More Lego Fun :)

I previously posted about Bible stories being depicted with Legos. Well check out this aircraft carrier: Lego Aircraft Carrier.

I assembled one of those 3-D Puzzles (Neushwanstein Castle) when my leg was busted back in high school. It took a couple full days to get the whole thing together, so I can imagine the dedication it takes to put together such elaborate creations with Legos.

Enjoy.

(I ran across these aircraft carrier pictures while surfing www.digg.com. - very cool place to start a bored web surfing session. There are some cool links.)

The Ultimate Flying Machine?

Airbus worked with BMW to come up with the interior for the A350. I've got to get me one of the these! :) The business-class ride in one of these planes will be pretty comfy according to the specs quoted in the article.

Check it out @ www.newlauches.com

Enjoy.

The Hardcore. Straight outta Harvard.

Check out this clip of Natalie Portman's gangsta rap on SNL:

Natalie Portman: Gangsta Rap

Yeah, I went to school with her. I think that makes it even funnier. :)

Enjoy.

(Thanks for the link, RJ)

Text Away

From Engadget Mobile today...

Text messaging bigger than Hollywood?:

We find this one a little hard to believe, but according to at least one set of stats, text messaging is a bigger business than the movie industry. Revenues for texting in 2005 were about $75 billion, vs. $30 billion for Hollywood. Text is even bigger than the video game biz, which only brings in $40 billion. And, to top it off, texting has a 90% profit margin. Given that texting is bigger than the movie business, we assume it's only a matter of time before it has its own stars and scandals. Oh, wait, it's already got that, right Paris?
(reference:www.textually.org)

I am not sure of the numbers (presumably all worldwide figures), but if true, thats a cool figure for text messaging. Pulling down that much revenue with 90% margins, the cellphone companies seem to be making out like a bandit (yet Verizon insists on charging extra for every little thing! grr. And another thing, Verizon, if I pay $100 - $200 for a phone, I was all the bloody features it is supposed to come with!!!! ...sorry, I am not pleased with Verizon right now) Somehow, knowing what cellphone companies are making off me isn't going to deter me from texting my friends. It's just too convenient. :)

The City is Mine

D, RJ, RJ's friend, and I went down to Fisherman's Wharf in San Fran today (pictures forthcoming). D and I parked the car at a 1hr, metered spot, and as we were headed to meet RJ and his friend, we saw a spot open up in the free, 4hr parking area. D runs to get the car and I stand in the spot.

Just before D turns the corner, this old guy in drives up in a Jetta. I wave him off. He then rolls down his window down as yells, "You can't save spots. You don't own the city you know!" Just then D pulls up and parks in the spot.

For a moment I felt bad. Then I remembered: the city is mine.

:)

Who's Line with Richard Simmons

Here's another long overdue link. Check out this episode of Who's Line is it Anyway? with Richard Simmons as the guess. This thing had me rolling the first time I saw it.

Enjoy.

Kosovo music video

There are a bunch of links I have been meaning to blog. This is one of them: Kosovo Its a fun take on the Beach Boys song Kokomo. It's not a new video (found it a while back) but I still get a chuckle out of it.

Enjoy.

Lego Bible Stories

Check out this Lego depiction of Bible stories. It is pretty extensive. A guy who goes by The Reverend Brendan Powell Smith took the time to put these scenes together. Definitely impressive - and he keeps adding new stories.

Enjoy.

Accenture Prom

D, RJ and I went to Accenture's annual formal party last. It was very fun and also very impressive.

The company rented out San Francisco's City Hall for the night, and all the Bay Area employees were invited. There was something like 1000 people there and plenty of food and drinks to go around. In the main enterance there were sushi and carving stations and a couple open bar setups. In the North Light Court, they had some chocolate fountains and top 40 music. The South Light Court hosted additional food spreads and a live band playing classic, old school rock and R&B songs.

I had a fun time hanging out with RJ, D and friends eating and dancing and eating some more :)

Thanks guys!

(btw this picture is actually from the pre-party at Mr. Smith's in SoMa.)

Please Hammer don't hurt 'em

Again in my random surfing of the worldwide web, I ran across MC Hammer's Blog. As with most things on the worldwide web, I may be late to the game, but I still think its a fun find. :)

Enjoy!

To read more about Stanley Kirk Burrell, check out the MC Hammer Wikipedia entry.

Google Reader

I came across Google Reader by happenstance when I curiously clicked an "Add to Google" button while surfing the worldwide web (that's a new term I came up with for the "internet" - it will catch on). Reader is probably old news, but it is fun to me so I thought I would share.

It is a web-based RSS reader - pretty simple and elegant way to read your RSS feeds. I like it because I have the same feed list and the same interface anywhere I go. I no longer have to sync my reading list between home and work. So far It was worked well with Safari and Camino (Mac) and with Firefox (PC). I haven't tried IE, but I am sure it will work just the same there.

If you are a fan of Gmail and read RSS feeds, then I and pretty sure you would enjoy Google Reader.

Zanna, Ho-zanna, Hey, Superstar

This past weekend I went home to hang out with my moms. (Always a pleasure. It feels good to be home, Mom :) We got some work in cleaning out the garage on Saturday. We both had a lot of crap in there. After dropping two carloads worth of stuff on Goodwill's door step, we showered and headed downtown to the show: Jesus Christ Superstar at the Byham Theater.

I remember listening to the soundtrack to JCS as a kid so watching the show brought back a ton of memories. It was good. We enjoyed the cast, although (this sounds funny to say) Judas and Mary were better than Jesus. The company flipped a couple of the scenes (spoiler warning for those in Pittsburgh...) They had Caiaphas and his homies as Italian mobsters (conceivably to avoid any possibly antisemitic appearance) and they made the scene with Harod like a meeting in Trump's boardroom on the Apprentice, which I thought was a fun scene. One of the coolest things they did was recreating famous paintings by freeze-action posing during the play. All in all, Mom and I had a great time.

On a whim, we decided to pop into the movies to see what's playing on the way home. We showed up with perfect timing to see Madea's Family Reunion, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It was funny, deep, and an all around feel-good movie. This was the first movie I have seen by Tyler Perry. My mom says she enjoyed it even better that Diary of a Mad Black Woman. I recommend it - especially if you grew up with a large black family.

Now I am off to San Fran to hang out with RJ and Danielle for two weekends ...oh and to do some work during the week between ;)

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night

(another long overdue post...)

My Disney Buddy, Michelle, has moved on to bigger and hopefully better (in the end) things: She took a temporary assignment down in the Washington, DC, Metro Area. I miss having her to bug a few cubes away (now I bug her via IM :), but I am sure she will be running things down there in a couple months. We had a fun dinner at Trappe Tavern in her honor.

Michelle, God bless on your rotation and life down in the WMA. Let's hang out sometime when you get back in town. :)

PS She is knelling (or kneeling) on a bar stool in that picture. She's not really 6'4" (actually, I think she is closer to 4'6" :)

It's not easy being green

In honor of my blogging revitalization, I have switched up my background. :)

I guess you can say I am hoping for an early spring no matter what Punxsutawney Phil says. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think of the layout.

PS Check this groundhog day site out: http://www.groundhogchase.com/

Hoop Dreams

(another overdue post ... I am catching up :)

For the last couple months I have been in a basketball league out here in King of Prussia, PA (just west of Philly). A bunch of guys from work, some of their friends from the area, and I took the league by storm, finishing undefeated in a convincing fashion (granted the competition wasn't really that high). Above is a picture of me following up a beautiful off-the-backboard alleyoop from Brian (red shorts) .

Now we've moved on to a different, more competitive league in Upper Merion. I missed the first game, but I am looking forward to a good one this coming Sunday.

Early Retirement

This post isn't as over due as the last (but I think I skipped over some stuff in the middle :)

Again travelling for work, I made my way down to Orlando for a couple weeks. Because I had to stay over the weekend, I got to miss the big storm.

But because I had to stay over the weekend I had to entertain myself too. I took a trip over to Universal Studios' City Walk - yeah, if you are thinking about going, make sure to wait until night fall. It wasn't much fun at 3pm on a Sunday. Apart from Sunday afternoon, I had a good time though. Got to know some folks from work a little better, met up with my cousin, and caught up with an old buddy (What's up, Arlon-Glenn!).

One of the funny things I noticed though: radio is radio, no matter where you go ...or what language it's in. I was jamming to 100.3, a spanish radio station, most of my trip. I "speak" a little spanish, but definitely not fluent yet. However, I was still able to tell that the same songs were on heavy rotation as well. By the end of the two weeks, I was humming along! :)

Now it's back to the cold. (But I still love me some East Coast. Snow and all.)

Mmmm.... Chicken & Waffles :)

This post is long over due :) Back in January I made my way down to ATL for work. While I was down there I got a chance to hang out with my friend Marie. We met up at Gladys Knight & Ron Winan's Chicken & Waffles.

As I am walking in and saying hi to Marie, I noticed this guy sitting right by the door. He looked familiar but I thought nothing of it. As we were walking to the table, Marie says, "You know who that was right?" I had no clue. It was Mace! (remember him?) I guess I should say Reverend Mace, please excuse me. Yeah, apparently he sat right next to Marie and she told him quite plainly to back up. He replies, "Do...you...know...who...I...am?" (if you've heard Mace talk, you realize how slow he talks). Marie: "No, I don't know who you are. Please move away from me." Yeah, afterwards she realized it was Mace. :)

Haha.

PS Marie, I forgive you for making fun of the way I say "chicken and waffles." I am going to have the tee shirt made next time i visit: Forgive me, y'all. I'm from the North. :)

Just me and Mickey (and Michelle, and her family :) Part II

I've made a slideshow* of the pictures I took during the fireworks last week. I have a few videos of the fireworks and the parade, but I am tired so those will have to wait :)

Hope you enjoy. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.


*File may take a while over dial-up

Just me and Mickey (and Michelle, and her family :)

There is nothing wrong with mixing a little fun into a business trip. Being that I had to be in Orlando for a 1/2 day meeting today, I decided to make the best of things and head over to Walt Disney World for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

My good friend Michelle, who was on vacation with her mom and dad, invited me to join them for the evening. It was a blast! I was all gitty on the tram and monorail rides from the parking lot to the park (of course I couldn't show it cause that would just be kinda weird). Yay to Michelle, who is a Disney vet, for letting me know about the party.

We watched Mickey's Philharmagic, Stitch's Great Excape, the fireworks, and of course the parade. They also had a bunch of rides open. One of the best parts was the complementary hot chocolate and sugar cookies. The hot chocolate was some of the best i've ever tasted (it was made with Disney magic ;)

Of course you know I have a pictures and some video shots. I am stuck in the airport on my way home now, so you'll have to wait for the next post to see the fun.

Thanks again to Michelle (and family) for hanging out.

Weekend of Birthdays

Click to see more pics
I would like to welcome into the world, weighing in at 8lbs 6oz and standing (...well, laying) at a full 22":

Jordan Anthony O'Neal

He was born to my cousins, Jay and Aliya, on Nov 18. I went to visit the three of them today at the hospital. That is a good looking baby boy, and I am happy for Aliya and Jay. Aliya is recovering well. She did have surgery so she isn't expected to go home until Wednesday. She should be home in time for Thanksgiving.

This weekend I also took a trip down to DC to visit my good friend Kapil (pictures forthcoming). About a dozen or so of us went to Maggiano's for a good family style Italian meal. Then a few of us meet up with some other friends at a place called Chloe in Adams Morgan. All around, a good night (although I would suggest not trying to get a cab from Adams Morgan to Bethesda - took us a long while to find one that would do it for less than $50).

Happy Birthday to Jordan and to Kapil!