ABC. 123. A BLOG BY JGH.

Marry Christmas everybody. Just in time for the big day, I give you my gift (via Neatorama):

I’m so happy to see April March back in some capacity. She’s such an awesome artist, all around. This latest album is a collaboration with Steve Hanft. And, apparently, you can only download “April March and Steve Hanft” (as far as I know) on her myspace page! You should check it out. But be warned, if you plan on buying the download, know you’re getting 128kbps with joint stereo. I certainly have written a complaint in regards to this.

Snoop Dog Blows My Mind

For those of you who don’t know. I’m a member of a couple of dating/hook up sites, like bear411 and BearCiti. And, if you haven’t gathered, I’m a bear. I’ve been a member for a while now. And, up till today, it’s been a joy to wandering around and looking for potential guys for hanging out with intentions on romance, (never hooking up, because I’m not that kind of guy). Today, these sites have been a chore to look at, and a matrix of “duh”, as far as the eye can see. (Much like MySpace).

Let’s take a look, here, at a message that popped up today!

A couple of hours later, I wrote this in to the couple of sites I patronize frequently.

“Well… so. I’m getting rather sick and tired of these bear dating/hookup sites. I came to these sites, wide-eyed and optimistic, thinking I’ll meet somebody interesting for a meaningful relationship of some sort.

Tragic thing, though. All the guys I’ve actively pursued have been:
A)Taken
B)Too Far
C)Not attracted to me
D)Not interesting enough

All the men that have tried to talk to me have been:
1)Not what I was looking for
2)Clearly didn’t give a flying fuck what I wrote. And, by virtue, didn’t give a flying fuck about what kind of individual I am.
3)As dull and dim as my own personal hell

Clearly there’s got to be something wrong this this picture. Is it me? Is it you? Is it gay society? This has been an exercise in nothing but false hopes and frustration!

With whatever trickle of hope I have left in this contemporary “match-maker” machine, I submit myself to you. And, I’m not doing this out of desperation. But, certainly, out of my hope in humanity. And, certainly, because it’s my nature to be an optimist till the writings on the wall are painted out in large 8 foot tall letters saying, ‘QUIT WASTING YOUR LIFE, IT’S NOT WORKING!!!’.

With that said:

[ME]…Currently stuck between the joshua trees and the palm trees. As it might describe my personality, I’m compelled by the two. • I’m a creative person who works as a graphic designer and web designer. Struggling for a new artistic direction; I’m slowly taking course. • Music is also very important to me. You might find me at the Il Corral, some nights. Or the Walt Disney Concert Hall, for some new compositions. Finding music, I usually turn to online and local public radio. Support local, I say. Dublab, last fm, kpfk, and even kcrw. If not there, then my friends, most definitely. • Places that I enjoy going to: Museum of Jurassic Technologies, Barnsdale Park, Hammer Museum, Devil’s Punchbowl, driving around in the desert aimlessly in the dark, looking at stars, Honduras, hanging out and having dinner with my friends. • I have an annual pass to Disneyland! • Many people have called me weird. You might, also. • I have a 3 drink max. I smoke(out). I don’t do drugs. I have a big big problem with people who drink or smoke too much. And, forget even saying hello if you abuse drugs(prescription or illegal). • I’m dyslexic with mild ADD. (Who doesn’t) I can’t spell for shit. And I’m the same way about math. • I’m non-theistic and like to cuddle.

[YOU]…Looking for people of like mind. • Creativity is an important thing to have. • I won’t be interested in guys too much past 30 • You should be genuine • No fems • Rejects drugs. Perhaps drinks and smokes socially. • Not in to tarot cards. • Likes video games(hardcore or not) • You like “eletronic” music and understand the difference between “house” and “trance”, and find the trance and house music no less better than a knife in the ear. Ideally, you know that “noise” is a genre of music • You have it together • You read this.”

And now, to sit back, and let the responses pour in!

When I was growing up, my parents bought me this amazing toy called Spacewarp. It was basically a little roller coster you build for these ball bearings. At this point, in my pre-adolescences, I had never been on a roller coaster. And because I was both terrified and compelled to the excitement of roller coasters, I was mesmerized by what I could build. The speed. The drops. The loops. The stunts. I even created little roller coaster themes for it.

But, when I ran out of track, that was it. There was no more expansion or upgrades because the company who produced it stopped making parts. They stopped production of Spacewarp altogether!

But, it’s 2007. And the Japanese shared my love for this awesomeness. In face, since 2005, Bandi have been coming out with the new Spacewarp.

And, from what I’ve gathered from the pictures I’ve found on Google, it’s big time with hobbyists. Building crazy, huge structures!

I don’t care how much of a geek this makes me. Spacewarp rox my sox.

Check out the video:

First of all… Elizabeth Taylor is crazy.
Miss Taylor, let me show you.

My long time BFF Rob, in Wisconsin, have a running joke about the White Diamonds commercial. In it, you see the restless, horny, and crazy Liz Taylor giving away perfectly good “white diamonds” to a man she’s just so happen to see walk off a plane. Proclaiming to him that those “white diamonds” have ALWAYS brought her luck. Then, a fight starts for some reason.

Now, whenever Rob and I say goodbye, it isen’t without saying in unison, in a wispy, whispery voice, “These have always brought me luck. White Diamonds.”And, even though White Diamonds have been available for a long time. I’ve never seen it around, before. But, that’s probably because I don’t shop for women’s perfume.Then, a turning point in my friendship with Rob.I told Rob it was my birthday, and he wanted to get my address. Though, I thought nothing of it, Rob was doing something amazing.

A couple of weeks later, I got this:

ZOMG! DREAMS COME TRUE!

I haven’t opened it, yet. And, I don’t intend to till I’m over this cold I have, at the moment. But, let it be known, the streets of L.A. will smell Elizabeth Taylor on my neck!

Now…. WTF is up with that ghetto packaging? If the packaging on a box of celebrity perfume is any indication on how far from grace their status has fallen… Well, actually, it’s no surprise.

FYI, It’s just ONE fake “white diamond”.

I just wanted to mention that I’ve created a new “about” page.

You can find the link right below the logo, at the top of the page.

Just so you know, I have no MySpace page and I’ve abandoned my Facebook. This is my tribute to many hours of my life that was wasted by these social networks, (mostly myspace).

This menacing Santa scared the shit out of me, driving back home a couple of nights ago.

First off, I’ve been mostly indoors this past weekend. Enjoying a warm bed and sleeping in to the early hours of the afternoon. As tradition goes, in the racially diverse neighborhood I tend to live in, everyone puts up their Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving. I pay little attention to what’s going on because I’m bound to my computer, Wii, or my bed. Just enjoying indulging in lazying about like a sea lion in the sun.

One night, I decide that I would go out and have some fun. So, I get ready and hop in to my car. And see all the new lights and decorations up.

“NEAT”, I thought.

I did not see the Santa. Because Santa was lurking behind the bushes.

Four hours later, and nearing my home, I’m feeling tired and a little moody. I slowly turn on to the street I live on. And suspecting nothing, I suddenly see a short black man looking right at me with murderous piercing eyes, dressed in blood red. I freak out for a moment before realizing that it was just a… fucking… Santa mannequin. WTF, mate!

Now, I should mention that this neighborhood has experienced a bit of crime, lately. And, living in shady places for many years, I’ll be on guard. So, it wouldn’t surprise me to see somebody milling about, looking for a place to rob, or random people to rape, or a family to kill. (The neighborhood isn’t that bad. I’m just exaggerating, a little.) And, the fact that it’s positioned so it seems like he’s hiding, coupled with a facial expression that says, “I will pass on to the, the greatest punishment for your insolence to Saint Nicholas!”. This would be enough to make anyone shit in their trousers!

Now… Will somebody tell me, who in their right mind thinks that buying a life size Santa mannequin is THE PERFECT lawn decoration for the holidays? What kind of logic makes a decision like that?

… You know, it just occurred to me. It’s probably to keep their bratty children in line. I can see it now.

“If you mess up on your grades again, I’m going to personally conjure Lawn Santa to steal your soul. How do you think Baby Jesus will think of you, when Lawn Santa takes you damn soul!?!”

A home is a very personal place. It’s a place you need to feel warmth and safety in. And, ideally, you’d want your home to be as energy efficient and sustainable as possible. However, with the price of real estate going the way it is, in the United States, it might be a bit of a pipe dream.

Enter the super adobe homes, created by Cal-Earth founder Nader Khalili.

Khalili, born in Iran, is an international architect that used to build large sky scrapers. Till one day, while is kid ran with the other children in the park, and couldn’t catch up. He came back to his father and said that he wanted to race alone. This was very profound to Khalili, realizing that working against competition will limit your own potential. So impactful, was this revilation, that he closed shop on his successful studio and went to work on the super adobe home.

Starting as a design intended for use for a colonized Mars. His super adobe homes evolved to being emergency shelter for refugees of the Gulf war. Then, in 1991, Khalili established The California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture (Cal-Earth). A place interested peoples could come visit a model village, and learn how to build their own super adobe home.

The super adobe home is built with long sand bags packed with surrounding dirt. You then stack these bags in to a coil and hold it together with barbed wire and cement.

The end result is a home that’s built chemical free (or as much as you let it), using mostly materials from the surrounding area. Keeping cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. And because cement, dirt, and bags aren’t very expensive. Building the a super adobe home is very inexpensive, as well.

Structurally, the dome shape ends up being very resilient to all sorts of natural occurrences, like earthquakes or high winds. As well as fire, because of the materials.

As for myself, I know when I have the chance, I’ll definitely build my own super adobe home.

For more information and photos, please visit these links:

CalEarth.org
Life&Times Transcript
Nader Khalili Wiki
Super adobe on Flikr
Super adobe home constuction on ocotesou’s flickr

I have a small fasniation with tiny and interesting things. My first car is a VW New Beetle, and my next car will probably be the Smart. My last PC was a mico ITX, and my new one is an iMac. I’ve gotten used to living in cosy places like a studio. A lot of my furniture pulls double duty! These things take up fewer resources, and makes for healthier and happier living. They’re also cute, too.

But, it’s not just me that’s drawn to the itty-bitty. There are a lot of people interested. So, in my search for poket-sized things, I found this blog: “Smallist: Small products, small living, smallest stuff in the world.”

This blog is full of amazingly teeny things. Everything from mini Michael Jackson to tiny USB computers. But, from what I can see, they usally show off miniature versions of everyday things.

Anyway, this site is worth a visit. Check it out.