And thank goodness I'm not! Otherwise, folks would be bugging me to explain the goofy gas prices around here.

This morning, my wife called me on her way to work to let me know that a certain gas station in our area was priced at $2.54 a gallon. Across the street is another station that we occasionally use, priced at $2.59. Anticipating a rise in prices, I gassed up the truck at the cheaper place.

This afternoon my wife noticed that the first place had raised prices by a penny, to $2.55 a gallon. Meanwhile, all the way across the street, the other place jumped prices by twenty cents.

I haven't a clue. Maybe their distributor is sticking it to them and they're just passing along the price increase. I can believe that because their prices are insanely volatile compared to most brands in the area, and they're not always more expensive than everywhere else. But if they're trying to take advantage, they're the dumbest businessmen on the planet, because people remember stuff like that, and I'll bet that even when prices stabilize again their business will be down.

We tend to have cheap gas in this area compared to most. What's a gallon going for in your burg?

Posted by: Ted at 08:03 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Had a minor dental emergency a couple of days ago that required a trip to see the dentist. I'm pleased to announce (as if anyone cares) that *my* dentist is back from maternity leave and I'm very very happy about that.

So anyways, things went good yesterday and I have a quick followup scheduled for this morning, after which I'll go in to work late and probably stay busy there until this evening (end of the fiscal year coming up fast, don't'cha know). I'll see y'all tomorrow, most likely.

If you see a guy with only half his face working, and a big string of bloody drool hanging off his chin, say hi. It ain't me, but he's probably having a bad day and could use a kind word.

Posted by: Ted at 07:47 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Liz got into this show when it started reruns last season, and has been telling me how good it is. She bought the first season on DVD when it came out, and we've been watching an episode as time allows. It's keeping my attention, and reminds me a little bit of David Lynch's Twin Peaks, without the random weirdness. I've learned to pay attention to the details, because everything happens for a reason, and as you watch you'll flash back on previous episodes with an "ah ha!" moment.

If you haven't seen the show, the premise is that some sixty people survive an airline wreck and wind up on a seemingly deserted island. Their flight was way off course when they crashed, so the search and rescue are looking for them in the wrong place. There are a dozen or so main characters, and each episode tells one of their stories along with their continuing tale of survival. Of course there are no 'normal' background stories here, presumably the rest of the survivors are the ho-hum people, not to mention that they make the perfect pool of victims if someone needs to be killed off.

There's plenty of mystery and oddness going on, and a sweet touch of horror. Ultimately though, it's about the people. I hope they can keep up the quality, because so far I'm enjoying it.

Posted by: Ted at 05:14 AM | category: Cult Flicks
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1 and here I thought it was just another version of survivor.

Posted by: michele at September 21, 2005 10:29 AM (db7I/)

2 What I love about the show is how it blows away your preconcieved ideas about the main characters and their character. They seen pretty stereotypical on the island, but then you find out how they got there and it's like "Oh, oh wow". Especially the crazy dude with all the knives.

Posted by: Oorgo at September 21, 2005 11:43 AM (lM0qs)

3 I'll have to check it out. I like some Lynch weirdness and I, too, assumed this was like Survivor or something. I like your banner; but your site is always cool.

Posted by: dogette at September 21, 2005 02:47 PM (2bayr)

4 Thanks dogette.

If you can, start at the beginning. This is one of those shows that really needs the setup to be fully appreciated.

Posted by: Ted at September 21, 2005 06:00 PM (+OVgL)

5 I saw the season opener last night. Riveting. I got lost once. had to spend the night in the woods. Sucked bigtime. But if I was stranded for an extended period of time with a group of people that large, survival would be easy: stalk the slow and the stupid.

Posted by: shank at September 22, 2005 10:47 PM (jfEhX)

6 Christina and I just recently found the joy of watching a series on DVD. We had watched shows we were already fond of on DVD, but not ones we hadn't seen before. From what I'm hearing I think "Lost" might be right up my alley, I think I'm going to wait to see how well they resolve season two, if it is still getting good word of mouth, we'll pick 'em up on DVD. In short - Ted, you get to be our guinea pig! ;-)

Posted by: BLUE at September 23, 2005 02:04 PM (4Xncc)

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What'cha think?

Posted by: Ted at 06:37 PM | category: Square Pegs
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1 very nice.

Yours?

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at September 20, 2005 06:59 PM (ics4u)

2 Now come on Stephen... Those can't possibly be Ted's legs...

Posted by: Tim at September 20, 2005 08:11 PM (bw/kd)

3 You realize, of course, that you've set yourself an impossibly-high standard there.

Posted by: CGHill at September 20, 2005 08:42 PM (tEfsQ)

4 I like.

If you could somehow add this into a Werner Von Braun image it would be even better.

Posted by: The Maximum Leader at September 20, 2005 09:21 PM (zHoql)

5 I like.

Posted by: JohnL at September 21, 2005 02:51 PM (YVul2)

6 Legs and a haystack. What's not to love?

Posted by: Tuning Spork at September 21, 2005 08:02 PM (gGUnj)

7 so, your a leg man?

BTW, you're dating yourself w/the cyd charisse reference.

Posted by: michele at September 22, 2005 09:17 AM (0cwiO)

8 No, actually I'm a butt man, but I can appreciate a good pair either north or south from there.

Dating myself? I'm timeless. Besides, I love old movies, so who's to say I don't know her from late night TV?

Posted by: Ted at September 22, 2005 10:58 AM (blNMI)

9 Your birthday girl kicks the crap out of this one Ted. But then, that's just the me talking.

Posted by: shank at September 22, 2005 10:49 PM (jfEhX)

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Supervisor: What happened at the meeting?

Me: Bullshit.

Supervisor: No, really, I need more than that. Didn't you take notes?

Me (handing over a page and a half of meeting notes): Read for yourself.

Supervisor (reading carefully): What bullshit.

Me: Echo Echo.

*I made this up. Think of it as a composite of the last 100 meetings I've been to.

Posted by: Ted at 06:18 PM | category: Square Pegs
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Specifically, a new way to do Trig.

Mathematics students have cause to celebrate. A University of New South Wales academic, Dr Norman Wildberger, has rewritten the arcane rules of trigonometry and eliminated sines, cosines and tangents from the trigonometric toolkit.

His book explaining the method is called Divine Proportions: Rational Trigonometry to Universal Geometry (not available at Amazon, yet).

Dr Wildberger has replaced traditional ideas of angles and distance with new concepts called "spread" and "quadrance".

These new concepts mean that trigonometric problems can be done with algebra," says Wildberger, an associate professor of mathematics at UNSW.

"Rational trigonometry replaces sines, cosines, tangents and a host of other trigonometric functions with elementary arithmetic."

This could revolutionize mathematics who knows where it could lead? Sometimes all that's needed is to look at something from a different vantage point to make exciting things happen.

Thanks to Transterrestrial Musings for the pointer.

Posted by: Ted at 08:22 PM | category: Links
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According to the rules of our Blogger Bowl fantasy football league, we're supposed to "talk smack". Being the quiet and nonconfrontational sort, I'm hesitant to do so, but since I beat one of last season's powerhouses this week, and since I outscored him despite the fact that my QB earned negative points for me, and since my final player doesn't even get counted until tonight's games, I'll do my best.

Dear Nick,
You are my bitch.
On toast.

Ted

My, that was fun!

Posted by: Ted at 11:37 AM | category: Links
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I'll put my launch report from last weekend's club launch up in the next couple of days, but Rich already has pictures up, including some very nice shots of rockets in flight. There are also one of me prepping the Barenaked Lady, and two very nice pics of it under thrust.

Posted by: Ted at 05:54 AM | category: Rocketry
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Derek of Son of Cheese has a new bit o' whimsy for all to play, called OMGWTFLOLLOL. He's posted a blank comic, and you supply the words!

My idea was to leave the balloons blank, because the characters are all mimes. I'm sure you can do better.

Posted by: Ted at 05:38 AM | category: Links
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In today's society we hear often about inclusion, so with that in mind, I'd like everyone to join me in song:

Kum-bah-yArrrr, me mateys! Kum-bah-yArrrrr!

Kum-bah-yArrrr, me mateys! Kum-bah-yArrrrr!

Kum-bah-yArrrr, me mateys! Kum-bah-yArrrrr!

Shiver me timbers, Kum-bah-yArrrrr!

Keel-haul the sinners, mates! Kum-bah-yArrrr!
Keel-haul the sinners, mates! Kum-bah-yArrrr!
Keel-haul the sinners, mates! Kum-bah-yArrrr!
Shiver me timbers, Kum-bah-yArrrrr!

There the beastie be! Kum-bah-yArrrr!
There the beastie be! Kum-bah-yArrrr!
There the beastie be! Kum-bah-yArrrr!
Shiver me timbers, Kum-bah-yArrrrr!

I'm sure a fine crew such as yourselves can add a verse to the tune, no?

Posted by: Ted at 04:23 AM | category: Square Pegs
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Dafydd ab Hugh (how the heck is that pronounced?) has started his own blog, Big Lizards.

I first saw him guest posting at Captain's Quarters, and recognized the name from several Star Trek novels and other SciFi works he's written. Good read whether you agree with him or not, because he's always interesting and thought provoking.

Posted by: Ted at 01:47 PM | category: Links
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Podcasts I've recently listened to:

Ken & Squip Show - new!
Fred Garvin Male Prostitute and the Reverend Demize - funny stuff
Soccergirl Incorporated - something on her site freezes my PC, but I'm usually able to download at least one episode before crashing
Bleacher Guy Radio - sports, co-hosted by Off-Wing Opinion's Eric McErlain
Shire Network News - from the boys at Silent Running

Notice who's missing?

Blue's Simian Syndicate hasn't put anything new up for a while, but he's directly involved with the Katrina effort at work, so you can't fault him for having his priorities straight

Posted by: Ted at 07:35 AM | category: Links
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Thanks to Chris Hall for the pointer, (Buckethead, this is right up your alley).

NRA probes Japanese sex android. I like how they try to make this evil machine sound cute and innocent by calling her it a "cyberminx".

This is scary as hell. I'm heading to the drugstore right now, because when the real invasion begins, and folks realize just how deadly sex with a robot will be, there will be a run on KY, rubbers, and cheap wine. I'm stocking up now.

Adjust your survival kit inventories accordingly.

Posted by: Ted at 10:15 AM | category: Links
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Hey, sometime last night Rocket Jones got its 250,000th visitor!!!

Kind of amazing, considering posts like the one above, eh?

Posted by: Ted at 10:03 AM | category: Square Pegs
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When baseball's Montreal Expos left town last year to become the Washington Nationals, they left behind their long-time mascot, Youppi!

This season, hockey's Montreal Canadiens have adopted Youppi! as their official mascot.

Ray Lalonde, the Canadiens marketing manager, said Youppi! is the first mascot in professional sports to move from one league to another.

"We always wondered what Youppi! would look like in a Habs sweater."

Yeah, Ray. That makes one of us.

Posted by: Ted at 09:48 AM | category: Balls and Ice
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1 Why didn't we negotiate for Youppi!?

Posted by: Rob@L&R at September 19, 2005 07:01 AM (281T8)

2 I blame Angelos.

Posted by: Ted at September 19, 2005 09:06 AM (blNMI)

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Carnival of the Recipes, hosted this week by Trub, a beer brewer. Get some terrific ideas for this weekend.

Posted by: Ted at 11:59 AM | category: Links
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Ignore the brilliant comedy for the moment and admit it, this brash and brassy redhead had some genuinely fine gams.

(click for super vitameatavegemin size)

Posted by: Ted at 06:08 AM | category: Square Pegs
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The fixture in our bath/shower was ancient, and badly needed replacing. In addition, we'd developed a leak somewhere in the vicinity, so I went looking for a plumber.

The first place I called for an estimate informed me that they didn't do in-person estimates any more because of gas prices. I described the work to be done in detail, and their estimate consisted of telling me that they'd do the work for $150.00 an hour. Buh-bye.

Next on the list are the folks who installed our new air conditioner a couple of years ago. Good work and I trust them. They offered to have the guy come out, give a "job estimate" (instead of by the hour), for $75.00 and then if I was ok with the price he'd do the work right then, and the $75.00 would go towards the bill. I finally did decide on them, and yesterday was the day.

I can do basic, mechanical plumbing, but this job had the potential to become really ugly in a hurry, so I wanted a pro. He came in, heard my description, looked at things and gave a reasonable price. Not as good as I'd hoped, better than I was expecting, and within 10% of what I'd told Liz I thought it would cost.

While he was putting in the fixture, I was downstairs removing the ceiling in our living room coat closet, because it's right under the bath and the water had been dripping down. He looked around from underneath and did his plumbing magic and two hours later it was done.

Kinda. Now I have to retile the tub, or put in a shower enclosure, and if I'm going to do that then I might as well replace the bathtub, which means I should swap out the toilet so it matches, and the wall sink could be replaced with the pedistal kind, and since I'm going to all that trouble a new medicine cabinet would be nice, which means new electrical outlets and lighting fixtures, and I should go ahead and replace the ancient vent fan with a quiet new one...

Oh yeah, I've just started emptying my wallet on this one.

Posted by: Ted at 05:12 AM | category: Links
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Truth or Dare in Middle Earth

Rodger owes me a keyboard.

Posted by: Ted at 08:02 PM | category: Links
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The Big Chill, performed by bunnies, condensed to 30 seconds. (warning: bunnies have a potty mouth and do what you'd expect bunnies to do)

Plenty more classics to check out here too!

Thanks to Pete for the pointer.

Posted by: Ted at 08:25 AM | category: Cult Flicks
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