Fainting Kittens - LoL!

This has got to be one of the funniest things I've ever seen. Better than goats, because you EXPECT them to have "cat-like reflexes"...

Tim Knoll BMX

Another inspiring extreme sporter...

Monster's First Bath

Man! That cat is a BEAST!
I broke a sweat just trying to wrestle him down into the water... and he struggled the whole time. Thankfully he didn't hold much of a grudge about it.

Scary, Sad, True...

Amazing Dance Skills

Really... how did I miss out on the "become an amazing dancer by the time you're 5" opportunity?!

Zip Line update 3

After my 1st two demo-runs down the line, Matt Sustaita was willing to survey the scene... I think he was scared.

 So then in an effort to make the setup more visible for a picture, I hung some random things from it...

And finally got some Guest Riders:

First was my Dad...







Then my Mom...







Then my big fat little Brother...







And I got one more in too!








It was fun, but we have more work to do before it'll be secure enough for regular adult use. For now it's "For Kids Only"... But seeing that my Mom went the fastest, we know that kids will probably have a BLAST!

Zip Line update 2

Zip Line update: Strung everything up and rode the line for the first time last night!! (2x) Needs some reinforcements to support the posts, but it definitely was fun... No vids or pics yet because it was 845pm when we finally got it up.

Zip Line update

It was a great weekend for zip-line construction!

With the help of my friend Garry, and the guidance of my father-in-law, we were able to build the main support platform and "launch deck" and stairs. Next we just need to finish our second set of stairs and string up the line! Not far to go now...

To give you an idea of scale, when I stand on the top platform, on top of the fence, my fully extended arm reaches just below the top of that post... So it's a good height, and will be a pretty awesome slope!

須藤元気（Genki Sudo） 「WORLD ORDER」の"MIND SHIFT"フルver.PV

super happy awesome music video.

Phil Davison, GOP Candidate, Delivers Stark County Treasurer Speech, 9 8...

Oh wow. This is ridiculous. Sadly funny... Now this is the kinda of impassioned leadership that can change the world!

Cartoon Planet - Minkey Boodle (Space Ghost, Zorak, Brak)

Somehow this was HILARIOUS to me when I first found it. Long-live old cartoons, forever preserved on YouTube!

I'm a survivor...

The story of one Little Caesar's Pizza:

Born an all cheese, just the day before, LCP was placed on a table next to his pepperoni flavored siblings and completely ignored. Nobody paid the all cheese any attention for the whole party. It just sat out sadly until everyone had come and gone.

The next day, LCP was brought to work and abandoned like the unwanted, toppingless oddity that it was... but that's were WE met. During a chance encounter in the lunch room, I decided to give LCP a shot. With just a little time in the toaster oven - LCP was hot again and good as new (maybe better even!).

Now I didn't have the heart/time/stomach to finish things in that one encounter, but I VOWED to help LCP fulfill its destiny (which could only be realized via my belly). So later that day I took this lonely unloved all cheese pizza home with me. LCP was grateful because it had once again spent a (mostly) lonely day sitting out on the table with little attention from anyone.

On our way home, half of LCP fell out of the box, was kicked by my shoe, and landed cheese-side up on the concrete. I immediately scooped up my beloved and abused pizza, and with shame for my neglect - I once again professed my unyielding interest in helping LCP make it to pizza heaven. Who am I, after all, to fail to show compassion to something that has already had such a hard life?!

So this morning I retoasted this two-day-old, drop-kicked to the concrete, boring all-cheese pizza and ATE IT WITH ALACRITY! And we both were satisfied.

***I tell this story because so often I witness or hear about people throwing away food, avoiding certain foods (like milk), complaining about this or that - and to those people I say - "do you have what it takes to survive in the end times!?" ... because if your stomach can't handle the good stuff now... you ain't gonna make it long when we're all living on rotten fruit and carrion. Good luck with that. I'm preparing in advance by conditioning my gut to survive offa almost anything. And I would counsel you to do the same >=Þ

Higher State of Being

I've achieved a higher state of being! Yesterday I actually FELL ASLEEP WHILE TALKING! During a training call that I was running, I dozed off for 5-10 seconds and woke up not knowing what was going on, but my mouth was still reciting the training script... At first I was scared, but now I'm wondering what else I can accomplish while sleeping!

Bizzle (Christian Rapper) - Ether (Rick Ross, Kanye West & Jay-Z!)

Sounds about right to me!

In my DREAMS...

I think in my dreams I'm spider-man sometimes... just mix sticking to walls and a "spider-sense" with this guy's agility/acrobatics and you have the stuff my dreams are made of!

Double Rainbow Guy Gets Ecstatic Over Double Down At KFC (ORIGINAL VIDEO...

The Chinups - Are You Gonna Be My Girl?

javascript:void(0)
Dying tears of ROFL when we made this...

Hilarious email chain

Message from Secretary to Graphic designer at her firm...

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.15am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Poster

Hi
I opened the screen door yesterday and my cat got out and has been missing since then so I was wondering if you are not to busy you could make a poster for me. It has to be A4 and I will photocopy it and put it around my suburb this afternoon.



This is the only photo of her I have she answers to the name Missy and is black and white and about 8 months old. missing on Harper street and my phone number.
Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne

Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.26am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
That is shocking news. Luckily I was sitting down when I read your email and not half way up a ladder or tree. How are you holding up? I am surprised you managed to attend work at all what with thinking about Missy out there cold, frightened and alone... possibly lying on the side of the road, her back legs squashed by a vehicle, calling out "Shannon, where are you?"
Although I have two clients expecting completed work this afternoon, I will, of course, drop everything and do whatever it takes to facilitate the speedy return of Missy.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 9.37am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Poster

yeah ok thanks. I know you dont like cats but I am really worried about mine. I have to leave at 1pm today.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.17am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
I never said I don't like cats. Once, having been invited to a party, I went clothes shopping beforehand and bought a pair of expensive G-Star boots. They were two sizes too small but I wanted them so badly I figured I could just wear them without socks and cut my toenails very short. As the party was only a few blocks from my place, I decided to walk. After the first block, I lost all feeling in my feet. Arriving at the party, I stumbled into a guy named Steven, spilling Malibu & coke onto his white Wham 'Choose Life' t-shirt, and he punched me. An hour or so after the incident, Steven sat down in a chair already occupied by a cat. The surprised cat clawed and snarled causing Steven to leap out of the chair, slip on a rug and strike his forehead onto the corner of a speaker; resulting in a two inch open gash. In its shock, the cat also defecated, leaving Steven with a foul stain down the back of his beige cargo pants. I liked that cat.
Attached poster as requested.
Regards, David.



From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.24am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah thats not what I was looking for at all. it looks like a movie and how come the photo of Missy is so small?
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.28am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
It's a design thing. The cat is lost in the negative space.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.33am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Thats just stupid. Can you do it properly please? I am extremely emotional over this and was up all night in tears. you seem to think it is funny. Can you make the photo bigger please and fix the text and do it in colour please. Thanks.
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.46am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

Dear Shannon,
Having worked with designers for a few years now, I would have assumed you understood, despite our vague suggestions otherwise, we do not welcome constructive criticism. I don't come downstairs and tell you how to send text messages, log onto Facebook and look out of the window. I am willing to overlook this faux pas due to you no doubt being preoccupied with thoughts of Missy attempting to make her way home across busy intersections or being trapped in a drain as it slowly fills with water. I spent three days down a well once but that was just for fun.
I have amended and attached the poster as per your instructions.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 10.59am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

This is worse than the other one. can you make it so it shows the whole photo of Missy and delete the stupid text that says missing missy off it? I just want it to say Lost.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.14am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.21am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Poster

yeah can you do the poster or not? I just want a photo and the word lost and the telephone number and when and where she was lost and her name. Not like a movie poster or anything stupid. I have to leave early today. If it was your cat I would help you. Thanks.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.32am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Awww

Dear Shannon,
I don't have a cat. I once agreed to look after a friend's cat for a week but after he dropped it off at my apartment and explained the concept of kitty litter, I kept the cat in a closed cardboard box in the shed and forgot about it. If I wanted to feed something and clean faeces, I wouldn't have put my mother in that home after her stroke. A week later, when my friend came to collect his cat, I pretended that I was not home and mailed the box to him. Apparently I failed to put enough stamps on the package and he had to collect it from the post office and pay eighteen dollars. He still goes on about that sometimes, people need to learn to let go.
I have attached the amended version of your poster as per your detailed instructions.
Regards, David.


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.47am
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Awww

Thats not my cat. where did you get that picture from? That cat is orange. I gave you a photo of my cat.
From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 11.58am
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Awww

I know, but that one is cute. As Missy has quite possibly met any one of several violent ends, it is possible you might get a better cat out of this. If anybody calls and says "I haven't seen your orange cat but I did find a black and white one with its hind legs run over by a car, do you want it?" you can politely decline and save yourself a costly veterinarian bill.
I knew someone who had a basset hound that had its hind legs removed after an accident and it had to walk around with one of those little buggies with wheels. If it had been my dog I would have asked for all its legs to be removed and replaced with wheels and had a remote control installed. I could charge neighbourhood kids for rides and enter it in races. If I did the same with a horse I could drive it to work. I would call it Steven.
Regards, David.

From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.07pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Please just use the photo I gave you.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.22pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.34pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

I didnt say there was a reward. I dont have $2000 dollars. What did you even put that there for? Apart from that it is perfect can you please remove the reward bit. Thanks Shan.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.42pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.51pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Can you just please take the reward bit off altogether? I have to leave in ten minutes and I still have to make photocopies of it.

From: David Thorne
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 12.56pm
To: Shannon Walkley
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww


From: Shannon Walkley
Date: Monday 21 June 2010 1.03pm
To: David Thorne
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Awww

Fine. That will have to do.


Melanie Ray | Senior Graphic Designer
TraderGroup (a division of ACP Media Ltd)
100 Beaumont St, Westhaven, Auckland | PO Box 7129 Wellesley St, Auckland
P (09) 308 2860 | | E melray@tradergroup.co.nz <http://tradergroup.co.nz/>

<http://www.tradergroup.co.nz/>  

The Power of Branding (a bit profane, but hilarious)

100% accurate. Fanboydom = FAIL

BP Spills Coffee

Yep. Spot on re-enactment, in my opinion!

Fixing Onlive

After now having seen Onlive for myself, and considering the service and the plans going forward - it is obvious that many things will have to change for it to actually thrive in the current videogame market. I am fairly confident that Steve Perlman and the other geniuses he's gathered to his team there have a strong game plan... So here's what I think it'll take (and that we'll likely see happen):

• Full HD
• Lagless
• iPhone / iPad access
• Wifi playable
• Cut Game prices to 50% of other platforms
• Keep subscription cost @ $60/yr
• Launch the Micro-console
• Save list of games for each account, so nothing is lost by cancelling and then restarting with same ID anytime in the future.

These are the biggest complaints I've seen and heard around Onlive. I think that they are fully aware of the potential of each of these issues to shore up an otherwise shaky consumer perspective of the system...

HD + Lag Time could be addressed by launching more data centers, and will also be impacted by things on the horizon like Google's Gigabit network, FCC forcing broadband to open up, etc. However, I am still skeptical that they'll be able to provide a true lag-free experience (at least in the next year or two).

MicroConsole / iPhone / iPad access has already demonstrated to work at several conferences. Just a matter of releasing it to the users! Market penetration here will really help build out their client base (which in turn attracts developers).

Wifi playable will be a tougher client to manage, since packet loss will be an issue that interrupts quality - and there are so many environmental variables to deal with.

Cutting Game Prices is something that will HAVE TO HAPPEN because Steve already mentioned that they have a much higher profit margin for developers because they can avoid publisher and retailer costs (see video below). And Consumers will not tolerate paying full price for a game that they won't own... plus subscription cost, plus enhanced broadband speeds, etc. But thankfully, once they have the client base, they will be able to SHOW the Developers that they can actually profit from lower costs than the Consoles require.

Lower Subscription costs will be very necessary as well, because it simply doesn't make sense to pay $60 for a game + $180 year (once the promo rates run out) to continue to access it.

Save games to accounts - this is a HUGE area of contention - because even if we can't own hard copies of games we've purchased "unlimited access" to, consumers will still want to be assured that they can dig up old favorites to play again some time down the road. Nothing feels worse than losing a favorite game that you paid for!

At this point, Onlive is just building out their client base. They've had a progressive roll out (instead of an open door) to make sure that clients with higher bandwidth have access first - which ensures more positive reviews (they don't need bad press from some 1mbps DSL user). Via their partnership with AT&T they've done something unprecedented: giving users 1yr free!!! plus 1 free game or a 2nd year for only $5/month! Unheard of... this will keep people coming in and then the developers will follow... Then before anybody pays the $15/month - they'll announce "guess what? we're keeping sub costs at $5!" and become the HERO.

$5/month + 50% off top tier titles + games ALWAYS accessible in users' accounts = WIN for Onlive.

What're your thoughts?

-------------------------
Victor said: "but im not even going to enjoy my 1st year because i own an xbox...i can buy all those games used and own them....forever....and resell them"

OUCH. good point. I think Onlive should allow for trading, reselling, etc of purchased titles - and of course keep a cut for themselves, and send a cut to the developers! That'd be a great way to take a bite out of the Console Resale market...

this drummer is at the wrong gig

This dude is AWESOME

WAVE at me!

Rough Day

Today has been rough: Started by waking up late (stress! rush!) then I had to deal with a clogged toilet before getting out the door... hopped on my bike (wife needed the car) and got almost up the hill before I realized I forgot my keys... so I went back... then at lunch: thought I lost my cellphone and was digging through trash to find it (it was on my desk!). Thankfully workload has been light, and phone's not lost, and I'm still alive, sane, healthy!  

Debt Free! (Almost)

Today I used my tax return to pay off a TON of our credit card debt! Feels sooooo good...

Is Google Evil?

Many people are divided over Google's prodigious presence and ubiquitous tracking efforts... Where do you stand?


THE BEAST FILE: GOOGLE ('HUNGRY BEAST', ABC TV) from Hungry Beast on Vimeo.

Worst mistake in a LONG time...

Ok, so a couple days ago, my wife made an AWESOME dinner and I was REALLY hungry...

I had placed our plates on the counter, and turned on the range to heat the food a little more before serving it. After doling out the first portion I noticed that some of the ULTRA YUMMY looking sauce dribbled onto the side of the pan...

...so I tried to LICK it off! OOOUUUUCH!

I pulled a pan straight out of the flames, saw beautiful delicious savory sauce and couldn't help myself.




Well I thoroughly seared the sweet taste-buds, and so it pretty much ruined that meal... and all the rest the next day too. Thank goodness the tongue is the fastest healing part of the body...

Needless to say, I won't be making that mistake again.... (anytime soon)

Turkey Racing

This morning on my bike ride from home to BART, a wild turkey showed up and raced alongside me on the sidewalk! Interesting start to an otherwise normal day.

Notes:

• Found out our Journal won in the recent Market Research study we participated in. $100 extra bucks!
• Looking forward to PokerNight tonight!

Four Chords, 36 Songs

Wow, this totally gives me hope for (re)taking up guitar!

Snapshot: breakfast of a 27yr old male... with CF!

This morning I ate a marvelous breakfast (IMO) - but it would probably overwhelm most people.

I started with leftover teriyaki meatballs, over rice:

Then I went to leftover pesto tilapia with fingerling potatoes, and broccoli+cauliflower+carrots. This was good, but wasn't "enough"... so I enhanced it by melting 3 or 4 slices of American cheese over the top, and adding garlic salt. Still something was missing... so I sprinkled it with real bacon bits. Perfecto!

My wife woke up shortly after I consumed all of this - and I wanted to make something special for her... so I whipped up a batch of blueberry pancakes. After seeing how much she raved over them, I was convinced to eat some myself. And so I ate 2 plate-sized pancakes, topped with butter, blackberries, and maple syrup. Washed down by a tall glass of milk.

I think this would probably kill a normal human, but I just felt a little sleepy. No stomach aches. 

Yes, I kept it all down.

After-Party Thanks!

To my Bday Game-Night Guests:
Maurice, Jason, Brandon, JP & Melinda, James & Janean, Alex & Cat - And my WIFE :-)



I just wanted to send out a quick "thank-you" for coming last night. That was probably one of the best birthday parties thrown for me ever (gauged by quantity+quality of food kalbi>  and by interactiveness of the guests). It was great playing Mafia together, and Catch Phrase and Bomberman were a nice way to end out the night.

  

I'll look forward to the next excuse to gather everyone again. You guys were a great crowd!
Special thanks to my wonderful, beautiful, loving wife - who cleaned, shopped, planned, and provided the excellent grill as a gift.



I am very blessed to have such loving people in my life.

Sincerely,
Tim

1 book I meant to read...

I'd been meaning to read this book for some time... posting it here so that you (and I) can peruse with ease. Enjoy!

Tim is SPIDERMAN

Well I bet you're not dumb enough to climb the inside wall of your office warehouse... ...better guess again!

Tim is SUPERMAN

Would you flip at work? YOU BETCHA!

Caribbean Back-flippin

Would you flip in the Caribbean? OHYEAH!

Old Spice - The Man Your Man Could Smell Like

I don't usually care about the superbowl, but this commercial is HILARIOUS! Guess I did miss something afterall...

Brother gets Teched-Out

I was quite happy to finally be able to provide a nice gift for my brother John: we secured an old Dell Dimension 3000 PC from my work, and an LCD monitor for $40 total (a steal!)... and then I installed Windows7 courtesy of my friends at BoomTownROI. After that it was just a matter of loading the necessary freeware - but now, for the first time ever - my brother John has his own computer.

Yay!

Hot Dang - D&D on Surface!

Amazing idea!:

D&D on the Microsoft Surface from CrunchGear on Vimeo.

One WICKED date - our first of 2010!

Our first date of 2010 was an EXCELLENT treat thanks to Uncle Garrett Savage - who generously gave us two tickets to see WICKED at the Orpheum Theatre. Grandma+Grandpa Littleton watched the babies, and we hurried out to a dinner at the local taqueria, then to see the show.



Everyone performed fabulously, and the story really creates some great background on all of the Original OZ characters. Definitely something we'd recommend to anybody remotely interested...

THANKS AGAIN GARRETT & LITTLETONS! This 1st date wouldn't have been possible without you!

HomeGain Holidays

I guess this counts as my season's greetings to ... the world (?)