Because Things Should Look Good

Nickelodeon's Contribution to the Gulf Cleanup

2010-06-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

I got to thinking and who better than our super absorbent buddy SpongeBob? or Bob Esponja for our spanish reading fans ...

Printable Version for plastering everywhere

Nurses' Icebreaker

2010-06-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

Hey dear readers. this was inspired by Dede Dodge and Kari Botts. Two awesome friends who make people feel better and need some fun expression in their lives. Share it with friends and have some fun.

Inktober Illustrations E-book

2009-11-13T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hello dear readers. As part of the whole Facebook experience and one of the other reasons this part of my digital empire has gotten a little out of date, I wanted to offer you a fun piece of my mind.

The whole month of October, I did a drawing a day ... some illustrations, some cartoons and all fun and creative. There was such a flow of comments and positive feedback I thought it would be fun to compile them in an e-book.

[ CLICK TO DOWNLOAD 6,500k pdf ]

Just so we're clear, there's a method to the madness. Inktober was a way to expand my daily norm to include hand drawn line art. Originally shared on Facebook, the collection took on a following and as more friends and family enjoyed it, I wanted a way to show and share it in a more organized manner.

So in the following pages, you'll see what I have done on a daily basis to keep the creative wheels greased. Thank you for the kind comments which can still be seen on the Facebook album 'Inktober' on my page. If you aren't online or in the list, Some are cartoons from my ever-evolving series "The Irony is Devastating".

Share with your friends, laugh, ponder and have fun like I did making these drawings. Printed book copies, art prints and originals will be available for sale very soon. Thanks and enjoy!

In the creative median with my blinker on

2009-05-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

Hello dear readers...

I'm enjoying growing in my skills and learning new technologies and staying on the cusp of existing ones, all that being said... I miss painting and illustration.

I'm putting on a developer hat (more like a hardhat) and knocking out custom solutions and having a blast. I'm crafting solutions and value added solutions and positioning Kingdom Graphics as a multifaceted solution for the progressive businessperson.

Also I get the chance to create designs and corporate identity for our clients so that lets me stretch the ol cerebellum with artistic expression.

CurvyGirl got me oil paints for Christmas and a Japanese sumi-e painting and calligraphy brush set a few years ago. I'm going to dip some bristles very soon and hope to parlay that into a gallery presence.

Whatever your creative expression, painting, drawing, music, sewing, writing... share it and be proud of it because when you don't get a chance to put it out there it's easy to feel creatively constipated.

I am going to show my sweet blue-eyed muse the power she has over me.

To quote Staind, 'It's been a while'

2009-03-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

Hello dear readers, with the advent of broader communication on LinkedIn and Facebook, plus a bevy of development projects on my drawing board, I've been pulled away from the Because Things Should Look Good blog.

Kingdom Graphics is about to roll out an exciting new self-promotion service that's going to serve as a value added service to out clients and strategic business partners. I'll share more as soon as the curtain is ready to open on that project. But also we have had the chance to help our long-standing clients develop new e-commerce catalogs, and some new avenues into the stone and tile care markets all over the north bay.

So in short, we're clickin along and appreciate the attention the Steelers Groundhog cartoon has given us as well.

Thanks and we'll talk to you again soon. *waving happily*

Groundhog Day and Steelers' Victory

2009-02-02T09:37:00.000-08:00

I was inspired this morning and though I'd do up a nifty cartoon honoring the Pittsburgh Steelers' victory in Super Bowl XLIII (or 43 for you non-Romans out there). So Punxsutawney Phil poked out of his hollow, feelin' good from last night and made this declaration.

Available as FREE desktop wallpapers:
Click link, open image and right-click to save to your desktop!

600 x 800 (171k .jpg)
1024 x 768 (272k .jpg)
1600 x 1200 (905k .jpg)

If you want it on a t-shirt, baby shirt, mousepad or anything else, please contact me at troy@kingdomgraphics.biz and I will let you know where to get them.

I also tried to get this in to the Pittsburgh area newspapers but they stonewalled me so I thought I'd share it here!

Bears over Packers! Yeaaaah!

2008-12-23T12:23:00.000-08:00

Watch the highlights. It wasn't pretty but a win is a win and we're hopeful for some momentum into the post season!

Merry Christmas dear readers and the Monsters of the Midway have given us an early present!

Hannity and Dr Pepper are free

2008-11-24T23:31:00.000-08:00

You heard it readers, Dr Pepper has no period after the Dr ... watch 'Unwrapped' with Marc Summers on Food Network about that.

But Sean Hannity is free of Colmes.

I don't know of Hannity or Colmes individually but they were always a fixture on our channel lineup as CurvyGirl and I would flip through the channels.

The free Dr Pepper was attached to the buyers of the new Guns 'n Roses Chinese Democracy CD.

From what I heard, the folks at one of our most popular soft drink companies vowed to offer a free soda of some size or value to those who purchased the new the new Guns 'n Roses Chinese Democracy CD.

And basically the overwhelming demand for the new Guns 'n Roses Chinese Democracy CD crashed the servers at Dr Pepper.

They have a public relations nightmare on their hands if Dr Pepper doesn't make good on the pledge of a free soda for each purchased copy of the new Guns 'n Roses Chinese Democracy CD.

I heard there were millions of listens of the Guns 'n Roses Chinese Democracy CD at BestBuy and other electronics retailers. Let's see if Guns 'n Roses Chinese Democracy CD becomes a hot seller this Christmas season. I know for sure I'm not getting it for CurvyGirl or LadyBug.

I may send a copy to Sean Hannity though, just for the reason he and the Guns 'n Roses Chinese Democracy CD shared a news day.

$0.55 a gallon... Hey man, that's BOSS!

2008-11-24T10:08:00.000-08:00

CurvyGirl and I went to gas up our Big Blue yesterday and we knew that there were a handful of Safeway gas rewards stored up, however we couldn't have guessed just how low it would go!

We filled up our Pathfinder for only $10.60!

When was the last time that gas was that cheap? I'll tell ya.. Back before CurvyGirl was even born! According to some research, 1974-1975 was the last time average gas prices were that low.

So we went back in time yesterday, and I'm not sure if the gas pump, the Pathfinder or the cash register at Safeway was our dimensional portal but things looked the same and Led Zeppelin played on someone's car radio. AM no doubt, with an 8-track deck.

Speaking of that, I have a sweet receiver at home that I need to get some speakers for so I can rock out to 8 tracks again. When I do, I promise to share my experiences in the land of large tapes with at least 3 clicky program song breaks.

Fitness, carbon footprints and leaf blowers

2008-11-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

I'm looking out of my office window and watching a leaf blower 'literally' blow stuff around. I wonder just how many calories sweeping leaves burns ... versus the carbon footprint of an environmental services company investing in good brooms and fast workers. Also the consider the wasted labor to chase the leaves that are blown here and there.

If we utilized two workers for each leaf blower in America, how much better-off would the economy be, our global warming situation and the general productivity of the workforce be?

How many times have you been on the phone when someone with the gas-powered leaf blower walked by, and they said "hold on, the freakin leaf blower is going by, wait a sec"? It breaks the flow of a sales call.

How quiet would it be if two people with brooms were walking by your window? I think the effort and emissions of leaf blowers is wasteful. The employees would be better off, the landscaping company would safe lots of dough and the offices they serve would maintain their calls.

The employees may take 30 minutes or just a bit more to do their jobs but think of the impact! No need for a gym or cholesterol medicine, daily action means wellness.

I am going to work on the initiative to make landscaping companies responsible, quieter and more environmentally conscious.

What do you think?

"Check my record"

2008-10-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

We are constantly asked to rhetorically check John McCain or Barack Obama's records. Well, I dug through the dusty record crates in my brain and found these.

Play it loud and proud. Music to vote to!

This one is airy and skips a lot.

Have some good fun listening with your friends in the wood paneled basements and garage rec rooms. Maybe even with Joe Wurzelbacher from Toledo, Ohio - "Joe the plumber" that John McCain kept eluding to during the 3rd and final presidential debate at Hofstra University in New York.

If you would like to use these on your blog, let me know and I'll send you a link.

The "I Remember Sharon" campaign

2008-10-03T17:01:00.000-07:00

CurvyGirl and I are training for the 5k Making Strides Against Cancer benefit walk in Sacramento CA on October 19. It's rewarding doing things together in mom's honor. To those who hadn't heard, Sharon Vera passed away on January 18, 2008 after living and fighting various types of cancers. She was a wonderful woman and friend and we are all lucky for her influence.

To help honor her giving spirit and strength we are doing the walk and hope to make it a yearly tradition. And I have also created a memorial product line for friends and family to wear and share.

We would appreciate your help, support and sponsorship. Here's the site to donate or purchase items.

Every single penny earned through the store will go to cancer research through the American Cancer Society. Even after the Making Strides walk, we will have the store up and adding another way to donate and support ongoing research.

Thanks dear readers and we'll keep getting ready for this amazing opportunity.

Ludacris-ly Bustah'd

2008-09-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Brits said "Put your hands where my eyes can see". There has to be something more at play, maybe because he was coming from Amsterdam *raise eyebrow*. I still like about 50% of his stuff, he's wacky like p-funk on some of his videos, but at the core he's pretty talented.

I must have been a frantic scramble for the promoters of the Orange RockCorps Concert. Ludacris filled in his spot, and he can be just to the left of normal himself, but is as if not more talented and can act pretty well too. Who saw him on Law & Order when he played Ice-T's stepson a few years ago?

Pelosi's Blank Check

2008-09-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

This was a popular post and now with Nancy Pelosi's blank check in the news again I thought I'd share it with you once more. If you want this on a shirt, mousepad, et cetera, let me know and I'll share with you how you can get your hot lil hands on 'em.

[ See archived post ]

Guy Fieri features a Veggie Burger and LadyBug gets a Sweet Trim

2008-09-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

Back in August 27, 2008, Guy Fieri had an awesome episode featuring a Vegetarian Burger that his sister crafted. I would love to do a Big Bite on that thing, it looks good. Like Guy Fieri says "Off the Hook".

I was cruising the traffic reports for the Things Should Look Good blog and noticed that a fair amount of the searches related to Guy Fieri. I think he's a great guy (Fieri) who has taken his image, reputation and energy and made it into the next Food Network franchise empire.

I'm sure you remember the hullabaloo that Emeril Lagasse created when he kicked up the channel. *BAM*. Now people use the the term 'Kick Up' as a verb. Emeril has transcended the culinary world to the pop culture.

I think Guy Fieri is exactly the spark plug the network needs. Back to the traffic reports for Things Should Look Good, I seem to be garnering a fair amount of traffic about Guy Fieri's wife and I don't know Guy Fieri's wife 's name but I have met her before and she's a friendly person.

All that aside, as I sip my Coke Zero, I wonder when Coca-Cola is going to make 1 Liter bottles of Coke Zero. I would fill a swimming pool of this stuff and belly flop into it, I love it. CurvyGirl and I enjoyed Coke Zero and sometimes make up Rum & Cokes like we did in Santa Cruz at the Chaminade on our last Anniversary trip with Coke Zero and Bacardi Rum. We sat on our patio, marveled at the eucalyptus groves and reveled in our love for one another and had lots of fun. This year we celebrate 11 years! I lurve her.

LadyBug got a dangerously cute haircut. She got her summer trim and looks like a sweet little dog model. We've noticed more Shih-Tzus showing up in advertising lately and LadyBug is pleased. Represent your breed!

Be open to new ideas, rail against lazy marketing and challenge yourselves to experience new aspects of your career and craft. And if you find a swimming pool of Coke Zero, let me know and I'll build a high dive next to it and 'galoosh' dive right in!

Bears, Barack, Mr. Fieri and the gift of LIFE Magazine

2008-09-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

Hello kind readers.

I wanted first to say that the Chicago Bears trounced the Indianapolis Colts 29 - 13 on Sunday Night Football - Sept 7, 2008 in a sweet round of Super Bowl vindication. Albeit years later, but still 'twas glorious.

CurvyGirl and I have started to make jewelry again. She is very talented and has a marvelous eye for style and color harmonies. *Lurve*

If you are looking for interesting and classy gifts this year, I want to strongly recommend LifeMagforSale.com. Ed Farnan has a collection of more than 1,500 magazines he would love to share with the world. Head over to the site and search by year or feature. It's a thoughtful gift for a veteran, classic movie fan or someone who has been reminiscing about their favorite presidential candidate. Take the hint, get them a vintage LIFE magazine!

I'm getting a lot of traffic to Because Things Should Look Good because of my occasional posts about Guy Fieri. I can't wait to see him in his new show "Off the Hook". Guy Fieri has been the affable punch in the shoulder the Food Network has needed for some time. I wonder when Guy Fieri will grace the pages of LIFE Magazine, it's still around.

On the average about half of the things one gets at a tradeshow ever get used, or even see the light of day outside a drawer or the tchotchke totebag in the corner of the office or bottom shelf of the storeroom. I have an idea, take a picture of your wildest, most functionally useless piece of promotional whatnot and post it to your blog and we can get a nifty little circle going. I'll upload my picture tomorrow. It's a nifty giftie that I can't even get my friend's 9 year old daughter to want to play with or use.

My next piece about Lazy Marketing will touch on this very subject and how lazy marketing and bad marketing are bad for the environment. Maybe Barack Obama should have a stance on this. I'll get ahold of him and see if he's interested.

Ok, auf Wiedersehen friends.

High School homecoming (of sorts)

2008-08-22T00:07:00.000-07:00

I love what I do...

One of our clients contacted me about doing a full color print ad for a sports program. The program is for Gilroy High School. It may seem small potatoes to what I already do, but it is symbolic for me.

Let me tell you, dear readers, I was ecstatic to put together a solid advertisement for the Gilroy High Sports program. Talk about local boy making good, it was crazy fun.

Silver Creek Fitness and Physical Therapy hit the mark and were represented big time.

Thank you to Carol Fahey-Peters and John Porter, my design sparkplugs in my youth at Gilroy High and in college.

This is a call to young designers with a fire in their belly. Keep working at your craft, don't be to proud to be an apprentice, and be strong in your own design philosophy. You will make a mark if you want to.

Lazy Marketing - Number Two

2008-08-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

One of the surefire cliches of the last 15 years has been to attach an 'e' to the beginning of a product name.

In some respects it makes perfect sense as an abbreviation: eCommerce, eBooks, eVite. But what was once the preceding vowel of old crap that needed to sound new has yielded to the next one in line...

The letter 'i' makes everything hip and technologically superior. Blame it on Apple all you want, but they did personify things well before the iPod. The Mac OS X operating system had iPhoto, iMovie, iChat, iMail and so on.

The iPod opened up the floodgates of overseas knockoffs and unimaginative packaging designers' abuse of the poor letter. I did a search for the following words and was not shocked with the results:

iPuppy [iPuppy Search]
iBike [iBike Search]
iShoe [iShoe Search]

For a short time it seemed like 'u' might be on a roll, with college financial assistance program uPromise and AT&T's uVerse. But most people would rather focus on 'i' than 'u' any day.

I challenge people in the marketing and development of new products to use new letters. the there's plenty of natural ties to products. Comment with some ideas that pop to mind and I'll share some of mine.

Reminds me of my spelling bee days when we put i before e except after c when it sounds like 'ay' in neighbor and weigh.

Round, flat, cinnamon or minty?

2008-07-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

I bet this is over by the kettle corn trailer... I have something stuck in the ol' toofies.

Sadly though, a pair of tiny Tibetan protesters climbed up it and hung a banner ... then broke a few off on the way down.

Who put cilantro bubbles in my chocolate bubbles?

2008-07-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Glitter Ponies will be embarking on a culinary adventure in the next few weeks ...Molecular Gastronomy!

I did some research on Molecular Gastronomy and found it was more about the science of flavor and cooking temperature. I thought it was about reducing food to certain consistencies with liquid nitrogen and extreme heat, but I was a little off base. Molecular Gastronomy is an interesting look at how the complex parts of food such as water content in the individual cells and proteins react to other influences.

It will be exciting to tinker with molecular gastronomy, hearkening back to my days of watching Mr. Wizard.

Radiohead letdown

2008-07-15T15:52:00.000-07:00

The hyped and highly anticipated video for House of Cards by Radiohead was a partnership with Google and some talented scientists who, in my opinion duped me into watching the video. I'm still on the fence about Radiohead anyway, but the video for House of Cards was presented as a groundbreaking and stunning masterpiece.

Hooey.

Thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours were poured into it and Radiohead lead singer Thom Yorke had to lip sync while lasers shot at and around his face. Undoubtedly, there must have been Radiohead fans staying up all night to be the first click through Google to see House of Cards on July 10.

But I can do an impressive rendition of Brick House as I run through a laser tag arena and have lasers shooting at and around my face, spend about $23 and have some righteous fun with CurvyGirl (what's up baby *wink*).

Applause for trying to apply a new spiffy technology that one day may be used to perform surgery or render the surface of Mars, but I'd rather watch Mute Math's 'Typical' video to get a taste of music video wizardry.

When I see Krista walking towards me...

2008-07-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

I feel a frantic vibration in my eyes, like dancers on a mousetrap.
Catch me and wonder what to do first.
My chest is rocked as my heart tries to break free like a hungry parrot.
Wake up and brush the feathers from my lips.
Pull off some cotton candy and leave the sugar on my fingers.
I'm in direct sun at our carnival and want to roll down the Andes on a ferris wheel.
Just come closer and make these delicate rumblings complete.

Lazy Marketing - Number One

2008-06-24T11:10:00.000-07:00

One of my lazy marketing peeves is simply putting "Your Name Here" on a building, promotional product, whathaveya.

As an advertising professional I think it's rather unimaginative. I am asked now and again to just use "your name here" on ads, sites and web banners I design. I gently divert the client, but all the while, I tiptoe towards banishing lazy marketing.

New ideas are hard to come by, granted, but it doesn't mean that ad agencies and sign shops should revert to the cliche "your name here". Put some brain power to it and have a brainstorming meeting, scribble some ideas on a placemat at lunch, there is a better way to portray your offering.

And if you aren't the creative type, share your ideas with someone like me and I'll craft something more meaningful than the dreaded "your name here". Imagine the lost revenue, especially in the case of an office building. Every day that thing site empty is money out of a huge hole in your pocket in utilities alone.

In a series of posts, I am going to share some thoughts on how lazy marketing impacts more than just your phone not ringing.

Be creative or hire someone creative... just stop the cycle of lazy marketing.

But for now, "your comments here"

I can write my blog with no handlebars, no handlebars, no handlebars...

2008-05-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

It is repetitive and slightly annoying but the song by Flobots called Handlebars is not the highlight of their album Fight with Tools but it endeared them to me. They are creative and explore music without being random and messy. I like the Flobots track called Rise, the last one on Fight with Tools.

Speaking of Handlebars, do you know what Subaru means in Japanese... "Arrogant Cyclist".

While Subaru drivers are cutting you off or blazing new trails, they're sipping their honey sweetened steamed milk and nibbling on a CLIF Bar and pretending you're not there. However their Golden Retriever "Cody" or "Shiloh" just loves the "Removable L.L.Bean-embossed cargo-area tray".

The Flobots need to put their bicycles with no Handlebars up on the Subaru's Thule Echelon Roof Mounted Bike Rack. Can you help the Flobots? I tried but the rack was wonky and the allen bolts were all metric. Also, pardon the pun I didn't want to "Fight with Tools".

The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk

2008-05-15T09:15:00.000-07:00

The Incredible Hulk

Edward Norton is Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk and starring Tim Roth as the adversary. This is going to be a battle royale that I can't wait to see. This vindicates the franchise after Eric Bana played the overinflated cartoon character.

Batman - The Dark Knight

Batman - The Dark Knight is going to be a twisty and emotional movie, especially since Heath's not with us anymore.

Price of Stamps and the Greasy Chip Volvo

2008-05-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

The price of stamps has increased again and I wonder if the stamp price increase is even justified.

The United States Post Office (USPS) has suffered a huge public relations bruise with the price of stamps over the past 10 years or so, but there are still the purists and older relatives who love receiving an actual paper card or letter.

So if stamp prices are keeping you from sharing a tender moment, look under the seat of your car and you will easily make up the difference for the USPS Stamp price increase.

I'm not trying to be an apologist for the Post Office or that I'm enthused about the price of stamps going up, but we already overpay for so much ... we buy expensive coffee when we have it in our cabinets at home but refuse to make it before we leave the house. If the price of your morning bagel went up by a penny you wouldn't even bat an eyelash, but the price of a stamp goes up once every 18 months or so and it's upheaval. But if it means my nephew getting a card that puts a smile on his face, it's worth it.

Stamps used to be - and still are to some degree - nice art pieces. I'm a philatelist so I'm tilted towards the little gluebacked perforated beauties.

Stamp prices are always going to be a bone of contention with us as Americans. Maybe the increase in our stamp price is George W. Bush's fault too. I'm sure there's some patchouli soaked bohemian making bumper stickers right now with George W.'s grinning mug and something pithy about Iraq, Gas and Oil Prices, and now the Price of Stamps.

Oh by the way, he'll never be impeached and please promise me that when the next president; Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton or John McCain get in office you'll take a razorblade and scrape off the Impeach Bush or the W with the red circle and slash from the rear window of your biodiesel Volvo.

Oh speaking of biodiesel Volvos...

From the article 'Volvo speaks out against biodiesel' (http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/news-story.jsp?news_id=2240)

"...Volvo says, "As part of its own research into biodiesel and based on recent Swedish research, Volvo claims biodiesel is dirtier, smellier and less fuel-efficient than low-sulphur diesel, and engines are more costly to maintain." John Pitts, Environment Manager at Volvo Car UK, went on to say, "Our Swedish parent company has looked into this subject very thoroughly and the results do not look good for biodiesel. The most alarming statistic form Swedish research says biodiesel emissions are 10 times more carcinogenic than standard low-sulphur diesel used in Sweden. Tailpipe emissions of 'smog forming' oxides of nitrogen can be up to 40% higher than (traditional) diesel engines. Combine that with a 10% drop in performance and fuel consumption when running on pure rapeseed oil and the fact that your car exhaust will constantly smell like greasy chips and the future of biodiesel looks grim."

To wrap it all up in a few points.
:: Price of stamps, not excited but ok with it.
:: The art of the stamp, love it.
:: Finger pointers who keep their bumper stickers on too long, annoyed.
:: Early adopters of a dangerous and misunderstood trend, suspicious.

Here I am, the Sleeve that you Love...

2008-04-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

I was on the way to work this morning and saw the perfect scenario for this sleeve I picked up at the Salvation Army. Sonoma County late Spring mornings are perfect for this view!

A sleeve, a field and 5 brothers

2008-04-17T08:51:00.001-07:00

I saw this at the thrift store and just knew I'd find some acreage to snap a shot of Wayne, Jay, Donny, Jimmy and Merrill ... chillin' & grinnin' in a hole. Perhaps to imply that they are wholesome and homegrown.

Wonder-Sleeveness

2008-04-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

I read about SleeveFace on one of my favorite visual communication blogs, Three Minds and immediately scampered downstairs to see what records I could do my first one with.

Basically it's taking pictures using record album covers to create a nifty Trompe L'Oeil.

I am now going to be hopelessly addicted to "SleeveFacing" things. Good thing oddball records are inexpensive.

I took Bill Cosby's Wonderfulness around town for a few days and found a great place to have him roll downhill. It's a great record, featuring the monster Chicken Heart. Get it immediately.

Terrorists with a free pass

2008-04-08T08:24:00.000-07:00

I understand the humanitarian atrocities that are being perpetrated in Tibet. But the people who climbed up the suspension cables on the Golden Gate Bridge are terrorists in my opinion.

If three lunatics on any given Monday decided to climb the Golden Gate Bridge cables with briefcases and no reasonable motive they would - and should be - brought down. They are performing a hostile and illegal action... and if they weren't just hanging a ridiculous sign but were planting an explosive device people would be up in arms and calling for Bush's impeachment again. Another tangent for another post.

Back to the topic, how were these protesters allowed to get even 5 feet up the cables without people - concerned citizens, the national guard, a patriot with good aim and a rock salt shotgun - doing something to stop them?

I don't care about the cause after that point because the Chinese didn't see that on the AP newswire and reverse their occupation. It was a waste of time, energy and a compromise to national security. It was bad enough that protesters were all over the Eiffel Tower and caused the Olympic torch (the 'eternal flame') to be extinguished repeatedly because of this foolishness, I would expect in these times of hyper-vigilance that political correctness would take a backseat to laying hands on some of these people and giving them a reason to think before they act next time.

I was at a sign shop yesterday and this lady was having a sign made that said 'Autonomy for Tibet'. The owner of the shop said nothing but smiled and chuckled after she left as if to say, 'she's spending money with me and I'm not going to get involved'. But I think that was a waste of her money and probably the sunburn she's going to get while she shouts and stands shoulder to shoulder with stinky people for a cause that's trendy.

I can't help to wonder what if the majority of Tibet was populated with devout Christians. I believe all human life is valuable no matter what the faith because Jesus loves us all and is loving and patient. But would there be the uproar? Or is it because Buddhism is popular and part of the new age faith buffet so many people cherry pick from these days?

If I see some kook trying to get up on a national landmark like a jungle gym I'm going to do something, I promise.

He is risen

2008-03-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter dear readers. I do it every day but wanted to invite you to take some time and reflect on the blessings He has given us, even if you've drifted away for a while... and how we are all sinners saved by grace. No matter what you have done, the bumpy road you are on, it's all smoothed out when you give your heart to God and let Him guide your life.

It's not a matter of control or giving up any quality of life, it's gaining much more including peace and a unique outlook on things, and the ability to put all the past behind you.

Jesus is tender, strong and accepting, and now is the time to open your heart to Him. We as believers aren't perfect, but He is and that's the glorious difference.

Have a great day with family, friends and even strangers knowing He loves us all.

Matthew 28:18
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

I feel bad for Arthur Davidson

2008-03-19T20:52:00.000-07:00

William Harley gets all the love.

How many hours did Arthur Davidson put in on the design and innovation of the motorcycle, or engine or even the handlebars? Everyone just calls it a Harley, but lop off the Davidson. I'd feel left out if I were the Davidson in Harley-Davidson brand.

I saw a guy on the freeway lately with a jacket that just said 'Harley'... and it spurred me to consider referring to the Harley-Davidson motorcycle as simply the 'Davidson'.

Join me won't won't you...

Next time you see an American badass, ask them what model their Davidson is, then nod your head knowingly.

1970s San Jose Memories, Help I'm Stuck!

2008-03-14T15:51:00.000-07:00

Trivia-rich readers...

What was the name of the sprawling toy store in San Jose on the corner of Tully and 101 that had the giant windows with the toy soldiers standing guard? It eventually became the Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theater (the brainchild of Nolan Bushnell who started Atari).

It's been driving me bonkers and I know it's going to be stuck in the back of my mind on the way home tonight ... just the way my mind needs information. Kind of like a mental sneeze that just won't release.

I'll see you at the Dragon's Lair game on the second floor...

Winna-Winna Chicken Dinna!

2008-01-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

I am good at winning radio contests. I have scored countless CDs, artist swag, dinners, admittance to exclusive parties, concert tickets, video games, movie passes, ice cream sundaes... the whole shebang.

This morning on the "One and Only Live 105", I won tickets to the AMA Supercross Event at AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Just like the home run balls from Barry Bonds (steroid scandal notwithstanding), I wonder if they are going to have any stunt riders fly out into McCovey Cove.

If so, I bet there will be people out there in kayaks with big nets to catch the riders after they dunk into the chilly waters.

I also won a TV contest... YO! MTV Raps had a contest in 1990 and I won a shirt, a Sony Ghetto Blaster and cassette tape from the show.

And if that's not impressive enough *sarcastic grin* I won a He-Man Dragon Walker from a pack of Pink Lemonade Bubbilicious Gum while sitting in typing class in 7th grade.

I like winning stuff, but the best prize I've won by far is CurvyGirl's love and admiration.

I refuse to stupify children

2008-01-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

Marketing observation: When a designer or artist creates materials either for or about children of preschool to elementary school-age, there's the immediate impulse to: render letters backwards like they think all kids have dyslexia or respond the the fun of bad handwriting, use a crayon typestyle or the dreaded Comic Sans [BanComicSans.com], include crude clip art of goofy-grinning tykes with freckles and messy hair, the fun overuse of the fun word fun in a way that's not fun to even those of us who like fun for fun's sake... and overall insult their power and understanding.

These children are the ones driving the push to make games 64-bit, millions of colors and interactive interfaces. If it were up to me, I'd sit in front of my 128 color Atari 2600 and play Yars' Revenge before I play Halo 3.

Our nephew is a lil wizard with games and if I were creating a product or packaging, I would not serve the client or the product by infantilizing him with primary colors and backwards letters N and R. They are far more influential and hold more buying power than I was at his age. I was still a creative kid but had limited resources and wasn't bombarded with such a flood of color, sound and flashy splash. Things were neon and glittery but that just made my Captain Caveman shirt snazzy on the first day of school back after winter break.

Retro-advertising is fun and targets people in my age bracket, like a revived line called Hot Wheels Sizzlers, old school color profiles, imagery and typestyles. I got excited about it but my nephew sped right by it and gravitated to a Lego's Bionicle. All the letters were facing the correct direction, the colors were deep and diverse and there were no primitive renderings of stick people or ABC and 123 on it.

My roundabout point is that we as the new marketing front need to understand our markets and stop using stereotypical methods that only waste everyone's time, the clients' money and your professional reputation.

Making Waves and Splashes

2008-01-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

I want to make a forecast, not a resolution. You can look forward to meaningful posts and interesting dispatches from my mind. I pledge to send relevant content to all those who enjoy the "Because Things Should Look Good" blog.

I endeavor to challenge myself and make new inroads in the design world and ask people to see things in a new way, not just because I think "Things Should Look Good" but because I truly feel that my dear viewers readers wish to be scintillated with interesting thoughts, entertained with things that look good and prompted to comment thoughtfully, as you have in the past.

Thank you to my darling wife and friends who have given me inspiration and success in 'ot'7 and I hope to keep making you smile and think differently. And... like the title bar in my blog says "Because Things Should Look Good", I will keep growing graphically in print and online and work hard to stay on the edge, pushing the envelope and asking the World Wide Web Consortium to stay in pace with my brain.

Thanks everyone and let's expand our presence in 'ot'8.

Sippin' and a'grinnin!

2007-12-23T21:36:00.001-08:00

This weekend, we shared a wonderful afternoon and evening with Kyle and Joy, went wine tasting and as I schmoozed with the winery owner and got a personal tour of his Heritage Room, we had an interesting conversation with the Bostonian whirlwind. On the way home saw an incredible orange sherbet and violet sunset and soon thereafter had a sumptuous dinner of tapas, cocktails and jazz.

We love our friends and are fortunate to be able to show them new places, have deep conversations and enjoy our faith and love of adventure.

We dressed LadyBug up in her Old Navy pink and blue rugby shirt and she buttered Uncle Kyle and Auntie Joy up and got all kinds of attention.

Thanks for the wonderful day together and to all of our friends, we wish you a very Merry Christmas, happy new year and blessed 2008.

Sounds that made my day today

2007-12-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

In response to Smart Kitty's post, here's some audio that tickled my eardrums:

Ave Maria - JS Bach
Welcome to Jamrock - Damian Marley
Hard Sun - Eddie Vedder (Into the Wild Soundtrack)
Hey You Girl - Pitbull
An Honest Mistake - The Bravery
Ready Steady Go - Paul Oakenfold
Dune Buggy - The Presidents of the United States of America
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is - Rose Royce (Car Wash Soundtrack)
Simple Man - Shinedown
La Vie En Rose - Louis Armstrong
Monkey Man - The Specials
Steppin' to the AM - 3rd Bass

... and the sounds of CurvyGirl telling me that she loves me and LadyBug smacking kisses in my ear as I left for work.

Being on Google or Yahoo's first page vs consistency

2007-12-04T07:16:00.000-08:00

The following was in response to a question from Tony Cohn (SEO Gangster) one of my LinkedIn connections and a guy who knows the scrumptrelescence of an Old Chicago pizza from Petaluma.

I always tell our clients that there are countless hundreds of thousands of new sites, links, videos and such added every day and to stay buoyant enough to be in the top 100 even is good.

The first 3 pages most often are from Google-bomb bloggers and keyword conglomerators from the Eastern Bloc countries that make no sense whatsoever but grab keyword rankings by stringing together commonly searched words that anyone or 'anybot' can go to http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist.html and see the most recently searched words and phrases. It's deceitful and defeating to the small and medium sized businesses who look at their rankings like a popularity contest or a sprint to the finish line.

Consistency and relevant content always wins out and word of mouth and linking from blogs and portals is much more powerful than showing up as #1. However, narcissurfing will always be an enemy of a developer and designer.

Don't fart in my office!

2007-11-28T14:12:00.000-08:00

An uninvited gastrointestinal quiz, guess what you had for breakfast.

Need my opinion bad enough you can't shake your pant leg a little at your desk.

Leaving me a musky souvenir of your inquiry, holding my breath slyly.

I refuse to be embarrassed, you were the one who let the breeze slip.

Whatever was eaten an hour before didn't whiff of pop tarts.

Like Mykelti Williamson, Troy was Waiting to Exhale.

It's the one down by the question mark!

2007-11-26T11:18:00.000-08:00

I have heard a disturbing trend in radio commercials, and general conversation. When people will refer to a website address and say 'backslash' as opposed to simply slash or forward (or even front) slash.

It seems that browsers are now getting wiser to the cultural ignorance of it, much like putting apostrophes where they don't belong in signs and ads. Another peeve of mine.

I fear that it will become another dumbing-down trend like people say 'ww dot' and leave off the third double-u.

Perhaps it's the boomers trying to embrace the technology, but forbid any generation mis-speak about Richard Nixon, The Beatles or the 'good ol days'.

Keep your slashes forward and your terminology straight.

Ladybug and the Meerkats

2007-11-03T22:52:00.000-07:00

Our sweet doggy was sitting on the davenport (my grandpa Roe's quirky word for sofa) with CurvyGirl and as she was flipping through the channels, she stopped at Animal Planet ... Meerkat Manor to be exact. And Ladybug watched very intently for about 10 minutes. They were doing some sort of foraging thing and making little squeaks ans squawks and Ladybug's head and ears were moving and twisting. Rather cute.

Happy Candy 1/2 Off Day

2007-11-01T12:59:00.000-07:00

I couldn't care less about halloween, but I lurve going to the grocery and snatching up 17 lb. bags of fun size candybars and Dum-Dum lollypops.

Calorie forcefield, activate *fshweeowrr*!

Where did it go? I'll invent a resolution machine.

2007-10-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

CurvyGirl and I used to love the show American Inventor on ABC... then *poof* it went away. It's strange and leads one to a sense of abandonment when we get excited about the results and next week's show and no mas!

Did anyone see the last (aired) show of American Inventor?

Cats and babies ... a perfect mirror?

2007-10-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

Source: DailyMail

Van Halen tickets experiment worked...

2007-10-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

Pretty cool, I got up to #55 on Google search for Van Halen tickets with my link laden post ... .

Still waiting for those Van Halen tickets in the mail ... hint hint hint.

Garage sale irony and breakthroughs

2007-09-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

We did really well in the garage sale this weekend... and I have noticed something in my many years of garage sales and flea markets. The better-dressed people will offer you 25 cents for a $50 leather jacket and then give you a $20 to break for change.

Overall we did well, no major complaints. And I had decided to start parting with my hundreds of thousands of sports cards... *whew* it's tough y'all, if I may type like Paula Deen for a second. Thanks to Ernie for helping me make the breakthrough on the first several thousands of cards.

CurvyGirl is going to get me some new stuff for the office with our proceeds, she freakin' rocks!

Van Halen Tickets

2007-09-25T17:25:00.000-07:00

If I had Van Halen tickets for the upcoming concert I'd Jump for joy! I'd call my friend Top Jimmy and tell CurvyGirl to move her Drop Dead Legs because we have Van Halen tickets!

Lots of radio stations are giving away Van Halen tickets for caller 1,984 or some junk and some are even giving away Van Halen tickets for people to call in and play guitar riffs like Eddie Van Halen. If I were running a contest for Van Halen tickets, I'd have someone swing swords and jump really high and wear those cool round 1984 glasses with the leather wind guards like David Lee Roth did in the Panama video on his motorcycle.

Van Halen tickets would be faboo, especially if the Van Halen Tickets were for the Sacramento show at Arco Arena on 11/27/07.

I like Van Halen and would like to win tickets, even if it's shamelessly being a SEO magnet, just because I put Van Halen tickets on my blog multiple times.

Van Halen tickets, Van Halen tickets, Van Halen tickets, Van Halen tickets, Van Halen tickets

List-a-mania

2007-09-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

25 sentences about (me)... Finish the sentences

1. I've come to realize that my ex was: wrong for me.
2. I am listening to: "Sesame's Treet" by Smart E.
3. I talk: a mean game and deliver a better one.
4. I love: Krista.
5. Yesterday was: lazy and fun.
6. My life: freakin rules.
7. I lost: the 5th grade spelling bee with the word stationery (the letter writing material, I spelled it stationary as in 'not moving').
8. I hate it when: radio stations cut off the end off a song.
9. Love is: kissing first thing in the morning.
10. Marriage is: exciting, never boring and rewarding.
11. Somewhere, someone is: talking to Bill Cosby.
12. I'll always be: madly in love with Krista.
13. I have a crush on: Krista.
14. The last time I cried was: watching a home makeover show.
15. My cell phone: set to vibrate.
16. When I wake up: well I know I'm gonna be, I'm gonna be the one who wakes up next to you.
17. Before I go to sleep at night: we have a hug, kiss and a prayer.
18. Right now I am thinking about: seeing the smile when I walk through the door.
19. Babies are: wonderful sponges of their environment.
20. I get online and: laugh at CurvyGirl's blog.
21. Today I will: drive a long time and listen to music with the windows open.
22. Tonight I will: watch new season shows with Krista.
23. Tomorrow I will: look for new clients.
24. I really want to: take Krista dancing.
25. My favorite TV show growing up was: The Brady Bunch.

I tag: Krista, Joy, Marcia, Leona, Chris, Seth Ponek, 'Equity Man' Mike Brouse, Sean Nelson

mumble mumble crash grin

2007-09-12T11:39:00.000-07:00

Questionnaire in reverse...

2007-09-05T12:20:00.000-07:00

1. almond
2. fair
3. chameleon
4. long hike
5. sunroof
6. Jack in the Box
7. Pixy, drum, mozzarella, chop, Chick-O
8. soccer
9. lotion
10. the third one

Comment me to guess the topics and I'll be happy to send you what they are later.

OK to make up their 10 mystery questions... I tag: Krista, Joy, Kyle, Chris, Marcia, Leona, Kory

Old records and memories

2007-08-30T21:24:00.000-07:00

My mom had a big record collection, I remember them when I was a kid. Predominantly country, but some gems like Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, The Ventures and some classical and showtunes records as well.

Most of them were Kenny Rogers, Alabama, Gatlin Bros. and so forth that I used to hear while she puttered around the house on Saturday late mornings with all the windows open.

I recently got a couple big boxes of these licorice pizzas and an itchin to spin em. I have a turntable and a receiver/audio deck that I got when a business closed a few years ago and they put all their stuff out on the front with a free sign on it.

So I am going to convert as many as I can to CD and then keep the best of them for our kidlets and share these sweet tunes with the next generation. Engelbert Humperdink... what an awesome name!

Pigskin Prognastication

2007-08-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

A particular team from a particular city will go all da way...

I find it interesting about how when one's team is doing well in the preseason it's very rosy outlook but if they are struggling, you'd say "well, it's only the preseason".

Thankfully the Chicago Bears have shown some promise games they've played thus far and it's going to be a curious dynamic now that Kyle Orton is back in the lineup. He was the quarterback that Rex Grossman replaced a few years back and they have both been the 'golden boy' and the 'goat' in recent years.

CurvyGirl and I will be there with our well-worn shirts and undying love for the Monsters of the Midway and that loud sound you hear on Sundays will be us shouting with glee at yet another touchdown , Brian Urlacher sack, or Nathan Vasher interception.

See you in Arizona on February 3, 2008.

Yip yip uh huh huh...

2007-08-24T08:18:00.001-07:00

You know you are going to send me adulation and gift baskets for this... so indelibly etched on our minds from youngin' days.

Do not put me into your nose

2007-08-15T15:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Veramyst ... If you're gonna use my name, you should share the wealth, 3.5 cents per unit. But I guess if that was the rule, the Jones soda people would go broke.

Other good "last name thievery" of people I know ...

Swanson
Breton (crackers)
Wolf (coffee)
Goodrich
Converse
Simmons (mattress)

It's an outrage I tell ya!

My latest musical obsession: Rodrigo y Gabriela

2007-08-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

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I heard a song on my local alternative music station by a fiery guitar duo named Rodrigo y Gabriela. The song above is called Tamacun (pronounced tah-mah-shoon). They're originally from Mexico, spent years in Dublin Ireland, after the offer of a fan who said they could live in her house while she was on vacation, then they arrived to find an apology note on the door (she had promised the house to some other people after her initial invitation) so their taxicab driver took them to places to find an apartment. They made the rounds at pubs and taverns and got a fan following and the attention of record companies.

Now they are living back in Mexico and making the rounds of music festivals like Lollapalooza. They say their style is not flamenco or mariachi, but an expression of themselves that they didn't feel they could vocalize. Please enjoy them, buy their cd and watch for them coming to a festival near you. I want to see them around for a long time.

Keep Caps, Enter Codes, Get Squat

2007-07-23T14:51:00.001-07:00

For the longest time I'd look way back in the cooler racks at my favorite convenient food sales establishment and find the red caps and collect them in the console of the car until CurvyGirl compelled me to either enter the stupid things or just chuck em.

I did option number one and entered them. Painstakingly I'd hold the caps up to the light and discern the 4s from the Ys and the Hs from the Ns and amassed a couple hundred points 2 and 4 at a time.

Came the day that I wanted to cash in on my supercool points ... I thought I could at least get a cooler or pool floaty or at least a couple t-shirts. But noooooooooooo.

All I could get for the hundreds of points was some secret codes from the NCAA Basketball video game, some free go kart laps at Malibu Grand Prix and a couple free rentals on Blockbuster Online.

Well twist my lid, that just sucks. Now I see the commercial on the telly and there's this guy dropping a cap in a train station and a big screen TV and a kayak and mountain bike are materializing and think that those people must have some sore kidneys from drinking all that Coke.

Eight random thingies ...

2007-07-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3.People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
4.At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5.Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Who I'm Tagging: Krista, Sean Nelson, Seth Ponek, Mike Brouse, Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady), Steve Jobs, Rivers Cuomo (singer - Weezer), Chris Collier

I'm married to a beautiful girl who loves the band Boston's first release and knows the words to many of the songs.

I am fanatical about The Brady Bunch, master of trivial info and love of the show.

I am a spelling bee champion through elementary school and junior high ... went to the county competition several times and placed 13th in the state in 8th grade.

I like traditional chai tea with pepper oil, the spicy stuff!

My favorite classic vehicle is a 1953 Ford F-100, I had one for several years but got to expensive to keep.

I went to high school with and was in the same football program with Jeff Garcia.

I play bongos, congas, darbuka and various tribal percussion instruments.

I used to have a long and crazy goatee in college.

So the genie pops from the bottle ...

2007-06-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

And you have your wish of the partner of your dreams to love forever, there is understanding and love in the world and now comes the money wish.

He closes his eyes, cracks his knuckles and says "If you wish to be worth 3.3 billion dollars, you must live out the rest of your days with this last name."

*POOF*

Interactive Coffee Table

2007-06-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

From Seth Ponek's Provoke Thought Blog: I want that Coffee Table - Milan..

Technology is moving pretty close to the moving of the hands in the air interface - like in the movie Minority Report.

Congratulations, San Antonio Spurs

2007-06-14T23:19:00.000-07:00

I caught the last 4 minutes or so of the San Antonio Spurs vs. Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Finals game and saw a tooth-and-nail battle of a 6 to 8 point lead and LeBron James was an example of humility and poise ... he is one of the up and comers, that's for sure. White headbands for everyone!

Tony Parker won the MVP and Tim Duncan was a scrapper and made key plays in the final minutes.

Congratulations and champagne for everyone!

Yarrrr, I'm tired of the Shrekstravaganza

2007-06-05T08:20:00.000-07:00

I don't want to see the movie, I won't take any of my family members to see the movie and I am not rushing over to McDonald's to get the commemorative glasses that will be for sale next spring at garage sales for 25 cents each.

They are trying to milk the hype way too much. Some movies are fun to have a buzz about it, but this is another example of how the studios try to cram it in our faces and wear us down to eventually give in and go see it.

Nah. Just like the Pirates of the Caribbean, I won't see these flicks and I'm sure they'll do $800 million worldwide but it will not include any of my dubloons.

Loch Ness sighting, Let's letLeonard Nimoy weigh his opinion

2007-05-31T21:38:00.000-07:00

So there was a hint of something under the surface at Loch Ness.

I recall Mr. Leonard Nimoy, as a young'n watching "In Search Of" on Sundays after my dad and I would come back from the flea market with a bucket of KFC and a coconut cream pie. He (not my dad, mind you) would narrate a mystery and leave us hanging until the next week about Sasquatch, the Yeti, Area 51 or Chupacabra.

It was totally awesome and every time I hear his voice I think of intrigue and mystery.

The latest Nessie sighting is probably some CGI bunk and more and more, we can expect the cryptozoology craze to be more fraudulent. If we, as artists, can bring Aslan from Chronicles of Narina to life, Sasquatch and our childhood legends are not far behind.

Now I know NOT to mess with YOU!

2007-05-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

I was toodling down the road last week and I was reminded of one of my uber-peeves...
This middle aged fella in a SUV with a rear spare tire cover that had something on it that made me very scared of him... a giant Tweety bird with hand on hip and eyebrow raised.

I almost swerved off the road. It scared the *blank* outta me!

What about the giant-headed canary with attitude typifies the "stay away from me" attitude? What are you... 8? Then, as if I wasn't already vitriolic about the sassy yellow badass, I saw a semi truck with a metal emblem just below the driver's door with the same birdy sass. Oh pulllllease.

This is paralleled by the childish clinging to Tinkerbell as a tough-chick personna.

I see grown people with these cartoons all over their cars, in tattoos, frumpy oversized sweatshirts, all the trappings of an immature person. But if it weren't for these kinds of people the Disney and Warner Brothers Store wouldn't be as popular.

There are characters that would be more appropriate if you must use a cartoon character to make you feel tough.

Yosemite Sam - he shoots stuff and is effective on the mudflaps that warn "Back Off".

Daffy Duck - he goes off and gets crazy and doesn't mind even if he gets shot in the face and his bill gets spun around to the back of his head.

Foghorn Leghorn - big blowhard chicken with snappy comebacks and Southern wit.

Taz - the spinning through boulders thing would really mess up your day.

So I am not going to go on and on about this but Tweety and Tinkerbell are not tough icons. I tawt I taw a dork. I did I did, I did tee a dork.

Chattin' with a hero

2007-05-18T10:12:00.000-07:00

Today has been a very exciting day! I got the chance to talk with one of my heroes growing up. Orel Hershiser ("The Bulldog" as Tommy Lasorda nicknamed him) was on the radio this morning and the second I heard he was going to be on next, my fingers were dialing and a smile wide enough to crack my cheeks was on my face.

My heart was racing as the segment started, and then heard the characteristic *fssshhp* as the host clicked over to the phones and I heard my name, I was so excited and had to take a deep breath and try to speak slow and clear because I was totally freaked. I've been on the radio countless times, but this was different in a big way.

I told him that he was a great inspiration as a man of faith achieving success and standing up for what he believes in. And told him that I have hundreds of his baseball cards and he joked with me that I should sell them and invest in stock instead but I told him that I am keeping them to share with my kids about how someone can succeed in a very competitive and compromising environment and not lose their faith. He thanked me and as the hosts joked about this and that I still had that smile on my face.

Shown above is a card I went to every little crappy baseball card show in San Jose to find when I was just a kid on the bus with a skateboard... a 1984 Los Angeles Police Dept. special edition card, his first card ever printed as a professional player.

Thanks Mr. Hershiser, I appreciate your inspiration and enjoyed speaking with you today.

The wit and wisdom of Sharon...

2007-05-16T20:49:00.000-07:00

Picture it, mom's car Saturday, May 12. Listening to the radio... a commercial comes on...

"Something something something, I was blogging and something something..."

Mom: So what's this blog thing? What is a blog, I hear people talking about it and don't understand the excitement.

Me: It's basically an online journal, a shortening of the word 'weblog'.

CurvyGirl: Yeah, we put up funny stories and pictures for our friends to read and give us comments.

Me: And they do it too and it's a way for all of us to keep in touch on a bigger way so everyone can see what we're up to.

Mom: hmm *pause* stupid.

Me: So is line dancing and lots of people do that.

Mom: *casual change of subject*

Touche dear mother, love you lots.

We can try to understand, the internet's effect on man

2007-05-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

OMG what a mess, American Idol tonight is horrendous. The musical genius of Barry Gibb? What, Dan Fogelberg wasn't available?

There's not a good outlook for the contestants tonight, the songs are very specific and limiting and unlike the rock/power ballad, nouveau-sass songs on Jon Bongiovanni (yes, that's his real name), they are all falsetto disco and lite-rock.

I thought Tony Bennett, as good as he is as a legend of the genre, was equally blecch, but at least he had some range in his realm of big band swing.

Barry is a nice fellow but when he tried to sing along it was brutal.

"Check it out y'all yo check it out..." Barry should have worn his open shirt and lion medallion not a 3/4 shirt and jeans.

I used to do Stayin' Alive in karaoke, it rocked indeed.

My Thoughtful Girl, Cinco de Mayo, and The Rocket

2007-05-07T10:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend, CurvyGirl planned the most wonderful wine tasting and picnic adventure. I keep thinking about how I'd sit in my crappy apartment in Gilroy and think about how I wanted a girl who took interest in my interests, and boom.

More than ten years later here we are still having newlywed fun.

On top of all the festivities, she made me pumpkin pecan pancakes for breakfast and got me snickerdoodles for evening dessert. As we Francophiles like to say... Je suis un homme chanceux à être marié à Krista.

On the hallowed day of Cinco de Mayo, when I may have been running through the streets, draped in the Mexican flag, and shouting Que Viva Mexico! with my cousing Ray, Angel and Lil' Ruben (actually my cousins' names by the way), I drove a Japanese car, are a pseudo Italian-American lunch, drank Canadian beer and kicked it at home with my Swedish/French/German wife and Chinese dog. Que pasa conmigo? At least I had tacos for dinner.

And the 'Rocket' Roger Clemens got signed to the New York Yankees once again, proving that he is still a coveted cog in the Major League Baseball machine. He may be confrontational and older than the rest of the flock, but he is a technician and that instinct, like Cal Ripken, Jr and Tony Gwynn can't be faked or taught.

I hope he does well and makes it deeper up into the Hall of Fame than he would have already.

Gracias otra vez a mi muneca, te amo mucho y gracias por la fin de semana lleno de alegria y amor.

Replica - The Phone Call

2007-05-03T17:00:00.001-07:00

Calvin and the mindless insomniac.

See more FREE Replica shorts and all about the movie at www.DaigleDigital.com!

Licking, burrowing and collecting, but NOT polluting!

2007-05-03T08:04:00.000-07:00

So I was happily working last eve at about 23 hundred hours and I heard a curious noise that sounded like someone was on the walkway in either pain or ecstasy. At first I thought maybe it was the neighbors and their window was open or some such none-of-my-business.

But as I heard it regularly and in the same cadence, I realized it was ... an OWL!

I love living amidst such critters, this is what John Muir must have felt like.

But as I was hearing his enchanting call I could only think of ...

1. I hope this doesn't wake CurvyGirl.

2. I hope this doesn't scare her.

After he left, I hearkened back to the endearing owls of childhood:

Woodsy Owl who taught us to, everyone now, "Give a hoot, don't pollute"

The character named simply Owl from Winnie the Pooh stories who was a bit of a likeable blowhard knowitall.

Mr. Owl the greedy Strigidae gaffles an innocent child's Tootsie Roll Pop after he asks a simple question. I did the challenge once in junior year Science Fiction in English class and would be happy to share the figures to my dear commenters. But no owl swooped into Mrs. Salewski's class to lick my lolly 3 times and then bite it.

And lastly I mention the Burrow Owl that Bill Jr. wanted in the Dead Milkmen song "Stuart". About how all his son wanted for his birthday was a burrow owl and then one night he was in the yard looking up in the trees and dad came out and asked Bill Jr. what are you looking for and he said 'my burrow owl'. Then dad said 'everybody knows that they don't live in trees, they live in a hole in the ground, why do you think they call it a burrow owl anyway!'

My grandma and grandpa Roe used to collect owls and they had everything imaginable, even, if I recall correctly, a knit toilet seat cover of an owl. Whooo needs to go potty?

The weight of an idea-laden mind

2007-04-16T14:40:00.000-07:00

i'm going to forsake proper punctuation and capitalization on this one, forgive me dear readers. sometimes i'm so busy looking for inspiration and new concepts in so many places in so many ways from so many angles at every waking second of the day, my mind feels heavy. heavy enough to pull my eyelids down and just have a few seconds of dark and then i see the light-burned impressions that remain on my retinas and think, how would that look?

i love being a creative entity, it is very enjoyable and i get a charge out of it, but i feel like i have a hat made of a car battery balanced perfectly on my head, no risk of falling but i know it's there from the impressions left behind.

i like to laugh at the flow of ideas that collide sometimes, and other times the collisions make just a big blurry mess. like mixing paint, it turns neutral.

i have begun to play drums again as an alternate method that leaves no trail, but the sore finger joints for the next two hours or so. that is great fun ... as is thinking of new stuff, inventing, revolutionizing paradigms, having people react to the result of the thoughts.

i wish, conversely i could make layouts of sounds and light, a futuristic multidimensional conglomeration that i could very well do, but have neither the materials or the warehouse space. that's why the ideas get filed in the array of cubbyboxes in my mind.

i love making something from nothing and watching others enjoy, profit, succeed, challenge, shrug, comment, purchase, touch, get tears in their eyes, make associations with the idea that has made its way down my arm and onto the medium.

my intangible synapse-clotting goodness continues to flow ceaselessly like the mighty niagra falls, roar, splash, foam, then gentle bubbles moving along.

hmmm, ok, look at those bubbles, i wonder if i could...

Stop Looking at Me!

2007-03-05T09:43:00.000-08:00

Here's some breaking news, people read in the bathroom. I know there's always a guarded sense of a cloak and dagger operation when you are in a public place and ... "doot-de-doo" ... casually stroll into the bathroom with a newspaper tucked under your arm or a rolled up magazine in a tight grip.

But I'm here to bust this thing wide open.

That having been said, I think it's creepy when one is in the bathroom and as things are wrapping up for your visit in the w.c. and the faces are staring back at you from the front of the magazine.

There's the expressionless face of the maverick business tycoon or Matt Damon leering from the glossy paper and you feel this sense of intrusion and weirdness. But then I get to thinking, what if Amazon's Jeff Bezos is in the loo and his picture is on the cover of Business Week, does he feel ooky having himself watching the 'closing ceremonies' or is it no big deal?

Some people, I'm sure, flip the magazine over. And depending on who it is, some would let the grinning 2 dimensional voyeur keep their view.

There are cultures think that a photograph steals your soul, so then they must never take the periodicals of their land into the toilet huts for risk of offending the one captured in the paper.

I think it's very, very eerie, however, when the picture blinks. Has that ever happened to you? *looking around hesitantly*

My foray into political humor...

2007-02-20T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hey all, if you want this on a shirt, mousepad, et cetera, let me know and I'll share with you how you can get your hot lil hands on 'em.

© Kingdom Graphics, 2007.

Digital graffiti, not terrorism

2007-02-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

It's the equivalent to arresting someone for stapling a poster to a power pole or plastering walls a block long in San Francisco with posters of John Mayer. It's guerrilla marketing of the digital age. It's an advertisement, not a nefarious act.

I read an article online about people using low power led lights attached to a simple 9 volt battery to make illuminated graffiti, I thought it was very interesting and artistic, does that make me a sympathizer of the supposed n'er-do-wells?

Ill advised? Yes. But a threat to national security? No freakin way.

The stupid cartoon it's hawking is getting far more publicity for this stunt, for better or worse, so in a way the shock value worked, kudos. But the whole thing is ludicrous. Lots of things can be camouflaged as a weapon, dangerous device or threat to personal health. All it takes is a loon with a plan.

These enterprising scamps should not be alused for their lack of judgement, but the terrorist cells living in our great land and elsewhare who are watching this fervor are no doubt feeling a sense of satisfaction at this superpower running in circles to see what's behind it in the dark.

How we see it #2: "In an age of caution, we have become catastrophe hypochondriacs." - Troy Vera

Your opinion matters ... if you are famous or can make them money

2007-01-30T15:35:00.000-08:00

There's a false sense of hope built into the caffeine merchant's message.

I logged in to the site printed on my java jacket and instead of a place to submit my "how I see it" there was just a random quote generator of insipid quotes by the famous, quasi-famous, and music artists on XM Radio channels. Why don't they pick the brains of the masses who consume the coffee they get rich off of? I'm sure the insights alone can keep the coffee warmed up and watercooler talk flowing.

I am calling to all my dear readers to share their "way I see it" quotes and I will share them, granted a little editing and/or review, I don't want any vulgarities or blasphemy, but insightful theories and poetic bits. Toss em into the ring and I'll be happy to make a database of the /real/ thoughts of the rest of us.

First entry... how we see it #1: "An artist makes choices that will best suit the piece, not the audience." - Troy Vera

Yo Heart Radio Mexicano

2007-01-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

Buenos dias, esta escuchando al mero mero do los exitos!!!! ... *sound effects of a rooster and a shotgun*

I love Mexican radio stations, they are so wonderfully entertaining and besides the fact that I can understand at least a half of the lyrics of the songs and the machine-gun rapid speech of the "tocadisco" or dj.

I have long held the opinion that nobody can be genuinely upset while the upbeat oompaoompapapa of a happy mariachi song resonates in the air. Just the image of the mariachi himself conjures a shy but immensely talented hermano with gold buttons and fringes warms the heart like grandma's homemade flour tortillas on a cast iron skillet.

I grew up in Gilroy (yes, the Garlic Capital of the World) and there was this taqueria called Seis Hermanos (6 Brothers) and it was like the Mos Eisley Spaceport of the mariachi world, I kid you not. There was a crackly jukebox in the corner playing Vicente Fernandez (the Frank Sinatra of nuestra musica) and Los Bukis. It wasn't necessarily crackly from age, but the fact that it was turned up ludicrously loud to accentuate the bass or tuba or whatever heavy bottom end sound was in the song.

Mariachis would walk from all across town, in full dress and instruments in hand or strapped across their back, just to hang out at this place. The food was great, there was an outdoor bar and it was close enough to downtown to get there by bus from mostly anywhere. I spend countless hours there because my dad was friends with most of the brothers and would paint murals on the outside of the building quite often, so he had the juice and I was his mijito so I had some residual notoriety, it was great.

So all these musiqueros would sit around, drink beer, and sometimes spontaneously would go over, unplug the jukebox and start to play live. When I find a station with some good songs, I smile, crank it up, and reminisce.

This plays a second guitarra to the association of musica latina to a flea market. I grew up in the dusty aisleways of "la pulga", as we set up our space and then walked around throughout the day, there was a booth on every corner of the maze of tables and vendors that had hundreds of faded out cassette covers lined up like plastic bricks and were blaring the oompapapaboombiddlaboom of the sweet sonidos.

Back to the radio... one of the things that tickles and perplexes me is the blatant overuse of sound effects on these stations. Rooster crows, gunfire, laughing, even sounds of goats permeate the between-song announcements and commercials. I am especially fond of the stream of consciousness joke segments and humorous sayings. Most of them don't translate well into English but all of them get a barrage of canned laughter and any other sound effects they have handy.

It's an important part of my heritage and I plan on sharing it with my future mijito y mijita. Next time you're fliping through the stations and happen upon a bouncy mariachi song, stop for at least 30 seconds, think of young Troy wandering the flea market with Dad - his hot chocolate one hand and powdered donut the other soaking it all in.

Mucho gusto y buenos dias.

I'm sure I'll get used to writing '07 by 'Febuary'.

2006-12-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

As I depart from my coworkers and associates, they chirp up with "See you next year!" Oh, as old and hackneyed as that is, people still use it. I'm not complaining about the well-wishes, but at the end of January, I don't tell people... "Hey see you in February!".

Speaking of silent letters in chronological words, let's ruminate on the R in February and the D in Wednesday... these are neglected and underappreciated letters. Now together they make someone a doctor (or a prestigious author or rapper... whattup Seuss, whattup Dre), give directions to a certain road (versus a way or avenue). signify research and development, so many DaRn things they do.

Next year I am going to campaign for the R to be pronounced in February.

It'll be a smackerel of practice for the Barack Obama/Hilary Clinton campaign in 2008.

Along the line of random traffic snatchers, let's hope that The Transformers Movie and the new season of The Apprentice are not diggity schwag. American Idol will be back with three weeks of embarassing auditions and Ryan Seacrest will reveal the results... after the break.

Bye dear readers, blog you next year. Vera out.

Provoke Thought: Is Santa Really a Ninja?

2006-12-15T07:49:00.000-08:00

OMG this is the cutest! Matt I think you'll appreciate this a little more, since you really are a ninja.

Provoke Thought: Is Santa Really a Ninja?

Untrained blogger on open course, do try this

2006-12-06T21:59:00.000-08:00

I was watching the telly this evening and saw a commercial for BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke for you German-speakers) and this person was driving their blue 3 series through the office.

The kicker was that they insulted our intelligence with the disclaimer of "Trained Stunt Driver, Closed Course, Do Not Attempt". What galls me is that it's obviously computer generated or at least overtly altered and we are to heed the tiny text warning... no way! I'm doin' it.

Imagine the surprise when I casually drive through the front door at the office. Instead of my normal morning salutations, I would tear-ass past the front desk, doing one of those street racing drift moves past Vicki and fishtail gracefully into my office with a roar of the engine. Then when I want some coffee, just hop in and jam it in reverse, go balls-out and yank up the e-brake and spin around straight by Lewis' desk and make it over to the kitchenette in style.

Sure I would leave some angry skidmarks on the berber carpet, but they made me want to do it. It looked so cool and I seldom follow rules, so Bayerische Motoren Werke were practically begging me to drive through the office.

Master race, indeed.

By the way I don't care too much about Ohio State Football, the , BCS (B.C.S. - College Football Bowl Championship Series), Michael Richards' diarreah of the mouth, John Bolton's resignation (or his kin Michael), or need any Holiday Gift Ideas, the San Francisco Giants acquiring Manny Ramirez in the off-season, but do appreciate any residual hits.

Opportunism freakin rocks!

PlayStation 3 Furor and Bullpuckey

2006-11-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

The teeming "buy my child's love" masses will be lining up around the block at your local Best Buy, Circuit City, Comp USA and Wal-Mart for the Sony PlayStation 3.

Are you kidding me?! I still want to spruce-up my Atari 2600. I kick some major ass on Pitfall going backwards in the game instead of forwards. Yeah, it's an ol' skool trick. Speaking of that, check out the shirt I designed for the Blue78 clothing line.

I just think of how many of the hot game systems of yesteryear are sitting in the bottom of the closet with all the cords and controller cables wrapped around them in an unintelligible mess with the Xs, Os and triangles worn off the buttons. You can get the PlayStation 2 for 10 bucks at a garage sale near you, and how much did people pay for that a few moons ago, $500 bones? I bet people are skipping work, getting fired and going into debt over such mularkey.

We'll be watching grainy footage from Wal-Mart and K-Mart front door security cameras of poor associates being trampled as they unlock the doors, followed by fights, riots, stepped-on feet and irrational parents duking it out very soon and I just wanted to put out a reminder... when was the last time people got this excited about a baseball glove or new soccer ball?

Take them outside once in a while, it'll make our lives a lot easier in 10-15 years.

On an artistic note, they are using the same font for the PlayStation logo as Spider Man logo... it's called Homoarakhan, download it for yourself here.

New Jack on the run!

2006-10-18T10:33:00.001-07:00

Wesley Snipes is on the lam, he really messed over Uncle Sam and has taken wing. I think it's pretty rotten that he's kinda pussing out and not paying his taxes. And now that he's getting called on it, takes his show on the road.

I feel bad for his family and friends, mostly. I couldn't care less about his recent movies, but he was good in Major League, New Jack City and Passenger 57. Wherein he tossed the classic line "are you a betting man, here's a tip for you... always bet on black!" and slams the phone on the hi-jackers. My favorite one of his movies was The Fan with DeNiro, in which he basically plays Barry Bonds, as an egotistical outfielder coming to San Fransisco for a bloated salary.

Put him on America's Most Wanted, that's what I say. If any of us was into the government for millions we'd be rolled up faster than you can say... "I wonder who that is at this hour?".

Who's next, DonkeyK'ong Washington?

2006-10-05T00:02:00.000-07:00

I S**t you not... there'e this guy named Pacman Jones, who plays for the Tennessee Titans. I have to wonder, since he was born in 1983, was he conceived during a high-scoring game of the appropriately-noted video game? Or was he just a kid who would eat everything in sight and then chased Inky, Blinky, Pinky and Clyde around until he scored the magic cherries or bananas ...

Which brings me to the obscure knowledge and fervor for the old cartoon Pac-Man. I used to love this show, I'd watch it on Saturday mornings and wonder if Mesmeron would get the best of Pac-man, Ms. Pac-man and Baby Pac-man. Of course he never did. Much like Pacman Jones doesn't outsmart his opponents considering the paltry record of the Titans.

This also brings me to the eternal question... they refer to the New England Patriots as the 'Pats' and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the 'Bucs' ... what do they refer to the Tennessee Titans as? Just a'wonderin.

On an happy note, the Chicago Bears are atop the rankings and have snuffed all division teams and the Super Bowl losers, the Seattle Seachickens. And by the way, my friend Quentin owes me a sixer of Heineken for that contest. Pay up chump. DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA BEARS!

NO! My lane!

2006-09-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

Since I am doing more commuting from one side of the pile of dirt to the other I am immersed in the bigger world of the road warrior reality of the morning grind.

I empathize with you, Kyledog. I am to the point where I want to shave my head into a mohawk and cut a hole in the top of the Pathfinder, whose name is Big Blue, and do battle with the galoots (reference earlier blogpost) I have to share the road with.

We are truly ants marching to our respective workholes, but at a high rate of speed. Some of my fellow ants are very immature and selfish when it comes to lane changes, merging and general road etiquette and practically climb on top of one another to get along in the line.

I could chalk it up to the fact that it is the buttcrack of dawn and the sun isn't even awake, but hopefully these people are. We drive on like the aforementioned Genus Polyergus - Formicinae (an ant that lives in and near where my vehicular counterparts do) intent on serving faithfully and return the next day as if mentally disposed to do so.

Some may say the freeways we drive regularly could represent the scent trail because we can drive the same way all the time and subconsciously know just where to turn and stop, but I digress.

The other ants are thankfully not driving by feelers, or Big Blue would have lots of dents. When we all disperse and follow the different scent trails and do our jobs and then reverse the path.

It's very intricate and dangerous but it beats being sucked up by an Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater, to the lay people, duh).

Exciting Crop of New(er) Bands

2006-09-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

It's weird to really call a band who have probably been playing together for 10 years a 'new band' but what they heck.

Some new bands of note:

Gym Class Heroes :: You heard Travis the lead singer on Cobra Starship's Snakes on a Plane song. His funky flow and good singing voice give this band some good dimension. The guitar is crisp and the songwriting is almost poetic at times.

Highlight song: The Queen and I

Ima Robot :: These two fellas have an experiemtal sound that is reminiscent of my friends Jeff, mark and myself goofing around with Jeff's 4-track recorder and not caring if it entertained anyone but us. But Ima Robot's tuneage is catchy and multi-layered.

Highlight song: Creeps Me Out

Teddybears STHLM :: The wacky acronym stands for Stockholm, Sweden and this trio tears the roof off the mutha. Like the others I am talking about today, they have an unpredictable sound, from one song to the next, they peel the layers off the musical onion. They used to be a thrash band, according to their Wikipedia article.

Highlight song: Cobrastyle

Muse :: The first time I heard this song on Live 105 I just about pulled over and shook a tailfeather. They have a thick and heady sound but still can tone it down and get sensitive. The singer's voice has a distinctive warble, not like Roy Orbison, but very melodic.

Highlight song: Knights of Cydonia

Wolfmother :: Thick and chunky like a nice potato chowder. This is clearly the next band in line to sound like the late 60s early 70s power bands. Beavis and Butthead would definately bang their heads and play air guitar to this trio!

Highlight song: Woman

Thanks to these folks for broadening our musical tastes and keeping this thing called music moving forward

Just toss it in the little jar in the toolbox for another mission

2006-09-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

I read today that space mechanics lost a bolt as they were putting together some parts on the outside of the international space station project.

My initial thought was that it was like one of those do it yourself entertainment centers where they give you extra parts and 7 allen wrenches and the tube of Elmer's Glue.

So no worries intrepid spacetechnicians, you'll have parts left inevitably. Just don't leave the lug nuts on the fender if you ever have to change a tire on the fly, because you never get any extra of those!

Old Ben the Crazy Hermit was Right!

2006-08-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

Chewie, full rear thrusters! *groooooonk*

I saw the story about how Pluto was not officially a planet. And as we get closer, we zoom in on Alec Guinness' face with the trim beard and he says ..."that's a SPACE STATION!"

Bill Gates actually did it... and it's coming to try and destroy Firefox. Marc Andriessen and Blake Ross can be Luke & Han, they can duke it out over who's whom, but The Firefox and Tux the Linux Penguin can be the C3PO and R2-D2 of the bunch.

There would be a sweeping soundtrack coordinated by DJ Conrad Frausto and the cinematography would be done by Raymond Daigle (nouveau digital filmmaking auteur).

I would choose my shawty to be the heroine of the space epic, cause she's out of this world. *wink*

So the scenes would take place a variety of places, from a dank garage, to a musty dormroom to a Fry's Electronics clearance rack. The battles would be an epic slo-mo montage of splashing Jolt Cola and balls of foil from open-late taquerias.

The denouement would take place in front of a big blue screen as the doomed station crashes into Mars, just as it's download towards Earth was 78% complete.

Reboot. Get a cup of coffee and try again. Hope you saved often.

Fin *curtain parts and I step out to a kiss from the leading lady and shower of Gladiolus. Like Morrissey.

Who's this Dan fella and is he really /that/ Steely without his little blue pills?

2006-08-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

I think it's ludicrous (not to be confused with Ludacris) that the band Steely Dan is making such a big deal over a supposed link to a facokta song they did umpteen years ago about a mooching cousin who wants to get it on with one of his family members at his auntie's crib.

My sycophant told me about this song today, in depth, because he is in his fourth decade and had heard the song way back when and says it's nothing to be proud of. Take that Dan. *poke*

You are a disgrace to Dans everywhere. Dan Marino, Dan Akroyd ... and the like.

You were forgotten years ago by the general populus and feel like a little viral marketing for yourselves. Face it Steely one. Much like when that Jethro Tull dude won the Grammy in 1989 instead of Metallica.

What you're really doing is reminding people just how washed up and desperate you are and if I have to see that farkin' 10 second clip of the video on news programs of you and your other Steely fools singing this moronic song, I will thrust a Gila Monster - bacteria-laced tongue and all - up my nose.

Please don't make me do that, because then my shawty won't want to kiss me any longer. And I like doing that Dan, don't you dare spoil it for me.

I heard Owen Wilson's response and it wraps up with... "I can get back to concentrating on my new movie, Hey 19."

Yeah, he is the funny one!

Imagine the Litter Box...

2006-07-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

adopt your own virtual pet!

I adopted a tiger!

This is the coolest thing I've seen in a while! I was working on some web projects and someone's link had one of these lil' critters in the corner, it was winking at me and as I moused over, it interacted and I was intrigued. Much like my curious tiger named "conundrum'.

Being the cautious techmonster I am, I looked into the backend of the code to make sure it wasn't loaded with cookies and junk and it seems to be just a benign little fun-bit. The only caveat is that you have to do the setup in Internet Explorer (blargh)

"Adopt" your own today and post the link in my comments area.

Political rhetoric is bucking foring

2006-07-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

My compadres throughout the day talk about political figures with such venom and disgust. They talk about individual senators and lobbyists and other politicos like I would have a discussion with my father-in-law about baseball players.

I can't believe [insert player/politician's name here]! They can't handle themselves and need to be outta there. [Player/policitian] is lazy, I think, because when they were brought in, they were the hot commodity, everyone had high hopes but they're a real dog.

The [team/country] they are going against are going to trounce them because they're too distracted either with their salary or the extracurricular activities. [Player/policitian] needs to get their head on straight in the second half [of the game/term] or they're gonna get pulled out.

Take a look at their track record, the last few years, their production has really suffered. Some think it's drugs, some think it's money, others consider personal relationships are the undoing of [player/policitian] but I'm fed up with them.

These fellas lob insults and gripings back and forth and when it's all done, I'm left with fodder for a blog, they have a headache because they are so pissed off and those lazy [Player/policitian] bums are still playing their game.

Technology Oldies but Goodies

2006-07-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

Krista and I went to a hot rod car show last weekend up near Shasta and I was pleasantly surprised about the folks that use this wacky interweb.

Cute 60+ year-old husband and wife rodders would saunter up to our Rods and Wheels booth to get some swag and a little schpeel about what we are and what we do. The site is a car club support site to help smaller clubs grow and existing clubs get stronger.

Let's just call them Stan and Judith... Stan would be filling out the contact postcard and rumble right through the various fields we ask about, and when it comes to the email and website line, a large majority of them filled out the addy - or at least Stan would ask Judith their email addy or club's website.

I was happy to see that they are staying up to speed on things. Because unlike the annoying chunk of the media-hogging baby boomers (don't get me started), the folks born in the 30s and 40s are embracing the web and making it really sing for them.

If you think about it, they were youngsters or at least 20-somethings when television got prevalent, transcontinental flights were available to the regular population, color movies, stereo sound and even the telephone became more sophisticated. They have seen some sweeping change and it's good to see the silver foxes getting on the web bandwagon.

In a way they are more vulnerable because of phising and other surreptitious e-scams, but they are keeping up with their grandkids, Paul Harvey and their social clubs and organizations.

So kudos to you folks, for embracing the new tech, being charming and funny plus the ability to maintain a kickass hot rod!

Time swallower of the day: Word Detective

2006-07-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

I rediscovered this site today when all of a sudden a line from Yosemite Sam cartoon popped into my head. I looked up the word "galoot" in Google and the first site was an old favorite, The Word Detective.

This site is chock-full of tidbits and oddities of old popular sayings, the etymology of our everyday phrases and some fun other nuggets.

The site is free to browse, but support is requested in the form of a $15 a year subscription. This, dear readers, works out to exactly 0.0410958 cents a day. Pretty swingin' deal.

That's even cheaper than the Jolly Ranchers (which are made by Hershey's now) we used to get at 7-11 (which was recently acquired wholly by a Japanese corporation) as kids.

Replica is going to turn the indie digital film world on its ear!

2006-06-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Indie digital filmmaker Raymond Daigle has recently joined the Kingdom Graphics Family, hiring us to build a web site, and to create a national campaign to promote his short film "Replica". Keep an eye out for the full download and send this trailer link to your friends!

Answers to Smart Kitty's Interview Questions

2006-06-21T16:29:00.000-07:00

You have a choice between everyone in the whole world knowing your deepest, darkest secret OR everyone in the world thinking you are stupid. Which do you choose and why?

I would choose to let everyone in the world know the secret. There's not much that can happen to someone that another person or group of people can say, "Hey bro, I've been there, man!" and throw their arm around your shoulder and there's empathy. Stupidity is a stigma that some people can pull off as a publicity stunt, but more respect is lost from the questioning of intelligence than a past malady.
Through some type of kosher magic that leaves no possibility for an ironic twist, you can choose to be an aprentice to an artist from any period in history. Whom do you choose and why?

I would be the apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright. The breadth of his influence on architecture, furniture design, glasswork is immeasurable. Countless innovations and philosophies are borrowed from him and I'd love to be on a walk through a forest in Pennsylvania and come to a clearing and have him stop, raise the brim of his fedora, point his cane up to the edge of a waterfall and say "That waterfall needs a home growing from it."
In the year 2000-something your grandchildren are bragging to their schoolyard chums about the thing their grandpa is famous for inventing. What is the thing, and how does it work?

Wow this is a question I'd love to answer with great detail, but as with good inventions and ideas, all it takes is some dishonest jerk to see it, gaffle the idea and make money on your work. So I will say that the other kid's jaws will spring open and little flags will pop out of their ears and wave around, like the characters in the Tex Avery cartoons. This will be the best chunk of family bragging rights since Steve Jobs' family reunion.
You are allowed to make three permanent alterations to your appearance with no restrictions. What are they?

Never having to shave my face would be superlicious. Eyeballs that shade in the sun like the transitions eyeglass lenses. Having cameras in my eyes and scanners in select fingertips so I can capture images, data and download them to a database for future reference.
What cartoon character would you be and why?

Marc Antony, the bulldog from the Warner Bros. cartoons who is so obsessed with the little blue eyed kitten Pussyfoot that he goes into construction sites and other dangerous situations so she doesn't get a scratch and then she curls up on his back and goes to sleep.

Please share a comment and I will provide you with 5 questions to pick your brains.

Reflections on time with a man's hands in my mouth

2006-06-21T01:36:00.000-07:00

I had to go to the dentist today and had a fun revelation in the waiting room... I still like to read Highlights magazine.

It's a wondrous phenomenon, there can be a dog-eared, puzzles-already-solved, halfway-torn Highlights from 1981 and you can still get a grin at Goofus and Gallant.

But I digress (often).

I was in the office and there was pleasantries and chit chat while the good doctor went over all the day's agenda in my face.

First order of business, the knitting needle that inserts the novocaine. Very pleasantly, we are discussing the weather and summer plans and as soon as he drove the needle into my gums he became a sick sadistic sonofabitch. Ow dude, what gives?

And as the nurse slid the nitrous mask on I felt stuff spinning and thought, I know he's going to ask little questions I can answer with a gesture or moan to see if I'm still lucid.

Then he puts the equivalent of a toilet paper roll of gauze in my cheeks and lower lip and goes to town with the ... pause for dramatic music ... DRILL. As I'm contorting in the chair and my eyes are welling up with tears, he tells the nurse to up the ratio of nitrous to oxygen from 3:3 to 4:2 - 4 parts nitrous to 2 oxygen. Basically funny me up so I won't care he's orbiting my nerve endings with a tool I'm positive he picked up at Home Depot.

As I writhe he stops for a second he asks me if I can open wider so he can get further back. Pain, weird burning smell like overcooked caramel, and that acrid taste in the back of my throat.

Then he has the dental balls to ask me if the opening wider was making me uncomfortble and I told him (rather lucidly)... "No it's that freakin' metal thing! That's what's making things uncomfortable for me at the moment." Kathy the nurse had a hearty laugh and handed him more torture tools.

I was ready to tell him my social security number and online banking password if he could just make it stop hurting. I felt the sharp shooting pain in my heels and toes. I tolerated a fair amount of the pain, because I think how childbirth must feel, or the old Civil War surgeries, or seeing Bette Midler live in concert and not being able to get up and walk around the lobby with my hands over my ears. Painful stuff, compadres.

So I sucked it up, tried to stay still and clutched my hands together firmly. The ordeal went on for a while and thankfully I resisted the urge to punch him in the thigh, but I realize he's "the good guys" ... making sure I can eat with my own choppers, drink hot coffee or have ice cream without wincing or smile and not look like a backwoods gomer with every 4th grayish tan tooth intact.

Thank you Dr. Anderson, the pain is in the past but your corny jokes and renaissance faire music played overhead will echo in my ears.

And no, I'm not lucid, I won't sit still and I don't think you're a sonofabitch.

Just how long do I have to...

2006-06-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

What's the stature of limitations on the obligatory head bob / eyebrow raise when it comes to people you used to work with or in the same building?

Case in point, my 9 to 5 is at The Green Sheet. We used to be located within the CrossCheck building in our own chunk of office real estate, but still amidst the hustle and bustle of the place.

So I had struck up conversations and casual acquaintances with a handful of the friendly faces there, but about 4 years ago, our office relocated within the same office complex but not within their workspace any longer.

So now, I see some of the people in the parking lot, here and there, and feel bad not giving them the 'sup eyebrows. I was just driving by a dude named George and I did it for him and he didn't reciprocate, or at least I missed it.

When is it ok not to do it, I think there's an implied relationship when there's even small knowledge of someone, their name, maybe even their story to a degree... and the fact that they'd be able to pick you out of a police line-up, so there's some small connection.

At the risk of being a jerk I am compelled to perform the ritual.

I feel like chasing him down and standing right in front of him and raising and nodding until he does it back. But I guess a slug in the gut is an acceptable response in that case.

I'm the Last Comic Standing yelling into the camera as it sweeps past the line

2006-05-30T22:20:00.000-07:00

It's an interesting character trait when I'm driving around and someone cuts me off or goes too slow and I yell... "C'mon Escalade, let's make it through the light! AWW! Now look at this Honda Pilot, GO! What's the matter with you?!"

It would be great if I could just mouth off like that when we're at the mall and someone grabs the last shirt off the rack that's my size and say... "Way to be a selfish jerk brown pants! Hey curly hair! Hola, what's your stinkin' problem? Where did you learn to walk?"... and make big sweeping hand gestures and pound on stuff.

"Oh that's good, that's just good, go ahead then you are gonna go anyway!" flip my hand quickly and make that poochy lip Billy Idol smirk at them while I shake my head disapprovingly.

It would either make holiday shopping more fun or driving and yelling separated insults in the car more acceptable.

My name's TJ Vera, you've been great! *applause and put the mic back in the stand*

Mysterious and a little scary...

2006-05-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

It is often interesting to simply click "Next Blog" on the top of most of our blog screens. I did that a few times and came across this peculiar gem. Their post verbatim:

"hi,

this is the first time i write my blogs , i am 26 years old live with my parental and young brother. i have been working in a bank since 2002 . i dont like my work , but i like my manager , he gives me a big incentive to do my work , he is very funny too, he look like the clown , i have a second boss he is very stupid i hate him so much he dosnt know the difference between click and right click , some times i am thinking to put a bomb inside his car .... - Posted by: Yas_Yas"

I don't know this person and they have no profile, but I wonder what their story is. I sincerely hope they don't follow through with their little workplace fantasy, but it's so strangely disconnected that it's almost like finding someone's grocery list in a cart at the store and seeing condoms, tequila and rope dutifully checked off.

You know you'll never ever run across this person but are oddly inter-connected in some sort of fascination.

If I'm ever facing you with my right side only, you'll know why

2006-05-22T10:45:00.000-07:00

I was on the way to work this morning and happily singing along to OutKast's Hey Ya and shaving with my electric razor and having a good ol' time *clap clap clap*. And it happened.

With what I thought was time enough left on the battery, my shaver died, with only the top right half of my mug done.

Holy partial shearing Batman!

So I had to go into solution mode. After hitting the button a few times and getting some more revolutions out of the spent batteries, I pulled off at my usual stop and went into the closest gas station, hoping they had those travel buddy sort of sizes and it so happened they did.

"Eight forty nine! Ay caramba, you gotta be kidding me?!" I exclaimed at Griselda, the bewildered cashier. Needless to say I had to click into plan B. The dreaded Wal-Mart.

$3.20 later, I had some Barbasol and disposable razors and boogied to work. I walked past the usual good mornings quickly with a smile and maintaining the right profile view.

I felt like Two Face from the Batman cartoons/movie. One side was smooth and presentable, the other half was Stubblebum McGee. As got into my office, my assistant engaged me in conversation and I had to try to always be looking over to the left, I must have looked like a loon, a half shaven, preoccupied loon.

Such is the bane of my lineage, dark coarse facial hair that can't be half-assed shaven. I slyly wrapped things up and shuffled into the WC and finished mowing the lawn.

*Whew* Just another day in the life of a fuzzy monkey.

The Drum has a Nice Voice

2006-05-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

In the realm of hand percussion, the characteristics of the sound of a drum is called it's voice. I got a great drum the other day, it's a Darbuka - a Turkish drum made of metal and shaped like a goblet.

It is incredibly fun to play and joins the ranks of my other drums, a mini Conga that Krista got me last year and the Bongos she got me the year before. It is quite a different playing style, but I am having lots of fun expanding my techniques. More finger pops and quick rolls, takes some real 'fine motor skills', lemme tell ya.

I'm giving it a chance to express it's "voice" every chance I get.

That's "adulto" to you!

2006-05-10T13:02:00.000-07:00

I am irked by the term "kiddo".

I used to work with a nice lady who would come in every morning and say "Hey kiddo" and get into the daily routine. It was a term of endearment for her and I understand she was being sweet. She called all of us who worked there "kiddo". But yesterday I was meeting a client and as I arrived, he busted out with the dreaded "Hey kiddo, how ya doin'?"

Granted I still like to breastfeed, drink from a bottle and watch Boobah (Click for a real freak out), but I'm not a kid.

If you ask my mom, she may refer to me as 408 months old now. But since I turned the corner on 34 yesterday, I think I'm even less likely to be referred to as "kiddo".

I should pop out with a "Hi old lady" or "What's up ol' dude" in response to "kiddo".

This probably comes from my childhood, I had a cousin also named Troy who is 3 years older and they would lovingly refer to me as "squirt". As I grew older, I fought "squirt" to the point of getting angry and sassing-back. And the nickname shortly thereafter ceased to exist.

Perhaps I should be more direct when I expect these freakin baby boomers to take me seriously as a businessman and cut the "kiddo" name. But then again if I stand my ground, there are more ramifications, hot coffee in the face, losing a big account or a cane in the groin.

Maybe I'm just being a big baby.