Richard Proenneke

Richard Proenneke Building His Roof

The last couple of times I have gone back home to Washington State for a vacation, I have caught a film on P.B.S. called “Alone in the Wilderness“. It’s a film my mom and brother Abe, really enjoyed and they thought I would too.

This film is more of a documentary about Richard Proenneke, who retired in 1967 to Twin Lakes Alaska where he built his log cabin  home by hand, and all by himself. The film consists of shots of Proenneke performing tasks around his cabin, canoeing and walking, and views of wildlife, along with narration. For shots of himself (since he was alone), Proenneke fixed the camera in place, and then performed his tasks. This would necessitate him returning to the camera after walking or canoeing away.

Proenneke originality was creating this video intending to be used as step-by-step instructions for creating a hand-built structure. He lived in his cabin for 30 years, only returning to the lower 48 states occasionally to be with family.

In 1999, at age 82, Proenneke returned to civilization and lived the remainder of his life with his brother in California. He died of a stroke April 28, 2003. He left his cabin to the Parks Service.

Dungeons & Dragons: It’s A Matter Of Life And Death

After my last post, I stumbled on some YouTube videos about the dangers of playing Dungeons & Dragons. Like this 1985, 60 Minutes story below. You also get to see Gary Gygax being interviewed.

To be Continued…

Get Psyched!

Those of you who are fans of the show “How I Met Your Mother” know about Barney’s “Get Psyched Mix”. The Get Psyched Mix is an audio CD that the character Barney on the show made with the idea that a good music mix dose not have to have highs and lows. But can be all rise! As he stated on the show, his Get Psyched Mix is nothing less then an audio journey to the white hot center of adrenalin.

This has inspired me to create my own Get Psyched Mix that is nothing less then all rise it’s self.

1. Bon Jovi – You Give Love A Bad Name
2. Blink 182 – Dammit
3. Disturbed – Prayer
4. Evans Blue – Possession
5. Gold Finger – Mable
6. Local H – Creature Comforted
7. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
8. Pearl Jam – Evenflow
9. A Perfect Circle – Judith
10. Billy Idol – Rebel Yell
11. Rage Against The Machine – Guerrilla Radio
12. Ok go – Get Over It
13. Stone Temple Pilots – Days Of The Week

This Was Me In Highschool

I started Netflixing the show “Freeks and Geeks“. There is a scene in the first episode that when I saw it I just went “whoa”. It’s the scene when the character Nick Andopolis, shows his drum set off to Lindsay Weir for the first time. It reminds me so much of myself in high school. I just had to share it. It’s totally awesome!

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry has Died

I read some sad news today

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, the widow of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, died today of leukemia at her home in Bel-Air at the age of 76. She went peacefully…

…Majel Barrett has appeared in every incarnation of the popular science fiction series and is sometimes referred to as “the First Lady of Star Trek”…

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry has Died | /Film.

Star Wars vs Star Trek

We have all had this debate when we gather together with friends and family. Who would win in a fight; Star Wars or Star Trek? Well I found this video below that tries to answer that question.

Bruce Campbell On The X-Files

Bruce Campbell As Wayne Weinsider On The X-Files

Last night Hannah and I were at home and watching season six of The X-Files. The episode we started watching was titled “Terms of Endearment” and to our surprise the guess star on that episode was Bruce Campbell of Evil Dead fame.

You gotta love it. We laughed and really enjoyed that episode.

Video Killed The Radio Star

I truly hate cable television. There are so many shows that are on T.V. that do little more then act as a tool to keep the masses parked at home on their asses. Cable T.V. is such a waist of time and a mental mind suck. This newly found hatred for the shows that I have no interest in seeing has been brewing for a while now and I’m slowly learning how to deal all the wasted time that goes with turning on the television. (see my post on Cognitive Surplus)

Yes, there is the occasional show that is worth watching. Shows like Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, The Dean Martin Show, Family Guy, and South Park, are all great shows. But are they worth planning your week around just to see them with commercials for products you really don’t care about jammed in-between the show every 15 minutes?

I think not.

To avoid this, I just wait till these shows come out on DVD. I am a big fan of buying shows on DVD. You can then watch them anywhere you want as time allows without having to interrupt your life or planning your day around when it airs. You also don’t have to deal with commercials when you by the DVD which to me is a HUGE plus to me.

Since my hatred for television program has been gowning, so too has my liking for podcasts. Podcasts consist of audio or video programs that you can download onto your computer or iPod and be played back whenever you like. There are programs on just about every thing imaginable and in my experience not just mind numbing tripe that seems to occupy 90% television today. It makes me wish I had an Apple TV to watch them on.

I am a big fan of tech news podcasts like This Week In Tech, Webb Alert, Tehzilla, and g4tv’s ‘The Feed’. I also enjoy a podcast on cigars call “The cigar Nation” and X-play’s gaming podcast. I want to encourage everyone to check out some of these podcasts. Especially those you who have a long commute to work. Podcasts; even audio books are a great thing to listen to.

SNL

Is it possible? Could it be true? Is Saturday Night Live actually funny again?

Cartoon Rant

Hello World. I hope your having a great day!

[ START RANT ]

I hate SpongeBob SquarePants. Actually I hate most modern day cartoons. None of them seem to be as good as the cartoons I grew up with as a kid. I’m talking Loony Toons, Tom & Jerry, Smurfs, others. Even now I find myself watching old Loony Toons and laughing. But I can honestly say i have never once laughed at SpongeBob SquarePants.

It’s like know one who makes cartoons for kids now are trying. I have seen kids sitting in font of a t.v. watching what passes for cartoons these days and their scared. They aren’t even enjoying what they are watching. It’s really depressing.

I find myself picking up DVD’s of old cartoons I used to watch as a kid so that when and if I have children some day they have something worth watching. Rather then this SpungeBob SquareCrap.

[ END RANT ]