"Simon's Cat: TV Dinner"

Simon Tofield has a new animation featuring his cat: "TV Dinner". This time around, his persistent little feline wants to be fed. Previous animations have featured "Cat Man Do" (his cat tries to wake him up), and "Let Me In!" (his cat is stuck outside). Very entertaining stuff! Enjoy! ... [videos]

-Jon
posted by Jon at 1:49 PM |

"Friday in Review"

Finished painting the 2nd-floor apartment from yesterday. Power was restored; AC, radio, and lights put to good use. Much cooler work environment! Decided to go out for ribs after the job was done... went to Famous Dave's (thanks Steve!). Enjoyed some of the best BBQ I've ever had! Came home, showered, relaxed, heading to bed.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:07 PM |

"Thursday in Review"

Painted the first half of a 2nd-floor apartment. Electricity had been turned off by the utility company... so, no lights, radio, or AC. Sweated like a pig on an 88 degree muggy day. Drank lots of water. Painted in dim natural light. Had plenty of time to hang out in silence with my thoughts. Actually had fun! ... Came home, ran a few errands, took a much-appreciated shower, relaxed, made dinner, going to bed shortly. Finishing up the apartment tomorrow.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:51 PM |

"The Story Behind 'Take Me Out To The Ball Game'"

In America, baseball is considered to be the national pastime. Organized baseball was well into its glory years before other sports such as football, basketball, hockey and soccer were even on the map. So it's only natural that one of America's most popular songs relates to the sport.

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is a simple tune that tells of a girl who wants her beau to take her to a baseball game instead of to another popular spot. The song turns 100 years old this year, and to commemorate the event, the U.S. Postal Service has issued a beautiful new stamp.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:59 PM |

"A Biblical Observation"

Earlier this morning, I added a new category of t-shirts to my store: Christian T-shirts. However, as I looked over the final category, I made an interesting -- and serendipitous -- discovery...

Each new category in the CafePress system, is assigned a multi-digit number -- sequentially -- across millions of stores. As a new category is created (in any store), the overall number goes up by a factor of one. It's then assigned to the store URL, and becomes the permanent link to the new category, like this:

cafepress.com/jonbaas/2423676

With that said, here's what I discovered this morning: As a random result of time and the sequential order in which new categories are assigned numbers, my Christian t-shirts were given the following seven-digit number: 5777777.

As it just so happens, the number seven is actually a Biblical number. Thus, if we put this all together, we have: the category for my Christian t-shirts.... and a multi-digit tag with a whole lot of sevens. That my friends is not only ironic, but highly improbable. Pretty cool, huh?!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 2:18 AM |

"Pennant Fever 2008: 81 to go"

With exactly half the season left, the Milwaukee Brewers and the NL Central division-leading Chicago Cubs are heading for a showdown. Both teams desperately want to make it into the Playoffs, and both teams are making a dramatic push to get there!

Here's where things stand right now -- at the All-Star Break:

Team Name .... W - L ... .pct ... GB

Chi Cubs ...... 57 - 38 ... .600 ... ----
St. Louis ...... 53 - 43 ... .552 ... 4.5
Milwaukee .... 52 - 43 ... .547 ... 5.0

According to the Post-Season Odds, the Brewers currently have a 41% chance of making the playoffs, with a league-leading 30% chance of winning the NL Wild Card. They also have an 11% chance of going to the World Series. Where they go from here, though, will be what makes this summer and fall sooooo very exciting! Go Brewers!

"Rays, Cubs have big hopes for second half"

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:45 PM |

"Open Sesame!"

"Oh Great Frigidaire, give unto me this day my daily tuna..."

Magic words or gestures certainly won’t open the refrigerator, but this determined kitty isn’t willing to give up! Afterall, if at first you don't succeed, keep trying until you do! ... [video]

-Jon
posted by Jon at 6:15 PM |

"The Sunshine"

Here's something pretty! It's a photoblog called, The Sunshine, featuring beautiful pictures of... well, sunshine. Click on the "???" link at the bottom of each page to see more. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 5:43 PM |

"Stripes"

Here's a fascinating optical illusion. Grab the stripes image to the right of the image and drag it slowly to the left -- over the other stripes below it. What do you see?

-Jon
posted by Jon at 5:21 PM |

"Friday in Review"

Finished painting yesterday's apartment. Long -- but productive -- day. Decided to go out for ribs; ribs place was closed (out of business). Decided to seek out ribs at a local buffet restaurant; ribs weren't being served. Settled for steak instead (which satisfied my craving for ribs). Came home. Showered. Played a computer game. Relaxing. Planning to be up for a while.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:46 PM |

"Thursday in Review"

Started painting another apartment. Watched a dark thunderstorm pass overhead. Listened to the rain -- and the radio -- as I worked. Came home. Did some laundry. Had spaghetti for dinner. Watched "Murder at 1600" on DVD. Going to bed shortly; painting again tomorrow.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:50 PM |

"Wisdom of the Day"

God Is There When You're Frustrated

"Thousands of people each year hit such a level of frustration in their lives that they commit suicide. But that doesn't mean everybody else is happy. Thoreau wrote, "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." I think one of the greatest sources of frustration is for us to try to control things that really are God's business.

The Bible says in James chapter 4, "You do not even know what will happen tomorrow... Instead you should say, If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." Find the sweet serenity of just letting God be God, and rejoice to find the little gifts he's given you along the way."

- Pastor Mark Jeske, Time of Grace

posted by Jon at 1:11 AM |

"The Race Heats Up!"

This is going to be a very interesting race for the baseball Playoffs, especially here in the NL Central Division! The Chicago Cubs (who haven't won a World Series since 1908 -- despite plenty of chances) are trying -- desperately -- to break the 100-year Curse of Fred Merkle. The local Milwaukee Brewers, on the other hand, a perennial small-market cellar-dweller for the last 26 years, haven't been in the World Series since they lost in 1982. Both teams have a lot to prove... and this is the year to prove it!

Yesterday, the Brewers announced a rare big-budget blockbuster trade, and acquired last years best starting pitcher in the American League. So far, this has been major news for the local Milwaukee fans! But the Cubs, not to be outdone, countered today by announcing a major 6-player trade that improves their roster as well. Both teams are determined to make some post-season noise -- and they're willing to go to war in order to do so.

Yeah, baseball drama will be plentiful here in the Midwest. It's the "lovable loser" Cubs vs. the "just can't quite make it" Brewers. And the rival city fans will be turning out in droves! "War" -- on this scale -- might be an understatement! May the best team Brewers win! Go Crew!

"Cubs land pitcher Rich Harden from Athletics"

"Sabathia’s Debut is a Scream"

"A Harden fast response by Cubs"

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:24 PM |

"Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies"

Not too long ago, I finished watching an early morning Nature program on my local PBS station, titled "Cloud: Wild Stallion of the Rockies", and I must say... horses have got to be one of the most magnificent creatures ever created! So strong, wild, and free... yet also loyal, determined, loving, and social. Beautiful, beautiful animals!

This particular Nature episode chronicled the perilous existence of a wild pale Palomino stallion in the mountains of southern Montana. It was hosted by Emmy-winning filmmaker and nature photographer, Ginger Kathrens -- who named the striking white stallion, Cloud. Over the course of four years, she followed Cloud from before his birth, through his rites of passage, and into his adult years. The resulting documentary was a fascinating tale of survival for one extraordinarily determined stallion in the unforgiving beauty of Montana.

You know, as I grow older, I find myself drawn more and more to the rugged beauty of nature. I don't know if I would consider myself a cowboy -- the lure of the big city still has a strangle hold on me -- but, someday.... someday I could easily see myself spending more time in rural (or wild) America. I grew up in the country, I spent my childhood there, and while the city is my home, in many ways, the country is an underlying part of who I am.

Horses, farmland, wild mountaintops... There's something romantic about those things. Something romantic that calls to me. I don't know when I'll go back there -- I'm pretty happy where I am right now -- but someday, someday it might just be me who's riding through the mountains of the West documenting the beauty that I see.

Afterall, Beauty... artist... camera. You never know. :)

-Jon
posted by Jon at 2:22 AM |

"This is Sand"

This is Sand is a website for play. It changes the pixels on the screen to digital sand, that can then be used as building material for cosmic landscapes or mandalas.

To "play" (aka, create your composition), press or double click the mouse button to drop sand. Press "C" to pick a color, "E" to erase the drawing. It's as simple as that!

Have fun, and happy creating!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:47 PM |