kitchen demolition == teh suck

Question: I'm trying out the name "skyelog" to see if I like it (replacing the placeholder "john w4lker log"). Please let me know what you think. Skye is my daughters' middle names (I'm not joking) and it is used a bit around our house for other stuff (e.g. skyenet for the wireless network, skyepod for the 1st-gen iPod my sister generously handed down to me, etc.).

Kitchen: I spent all day tearing out the kitchen counters in preparation for the new ones which will be installed Friday the 29th. Since I'll be out in Seattle for Meltdown Monday afternoon until 5:27 am Thursday morning (don't ask), I've pretty much got to have everything ready by Sunday.

(old) plan: (I'm so naive)
* Saturday morning: pull the sink.
* Saturday late-morning: computer training for Tibor.
* Saturday afternoon: pull all counters; done by 3-4pm.
* Saturday evening: rest up.
* Sunday: level and install the MDF at a leisurely pace.
* Sunday evening: pack for Meltdown.

(what happened) plan:
* Saturday morning: wake up late and try to figure out a place to put all the kitchen stuff like drawers full of pans.
* Saturday late-morning: Tibor training.
* Saturday afternoon and evening: (deep inhale) Pull 1/2 the counters because all the friggin MDF is pinned down by the backsplash and the $#*!@! contractors who put in the old counters used nails and screws and the most aggressive adhesive known to modern science that they globbed all over every single interface which forced me to chisel out the tile backer board (concrete) by hand and then use a saw to make cuts through the counters so pieces were small enough to pry off.

new plan:
* Sunday morning: more chiseling, prying, swearing, etc.
* Sunday afternoon: (hopefully) finish pulling all the counters.
* Sunday evening: level and put on the new MDF.
* Monday morning: pack for Meltdown and forget something important like my razor, my wallet, or shirts.

that always messes me up

Written communication is how we often represent ourselves to colleagues, our superiors, our customers, and the world. There are many subtleties in the grammar and spelling of the English language that befuddle me on a regular basis.

Help is on the way: effect vs. affect, that vs. which, and more in Grammar for Geeks. Thanks Steve!

(he even answers the question of why we should care.)

gizmo, what's the matter?

"bright light!"

I have this 8 white LED flashlight at work and people are always asking me where I got it. It takes 3 AAA batteries and is wicked bright.

Here's the best part... it works great and costs: $5.

Kevin bought like a dozen of them to give as gifts and 6 people have asked me to get them one or two the next time I do an order. It's from Cheaper than Dirt and they have lots of other neat stuff to go with it.

grokingness

Grokker is a mind-map based visual web searching tool. It's fun; give it a try!

bag of tricks

I love shoulder bags. I have a Timbuk2 which I adore, and the darn thing is bulletproof. The only down-side is that it looks like, well, a nylon messenger bag (which can be a bit alkward in more formal or professional environments).

Here is Cory's recommendation for a shoulder bag: Czech Plumber's Bag (and a comfy replacement for the shoulder strap). They even have a fancy shiny leather version.

... and mine if you can live with the nylon-look; Timbuk2's Classic Messenger Bag (Large).

"forage in the forest like a primate"

"... using sharpened tools instead of hot plates." (from the Crash Test Dummies)

Jessa (my office mate) has been into the Paleolithic Diet. Not militantly, but rather as a goal/guideline; minimize processed food, more raw fruits/veggies, no processed sugar, etc. As part of this, she put me onto a couple of tips.

1) Stevia: a "dietary supplement" that's 64 times (!!!) sweeter than sugar. Her favorite brand is "Emperor's Herbologist" JaJa Stevioside. She gets it online. distributor: Smarter Health Corp., Jackson FL, USA

2) Heartland Meats sells hormone and antiboitic free beef.

Thanks Jessa!

w4lker news

I created the googlegroup "w4lker news" to serve as a mailing list for people wanting email notification of posts to this weblog. It is a feature in the old "secret" blog I had that I already missed.

It may not be obvious, but today is the first "real" day for this google/blogger hosted weblog. The earlier posts are transplants from my "secret" blog. Unfortunately I was only able (willing) to bring over about 30% of the old posts. There were too many names and specifics in there and I have decided that those thoughts are a bit to private to be public; and they definitely don't belong in the Way Back Machine. :-/

The old name of ~/john/.rant was meant as a joke, but I now think it was uncomfortably accurate. It wasn't "crazy rants" as much as it was mild "haunt me in the future" or "carrer limiting move" ranting.

why the '4' in w4lker?

I'm not trying to be 'l33t.

The problem is that John Walker is a relatively common name. For example, google John Walker and you won't find me. Every time I go to any site where I have to sign up, the permutations of john walker are already taken. I have found of late that I can, however, usually get w4lker, john_w4lker, john.w4lker, etc. etc. etc. Thus, I have been consistently getting that in the hopes that my friends will be able to find me... or at least recognize the pattern. :-/

(thanks to ShadowBoxer for this image of olde)