Geoff, Dan and I went to eat lunch over in the park by Crosby Middle School today.

I had just finished my tasty cheese sandwich and my Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray Soda when I peeked over to my left shoulder to notice something like a dried leaf. Upon further inspection, I notice it’s some HUGE BUG. Naturally, I retain my calm and gently brush the thing off my shoulder. At least, that’s what happened in the version of the story that doesn’t make me seem like a big weenie. I batted at my shoulder and stood up, screaming like a little girl. Summing the courage to turn my head in the general direction of my shoulder again — I did, slowly. IT WAS STILL THERE!!! AHHHH!!! Finally, I dislodged the damned thing and it flew onto our picnic table, where it sat for a little while, but then finally took wing, in a slow, lumbering manner.

I took note of it’s odd spiny protuberance on its back, it’s nearly 1.5″ length, and its “headless mantis” sort of look, and went back to work determined to identify this thing. My initial searches for “insect identification” and “insect database” were inconclusive. Finally, I decided to check for “Kentucky insects”, and found a site at the University of Kentucky Department of Entymology called “The Critter Case Files” (an excellent resource for Kentucky insects). Having never seen anything of it’s sort in Kentucky before, I wasn’t sure if I’d find it. However, after a short search I determined that this was in fact an “Assassin Bug“. A “wheel bug“, to be exact. My estimation of 1.5″ was right on target — and it’s slow flight characteristics seemed to be right on (though the clincher was that spiny ridge on its back).

Despite my harrowing encounter, and subsequent taunting, I’m glad that I had my near assassination attempt.

Bear prowls Montana neighborhood. Climbs tree. Animal Control. Tranquilizers. Trampoline. Hilarity ensues . . .

from MetaFilter

…on the eBay. Saltic Shiwa Mens Size 9 US.

i just realized that we moved into this house one year ago last week (or so). so far, this home ownership thing isn’t too bad. it’s quite liberating, as you might imagine. no upstairs or downstairs neighbors, and more room. i enjoy room. not just room for stuff, but room to move.

whilst on the home-ownership note, i’ll note that kelly and i just sealed the driveway. it was ridiculously easy, and quite fun. the driveway sealer is like this liquid rubbering stuff that makes amusing noises when you push it around the driveway. it was fun. thpppbt! now our driveway is black black.

MochaCheapo®

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coffee
• 1/2 packet of instant cocoa
• 1 portion creamer

Directions:

stir well, serve.

(MochaCheapo® is a registered trademark of Geoffrey Noles, or quite possible Charlie Dillon, but then again, it may very well have fallen into the public domain.)

for felicia: here is the House Party Gallery and here is a picture of you.

and from Garrick, I learned an important lesson — “A shark on whiskey is mighty risky, but a shark on beer is a beer engineer.“

“Good Charlotte? More like Mediocre Green Day!” — Chris Rock.

It wouldn’t be so funny, if it wasn’t so true.

I’ve leafed through a couple of issues of AdBusters magazine a couple of times, and have always been intrigued by the layout and the complete deconstruction of branded® America&tm;. How should I best explain AdBusters? Well, I think they do it best:

Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Adbusters is a not-for-profit, reader-supported, 120,000-circulation magazine concerned about the erosion of our physical and cultural environments by commercial forces.

Yeah, pretty much. So are there ads in the magazine? Nope. The layout is fantastic and entertaining, but they somehow manage to stay away from having a “brand” themselves. I really don’t know how they do it, but they seem to stay on that razors-edge of having a good, gripping, competent design, but yet don’t fall into the trap of “no image as an image”. Also, culture jamming is a great idea (not to mention a great name), and I suspect that Warren Ellis knows well these busters of ad.

I do believe I will subscribe.

Jackson recommended that I:

A: Go here.

and

B: Watch the linked video.

I did both, and both were awesome. I’d heard that Junior Senior song a couple of times, and liked it — but combine that with a wacky/awesome 8-bit likeness of a squirrel et alia, well… I don’t think I need to explain that to you.

This just about sums it up…

(10:03:04) powerofmicans: mayumi just turned 25
(10:03:10) benATthelocust: yaaay!
(10:03:14) powerofmicans: she says hi
(10:03:17) benATthelocust: like just now?
(10:03:23) powerofmicans: yeah
(10:03:28) benATthelocust: this very hour?
(10:03:33) powerofmicans: flip of the switch

Happy 25th Birthday, Mayumi!