What The Hell Am I Eating 2: Maltesers

In this episode I try out the Mars company's 'Maltesers' -- a candy very similar to Hershey's 'Whoppers':

Lego Batman

Lego Batman, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Random Batman made entirely out of Legos (except for the cape, which was cloth) standing guard at the entrance to my local Walmart

Amazing!

Man travels into the future, then makes a video of his trip. Is is real?

Loopback

Loopback, originally uploaded by macfixer.

I accidentally logged into my own Mac using LogMeIn, and as got some really trippy results...

Stressed

Stress, originally uploaded by macfixer.

This is a self-portrait I made of myself back in 2004, when my wife was in a really, really bad place. Even though the holidays are usually rough, due to family tensions, traveling, kids, etc. -- I think back to when life was *really* bad for everyone.

The moral? Even when you think life is bad, it's never quite *that* bad.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!

What The Hell Am I Eating 1: Hershey's Kisses With Cherry Créme

Created in iMovie:

US Army Turns To Macs For Security?

From ZDNet.com:

Macs join the Army - Hooah! by ZDNet's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes -- The Army turns to Apple to help bolster cyber security.

I wonder if AppleCare covers damage due to sand?

Does The International Olympic Committee Know About This Ham?

Does The International Olympic Committee Know About This Ham?, originally uploaded by macfixer.

So, we're at the deli getting lunch, and I noticed this...umm... ham.

Then I notice the logo. Not content to just steal the Olympic name, they cop the logo, too. Except, their crack design staff edits it slightly. Awesome!

"The Movie Font"

Funny, until I saw this video, I had no idea the same font had been used throughout.

Just A Note

We're winding down here at YFNMG. I look forward every December for my end-of-year review, and 2007 is no different. Keep an eye out for my wrap-up!

Oh, That's Pleasant...

Oh, That's Pleasant..., originally uploaded by macfixer.

What a way to wake up... the pitter-patter of ice hitting the window...

Guitar Hero III

Guitar Hero III, originally uploaded by macfixer.

While hanging out at the local GameStop, I jammed out a lousy score while playing Guitar Hero III. Don't hate me.

Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

Sellout 2: This Time I Look At The Camera

Some Guys Have All The Luck

Yep, this Massachussets convicted bank robber is ordered not to gamble as part of his probation -- and he wins $1 million in a scratch-off lottery game. Why doesn't this kind of crap happen to me?

Oh yeah, I don't do scratch-off games...

Sellout!

Send me your checks!

Happy Thanksgiving

Grandma Is Fading Fast, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Back from a visit to my Grandma in the nursing home. She's mostly incoherent, but when my wife looked at her and said "I miss you" she said "I miss you too" back (out of the blue). My wife started crying, I started crying and my grandma didn't want anyone to cry. Heh.

It's Back! In Time For The Holidays!!!

Wow, I thought I'd never see this game again -- OfficeMax' "Don't Shoot Your Eye Out"

A game where you play Ralphie from "A Christmas Story" a small Midwestern boy with a shiny new BB gun. Try to make Black Bart pay the BB richochet off as many rocks and trees as possible without hitting yourself in the process (which resets your score to zero in the process). A terrific way to pass the time when you really ought to be working.

Here's the score off of my first game of the season:



Go here to play: http://www.dontshootyoureyeout.com/

Put your score in the comments section!

Short and Tall

Short and Tall, originally uploaded by macfixer.

My son at the really, really short lighthouse at Mystic Seaport, CT

Am I Allowed To Sue One Band For Sounding Like Another?

This has been bugging me for too long: I've just listened to Zero 7's "In The Waiting Line", and while it is a good track, it sounds a little too close to that French band Air's sound. Have you compared them side by side?

Here is Air's "You All I Need", off of their 1998 album,"Moon Safari":
Now, hear this song from Zero 7 from their album, Simple Things







While it doesn't sound exactly like Air, the resemblence is uncanny. Yet it seems the fans of either group don't know about the others' existence. Weird.

Update

New post on Five Things tonight

He Brought The Noise, I Brought The Funk

So my good friend, Wardeenio thinks he can mock my love for all things McRib on his blog. I showed him.

Neener-neener-neener!

iTunes Party Shuffle

Not sure where I'm going with this, but here goes... iTunes Party Shuffle came up with this unique grouping:

What The Hell Am I Eating: Reese's Peanut Butter "Elvis Collector's Edition"

Reese's Peanut Butter "Elvis Collector's Edition", originally uploaded by macfixer.

I saw this over the summer at my local Walgreen's drug store. Unlike your usual Reese’s, this is not just chocolate and peanut butter. Nope, we’re talking chocolate, peanut butter, and banana crème.

I may just be dating myself, but I vaguely remember the King asking for it in a sandwich, fried in bacon fat. No chocolate involved, whatsoever.

Aesthetics aside, it was OK. If you handed this to me while I was blindfolded (what is this, “9½ Weeks”?) I wouldn’t be able to guess that this was a ‘special’ Reese’s. Yes, the banana crème is that underwhelming. In that regard, I suppose I’m like my dad: the flavors need to hit me over the head.

My McKid rating:

Use An Escalator Much?

Man gets pwned by moving staircase.

glumbert - How do you fall up an escalator?

Teh Google

Teh Google, originally uploaded by macfixer.

More terrific butchering of the English language from Google: "Would you like us to quickly upgrade the Google Notifier to version Google Notifier for you?

Dunkin' Donuts Truck

Dunkin' Donuts Truck, originally uploaded by macfixer.

I shot this while gassing up my car one morning on the way to work.

It's no Oscar Meyer weinermobile, but the 'box-of-donuts-and-an-iced-coffee' delivery truck is mighty sweet.

Announcement

I don't have a lot of free time this weekend, but if you wander over to "Five Things" you'll notice 2 new posts.

St. Patrick's Day Parade

Columbus Day Parade, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Look at this nightmare of a picture: The tuba (actually a Sousaphone, but does that make me look any less of a total dweeb?), the mullet, the total lack of interest in the girl behind me. No wonder I ended up in a career with computers!

edit: Found out it was St. Patrick's Day 1988.

Special Shoutout...

This goes out to my good buddy Mac over at "Here I Stand..." (which you should totally check out). Like some crazy Kung-Fu movie of my youth, this is "South Park" vs. "The Simpsons" vs. "Family Guy" -- and they all get equally skewered. Friggin' sweet.

Anything For Money

So, in true "Office Space" tradition, my boss is having me come into work next Sunday. Unlike most weekend trips to work, I am actually going to get paid overtime for this one.

To paraphrase an old punchline, "Now that we've established what kind of guy you are, we're working on the price..."

What The Hell Am I Eating: Lay's Crab Spice Seasoning Potato Chips

Crab Spice, originally uploaded by macfixer.

So, I was in the mood for a bag of potato chips on the way home from work (my commute is quite a long drive, I’m told ☺), and so I stop at the local 7-Eleven for something… I’m not sure what, yet, but I want potato chips.

Passing by the usual flavors, I decide I'm in the mood for something different. So I grab what appears to be the solitary bag of Lay’s “Crab Spice Seasoning” Potato Chips. I’m not sure if the fact that there was just one bag meant that there was some sort of run on this flavor, or if there was little faith from the delivery person.

I grab a bottle of Gatorade’s Propel grape to wash it down with and cannot wait to scurry to my car and try this stuff. I mean, come on… it’s got a frickin’ crab on the bag!

I open the bag and am treated to the site of a slightly reddish orange colored chip. Not quite the color I was expecting (then again, what color would you use for crab flavor?). The taste was more “Old Bay” than, say, “by the Bay”, but they were quite good.

Here’s the thing. Old Bay seasoning does not taste like crab. Old Bay is sometimes used to season steamed crabs, so I guess that’s where they get the idea. Why didn’t Lay’s just license the spice blend? Because Herr’s already beat them to it.

Was it good? Would I do it again? Maybe. If I wanted a mouthful of Old Bay spice, I’d grab my bottle of Old Bay on the spice rack at home.

My McKid rating: OK

Metal Spider-Man

Metal Spider-Man, originally uploaded by macfixer.

I thought he looked kind of metal, but apparently all he thrashes to is "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" -- how tame.

The Gang, Christmas 2001

The Gang, Christmas 2001, originally uploaded by macfixer.

This is a picture of my whole extending family, circa 2001. The only person you can't see is Byron, who is taking the picture.

I miss the days when my grandma was a little more together. My poor dad has to take care of her on a daily basis.

If Life Were Like The Internet 2: The Retirement

WARNING: SALTY LANGUAGE. NOT SAFE FOR WORK.
See the original here.

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for...

Well, I know I've mentioned it before (way back in April), but I needed to get some stuff together on my end... Today, I'm available at one easy-to-remember address. I bought the domain back when I was unemployed, thinking it would make a cool company name. It was inspired by a shirt I had bought for my friend's wedding. My wife asked me to describe the color, and I told her 'Deep Mustard'. Sure enough, the domain was available, so I snatched it up.

http://www.deepmustard.com/

From there, you can access this blog, Five Things (my other blog), my Twitter 'tweets', and my Flickr pictures.

More to come. Stay tuned.

Mason and Elena

Mason and Elena, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Mason and his friend from school, Elena are caught in a moment of childhood bliss. Before hormones come along and spoil it for everyone

If Life Were Like The Internet

Wow, whoever made this video got it so dead-on it's scary.

Watch, enjoy, have a super weekend.

WARNING: SALTY LANGUAGE. NOT SAFE FOR WORK.
Now in higher definition

Phoenix Building

Phoenix Building, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Hartford CT's Phoenix Building, famous for being lenticular in shape.

The Sniffles

The Sniffles, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Yeah, I gots a cold.

The Super Mario Theme: Totally Overdone

This guy decides to take one of video game's most beloved themes and bury it under waaay too many percussion instruments. Enjoy.

We Have Liftoff!

Shouldn't these firefighters be doing something more important, like saving kittens, washing their trucks, or cooking chili?


http://view.break.com/365181 - Watch more free videos

What American Accent Do You Have?

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Northeast   Judging by how you talk you are probably from north Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Rhode Island. Chances are, if you are from New York City (and not those other places) people would probably be able to tell if they actually heard you speak.
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The Midland
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

My Lil' Slugger

My Lil' Slugger, originally uploaded by macfixer.

My son takes a hearty swing at a ball in his first little league game. He eventually got a double this at-bat.

Mountain Dew Game Fuel

Mountain Dew Game Fuel, originally uploaded by macfixer.

This orange concoction tastes a little bit like Code Red, but a little more lime (sorta like a Cherry-Lime Rickey).

It's also supposed to have more caffeine than regular Dew. We likey.

Dell-Balls

Dell-Balls, originally uploaded by macfixer.

I love Dell, Dell be good.

Introducing the ZunePhone!

This cracks me up...

This looks like it could be *very* interesting...

Then again, I was jazzed by the Segway, but I digress...

Pixar's newest movie, coming soon:

Sarah and Sonia touching noses

Sarah and Sonia touching noses, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Not quite sure why they're doing it, but it's nice to see these two having fun together.

Whole Lotta Quark

Whole Lotta Quark, originally uploaded by macfixer.

A shelf containing a lab's worth of QuarkXPress 7 -- the wrong version needed, of course. I needed the lab pack, not individual copies...

Frozen Hummingbird

Frozen Hummingbird, originally uploaded by macfixer.

I set my camera to the highest shutter speed to see if I could capture a picture of the hummingbirds at my mother-in-law's house. When they arrived, I had no idea that it would produce such a spectacular shot!

Me Fuzzy Hat

Me Fuzzy Hat, originally uploaded by macfixer.

A moldy oldie in my iPhoto library. Taken in 2004 at "The Big E" wearing my midway-won prize on my head: a fuzzy top hat that was *the* thing to wear that day.

Don't Worry...

Just really, really busy at work. In the meantime, check out some stuff at Five Things (aka 'the other blog'), my Twitter feed, and my Flickr photos. That'll keep you busy for a while.

Astute readers might remember me promising something cool in the near future. Was that really back in April? Yeah, about that -- kinda took a back seat. Still working on it... sorry!

I Rock

I Rock, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Yeah, it's true. I shall not be mocked, either...

<== New Poll!

There's a new poll up on the main page (http://macfixer.blogspot.com). It's open until 8/6. Vote now!

Deck Umbrella

Deck Umbrella, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Taken while sitting on my mother-in-law's deck, enjoying a summer evening.

Shrunken Head

Shrunken Head, originally uploaded by macfixer.

Man, I love you Photo Booth...

Ahh, NetBoot... The Bane Of My Existence!

I'm not sure if you've been reading my Twitter posts recently, but I've been struggling for a while here to get our various Macs on campus here imaged. Originally, we had a lab full of Macs, and while NetBoot didn't work exactly as predicted, we could finesse it enough to get the job done.

Enter 2007, and not only do we have a lab full of different Macs, those original Macs now have to be reimaged for use elsewhere on the campus. The setup we were using on the Xserve refuses to boot any of the Macs, old or new.

...and don't even get me started on the whole Quark 7 thing!

It's all an exercise in frustration, all exasperated by the fact that all of this needs to be done around August 9th.

 

Has Harry Potter Jumped The Shark?

Hmm, my sister-in-law just finished "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" yesterday, and said that, "the ending sucked." and told her sister to read it, "just up to the epilogue" -- since I have to get through book 6 still, it has me wondering...

Update: You can read the quick overview (ending and all) on Wikipedia

3 Heads

3 Heads, originally uploaded by macfixer.

This is a totally posed shot at John Dempsey Hospital I took while waiting to visit my wife's grandmother. She was rushed there after suffering 2 strokes. She eventually pulled through and is now in a rehab center in Connecticut.

Reese's Peanut Butter "Elvis Collector's Edition"

Reese's Peanut Butter "Elvis Collector's Edition", originally uploaded by macfixer.

I saw this yesterday at my local Walgreen's drug store. Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Banana Creme. I'm sure it's "Officially Licensed".

On the back is "Elvis Trivia": "Elvis got his first guitar on his 11th birthday — January 8, 1946"

Wanna Job?

My good buddy Brandon was instrumental in making this video (he's the guy eating the money). Silly kid, doesn't he know you shouldn't put money near his mouth?!?

Some Of Our Users Are Like This...

This is Jim Henson's "Computer Monster" from 1967 -- the prototype of Cookie Monster, which would appear years later. Enjoy:

5 Year Anniversary!

Today (July 13) marks 5 years I've been married. I'll probably scan some wedding pictures later today and throw 'em up on Flickr to celebrate.

Wow, 5 years. That's like half of Mason's life! Amazing how time can slip away from you like that. Not that I'm complaining or anything. With all the crap we've been through these last few years, which reads like a wedding vow: happiness, tears, sickness (oh, the sickness!), and health. After all that, I can't imagine spending it without my mate, my wife.

I love you, Sweetpea.

Update: I posted some crap entries up on Five Things. Go check it out!

Don't Eat The Hummus!

Well, this sucks: More than 120 people got sick after eating at the "Taste of Chicago" food festival. Seems they all had some Persian food. Dick Cheney would somehow link this to terrorism, I'm sure of it.

We Got A Newsman Down!

Chuck Storm (that can't be his real name, can it?) takes one for the team, live.


http://view.break.com/329276 - Watch more free videos

UPDATE:More Chuck Storm:

Mike Pitching Stones

Mike Pitching Stones, originally uploaded by macfixer.

On our lunch break at Harkness, Mike took the opportunity to add stones to the coastline. What an environmentalist.

Happy Fourth Everybody!

Just wanted to wish everyone in the USA a happy fourth (don't blow any fingers off, now!). Those of you outside the USA, you're all terrorists and you're jealous of our freedoms.




...just kidding!

iMac Mosaic

iMac Mosaic, originally uploaded by macfixer.

A mosaic I took with my Samsung Sync phone

Some Good News...

Well, Sonia's Grandmother is out of the hospital and into a rehab center. Yesterday, she was able to walk to and from the bathroom with assistance, plus stand and brush her teeth without help.

She's not out of the woods yet, but she's getting there.

Doodle

Doodle, originally uploaded by macfixer.

A quick doodle that I made at work, while waiting for a machine to update (thanks, Windows Update!).

Whoooo Is The Cat With The Beeeeeeeak?

Sometimes, life reminds you that all is not fair with the world; that the odds are forever stacked in favor of the House.

1. Yesterday, as my wife's grandparents were to leave for their home in Florida, her grandmother complained that her left arm couldn't move and her tongue "felt heavy". My mother-in-law tried to contact her doctor, and when she couldn't, made the Executive Decision to take her to the hospital. Good thing she did, because they later found out she had had a stroke. I dashed home (cancelling a doctor's appointment in the meanwhile) to be with the family and all. Sonia's abuela is doing OK. She's still able to talk, and is still as ornery as ever. The doctors, meanwhile, are trying to find out how much damage has been done. They did a CT scan yesterday, but it was foggy, so today's agenda is an MRI. Here's hoping she sits still enough for that.
2. Today, I just found out my favorite show on TV, Cartoon Network's "Harvey Birdman" is going off the air come the end of July. Man, I can truly say I absolutely LOVE that show, and seeing it end after only 39 episodes really hurts.

Now, obviously, event #1 is worse than #2 -- but, man -- they both are pretty crummy.