Category Archives: Haiku

A Haiku Song? Yes, please.

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Thanks, Jesse, for thinking of me when you watched Tom Wilson play songs in haiku.

Haikus for a year
Make me want to play guitar
Just like Biff Tannen


Tom Wilson is also on Netflix. I will definitely have to check it out.

I hope you all are having a happy Veteran’s Day.

On Sunday, this is what I’ll be wearing:
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No, Mike, I haven’t converted to something, although you gotta admit that my wife’s texts were a lot funnier than my own. (I said I had converted to Awesomeness. She beat that.)

I’m wearing it in solidarity with believers, specifically with Juma Nuradin Kamil’s family, around the world on a Sunday when we remember and pray for followers of Jesus who have been/are being persecuted. (Really, we should remember and pray all year long, which this app (for iPhone and Android) can help you with, but it’s also good to have a set day on the calendar.)

Thanks, Jeremy, for showing us this video that lines up with one of the songs we play. We won’t be showing it on Sunday, but it’s definitely worth a watch.

Art that expresses my heart? Sign me up.

Travis Prinzi of the Rabbit Room has a great article about telling a meaningful story, quoting from Walk the Line:

I mean, you can’t help nobody if you can’t tell them the right story.

I started a new story as part of NaNoWriMo, yes, but also because it’s straight from my heart. Each book I’ve written, I’ve rejected people-pleasing more and more and now write what I believe to be a good story and not what I think will sell (if you’ve watched the majority of what’s on TV, you’ll notice that it’s not always the best story that sells).

Thanks, Futile Ohm, for the link to the NaNoWriMo version of Scrivener. This project has so many character details that it definitely helps me keep all my notes organized. Anyone that has seen me in the midst of writing a novel knows that they should have bought stock in legal pads and tiny memo notebooks.

And for those praying about agents looking at my manuscripts and all that, James 4:2-3 had some insight for me this morning.

Teach how to write a haiku? Why, certainly!

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My nephew is going to write a haiku about the moon for school. I have some experience with haikus.

They’re about nature and have a structured format (it was inspired from Bushido traditions and a hierarchy/order to life, but I can get into that later).

This example is not about nature, but follows the 5-7-5 syllable structure:

Run, Luke Skywalker
Obi-Wan Kenobi died
Get to the Falcon

Run, Luke Skywalker – 5 syllables
Obi-Wan Kenobi died – 7 syllables
Get to the Falcon – 5 syllables

Nephew – Hope that helps. Let me know if you need more. When your haiku is all edited and turned in, I’d like to post it to the bloggh (it’s normally blog, but blame Jason for the crazy spelling).

Art from the past few days

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Especially with the How to Draw a Pointillism Princess, I think it’s time for some art.

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Those of the Kriege der Sterne persuasion will recognize this as the hermit who has been living for generations on Korriban in cliff-side ruins entangled by a cactus swarm.

Even if you didn’t play on Saturday (although you were invited, @bessiejo), the hermit may look similar to another bearded loon.

You may have heard that there is a Star Wars vs. Star Trek thing on the InterTubes. Have you seen the LEGO version of that fight?

On the topic of loons, I found this scrap of paper from a year ago. I can’t figure out what the epsilon I was talking about. (Editor’s Note: Check the comments for a hint at the solution. I remembered it.)
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Don’t worry, Mom. It’s not like I write haikus about the library or anything.
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I can’t take credit for the Bell Beast. Go visit the Sidewalk Driver for more details on coping with carrot carcinogens.

To fulfill the cutemetrics for this post, here is my youngest eating a half-pound burrito:
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I guess if it’s metrics, it should be the 0.22679618 kg burrito.

Songs stuck in my head right now?

Danse by Caedmon’s Call
All creation moves in a cosmic danse
Before the Lord her King;
and the rythms, the reason, the rhyme
of the danse pulses within everything.
And the universe wheels and whirls like
a dervish in perfect seven-step time
The Lord made the Danse,
He taught her the steps, and He causes the songs to shine.

We must danse, danse, danse
danse in God’s honor.
We must yield all our steps unto the King.
We must danse, danse, danse
danse in God’s honor.
Let His praises ring throughout the earth

Adam and Eve dansed in Eden’s environs
Early in earth’s morning air
They named all the animals musical names
Glorious potentiality shared.
But Lucifer sang out a serpentine song
And offered death’s danse as a token.
And pausing to listen Adam missed his step;
Earth’s harmony in the danse broken.

We must danse, danse, danse
danse in God’s honor.
We must yield all our steps unto the King.
We must danse, danse, danse
danse in God’s honor.
Let his praises ring throughout the earth.

Jesus dansed into the world
Singing His heavenly song.
He taught the Danse to those who would
listen and learn as He moved along.
But the steps of His Danse led to a cross
where He died while the haters mocked on.
But He Dansed through death’s arms
and over Hell’s gate and in three days
dansed forth from His tomb

We must danse, danse, danse
danse in God’s honor.
We must yield all our steps unto the King.
We must danse, danse, danse
danse in God’s honor.
Let His praises ring throughout the earth (x2)

He is Lord by Hillsong
Oh blessed lamb once slain
Will reign forever more
His hands once bound now save
Our God will never fail

He is Lord
He is Lord
Sings my soul
He is Lord
And He lives
Yes He lives
I’m alive ’cause Jesus lives

‘Tis at the cross of Christ
Where earth and heaven meet
Where sin is overcome
To God the victory

And now
Let the earth resound with praise
For our Saviour God He reigns
He is high and lifted up
Arise
For the King of glory waits
He is coming back again

Still Disturbed by the Smooth Jazz

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Stayed awake ’til 3
Finishing the final draft
Jason has it now

Walked into my work
Greeted by jazz in the dark
No soul was around

Kenny G played on
The IT guy in the dark
An awkward moment

Made some ID cards
One for a kid named “Cougar”
And for “Ju-wanna”

Heard about new game
X-Wing versus TIE fighter
MotionPlus on Wii?

Helped at Project C.U.R.E.
This air mask might not create
The desired “safe” vibe

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But it seems Elvis
And my good friend Jen have had
Even stranger days

Ends, Beginnings, and all that Goofiness in the Middle

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The Final (Official) Haiku
I would like to thank
All the encouraging friends
and a patient wife

Fanfares and all that.

As we are on the last leg of the trip to Montana (aside from the actual being in Montana and then getting home), we come to the last haiku. I have definitely kept my writing sharpened since college. The daily writings and postings were helpful when it came time to do a technical guidebook for my district and I was basically tech blogging.

I think I will miss the daily challenge. I have a couple of other concepts bouncing around. But first we have today’s adventure:

  1. Yellowstone – I hear there’s bears. Or was that Jellystone?
  2. Another full day in the Scion. I busted the entire 6 hour drive yesterday and was ready to keep going. I am a new convert to cruise control.
  3. A potential foray into…dial-up…where we’ll be staying for a week. You may find me huddling in the parking lot of a local hotel. If the locals have “WHS” (hotel-speak, I guess, for wi-fi. Much shorter/clearer abbreviation than what the rest of the world uses).

There will be an automated post coming up. I will be on the road by then, but I still found the haiku fun. As The Robot promises, there’s a fun treat in post I’m writing (blogging on the road leads to some space-time thingys).

an-open-letter

Enjoy this most recent to the ultimate album, Ultimate Karate.

Thanks for the adventure!

“For every day, there is a night…”

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So, Devin, are you saying that there’s a longer version in the works? Because NPH is actually pretty funny in that trailer.

“Muahaha…so, yeah, that’s coming along.”

It’s great to see that Joss Whedon does stuff like “Motion Picture Association of my house“. Reminds us that he’s a nerd like the rest of us. (Okay, so like the rest of me. All of you socially adapted people who follow the blog…thanks for visiting my little domain (domain a double entendre for site or delusional masterpiece)).

Slade, when you mentioned RL DBZ, I thought you meant this or this. (Or, for Devin’s sake, a mention of a con and a link.)

But no. Now I have an image that makes me so nauseous, I won’t be able to sleep. (Great. Although my youngest screamed until 11pm, she did calm down after all the lights were out and was like, “What the…? Well, I’m bored…[snore]“)

Since I don’t know what tonight’s wi-fi situation will look like, here’s a haiku earlier than normal(-ish):
The Haiku
Two days remaining
For this year’s haiku project
Will I need robots?

I thought about automating my June 27 post (1 year!) since we will be on the road between Idaho and Montana, but I will try to find a connection…any way I can.

Montana – Day 1

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A reminder to people wanting to follow along (like you, Mom). We can do cellphone updates here.

The Haiku
I’m a knight errant
Questing for some good wi-fi
and soft-baked pretzels

I found some decent wi-fi, but thankfully I had a soft-baked pretzel last night. Previous time to that had been a couple of years.

Quick trip updates: We did go through Zion National Park. Pictures later (Mac and Scion say 10:46pm, Hotel says 11:49pm). We were the only ones going our way in the dark on winding roads. I also went through the longest tunnel ever. I felt elvish – not meant to be underground for so long. Actually, switched to nightvision on my camera and had a rabid lobster flashback from Cloverfield.

Hopefully the next stop we can get to earlier and have better wi-fi. Lots of fun so far.

Funny stuff, Devin.

Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.

Humor in a Game and Getting Old

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My wife decided to help a friend out and host a jewelry party. (Coming from Chicago because the “come to a party to buy stuff” market was saturated…Sorry to break it to you, but with Gold Canyon Candle, BeautiControl, Mary Kay, and Romdimpler’s Haberdashery, we’ve seen enough.)

My oldest daughter and I went out to eat (our usual McDonald’s) and then went to Bookman’s. Man, no Spirit or Watchmen. But I did get $11 on store credit on returned books. I am now starting to really see the perks of the library. If I want to read the book, chances are there’ll be students wanting to read the book. Pretty cool, and my 8 bookshelves can get a much-needed weeding.

The Old Part: I got my orthopedic inserts today. Someday when I’m not so sensitive about being the youngest person (besides my daughter) in the doctor’s office I will show you the monstrosity that is size 18 inserts. I’m not exaggerating about the old part. The woman in the next room told the doctor, “Well, I’ll probably die within the year or two so whatever happens happens and I won’t worry too much about pain.”

The Game Humor Part: Devin, you asked about games with humor. (Still haven’t sat down to download the Precipice demo yet.) There are a lot of inside jokes in Simpsons Hit and Run (one being the Matlock Expressway). My daughter got Fox in Socks (the actual book, not the psycho video).

And Mike – here’s today’s Star Wars parody.

Here’s how I celebrated being back home after the jewelry party:

The Haiku
No matter how much
Sugar is held in the bowl
Drink it anyways

My Doctor is Experimenting on my Eyes

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The Haiku
Eyes? Who needs two eyes?
What’s the worst that could happen?
New technology

I’m trying out an upgrade of my current type of contacts, but then my eye doctor asked me to compare them to a new type of nighttime tinting contact.

Day 1. I can see.

I need to figure out some way to objectively measure contact performance. (Really, I need more science to my mad.)

“Viennese Waltz. I don’t know much about the Viennese, but I hear they’re good people.”
- Twitch, from So You Think You Can Dance

A Mathematical Formula for How Many People Share Stan Lee Characteristics in the Marvel Universe

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Yep, Devin, you asked for it. Here’s how to figure out a predictability of how many people in the Marvel universe share Stan Lee characteristics.

As x approaches Stan Lee, x is multiplied by the 12 movies so far, rising exponentially by Life, the Universe, and Everything, factored by the amount of gamma radiation present (I find it funny that it looks like a hangman’s gallows) within the boundaries of how many movies make money divided by the 31 attempts so far. Solution: As long as Marvel movies make money, the rate of babies born looking like Stan Lee will increase exponentially. Modus ponens Excelsior! (Not counting ‘Who wants to be a super-hero?’ because, frankly, no one watches that anymore.)
(Do you like my wife’s ultra cool stationery?)
(I being an expert on cool.)

Here’s a cool mash-up of Stan Lee’s cameos:

With the upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie slated for May 1, 2009:
The Good News

  1. Remy LeBeau
  2. Deadpool

    3. (my obsession ever since Ultimate Alliance)

  3. Dominic Monaghan

The Bad News

  1. Will.i.am

    2. (Remember a Wayans in DnD? Surprisingly, the Academy didn’t!)

And Mike, here’s your Star Wars parody. I felt like demonstrating another funny situation where real life people interact with a fantasy world:

(Star Wars being reality and American Politics a fantasy. I thought we all knew that.)

The Haiku
Math illustrated
by non-traditional means
makes it spicier!

Reliability

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The Haiku
Deliver parcels
on time and consistently
so consumers smile

J got his Wii today. Simple strategy? Find a store manager who actually tracks his shipments and has a reliable UPS driver who shows up at the same time every delivery.

In your face, Wal-Mart! EBGames beat you out of another big sale.

Really Important News

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The Haiku
Planets have been found
They need to be more famous
Is Wii Fit in stock?

Three Earth-ish planets have been found. Should be big news. But then Billy Ray Cyrus was on the Today show talking about a photo of his daughter. My daughter wouldn’t let me change the channel so I sat through it. No big deal, right? But now crazy bloggers are calling him an unfit dad because he won’t throw a fit.

fit…Fit…

The Wiis are sold out, again. No worries for me since I have one, but my brother-in-law (Rockstar 2.0, not Rockstar 3.0 beta) was promised one from his wife for Father’s Day. I’m helping him out (thus the Twitters from 4:30am in a Wal-Mart) but I’m trying to get a hold of Wii Fit. While staring at a Wii ad waiting for someone to respond to our cries for help in the electronics section, I became quite familiar with Wii Fit’s features.

How long did we wait at Wal-Mart the first night? Well, we saw the Journey concert series HD ad loops on the TVs five times.

I guess people are buying up entire shipments of Wii Fit and going crazy on eBay. There was one story where two guys walked into a Gamestop and bought 80 copies of WiiFit. Paid cash. Craziness.

It can be determined that Wal-Mart workers still have no clue when video game stuff comes in.

On the topic of 3.0, I did get Firefox 3.0 (see, there are some things you can get, even if there’s a huge line…and it didn’t take forever to download).

Firefox 3.0
I dig the huge back button because, yes, users do actually miss it when they try and click. Users who have been teaching for 30+ years and I have to teach them how to attach documents to an e-mail.

I also like the “Awesome Bar”, giving headlines from your recently visited sites. Pretty cool stuff.
Want in on the fun?



Robots: Helpful Toaster or Mechanized Terror of an Artificial Morality

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iPhones, what can’t they do? (Except for be on a cheaper network other that AT&T.)

But have you seen what Berkley put out?

My prediction? iPhone-guided nanobot swarm. Helpful AND terrifying! Two for one deal.

I wonder how the military reconciles this:

Applications may not be designed or marketed for real time route guidance; automatic or autonomous control of vehicles, aircraft, or other mechanical devices; dispatch or fleet management; or emergency or life-saving purposes.

Straight from Section 3.3.7 of the Software Developer’s Kit.

I guess Apple wants to limit the deaths of people using iPhones to people distracted in traffic while watching YouTube videos of lonelygirl.

On the topic of robot death, my cousin showed me a great website to watch anime on. Now I can figure out why all my students wear those crazy metal plates on their heads. (Not to protect against alien transmissions, I find out.)

I bought books one and two of Gundam towards the end of this past school year. My students responded, “Oh, I think my dad told me about this show once.” Come on! I’m not that old! It was on when I taught high school. Well, at least this old guy can watch the episodes. I recorded the first episode when it first aired on Cartoon Network way back when. I missed one episode (being an adult with a job and all) and the whole continuity was ebbed. Click here to watch some Gundam.

Sorry, Slade. No GT, but I think you’ll still be happy.

Mike and Devin, we should try and re-live college some time.

The Haiku
Blue garbled dog voice
and a monster-obsessed boy
My college dorm room