New Hobbies

So, my dad died over a year ago and one of the items I inherited was a 1983 Fender Stratocaster. I had initially planned to have it encased in a box with some of his other items and make a glass coffee table or something, but I had a tugging feeling not to. A guitar, especially a 1983 Fender Strat, isn't meant to be stared at behind a pane of tempered glass.

Over the Independence weekend of 2009, we had a family reunion from his side. One particular detail about the reunion that had a major impact on the decision I'm about to let you in on was the full-blown family band that played every night. This wasn't singing songs around the campfire. There were microphones, guitars everywhere, stacks of speakers and amps, keyboards, as well as a box full of other miscellaneous instruments, like tambourines, maracas, and a bunch of stuff I've seen but never heard the name of. Everyone was musically gifted it seemed. One person was missing though, obviously, both literally and metaphorically.

That was the weekend I decided to take up guitar. To honor my Dad, and hopefully, I can be come as gifted a guitar player as he was.

So, I've also recently purchased a not-so-used Ibanez acoustic guitar. Now I have two guitars and no skill. I can at least say I know the main chords. I'm still waiting for that epiphany where suddenly, it all comes together.

Compression Explosion

The URL shrinking explosion (oxymoron?) is really fun. How? Let me first explain how it works.

Step 1. Go to a url shrinking website such as TinyURL.com,is.gd, or bit.ly

Step 2. Copy and paste any website into their URL shrinking machines, and hit Enter.

Step 3. Copy and paste the new and improved URL somewhere else, like a web browser. Presto!

Here's where it gets fun. Notice the smaller URL? Try changing the last few characters of the URL into something else. For example. http://tinyurl.com/lme9l6 will become http://tinyurl.com/nekkid.

It's almost as cool as typing anything into Google.com and clicking the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button, except it might have NOTHING to do with what you actually typed into the URL.

For added enjoyment, put a shady URL into an URL compressor and shrink it. Take the new URL and put it into a different URL compressor. Repeat. Continue this with other URL shrinking sites as much as you want and post the final link somewhere. Watch chaos ensue.

Have fun!

It's That Time of Year Again

Happy HALLOWEEN

the MIX

This is a fun community. Unlike MySpace or Facebook, they actually talk about things. It's really nice to read articles and ideas from interesting and smart people. I think everyone should be part of something.

Currently, in the past few episodes, Epic-FU has launched a mystery. A puzzle game of sorts. It's about an awakening of the internet. It is cult-like in that, you take a pledge to make it to the next level. It starts here. Check it out. Maybe, you should join up and share your ideas as to what happened.

It kind of reminds me of not pron

EPIC-FU - art+tech+music for geeks

This is the cool new site called EPIC-FU. I found it while watching one of the YouTube videos from my blog.  I was hooked.  It's a truely informative video blog site. They pretty much scour the internet for you to find some really cool and interesting stuff. From free LEGAL music downloads to the latest tech gadgetry and web sites, this is a collection of the cool shit they've found so far. Check out  the "Everyday Normal Guy" video by comedian Jon Lajoie. I thought it was pretty funny.

They've also got the entire list of links they blog about in that episode so you don't have to remember all the neat links or try writing all them down to visit later. 

So, the next time you've got nothing much to do but surf, check it out.

EPIC-FU - art+tech+music for geeks

Mannequins

I want a mannequin.  Not one of those clear torso pieces or those hourglass shaped lumps, but a tall, full, two-armed, two-legged complete  mannequin.  One that I can dress, decorate and simply show off (of course it'd have to be female.).  Sound gay?

Think about it, how cool would it be to have a mannequin sitting in the corner of your room, on a chair or bench dressed in some really hot clothes for a sweet party.  You could throw a grass skirt on her and call it a luau.  Give her a beer, a top-hat and a cane, dress her in white throw on a cup and you've got the BEST center/conversation piece.  It's like having the larggest action figure, what fun!

You would be looked apon as an artsy type, even though she's sitting next to a bottle of beer.  Posable fun with mannequins.  Playing chess, reading a book, HELL take her with you on the freeway and you could have instant access to the carpool lane.

I think it'd be great to have a center piece of about 7 or 8 mannequins just lounging on a LoveSac, expressionless and still.  It'd be amazing.