The Occasional Solipsist

Well, no more sitting on the fence for me, no sir.

Yesterday I officially hit the ripe old age of 31.

So no longer can I kid myself that I am only a year out of my twenties: although my appearance and behaviour would suggest that I'm closer to a teenager, let alone what my emotional maturity says about me.

I usually use birthdays as a time to look forwards, imagine what the future might hold for my career, my life, the world around me. But I've been heavy into introspection lately, and find that this year I am doing a lot more looking behind me, maybe with good reason.

This past year has seen some major changes in my life, most notably the birth of our daughter. Between her, my wife, and work, there's not a lot of time left for anything else anymore, and that's just fine with me.

My web business has both grown and taken a hit this year: My business partner and I have shelved taking on major projects for the time being and have been taking on only small jobs, because both of us are working as consultants for an up and coming technology company. It's scary putting a potentially lucrative career on hold in the hopes that the company you're directing all your energies into takes off, but I've never been one to shy away from a good challenge. My only major complaint is that I have set up my career such that I don't have access to any security, benefits, vacation, all of which I will soon require as the sole breadwinner. But we'll see what happens.

And that's about all you'll ever see written here about work, as I'm not in any hurry to get dooced.

We've spent some money we could've saved instead this year: renovated the bejesus out of the 80 year old house we own; we bought a new car, officially called 'The Wagon Queen Family Truckster'. If you don't get the name, go rent the original Vacation.

I gained a little weight this year, and noticed a few new greys, some in more palatable places than others. I've stopped going to the gym and started practicing more yoga to pick up the slack.

I've blogged more often and with far less focus than before. On any given day, I might blog about my daughter, my wife, whatever game I'm playing, Smallville, or ranting about how silly the people that occupy this world are. Its kind of become a crap-shoot blog, and that's ok, because I'm all over the place, so why shouldn't my writing be?

But maybe being thirtysomething won't be so bad after all. When I look behind me, I see that I have a full, rich life, replete with reasons to face each new day with a smile.

Besides, it worked out all right for Timothy Busfield.

I've made no secret of my fandom for all things Superman.

• I've been a fan of the icon that is Superman since I was little kid: Comics, movies, toys


• I watch Smallville religiously - can that term be applied to atheists?


• Not only do I watch it, I blog about it way more than I should. Just search my blog for Smallville and see what I mean


• I own more than one Superman logo t-shirt


• I love the John Williams Superman Motion Picture piece. Just try to listen to that score and not get charged up.

Bottom line: I'm a fan.

Superman was one of a handful of icons that I could read about by myself, away from everything else and imagine that I was him; That my shitty life was the illusion and that I really could just pull up those ridiculous blue tights and fly up into the sky, away from an abusive step-mother, my overpowering feelings of inadequacy, and a life of utter mediocrity.

Granted, I never really fit into the mold very well: That Kal-El is like 6'5" and good looking to my 5'6" and maybe a 6 on my best day. Maybe that's one of the reasons I admired him so much. He was something I would never be. And those powers. He could do almost anything, save anyone. He could fly! And Superman could see past the pettiness and vulgarity that humanity is and attach more meaning to us than we do to ourselves.

He was the real deal: a true hero, and even though I'm saying goodbye to 30 next week, I'll admit it: He still is, fictional or not.

So its with no small amount of eagerness that I await the return of Krypton's last son June 30th, 2006, when the sequel to Superman I and II hits theatres. (The creators of this movie imagine that the events of Supermans III and IV never happened. Quite frankly so does everyone else.)

The official movie site is here, and the teaser trailer is here.

A fellow blogger posted a really great article about his thoughts on the heroism of both Superman and Christopher Reeves, and why the upcoming sequel is going to be so great. Check it out here.

I can't fucking wait for this movie.

If you haven't heard of CommandN, (what rock have you been under anyway?) its a Canadian made tech show broadcast exclusively for the web, starring Amber Mac, one of the more spectacular examples of why no matter what country you're from, our girls are smarter, cooler AND hotter.

If you're into technology at all, you should go to CommandN, download the latest episode, watch it and then check out all of the recommended links. And then buy a t-shirt.

But if you don't want to take the time to go to CommandN, download the latest episode, watch it and then check out all of the recommended links, and/or buy a t-shirt, have no fear: I've got you covered.

Here are the items you really need to read:

Egg McMuffin-Making Toaster

'Smart' Sippy cup coffee lids

Windows Live and Windows Live Gadgets

Firefox 1.5 beta released

Great show, must watch, and did I mention how cute Amber Mac is?

Labels: tech

Last week I plagiarized the hate-mail correspondence sent to tshirthell.com, along with the hilarious editor's replies.

I think it likely that the good folks (actually the twisted, cynical folks - my kind of folks) at T-Shirt Hell would tend to frown on people republishing their email correspondence. But then, I posted it because it was just so damn funny, and has made me want to buy many more of their t-shirts, so maybe they'd be cool with it.

So, having just received the latest newsletter from them, I now feel compelled to post even more of their email hilarity:

----- Original Message -----

From: Kara B.
To: info@tshirthell.com
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 11:21 AM
Subject: FYI

I LOVE most of your products! Heck, I was going to do most of my xmas shopping here. My cart was filled with $270 worth of shirts (not including
S&H) but you just had to ruin it for me!! I went back to look for one more and ran across you Autistic Kids Rock Shirt! Assholes. I am the PROUD mom of an autistic child. We did not chose this, they did not chose this!! I will take my business and cash elsewhere until that shirt is taken down!! It really dissapoints me, cause I did like the shirts I picked out! Guess I won't be getting them and you won't be featured in my weekly column! That's a shame!
Regards!

Kara

Kara, proud mother of a child damaged by mercury.
Cure Autism NOW!

(Editor's Note: Fuck you and your $270 order. Fuck you and your "weekly
column". We make millions and millions of dollars every year. I spend
$270 a day on my morning tea. I have a single cup hand brewed from rare herbs mixed with the tears of lost children. I'm sorry I've never heard of you or your weekly column. I can't believe we have lost not just your gigantic order, but the potential orders of both of your loyal readers.
Please be sure and send me a copy of your community newsletter, club circular, or the link to your LiveUrinal account that it appears in. I'm always looking for something new and interesting to use to wipe my ass. I love your signature. It's always funny to see what people have as a point of pride. Why would you be proud your child was damaged by Mercury? And what was your kid doing on Mercury in the first place? Children and space exploration don't mix. It's simply irresponsible parenting. And what's the deal with ending your letter, "cure autism now!" I'll cure autism when I'm good and ready! I was going to cure it next week, but now you've pissed me off. Now I may not cure it for another few years, or maybe not ever. That will be on your head, not mine.)


----- Original Message -----

From: tandra d.
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 9:25 AM
Subject: disgusting

this t shirt is down right degrading and disgusting.............why would you be so ignorant as that to down grade our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ....SHAME ON YOU.

tandra d.

(Editor's Note: Presently, we have about a half dozen shirts that are degrading, disgusting, and down grade your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
So, while I applaud your charming use of alliteration, it is hard to know how to respond to this when you are so vague about which particular shirt offended you. As Judas once said to Jesus, "I know you're going to be crucified, but lighten up." Tandra, take that cross out of your ass and enjoy life and learn to laugh a bit. Your devotion should be a source of joy, not anger. I've found that a good set of rosary beads can double as ben wa balls. That way it's good for you and for the Lord. Shame on me?
Jesus didn't believe in judging people so how dare you judge me. Do you think you're better than Jesus? Well you're wrong. Because me, and all of my friends who are better than Jesus discussed it, and agreed that you're not.)


----- Original Message -----

From: Girlygirl*** @ ***.com
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2005 2:22 PM
Subject: blacks shouldnt be any different from whites

i think it is wrong to just surpose that all blacks will become crimanls.
there are also white crimanls then if u locked up whites our world would be nothing. a lot of blacks and whites are close and some even family. so i think that it was just wrong to think of this. so i think they should never had proght it up.

Sincerenly,
a person with her own opinion

(Editor's Note: Girlygirl, this may be the most profound statement on race
relations since Sir Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder wrote, "Ebony and Ivory" in 1982. Truly, you are one of the great thinkers of our time. You should get to work right away on solving world hunger, and figuring out why Larry King is still on the air. But seriously, you're an idiot. Did you know that shotguns taste like candy canes? Put the barrel in your mouth and pull the trigger for an extra blast of minty goodness!)


----- Original Message -----

From: "Zack P."
Sent: Friday, November 04, 2005 3:47 PM
Subject: your shirts

I'm a big fan of your shirts, but almost all of them have sex and drugs and curse words on them. Now, I'm not protesting these, because your shirts crack me up, but I was wondering if you could make some more shirts that would be in the school dress code. I love offending people, but I don't want to get in trouble.
Just a thought. Thanks.

Zack

(Editor's Note: Hey Zack, thanks for the suggestion. I understand your concern. If I was a big pussy like you I would also be concerned about getting in trouble. But you clearly have your priorities screwed up. You like our shirts, which is a good start. But you seem to think going to school is about getting an education. Going to school is about getting as much ass as possible. And I'm not talking about the fat girls in the drama club or those whores in the marching band: I'm talking pretty, popular girls; and the dirty sluts who smoke and like to party. If you want to bang the really hot chicks in your school, you want to start developing a reputation as a rebel. It is important that you start getting in trouble, and wearing offensive t-shirts is just the start. They might get you suspended, but you really want to get expelled. I suggest random acts of violence and vandalism. Just make sure your hijinks doesn't land you in jail. If you end up in jail you won't be getting ass, you'll be giving it.
Good luck.)

Labels: funny

That's two Carolina Panthers Cheerleaders arrested after having sex in a public bathroom. Together. With each other.

And on their way out for being arrested for having sex with each other too loudly, one of them punched some other broad out.

What the hell else is there to say?

Story here.

Pictures here.

I love catching up on the daily news.

Labels: porn

So the worst thing that could have happened in the NFL happened today: My Packers faced off against my father-in-law's Steelers and thanks to some world class bungling on the part of Donald Driver, they got their asses kicked.

I checked on his salary and you know what he gets paid to regularly drop almost every pass that's thrown his way? I don't know what his salary is for 2005, but for the 2004 season he got paid $570,000 USD. Man could I go for that; get paid a ridiculous amount of cash to not ever do what I got hired to do. There are plenty of things I'd rather do than work all the time.

Its such a crime that a superstar like Favre will never get a Superbowl ring because he is surrounded by teammates that just cannot keep up with him.

And speaking of things I'd rather do than work, one of them would be sit around and watch 'The Family Guy' all day. I just watched the new episode tonight and if you haven't seen it, go grab yourself a torrent and have a laugh. They spoof The Naked gun, do a huge musical bit on the FCC, and more. Best episode ever.

Labels: rants

Dear Trinity,

Today you turned 4 months old.



Its amazing how quickly 4 months can go by. The last 4 months before you came, while wonderful (your Mom was an awesome pregnant woman - beautiful, happy, glowing) sometimes seemed never ending.

But the last 4 have gone by so fast I can hardly believe it.

You are really developing a personality these days. You laugh when you think something’s funny, which is most of the time. You let us know when you're unhappy less by means of crying and more by a kind of an irritated grunt: Just shows that even when you're pissed, you're already being polite about it.

You spent the longest time away from me this month when you went with your Mom to stay with your Grandparents for a few days. Hardest week I've had to do in a very long time, though its doubtful you noticed my absence.



You dressed up for Halloween this year as a pretty pink bunny. You really were very cute. We stayed home all night and handed out candy, and got a visit from a few of your friends.



YOU ROLLED OVER FOR THE FIRST TIME!

I had to capitalize and exclamate that because that's just how elated your Mom and I were when it happened. If you set the first human foot on Mars later on in your life, I could hardly be prouder. Milestones can be so exciting.

I couldn't have foreseen just how comfortably you have ensconced yourself into our lives. All the time I/we spent before you came along seems like it was spent by someone else. Like life before you was fuzzy, indistinct. And now I have only to look at you and I can see clearly what's important, what matters.



Thanks for that.

Love Daddy

Labels: trinity

So I just put in my application for Joystiq last night. Said application was for the coveted position of blog writer, with the emphasis on turning out game reviews for that penultimate source of game information.

The lucky writer that gets the position not only gets to be paid for reviewing games and staying on the leading edge of gaming culture, but also gets to tell everyone that cares to listen that they now in fact have the coolest job in the world.

And because I want the best person to get the job, even if its not me, here's the link to apply. Good luck!

Labels: gaming