9.23.1999 New Tori Amos CD is challenging, good.

This CD is a little unlike her previous stuff, but it's definitely Tori, right down to the "Where exactly is she coming from?" feeling you get sometimes.
The live CD is a better live CD than many I have, the crowd doesn't ruin your favorite songs, and it's nice to hear Tori talk about the songs a bit.
She brought some sounds back from the dead, I think used some synthesizer buttons that have been dusty since 1987, but it's good. People made good songs with them before, and there's no reason to completely abandon everything. That, and her usual lyric stance is why I called this new CD challenging.
I like a challenge.
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9.23, 1999 A new way to send a beer!

The makers of Shiner Bock have a replacement for my old favorite send-a-beer! It's functionally similar, with better graphics, so take a look.

Also, many thanks to the anonymous tipper that mailed me the beer from shiner.com. I owe you a virtual beer.
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9.23.1999 The art of Frahm

Whoa. disturbing, indeed.
This kind of art is called cheesecake, and while I'm not sure why exactly, it does fit.
I can't really add much to the dry sarcasm and wit of the page's author, so go look.
I got a massive chuckle.
Also worth looking at is the source: The Institute of Official Cheer, a great look at the 'Golden Age' of America with off-rose colored glasses.

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9.15.1999 New Chemical Brothers album is very, very good.

That just about says it. I mean, if you haven't heard the single "let forever be," you aren't hip. and if you don't know who the chemical brothers are, listen. Find out why it's not all just random noise.
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9.15.1999 Beer.Com now sucks

Over the last two years, one of my favorite ways to keep in touch with a far away friend was to 'send a beer' from Beer.com. Now they've taken that away, gone corporate-slick, and become another useless portal. You do realize that noone needs more than one portal, right? And you have less money than Disney, right? But I digress. I have a new cause to support:

Bring back 'Send A Beer'!
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8.30.1999 I hate Wired

Oh, sure, I used to love Wired, I really enjoyed getting cool new stories about the lifestyle and background of the people behind the tech revolution...
But now I just hate wired. They've lost their edge, and all the good writing. Every caption is banal, every article assumes wealth in the reader, it's like they've decided that the magazine is only for people in their little party.
For fun, at a newsstand sometime, look at the "fetish" section, where they review new tech toys, and read the captions. See how many you can get through before you are offended...
I miss the old Wired. Someone needs to take the spirit somewhere else an start anew.
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8.26.1999 Davenet: Tools shouldn't be this hard.

A righteous essay by Dave Winer, about some of the big problems in the computer industry today.
I couldn't agree more, as a result of my experience working in a PC repair store, with his conclusions about computers being unacceptably unreliable.
I have myself delivered DOA computers, and I've been the guy on the other end of the line, speaking a different language, so I know that communication is often a problem, too.
But by far, the biggest problem is that PC parts just don't work together the way they damn well should. Don't you agree?

Doesn't everyone?
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8.23.1999

I'm back!

8.7.1999 Summer break

Soon I will be moving back home for a bit of summer break. This means that I probably won't be updating this until August 24th, or so.

Oh, no! What shall I do without mike?

Luckily, I get this question all the time, so I came prepared. To get similar effects of my wit and giddy-linking fun, follow these simple steps:
1. Read Salon once in a while.
2. Read Suck every wednesday, but go no further. (Filler rules)
3. Check several other people's weblogs often, and steal their best ideas. Repeat.

As long as you keep your spirits up, you'll be fine!
See you in two weeks!

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8.6.1999 So I was with Satan, and we were bungee-jumping...

Most people have conversations with friends that, taken out of context, can result in utter hilarity. Some people write them down, and display them with spiffy web design.
Other people simply link to them.

Funny how the image of Satan bungee jumping conjures not a horrifying Satan, but instead the big gay Satan from the South Park movie.
That movie has warped my fragile little mind.
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8.5.1999 New Pita Design

I've spent some time today fooling with the design of my pita, and I think I've settled on this.

If I had my druthers, my design would be as nice as some of the weblogs that pro designers have.
Some I like a lot are camworld, peterme, and nubbin.com. What do all these sites have in common stylistically? Scores of tables!

As for the content, I find I agree more often with the last two than with Cam. Cam reminds me of my older brother somewhat. Not a bad thing, mind you... hrm.
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8.5.1999 Mikey is ten-teen.

Today, August Fifth, is my birthday.
I'm twenty today, and I don't feel very special.
I have to take a final today.

My birthday present to myself:
I shall sleep in until noon!

8.5.1999 Films! Not Movies!

One of the real advantages to living in a city, however small...

The video stores have real films! Art, not just last year's crass already-obsolete blockbuster.

One such film you must see is Wilde. It's a beautifully acted period piece, and it might help you understand Oscar Wilde. Fantastic.

8.3.1999 Craig Kilborn Weds Self in Private Ceremony

Yeah, I know you read The Onion.
I just thought you might want to know there's a new one out.
Be sure to see the Insane Clown Posse bit (yes, they're a real band!) and the "That's not funny, my brother died that way." editorial.
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8.3.1999 people are fun

"My first month at the bookstore information desk"
By Andrea Siegel

I applied to work at Borders once. They made me take a massive test and never called back.

This story gave me a taste of the fun I missed... Worth reading.

8.3.1999 Orgy 101???

I was at the Penn State Bookstore today, and I see a staack of this book in the course books section:

Exploring Our Sexuality: An Interactive Manual

I immediately looked to see what class it was for. It was not labeled. It was also shrink-wrapped. An enigma.

There were a lot of those books, too... This might be one BIG class.

8.3.1999 I've been linked!

It's like I'm part of a community or something! Jennifer's MetaPita is a Good Thing - go see it.

8.2.1999 Mike gets a jobby-job

Assuming no Seinfeld-esque mix-ups regarding an upcoming drug test, I've landed a job at the UNI-Mart on College Ave. for the fall semester. (Which UNIMart on College, you ask? Seek, and ye shall find, grasshopper. There are only four, after all.)

Looks good from here - But I bet it'll be insane on football weekends.

You know, this may mean I'll have enough stories someday to write a landmark indie film!

Or maybe not. You be the judge. ;-)

8.2.1999 Lakewater Mouth

This weekend I did something I'd recommend to anyone with arms: I got dragged behind a boat and beaten about the head and neck in the process! Most fun I've ever had! Whoooo-ahhhh! Cackling uncontrollably with glee, I must admit, I felt like a kid again. I should stop avoiding swimming. (Thanks lori!)
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7.29.1999 There really is something about your first piece.

I keep an irrational love of teen movies. I just saw "American Pie." It did nothing to disappoint me - Of course there was the whole thing where everyone was really good looking, even the nerdy band girl was cute. (nerdy band girl... mmmmm) but I found the best parts of it were the dialogue, and how it carried iteslf well enough without the usual one-sidedness to its high-school stereotypes.

Let's look:

The character of 'Stifler' - His is the most obvious stereotype, but they gave him good lines! He came off as someone who's simply hedonistic, but not completely moronic.

The band girl - If she's a nerd, I'd be proud of the title... Of course, band camp was never that fun for me!

Finch - he's the freak, right? But I want to be him - he's the freak who will grow up to be hipper than you.

and of course, natasha lyonne was in it. I really wish I'd see her more often. Am I the only one who thinks she's the only young actress around who can play real, intelligent people??

Well, I give it four stars. It might have been three, but they won an extra by not wimping out on Stifler's "pale ale" Tell me what you thought of it!

7.29.1999 If it's new to you...

I know you might have seen this one already, but I couldn't resist. I just wish I had my cats near a scanner. I bet I could get them to lay down on the nice warm flatbed.
Have a laugh.
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