Hallmark moment

Occasionally, I get these emotional high days and get kinda sappy. So, bear with me.

Fetzer Institute | Resources | Desmond Tutu: Youthful Idealism

Epiphany

With this new diet, the thought just occurred to me:

I will never get my money's-worth from a buffet again. 

Taking advantage of new tech

How can we use technology to reduce our bills and get better service?  In the course of household budgeting, that's a question that pops up.

I was looking at purchasing an LG 42LH50 and dropping AT&T's U-verse cable service and just getting cable content through our internet connection. But then I was worried about which appliances would be able to access which services.  Then I stumbled across Christina Warren's blog post. Now, I think we're still looking at dropping cable, but getting a Mac mini instead of the new TV.  A full functioning computer can be moved to a new TV down the road and can be updated at anytime regarding what files it can access and play. Plus, what we save on cable each month would pay for the the new equipment in 12 months.

Let me know what you think.  What's your home entertainment center / media setup?

Four letter word

So I was having trouble falling asleep as fast as Randy last night. So, I turned off the TV and was browsing through iPhone apps.  I came across Lose It!, a diet management program. I figured, "It's about time I do something."

I got my first shot to try it out today. One of the features allows me to create "recipes" for complex food items.  Since there is rarely a standard for items like coffee or salads, because everyone has their own preferences, you can add ingredients under a single label like "Shayne's Salad". It will keep track of the individual ingredients you added to that recipe and tally the nutritional values for the whole. All of these food items can be pulled from the searchable database.  So, I just had to say Romaine lettuce/3 cups, onions/2 tablespoons, sunflower seeds/1 tablespoon, etc. The database also includes a large amount of restaurant items.

Well, I made a "recipe" for my typical salad (1470 calories, 22g sodium, 100g fat!), and changed a few small things for today (448 calories, 19g sodium, 17.8g fat).  This left me with 1399 calories left in my budget for the day rather than 377.  Plus, I can log exercises and it will subtract the burned calories from my consumed calories, giving me more in my budget.

Stay tuned for future updates to see how it goes!

****UPDATE****


I found a website that offers similar services for all of my iphone-less brethren.  www.sparkpeople.com (fer free!)

ZOMG

Thanks to my twisted friend Mike, I've discovered The Ross Sisters. Get past the first minute and then marvel at the show.

Museum day

As I mentioned yesterday, today is the Smithsonian Magazine's National Museum Day.  The family and I picked up my cousin's kid and headed over to The Cow Town Museum.

I saw my friend Scott, who works there on Saturdays as a blacksmith and on Sundays as a tailor.

After grabbing some lunch, we then headed over to the Wichita/Sedgwick County Historical Museum.

To recap...

When I said yesterday that it had been too long, it had been about 5
months since my last martini. Beer, on the other hand, is another
matter.

About Town

Tomorrow, Saturday the 25th, is Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day.  Go print out an admission card and hit the town!


http://microsite.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/index.html

Inner geek

I would be remiss in my geekly duties if I didn't mention this. Browsing through Wired, I came across an article that mentioned ArcAttack!, a particularly unique musical experience. From their website:

Creators of the original Singing Tesla Coils, the crew of ArcAttack uses their high tech wizardry to generate a truly 'electrifying' performance. Two custom engineered hand built Tesla Coils throw out electrical arcs up to twelve feet long, each one acting as an instrument with a sound reminiscent of the early days of the synthesizer. A robotic drum set accompanies the spectacle, it's high power LED's flashing bright colors with the stroke of each mechanically actuated stick, while ArcAttack's six members churn out rhythmic instrumental melodies. Live instruments meet drum loops and samples to produce rock, electronica and indie with a splash of punk and a dash of metal served with a side of pop. During the show, the MC engages both the crowd and the Tesla Coils by walking through ½ Million Volt sparks wearing the relatively thin layer of his chain mail Faraday suit. This high power performance is unique in it's elements and energy, being at the same time mesmerizing and energetically thrilling.

But wait, it gets even better! The Doctor Who theme song!

It's been too long

My old friend...

Now hear this...

Bluetooth is the new mullet.

... that is all.

Inner drag-queen

This magnet was on a friend's desk. She's very much a Diva. Had to get a pic.

(Thanks, Google Girl!)

Where to eat.

 Snack Attack. Just south of Main and 1st in the Workforce building.

Being an atrium convenience store/deli, it's not much to look at. But they make bee-YOO-tiful sandwiches.

Attention must be paid...

This strikes me as important.

For the first time, an experimental vaccine has prevented infection with the AIDS virus, a watershed event in the deadly epidemic and a surprising result. Recent failures led many scientists to think such a vaccine might never be possible. 

The vaccine cut the risk of becoming infected with HIV by more than 31 percent in the world's largest AIDS vaccine trial of more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand, researchers announced Thursday in Bangkok.

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE and MICHAEL CASEY, Associated Press Writers

We always hear about 'The Cure For Cancer' or some other disease.  I think we need to change our thinking.  In my opinion, the majority of these breakthroughs won't be "Cures".  They will be cures; lower-case 'c'.

I almost wept when I heard how many people were complaining about the HPV vaccinations. I saw this as a chance to give our daughter a 'cure' for 'Cancer' and jumped at it.

Regarding the HIV vaccine: I still want my friends back.

My stylish people

After spending a few hours with this thing, I think I have the design about where I want it.  Let me know if you have some input.  Color tweaks, font sizes, dashes, solids, weights, etc.

Some of my concerns still on the table:

• I don't think I like the "subscribe" link at the bottom, but I don't want to kill it until I know for sure if I'm not gonna need it's function.
• I think I want the "Shayne" link to open in a new tab for commenting.

Like I said, feel free to provide feedback in the comments!

Morning View - Century II

From the Garvey Building Kiva.

Sigh...

My desk is killing my back today. However, it may have something to do with the weather. Sixty-four degrees and no wind.

And furthermore...

To test email blogging goodness:

It rarely gets prettier than this.

And...to test my mobile/texter/blogger muscles.

With a smack and a cry, so it begins.

Ta-da!  So begins my journey into blogging.  I suspect that I won't hit my pace until I'm out and about.  Not much inspiration sitting at a desk.