tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34512602024-02-28T10:00:10.977-06:00Aim for the Headthe prequelMark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comBlogger242125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-914295992003-03-26T13:48:00.000-06:002003-03-26T13:49:11.000-06:00So I had to move my blog again, cuz I got kicked off. It's <a href="http://www.freewebs.com/thegat/">located here</a> now. Sorry for all the moving around.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-910447812003-03-20T01:04:00.000-06:002003-03-20T01:07:04.000-06:00The war is on. Saddam, just give up soon, man.
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<br />In completely unrelated news, i moved <a href="http://www20.brinkster.com/thegat/blog.html">my blog to a new location</a>. Enjoy. Tell me if it sucks.Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-909785282003-03-19T01:40:00.000-06:002003-03-19T16:15:18.000-06:00<a href="http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/opinion/0303/17special_wiesel.html">Nobel Peace laureate for intervention in Iraq</a>
<br />A pro-war editorial from Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.
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<br /><a href="http://www.boston.com/globe/magazine/2003/0416/twinkies.htm?">In Defense of Twinkies</a>
<br />Still healthier than bacon, according to the article. In other news, stabbing still worse than poisoning. But anything's better than two moms <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/showcase/chi-0303150221mar15.story?">pepper spraying each other at school</a>.
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<br />Went with a few friends to go see <i><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/BendItLikeBeckham-1119809/">Bend It Like Beckham</a></i>, kind of on a whim. I know Phil Yu already mentioned this on <a href="http://minsoolove.com/go/jive.html">his blog</a>. It was very entertaining, about an Indian girl in London who wants to go play soccer but her parents are against it, because of traditional Indian cultural roles for women. Lots of <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/MyBigFatGreekWedding-1113661/"><i>My Big Fat Greek Wedding</i></a> style comedy and non-cheesy feel-good stuff. Nothing particularly original or groundbreaking, but still with some good thoughts about people trying to understand each other.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-909087592003-03-18T00:57:00.000-06:002003-03-19T14:49:25.000-06:00Had a Guinness. Didn't have a <a href="http://www.ianwolff.com/shamrokshake.htm">Shamrock Shake</a>, although I really want one, now that I think about it. Strong Bad doesn't have time, <a href="http://homestarrunner.com/arcadegame.html">he's playing video games</a>.
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<br />Saddam and friends have <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030317-7.html">48 hours to leave</a> the premises. Please, please get out of there dude.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-908431792003-03-17T01:30:00.000-06:002003-03-17T01:48:49.000-06:00Happy St. Patrick's Day. Some pool hall near me is offering free pool all day Monday, which sounds awfully tempting.
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<br /><a href="http://www.suntimes.com/output/entertainment/cst-nws-osama16.html?">Bin Laden niece envisions career as pop singer</a>
<br />Yeah. I've always wanted to dunk, too. Speaking of crazy things that can never happen, NFL QB prospect Kyle Boller can <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/don_banks/news/2003/03/13/boller">throw a football over 50 yards on his knees</a>. Damn.
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<br />I'm sure everyone by now has heard about the Dixie Chicks dissing Dubya at one of their concerts, and <a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=501&e=1&u=/ap/natalie_maines">country radio stations pulling their album from airplay</a>. I'm not arguing their right to do it, but the punishment doesn't seem to fit the crime. Apparently country fans are in a huff that the Dixies are not being "patriotic" enough. And I despise more comment like this: "The emotion of the callers telling us about their fathers and sons and brothers who are overseas now and who fought in previous wars was very specific," said Jim Jacobs, president of Jacobs Broadcast Group.
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<br />Now, I've never been in a war, but from everything I gather, it's a pretty terrible damn thing. I've talked to veterans and none of them speak about their war experience like the way me and my buddies banter about going to college together. If the peril of fighting doesn't kill them on the battlefield, then often the emotional scars do afterwards. All of those soldiers overseas, I hope they get home in one piece, because they are too precious a sacrifice for whatever it is we're fighting. Yet, in some circles, I would be considered "unpatriotic" for this opinion; a spineless cowering liberal America-hater. I just don't understand why.
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<br />Anyway. <i>Alias</i> was ok. The Rambaldi plotline looks like it is coming to a close. My mom made the (true) observation that all the female characters, aside from Sydney, are turncoats and completely unreliable. Also, I love Marshall, but that stuttering Rainman thing he does is getting really tired and old.
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<br />I am shamelessly stealing a link from <a href="http://minsoolove.com/go/jive.html">Phil Yu's blog</a>: <a href="http://www.helpsavelarry.com/">Larry vs. The Bus</a>
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<br />Drafted my second fantasy baseball team on Sunday. Here are the results by round:
<br />1. Pujols, 3b/1b
<br />2. Tejada, SS
<br />3. Mulder, SP
<br />4. Mussina, SP
<br />5. Burrell, OF
<br />6. Foulke, RP
<br />7. Castillo, 2b
<br />8. Konerko, 1b
<br />9. Dunn, OF/1b
<br />10. Clemens, SP (I can't believe I took a 40 yr old pitcher. Ugh.)
<br />11. Julio, RP
<br />12. Roberts, OF
<br />13. Dye, OF
<br />14. Marrero, C
<br />15. Looper, RP
<br />16. Lee, OF
<br />17. Radke, SP
<br />18. Lilly, SP
<br />19. Phelps, DH
<br />20. Villafuerte, RP
<br />21. Johnson, C
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<br />I have to get rid of Clemens, no matter what, hopefully for an upgrade at OF.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-907969222003-03-16T01:26:00.000-06:002003-03-16T01:30:59.000-06:00<a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0315/1524172.html">Athletics say they will not re-sign Miguel Tejada after season</a>
<br />It seems really bizarre to make it a public statement like this. The owners also say they're not going to trade him either. They're just gonna let this guy, coming off an MVP-caliber season at age 27, play it out and just let him go. What'll they do with Eric Chavez when he comes up for free agency after next season? Not a good day for A's fans.
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<br />Funniest thing heard over the weekend was SNL's Weekend Update commenting on those asinine <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/11/politics/main543555.shtml">"freedom" fries</a>:
<br />"In other news, American cheese sold in France now renamed 'idiot' cheese."
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<br />For you font geeks, a font based on <a href="http://www.orangeitalic.com/fonts/harrison.shtml">George Harrison's handwriting</a>, for the ultimate in spooky fan worship/check forgery.
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<br />My inner geek wants to watch the <a href="http://www.scifi.com/dune/"><i>Children of Dune</i></a> special on SciFi, but I have to tape <i>Alias</i>. I'm sure I can download it on the web somewhere anyway.
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<br />Dang. It was *gorgeous* outside today.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-906957582003-03-14T00:51:00.000-06:002003-03-14T01:00:44.000-06:00<a href="http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=TL&Date=20030313&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=303130323&Ref=AR&Profile=1007&SectionCat=NEWS02">Woman's birthmark issue in EEOC suit</a>
<br />That is one crazy birthmark. You feel terrible that she can't get a job, but at a certain point I think she has to realize that perhaps she should find another line of work. But her former employers shouldn't have made it seem like everything was fine if it wasn't.
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<br />I take for granted that people want to live their lives with real purpose (i.e., not just for money, fame, etc). Cuz lots of people don't. That just makes no sense to me. (Have I been spending time with too many staffworkers or what?) I'm far from considering myself special in any way, much less because I really want to do something significant and selfless with my life. I shouldn't be special because of that; hopefully everyone would want to be like that. Anyway. I hope I still have all this rose-colored sunshine coming out of my ass when I finally <b>do</b> become a teacher.
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<br />It's going to be 50 in Chicago(!). Time to go enjoy it.
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<br />I just realized that I need to get 3 As out of 4 English classes I'm taking as a non-matriculant. Total buzzkill on that good weather. I gotta be clutch.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-906374692003-03-13T01:16:00.000-06:002003-03-13T01:19:16.000-06:00<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/03/12/smart.kidnapping/index.html">Elizabeth Smart found alive</a>
<br />I imagine her being trapped in a fallout shelter in the mountains like the Bauer daughter on <i>24</i>. But it's not the weirdest story out there: <a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=594&e=2&cid=594&u=/nm/20030312/hl_nm/girl_coma_dc">Girl Emerges from Coma During Bryan Adams Concert</a>. Is anybody else instantly reminded of that moment in <i>High Fidelity</i> when the middle-aged guy walks into the music store and asks for a Richard Marx album, and Jack Black yells back at him how "there's no WAY that's your daughter's favorite album. Wait, is she in a coma?"
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<br />Happy birthday to Max. Went to an interesting Italian/Mexican restaurant called Privata Cafe and the food was much better than expected. I dunno. The chianti helped.
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<br />Classes start at the end of month. I have to get my butt in gear with the financial aid.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-905748362003-03-12T01:46:00.000-06:002003-03-12T01:50:51.000-06:00<a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/">The Quotations Page - Your Source for Famous Quotes</a>
<br />One of those useful things to have around. Here is an excerpt (rather than a quote) of something J.R.R. Tolkien wrote in a letter to a friend that I find interesting:
<br />"Actually I am a Christian, and indeed a Roman Catholic, so that I do not expect 'history' to be anything but a 'long defeat' - though it contains (and in a legend may contain more clearly and movingly) some samples or glimpses of final victory."
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<br />Talk to the <a href="http://www.absolutebob.com/soundboards/lee.html">Bruce Lee soundboard</a>.
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<br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/883783.asp?0dm=C13JB">Bush signs 'do-not-call' list bill</a>
<br />"Telemarketers say the registry will devastate their business." Well, that's the idea. And by the way, could MSNBC have a crappier looking site? Honestly, my frigging blog looks better.
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<br />Tired. Time for bed.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-905072132003-03-11T00:34:00.000-06:002003-03-11T00:37:51.000-06:00<a href="http://www.phoneboothmovie.com/index2.html">Phone Booth</a>
<br />I just saw the trailer for this tonight, and it at least looks intriguing. All the action rotates around the phonebooth itself, apparently. Kinda reminds me in one concept to <i>Rear Window</i> in that the audience is confined to a very small space.
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<br />Recycle your old computers through <a href="http://www.dell.com/us/en/dhs/topics/segtopic_dell_exchange.htm">Dell's Exchange Program</a>. Works for any computers, not just Dells. Also take a look at directly <a href="http://www.sharetechnology.org/donate.html">donating your old computer hardware</a> to schools or other nonprofits in your area.
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<br />Once again, new <a href="http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail66.html">Strong Bad email</a>.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-904423662003-03-10T00:46:00.000-06:002003-03-10T00:54:51.000-06:00<a href="http://www.sportserver.com/track_field/story/799195p-5699732c.html">Legless veteran finishes L.A. Marathon</a>
<br />Apparently he's also hand-walked the length of the <i>nation</i>. Ridiculous.
<br />
<br />So I watched part of the "Return to Batcave" TV special that had the old actors from the Batman TV series back on for a reunion. Worst. Crap. Ever. This is what happens when there's no new <i>Alias</i> on.
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<br />On the first Friday of each month, the church I attend has a Benediction service. For the uninitiated, it's basically a Mass ending with the priest carrying the Eucharist around in the monstrance around the church. Very beautiful and moving, especially with this being Lent. Anyway, at the end of the service, the lector guy had us all sing "God Bless America," and it hit me weird. I obviously don't hate America, though I am quicker to point out its faults than applaud its strengths, but what are we saying? God bless us as we go to a war that not all of us are sure is right. God bless us as we bomb the hell out of people who have nothing to do with 9/11 or oil or any sort of political agenda. If war is what happens, then America is not the only place that's going to need God's blessings. Ask the people who survived things like <a href="http://www.kz-gedenkstaette-dachau.de/english/">Dachau</a>.
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<br />Ok. That was pretty heavy. The <a href="http://www.lifegem.com/">LifeGem</a> is pretty much the opposite. Now available for pets. Not quite as bad as the inventor of Frisbees who had his ashes poured into the batter for making new frisbees. Gyick.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-902886132003-03-07T01:09:00.000-06:002003-03-07T01:11:49.000-06:00Check out the posters New Line Cinema released for <a href="http://www.oscarwatch.100megs18.com/FYC/New_Line/Two_Towers/">The Two Towers</a> to promote it for Oscar nominations. Is it just me or is there a lot of Eowyn on there? Anyway, I think <a href="http://www.oscarwatch.100megs18.com/FYC/New_Line/Two_Towers/lotr11.html">this is my favorite one</a>. You can also check them out at <a href="http://www.newlineawards.com/">New Line's website</a>.
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<br />So. Being sick is still not an enjoyable experience. Just thought I'd keep everyone up to date on what it's like, as long as I'm here. There seems to be some hope on the financial aid front for school, which I'm grateful for. Either that or I'll be stuffing a whole mess of envelopes for a long time for Greg.
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<br />For all of you thinking of buying a new car, here are <a href="http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ratings.htm">the latest vehicle safety ratings</a>.
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<br />So there are people out there who <a href="http://www.shoestringdesign.co.uk/headscan/best.htm">stick their faces on scanners and send in the images</a>. (But nothing like <a href="http://extratv.warnerbros.com/dailynews/extra/05_02/05_30c.html">what Macauley Culkin looks like now</a>). I'm pretty sure Clay immediately did this when he got his scanner. I think he has <a href="http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=impulse+control+problem">impulse control problems</a>. Clay, where you at, dog. Let's go get wings sometime.
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<br />Fetch your Yahoo mail POP style with this <a href="http://yahoopops.sourceforge.net/index.html">handy little application</a>.
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<br />Have a good weekend.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-902254642003-03-06T01:18:00.000-06:002003-03-06T01:21:45.000-06:00<a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/crossgates1.html ">Man arrested for wearing PEACE tshirt</a>
<br />Yet another slam-dunk overturn. Yet another example that many police officers are half-wits. But nothing like <a href="http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2329574">this woman who wants to crucify herself.
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<br />Found <a href="http://spinmonster.com/tcse/sbe/">a Strong Bad fansite</a>. Apparently there are easter eggs buried in the cartoons. Yet another way to kill time at the office.
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<br />Walmart seems to be a little confused about <a href="http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=18786&dept=3920&product_id=454473&path=0:3920:18786:18788:18790:21194"><i>the Hobbit</i></a>.Which isn't nearly as weird as the <a href="http://www.vampire-church.com/pageweb48.html">Vampire Church</a> (although I'm glad to hear they are against child abuse) or as scary as the pic of <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/04/wkd.neil.patrick.harris.ap/index.html">Doogie Howser</a> further down the page.
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<br />Oooo. <a href="http://www.absolutebob.com/soundboards/vader.html">Darth Vader soundboard</a>.
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<br />I'm nursing one hellacious head cold, and my mom is rubbing in my face about how I should have gotten a flu shot. Oh well.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-901609582003-03-05T00:07:00.000-06:002003-03-05T00:09:23.000-06:00<a href="http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Docks/9187/lyrics.html">80s Cartoon Lyrics</a>
<br />It's been sort of a retro day. I was dowloading old Guns'N'Roses tunes, back when they still could stagger on stage and put a set together. "Baby when you need some time... all alone...."
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<br />One of my favorite directors, Cameron Crowe, has <a href="http://www.cameroncroweonline.com/">his own website</a>, called "the Uncool."
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<br />Anyone who's known for a decent amount of time knows that I often talk about people, ideas, and things that need to be done away immediately, and <a href="http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/destroy/default.asp">I've finally found somebody</a> who expresses it in the same over-angry, blowhardy, impotent way I do. There's a lot of swearing, but I can't stop laughing.
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<br /><a href="http://www.work911.com/performance/particles/stupman.htm">Ten Stupid Things Managers Do To Screw Up Performance Appraisal</a>
<br />I've run into all 10 things. Dang. And I was laid-off. Dang.
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<br /><a href="http://www.thehollandsentinel.net/stories/030403/bus_030403067.shtml">AOL looks to instant messenger for revenue</a>
<br />Seeing how AOL well has been doing lately, you can probably kiss this goodbye in the near future.
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<br />Happy Ash Wednesday.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-900997772003-03-04T01:18:00.000-06:002003-03-04T01:22:01.000-06:00<a href="http://www.sptimes.com/2003/03/03/Floridian/d_for_Word.shtml">Munch on this</a>
<br />The St. Petersburg Times nicely summarizes the eBay Cheetos phenomenon.
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<br /><a href="http://www.alloftheabove.net/cahr/">The Calvin and Hobbes Resurrection</a>
<br />A pretentious name for a nice C&H site. Why didn't I find this before? Here's the <a href="http://www.ucomics.com/calvinandhobbes/">official C&H site</a>.
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<br />I hate days when I come in and the office is really stinking cold. Mostly because no matter what, it results in me going home sick and stuffy. Dangit. Won't spring hurry up and get here.
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<br /><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/03/nkorea.intercept/index.html">U.S. to protest North Korea's 'higher-level provocation'</a>
<br />You idiots. Stop it.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-900636822003-03-03T13:11:00.000-06:002003-03-03T13:13:59.000-06:00New <a href="http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail65.html">Strong Bad email</a> for this week. I should submit a question one of these weeks.Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-900385292003-03-03T01:38:00.000-06:002003-03-03T01:45:28.000-06:00<a href="http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=RMRFQF0W1GTWMCRBAEOCFEY?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2312850">Girl baffles teacher with SMS essay</a>
<br />All that instant messenging has sent literacy standards down, apparently. An example of the girl's essay: "My smmr hols wr CWOT. B4, we used 2go2 NY 2C my bro, his GF & thr 3 :- kids FTF. ILNY, it's a gr8 plc." The irony being that this was a Scottish school.
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<br /><a href="http://www.securityfocus.com/news/2735">Monster.com warns false job postings could lead to identity theft</a>
<br />I got an email from Monster.com about this. Totally sucks. I'm thinking of having my dad take his resume off of there. And mine, while I'm at it.
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<br />Weekend was good, with my buddy Roy driving in from Minnesota (where work sent him) to visit and hang out. Lots of comments about how do I live in the perpetual cold (he's from California). The little gathering I planned for Sunday worked out great: mopping floors, cleaning tables, folding old clothes and feeling good about ourselves for doing something unselfish, except for Laura getting hit in the eye and having her contact break. Shoot. She'll be ok, except for wearing a pirate-like eyepatch for awhile. Yaaarrr.
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<br />I found out that I got into Northwestern's Master's program for Education as a non-matriculant, which is just their way of sticking it to me for not having an academic reference (I'm 5 years out of school, sue me). Which is good news. Shouldn't I be happier about this? I shouldn't let the money thing get me down too much, because that's dumb, not like I'm not going to be able to pay it off anyway. I'll probably end up going there , unless those jerks gave me NO financial aid at all. Shouldn't I be happier about this? I think it's the non-matriculant thing thats bothering me. I have a hard time getting excited about personal things.
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<br /><i>Alias</I> was aight. The re-insertion of Irina Derevko into the plot was sorta predictable (you know, cuz she's sooooo bad). I was watching with my mom and all she kept saying was "Don't ever trust girls, see what happens?" She gets <I>way</i> too into watching TV. Does anybody else think that the power of hypnosis is way too potent on this show?
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<br />Rented <i><a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/LockStockandTwoSmokingBarrels-1087056/">Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels</a></i> over the weekend. Guy Ritchie might have no taste in women, but he knows how to make slick, funny, and unintelligible comedy/caper movies. Although he pretty much made an almost identical flick 3 years later (<a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Snatch-1104078/reviews.php"><i>Snatch</i></a>). But both are entertaining, if you're into that.
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<br /><a href="http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2911728,00.html">The Lord of the Rings: War of the Ring News for PC at GameSpot</a>
<br />Due for release in 2004, sounds like a Warcraft 3 ripoff. Boo.
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<br />It's all sports from here on out. Just a heads-up.
<br />Had my first fantasy baseball draft Saturday afternoon. Here's my roster, by round (I picked 3rd out of 12):
<br />1. Unit, SP
<br />2. Manny Ramirez, OF
<br />3. Chavez, 3b
<br />4. Bagwell, 1b
<br />5. Posada, C
<br />6. Klesko, OF/1b
<br />7. Foulke, RP
<br />at this point my computer freaks out and screws me over. I don't recover until round 10.
<br />8. Renteria, SS
<br />9. Rollins, SS
<br />10. Clement, SP
<br />11. Pineiro, SP
<br />12. Jorge, RP
<br />13. Williamson, RP
<br />14. Dye, OF (the curse of David Johanson, part 1)
<br />15. Kim, RP/SP
<br />16. Ramirez, 3b
<br />17. Alou, OF (the curse of David Johanson, part 2)
<br />18. Roberts, OF
<br />19. Lilly, SP
<br />20. Oliver Perez, SP
<br />21. Rivas, 2b
<br />
<br />I already made a trade with some idiot, sending SS Rollins + RP Kim for SS Furcal + RP Gagne. The plan is to flip RP Gagne for a good base-stealing 2b like Luis Castillo or the best SP I can get. But I'm happy with how it is for now.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-898895312003-02-28T01:40:00.000-06:002003-02-28T01:50:23.000-06:00Warning: this is a sports-heavy post.
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<br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=230227027">Bullets beat Rockets 100-98</a>
<br />Only good thing on TV. MJ orders the Arby's (5-for-5 FG) to kickstart overtime to stick it to the Rockets. I can't believe a 40-yr-old guy played 50 minutes. They had some dude named Joaquin Hawkins guarding him in OT. Gimme a break, Joaquin Hawkins can't guard no Black Jesus. And as soon as the Rockets give the ball to Yao more, the more they'll win and move up from 9th place in the West.
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<br />Song I keep listening to: John Coltrane's "Blue Train." Also this catchy little ditty my brother sent to me called "Brimful of Ahsa" by Cornershop.
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<br />I was talking to one of my friends about his Cubs, and I kept on saying stuff like "oh that guy is overrated" or "throwing out baserunners is overrated." Which of course made him say, you think <i>everything</i> is overrated. There's a lot of things that are overrated, especially in a stats-heavy sport like baseball, but I tried to think of underrated things. I feel a list coming on....
<br />
<br />9 underrated things about baseball (no order)
<br />1) On-base percentage
<br />2) Pitch counts(!)
<br />3) Double plays
<br />4) "Performance" over "tools"
<br />5) Middle relievers
<br />6) Minor league development
<br />7) Organizational philosophy. A Plan. Surprising how many teams don't have one.
<br />8) Knowing where to find cheap, replaceable skills
<br />9) Supplemental draft picks gained as part of <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/features/arbitration02.html">free agent compensation</a>. The Oakland A's have been making hay on this rule for years.
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<br />What does this all mean? That I am a gigantic, smelly, unkempt loser.
<br />
<br />Probably everyone by now knows that Mr. Rogers has passed away. Truly a man everyone respected. Anyway, here's a few links:
<br />-<a href="http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2297434">Mr. Rogers Dead of Cancer at 74</a> - Reuters official write-up.
<br />-<a href="http://www.misterrogers.org/">Family Communications, Inc.</a> - dedicated to providing resources to help educators and parents.
<br />-<a href="http://pbskids.org/rogers/">Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood</a> - PBS site
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<br />No matter what my views on politics or American evangelical culture, I can certainly agree to <a href="http://www.heartlight.org/fast/">fast for the President and my country</a>.
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<br /><a href="http://www.local6.com/orlpn/news/stories/news-200610020030226-120212.html">Deadly Viper Venom Used To Make New Vodka</a>
<br />I don't blame them. I blame the ones who told them, oh Sergei, of course, that is a good idea, make vodka out of poisonous snakes. "Regular snake vodka usually involves stuffing a dead snake into a bottle of vodka." For the love of everything good, why.
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<br />Hmm. <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2914544450">Brad Pitt fart in a jar</a> for sale.
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<br />Got some friends coming into town this weekend, along with my brother. Should be fun. Oooh, and my first fantasy baseball draft is Saturday. Another nerdy sports post in the works.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-898241702003-02-27T00:51:00.000-06:002003-02-27T01:01:46.000-06:00<a href="http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_203667.html">Ananova - FBI investigates spoof 'bonsai kitten' website</a>
<br />Reminds me of when at my old job, some lady emailed us about the possible evil of Harry Potter (when those books were first coming out) and could she point out some sources for her to read up on? Because apparently some neighbor of hers had told her that Harry Potter was bad, and one of the sources she'd cited was a headline from <i>The Onion</i>. I forwarded it onto the editors at <i>The Onion</i>, figured they deserved a pat on the back for a job well done.
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<br /><a href="http://availablelight.net/">Available Light</a> is a site maintained by some photographer guy. It has some cool photos on it, and a photoblog, altho that seems to be down for the moment.
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<br />Work work today. Pretty straightforward. Gotta get paid. Same thing for Thursday. My brother's coming up this weekend, so that'll be good. Had a really good conversation with one of my old friends about a <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/003/29.37.html">CT editorial</a> I read about Bono. A really good conversation about American evangelical culture and its slow grasp of Bono and U2 and most forms of art that are not completely, headsmackingly obvious about being Christian. I think it's really easy for me to get angry about the narrow-minded perspectives of people like evangelicals, and I might even be justified in my anger, but in the end I must realize that just being angry doesn't fix anything. So. I will try and be better, and more hopeful that the American church, heck Christians everywhere, can better understand this world, so we can better be Christ to it.
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<br />For those of you who are looking for little shortcuts to make your work on a computer more efficient (this means you, Clay Anderson), then try out <a href="http://thewonderfulicon.com/">The Wonderful Icon</a>. Sort of a jack of all trades program that can create hotkeys or macros for simple functions.
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<br /><a href="http://www.nature.com/nsu/030217/030217-14.html">New gauze promotes natural healing</a>
<br />Seriously? This is cool. All natural, too.
<br />
<br />They unveiled the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/02/26/wtc.finalist.ap/">new plans for the WTC site</a>.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-897623982003-02-26T00:45:00.000-06:002003-02-26T01:00:40.000-06:00<a href="http://www.conquerfrance.com/index.html">Nous Rendons</a>
<br />A brief history of French military surrenders.
<br />
<br /><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/APWires/tech/D7PDRSDO0.html>Telemarketing Tool Trumps TeleZapper</a>
<br />A telemarketing tool that penetrates home privacy defenses is upping the ante in a technology battle between sales callers and consumers seeking shelter from unsolicited calls. Those bastards!
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<br /><a href="http://foxnews.com/story/0,2933,79495,00.html">Oldest American Man Dies at 113</a>
<br />"He lived a great life. Obviously, he was well put together. He smoked cigars, drank beer and ate greasy food. He was an amazing man." Looks like I'm on the right track, especially with the gigantic bacon burger I ate last night.
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<br />After the gigantic burger, we went to go watch <i>24</i>. The Bauer daughter crap is really irritating, along with the President's wife. Does anybody else notice that she talks. really. slow? Like, "David. I only did this. To. Protect. You." Nails on chalkboard. But she seems to be the one remaining evil character out there that can still cause damage, along with the missing 7th Special Forces soldier.
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<br />Marty, I heard you haven't seen <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/AlmostFamous-1100025/"><i>Almost Famous</i></a> yet. You of all people. You need to go rent and see that this weekend. I will leave a message with your assistant.
<br />
<br />Oh, this is a few days old, but stuff about <a href="http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1035777989869&call_pageid=968332188492&col=96870589">finding 82 cat carcasses in an old lady's home</a> never gets old. Or reading about dudes who open packages and have <a href="http://www.local6.com/orlpn/news/stories/news-200273420030225-100229.html">deadly venomous snakes</a> popping out of them.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-897007882003-02-25T02:34:00.000-06:002003-02-25T02:40:30.000-06:00<a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=571&e=1&u=/nm/20030224/hl_nm/music_songs_dc">Song Stuck in Your Head? You're Not Alone</a>
<br />The worst case I've had of this is "Total Eclipse of the Heart."
<br />
<br />And on that note, song stuck inside my head: Led Zeppelin's "Over the Hills and Far Away"
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<br /><a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=516&e=5&u=/ap/20030225/ap_on_re_as/nkorea_missile">New S. Korean Leader Roh Faces Tensions</a>
<br />I'm not a huge political guy, especially in a country I don't live in anymore, but it concerns me because I have family back there and I'd rather not see them turn into ashes by some maniac sitting on nukes.
<br />
<br />Finally got around to see the <I>Alias</i> that I taped over the weekend. The Rambaldi stuff is my favorite plotline. And gimme some more Evil Francie. I also will say that I like Will more as time passes. It seems I like the character more the less he/she is involved with (irritating) romantic entanglements. I guess that pretty much goes for every show I watch.
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<br />Took the day off of work to see to my mom, who sprained her foot over the weekend. So we took Auntie Lydia (who's not really my aunt, but you get it) to go visit this old, beautiful city church my mom had heard about and wanted to visit. The place is called <a href="http://www.qasbasilica.org/">Queen of All Saints Basilica</a> (no pics on the site, tho), near Devon and Cicero. Really beautiful stained glasswork, and a lot of it, with the requisite depictions of the Virgin Mary, saints, and scenes from Scripture. Everyone's seen stained glass but these stood out to me in terms of how much of it there was, along with the ornate detail. Today was a little overcast but the glass still looked spectacular. I should have been smart and brought a camera, which I'll do next time I visit.
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<br />New <a href="http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail64.html">Strong Bad email</a>. And here's the link to the <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2914060081&category=1469">breakfast burrito auction</a> Homestar mentioned, although they'll likely take it down soon. Youw pwobabwy wight.
<br />
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-896331342003-02-24T03:43:00.000-06:002003-02-24T03:49:58.000-06:00<a href="http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/5246385.htm">Raised Middle Finger Is Ancient Gesture</a>
<br />Um, just wondering, how is this "Breaking News"? Sorta timely, as my friends and I were having a conversation involving swearing (and drinking and other smaller, perhaps minor vices) in the context of being a Christian.
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<br />Watched the "No Way Out" WWE pay-per-view with Dave. Disappointingly straightforward, with no real plot twists or double-crosses. Good to see the Rock return to the ring as a heel (bad guy). And I am so sick of Hulk Hogan. Almost as sick as I am about <a href="http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0222/1512991.html">Frank Thomas' small girlish whining about how he is so wronged</a>. The worst is the implication about how his $5 million salary is somehow insufficient for his lifestyle, and he needs to take care of his kids. "As far as the money thing, I've got kids to support and a lifestyle to support and I like living my lifestyle." Ooo, how do all those other parents do it without $5 mill. Fricking blasphemous. I can't believe I had that guy's poster on my wall at one point.
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<br />I may stay home Monday, partially because my mom sprained her foot and I feel a little uneasy about leaving her alone at home, partially because I'd like to stay home with the crappy weather out. Perhaps <a href="http://madtbone.tripod.com/">the Mother of All Work Excuses page</a> can help me out.
<br />
<br />I haven't been to McSweeney's in awhile. I also have a neurotic compulsion about making lists of things, kinda like Jon Cusack's character in <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/HighFidelity-1095420/"><i>High Fidelity</i></a> who's always making lists of the top 5 best albums or best songs or whatever. So <a href="http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/">McSweeney's has just a list of weird things</a>, that probably only I find interesting, because I irrationally like looking at lists of things, no matter how useless.
<br />
<br />Rented <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Brazil-1003033/"><i>Brazil</i></a> over the weekend. Quite possibly one of the weirdest, most bizarre things I've ever seen. Definitely not for everyone. In the proud tradition of futuristic doomsday type art, with Aldous Huxley's <i>Brave New World</i> being the most well-known example. <i>Brazil</I> might be the story of a doomed future society where bureacracy ruins everything about life, but it has a winsome, tongue-in-cheek attitude that makes it more comedic than most doomsday type movies/literature. But one of the weirdest movies I've ever seen, along with <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/MulhollandDr-1110157/"><I>Mulholland Drive</i></a>.
<br />
<br />Made some headway in transferring this blog's stuff to my own webspace. I hope to get it done by this weekend.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-894832322003-02-21T00:53:00.000-06:002003-02-21T01:02:45.000-06:00<a href="http://www.starwars.com/eu/news/2003/02/news20030220.html">Lucasfilm & Cartoon Network Announce: Star Wars: Clone Wars</a>
<br />This sounds like one of those cool things that can end up being really lame. But the guy who'd do the cartoon is the same guy who does <a href="http://www.auntiemomo.com/samuraijack/"><i>Samurai Jack</i></a>, so there is still hope.
<br />
<br />In other news, <a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=794&e=18&u=/eo/20030220/en_movies_eo/11308">Dr. Octopus</a> has been cast for the Spiderman sequel in 2004.
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<br />For those of you who haven't seen <a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/030219/161/3b91m.html&e=16">Mike Tyson's new facial tattoo</a>. That idiot is gonna get all to' UP this weekend.
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<br />It's not gonna work, but <a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=598&e=5&u=/nm/20030220/film_nm/film_movieads_dc">Miriam Fisch is my hero</a> for snapping back at movie theatre chains for those damn commercials before the movie. But it's not gonna work.
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<br /><a href="http://www.bonnaroo.com/2003/index.htm">Bonnaroo Music Festival</a>
<br />Happening June 13-15 in Tennessee. Confirmed performers like the Dead, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Widespread Panic, James Brown, The Roots, Sonic Youth, and a whole mess of drugs.
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<br /><a href="http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,6016392%5E1702,00.html">Organs have been found for that girl</a> who had organs donated only to find them incompatible with her blood type.
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<br />So WinterFest is this weekend, which means a lot of what I had to do for work is over. Good and bad, I guess, because there's no point in showing up if there's no work. On the other hand, Greg can't afford to pay me forever, so maybe it's good for both of us if I get a little respite. Whatever. Can NU get back to me so I can get on with my life. Also, I sort of wish I could turn in my body for a new one, like I did with my cellphone yesterday. "Yah I don't like this one, what better deal can I get." Cuz my leg is STILL hurting. Aren't you supposed to get better as time passes? I have to start doing something more about this. I don't want to be a gimp anymore.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-894274402003-02-20T05:52:00.000-06:002003-02-20T14:59:11.000-06:00<a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=571&e=20&u=/nm/20030219/hl_nm/medical_residents_dc">Medical Residents Limited to 80-Hour Week</a>
<br />So it's not quite such a sweatshop anymore. How bad is it that you have to <i>require</i> an 80 hour work week?
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<br /><a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=544&e=15&u=/ap/20030219/ap_on_go_pr_wh/brf_anti_bush_t_shirt">Anti-Bush T-Shirt Banned at Mich. School</a>
<br />The second sure-fire, lead-pipe lock of a lawsuit of the week.
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<br /><a href="http://news.com.com/2100-1023-985018.html?tag=fd_top">Microsoft going after Hotmail spammers</a>
<br />Microsoft might win the battle, but spammers have already won the war.
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.thestranger.com/2003-02-20/feature.html">The Stranger</a> wants all the pro-war and anti-war people, everybody, to shut up. "Nobody gives a crap what anti-war or pro-war writers think. Really. So shut up. That goes double for poets. Shut the hell up, poets. Everybody just shut up." Although they are all for the Onion, which is reporting that <a href="http://www.theonion.com/onion3906/iraq_kentucky_vie.html">Iraq and Kentucky are vieing for world shooting-in-the-air supremacy</a>. "Whether shooting to celebrate a successful moonshine heist from neighboring kinfolk or the downfall of an imperialist Western regime, Kentucky and Iraq bring an undeniable passion and pride to their craft."
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<br />Got a new cellphone, so bye bye crappy Voicestream service. At least I hope. I am craving Mexican food. I missed my deadline for sending in my timesheet, so I won't get paid for awhile (CRAP I'm stupid).
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3451260.post-893838662003-02-19T13:51:00.000-06:002003-02-19T13:53:13.000-06:00Sorry. Blogger was broken for awhile.
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<br /><a href="http://asia.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/02/18/transplant.error/">Girl tops transplant list after error</a>
<br />Pretty much the stone-cold lead-pipe lock lawsuit of the century. Man, I hope they find some organs for her.
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<br />Song(s) stuck in my head: Stevie Wonder, "Superstition". Also "We're Going to be Friends" by the White Stripes.
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<br />Check out some samples from <a href="http://msn.espn.go.com/page2/s/closer/020228test.html">the Wonderlic Test</a>, used among other things to test the intelligence of NFL prospects before the draft. Not exactly the SAT.
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<br />Saw a replay of the <a href="http://www.pokerpages.com/tournament/schedule720.htm">2002 World Series in Poker</a> on ESPN. The funniest part is how they stack the piles of cash on the table while the last 2 dudes are playing it out. Some sort of psychological torture looking at $3 million in 100s mountained in front of you. Then flipped over to watch the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=230218013">Lakers/Rockets</a>. Kobe8 goes for fitty-two, throwing up gaudy, Black-Jesus-circa-1986 numbers.
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<br />Went to an information session about Northwestern's Masters of Science in Education program. I feel more like my academic record and GPA is going to hurt my chances, but whatever. I'm a little mad because I think I found out some things that would have behooved me to know earlier, and I have no one to blame but myself. At least I know now. Also noticed that all the hotties are in the elementary education program, not in my secondary education section. Dang.
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<br />I am going to take advantage of Columbia House's 5 DVDs for 49 cents offer. Anybody have thoughts to share about good DVDs, feel free to share. The first 5 I'm getting are Shawshank Redemption, Saving Private Ryan (not great DVDs but great movies), Zoolander, Vanilla Sky and Amelie. They do not have stuff I want like the 2 disc version of Fight Club, the bootleg cut of Almost Famous or the special edition Memento. <a href="http://www.dvdtown.com/">DVDTown</a> has good reviews and easter eggs and generally good stuff on DVDs.
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<br />Want to see <a href="http://www.artzbox.com/freenames.htm">what your first name looks like in Chinese letters</a>? Probably not so thrilling for those of you who are Chinese.
<br />Mark Ahnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00695975412662760562noreply@blogger.com