE it. In Hawaii you could get your license at 15, so when I was sophomore, I had a carpool. I have never owned an automatic car and can't ever see myself doing so. (Except if we are buying a Prius and have no choice.)
5. I believe strongly in the Golden Rule and karma. I feel my Karma bank is pretty full so I do burn points from time to time.
4. I like candy corn and loathe necco wafers.
3. Not only do I want to make movies, but I want to run a non-profit movie theater so the tickets are cheap, the popcorn even cheaper and people come just to watch movies they love. All proceeds would go to film preservation and scholarships for young filmmakers.
2. In 6th grade my mom painted my face like Gene Simmons and I lip-synced a Kiss song in a talent show. Yes, there are photos somewhere, no I don't have them to post. You'll have to ask my mom.
1. I am constantly amazed and in awe of life here on planet earth. There is a lot of hate and ugliness, I know, but there is so much joy and beauty in so many things every day. I am so happy to be here and don't want to leave for a long time.
I wanted to do a non-book related set of 8 on this blog so here I go.
Eight Randome Things about Julia:
8. The doctors told my parents I was going to be a boy (this was 1966) and my dad was over the moon as in all his marriages, save one, there were only girls. And I was probably his last shot for another boy. I was not out yet and already named Frank Paul Rivas (after my dad's father). Lo and behold, January 1967 rolls around and guess what? I'm not a boy. So they had to come up with a girl's name. My mom tells me thad my dad suggested Julie, but she said, let's make it more formal with Julia. Done. My birth certificate says Julia Louise Rivas.
7. Speaking of not being a boy, one of my most painful (non-family related) memories from childhood happened when I was about seven or eight. My hair was always short and I was a little bit of a tomboy. One day I was at Kahala Mall with my mom and we were in Hickory Farms. As she was shopping, I was looking at this giant wheel of cheese and reached out to touch the wax cover. A man in the store said, "Don't touch that, son." If I was ever in a situation where I had to act out a scene and cry, I would use that moment as a way to bring tears. Why was it so painful? Not 100% sure, I'll have to write about it later.
6. I love to drive. LOVE it. In Hawaii you could get your license at 15, so when I was sophomore, I had a carpool. I have never owned an automatic car and can't ever see myself doing so. (Except if we are buying a Prius and have no choice.)
5. I believe strongly in the Golden Rule and karma. I feel my Karma bank is pretty full so I do burn points from time to time.
4. I like candy corn and loathe necco wafers.
3. Not only do I want to make movies, but I want to run a non-profit movie theater so the tickets are cheap, the popcorn even cheaper and people come just to watch movies they love. All proceeds would go to film preservation and scholarships for young filmmakers.
2. In 6th grade my mom painted my face like Gene Simmons and I lip-synced a Kiss song in a talent show. Yes, there are photos somewhere, no I don't have them to post. You'll have to ask my mom.
1. I am constantly amazed and in awe of life here on planet earth. There is a lot of hate and ugliness, I know, but there is so much joy and beauty in so many things every day. I am so happy to be here and don't want to leave for a long time.
