Category: Personal

Schrödingers Child

Stock Photo – Actual item may be significantly different

Don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but we’re gonna have a baby soon. I know, big surprise, right? What’s been surprising to me is my own reaction to this whole baby thing. Right now, like that infamous cat, the child exists in a quantum state. It is neither here, nor non-existent. But more importantly, the possibilities for Speck are endless at this moment. Or at least, my thoughts on the possibilities. At this point, Speck can still be a rock and roll star (despite neither of its parents having any noticeable musical skills).  Continue reading “Schrödingers Child” →

Awesome Vending Machine Sells Random Books for $2

“Just a few months ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Toronto and strolled right into The Monkey’s Paw, an “antiquarian shop specializing in uncommon books and paper artifacts from the age of print.” Upon entering, I was immediately drawn to this beautiful, vintage-looking vending machine. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it sold random books for only $2. Named the “Biblio-Mat,” it’s the world’s first randomizing vending machine for old books.The Biblio-Mat was built by Craig Small for The Monkey’s Paw. According to the owners, “The machine was conceived as an artful alternative to the ubiquitous and often ignored discount sidewalk bin. When a customer puts coins into it, the Biblio-Mat dramatically whirrs and vibrates as the machine is set in motion. The ring of an old telephone bell enhances the thrill when the customer’s mystery book is delivered with a satisfying clunk into the receptacle below.” Watch the video below to see it in action!”

Source: Awesome Vending Machine Sells Random Books for $2 – My Modern Met

…And we’re gonna get married.

You’re invited!!

After the mess of getting everything signed sealed and delivered, there was only one piece of the puzzle remaining; the form notarized by the US embassy saying I could legally get married. My biggest fear was that I’d get to the embassy and they’d have to run all sorts of checks and time consuming verifications and my promise to get the form back to the Kaunas Registry office on Tuesday to confirm our date wouldn’t happen.
Continue reading “…And we’re gonna get married.” →

The Tale of the Apostille…

Yes, these ARE the rings we’ll be using 🙂

So… getting married in Lithuania is not an easy prospect.

Here’s how it’s all been breaking down so far: Last summer, when we were in Vegas, Rasa and I had talked about getting married. We’d also talked about having kids. To be fair, we also talked about various fast food restaurants and why Dr. Pepper was a national treasure even if native born Lithuanians in the car couldn’t stand it. But those first two things were a little bit more important, surely. Continue reading “The Tale of the Apostille…” →

Reimagining London 2016

DSC04765 (1) 6.13.04 PMOne of the great things about living centrally located in Europe is that nothing is very far away – and generally not that expensive to get to. If you’re like Monika, you can find amazing deals (she boasts about a roundtrip from Sweden to Italy, via Frankfurt, for little more than a euro each way). But even if you don’t have her luck, you can get some pretty amazing deals which allow you to see new countries or revisit old ones. Continue reading “Reimagining London 2016” →

Olivia Munn and The Threat of the Fake Geeks – Paging Dr. NerdLove

Cliff Breczinski accused Olivia Munn of being a fake geek girl and of appropriating nerd culture. Why are we inventing new boogeymen to “oppress” nerds?

This is a long read, but well worth the time. It points out how everyone is looking for someone to hate, to pick on, or otherwise make feel bad for some reason. In this case, it’s the love of geek things.

Source: Olivia Munn and The Threat of the Fake Geeks – Paging Dr. NerdLove

A Most Unholy Architecture: Six Devil’s Bridges | Atlas Obscura

Source: A Most Unholy Architecture: Six Devil’s Bridges | Atlas Obscura

Bridges are such wonderful devices, liminal transports from one side to another. Here’s a look at 6 which can take you from wherever you are to a fantastical place found on the outskirts of your imagination.

For me, I now have more places to see before I die.

Dolphin Spotting

BumpWeek 23 and things are heating up, literally. Speck is about 29cm long and growing daily. Rasa is experiencing a textbook pregnancy, meaning if the book (we’re using the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, which we like better than the super scary What to Expect When You’re Expecting) says you might experience this, she’s experiencing it. Weird cravings (eating potato chips which she hates), muscle cramps, nausea earlier, low blood pressure, all of it.  Continue reading “Dolphin Spotting” →

IF Magazine: Internet Archive

54-05,IF2

One of the things I love about the Internet is the amazing amount of things which would be nigh on impossible to find elsewhere. For example, the Internet Archive, which collects and stores vast quantities of really stuff has just released the complete run of  IF Magazine (1952-1974).

I absolutely dig living in the future only written about in these magazines!

Confessions of a Vinyl Junkie | David Bowie’s 25 Favorite Albums

The Record CollectorA little while ago, my friend JR made the comment that even though it’s been more than a month since David Bowie’s death, he’s still listening to the man’s music.

So am I.

Along those lines, I present a little tidbit which says that while we’re all listening to Bowie’s music, he was probably listening to other things. This is a great list and the commentary notes are fantastic.

Source: Confessions of a Vinyl Junkie | David Bowie’s 25 Favorite Albums