Zephyrus of the Anemoi

On the way home from my parents’ house today, we noticed the partial eclipse out the back window. We turned around and stopped to take a few pictures. The sun was descending quite quickly, but I managed to get a few shots. This was the last and best shot I took. It’s a shame I wasn’t on the west coast to see the ‘ring of fire’ eclipse, but we can’t all get what we want.

When I first saw this, I had a brief moment of joy as the irrational part of my brain took over and told the rest of my brain, “At long last! The network has seen fit to restore this show to its rightful place on television!”

Then I realized that the irrational part of my brain had been drinking again and the rest of my brain quickly shut him down. The depression that followed soon after was short-lived, yet terrifying.

I miss you, Magnum. I miss you so hard.

A little over a week ago, I picked up a new iPad. I have had the original for about a year, but have spent little time with it myself, as it was a family device and my children had laid claim to the majority of it’s faculties. While I was still able to check out a few apps here and there, I knew that I would never truly see the wonders of the device until I had one of my own.

I’ve spent the last week eking out as much enjoyment from the device as I could muster between work and family time. I’ve found that, despite the larger screen, I use the device less for gaming (as I thought I would spend the majority of my time with it) and more for creation and consumption.

Since I’m currently in the middle of reading actual, physical books, I haven’t spent any time with ebooks except as an exercise in demonstrating the incredible screen. Instead, I’ve spent a lot more time reading comics than is probably healthy for someone wishing to remain gainfully employed. I’ve watched a few YouTube videos, as well, but since the majority of videos available to view on my iPad are not HD (as I can more easily consume Netflix via computer or TV), I don’t really watch a whole lot of video.

Recently, I decided to spend a bit more time with the creation aspect of the new device. I’m a huge fan of the Paper app by FiftyThree. I used it a couple times on the original iPad to make some rough sketches, but I really got into it today, trying to make something I could show off. It may not be much, but here are a couple sketches I made in the past week (the first was with my fingers, the second with a very basic stylus from Targus):

And speaking (briefly and not most recently) of comics, in celebration of Free Comic Book Day (and also, Revenge of the Fifth), I spent most of the day downloading every free digital comic book I could find to celebrate. I also took my boys into town and pulled a great collection of comics for FCBD, though the two best comics (The Avengers and Star Wars/Serenity) were already gone from shelves. I wish they had all been available digitally, as well, as I would love to keep my physical books in pristine condition. Ah, well. Such is life.

Hope you all have a great Geekend (thanks to Star Wars Day–”May the 4th Be With You”–, Revenge of the Fifth, and The Avengers premiere on top of FCBD). Enjoy!

P.S. Happy birthday to my little brother who has fled the country for Germany this week. Probably for fun and not to escape the authorities, but you can never tell with him.

So I was telling a buddy of mine, Justin, about an iPhone app called Zombie Tools, which seemed like a fun and useful tool should you live long enough to use it in the impending Zombocalypse. Justin is the show-runner for the web series, Dead-Wait, so he is a bit of an expert on zombies.

After checking out the app, he responded, “All it needs now is a built-in cardio routine…”

Which got me thinking…

The best cardio routine comes from running for your life. Naturally, then, it would seem logical that every true zombie preparedness plan include one “test zombie” to escape from. The only (and rather significant) problem is that one test zombie inevitably becomes two test zombies, then four escaped test zombies, then eight zombies rampaging through a zombie research center, then sixteen zombies spilling out into the streets, thirty-two zombies taking over a school, sixty-four zombies surrounding a mall, 128 zombies spreading throughout the city, and ultimately 256 zombies in your base, eating your d00dz.

Obviously, it doesn’t stop there, but at this point, you’re either dead or one of them, so it doesn’t matter.

What are your thoughts on how best to prepare for a zombie apocalypse?

I never met you. We never shook hands or looked each other in the eye. I never stood in your presence, though I often wondered what it would be like. You were my boss’s boss’s boss’s boss. Because of you, I am a Mac. And the debt I owe to you can never be repaid. Thank you so much for being so many things to my family: an employer, a crazy uncle that always brought me the coolest toys, a man who changed the world. You will be missed, old friend. Whatever world follows this one, I know they are happy to have a man of your gifts in it, even as we mourn your passing from this one.

Thank you for everything. Rest now, and be at peace.

Jared Cash
Mac Genius emeritus

Fall came early this year, as we finally got some much-needed rain on Saturday, breaking summer’s back. We were at Woodyard BBQ with our neighbors, one of whom is Lezlie Revelle. She was playing open mic at Woodyard BBQ (which was a lot of fun, and I recommend checking it out) and, in honor of Irish Fest in Kansas City this past weekend, she played several Irish ditties, which really made my day.

After our meal, Autumn was craving chocolate, so we went to Russell Stover’s and then back to the neighbors’ home to start watching Game of Thrones. Dave (neighbor and bestie) and I have read the books, but have wanted to wait to watch the series together with our wives. We weren’t disappointed. The first 15 minutes lived up to my expectations of the book, and throughout the episodes, we were both pleasantly surprised by how faithful it is. The ladies were quite impressed, as well, by the writing, the acting, and even the subject matter.

We ate a (very) late dinner while watching the second episode and listened to the rain pour down upon us. I had just picked up my yearly batch of pumpkin beer and brought over two bottles for everyone to try: O’Fallon’s and Schlafly’s. O’Fallon’s has long-been my favorite beer of all time, but I’d never had Schlafly’s. It’s very strong, both in flavor and alcohol content, but I still prefer O’Fallon’s. Schlafly’s spices completely overpowered the pumpkin, which is (in my opinion) the most important part of the beer.

The next day was one of those perfect fall days that make you want to sit on your porch and watch the world change while reflecting on the year. There’s something about fall that always evokes the most nostalgic part of me. I think it’s the scent in the air of leaves and rain and the feel of a cool breeze that brings it to me. I always think of high school football and carefree days of yesteryear. I spent most of the day playing Super Mario Galaxy with Liam and enjoying the weather. We went out to dinner again with the neighbors to get as much time in before Dave left for work again on Monday. After dinner we watched another three episodes of Game of Thrones, each one more exciting than the last. I’m really looking forward to episode 6, as I’m pretty certain I know what awesomely horrific scene it will contain.

Monday was another lazy day. Stan, the husband of my wife’s co-worker came over to replace the brake line on my car and I finished Super Mario Galaxy, by finally nabbing the 120th Star. Now I can play as Luigi, but I’ll save that for the next time I want to play through the game again. I started up Super Mario Galaxy 2 and can honestly say it is a better game in every way so far. It builds on the original so well, that it’s unbelievable that it was originally envisioned as Super Mario Galaxy 1.5. The music is fantastic. The levels are ingenious and much less repetitive than the first. The only flaw in the game is the story, when compared to the first, but that is easy to overlook, as I care much more about the gameplay—which is phenomenal.

It’ll probably be my game of choice for the next few weeks. Hopefully I can complete it 100%, as well. It should be easier, thanks to Avery being able to help more than hurt when assisting as Player 2.

Tonight, I think I’m going to have another O’Fallon and sit outside for a bit to enjoy the weather. Maybe go for a walk and think about what it was like playing the original Super Mario 3 when I was younger, as the leaves changed outside and the air turned and I got nostalgic for Super Mario 1 & 2, a glass of grape juice in my hand.

It was Labor Day weekend of 2010. Autumn, Liam, and I were at church (Avery was at his mother’s that weekend). The church was having a baptismal service at a large outdoor amphitheater. I don’t remember the exact number of people there, but it was the largest gathering in the church’s history. This is a church that regularly has 5 services on Sundays and one on Saturday, so it was a lot of people.

Liam was just a few months over 1-year old and was really getting used to being able to run around all over the place. Of course, that meant he was no longer content to simply sit and enjoy the fresh air. After a particularly long period of sitting still, he’d had enough and got up to run around. I went after him to make sure he didn’t bother anyone. And to make sure he didn’t get lost. But mostly to make sure he didn’t bother anyone.

At first, I was quite a few steps behind him, but after about 5 minutes, he ran all the way to the top of the hill and stopped just short of the parking lot. He turned around to go back down the hill and as I caught up to him, my shadow fell across his own. He watched intently as my shadow completely blotted his out on the concrete. Laughing, he moved around watching our shadows meld and separate.

I remember feeling a similar sense of fatherly pride at his wonder. I also remember being a little sad, knowing that one day he would grow so tall that my shadow wouldn’t be able to cover him completely–that I wouldn’t be able to protect him forever. I thought back to how quickly Avery had grown and knew that it would happen again with Liam. I promised myself, of course, that I would pay closer attention to the times I would have, knowing that I would fail more often than not. Whenever I think about this day, I am reminded to stop obsessing over the things I want to do for me and instead enjoy the little things my children enjoy when I’m around. I won’t be able to enjoy them forever.

As I walk up Wyoming Street, the sound of music, laughter, and conversation drifts through the air. The Great Midwest Blizzard of 2011 has left a chill in the air, but the smell of sausage wafting down the street promises warmth. I turn up the driveway to the Knitter residence for Winter SausageFest and can see firelight flickering off parked cars and unfamiliar faces.

SausageFest is the brainchild of Rudolph Bledsoe and Chris Knitter. What started out as a simple house party, has turned into a Kansas City phenomenon, as their friends have invited more and more people to come to the event. I can smell wood burning in the fire pits as I step onto the deck. Someone planned ahead to fight back the cold. I can see Rudy next to the grill, working on the sausages. I say my hellos to a handful of old friends as I make my way to the sausage stand. I put two packs of Mendolia’s Sausages–my tribute to SausageFest for the evening–down in front of Rudy and shake his hand. We talk for a bit about my family before I let him get back to work and head inside to see the rest of the gathered throng.

Once inside, it’s clear that this SausageFest is different from those I’ve been to before. Many people I don’t recognize stand around the kitchen and a small table in the dining room with various goodies to eat. Various pop and rock songs play over the house speakers, while several huddle before a MacBook Pro to decide what to play next. I scan the contents of the food table, but there is no sausage ready to eat. Soon, though, Knitter appears. I say hi and he is quickly pulled away by another guest, as he plays the part of host. He returns shortly with a large pan of cheesy potatoes. My stomach has been rumbling, so I know that I will have to eat some right away.

With a plate of potatoes in one hand, and an ice cold beer in the other, I make my way back outside to check on the sausage. SausageFest is as much about seeing friends as it is about the sausage, but this isn’t just any old barbecue. Rudy has a method, one that he follows religiously to create a remarkable blend of sweet and spicy barbecue-y goodness in your mouth. While many people may come to SausageFest to visit and have a good time, if the swarm of mouths that descend upon the food table once the sausage is finished is any indication, they stay for the sausage.

Winter SausageFest is the kickoff for the 2011 SausageFest season, the second season of the event to date. Last year, SausageFest began in the early summer and ran until it started to get too cold to comfortably stand outside. Several events even had croquet matches going on in the “garden” next to the deck. If the success of the most recent ‘Fest is any indication, it won’t matter how cold it is in the future. If you cook it, they will come.

If you’re interested in learning more about SausageFest or want to check out the calendar for upcoming events, be sure to visit The Kansas City SausageFest Society homepage. While there, check out the gallery for images from Winter SausageFest, 2011. And be sure to come out next time. Bring your friends, some Mendolia’s for the grill… and an empty belly.

Somewhere out there, a parallel universe exists. This alternate reality is exactly like ours in nearly every way. There are thousands of parallel realities, but this one is the most important. It bears a 99.9999999% likeness rating to our own and has the following key features:

Jonathan Brandis and River Phoenix are still alive and have been cast in 3 movies together. In one of them, they starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. It tanked.

Firefly was never canceled. It ran for seven years and has become the gold standard for science-fiction character dramas on television. Joss Whedon created a spin-off about a young Shepherd Book. It was cancelled during the first season but has had a very successful comic book series since.

George Lucas died in 1996. On his deathbed, he turned over creative control of the series to Steven Spielberg. He sat on the rights for several years and eventually formed a partnership with J.J. Abrams and Timothy Zahn, requiring unanimous decisions for the future of the franchise. To this day, no one has ever heard of Jar Jar Binks or “Ani” Skywalker.

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip is still on the air and has served as biting commentary on the political state of our nation. He has announced his plans to run for President in 2012 should President Obama decide not run again.

Facebook and Google were both brought up on charges for mishandling of personal information of their clients. Facebook has not recovered from the bad publicity and has been overtaken by several social networks. Eric Schmidt is currently spending 5 years in prison for willfully violating the privacy of millions of Americans. Mark Zuckerberg has appealed his case and is currently still on trial.

Television networks have invested heavily in web and mobile distribution for currently airing series. Netflix and Hulu are the two most visited websites in all of the world thanks to easy viewing on iPhones, iPads and many set-top boxes/gaming devices.

If someone told me that one day I’d prefer to listen to covers of classic 80s rock songs and current pop songs sung by 20-something actors playing high schoolers instead of the original artists that recorded them, I’d have called them a liar. Or punched them in the mouth. Or both.

Damn you Thank you, Glee, for being so incredibly entertaining.