Thursday, December 14, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Tool show the second
Tool show the second
In the summer of 1998, Tool was touring with Ozzfest and doing a few side shows with the Melvins. One of the shows was at a small sports arena in Toledo, Ohio. My sister and I drove down from Detroit to see the show. I was 21 and my sister was 15. Why my folks let me take my 15-year-old sister to a rock concert in another state, I have no idea. The tickets were general admission, so we got to stand on the floor and get pretty close to the stage. The show was amazing. Maynard came out dressed like a televangelist in a white three piece suit and a wig, but stripped down to his shorts half way through the show. The air-conditioning was broken and it got really really really hot in the arena, we were dripping with sweat. Maynard said "If you all stand still and stop breathing, it will get a lot cooler in here." They did a new version of the song Pushit that was a little mellower and they did a cover of Peach’s You Lied. The whole show was great and the arena was a great place to see Tool.
In the summer of 1998, Tool was touring with Ozzfest and doing a few side shows with the Melvins. One of the shows was at a small sports arena in Toledo, Ohio. My sister and I drove down from Detroit to see the show. I was 21 and my sister was 15. Why my folks let me take my 15-year-old sister to a rock concert in another state, I have no idea. The tickets were general admission, so we got to stand on the floor and get pretty close to the stage. The show was amazing. Maynard came out dressed like a televangelist in a white three piece suit and a wig, but stripped down to his shorts half way through the show. The air-conditioning was broken and it got really really really hot in the arena, we were dripping with sweat. Maynard said "If you all stand still and stop breathing, it will get a lot cooler in here." They did a new version of the song Pushit that was a little mellower and they did a cover of Peach’s You Lied. The whole show was great and the arena was a great place to see Tool.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Tool!
I've seen Tool 6 times now.
Tool show, the first:
The first time I saw Tool was when they were touring with Lollapalooza in 1997. I don’t remember much about the show itself, but the day as a whole was crazy.
At the time I was working as a drafter for a land surveying company. The drafting department worked evenings from 4pm until all the surveys were drawn, usually 10 or 12. The show was on a Thursday. The Wednesday before the show, around 6pm, the power went off at work. We waited around a while to see if it would come back on, but eventually we gave up and all went home. At the time I couldn’t afford to be short 6 hours that day, plus the 8 hours I was taking off on Thursday (we didn’t get any kind of vacation or sick time). So I went into work at 8am on Thursday, worked until 11am, went to Lollapalooza, got home at 11 pm, went into work and stayed until 8am Friday. Then I went home, got some sleep, and went into work at 4pm as usual. Ahh to be young again.
Tool show, the first:
The first time I saw Tool was when they were touring with Lollapalooza in 1997. I don’t remember much about the show itself, but the day as a whole was crazy.
At the time I was working as a drafter for a land surveying company. The drafting department worked evenings from 4pm until all the surveys were drawn, usually 10 or 12. The show was on a Thursday. The Wednesday before the show, around 6pm, the power went off at work. We waited around a while to see if it would come back on, but eventually we gave up and all went home. At the time I couldn’t afford to be short 6 hours that day, plus the 8 hours I was taking off on Thursday (we didn’t get any kind of vacation or sick time). So I went into work at 8am on Thursday, worked until 11am, went to Lollapalooza, got home at 11 pm, went into work and stayed until 8am Friday. Then I went home, got some sleep, and went into work at 4pm as usual. Ahh to be young again.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Honest scammer?
I received this email today. I've copied and pasted it verbatim, bolding a few interesting items.
From the Desk of:
ENGR. Rahji Abdullah ,
DIRECTOR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION,
DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS & ENERGY,
NESLSON MANDELA BUILDING,
PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA.
ATTENTION;CHIERMAN /CO,Etc.
URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
It is my great pleasure in writing you this letter on behalf of my
colleagues. Your particulars were given to me by a member of the South
Africa Export Promotion Council (S.E.P.C) (They seem to think that these
bracketed initials will impress, and use them often.) who was with the
federal government delegation to your country during a trade exhibition.
I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution
of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you
will keep it as top secret (He does not want you to talk to a friend who
might know all about these scams.) because of the nature of this business.
I am ENGR. Rahji Abdullah,
Director Of Project Implementation, South Africa Department of Minerals &
Energy I am making this contact with you, based on the committee's need for
an individual/company who is willing to assist us in the execution of this
business. Within the Department of Minerals & Energy, where I work as a
Director of the Project Implementation and with the good co-operation of
four other top officials, we have in our possession as over due payment
bills, totaling Twenty One Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars (US$21,500,000) (About average for a fraud e-mail.) Which we want to
transfer abroad with the assistance and co-operation of A Foreign
Company/individual to receive the said funds on our behalf. More so, we are
handicap in these circumstances, as the South African Civil Services code of
conduct does not allow us to operate an offshore account.
Hence your importance in this transaction.
This amount( $21.5Million )represents the balance of the total contract
value executed on behalf of my ministry by a Foreign Contracting Firm, which
we the Officials over invoiced deliberately. Though the actual contract cost
has been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of
the said amount, which we have in principles gotten approval to remit by Key
Tested Telegraphic Transfer (K.T.T)?. to any Foreign Bank Account you will
provide by filing an Application through the Ministry Of Justice here in
South Africa, for the transfer of rights and privileges of the former
contractor to you.
(All sounds very straightforward, but once the bait is taken the scam
becomes more convoluted and the victim will be asked to send money for
"legal fees" or "insurance" to a newly introduced fictitious firm.
This is the advance fee, hence "the Advance Fee Scam". Western Union will be
the criminal's money transfer agency of choice. )
I have the Authority of my partners involved to propose that you should be
willing to assist us in this transaction, your share of the sum is 30% of
the $21.5Million, 60% for us and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses
and remaining 5% will be for charity organization.
The transaction it self is 100% safe, on your part provided you treats it
with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. Also, your area of specialization
is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction.
I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint
me.
I want to assure you that my partner and myself are in the position to make
the payment of this claim possible, provided that you can give us a very
strong assurance and guarantee that the funds will be secured and please,
remember to treat this matter very confidential, because we will not
comprehend with any form of exposure as we are still in active Government
service.
Please, reply me on my confidential email address:(LONGLEE001@YAHOO.CA)(So
confidential that he has mailed it to potential victims around the world!)
or response directly to my.
Tel: 27-835431556
Once again, remember that time is of great essence in this transaction . I
wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Yours Faithfully,
ENGR. Rahji Abdullah
From the Desk of:
ENGR. Rahji Abdullah ,
DIRECTOR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION,
DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS & ENERGY,
NESLSON MANDELA BUILDING,
PRETORIA SOUTH AFRICA.
ATTENTION;CHIERMAN /CO,Etc.
URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL
It is my great pleasure in writing you this letter on behalf of my
colleagues. Your particulars were given to me by a member of the South
Africa Export Promotion Council (S.E.P.C) (They seem to think that these
bracketed initials will impress, and use them often.) who was with the
federal government delegation to your country during a trade exhibition.
I have decided to seek a confidential co-operation with you in the execution
of the deal described hereunder for the benefit of all parties and hope you
will keep it as top secret (He does not want you to talk to a friend who
might know all about these scams.) because of the nature of this business.
I am ENGR. Rahji Abdullah,
Director Of Project Implementation, South Africa Department of Minerals &
Energy I am making this contact with you, based on the committee's need for
an individual/company who is willing to assist us in the execution of this
business. Within the Department of Minerals & Energy, where I work as a
Director of the Project Implementation and with the good co-operation of
four other top officials, we have in our possession as over due payment
bills, totaling Twenty One Million, Five Hundred Thousand United States
Dollars (US$21,500,000) (About average for a fraud e-mail.) Which we want to
transfer abroad with the assistance and co-operation of A Foreign
Company/individual to receive the said funds on our behalf. More so, we are
handicap in these circumstances, as the South African Civil Services code of
conduct does not allow us to operate an offshore account.
Hence your importance in this transaction.
This amount( $21.5Million )represents the balance of the total contract
value executed on behalf of my ministry by a Foreign Contracting Firm, which
we the Officials over invoiced deliberately. Though the actual contract cost
has been paid to the original contractor, leaving the balance in the tune of
the said amount, which we have in principles gotten approval to remit by Key
Tested Telegraphic Transfer (K.T.T)?. to any Foreign Bank Account you will
provide by filing an Application through the Ministry Of Justice here in
South Africa, for the transfer of rights and privileges of the former
contractor to you.
(All sounds very straightforward, but once the bait is taken the scam
becomes more convoluted and the victim will be asked to send money for
"legal fees" or "insurance" to a newly introduced fictitious firm.
This is the advance fee, hence "the Advance Fee Scam". Western Union will be
the criminal's money transfer agency of choice. )
I have the Authority of my partners involved to propose that you should be
willing to assist us in this transaction, your share of the sum is 30% of
the $21.5Million, 60% for us and 5% for taxation and miscellaneous expenses
and remaining 5% will be for charity organization.
The transaction it self is 100% safe, on your part provided you treats it
with utmost secrecy and confidentiality. Also, your area of specialization
is not a hindrance to the successful execution of this transaction.
I have reposed my confidence in you and hope that you will not disappoint
me.
I want to assure you that my partner and myself are in the position to make
the payment of this claim possible, provided that you can give us a very
strong assurance and guarantee that the funds will be secured and please,
remember to treat this matter very confidential, because we will not
comprehend with any form of exposure as we are still in active Government
service.
Please, reply me on my confidential email address:(LONGLEE001@YAHOO.CA)(So
confidential that he has mailed it to potential victims around the world!)
or response directly to my.
Tel: 27-835431556
Once again, remember that time is of great essence in this transaction . I
wait in anticipation of your fullest co-operation.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Yours Faithfully,
ENGR. Rahji Abdullah
Friday, September 01, 2006
Multimedia message
Shelving !
update: works now! yay technology!
these are shelves I put up a few weeks ago
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Off to the Races
Saturday night we had our third annual evening at Hazel Park Harness Raceway to celebrate my Uncle Bill's Birthday. In attendance were Don (my dad), Sarah (my sister), Aunt Sue, Uncle Bill and myself. We got to the track around 6:15 and got a table in the Clubhouse so we could have dinner while we watched the races. I tried to take pictures through the window, but they're a bit fuzzy.
This a picture of a horse with his harness and rider
Here's how the harness racing works:
They've got this truck:
This a picture of a horse with his harness and rider
Here's how the harness racing works:
They've got this truck:
A modified Chevy pick-up, I think it's a Silverado. The truck was new this year. For the last 40 years they used a modified white Cadillac.
They drive the truck out on to the track
and the horses start to line up behind it
The guys sitting in the back of the truck close the gates and the driver starts heading around the track
Here's the horses as they were passing our window
When they get halfway around the track the gates open and the truck gets out of the way
here are the horses after their first lap
That platform by the yellow pole is where the guy stands to take the picture for the photo finish.
Here's a picture of the scoreboard with the odds for the next race
The minimum amount you can bet is $2 per horse. I bet $5 per horse, 2 horses per race for all ten races. That's a total of $100. I walked away with a net loss of $25.75, which isn't too bad, especially since Don gave Sarah and I each $20 to bet with.
and a good time was had by all.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Buy my father's stuff
Don buys a lot of paintings at estate sales and thrift stores. Occasionally he finds one by a known artist and can make a decent profit. Which is great, but buying paintings has become an addiction. He has stacks of paintings in his spare room and he’s agreed to help a local artist sell his work. Don knows nothing about selling art. He’s asked me to help him set up a website to show the items he’s selling. I thought I’d start out with a blog, post pictures of the paintings and write up what we know about the artists. I figured it would at least help us get things organized. Later on I might look into one of those free websites. I have a link to the blog over there -->. If anyone has any ideas on how to make it better, I’d appreciate hearing them. Also, I’m having trouble getting photos of the paintings. Most of them are under glass, so if I use a flash I get a refection, and without flash they are blurry.
As always, you are also welcome to buy my stuff. I'm selling books and movies on half.ebay.com
As always, you are also welcome to buy my stuff. I'm selling books and movies on half.ebay.com
Car!
when i bought the car, i was going to put up pics and write about the car buying process, but i couldn't find the cord to the camera. now it's 3 months later and i don't feel like writing about it, so all you get is pictures of my pretty purple car.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Random Picture Time
itty bitty pineapples!
Look what I can do! I made these for my cousin and his wife, who just had a baby girl.
Buddy, my dad's min pin
Look what I can do! I made these for my cousin and his wife, who just had a baby girl.
Buddy, my dad's min pin
Monday, May 15, 2006
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Saturday, April 22, 2006
More about me stuff
Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. Baby sitting (Jr. High and high school)
2. Drafting for a Land Surveyor (college)
3. Civil Engineer
4. no other jobs
Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Big Trouble
2. Army of Darkness
3. Dragonheart - I don't know why I like this film, but I watch it whenever it's on TV.
4a. Empire Records
4b. Office Space
4c. Princess Bride
4d. Blade Runner
Four places you have lived:
1. Detroit
2. Harper Woods (suburb of Detroit)
3. Roseville
4. Chesterfield
All in Michigan
Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. House
2. C.S.I.
3. Law and Order C.I.
4. Lost
Four Places you have been on Vacation:
1. Toronto, Ontario
2. Northern Michigan and the U.P.
3. Los Angeles
4. St. Louis
Four websites you visit daily:
1. Dave Barry's blog
2. Kingdom of Loathing
3. Clinton-Macomb Public Library my sister works at this library and if I want a book or movie I just have to go to the website and put it on hold and my sister brings it home for me.
4.
Four of my favorite foods:
I'll try pretty much anything, though my favorites are homey comfort type foods. potroast and mashed potatoes, cornedbeef and cabbage, stuffed peppers, mac and cheese
Four places I would rather be right now:
1. just to have some time off of work would be grand.
2.
3.
4.
Four friends I am tagging that I think will respond
1. Posting on blog
2.
3.
4.
Four Places you'd love to visit:
1. England
2. Japan
3. New Zealand
4.
Four foods you don't like:
1. Okra
2.
3.
4.
1. Baby sitting (Jr. High and high school)
2. Drafting for a Land Surveyor (college)
3. Civil Engineer
4. no other jobs
Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Big Trouble
2. Army of Darkness
3. Dragonheart - I don't know why I like this film, but I watch it whenever it's on TV.
4a. Empire Records
4b. Office Space
4c. Princess Bride
4d. Blade Runner
Four places you have lived:
1. Detroit
2. Harper Woods (suburb of Detroit)
3. Roseville
4. Chesterfield
All in Michigan
Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. House
2. C.S.I.
3. Law and Order C.I.
4. Lost
Four Places you have been on Vacation:
1. Toronto, Ontario
2. Northern Michigan and the U.P.
3. Los Angeles
4. St. Louis
Four websites you visit daily:
1. Dave Barry's blog
2. Kingdom of Loathing
3. Clinton-Macomb Public Library my sister works at this library and if I want a book or movie I just have to go to the website and put it on hold and my sister brings it home for me.
4.
Four of my favorite foods:
I'll try pretty much anything, though my favorites are homey comfort type foods. potroast and mashed potatoes, cornedbeef and cabbage, stuffed peppers, mac and cheese
Four places I would rather be right now:
1. just to have some time off of work would be grand.
2.
3.
4.
Four friends I am tagging that I think will respond
1. Posting on blog
2.
3.
4.
Four Places you'd love to visit:
1. England
2. Japan
3. New Zealand
4.
Four foods you don't like:
1. Okra
2.
3.
4.
Respectful Leader?
Well, I've got news for you pal, you ain't leadin' but two things: Jack and shit... and Jack just left town.
I got this test from Scat's Lemon Life. Interesting, but I don't really see myself as a leader. In fact I avoid leadership roles whenever posible.
My Personal Dna Report
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Friday the Thirteenth fell on a Thursday this month
I was in my first car accident this Thursday. I was driving home from work on M-29, and was in the left most west bound lane. This woman in a mini-van decided it was a good idea to come to a complete stop right in front of me. I didn’t have time to stop and crashed right into her. I have no idea why she stopped, we had just passed the traffic light and there is a designated left turn lane, so there was no reason to stop. Luckily, this happened right in front of the Chesterfield Township’s new Fire Station, so we didn’t have to wait long for help to arrive. My neck was hurting, so they advised me to go to the hospital to get it checked out. They strapped me to one of those boards and hauled me off in an ambulance. At the hospital they took a few x-rays and everything looked fine. So then I just needed to find a ride home.
My father (Don) has this annoying habit of not answering his freaking cell phone and he only checks his voice mail on nights and weekends so he doesn’t have to pay for the minutes. At the scene of the accident, one of the Firemen used my cell phone to call Don and let him know what happened. Of course Don didn’t answer so the Fireman left a message letting him know they were taking me to Mount Clemens General. Rather than check his messages, Don tried to call me back, but as I was strapped to a board at this point, I was unable to answer. After I was released, the nurse tried to call Don again, but no answer. Luckily, I was able to get in touch with my Aunt Sue and she was able to drive me home.
Anyways, I’m ok, just a little bit sore. My beautiful car is all smashed up. Don thinks they’ll total it. If they do, I have to decide what kind of car to get. They’re not making the Cavalier anymore, so I’m thinking about getting a Cobalt. I can get a GM employee family discount or a Chrysler employee friend discount. I’d prefer a 2-door coupe, and I’m extremely frugal so I’m looking for something less (much less) then $20,000.
This weekend Don and I are driving up to Gaylord to visit my Aunt Margie and Uncle Mike for Easter. Buddy is coming with us. Should be fun, trapped in a car for 4 hours with a hyperactive puppy.
My father (Don) has this annoying habit of not answering his freaking cell phone and he only checks his voice mail on nights and weekends so he doesn’t have to pay for the minutes. At the scene of the accident, one of the Firemen used my cell phone to call Don and let him know what happened. Of course Don didn’t answer so the Fireman left a message letting him know they were taking me to Mount Clemens General. Rather than check his messages, Don tried to call me back, but as I was strapped to a board at this point, I was unable to answer. After I was released, the nurse tried to call Don again, but no answer. Luckily, I was able to get in touch with my Aunt Sue and she was able to drive me home.
Anyways, I’m ok, just a little bit sore. My beautiful car is all smashed up. Don thinks they’ll total it. If they do, I have to decide what kind of car to get. They’re not making the Cavalier anymore, so I’m thinking about getting a Cobalt. I can get a GM employee family discount or a Chrysler employee friend discount. I’d prefer a 2-door coupe, and I’m extremely frugal so I’m looking for something less (much less) then $20,000.
This weekend Don and I are driving up to Gaylord to visit my Aunt Margie and Uncle Mike for Easter. Buddy is coming with us. Should be fun, trapped in a car for 4 hours with a hyperactive puppy.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Thursday, March 16, 2006
| You Are Guinness |
 You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around. |
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
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