stark ranting

I like the use of random household items, probably found in the pantry.

installation proposal for artbots 2008 from ranjit on Vimeo

Posted by stark at 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I dare you to watch this and not smile.

Posted by stark at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Man, now that I know how much Microsoft's sales team rocks, I gotta get me some Vista all up in here.

Posted by stark at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This map shows the areas that will be most affected by a global sea rise. It's pretty interesting to see that the El Centro area in Southern California is completely underwater. Luckily my house is fine. In fact I might even get closer to having a view of the coast, so I'm going to scrounge up some extra fossil fuel to burn.

Posted by stark at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is a great quote from Josh Radnor, the actor who plays Ted Moseby on How I Met Your Mother.

That's why the people who love this show looooooove this show because I think it's like your favorite band that hasn't gotten popular enough for you to start hating it," he said. "So you can still kind of love it and wear the T-shirt and speak in code with the other people who are on to it, but it hasn't tipped into this kind of phenomenon where you start to turn on it.

Posted by stark at 04:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by stark at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's good to know that politicians are keeping the streets safe from these punks.

Posted by stark at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is long, but it's weirdly enthralling and maybe even a little thought provoking. All the major world wars as imagined as a food fight.

Posted by stark at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This quote from Obama's concession speech last night makes me think to myself, can I vote for Barack Obama? Yes, I can.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. For when we have faced down impossible odds; when we’ve been told that we’re not ready, or that we shouldn’t try, or that we can’t, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people. Yes we can.

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation. Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom through the darkest of nights. Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness. Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballot; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world. Yes we can.

Posted by stark at 01:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My 24 day experiment has come to an end. (I realize you were promised updates throughout the process, but extenuating circumstances threw a wrench in the works. Plus, I just really suck at motivating myself to post.) To be continued...

Posted by stark at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by stark at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is some of the greatest performance art I've seen in my lifetime. I didn't think anything could top his excruciatingly uncomfortable comedy routine at the White House correspondents dinner, but this run for the presidency is the most surreal/bitingly satirical/hilarious comedy routine ever.

Posted by stark at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Monday, while flying back from a business conference in Belgium, I decided it was time to take a month long hiatus from drinking. It was something I'd been considering doing for some time, but the timing never seemed right. As happens with many of the decisions I make, I arbitrarily decided on Monday that the time is now. In the interest of full disclosure I should note that it will really only be 25 days, because that's when I'm going to Vegas for the weekend, and being sober in Vegas would be about as much fun as... well, as being anywhere sober. Ok, so that's a joke. I'm not quite that bad off, but I do have an alcohol dependence. Not quite an addiction, but an undeniable habit. And that's why I'm doing this. I'd like to know how far that dependence extends, and the only way to find out is by cutting myself off. Will I feel physical effects from being a teetotaler? What are the situations in which turning down a drink will be most difficult? Can I still enjoy myself during those times? This month long experiment will hopefully answer those questions. Wednesday night I had my first test of will. It was Gene's birthday party and everyone showed up at dinner with a slight buzz from pre-dinner margaritas. I felt myself longing for a beer or a mixed drink more than once, but I still had a good time at dinner. Not surprisingly, it was obvious to everyone that something was up. They were generally supportive after I explained my situation, although Scott questioned my choice of timing. A real test will come when I'm with someone who pushes the issue and won't accept "no" as an answer. I trust myself to stand strong in the face of peer pressure, despite being thought of as lame. I will post updates as the next 22 days unfold. The next hurdle will be a weekend without drinking, which also happens to be my birthday weekend. Maybe Scott was right about bad timing.

Posted by stark at 09:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The road leads to the unknown ahead. Navigate your own way or you'll never get to where you need to be. Use the skills you've learned along the way, keeping in mind the people who had the greatest influence. You have the tools you need to find your way. The journey will not be easy, the pitfalls unexpected. But you may find that the best times are preceded by the biggest challenges. Friends will come and go. Lovers will come and stay. Keep an eye out for the one that makes the future seem possible. Separate the good people from the bad. Everyone is on their own path, and not everyone will help you on yours. Through it all, listen to your feelings and follow them where they take you. We are all luckier than we think, constantly submersed in the beauty and wonder of experience. I fully believe that you have everything you need if you can unlock it within yourself.

(Written to my future son or daughter, dedicated to my dad on Father's Day.)

Posted by stark at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by stark at 09:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)