It's snowing!
Well, so far just light flurries, but I'm hoping for more!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Secret of Google's Search Success
Have you ever wondered how Google is able to return what are, sometimes, eerily precise results to your web searches? Me, too! Well, the answer is... pigeons! Or, more precisely, PigeonRank, a system which arranges pigeons into low-cost pigeon clusters (PCs). Who knew?
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Animals I've Eaten
in no particular order:
- rabbit
- squirrel
- deer
- elk (maybe)
- alligator
- ostrich
- buffalo
- cow
- pig (so many wonderful meats come from these)
- wild boar
- hot dog (frankly, who knows what's really inside these anyway?)
- chicken
- turkey
- fish (various varieties)
- frog (just the legs)
- calamari (yes, I know that's squid)
- clam
- scallops
- crab
- lamb
- lobster
- shrimp
- duck
- quail
Our Previously Dark Tree
Last night, with assistance from Timothy the Valiant and Bethany the Fair, I put additional lights on our Christmas tree, added some silvery garland, and put up blue, silver and clear ornaments. Our tree is dark no more!
After putting on all the light strands, I of course switched on the power to them. Immediately, I was nearly blinded by all the lights on that tree!
There is a downside to having our Christmas tree now fully decorated for Christmas... the cats now have ornaments to bat at. There weren't any ornaments on the floor this morning, though the cats may still have been blinded by all the lights. I expect to find at least one on the floor when I get home from work. Hopefully, the ornament wil have put up a good fight before having been pulled from the tree.
After putting on all the light strands, I of course switched on the power to them. Immediately, I was nearly blinded by all the lights on that tree!
There is a downside to having our Christmas tree now fully decorated for Christmas... the cats now have ornaments to bat at. There weren't any ornaments on the floor this morning, though the cats may still have been blinded by all the lights. I expect to find at least one on the floor when I get home from work. Hopefully, the ornament wil have put up a good fight before having been pulled from the tree.
Our Dark Tree
As is the tradition in our part of the country, we recently put up a Christmas tree in our family room. As is the tradition in our family, we put up an artificial Christmas tree. The best thing about using an artificial Christmas tree? No sap! Well, not usually, anyway.
As is the tradition for my wife, she asked me to run a strand around the Christmas tree's center pole while I was assembling the tree, so that there would be light coming from inside. Mission accomplished!
As is the tradition for me, I then proceeded to test our various remaining strands of Christmas tree lights, of which we have many, to determine which ones to put on our tree, and which ones we'd donate to the seagull farm, if you know what I mean. Well, all of the strands had problems! At best, on any one strand, 50% of the lights lit up. All the strands will be "recycled".
So, there our Christmas tree stands, our single working strand of lights wrapped around its center pole, and the dark star on top (no nearby strand to plug it in to). At night, when I turn the tree's lights on, the tree gives off an eerie multi-colored glow from within its depths. So eerie that, the first time I turned on those lights, trick-or-treaters showed up at our door! No garlands or ornaments adorn the tree yet, as it is still waiting for more lights.
On the plus side, the cats haven't tried to pull the tree down yet! (In past years, they usually tried at least once, claiming that the ornaments made them do it. Yeah, whatever... we all know it was the catnip.)
As is the tradition for my wife, she asked me to run a strand around the Christmas tree's center pole while I was assembling the tree, so that there would be light coming from inside. Mission accomplished!
As is the tradition for me, I then proceeded to test our various remaining strands of Christmas tree lights, of which we have many, to determine which ones to put on our tree, and which ones we'd donate to the seagull farm, if you know what I mean. Well, all of the strands had problems! At best, on any one strand, 50% of the lights lit up. All the strands will be "recycled".
So, there our Christmas tree stands, our single working strand of lights wrapped around its center pole, and the dark star on top (no nearby strand to plug it in to). At night, when I turn the tree's lights on, the tree gives off an eerie multi-colored glow from within its depths. So eerie that, the first time I turned on those lights, trick-or-treaters showed up at our door! No garlands or ornaments adorn the tree yet, as it is still waiting for more lights.
On the plus side, the cats haven't tried to pull the tree down yet! (In past years, they usually tried at least once, claiming that the ornaments made them do it. Yeah, whatever... we all know it was the catnip.)
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Wish List - 2006 "Year of the Blog" Edition
Every year my family members exchange wish lists at Christmastime so that, as we buy gifts for each other, we will buy things people will actually want. As opposed to, for example, buying socks and hoping for the best ("hope you like purple!"). Plus, this allows our family the chance to avoid the dreaded day-after-Christmas rush to the returns department at local retailers.
For those interested, here's my list separated into two categories: things I like (which make great gifts any time of the year, and include lower-priced items), and things I want (including the not-so-lower-priced items). Enjoy!
Things I like (in no particular order...)
For those interested, here's my list separated into two categories: things I like (which make great gifts any time of the year, and include lower-priced items), and things I want (including the not-so-lower-priced items). Enjoy!
Things I like (in no particular order...)
macadamia nuts- gift cards to any of these restaurants:
Johnny Carino's, Mongolian BBQ, Outback Steakhouse, Applebees, Ruby Tuesday, Culvers - be taken to: Old Country Buffett, Ponderosa, Mongolian BBQ, Wok In Wok Out
- gift card to Barnes & Noble
gift card to Best Buy- yogurt-coated pretzels
- cheese curls (puffy, not crunchy... any brand is fine)
- large chocolate shakes from McD's (please, no substitutes)
- see a movie at the theater... preferrably a movie I'd enjoy :)
my wife's homemade lasagna, but also with pepperoni (yum!)- blank CD-R and DVD-R discs (you would not believe how quickly I use these up!)
Starbucks pre-ground French roast coffee (I prefer not to grind coffee beans myself, but will if necessary)
Things I Want (in no particular order...)
an MP3 player... any brand or model is okay as long as it can play MP3 files (duh!) and having a display on it would be nice but isn't necessary... if you'd like a specific idea on what I'd like, check out the SanDisk Sansa m240 1GB MP3 player at Best Buy's web site... it's got an LCD display, FM radio, 1GB flash memory, USB interface, and uses one AAA battery (all the features I'm looking for) and currently on sale with free shipping!- snow globe
- Dilbert TV series on DVD
- Sledge Hammer! TV series (both seasons) on DVD
Sony PSPtime to watch LOTR in one daytime to watch Star Wars in one day (though a different day, of course)- convince Outback Steakhouse to build a restaurant in Holland (my wife would like this one, too)
- magazine subscriptions: Christian Research Journal, CPU, Linux Format (from the UK!)
- Sony PS3... preferrably the 60 GB version
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe Four-Disc Extended Edition... goes on sale 12/12/06Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 2-disc special edition... if you get it this week at Best Buy, you'll be able to get it on sale ($10 off!) AND you'll get an exclusive-to-Best Buy bonus disc (oh yeah, I'd want that disc, too)... don't forget, I have a birthday coming up, too! :)
Be sure to re-check this post in the days leading up to Christmas, as I will change between now and then. Merry Christmas!
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Chuck Norris
Of course, you know who Chuck Norris is, right? But how much do you know about him? Here are some facts:
- There is no such thing as global warming. Chuck Norris was cold, so he turned the sun up.
- When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.
- There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
- When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
- Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King, and got one.
Friday, November 10, 2006
I, for one, welcome our new Democratic overlords
Well, this blog is purposefully non-political, so that's about all I have to say here about the results of the 2006 mid-term election season. Yeah, I got this idea from someplace else and from this place.Click here to learn more about The Simpsons episode that inspired that phrase.
Apologies to Kent Brockman, the best news anchorman of our time. Well, at least in Springfield. (That's Kent reading the news in the picture.)
Enough of political commentary. Spike the Wave will now return to its regularly scheduled programming.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
super haircut
Have you ever wondered how, exactly, Superman is able to get his hair cut? He is the man of steel after all. If you saw the movie that came out in 2006, you will know that a bullet will bounce off his eyeball. So how does he cut his hair? Red kryptonite is known to have random effects on Kryptonians like Superman. Perhaps he cuts his hair using special kryptonite-laced scissors, made with Batman's help? And what about trimming his fingernails?
These are the kinds of questions that keep me awake at night.
Update
Okay, I just finished watching a National Geographic Channel program from last summer called The Science of Superman. In this program they tackled, among other things, how exactly Superman cuts his hair and shaves his face. The answer will both shock and amaze you, and yet surprise you with how blindingly obvious it truly is. I know when I first heard the answer, I literally almost fell off the couch in amazement!
These are the kinds of questions that keep me awake at night.
Update
Okay, I just finished watching a National Geographic Channel program from last summer called The Science of Superman. In this program they tackled, among other things, how exactly Superman cuts his hair and shaves his face. The answer will both shock and amaze you, and yet surprise you with how blindingly obvious it truly is. I know when I first heard the answer, I literally almost fell off the couch in amazement!
Sunday, October 08, 2006
bird watching
this post is a reprint from the "The Dave Report" archives, originally published 3/15/05... enjoy!
Our cats' favorite hobby is bird watching. They really love watching the birds: woodpeckers, robins (but not Robin), bluejays, chickadees, purple finches, cardinals, and mourning doves. The cats are just completely fascinated as the birds hop around our deck, chirping, eating food, and taunting. Always just out of reach on the opposite side of a sliding glass door.
For fun, sometimes a few birds will hop up right next to the sliding glass door and stick their tongue out at the cats. Or, they would if they had tongues. (Do birds even have tongues?) Occasionally, in retaliation, one of the cats will pounce. Followed quickly by an "oh yeah" moment. As Chubby (one of our cats would say), "stupid glass!"
A few weeks ago, our cats decided that not all birds are enjoyable to watch. A hawk had paid a visit to our deck. Only Blackie was bird watching at the time, and she did the best she could to hide behind a potted plant. Blackie later said, "Just because I can't get through glass doesn't mean that that huge monster bird thing can't get through!"
Our cats' favorite hobby is bird watching. They really love watching the birds: woodpeckers, robins (but not Robin), bluejays, chickadees, purple finches, cardinals, and mourning doves. The cats are just completely fascinated as the birds hop around our deck, chirping, eating food, and taunting. Always just out of reach on the opposite side of a sliding glass door.
For fun, sometimes a few birds will hop up right next to the sliding glass door and stick their tongue out at the cats. Or, they would if they had tongues. (Do birds even have tongues?) Occasionally, in retaliation, one of the cats will pounce. Followed quickly by an "oh yeah" moment. As Chubby (one of our cats would say), "stupid glass!"
A few weeks ago, our cats decided that not all birds are enjoyable to watch. A hawk had paid a visit to our deck. Only Blackie was bird watching at the time, and she did the best she could to hide behind a potted plant. Blackie later said, "Just because I can't get through glass doesn't mean that that huge monster bird thing can't get through!"
fun with metal detectors
this post is a reprint from the "The Dave Report" archives, originally published 3/15/05... enjoy!
Yesterday (Labour Day in most of Australia), Dave & Sarah were in Indiana for court hearing. The reasons are not important for this newsletter. Suffice it to say that Dave is free on his own recognizance. eh heh...
Anyway...
Since 9/11, courthouses around the country have significantly improved the security measures they implement, especially with their use of metal detectors.
Yesterday, just before Dave was about to walk through the full-height metal detector, he, of course, emptied his pockets of anything containing or made of metal, such as his vast key collection. Certain that he was now free of metal, Dave confidentally walked through the metal detector. The detector immediately set of an alarm.
Dave dutifully stopped so that a security guard could check him with the hand detector (which, ironically, is NOT used to detect hands). The detector set of its alarm when it passed over the right side of Dave's jacket.
"What do you have in your pocket?" the guard asked, while slowly moving his hand to his revolver. The other guard noticing the commotion, moved closer and charged up his lightsaber.
"Um, I don't know, let me check", Dave said.
Dave reached a hand (one of his own) into his jacket. "Easy...", the guards both said.
Grabbing whatever was in his jacket pocket, Dave pulled his hand out and opened it to the guard.
"Oh, is that all?" The guard said on seeing in Dave's hand a pack of gum (the chewing kind). "It was probably just the aluminum in the wrapping! Ha ha ha!"
On hearing this, everyone in the waiting area laughed heartily. And the other guard discharged his lightsaber and returned it to its scabbard.
The moral of this story? Don't carry gum!
Yesterday (Labour Day in most of Australia), Dave & Sarah were in Indiana for court hearing. The reasons are not important for this newsletter. Suffice it to say that Dave is free on his own recognizance. eh heh...
Anyway...
Since 9/11, courthouses around the country have significantly improved the security measures they implement, especially with their use of metal detectors.
Yesterday, just before Dave was about to walk through the full-height metal detector, he, of course, emptied his pockets of anything containing or made of metal, such as his vast key collection. Certain that he was now free of metal, Dave confidentally walked through the metal detector. The detector immediately set of an alarm.
Dave dutifully stopped so that a security guard could check him with the hand detector (which, ironically, is NOT used to detect hands). The detector set of its alarm when it passed over the right side of Dave's jacket.
"What do you have in your pocket?" the guard asked, while slowly moving his hand to his revolver. The other guard noticing the commotion, moved closer and charged up his lightsaber.
"Um, I don't know, let me check", Dave said.
Dave reached a hand (one of his own) into his jacket. "Easy...", the guards both said.
Grabbing whatever was in his jacket pocket, Dave pulled his hand out and opened it to the guard.
"Oh, is that all?" The guard said on seeing in Dave's hand a pack of gum (the chewing kind). "It was probably just the aluminum in the wrapping! Ha ha ha!"
On hearing this, everyone in the waiting area laughed heartily. And the other guard discharged his lightsaber and returned it to its scabbard.
The moral of this story? Don't carry gum!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
A New Age Begins
Welcome, one and all! And, yes, you too, to Spike the Wave. I was going to begin this with the opening of Richard Strauss' Also Sprach Zarathustra, but decided people might get annoyed with seeing a lot of baaaaa baaaaa babaaaaa, and so on. Have you ever heard the Ray Stevens version of that? The cow's the best part. But I digress.
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