Down with Happy Holidays, up with Happy New Year! » Read Post
In the business world it is always tough around the holiday season when wishing someone a happy season. Which holiday should you choose? Should you go with the boring happy holidays? What about people who aren't celebrating anything, or just hate the entire season like Ebenezer Scrooge?
5 Songs for Friday: The Nineteenth » Read Post
It has been quite some time since my last post, as I have been very busy making sure Santa knew which houses to deliver presents to. Anyways, I should be posting more now that things are relatively calm.
Voyage of Innocence » Read Post
A radical thinker for his day, William Blake privileged imagination over reason in the creation of his poetry and images.
eHarmony Rejection » Read Post
I just received this one via email, and nearly spit coffee all over my keyboard. Maybe i'm just in a weird mood today, but this shit cracked me up mang. haha
Lunchroom Banter (Volume I) » Read Post
Lunchtime at my office often involves random & obscure conversations. Most of these will not make sense if you weren't there, but I like to capture a part that made me laugh. We often talk about things that should not be talked about at work. That's just how we roll.
Florence and the Machine » Read Post
I guess i'm pretty late to the party with Florence and the Machine, as she's one of the many UK pop starlets to have made their inevitable crossover here to the States. Seriously, there seems to be someone new every other month, and after a while you just stop paying attention.
5 Songs for Friday: The Eighteenth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
Hendrix Drummer Mitch Mitchell Found Dead in Portland » Read Post
R.I.P. Mitch Mitchell the original drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. He apparently died of natural causes in his hotel room at Portland's Benson Hotel. Yahoo! has the story:
Starfucker - Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second » Read Post
I've been sitting here for the past hour or so watching videos and looking outside as the rain continues to lightly scatter around my apartment. It only seems appropriate that I would happen to come across this fun little animated video from Portland's own Starfucker - who's self-titled debut I highly recommend - of which the song is pretty simple, but has a really nice bassline and just enough of a quirky melody to help me forget about this crappy weather.
5 Songs for Friday: The Seventeenth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
For a Brighter Tomorrow, Today » Read Post
Administrations come and go. Half feel inspired and half feel let down every four years. Dramatic statements about moving to another country fly freely and self-righteous gloating swells living rooms and office buildings alike.
Obama Wins Election! » Read Post
Okay, seems like everybody is calling it now and seems pretty offical... Obama Wins Election!
5 Songs for Friday: The Sixteenth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
Paula's Teddy Bear » Read Post
I found this picture last night while mindlessly fumbling around the internet and it really touched me. Those eyes seem like they could tell a thousand stories.
New Wilco for Jaymie » Read Post
My girlfriend is a big Wilco fan, and thanks to Muzzle of Bees for pointing out that Wilco shared two new songs at this year's Bridge School Benefit. The audio quality isn't the greatest since they are live recordings, but nonetheless, they are good songs. Wilco has apparently finished demoing their next abum and might have the finished project ready for release next year.
Manly Bike Sale » Read Post
A colleague of mine sent me this yesterday and I got a good laugh out of it.
5 Songs for Friday: The Fifteenth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
5 Songs for Friday: The Fourteenth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
The Stench of Panic » Read Post
The reason that Oktoberfest directly precedes election day in this country is perhaps the one well-placed blessing of the year. It certainly seems as though the McCain boys are all taking part, because rarely does a campaign, even one as desperately beleaguered as this one, go so far off the deep end so quickly. The GOP bought too far into its own bullshit rhetoric over the past eight years, assuming that the public would still come along for the ride. Terror! Fear! Evil Do-ers! They were lurking in every shadow, hiding in corners and bus stops. Scheming behind Fourth Amendment protected phone lines. Loitering just outside the cold sweat nightmares of innocent Americans. How quickly we forget that insanity, that Manchurian Candidate hysteria. Some six long years go, swarthy vigilantes from parts unknown were going to put anthrax in your cable bill and blow up your local supermarket. And those damn filthy, terrorist sympathizing, Democrats weren't going to lift a finger to stop them!
Missing Socks » Read Post
Note: This popped into my head this afternoon while I was at lunch. I have no idea why. Maybe its all the biking i've done in the cold mornings lately. And just incase your wondering, my socks are just fine.
5 Songs for Friday: The Thirteenth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
BTA Releases Results of Bike Commute Challenge » Read Post
Last night in southeast Portland, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) toasted another successful Bike Commute Challenge.
Ryan Adams - Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA 2000 » Read Post
There has been a lot of Ryan Adams love over the past few weeks while he is gearing up for the release of the Cardinals new LP Cardinology (October 28th). In the meantime, I have been digging through old Ryan/Whiskeytown bootlegs. The below acoustic show is a new favorite: recorded September 9, 2000, in Seattle, at the Tractor Tavern, during No Depression magazine's 5th anniversary party.
Sarah Palin Sex Tape » Read Post
I just found this one and I nearly choked to death on my sandwich....
Z-Trip Obama Mix - Free MP3 Download » Read Post
What happens when one of North America's brightest lights in the DJ/Mix/Mash Up world, Z-Trip, gets fired up about the election? Well he teams up with artist Shepard Fairey and throws some fundraising parties. Then he puts together a 58 minute mix and gives it away online. You can download the whole big mix here. Below I have edited the first three minutes of the mix to give you a taste of what's to come.
5 Songs for Friday: The Twelfth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
The Veep Debate » Read Post
I continue to ask, "What was John McCain thinking in selecting the gaffe-prone Gov. Sarah Palin?"
What is Your Carbon Footprint? » Read Post
Carbon footprint stands for our environmental impact in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that we release into the atmosphere.
Zombies! » Read Post
Found this little gem today, The Outbreak, pure choose your own adventure style. Choose with care. Chances are very good that your brains will be zombie food.
Bailout a Bust » Read Post
Kinda funny, but it seems some of the guys were watching the news rather closely and knew the moment the last vote was placed and tallied, a few seemed rather pissed off that the $700 billion bailout plan wasn't passed by congress today.
5 Songs for Friday: The Eleventh » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
House of Cards » Read Post
Well, I was going to write a real post, but then I almost choked on my tea when I read this. And now my mood for the day is shot.
5 Songs for Friday: The Tenth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
Where to Find Great High Resolution Wallpaper » Read Post
I've never been big into custom wallpaper/desktop pictures on my computer, mainly because I've never found a really good repository of them. Today, via a random Google search though, I came across Interface Lift's great wallpaper section.
No More Comment Spam » Read Post
A couple of days ago, I got tired of seeing all the empty comments and put together some logic in my site's code to perform several "checks". It's no silver bullet, but it did cut the amount of comment spam I get down to a fraction of what it was before. And it should scale in a way so the spammers can't easily program their way around it.
Culture War on Wheels » Read Post
Having dispensed with the question of whether an African-American or woman will ever make it to the White House, conservative Culture Warriors have moved on to defining and dividing Americans over their chosen mode of transportation. These two images have been floating around the right wing blogosphere under the shrieky, all-caps headline, "THIS IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW." Somehow or another this strikes me as a promising development.
Government Bailouts » Read Post
Heard a little about this in the news this morning while getting ready to head out for work. Most of it went over my head, but the fact that the government is stepping in and shelling out $85 billion to bailout AIG --- fucking nuts.
Nikki McClure » Read Post
Nikki McClure makes extraordinarily beautiful papercut illustrations in a woodcut-like style. You may have seen her calendars or notecards, or recognize her work from books or magazines.
Urge Sierra Pacific to Be A Better Corporate Citizen » Read Post
Sierra Pacific Industries plans to cut down a million acres of California's forests in the next 50 years. SPI is one of the biggest landowners in California and owns most of the forest lands in the Sierra. Our forests are not all parks, like most American's believe.
5 Songs for Friday: The Ninth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
The Dude Abides: Ten Years Later » Read Post
“The Dude abides. I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there, the Dude, takin' 'er easy for all us sinners.” - The Stranger
Greetings From Wasilla » Read Post
Before VP candidate Sarah Palin crystallized her views on the future of US energy policy in her "drill or do nothing" speech to the Republican National Convention, we only had a vague idea of her record on transportation and development, gleaned mostly from her time as mayor of the tiny town of Wasilla.
5 Songs for Friday: The Eighth » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
New Alberta Eatery Goes Big for Bike Parking » Read Post
The place is called the Radio Room (NE 11th & Alberta) and according to a posting on Portland Food and Drink it is owned by four partners, one formerly of the well-known Doug Fir Lounge on East Burnside.
CrackBerry » Read Post
I bought a new phone today (BlackBerry Curve 8310), and as much as I hate to admit it, I totally dig it. I never pictured myself with a CrackBerry BlackBerry, but hey, whatever.
Portland Bike Parking: Corral vs Oasis » Read Post
Greg Raisman of the Portland Office of Transportation takes Streetfilms on a tour of bicycle parking facilities in Portland, Oregon. Watch the video and learn the pros and cons of on street bicycle parking (a bicycle corral) vs a sheltered bicycle parking oasis. And check out this article to read about the next bicycle parking amenities in Portland.
Six New Songs by the Decemberists » Read Post
While watching the American's destroy every gymnast in the world, I stumbled upon a bunch of new Decemberists songs. I haven't been keeping up with the band lately (most of these are from earlier this year), but a few of these might win me back. "The Hazards of Love 1 and 2" in particular sounds amazing; it reminds me of Radiohead's "Follow Me Around" - and it's not just the tuning.
5 Songs for Friday: The Seventh » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
It's a Girl! » Read Post
I just found out that Ashley Nicole Barnard was born this evening! Mother & daughter are both doing very well. This is very exciting news and a very welcome addition to the family. More to come soon, need to make a few phone calls :)
Isaac Hayes :: August 20, 1942 - August 10, 2008 » Read Post
Soul legend Isaac Hayes died today at the age of 65. He would have turned 66 in 10 days.
Biking Kicks Butt » Read Post
Biking is fun. Biking is fast.
Biking is quiet. Biking is cool.
Biking is healthy. Biking is simple.
Biking costs less for us.
Biking costs less for our cities.
Biking costs less for the planet.
Go ride a bike. And spread the word.
5 Songs for Friday: The Sixth » Read Post
Ah, there's nothing like great new bands to sink your teeth into. And whereas I tend to discover most of my new favorites out of season, these match up perfectly with the great weather we're having right now. So throw on some shorts or a sundress and get ready to jump up and down.
Ah, Summer. Time for Internet Procrastination » Read Post
With the dawn of summer comes the twilight of internet activity. As you might expect, with the weather turning warm and sunny, overall time spent on the internet dwindles, and I'm no exception. I'm sure you've noticed a slight decline in posting frequency here at db.com, and I'm also sure you can guess the cause. And you would be, at least partly, correct.
5 Songs for Friday: The Fifth » Read Post
I'm going to celebrate our country's independence my usual way - by consuming way too much alcohol and passing out falling asleep in a pile of weeds in a undetermined location. But for everyone else, I've compiled a list of wholesome all-American music for your Fourth of July weekend.
Wall-EEEEEEEEEEE » Read Post
I imagine it would be absolutely wonderful right now to work at Pixar studios. To be an animator, hell, even a janitor (well, not really) - anything to have that association with a studio who's films continue to grow and mature, while pushing the boundaries in computer animation.
5 Songs for Friday: The Fourth » Read Post
Since it is now officially Summer, I wanted to toss out a few Summertime tracks for your listening pleasure. Put these on your Summer driving mix, roll down the windows, turn up the volume, and see if the trees start to dance (if they do, pull over - you're likely on LSD).
Some Thoughts on Comment Spam » Read Post
Over the last two days I've been innundated with comment spam. Furthermore, there's been a fair bit of discussion amongst bloggers regarding the splog phenomenon. Here are a couple of thoughts on the subject, though nothing earth shattering.
5 Songs for Friday: The Third » Read Post
Wow. Total suckage on posting this week. Please accept my most sincere apologies, Internet.
It's Like Being a Dictator of Your Own Little Country » Read Post
I was on the phone with my father the other day and the topic of how Tabor is doing came up. It really made me think back on how many good times, and a few bad here and there, that we have both gone through. We talked about how much energy he had when he was a puppy, and how much of a challenge it was for him me to control that. He is almost 3½ now, and has really come along ways.
5 Songs for Friday: The Second » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
The Smell of Spring » Read Post
I woke up this morning to something that I have not seen in weeks; sunshine. It's amazing what a little sunshine will do to your soul. When you get that first scent of spring in the air you really start to see how vivid the colors around you really are.
5 Songs for Friday: The First » Read Post
Each and every Friday I post 5 songs that caught my ear throughout the week.
Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits » Read Post
I just found out that legendary blues and r&b singer, songwriter, and guitarist Bo Diddley passed away yesterday at his home in Archer, Florida. According to his family, the cause of death was heart failure. He was 79 years old.
50 Things » Read Post
I've seen folks do these "100 Things about Me" exercises, and I always find them interesting. Problem is, I'm an under-achiever. So I thought I'd just rack my brains for 50.
100 Mile Diet » Read Post
I was at lunch with a colleague about 2 months ago and we were talking about his new "100 mile diet". I had never heard of it before, but am going to now try it.
Feeling Drawn » Read Post
With the oil execs on the firing range at Capital Hill recently, one of my friends threw this Jim Borgman cartoon into my inbox. I thought that it's timeliness was well deserving of a post on the life blog.
He Really is a Rockstar » Read Post
An estimated 75,000 gathered on the banks of the Willamette River in Portland on Sunday to see Barack Obama.
Blog Is Almost Complete » Read Post
Even though I really hate the word Blog, I am almost done coding that section. There is still a few things that I need to complete, hooking the comment's to the database, truncating the text on the landing page, adding a RSS feed, creating an archive section, and a few other odds and ends.
The Wretched Life of an Insomniac » Read Post
The first thing to go is your sense of humor. Then goes the desire to do the things you used to do, then the desire to do anything at all. Parts of your body ache that you don't even know the names of, and your eyes forget how to focus. Words you once knew aren't there anymore, and there's less and less to say. People you care deeply about fall by the wayside and you let them go. The seconds tick by like the fading memories of yesterday.
Writing Code & Baking Cookies » Read Post
I have implemented a new feature to my site. You can now expand and collapse the right menu! It also writes a cookie to your local PC, so when you return to the site it remembers your settings. Mmmmm, cookies.
Trek Soho S » Read Post
I am so in love with this new single-speed bike from Trek. Now I just wish I had $550 burning a hole in my pocket. And I gotta say, Trek has a really good website.
If It Were Only That Easy » Read Post
Since I have been re-developing my website over the past week or so, I was painfully reminded how much I hate my home network. I currently have 5 computers running at home (hence the hefty electricity bill). I am running:
Back » Read Post
After a long website hiatus, I will be spending lots of time finishing my site. Stay tuned!
I Almost Just Peed My Pants » Read Post
This is absolutely hilarious. Tough little guy. Read the story and see more photos of the world's smallest body builder here.
