Fellow Pisceans

Benicio Del Toro	February 19
Smokey Robinson	February 19
Andrew Shue	February 20
Anthony Stewart Head	February 20
Cindy Crawford	February 20
Ivana Trump	February 20
Kurt Cobain	February 20
Jennifer Love Hewitt	February 21
Drew Barrymore	February 22
Michael Chang	February 22
Ted Kennedy	February 22
Patricia Richardson	February 23
Peter Fonda	February 23
Steven Jobs	February 24
George Harrison	February 25
Johnny Cash	February 26
Chelsea Clinton	February 27
Elizabeth Taylor	February 27
Bernadette Peters	February 28
Mario Andretti	February 28
Antonio Sabato Jr.	February 29
Harry Belafonte	March 01
Ron Howard	March 01
Sherilyn Fenn	March 01
Amber Smith	March 02
Dr. Seuss	March 02
Jon Bon Jovi	March 02
David Faustino	March 03
Jackie Joyner-Kersee	March 03
Jessica Biel	March 03
Miriam Makeba	March 04
Nick Stabile	March 04
Patricia Heaton	March 04
Patsy Kensit	March 04
Andy Gibb	March 05
Shaquille O'Neal	March 06
Michael Eisner	March 07
Freddie Prinze Jr.	March 08
Kathy Ireland	March 08
Emmanuel Lewis	March 09
Juliette Binoche	March 09
Chuck "Motherfuckin" Norris	March 10
Shannon Miller	March 10
Rupert Murdoch	March 11
Sam Donaldson	March 11
Thora Birch	March 11
James Taylor	March 12
Liza Minnelli	March 12
Dana Delany	March 13
William H. Macy	March 13
Billy Crystal	March 14
Michael Caine	March 14
Prince Albert of Monaco	March 14
Fabio	March 15
Mark McGrath	March 15
Bernardo Bertolucci	March 16
J.Z. Knight	March 16
Brittany Daniel	March 17
Kurt Russell	March 17
Nat "King" Cole	March 17
Rob Lowe	March 17
Queen Latifah	March 18
Bruce Willis	March 19
Glenn Close	March 19
Rachel Blanchard	March 19
Spike Lee	March 19
Holly Hunter	March 20

HOW. FRICKEN. COOL. IS. THIS.?

CHIMPS USE SPEARS TO KILL FOOD

For the first time, great apes have been observed making and using tools to hunt mammals, according to a new study. The discovery offers insight into the evolution of hunting behavior in early humans.

No fewer than 22 times, researchers documented wild chimpanzees on an African savanna fashioning sticks into "spears" to hunt small primates called lesser bush babies (bush baby photo).

In each case a chimpanzee modified a branch by breaking off one or two ends and, frequently, using its teeth to sharpen the stick. The ape then jabbed the spear into hollows in tree trunks where bush babies sleep.

When hunting in the hollows, "almost without fail, every time they would withdraw the tool, they would sniff it or lick it, and then proceed to stab it in there again," said Jill Pruetz, an anthropologist with Iowa State University who led the research in Senegal.

"And they did it so forcibly that our assumption is the bush babies would have been injured if there were always bush babies in the hollow," she continued.

Anthropologist and study co-author Paco Bertolani witnessed the single case in which a chimpanzee successfully extracted a bush baby with a spear. The ape subsequently tore apart and ate the smaller primate.

Bertolani "couldn't tell for sure if the bush baby was dead or not" when it was first taken from the hollow, Pruetz said of the graduate student from England's University of Cambridge.

"But it didn't make any vocalizations, didn't attempt to escape—that sort of thing. So we are hypothesizing they are using the tools to incapacitate the bush babies."

Primatologist Craig Stanford, who was not involved in the research, called the 22 observed instances of spearmaking "good evidence."

But the observation of only "one actual kill—and no visual evidence of the spear being used as a spear—weakens it," the University of Southern California (USC) professor said in an email.

The new report was published online today in the journal Current Biology. The National Geographic Society's Committee for Research and Exploration partially funded the project. (National Geographic News is part of the National Geographic Society.)

Cool!

Had to post it so I could save it for laughs later....

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - In an explosive display, virtual-world banes now mirror the havoc of the real one as terrorists have launched a bombing campaign in Second Life.

People controlling animated avatar members of a self-proclaimed Second Life Liberation Army (SLLA) have set off computer-code versions of atomic bombs at virtual world stores in the past six months -- with their own manifesto.

The SLLA claims to be an "in-world military wing of a national liberation movement" devoted to replacing the rule of Second Life creator Linden Labs with a democracy representing the nearly four million residents.

"As Linden Labs is functioning as an authoritarian government the only appropriate response is to fight," the SLLA said in a message on its website at http://secondlla.googlepages.com.

"When the SLLA succeeds in its aims it will disband and hand power back to the political wing of the movement."

Creative dissent is welcomed in Second Life as long as it doesn't interfere with the ability of other residents to enjoy the virtual world, according to San Francisco-based Linden.

Second Life said it stopped charging a tax on items created by residents after avatars fashioned in the images of American revolutionaries recreated the Boston Tea Party in the virtual world about three years ago.

Since then, website users adept at manipulating computer codes have engineered mischief including a "push gun" that blasted other avatars back when fired, according to Linden.

"We do the utmost to ensure the protection of creative expression, within certain bounds," Linden marketing director Catherine Smith told AFP on Friday.

"Ultimately, instances in which residents engage in simulated violence will have to be taken on a case-by-case basis."

The virtual bomb blasts in Second Life explode in hazy white balls, blotting out portions of a screen and battering nearby avatars, animated figures that are residents' proxies in the virtual world.

The disruptions are brief and do not cause lasting damage in Second Life, according to Linden.

Residents are given free rein in Second Life, as long as they don't harass or interfere with other avatars in what is referred to in-world as "griefing."

SLLA bombings have been viewed by Linden as "mock terrorism" done in fun to catalyze debate about the in-world power structure.

"We believe recent events involving SLLA protest lack malicious intent," Smith said. "Resident reaction to such attacks has been decidedly tongue-in-cheek."

The SLLA website demands that Linden give Second Life residents "basic rights" by going public and allowing each avatar to buy a share of stock at a set price.

In instances where residents feel harassed by the SLLA, Linden will dole out temporary banishment or other such penalties as outlined in the virtual world's written terms of service, according to Smith.

Translation for 'There She Is!!!'

떳다 그녀
tteot-ta geu-nyeo
(there she is)

어느날 내 곁을 떠나버린 그녀가 나에게 와서 용서를 구하며 비네
eo-nu-nal nae gyeot-eul ddeo-na-beo-rin geu-nyeo-ga na-e-ge wa-seo yong-seo-reul gu-ha-myeo bi-nae
(Once she broke my heart but beggin' to be back in my life)

여기저기 난데없이 헤매이다 나에게 와서 눈물을 흘리고 있네
yeo-gi-jeo-gi nan-de-eob-ssi hae-me-i-da na-e-ge wa-seo nun-mu-reul heul-li-go it-ne
(long long wondering and straying brought me her cryin')

워워 워워
wo wo wo wo
(wuh wuh wuh wuh)

망설일 필요없지 그녀를 받아줘야지
mang-seo-ril pi-ryo-eob-jji geu-nyeo-reul ba-da-jwo-ya-ji
(There's not a day that passes by, I'm gonna hold her tight)

애타게 너무나 애타게 기다려왔던 그녀가 내게로 왔네
ae-ta-ge neo-mu-na ae-ta-ge gi-da-ryeo-wat-teon geu-nyeo-ga nae-ge-ro wat-ne
(Ain't nobody else but one I love is back)

좋아 좋아 니가 와서 좋아 너무나도 기다렸던 니가와서 좋아
jo-a jo-a ni-ga wa-seo jo-a neo-mu-na-do gi-da-ryeot-teon ni-ga wa-seo jo-a
(high high you make me so high, after so many nights in tears)

왔어 왔어 그녀 내게 왔어 너무나도 기다렸던 그녀 내게왔어
wat-sseo wat-sseo geu-nyeo nae-ge wat-sseo neo-mu-na-do gi-da-ryeot-teon geu-nyeo nae-ge wat-sseo
(there there there she is, after so many seasons in pain)

보고 싶어서.. 안고 싶어서.. 그녀 나를 그리워서 다시 왔나
bo-go si-peo-seo an-go si-peo-seo geu-nyeo na-reul geu-ri-wo-seo da-si wat-na
(to kiss me..to hold me..you came along a long journey)

좋아 좋아 니가 와서 좋아 너무나도 기다렸던 그녀
jo-a jo-a ni-ga wa-seo jo-a neo-mu-na-do gi-da-ryeot-teon geu-nyeo
(high high you make me so high, after so many nights in tears)

*당신 정말 좋아 나 몰라
dang-sin jeong-mal jo-a na mol-la
(I don't know how it gets so crazy but my love is yours)

Happy Valentine's Day, Everyone!

I couldn't NOT post this on Valentine's Day....

Bunny Valentine's Day

What's YOUR number? =) (or maybe we really don't want to know.....)

Your Love Mooooves Me

There She Is!!! (Click on Watch Movie)

Slow Saturday Night

Damn, staying in on a Saturday night really SUCKS. That's all I have to say about that. I need more friends who live nearby and who aren't married yet. LOL

This morning and afternoon were fun though. Originally, it was going to be myself, Paul and Jimmy going toe to toe over at On Track Karting in Wallingford but Jimmy bailed. Wife interjected and made him stay home. Poor bastard. I'm sure she's nice on her own, but she's yet another wife who has decided to hate all her husband's friends. Add Jimmy to that list with Ryan, Ben and to some extent Brian, though Pria doesn't hate his friends... she just keeps him wrapped around the finger with her father's affluence.

Ok, I'll shut down the wife rant. LOL The karting was a really surprising experience. I knew the karts would be swift, but I wasn't expecting them to be as powerful as they were. I have no idea quite how fast they went at top speed, but I estimate close to 40mph. Wow! I was losing pace with the pack initially, but once I got more comfortable with the handling I began passing a few people. Unfortunately, the dude in the #7 kart in front of me was NOT heeding the flag bearer's warning to let me pass. I was moving MUCH faster than him through the turns, but he wasn't making room for me to pass. I never hit him, but I rode close and was tempted to nudge him to the wall.... very tempting, but I play fair when it's all for fun. To everyone who reads this blog.... GET OVER THERE AND HAVE SOME FUN!

We ought to get a group together sometime and go for a few races together.

Suggestion: the force of the car in the corner comes back to the steering wheel, so if you need to it might help to improve your grip and forearm strength with some exercises.

Sneaky Bums...

I just got an interesting call from Penthouse. I usually never answer the house phone since it is no longer a number I associate myself or my friends with. But mom is sick today, so I picked up. The guy started in talking about "my subscription" and whatnot as though I had one and maybe it was a mistake. "Have you ever had a subscription with us before?" "No, nor any of the other ones. I think the only subscription I ever took out for myself was GM High Tech Performance when I was younger, but I don't subscribe to ANY magazines anymore." Then for a split-second I thought "OMG, what if someone has hacked my bank account and is off buying things with my name on it! GASP!" but then I realized it has to be some pesky new scheme to get around the no-call lists.....

Sneaky bums, indeed.

The internet revolution must be destroying business. If people want porn, even artsy porn, they can go online. But most people prefer just "sexy" photos like what can be found in Maxim.

Recent Pictures I've Liked

I like this picture, but for some reason she reminds me of Dr Crusher from ST:TNG in this pose

I think it is a blatant marketing scheme.



This little guy popped out early last month when we had the heat wave. One splash of color in an ocean of brown.

Le Blog

You guys have probably noticed it sooner than I have, but I haven't been blogging much lately. Not there aren't plenty of topics to write about from day to day, but I've lost the motive to put it all on here. So this is just a semi-official acknowledgement that I'm not going to keep it up as frequently.

Really all this means is that it's more fun to post pictures and video links than to jabber all over the place.

So... less blah blah blah and more sis-boom-ba!

Your votes?

Mid-Game Comments

I'm for the Bears. Duh, I always go for the underdogs. Manning is the stronger QB, no question. It still looks like the Colts will take it, especially if the rain backs down. But I have to say that this is the first interesting superbowl GAME that I have watched in a long time.

Commercials???? LAME. 9/10 are focusing on homosexual topics. The only good ones have been for the beer companies and Coca Cola. The rest are falling really flat. This show goes out to AMERICA. Not just one coast or the other, it hits everyone. And they are pushing mixed sexuality themes? That's fine for Hollywood, but I think it will not help product sales.

Prince.... you know, he's actually turning out to be a decent halftime entertainer! Who'd have thought?