Kevin's Blog2EndAllBlogs Blog

It was a long, fun and eventful year.

This is awesome.

--------------------------------------------
Awesome, We Know Google's Politics

Courtesy Meljo:

While doing some research today for a political satire I'm writing, I came across this little gem.
Go to Google, type in the words "miserable failure" and click "i'm feeling lucky."
God Bless the Internet.

Go now.
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Courtesy of Leaking Pure White Noise

Happy Birthday Dad!!

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Where is the Spring weather? Some of us can't wait.

The view from Franklin Street earlier today

Love...When it feels soo bad, whys it hurt soo good?

"Eu quero tem amorar, amor - I want to have love, my love..."

"I don't want to wait in vain for your love..."
...from the very first time I blessed my eyes on you girl, my heart says follow through. But I know now that I'm way down on your line...

"I guess I'll see you next lifetime..."

My depression is brought to you by the makers of Jack Daniels

"A far-reaching proposal from the FBI, made public Friday, would require all broadband Internet providers, including cable modem and DSL companies, to rewire their networks to support easy wiretapping by police."

I am thoroughly pissed off!

Click Here for Story

Are you kidding me!? You want me to pay so the FBI can wiretap my broadband connection and eavesdrop on my communications? What will they think of next?

Normally, I don't have a problem with wire-tapping if it is used to catch/convict a criminal. Most criminals nowadays are smart enough to avoid the Man eavesdropping on their important conversations. I also know that, according to Law & Order, many court cases are won by wire-tapping a defendant's conversations. With that said, my real problem lies with the government (aka the Bush Administration) putting the cost of such a project solely on the Internet Service Providers. Think about it, where do you think they are going get the cash from? Thats right, the consumers! You, me, everbody. I hate to think that my already inflated broadband bill will rise a little more so that some FBI bozo can track my movements on the web. Or better yet, I would love to have sed bozo listening in on my Instant Messengings with my friends. Then the FBI would know all about my plan to take over the...oops I almost did it again. Nevermind that.

It just makes me sick.

Story lifted from CNET News.com

Is Spring fever classified as an illness? If it is, then I'm dying from it. Am I the only one? I don't think there is enough cold water in the world to cure me.

I recieved this from a mass e-mailing and thought I would share it with you.

16 THINGS THAT TAKE A LIFETIME TO LEARN

1. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a
laxative on the same night.

2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human
race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential,
that word would be "meetings."

3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost
never want you to share yours with them.

5. You should not confuse your career with your life.

6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

7. Never lick a steak knife.

8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip.

9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and
compelling reason why we observe daylight savings time.

10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely
suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an
actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

11. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people
to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven.

12. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age,
gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that,
deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above average
drivers.

13. A person, who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a
nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never
fails.)

14. Your friends love you anyway.

15. Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone
amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the
Titanic.

16. Final thought for the day: Men are like fine wine. They start
out as grapes, and it's up to the women to stomp the crap out of
them until they turn into something acceptable to have dinner
with. (This one could go either way in my opinion)

Madd Cow Kung Fu

Have you seen this cow?

Hoof of the White Lotus

Send all sightings of Madd Cow Disease to chewcud@pasturepattie.com. Do NOT, under any circumstances, attempt to approach these cows alone.

This photo, from Barrett, was taken @ Beech Mountain. I love this shit!

What!

Like what you see? Barrett is a professional photographer. To contact him, click here.

Got Photos? Send them to me. Its that easy!

Thanks April, for sharing this.

Isra's Song ("She's Only A Child")...for a little Angel in Iraq.

(((Picked up the Sunday paper and i saw a photo of a little Iraqi
girl ...9 years old..screaming in pain as she suffered severe burns all over her body during an ex-plosion when troops clashed in sadr city iraq. She and two of her sisters burned as they slept. Her name is "Isra." Last two nights...i see her and hear her cryin out in my dreams. So this one is for Isra and all the children of war maimed and murdered..As i pray that somehow the killing will stop. There is no con-vincing I-and-I.... that war is necessary...One look at Isra and having a daughter myself... i know this Truth.)))

"Isra's Song"
***********
she痴 just a child...she痴 on-ly a child..
Lord shes just a child... she痴 on--ly a child..
con-victed and sen-tenced / with no jury or trial...
when did in-no-cence become a crime..
she痴 only a child man...she痴 only a child...

Isra oh Isra...can i sing out your precious name / Isra my little darling..to a world that痴 gone insane..
Isra sweet Isra...where will you place the blame / Isra oh Isra...what could i ever say or do...
Isra my Little angel ....I Love you ..I Love you...
an Lord i pray...

because the blood of angels is flowing / all over the face of Mother Earth..
and Lord what is the season / when a child痴 Life has no worth...

Isra i see you in my mind / cryin out in your sleep /
everyone else痴 nightmares / are your re-al-i-tees /
Isra i hear you / in my Soul you wander deep /
and if i had the Power / that痴 where you壇 safely keep...

an she痴 just a child...she痴 only a child...
Lord she痴 just a child..she痴 only a child..
convicted and sentenced / with no jury or trial...
Lord...when did in-no cence become a crime...
she痴 only a child man...she痴 only a child.......

lucky to be a-live they say / as her flesh it burns away..
now when she痴 older who will hold her / and who will ex-plain /
the scars that she carries for life / on her body and deep inside /
when being born ....and trying to dream / were her only crimes...

Isra oh Isra...can i sing out your precious name / Isra my little darling ..to a world that痴 gone insane..
Isra my sweet little Isra..where will you place the blame / Oh Isra...what could i ever say or do..
Isra my little Angel...i Love you ...I Love You...
and Lord i pray...

because the blood of Angels is flowin / all over the face of Mother Earth..
and Lord what is the season...when a child痴 Life has no worth...

such a beautiful little girl / sweetheart i wonder what you feel /
what good is imagination / when your monsters are for real /
what good is a fairy tale / when you致e seen man痴 thirst to kill ...
what good are the falling crumbs / when death precedes the meal....

an she痴 only a child...she痴 just a child...
can you look at your child right now / and the child next door /and the child walkin down the street...
and can ya see...i said...CAN YOU SEE...
that Isra...my little Isra..is only a child....yeah...
convicted and sentenced / with no jury or trial..
an when did in-no cence...become a crime...
she痴 only a child man...just a child of God ...
like all the rest....

Isra oh Isra...can i sing your name again and again...and again...
Isra my sweet Isra...can i shout out your name / Oh Isra..my little darling / to a world that痴 gone insane...
Isra let them hear your name / as i wonder where.... will you place the blame...
Isra.... my little angel / what could i ever say or do...
to make up for all that they致e done to you..
Isra...my lttle Angel / i Love you...I Love you..
baby girl...I love you..like you were my own...
because you are...
and Lord i pray....

because the blood of angels is flowing / across the face of Mother Earth..
and Lord what is the season when a child痴 life has no worth...
call it what you want war-mong-ers....
i call it as i see it and...
i call you mur-der-ers...............

and she痴 only a child...she痴 just a child........
Isra my sweet Isra....
Isra...I love you.............

What's left to say about this?

Well, now I've seen everything.

To see more of Tyson the skating Bulldog, click here.

My sister graduated North Carolina Veternarian School this past weekend. Way to go sis! This is a photo of her and her two friends, Blades and Paige (Shes the one in the middle)

She will be moving to Willamette Valley, Oregon to work as a surgeon at an equine clinic.

If you haven't already discovered, Yahoo has a pretty cool online radio station. Its called LAUNCHcast. Best part about it is you can personalize it to your music tastes. Screw the FCC and record companies lobbying for airtime. You choose the music you want to hear, be it: genre, artist, album or even song. The more you use it, the more synchronized it becomes with your music taste. You rate the music you like, and the higher the rating, the more likely it will be played. Just search their archive of artists and rate the music you like. I thought for sure they would have a limited selection of artists, but I found everyone I've searched for. I even found rare and "undiscovered" artists whose CDs are not even in most stores! The only downside is the commercial that plays after every 3-5 songs. Fortunately, it only plugs the LAUNCHcast website and artists. If you can tolerate that, its really awesome! Give it a try.

Kevin's Music Station

Here is a description of my station's format:

Lots Of:
Roots Reggae

Some:
Underground Hip Hop
Funk
Classic Rock
Alternative (Grunge)

A Little:
Blues
Oldies
World

* And it grows and changes all the time.

You can always find a link to My Station in the links section of my blog. So now you can listen to good music while you surf. Cheers.

This is for real!

A coworker of mine brought me back this candy bar from the UK. Apparently, "its not for girls." thats too bad, because this bar has everything: Raisins, Biscuit (Cookie for the not so posh) and of course, Chocolate. Yes. what would a candy delight be without chocolate. Nestle must have done some research that concluded; either women don't eat chocolate (yeah right!) or by excluding them, you are actually enticing them to eat more chocolate (hmmm....yeah right!).

"Not for handbags!"

Ok. I finally posted after a long hiatus. I'm so glad, even if its only to bitch about my site being spammed 40+ times yesterday morining. I love it! They leave comments like: "Thanks for the great site," "very helpful," "I'll definitely come back." The hell you will! I blocked each and every IP address. And if I get my hands on JohnMayer7, I'm gonna kick his @ss! Yes, that is a world wide web threat. I hope your moms reads this. I better not find YOUR site....

...alright, I've cooled down a little. Does anyone know a way to block these guys?

Courtesy of the DCRP.

For more photos, click here.

Sand Crab Sculpture

This guy built the vice/stool he is sitting on. I forgot what he called it, but it is a very simple device that uses foot pressure and leverage to vice wood pieces. Here he is carving a tool handle.

Cedar, Oak, Pine and many other woods

The Moaners are a two member, all girl, local band. And they really jam! Kinda punk/rock with some nice vocals. I recommend seeing them if you get the chance.

This is the view of the main stage. On stage is an African dance ensemble from Ghana. Lots of energy!

More info about the festival can be found here.

Festival for the Eno

Silk Embroidered Gown

Description:
One Hundred Childern Jacket

"This jacket combines many different styles of embroidery. In addition to the hundred images of children that adorn the jacket, dragons are also an important feature of the design. The five-claw dragon is an emblem of imperial power that was frequently found on the emperor's clothing and other possessions."

This thing is huge! As you can tell, one person sits in the top and the other in the bottom. They work together and synchronize to the same rhythm. A curator for the exhibit told me that the two women in the picture "never switch positions." And, that "one is always on top and the other is always on bottom." Cool.

The detail of these pieces is amazing.

Some of these pieces are double sided. On the other side is a completely different image. Wow!

Sorry for the crappy photos. I think its time for a new digital camera. Also, the lighting was weird and some pieces were in display cases (above image).

The exhibit is worth seeing, not to mention it is totally FREE. I'll warn you, its rather small and you can see everything in under an hour. The tour should be avoided. It seemed rather long and boring. I recommend viewing just before or after the tour begins. There is also an IMAX movie that accompanies the exhibit. I missed it, but will def go back to see it. However, the exhibit is about China and the movie is about an American woman who rescues some panda bears from China and brings them to America to be placed in a zoo. Hmmm?....Well, thats what I gather from the description.

Also, be prepared for tons of tourist-type people with cameras to flock over things and flash cash in the faces of the artisans. Its actually geared more like a store than a museum exhibit. Most of the work is for sale. Everything from pottery, minitaure wax figurines, to silk embroidery. My favorite, by far, is the embroidery. The young woman who made the pieces is there selling smaller, more affordable embroidery($30?).

This is a funky canal that runs between Exploris and the IMAX movie theater. I just think it looks really cool.

More info about the exhibit can be found here.

China Exhibit @ the Raleigh, NC Exploris

Exploris.org

View of Boone, NC from Howard's Knob

I sometimes visit this place when I wish to be alone. Its very peaceful and the view is spectacular. Sitting up here helps me get my head straight.

Park Boundary

Mountain Skyline

You can set these photos as desktop wallpaper if you like. Just click on them, and then right click the image that opens and select "Set as Background." Or you can right click on the image and select "Save Target As..."

My last oasis for buying music locally is officially crap. I purchased the new Abyssinians album, Tree of Satta, from Schoolkids Records on Franklin Street. I was soo excited to have it. The Abyssinians haven't put out an album in years. After listening to the first two songs, and to my dismay, I realized it wasn't an Abyssinians album at all. It was a compilation CD of different reggae artists covering an Abyssinian's song. Not songs, song. Thats right, the same damn song on 20 tracks.

I decided to return the CD to Schoolkids. The guy behind the counter (who has worked there for a long time and will be referred to from hence foward as "the ass") told me I couldn't return it. I expected that. I proceeded to sell the CD back to him for $5 (I had bought it a few days earlier for $16). I took my losses with a smile. However, I wasn't about to let someone else get suckered as I had, so I began to explain to the ass how the album is mislabeled.

He then argued with me about how the cover says its the Abyssinians. "Yeah I know," I told him. "Its inappropriately labled. Its not the Abyssinians playing with the artists listed on the back cover, its only the artists. And, they are all playing the same song." I began to plead to him to move the CD to the Miscellaneous Reggae/Dub section. He said, "no." I asked again, explaining how someone else is going to fall in the same pit as I had. He then said "whatever."

Thats when I decided that if I stayed there and argued any longer, the ass would be shitting this CD for a week. I left, never to return to that business again.

Heres the break down:
I gathered some receipts from Schoolkids Records, showing the pruchases I had made over the last 3 months. I had spent a total of $50. Now, $50 for 3 months *times* 4 (one year) =equals= $200. $200 is what Schoolkids Records can expect NOT to receive every year. They have officially joined my 'Never Go There Again' list.

26 years, and I still have trouble saying goodbye. *sigh*

"...sing something good to me..."

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

Hawai'i here I come!

Six days in paradise? What will I do?

Stay tuned...

What a beautiful place!

It was much greener than I expected. Very lush, and the air was filled with the sweet fragrances of flowers and fruit in bloom. It truly is paradise.

After a brief 10 hr flight, I landed in Honolulu (Aloha) International Airport, which rests on the outskirts of town. Driving into Honolulu, I realized how much a city it really is.

Honolulu is a very culturally diverse city, due to its history and tourism.

Waikiki is no exception. With thousands of tourists flocking there everyday, its like an international melting pot. Its no surprise either, that Waikiki is the most expensive land, per square foot, in the world (Tidbit: Waikiki is a human-made peninsula slowly eroding into the ocean and needs to have sand barged in from places like California).

Tourism is the state's major economy. At around $10 billion a year, Hawai'i is an island gold mine.

I can't stand most forms of tourism. They sell the land, its people, culture and heritage extremely below their value. Not to mention it is devastating on all accounts. Although it brings money to the people of O'ahu, I have a feeling the locals don't like it either.

The University of Hawai'i at Manoa has a beautiful campus. If all goes well, I just might spend some time their. ;)

Center for Korean Studies

That's Troy and I. He was my surf instructor and a very cool guy. He did an awesome job instructing, despite the many people in the water. Surfing at Kuhio Beach was like weaving a bicycle through a Los Angeles traffic jam.

That was my first day in the water. No comments about my NC farmer's tan!!!

Notice the bird? That was a total luck shot. Especially since that was one of the only birds I saw while on the island.

All in all, I had a really great trip. I got to do most of what I planned on doing; hike, surf, snorkle, play capoeira, check out the university, meet really cool locals, see most of the island, eat good food, lay on the beach...yes, I also had a very relaxing time. It was very hard to leave the isalnd, and come back to the working "real" world. Believe me!

Part II on the way...

I couldn't resist.
But you know what they say, "Simple pleasures for simple minds."

Safer than Prozac
* You may need to hit the Stop, and then, Refresh button. Turn up the sound.

This is just bizarre
Watermelon Love

Mmmmm Watermelon.

Ripped from MassDistraction.org

Due to the excesive amount of comment spam this site has received, all posting will cease until January 2005. Please check back then for an improved and spam-free site.

Many thanks,

- kevin

Sorry Folks,

I have been slammed with work and studying for a crappy standardized test. I will update the site this month for sure. Thanks for your patience.

- kevin

Big ups to Sayan (http://silflayhraka.com/) for totally getting this beast working again! You will here on out be known as the Blog Beast Master.

Also, from now on I vow to consistently document my vapid, dismal, and at times meaningless life for all to enjoy.

Cheers!

Early this morning, thieves ripped my scooter while I slept. It's weird, 'cause I didn't feel very upset about it. Maybe I was still half asleep when my resident manager woke me at 6:30 am to tell me it was missing, but I felt very content with the whole thing. I still feel so, as I believe it fulfills some karmic duty I owe.

Unfortunately, this could not come at a worst time. I am amid finals and have a major presentation tomorrow. Along with many other stressful elements recognized last night, including my landlord raising the rent, I am already in a precarious position.

What is most weird is the fact that the thieves cut through my $100 chain. I was almost certain if my bike were to be stolen they would remove the wheel before attempting to cut the chain. Apparently, the chain was my weakest link because they cut through it with ease. They even left it as a sort of testament to my insecurity. And even though the police dusted for prints, no evidence was recovered.

Luckily, the chain/lock is still under warranty. Maybe I can recover some of my losses? I guess for now I will have to walk, or even worse, ride the bus!

These Latvian guys are nuts!!!
Le Parkour
Courtesy of Google Video.

You can download this video and more at their website, Dvinsk Clan (http://dvinsk.no.lv/).

Parkour is a movement art developed by two Frenchmen, Sébastien Foucan and David Belle. Around 2000, Luc Besson wrote a script including them and their art. The two men refused to star in it as it incorrectly describes them as theives. However, Besson was able to convince some of their students to star in the movie which he titled, "Yamikasi" after their association, the Yamikasi Club. More info on the history of Parkour here.

** Shout out to Cebolinha for the video link.

What the heck is that!?

I noticed it floating by my window the other day and had to take a photo. Looks like some sort of astronomical observatory attached to an oil rig. I think it's some sort of new military prototype weapon or something. Or not...

Anyways, it's size was mammoth. It's resting on an oil tanker barge. The photo does not show it, but the thing was huge!!! Reminds me of that James Bond movie with Jaws, "Dr. No?"

Adeus! Just purchased my ticket and made the rental car reservation. I'm soo psyched!

I'm heading out Friday afternoon and landing in Kailua-Kona. As it stands now, I'll check out Green Sands Beach of Ka Lae (Southern most point in the USA) before setting up camp around sunset that night somewhere on the Ka'u coast. I'll spend all day Saturday in Volcanoes National Park. Gonna be sweeeet! Just after sunset I'll head over to Hilo and crash at a local hostel.

I hope to visit Rainbow Falls and Pee Pee Falls/Boiling Pots in the morning. After lunch I'm heading up to Mauna Kea (White Mountain - 14K') on a guided sunset/stargazing tour. Kind of expensive, but since the rental car can't summit (4x4 only), it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'll probably crash that night back in Hilo since we don't come down until around midnight.

Monday is a bit tentative, though I think I'll do some hiking and camping somewhere on the Kona/Kohala coast. Tuesday I'm meeting a buddy in Ocean View (South Kona). I'm helping him paint his uncle's cabin and, for sure, just chillin'. Wednesday we'll probably explore a bit and put some miles on the rental. We both fly out of Kona on Thursday.

A short trip, and I'm solo most of the time (my friends are gonna be soo jealous they didn't come with!), but it's gonna be fantastic for real! Don't worry, I'll post the photos as soon as I return. Until then, Aloha!

I just upgraded and am checking functionality...

Turns out it was a giant evil floating contraption.

"Honolulu high-rise dwellers who saw the behemoth sail in yesterday afternoon likened it to something out of the movie "Waterworld," Kevin Costner's sea-based adventure tale."

Actually, I "likened" it to James Bond's "Dr. No".

Entreprenuers should view this video:

http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2006/06/the_art_of_the_.html
Guy Kawasaki is presenting ideas from his book, "The Art of the Start."

Though I agree with a lot of what he says, I believe his good fortune was partially due to being at the right place at the right time.

I'm trying to fix it all, but may take some time. Please check back later.

Milky Way over Weikersheim (in southern Germany) on the night of July 19, 2006

Photo By: Jens Hackmann
Post Found Here: Summer Milky Way

Gorilla Munch, originally uploaded by carlosluis.

This is how I feel when I get stoned and quest the supermarket. Everything is soo big and delicious!

Hurray!!! It worked. MT 3.35 is a success.