[ random acts of alex ]

Fri, 20 May 2005 16:51:16 GMT

Up And Moved

After weeks of frustration trying to get this site to work on my desktop, I've decided to start over fresh. Well, mostly fresh.

Who am I kidding? It'll be remarkably similar to this site. Just somewhere else.

Still me, though:

[ new and maybe slightly improved random acts of alex ]

Tue, 26 Apr 2005 18:38:54 GMT

Miss Me?

Yes, I know I haven't posted in ages. Apologies to everyone who began feeling their lives caving in from my absence. It happens. But I live and this site does, too.

Actually, what happens are the problems my computers have thrown my way lately and that have made posting to this site a chore that I just haven't had time for. But I'll throw out a few quick hits right now to get everyone caught up (myself included):

Iowa: It was great. Spent a week in the tensy bit of central Iowa called Grinnell. Marcela and her friends made me feel right at home in their little corner of the dorm, never making me feel for a moment that I was some outsider invading their college lives. Only disappointment: didn't go to the truck stop. Next time, maybe. Did get to see anti-abortion activists and their butcher shop photos. That was a nice surprise after lunch.
The new Pope: From Germany. Ha. Oh, the ironies. But now that they've picked one, can we get off the 24 hour Vatican coverage? Sorry, but there are more important things going on in the world. Speaking of which...
Paris and Nicole: Who gives a rat's ass if they're friends or not?
Coaching: For those out of the loop, one of the items sucking the most time out of my precious allotment each day has been my coaching duties. I'm one of the two coaches for the girls soccer team at my high school. So every afternoon and weekend gets taken up by that, and will continue to do so until the third week of May when the end of season tournament rolls around. Can't wait.
Chinese food: I'm trying to learn to make it on my own. It's going about as well as you'd imagine. Probably worse.
Currently reading: Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Great read if you have an interest in how the United States got started. Is over 800 pages, though. Also reading One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest for my first period class, but that's work.

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 18:08:31 GMT

WTF Do You Do In Iowa?

Have you ever been to Iowa? Probably not, but if you have, I need some pointers.

Here's the deal: next week is my spring break and I'm headed to Grinnell, Iowa to spend it with Marcela at her college. Big burning question is what to do with that week. Marcela really doesn't know because she's always been so busy with her studies that she really hasn't sight-seen much. She has mentioned visiting the World's Largest Truck Stop, and while that does interest me more than I should admit, it's not going to take seven days to explore. Three max.

So what does one do with a week in Iowa? There's only so much corn I can stare at. There's no presidential campaign going on to stir things up. I don't think I have time to set up a proper meth lab. Kevin Costner left years ago. Shoot, for all I know, the corn fields don't talk anymore.

See my problem? So if you have any suggestions to spare, I'd love to hear them.

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 17:35:20 GMT

Hardy Har Har

Want to see a really, really cool picture? Proof that there is water on Mars? Have a look.

Once you stop laughing, here's another hilarious space joke: What's E.T. short for?

...

He's only got little legs!

Ha ha hahahaha ha ha haha ha ha ha ... ha ... ummm....

Those astronomers: such a hoot.

Mon, 04 Apr 2005 18:34:46 GMT

Wanna Share A Secret?

Everyone's got secrets. You. Me. Even the Pope had secrets he took to his grave. We may never share, know, or even have a forum for these secrets because some things are just a tad too personal to let out into the open, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I could tell you some whoppers, but who might they hurt? Who could destroy me with their secrets?

It is nice to unburden yourself, though, especially if this secret hangs around your neck like a fifteen pound bowling ball. Confessionals can serve that purpose, I suppose. But wouldn't it be nice to be able to share your secret with the whole world anonymously? Just put it out there in a creative way that expresses what you've been unable to express?

Now you can. Just need a postcard, a little courage, and the ability to put that secret into a few words. A stamp helps, too.

Check out PostSecret and be prepared to be moved by what others haven't told you.

Sun, 03 Apr 2005 18:22:59 GMT

Back Up

Well, I finally caved in and switched this site over from my laptop to the desktop after a week of fighting with the innards of the laptop. The innards won, for those keeping score at home.

What is causing all the problems with the computer, you may not be asking? Panda antivirus software. I installed it and everything went haywire. I tried to uninstall it and it stubbornly refused to untangle itself from the aforementioned innards. I've ripped. I've pulled. I've gotten most of it out, but still having problems connecting to the wireless network in my home.

So here's my quick review of Panda Titanium Antivirus 2005 software: it's the sucky suck.

Fri, 25 Mar 2005 18:35:46 GMT

Just So Everyone Is On The Same Page

If I ever get to the point where I'm labled as being "in a persistent vegetative state," am connected to feeding tubes because I can't feed myself and probably won't ever be able to again, and rip my family apart on national television over the right to represent my wishes in both courts of law and public opinion, let me be very clear as to what I want: death. As quick and painlessly as possible. Don't have to starve me for a week. Nope, you can go ahead and inject me full of whatever they give baby killers and put me out of my misery.

Ok? Thanks.

If you feel the need (like me) to declare your wishes in a public forum, go ahead and use the comments below. Better safe than sorry.

Fri, 25 Mar 2005 18:02:09 GMT

Americanized

Someone check out the American version of The Office and let me know if it is anywhere close to as good as the original BBC episodes. Tuesday nights. NBC.

Probably won't be, but I'd still like to know.

Thu, 24 Mar 2005 17:18:47 GMT

#14 Paris Hilton's Fame

Check out New Scientist's facinating list of thirteen things that do not make sense.