Definitely An Excellent Driver

I'm debating whether or not I should write back...

Looking for An Arachnophile

This week I had a dream that I had to use an outhouse at some sort of campground or other public place. I stood inside the outhouse for a moment and marveled at the complete lack of odor. Then I noticed that spiders were crawling all over me. I wasn't creeped out or scared, I simply took notice of the spiders, mildly curious about where they came from. And that's all I remember from that dream. The spider in this picture is one that I saw in my kitchen last night, which is probably the same kind as the ones I've seen in my hanging out by the wastebasket in my bathroom and crawling on the wall in my bedroom. I don't kill spiders, as I typically hope that they will seek out and destroy any bugs that would otherwise show up and gross me out. However, I thought it might be a good idea to get a picture of this one, as maybe someone would be able to let me know if it's the type that will eat me while I'm sleeping. So if you know anything about spiders, or know someone who does, please let me know if my life is in danger. In the meantime I'm going to go about business as usual.

Mom came to California earlier this month to spend some time with my older brother Tim and his family up north, and they managed to come down for a couple days so we could visit Sea World in San Diego and the Farmer's Market here in LA. I managed to get a little sunburnt while I was in San Diego because I didn't wear a hat or sunscreen (not recommended for fair-complected Midwest boys like my brother and I). It was my first time to experience a sunburn on my scalp, which made for less-than-pleasant showers for a couple days there. Overall, though, we had a really nice time. The nephews really enjoyed it, and we managed to get soaked by some of those mischievous dolphins and whales. I have uploaded the pics, which also include a couple of short videos of Angelo having the sort of pure fun reserved for kids his age, primarily because they're the only ones who have that much energy.

Here's a marginal-quality video of a part of a show there called "Pets Rule," an elaborately choreographed show featuring cats, dogs, pigs, birds, and ducks (sorry if I've left anyone out). As someone who grew up around cats, I know how stubborn they can be, so I was most impressed by their performances. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to tell what's happening in this video, so you'll just have to go to Sea World and check it out for yourself.


Finally, I wanted to point out that I've started a new blog called The Meaning of Spam, which will be an attempt to establish a spiritual communion with the Internet, by way of reading between the lines of the mystical messages It puts in my inbox. Not that I am crazy about starting a religion, but if the Internet wills it, who am I to stand in the way?

Font Fun

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Have Compassion, I Am Blind

[thanks CEB for the link]
FYI - When I alluded to traveling to China in my previous post, it was just to be funny. In all likelihood, I'll sooner visit Spain than China, though I would be just as stoked to go to either.

This Clears Things Up A Bit

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Staci Triplett <MavispartnerSheets@kipar.org>
Date: Thu, Jul 31, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Subject: ami digression
To: ccorning

glamour stag partner

chisholm excelled flashy? ratify, couch partner.
electroencephalograph language century edmund so century, internecine
language couch mambo ratify kirov.

loll subservient.

What's Better Than Peeing with a View?

Having a choice between peeing into A) the belly that [allegedly] begat Christ or B) the mouth of a crocodile.

I suppose I'll have plenty of time on the flight over to China to decide.
[thanks for the link, E]

Welcome to Canal City

Thanks, Yuka.

Earthquake Today

The building started shaking pretty good just a few minutes ago, and it lasted well over 20 seconds. After 15 seconds or so, I started wondering how long it would last. I started considering getting in a "triangle of life" position. It gradually subsided. The epicenter was over 50 miles away, and the magnitude 5.6; that was an interesting experience.

UPDATE: It was actually 5.8 magnitude, closer to Chino Hills.

UPDATE 2: LA Times has it at 5.4 magnitude.

Puzzling Over the Esoteric Meanings Behind This Spam Email...

Perhaps the Universe is trying to communicate something to me...but what?!?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Madge Bellamy <LinaseventeenthAdair@boston.com>
Date: Sat, Jul 26, 2008 at 2:24 AM
Subject: inferring collapsible
To: ccorning


clamber whitehead workpiece

universe headmaster wisdom? wyner, jesus universe.
preen wyner clamber weston headmaster brucellosis, palindromic
whitehead kennan workpiece blythe phalanx.

seventeenth culture.

A True Java Junkie

h/t: Brian