C_G_Hearn

cghearn.com

2009-12-28T12:19:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone:

I have moved all new posts over to my new blog at cghearn.com. See you there.

God's Greater Than Government!

2009-11-08T12:23:00.000-08:00

Despite the late hours and hard work of Democrats. They have been forced to remove any payment for abortions in a government created health care plan.

Win count:
God = ∞, Pelosi = 0

visit NYTimes.com for more on this story.

Toph's Top Ten

2009-11-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

Hello, ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Toph's Top Ten!
Today, on Toph's Top Ten, we have tricks, treats, trends and terrific stories to talk about.

As I do most days, I have perused the web, seeking out blogs, news and little fun facts to feast upon. I have provided these stories in one simple location, in a vertically challenged and high fructose manner. Or in other words, you get to view all of these in one short and sweet blog post. Today's stories span the gap from viral pandemics, to free software, to alternative art.

1.- First up, we have a story on the underdog of all pandemics. That's right, your friendly neighborhood Swine Flu. You see, up until recently, veterinarians would say you had fallen for one of a plethora of urban legends. They would say, "You see Barbara, their is no need to worry about your cat Mrs. Puffintails getting Swine Flu from humans. Pathogens have very specific patterns of transmission and reverse zoonosis is not one of them" which would lead to Barbara Cottontrousers to momentarily ponder, thinking, "What did he just say" and respond with a humble, yet, understanding nod.

Well, apparently, the Dr. Whodathunkits of this world have been wrong. The following story, courtesy of Discovery News, clears up the confusion and confirms one of many cat owners greatest fears.

Could Humans Infect Pets With H1N1?

Photo of aforementioned Mrs. Puffintails

Nov. 6, 2009 -- Until this week, many veterinarians asserted that it was a myth that house cats could catch the deadly H1N1 flu from their owners.

Those veterinarians, along with other health experts, are revising their views after an Iowa Department of Public Health announcement Wednesday that the virus has been confirmed in an indoor 13-year-old cat, which likely contracted the illness from two flu-sick humans in its home.

For more on this story, visit Discovery News.

2.- Next up to bat, we have a story on Espana's alternative art scene.

The oft misunderstood artwork of SpY

"SpY is an artist from Madrid. His first actions appeared in the middle eighties. Shortly after, already a national reference as a graffiti artist, he started to work with other forms of artistic communication in the street: large posters, modified billboards, interventions that were experimental in the first nineties.

His work consists in the playful reappropiation of urban elements, that he replicates or transforms and then installs in the street. All his production stems from the observation of the urban environmnet, a sense sharpened by years of experience as a graffiti artist. A careful attention for the context of each piece and a constructive and non-invasive attitude unmistakably characterize his actions.

SpY's pieces want to be a break in the automat-like inertia of the urban dweller. Bits of thought that hide in a corner for whoever wants to let himself be surprised. Full of both irony and a positive sense of humor, they appear to inspire a smile, a thought, to help a conscience a little bit more lucid."

To see more of Spy's work, visit www.spy.org.es

3.- Every wanted to Improv in a public place? These people do and they do it well.

I Love Lunch! The Musical

Famed internet pranksters Improv Everywhere just posted their latest "mission," a musical about the joys of lunch sung inside the atrium of Trump Tower. But this time, they got to record it using a boatload of NBC's high-tech gear.

Visit gizmodo.com to see the video!

4.- Take one part Creative Commons and equal part Auto Industry and voila, you have the crowd-source created Local Motors Rally Fighter!

Rally Fighter

This is Local Motors' Rally Fighter, the first car openly developed and built using crowd-sourcing. It will change the auto industry forever. More importantly for me, with its P-51 fighter plane-influenced design, it might be the coolest-looking car ever.

The Rally Fighter is the first-ever crowd-sourced "creative commons"-like car, is the culmination of 35,000 designs by 2,900 community members from over 100 countries. Local Motors, the company behind it, plans to change forever the way cars are designed.

For starters, Local Motors doesn't even have a designer for their cars on staff. Each major system of the vehicle — whether it's the exterior design, interior design or doors — heck, even the name — are developed in an open source development process. Once there's enough support for any single design, Local Motors will develop it openly. That means members of the Local Motors community not only choose which designs are developed, but also, they get to help develop them. Contests are held for the development and the winner receives a monetary prize based on the importance of the system to developing the overall vehicle. Thus, door design might receive less money than say, exterior design.

Via jalopnik.com

5.- Microsoft gives away software?...

DreamSpark

DreamSpark is simple; it's all about giving students Microsoft professional-level developer and designer tools at no charge so you can chase your dreams and create the next big breakthrough in technology - or just get a head start on your career.

Microsoft DreamSpark

6.- The Lost Art of The Mixtape

Cassette From My Ex

Radar Three - Cassettes From My Ex - More amazing videos are a click away

The birth of the iPod era was definitely a great day for music lovers everywhere, but the non-linear, random-accessible freedom it gave listeners also brought about the death of something beloved by many — the mixtape. Traded between friends but most often between lovers (and singles pining for it), the act of making and giving a mixtape became a symbol for the awkward affection of a generation. Found magazine co-creator Jason Bitner’s new book, Cassette From My Ex, is a wistful look back at the art and craft of mixtape making — and the stories behind them, as told by a bevy of noted writers, artists and musicians — all, at one time or another, mixtape recipients. I have to admit, I’m a sucker for this kind of thing — I get nostalgic just thinking about all those dusty old tapes in my closet back home.

View the entire story on mentalfloss.com

7.- Jim Denevan a.k.a Earth Bender

Amazing Sand Artist

Jim Denevan makes freehand drawings in sand. At low tide on wide beaches Jim searches the shore for a wave tossed stick. After finding a good stick and composing himself in the near and far environment Jim draws-- laboring up to 7 hours and walking as many as 30 miles. The resulting sand drawing is made entirely freehand w/ no measuring aids whatsoever. From the ground, these drawn environments are experienced as places. Places to explore and be, and to see relation and distance. For a time these tangible specific places exist in the indeterminate environment of ocean shore. From high above the marks are seen as isolated phenomena, much like clouds, rivers or buildings. Soon after Jim's motions and marks are completed water moves over and through, leaving nothing.

www.jimdenevan.com

8.- Mind-Melting Science

Tiny tech, sparks cell signal find

Tiny metal particles have been shown to cause changes to DNA across a cellular barrier - without having to cross it.

The nanometre and micrometre scale particles resulted in an increase of damage to DNA across the barrier via a never-before-seen cell signal process.

Reporting in Nature Nanotechnology, the researchers say the mechanism could be both a risk and an opportunity.

They say the preliminary result is relevant as more medical therapies rely on small-scale particles.

More information is available on BBC News.

9.- Steven Wright vs. Mitch Hedberg

Comedian Quiz

I thought I was gonna look crazy from laughing so hard from these quotes.

"One of my favorite ways to waste time at work is to read a quote from Steven Wright or Mitch Hedberg, then ask my co-workers to guess which one said it. (We have quite a time down here.) With this quiz, you can play along at home. "

Courtesy of mentalfloss.com

10.- IT'S FRIDAY!

Nuff Said!

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaang! Big Perrrrm!

I miss being an old lady?...What?

2009-11-02T11:57:00.000-08:00

So, I was walking across the street today and saw an old lady with a sweater and scarf, etc. and I thought to myself "I miss being an old lady"...immediately I thought "What the crap? I've never been old or a lady"

What do Stormtroopers do on their day off?...

2009-10-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

If you've known me for more than about, oh...a week, then you know I'm a bit of a geek. If you've known me for more than a few months, then you know I <3 Star Wars. If you've ever hung out with me or know me on facebook, then you know I'm kind of a blog addict.

These, my friends, are a combination of some of my favorite things (minus the Julie Andrews reference). I stumbled upon a post today on mentalfloss.com about "What Stormtroopers do on their day off." One word, FANTASMICALRRIFIC! After reading the post, I noticed a link to wildammo.com. I clicked on the link, yada, yada, yada, my car exploded...okay maybe my car didn't explode, but the pictures were awesome!

I have included a few of the pictures below.

Want to see more? Head over to mentalfloss.com to see the rest.

Paradox

2009-10-28T06:49:00.000-07:00

I used to want a pair of Doc's (Marten's)

But now I've got a paradox

We got cops preparin docs

and poppin shots that's scarin flocks

outside spots that care for crops

with street docs that carry rocks

See, you're called to care for blocks

But, I see you preparin stocks.

2009-09-27T19:10:00.000-07:00

Bomb It - The Movie

I just finished watching this documentary on graffiti. It cover the span from the origins of tagging to the influence it has had over culture and the world.

The movie is one hour and 33 minutes and worth every minute.

I highly recommend watching it.

- More information
- Watch online

"Graffiti belongs to everyone and no one. On a section of a condemned wall, I put up a graffito... a bank director stopped the construction work, had my carving cut out as a fresco and inlayed it in the wall of his apartment."
Pablo Picasso

2009-09-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

The wonderful world of Disney......uh, I mean Twitter.

Like everyone, I love & hate Twitter. I hate the spammers and the porn bots, the "marketers" and the "artists", but occasionally, I read something that truly strikes my fancy (like the word dirigible.) I have included a plethora of aforementioned posts below. Enjoy!

LondonOConnorIn urban outfitters seeking more overpriced trendy things to more acceptibly express my individuality

michtenaOne more hour until I am liberated from my felt box! Feeling punch drunk. Going to rock on with my frock on!!

coolsideburnsI don't like it when people say how busy they are. That includes you too, inner voice.

rexboxHopefully this won't turn out to be Teh Swines...

samgilbeyDon't mean to boast, but I got tea and toast.

BBill10There are many prodigal sons on our city streets they run. Searching for shelter... We're cryin to them Come back home...

neaveBizarre. A small child has just asked me if I am Hitler. "Are you Hitler?" he said. "No" was my witty reply.

BBill10Jesus you are better than coffee, shoes, music, raspberries, laughing, reading, cute guys, health, fabulous hair, and money. You are better.

BBill10Just when I think its gone... Some stranger always has to ruin it. "My gosh, you look just like Ashlee Simpson." I look like me dang it :)

dcurtisI'm in the National Archives, looking at the Constitution. Woman next to me whispers, "where's the white-out?"

braillehiphop"daddy, I wanna read a book with you." - dudes, it is so amazing to have your daughter look at you and say stuff like that.

rexboxHappiness is a warm teapot.

rexboxWatched a new movie trailer with explosions in a space jungle and blue-faced cg people. Not sure I like this new direction for the smurfs.

rainnwilsonButterflies are stupid.

neaveHere is a photo of a horse I saw this weekend. It has not been Photoshopped. http://twitpic.com/co7vk

gordonbranderDear misogynist Axe ads: go away. -Gordon

blairwingo"Faith kicks in when feelings run out" -tye t.

motherfutonFriday Futon - I Would Be Legend http://bit.ly/vPwvk

brettmckayIf aliens are monitoring our TV signals, this is what they're watching: http://bit.ly/ie5ll

PastorMarkThe cult-like status of MJs death is unreal. If someone transported in from ancient Israel they would have swore he was a god like Pharaoh.

hellomullerHello London, I'm going to make it sunny and warm today. And then I'm going to add rain at random to screw with you. Sincerely, The Weather.

coolsideburnsIf lovin' The Golden Girls is wrong, I don't wanna be right.

motherfutonDebugging IE javascript. Smiling. I love my job. High on crack too.

joshycWorking in an office is a tacit communist government. We sit down, work for the same boss, and know nothing about the person to our right.

hellomullerTEH MOST RAD ICONS EVAR! http://bit.ly/lUKUY

mrdoobhttp://twitpic.com/83z1v - Banksy vs Bristol Museum 7 / 10

rexboxStrange how sometimes a night of no-sleep can be followed by a day of excess energy. I feel like could punch a hole in the sun today.

matthboothJust caught Mrs B playing cupboard Tetris. http://twitpic.com/7lyop

dewalkerThe riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man. - G.K. Chesterton

motherfutonFriday Futon - Evil Deer http://bit.ly/150wwr

waxpoeticsmag"Someone was trying to tell me CDs are better than vinyl because they don't have any surface noise. I said listen, life has surface noise."

motherfutonSweet coffee. Delicate delectable of the coffea plant. How you sooth me, how you lift me up under the strength of your caffeinated bean.

motherfutonI think I'd like to make a cover album of K. Clarkson's All I Ever Wanted on mandolin. That or the Wallflowers Bringing Down the Horse.

keeg1am snack: hot dog with sauerkraut, chili cheese and jalapeño chips. Going to regret that snack in T-minus 1 hour.

Aaaand end scene.

2009-09-15T17:10:00.000-07:00

Random thoughts from people our age...
I stole this from Amy, who stole this from Candi,
who stole this from an email....

-I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

-More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.

-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

-I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

-Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

-That's enough, Nickelback.

-I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

-Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?

-Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

-There is a great need for sarcasm font.

-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the crap was going on when I first saw it.

-I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.

-How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.

- Was learning cursive really necessary?

- Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

- I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

- Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

- My brother's Municipal League baseball team is named the Stepdads. Seeing as none of the guys on the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the name. He explained, "Cuz we beat you, and you hate us." Classy, bro.

- Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

- How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

- I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

- Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in..(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

- While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it..thanks Mario Kart.

- MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

- Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

- I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

-Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

- Bad decisions make good stories

-Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

- Is it just me or do high school girls dress more inappropriately every year?

-If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.

-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.

-There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

-I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

- "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

-I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dangit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

- I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

-When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

-Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...

- As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

-Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

-I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I’d bet my paycheck everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...

-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the heck do I respond to that?

-It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.

-I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

-I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

-I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

-The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself. There's nothing like being made to feel like a fatty before dinner.

2009-09-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this. I'm not sure what I think of Glenn Beck, but I like the 9-12 ideas.

The 9/12
(~ - Denotes my opinion, not the opinion of the original author.)

The 9 Principles
1. America Is Good. (~debatable)

2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
God “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” from George Washington’s first Inaugural address.

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
Honesty “I hope that I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” George Washington

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government. (~to an extent)
Marriage/Family “It is in the love of one’s family only that heartfelt happiness is known. By a law of our nature, we cannot be happy without the endearing connections of a family.” Thomas Jefferson

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
Justice “I deem one of the essential principles of our government… equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political.” Thomas Jefferson

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
Life, Liberty, & The Pursuit of Happiness “Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely to give him comfortable subsistence.” Thomas Jefferson

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
Charity “It is not everyone who asketh that deserveth charity; all however, are worth of the inquiry or the deserving may suffer.” George Washington

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
On your right to disagree “In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude; every man will speak as he thinks, or more properly without thinking.” George Washington

9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me. (~to an extent)
Who works for whom? “I consider the people who constitute a society or a nation as the source of all authority in that nation.” Thomas Jefferson

The 12 Values
* Honesty
* Reverence
* Hope
* Thrift
* Humility
* Charity
* Sincerity
* Moderation
* Hard Work
* Courage
* Personal Responsibility
* Gratitude

2009-08-31T22:47:00.001-07:00

So, although this is long over due. I have decided to actually use this blog, rather than simply letting it take up space. As of tomorrow, I will do my best to post here daily.

Let see how this progresses.