I've been doing a lot with my car lately. Had a misfire, so I replaced the spark plugs with Bosch Platinum 2s, which meant I had to remove the upper intake manifold since two of the plugs are under it (stupid design). While I was at it, I cleaned the throttle body and that manifold, along with the mass air flow sensor. Cleaned out the air intake ( Read more... )

So, it's time to be all healthy and whatnot. I'm already working out more, but of course there's the whole food question. I like food. It's tasty. We get along well. I think the relationship is somewhat one-sided, though, so I may need to food-date someone else. The basics of a healthier diet are fruits, veggies, whole grains, and nuts, I hear. I'm ( Read more... )

I've never read William Gibson's _Neuromancer_ before, despite having heard that it's the foundational text for the cyberpunk aesthetic and genre. I picked it up several months ago in the used bookstore in Kafe Kerouac finally, and I just got around to reading it last weekend. And holy crap! I'll bet you that this single book was the inspiration ( Read more... )

I had a hell of a time trying to explain how analysis of a text differed from personal reaction to a text to one student today. Apparently it's been way too long since I taught 110 and had to explain it. Anyone have a pithy way of summing it up? The best I've got is, "Tell me what it means, not what it means to you personally," or "You can believe ( Read more... )

Have you ever noticed how it's becoming less common to say "You're welcome?" Instead, you say "Thank you" or "thanks" back. Sometimes this is awkward, as when I gave a bum some change earlier today and he said "Thanks." I replied, "Thank you." I was thanking a bum for the opportunity to give him money. Wtf.

In the middle of the 72hr written portion of my candidacy exam. Two questions, max of 20pp/5000 words. Just finished the first question at about 2800 words (it asked if a modern audience could appreciate medieval sententiousness, and I argued that our view of medieval culture as sententious is flawed and that a modern audience would appreciate it ( Read more... )

Inspired by this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/books/25human.html

( An essayish response )

Christ. Some literature should stay unread. Thomas Hoccleve, I'm talking to you.

Milwaukee has a special place in my memory as the land of terrible beer. That's likely due to my high-school memories of Milwaukee's Best (aka "The Beast"). From this dubious land of plenty there comes the beer known as "Schlitz." I've never been interested in trying this beer because I'd heard terrible things about it and because, worst of all, it ( Read more... )

John Acker is back in Columbus, and reminds all Obama voters to fill out form TR8R-EZ to apply for their promised thirty pieces of silver. 12:00am

Ryan Judkins at 12:11am November 5 - Comparing Obama supporters to Judas is both nonsensical and mean-spirited.

John Acker at 12:12am November 5 -  First off, Ryan, you're a jackass. Second, I don't care ( Read more... )