Wednesday Mind Hump - 5/6/09

The Mind Hump for this week:

What is the last book (or books) you bought?

I asked this question for a reason (I went book shopping today), so I'll go ahead and answer it.

Today at Barnes and Noble I bought:

The Art Book. This is a fairly small book packed with some of the most famous paintings in Western history. It's small enough to carry around with you in a backpack or bag, so you can have art wherever you go, if you so wish. All the paintings are in color, and they're big enough to see some detail.

The World's Greatest Buildings. The title pretty much explains it. What I liked about this one is that the writing is geared toward the layman, and there are cool illustrations of the buildings in addition to photographs.

There were other books I wanted to get, but I didn't want to spend too much money. I'll save those for another day, if I ever find them again.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 2/25/09

I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to keep the Monday Music Mambo and Wednesday Mind Hump going. It seems fewer and fewer people are playing them. I might keep doing them, though, because I know how much I would miss the other games that I play.

Here's this week's Mind Hump:

Everyone has a few favorite websites that they look almost every day. What is one of your current favorites? Why do you like it so much?

Lately, I really like Arts and Letters Daily. It's a site with links to articles, essays, book reviews, and more. The subject matter varies, but usually involves culture of some kind. There are usually a couple updates per day - just keep checking the top of each long list.

I like it because it's a huge list of things to read! Most of the links sound fairly interesting, and if the latest updates don't sound good, the links further down just might. Just looking at this page makes me feel more intelligent, which is always a good thing.

Wednesday Mind Hump

Images are the topic of the day at the Wednesday Mind Hump:

Tell us about one of your favorite photos that you have taken. Tell us why you like it so much and the story behind it. If you can post it, please do so! Let everyone see your wonderful work.



The above photo was taken in December of 2006. What is it, you ask? It's our Christmas tree! I got the effect by turning the flash off so that the camera would pick up any light movement. I then experimented with moving the camera around each time I hit the shutter button. Different movements gave me different results in the light patterns.

I like this photo for two reasons. The first reason is that it simply looks pretty! The second is that it is a positive outcome of creative thinking. Sometimes when you break the rules, you get something that looks great.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 7/9/08

Today is Rock and Roll Day at the Wednesday Mind Hump:

1. What is your all-time favorite rock and roll band?

My favorite is probably The Beatles. If they don't rock enough for you, how about the Smashing Pumpkins?

2. When you think of rock and roll, what song comes to mind?

"Rock and Roll" by Led Zeppelin. Not only for the title, but because it's a Led Zeppelin song and it rocks!

3. What would you change about rock and roll, if you could?

I would tell today's rock bands to get more creative and take more solos. I'd also bring back piano. There's no reason a piano can't be a rock instrument.

4. If you were in a rock and roll band, what instrument would you play?

If I had better coordination and rhythm, I'd play drums. If I had bigger fingers, I'd play bass.

A couple memes

I guess I'll get some posting done while I'm online:

Tuesday Tunes:

Word association.

turkey: "Shake A Tailfeather" by Ray Charles and the Blues Brothers Band.
patriotic: "Proud To Be An American" by whoever sings that one. They should change the lyrics to "at least I know I'm free (as free as the Bush administration lets me be)."
country: "In A Big Country" by Big Country. Get out those bagpipes!
homeless: "Roam" by the B52s. Why? I guess if you're homeless, you're roaming. Roam if you want to, roam around the world.
cold: "In My Place" by Coldplay
shopping: "Buy Me A Condo" by Weird Al Yankovic
crazy: "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. Yeah, pretty obvious.
diet: "Grapefruit Diet" by Weird Al Yankovic

Wednesday Mind Hump:

Name five things that are in your refrigerator and/or freezer right now.

1. Leftover pizza
2. Raspberry Ice drink
3. A defrosting turkey
4. Corn dogs
5. Apples

Other stuff:

• Still no progress on the computer situation. I really knew I had more in-town geek friends. Everyone needs a geek of their own.
• I'm very much into surf rock right now. I'm listening to a lot of Dick Dale. I've rediscovered my love of "Miserlou" and I'm still not sick of it. I set up a surf-y station on Pandora today. I'm in a mood.
• Using someone else's computer is a very unsettling experience, especially when you've made your own computer exactly the way you want it.
  
• I'll try to update as much as I can. I'm not sure how long I'll be without my computer. Unfortunately, I won't be able to do anything involving links, or any website highlights. If I were to do the latter, I'd have to do it without screenshots.
  

Wednesday Mind Hump

Sorry for being such a boring blogger lately. It happens, you know? Sometimes you just don't have much to say.

Here's the Wednesday Mind Hump, Halloween edition:

1. What is your costume this year? If you're not wearing one, what would your costume be if you were going to wear one?

I'm not wearing one this year, but if I was going to wear one, I might wear a Weird Al "White and Nerdy" costume, complete with soldering gun.

Another good costume idea is Chris Crocker (the Youtube "Leave Britney Alone" guy). Get a big sheet (and a friend to hold it up behind you), a blonde wig, and some eyeliner. Cry your eyes out about Britney and demand some candy!

2. What's your favorite candy?

Oh, that's a tough question (and I asked it!) I suppose there's nothing better than a simple bar of chocolate.

3. What candy do you absolutely hate?

Anything sour. What's the point of causing yourself pain?

4. Name something that scares you.

Drivers who don't stop for pedestrians. Three pedestrians have been hit-and-run in Oregon just in the past month. And that's only the cases we know about. Truly frightening stuff.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 10/17/07

We're reducing our brain cells today on the Mind Hump:

1. What is your favorite brain cell-reducing TV show?

Anything on VH1, for sure. Recently, my most-watched VH1 show was "Rock of Love." Sure, it's trashy, but it's so much fun to watch! Just like Bret Michaels on stage.

2. What is your favorite brain cell-reducing website?

It has to be Youtube. If TV reduces your brain cells, Youtube does the same thing but on a smaller screen. No one watches Youtube to learn anything - it's all about entertainment!

3. What is your favorite brain cell-reducing music?

Right now, when I just want to relax and let go, I listen to ZZ Top. Their Texas blues boogie isn't going to make you smarter or inspire any great emotions in you. But it will make you shake something or sing along.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 9/26/07

It's Tool Day at the old Mind Hump. We need to name our favorite:

1. Kitchen tool

The microwave!

2. Computer/internet tool

Firefox browser.

3. Relaxation tool

A bed, a blanket and a pillow.

4. Organizational tool

Cell Phone (I use it for the calendar more often than I make calls.)

5. "Tool" tool (things you'd buy at a hardware store).

A good pair of scissors is always handy.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 9/19/07

Arrr! It's Talk Like A Pirate Day at ye olde Wednesday Mind Hump:

Get thee to the following website: http://www.syddware.com/cgi-bin/pirate.pl and translate one of your blog posts, or part of one, into pirate-speak! Then post it so we can all read it.

I think I'll translate my art museum musings from this post:

A trip t' th' Art Museum makes me feel...

Awed by th' creativity o' others. I may nay like or understand each an' ever' piece I view, but I can at least respect th' time an' effort spent creatin' th' art. I be especially amazed by details - th' more detailed a piece be, th' more I enjoy 't. Art be nay jus' about creativity, but discipline. Ye must be havin' a great amount o' discipline an' focus t' spend tides, moons, or e'en voyages creatin' a fantastically detailed piece o' art.

Art museums make me put th' non-verbal part o' me mind t' use. I enjoy simply lookin' at everythin', tryin' t' form a swabbieal feelin' about what I be seein'. I`ll occasionally read th' description o' a piece t' find ou' more about its creation or meanin', but more often I will jus' let th' art speak fer itself. Art be swabbieal, an' by viewin' art I be able t' get in touch wi' me own creativity. I be able t' allow myself t' form me own opinion o' somethin', good or bad, based on th' feelings I get while lookin' at all th' pieces.


There's something wrong about the idea of pirates getting inspired by art museums.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 9/12/07

Today's Wednesday Mind Hump is all about 15 minutes of fame!

1. Have you ever been famous for anything? If so, what did you do to become famous?

I've been famous for two things - being in a local TV commercial (I and one of my Boy Scout friends were recruited to stand next to my friend's dad for a commercial for the local cable TV provider) and writing for the local newspaper's youth section.

2. Have you ever met anyone famous?

I've met musicians Michael Doucet of BeauSoleil and Keri Noble.

3. Are you related to anyone famous (anywhere on your family tree)?

We have a couple former NHL hockey players in our family tree. Also, far far back, we have Richard Nixon somewhere in the family tree.

4. Whose 15 minutes of fame should be taken away?

Britney Spears needs a break from the 15 minutes of fame. Not because I'm sick of her, but because she really needs to get her life together and focus on her and her children.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 9/5/07

Today's Mind Hump celebrates Bright Idea Day.

Tell us your bright idea.

My bright idea is a method that the record companies might use to boost sales of CDs.

There should be random slips of paper inserted in CD packaging redeemable for all sorts of prizes - DVDs, t-shirts, or even concert tickets for a lucky few. I don't know what would work better - a phone number to call, a code to use online (maybe a one-time code!) or a mail-in card. The point, though, is that the only way to get these slips would be to buy the CD. I think that would make music shopping much more fun.

Yeah, I think the online or phone-in code would be easiest. Once it's redeemed, it's no longer valid. If someone tries to register the same code again, they will be denied the prize.

Thursday Mind Hump

Yes, I missed it again. But I posted twice yesterday, so it's all good. Here's the Mind Hump, TV edition:

1. If you could be an audience member, or be on, any TV show, which one would you choose?

I'd probably want to be on Whose Line Is It Anyway, just to see the crazy things they do when the camera isn't rolling. And to throw out ideas - maybe they'd use one of mine!

2. Who is your favorite TV actor, past or present?

Michael J. Fox and John C. McGinley. They actually acted together on a couple episodes of Scrubs. McGinley's Dr. Cox makes me laugh so much.

3. How many hours of TV do you watch each day?

It depends on what is on and what I want to do that day. On Mondays, it's two hours. Other days, maybe one hour. In any case, I don't watch all that much.

4. What's your favorite game show?

I don't know if Whose Line Is It Anyway is considered a game show, but I'll choose that one. Jeopardy is also good, because you get to learn.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 8/1/07

Today is a good day at the Mind Hump - it's Friends Day!

1. Pick a friend at random

Jessica, my B

2. How long have you known this person?

I've known her since October of 2002.

3. What is this person's best quality?

Her strength. She has overcome a lot to get where she is today.

4. What is your favorite thing to do with this person?

I've only seen her in person once, but when I did we walked around the mall and looked at books and clothes. That's my favorite thing to do with her.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 7/25/07

Today's Mind Hump is yummy - it's about ice cream!

Cone, waffle cone, or dish?

Waffle cones are the best, I think.

What flavors (you get three scoops)?

Chocolate, Cookie Dough, and Strawberry

What toppings?

You have to have hot fudge, of course. Maybe some crushed Oreos too, and a few chocolate chips. Finally, bring on the whipped cream!

Who are you going to share it with?

I'll share it with my good friend Jessica.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 7/11/07

It's Cheer Up Day at the Mind Hump:

1. What makes you cheer up?

Music, of course!

2. Who makes you cheer up?

Family and friends, especially Jess and Beth, on the rare occasions they're online.

3. What location makes you cheer up?

Home.

4. What food or beverage makes you cheer up?

Pizza and chocolate. For beverages - soda and strawberry lemonade.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 6/6/07

Today's Mind Hump is about magazines.

1. Do you currently subscribe to any magazines? If so, which ones?

I currently subscribe to The Hockey News and Smithsonian Magazine.

2. What magazines have you subscribed to in the past?

I've subscribed to many in the past. They include Hockey Digest, Disney Adventures, Viking Magazine, and probably a few others too. I also used to read my dad's Sports Illustrated magazines.

3. What do you do with the little cards that always fall out of the magazine? Do you toss them, or have you found a use for them?

I actually use them as bookmarks. I have many saved up, so I've stopped saving so many.

4. If you could start a magazine, what would it be about? Who or what would be on the cover of the first issue?

I'd start "Good Music Magazine" and I'd probably put The Beatles on the cover.

Wednesday Mind Hump

Today's Hump is in honor of Saturday's Bob Day:

1. Who's your favorite Bob in the world of music?

Bob Marley

2. Who's your favorite Bob in the world of movies?

The only Bob I can think of right now for this is Robert De Niro, so he will be my choice for this question.

3. Who's your favorite Bob in the world of sports?

I suppose the Vancouver Canucks' goaltender Roberto Luongo is technically a Bob, so I'll choose him.

4. Do you have any Bobs in your family? How are they related to you?

My paternal grandfather is named Bob, and I also have an uncle Bob who is married to my mom's sister.

Wednesday Mind Hump - 5/16/07

It's Face Day at the Mind Hump, and this week's task is to post a photo of a face - any face!



How's that for a face? That's our ever-loyal dog, Chloe!

Wednesday Mind Hump - 5/2/07

Today is Photo Day at the Hump:

1) Are you a photographer?

Yes, I am! I've been serious about it for a couple years now, and an amateur for much longer.

2) If so, tell us about your photo equipment.

I have a Canon Powershot A610, 5 megapixels. It's a nice little camera and it can do a lot if you know how to use it.

3) Describe (or post) one of your favorite photos, either one you've taken or one you've seen.

I really like this picture of my cat Iggy:



4) Do you like having your picture taken?

Not really, to be honest. I don't like making the same face for that long.

5) If you are able, post a photo for us to see!

Here's another of my favorite photos from my ever-growing portfolio:

Wednesday Mind Hump - 3/28/07

It's Respect Your Cat day at the Mind Hump:

1. Do you have a cat? How many?

I have two cats - Harley and Iggy, both males.

2. How do you show your cat or cats respect?

I pet them. I let them in when they want to come in. I show them to their food. I praise them.

3. If your cat or cats could speak right now, what would they say?



Harley would say, "That David Byrne is one odd fellow!"



Iggy would say "Isn't it about time for another feeding?"