Stray Hawkeye

Birthday Combo

I’ve now been blogging here for a year.  I had intended to come up with something cool for an anniversary post, like picking out my top 10 favorite posts, or coming up with a bunch of statistics about hits and how many words are on here, and that sort of thing.  However, I did some traveling this weekend (to the tune of 1,500 miles or so over the weekend and today), so I’m a bit pooped, and I’m going to keep it short.

The above is my attempt at a birthday cake for my blog.  I was going to take the usual route and use whatever came up first on a free image search for birthday cake, but I didn’t like any of them.  As I’ve been out of town, haven’t gone grocery shopping for a while, and, really people, it’s a blog, I wasn’t going to make a real cake.  Looking though the cupboards, I did pick up some Combos on the trip.  I like Combo’s, great traveling food.  So, I made my blog a Birthday Combo.  Which I’m pretty sure it will be okay with, as, from what I can tell at least, it don’t have a mouth.

Perhaps it’s good I don’t have children yet.

Also good it’s only one year old, because I’m not sure how I’d add another candle without lighting the piece of paper it was sitting on ablaze.  Guess I’ll have to plan ahead a little more next year.

So, in leu of a more lengthy post, let’s get you people in here.  I know at least a few of you read semi-regularly.  What do you like?  What are you sick of?  What’s your favorite post?  Help me help you.  (Dear lord I need out of consulting.)  Thoughts?  Suggestions?  Things you’d like to see less of here?  More?  A little to the left and faster?

Damn Interesting is a great site, which is unfortunately undergoing a bit of an extended period of inactivity.  It has great articles (even the old ones are still good, I know, amazing in this new ever 5 minutes internet) which combine reporting on obscure events and locations with a wonderfully dry sense of humor and an engaging narrative style.

This one came to mind because they’re not only interesting articles, but they stick with you.  A few days ago I was discussing websites with a friend from work, and we both remembered a particularly line from a particular article.  This article.  To not spoil the particular line, it comes immediately before “When airline mechanics finally arrived…” very near the end of the article.

There’s plenty of other great stories on the site, that one just happened to stick out in my mind.  A great site to spend some time reading.  I believe they also have a book out as well.

Radio Locator is a kind of handy site.  It’s basically a search-able list of radio stations everywhere in the US, and some foreign countries as well.  I know it’s way cooler to listen to your iPod and download songs for a dollar a piece, but I still love the radio and listen to it pretty much all the time.  You can also search for stations that stream online, in case you want to listen at work, or want to listen to radio stations from other places (like if you found one you love while on vacation.)  Not life changing or anything, but a handy site none the less.

Via I can has cheezburger

Via I can has cheezburger

Via I can has cheezburger

Via I can has cheezburger

Stressed out?

• Solution 1 – Snap Bubbles
• Solution 2 – Perpetual Bubblewrap (for the really, really, really stressed out)

Warning – both have sound when you pop the bubbles, in case your speakers are turned way up.

• Free Bird (I mostly like this one for the title)
• Cow
• Super nom nom nom

Duality.

Creationism presented using scientific language and illustrations, and a scientific explanation presented with religiously charged imagery and language. Great for comparing and contrasting the different forms of origin story telling, and how language and presentation affect both.  It’s almost hard to remember as you’re watching them which one is which.  Then, try watching them side by side.  Also interesting for some of the parallels it brings out in both the stories and with the animation queues.  Kinda messes with your head, in a great sort of way.  A great idea beautifully executed.  This is the kind of thing I always wish I could make.

Karen O, singer for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, has one of those voices that just sort of makes me melt into a little puddle when ever I hear it. Is it possible to have a crush on just a girl’s voice?

Favorites:

• Maps (Side note – Screw you Universal Music Group for not letting me embed.  This is the fucking internet.  It’s about sharing.  I’m basically giving you free advertising for one of your bands, and you’re purposely making it difficult for me.  I eagerly await your demise.)  (Also, per usual, the video is lame, I just love the song and youtube is the easiest way to share it, feel free to go to another tab while you listen.)
• Hello Tomorrow (again, lame video.  In fact, a shoe commercial.) :
  

Some of the prettiest non-functional weaponry I’ve seen out there.

Via Web Urbanist

I’ve now bookmarked so many lols to blog that I’m developing themes.

Via I can has cheezeburger

Via Graph Jam

ViaI can has cheezeburger