Rennie Ramblings

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:51:12 GMT

putting a call out to all the computer people out there. looking for a 15" flatscreen lcd monitor to fit in a machine case at work. i know its an old size and gonna be hard to find. screen size 9x12, case size 14x 11. case can be a little larger or smaller. or a point towards a reliable website that has older monitors. new preferable but good used is o.k. too.

Mon, 04 Jan 2010 03:20:37 GMT

getting tired of amazon recommended media products with no description. how do they expect us to buy if we don't know what it's about. so i'm starting a movement. if you run across such an item, tag it as "description please" for blank description or "better description please" for the vague descriptions. feel free to pass the word, maybe we can get amazon to take notice

samhain birthday

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 23:08:33 GMT

so i turned the big 40 onthursday the 29th and found out that night that my grandfather was on his deathbed. funny coincidence, my grandmother died on my fathers birthday. well the stubborn coot held on till halloween night and finally passed that evening. i think he passed thursday night and was just too stubborn to let his heart stop beating. that's just the way he was.

rest in peace
Harold Richard Bressler 1924-2009

FABRIC

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 01:46:56 GMT

ohmygod FABRIC. this fabric rocks.

i love alexander henry! it's called zen charmer. picked up 7 yards at joanne's. gonna make at least a shirt.

stonewall

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:34:05 GMT

june 28, 1969-june 28, 2009

fourty years since the community got tired of the harrassment and said enough.

gardenissity

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:58:09 GMT

the great garden experiment is about to begin. went to the anne arundel farmers co-op in glen burnie a couple weekends ago and got lots of seeds. its an ambitious list.

starting with some herbs----rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano.

then all the vegetables----early tomato, heirloom beefsteak tomato, broccoli, okra, cantaloupe, small sweet pumpkin for pie, bush sugar baby watermelon, spinach, summer crookneck squash, yellow scallop squash, zucchini, string beans, early sunglow corn, silver queen corn.

then there's the fun stuff----strawberry popcorn; it grows small 2"ears with red kernels which turn white when popped, japanese hulless popcorn; the hulls disappear when popped.

then there's the flowers----2 kinds of sunflowers; a 4 foot and a 6 foot variety, there was a 10 and 12 foot variety too but we figured they would be entirely too big to be practical. gonna get some marigolds for pest control in the vegetable garden, and get one of the cans of mixed wildflowers to make a sprinkle bed in the front yard.

have already gotten the calender out to figure the final frost and when to start seedlings and when the theoretical harvests are. now all we have to do is get the starter trays and soil and make a mess on the dining room table.

Clues seen to how fructose may promote diabetes

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:15:35 GMT

Clues seen to how fructose may promote diabetes
Tue Mar 3, 12:19 pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – A new animal study may help explain why diets high in the sugar fructose have been linked to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Scientists found that a particular gene, known as PGC-1 beta, appears to play a key role in the development of insulin resistance in response to a high-fructose diet. Rats that had the gene's activity blocked were protected from insulin resistance despite feasting on a diet loaded with fructose.

A sweetener known as high-fructose corn syrup has been widely used in sodas and processed foods since the 1980s, and some researchers have blamed this trend at least in part for the concurrent rise in obesity and diabetes.

The authors of the current report, in the journal Cell Metabolism, explain that some studies have shown that fructose is metabolized differently than glucose is, being more readily converted into fat.

Other studies have linked diets heavy in high-fructose corn syrup to elevated risks of high triglycerides (a type of blood fat), fat buildup in the liver, and insulin resistance, note Dr. Gerald Shulman and colleagues at Yale University School of Medicine.

For their study on the genetic underpinnings of fructose-induce insulin resistance, they zeroed in on PGC-1 beta because it activates another gene that governs the production of fat by the liver.

When the researchers blocked the gene's activity in rats fed a high-fructose diet, the animals did not develop insulin resistance and elevated triglycerides.

The implication, according to Shulman's team, is that inhibiting PGC-1 beta could help treat some cases of high triglycerides, fatty liver disease and insulin resistance. Much more research remains to be done, however.

SOURCE: Cell Metabolism, March 4, 2009.

headline fail

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:51:22 GMT

bush sending rice to india in aftermath of attacks.

what the hell is rice gonna do for the indians?????? food staples aren't exactly what they need after such an attack.

OH.......nevermind

sounds soooooooo cool

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:05:19 GMT

i'm surprised i haven't heard about this from shagglbrox or jrbear

www.repo-opera.com

called a fusion between rocky horror and blade runner. dexter with sopranos, sweeney todd discovers distortion. all star cast from a list of goth and industrial bands along with paul sorvino, anthony head(giles), sarah brightman, and ???paris hilton???

the soundtrack is already on amazon which is where i ran across it. great descriptions and reviews on the amazon soundtrack page. already on my wish list.

the movie is in limited release, nowhere near here of course.

i soooooo want to see it.

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 22:09:41 GMT

for all those people that i live with 1 week a year. there will be a charity fund raising "drag" race at pennsic this year being put on by Freiman from Drachenwald (Germany) to benefit the Women's Center of Beaver County (where the campground is). Here's the info.

The details from Freiman:
"Gentles,

This is the final update for the Drag Race at war.

Please spread this information as widely as possible. I will try to get the Independent to publish the information on this function, but they may or may not publish it.

There will be a drag race at war. This will be a function to raise money that will be donated to the Women's Center of Beaver County. The Women's Center of Beaver County is in no way associated with this endevour, and probably has never heard of it.

The idea is this. One Wednesday of War Week at Pennsic War 37 (August 6th, 2007) there will be a race. This will be a walk/run along a predetermined route with a five dollar entry fee. Each runner is required to wear clothing that is inappropriate to their gender. In the interests of maximizing donations Kilts are considered inappropriate for both genders. You CAN wear them. They count.

The Race will begin at the top of the hill in the parking lot shortly after dark. There will be a table or blanket there, as well as a sign in sheet, and a donation box.

The route will be down the main road from the parking lot, down through the main serengetti encampment, up horde hill, through the Confed encampment, across a foot bridge, and into the Clovenshield encampment.

Dreadlord Nissan Maxima of Clovenshield has pledged umbrella drinks for all runner who complete the course.

The fastest runner will be named "The Pennsic 37 Protector of Women". the runner (or walker) who raises the most money will be named "the Pennsic 37 Champion of Ladies".

Because the term "registered sex offender" is hard to wash off, all participants are required to conform to public decency laws.

Because the route is irregular, and the roads are rough, all runners and walkers are encouraged to wear good, safe running shoes. Sorry, Boys, pumps are right out.

we can has power :-)

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:59:43 GMT

been wiring up a new electric line with 4 outlets on it in the basement cause the basement for the most part has no outlets. got the wire run a few weeks ago and installed the plugs last night. today i had to hunt down a circuit breaker for the new line. the circuit box is a champion brand and most circuit box parts a brand proprietary. lowes doesn't carry champion brand and the guy at lowes says he's never heard of the brand. great, come back home and research on internet and find out that cutler hammer bought out champion and several other brands. find a cutler-hammer dealer, buy the breaker and back to the house just in time for dad to come over and help hook it in. we now have a new working electric line in the basement. which means i can now hook up the entertainment center and sewing machines. i can has sewing and television!! now i can catch up on garb for pennsic and faire.

well FUCK!

Mon, 19 May 2008 12:15:28 GMT

i go into work today to find the project i was working on friday in complete disarray. i start cleaning up and organizing and a half hour later comes in and asks me to come into the office cause he needs to talk to me. then he fires me, says to consider it a layoff and he will give excellent references and won't fight unemployment claim but it just isn't working out.

that's just great. and 2 weeks before a full year there, so he doesn't have to give me the vacation pay i've been earning for the past 50 weeks.

first call is to unemployment and second call is to purple unicorn to pick up some work.

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:14:05 GMT

cohabitation search is over. found a nice if electrically primitive 3 bedroom 25'x45'rancher with a full basement and huge yard in a nice neighborhood. lease is signed and copies have been mailed back to us, will receive keys around feb 28th and we officially take possession march 1, which gives me a full month to move all my STUFF before my lease with current apartment expires.

went over to mom and dads today to get the horde of moving boxes(45 total) that i had stored in the attic and help move some more cinder blocks. (backstory: 20 years ago crazy uncle larry bought several loads of cinder blocks/ a pile about the size of a suv/ to build ....something.... and never did. still sitting where they were unloaded about 20 ft from m&d's property line. larry sold the property, asked dad if he wanted the blocks for free, dad said hell yeah, but we need to move them to the back of m&d's property so they don't disappear when the developer starts developing. so a couple times a week i go over and lug a load or 2 onto and off of dads pickup.)was telling dad about 3rd roommate amywon and her current lack of door to distinguish her own space. dad asks "is she gay too?" i never officially came out to my parents but it seems they have a well formed clue.

credit glitches

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 02:12:15 GMT

so on saturday i tried to download my credit reports on annualcreditreport.com. jumped through the hoops and was denied online access on all three agencies. one of them you had to create a log in and answer all kinds of questions including my birth date and it said it was denying my request because i gave it the wrong year. this rose some red flags and had me worried that someone had stolen my identity. cohabitation hunt on hold till this gets fixed because they all want to do a credit check.

well went through the whole process again (on dial up no less)tonight and got much better results. experian gave me my report right away, no glitches, and all the info was correct and just as i expected. equifax still wouldn't give me access but didn't raise any red flags. transunion was the one with the log in and all the questions and it still told me wrong birth year but it gave me a phone number to confirm my identity. so i called and answered all their questions and the operator unblocked the online lock for me. logged back in and got the report and saw what i expected to be listed except it lists me 9 years older than i really am and it's labeled as "estimated birthdate". i guess between by social security account, drivers license, the other 2 credit reporting agencies, the 6 other credit account listings, and any number of other sources to get my birth date from, they couldn't be bothered to get it right so they estimated (based on what i don't know) my month and year of birth. WTF

so, cohabitation searching is back on track now. credit is fine.

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:08:54 GMT

i am coming up with a plan for a small memorial service for felice for probably the second weekend of 2008 season in the space where her tent was. anybody who reads this and has worked for her or has contact info for someone who has, please contact me, renniecubmd at yahoo. if anybody has contact info for tracy talents or weatherly please let me know.

sad news

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 23:19:45 GMT

found out from one of the other vendors at mdrf of the passing this week of felice osband. she was the lampworker in the burgundy and yellow tent behind the keg house of the white hart. she was the first person i worked for at faire 16 years ago. (gods, has it been that long?) she had a magic with the glass and the torch. she truly loved lampworking and vending at faire. she will be sorely missed. i don't have any other details right now but am seeking more info.

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:52:18 GMT

the wednesday after memorial day a year ago i quit my job. had enough of the bullshit. lived off savings for a couple of months. started working for purple unicorn part time and was just getting by. started looking for a full time job in january. a few interviews, even a few call backs saying they would really like to hire me but they aren't sure if they have the sustained business to hire another person, one of those even said to call back in a month to see if things changed. well i called back a few weeks ago and left a message with the secretary. this past wednesday he called to have me come in for a second interview. i went in this morning and..........

I HAVE A FULL TIME JOB!!!!

i start next thursday. the payroll week runs thursday to wednesday and the checks come out that friday so i won't even have to go a few weeks without money till the payroll catches up.

this was the job i was really hoping to get the first go around. it's an actual cabinetmaking shop, they do cabinets and built ins. they do all their own finishing, delivery and installation. just the kind of thing i've been wanting to do.

interesting that it worked out to exactly a year quitting to call back.

Wed, 16 May 2007 00:52:20 GMT

one less enemy of free thinkers and open minds everywhere. one less voice spouting hatred and intolerance. one less false prophet claiming to speak for his god. one less person trying to hold humanity back from progressing away from the fear and ignorance of the dark ages. chalk one up for progress.

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 23:39:40 GMT

happy birthday to that man of mine insegnante

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 01:16:45 GMT

been seeing ads for the new cable show "riche$" keep half catching it and seeing this hot goateed guy in a scene with minnie driver. finally caught the part where the say some of the actors and the hot goateed guy is none other than eddie izzard. damn he's hot when he's not being a transvestite exécutif.

moving help

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 17:41:53 GMT

been working part time for cynthia at purple unicorn doing some sewing. she has a studio in crofton that we work out of. well, now she has gotten a space in savage mill for half the rent. so now she needs help moving form crofton to savage. most everything is packed in tucker totes. she needs help saturday around 10 am in crofton packing everything in a rental truck and sunday in savage at 9am unloading the truck. just leave a reply if you can help and i will get you the details.

also if anyone knows of some carpentry workspace with a table saw that i could have access to i need to build a new cutting table and some shelves for the new studio space.

its finally happened

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 03:07:21 GMT

remember when computer generated characters started gaining realism and they were speculating that one day in the future they would bring back old movie stars and there would be entire movies made with charlie chaplin and elvis and brad pitt all in the same movie and they wouldn't need to make new movies with live new stars because the could just make new movies with old dead stars?

well, it's happened and not like they expected. just saw an orville redenbacher popcorn commercial with a computer generated orville redenbacher trying to sell me popcorn on a set populated with live people. at first i thought it was an old commercial that had been digitally retouched so it didn't look like it had come off a 25 year old video tape. but then i looked closer and saw that only orville looked off. then i noticed that he looked really off and in a real creepy way.

looks like instead of new movies with old dead stars, we're going to get new commercials with old dead spokespeople.

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 03:35:02 GMT

home and recovered from the weekend. left on thursday at the butt-crack of dawn. 13 hours of driving to arrive in chicago for widwest fur fest to help out dreamtigress for vending her masks. long days. met lots of new people including stormdog and wooisme. lots of flirting, some playing. not enough sleep. 13 hour drive back all day monday to crash at insegnante's place. got home to my place this afternoon to find that my key no longer works in the outer building door. the lock was giving problems for the past few weeks and i thought that they finally fixed it but were off just a hair or my key was worn out. called the management office, they sent maintenance to meet me and let me into the building. i go into my apartment to get one of my spare keys that wasn't worn to check and see if it works. i open my apartment door and there on the floor is an envelope with new front door keys in it. gee that helps a lot since they are inside the door that i can't open with my old keys. no notes to let anyone know the lock was going to be changed. the management office didn't even know the lock had been changed. well at least they didn't do it this coming weekend so everybody can come back from thanksgiving and not get into the building.

bryan is in town

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 02:40:17 GMT

for those interested in catching up, bryan is in town tomorrow (tuesday) and i'll be bringing him to mad city.

per the dream

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 01:51:06 GMT

lady arachne. may your passing have been gentle and quick. may those who speak ill of you not do so in the company of those who love and respect you.