Illegal Ghost Bikes

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 21:28:52 GMT

Oh, right. My friend Adam made a dance video a while back. I'm in it. I have a headband.

Mon, 08 Aug 2005 18:16:13 GMT

Avoid webcest, if at all possible.

Also, if you remember the Guess The Song thing I did a little while ago, you might want to see the answers.

Do you want to play a game?

Tue, 21 Jun 2005 10:41:17 GMT

Edit: Thanks for playing.

There's a meme that's been making the rounds for a while. Today, I thought I'd take it on. It's a quiz game.

The way it works is pretty simple. I open my music library and let some random songs play. I pick out the first or most notable lyrics and you identify the artist and the song. Hooray. I may fall short on some of the correct lyrics, but I'm trying, Ringo.

1) Where have you gone again, my sweet?
Everybody wants to know
Everybody wants to know where you gone

I'm just a ghost, I'm on your street
Waitin', when you comin' home?
Gone so long
Where you gone?
Queens of the Stone Age - "Long Slow Goodbye"

2) Have you found your way around the down and out
I know it must seem long, so long
I'm still trying to keep this time from running out
Head down, always moving on and on and on
Foo Fighters - "New Way Home"

3) Been ridin' broomsticks since she was fifteen
Blow out all the other witches on the scene
She got a bullwhip just as long as your life
Her tongue could even scratch the soul of the devil's wife
Well, I seen her in action at the player's choice
Turn all the love men into doughnut boys
Hey red hot mama, you better step aside
This chick's gonna turn you to a block of ice
Jimi Hendrix - "Dolly Dagger"

4) 'Cause he gets up in the morning
And he goes to work at nine
And he comes back home at five-thirty
Gets the same train every time
'Cause his world is built 'round punctuality
It never fails

And he's oh, so good
And he's oh, so fine
And he's oh, so healthy
In his body and his mind
He's a well respected man about town
Doing the best things so conservatively
The Kinks - "Well-Respected Man"

5) I need a new eiderdown
I want some binoculars
Don't want to be obvious
I want to surprise myself
I've killed all the mockingbirds
I've wrestled the octopus
I came out with extra arms
To carry your baggage
Badly Drawn Boy - "Have You Fed the Fish?"

6) I've read about the place where we once went before
I never knew it hurt so bad
I wanted you back again, but you just slammed the door
I never knew it hurt so bad

We were nothing but kids on top
Never gonna stop
You never let down
Gotta keep up
Your head's on high
Never gonna die
'Cause we gotta keep it alive
Andrew W.K. - "We Got To Do It"

7) Standin' on the streetlight tryin' to get away
You're guilty, guilty, here to watch you stay
Countin' down the hours but I haven't got the time
Twenty-third precinct, jumpin' on the line of life

And what I wanna know is will I get death row or is there second solution?
And what I wanna say is will I die today or will I get second solution?
The Living End - "Second Solution"

8) Hey, look kids, you need to change your tune
That avenue that you're travelin' unravelin' soon
You'll be battlin' doom, what does it matter to you
Worry about who was laughin' at you
Your appearance is more important than what's really real
'Cause here it is: Situation's bad (not meaning good)
A lot be in the hood that got me with nowhere to put my trust in
No discussion, spontaneous combustion
Lust and greed if you ain't up to speed
You's a duck in need
Cats ain't got enough to eat
So there's bluffs and beef
Chicks up the street
That tricks come to see guns under the sheets
Shells pummel your meat
Forgetting former, still
Dude, you're sorta chill sitting on bout 40 mill
But his whole quart'll get spilled
Over those sort of deals
That get you sorta killed or up in court looking for appeals
Handsome Boy Modeling School (with Del tha Funky Homosapien) - "The World's Gone Mad"

9) Rattle big black bones
In the danger zone
There's a rumblin' round down below
There's a big dark town
It's a place I've found
There's a world going on underground
Tom Waits - "Underground"

10) I can't seem to face up to the facts
I'm tense and nervous and I can't relax
I can't sleep cause my bed's on fire
Don't touch me I'm a real live wire
Talking Heads - "Psycho Killer"

11) Your hand on his arm
The hay stack charm around your neck
Strung out and thin
Calling some friend trying to cash some check
He's acting dumb
That's what you've come to expect
Elliot Smith - "Needle in the Hay"

12) I woke the same as any other day
'Cept a voice was in my head
It said seize the day
Pull the trigger
Drop the blade and watch the rolling heads
Soundgarden - "The Day I Tried To Live"

13) Tomorrow is 2014, when I'll be 32 and we'll be 13
Will there be enough room for me?
Or oxygen for me to breathe?
Unicorns - "2014"

14) I'm comin' over
See me down at the station by the lane
With my hands in my pocket
Jinglin' a wish coin
That I stole from a fountain
That was drowning all the cares in the world
When I get older
Climbin' up on the back porch fence
Just to see the dogs runnin
With a ring and a question
And my shiverin' voice is singing
Through a crack in the window
Beck - "Go It Alone"

15) Can't you see I'm trying
I don't even like it
I'd just love to get to your apartment
Now I'm stayin' there just for a while
I can't think 'cause I'm just way to tired
The Strokes - "Is This It?"

I contracted this web-borne illness from simpsnsfan. So, if he doesn't respond, he can go stick his head in a pig.

Spend Less Money

Tue, 14 Jun 2005 07:21:21 GMT

Me and Stefani wandered into Music Trader. She left with a previously-owned copy of Purple Rain and a 30% list price set of Carmen Electra's "Strip Aerobics". I walked out with a two-disc live Kraftwerk album and a copy of the wholly remarkable "No Cities Left" by The Dears.

The Kraftwerk one is pretty good, but "No Cities Left" is a shining star. I'd only heard one track and that was over the store's PA system. But it had me hooked right away. The lyrics are full of heartbreak, hopes, emotional apocalypse, and mysterious men (help them help you). The lead singer sounds a bit like Pulp's Jarvis Cocker. And Blur/Gorillaz's Damon Albarn. And David Bowie's David Bowie.

If you'll only sample a few tracks, then go ahead and sample "22: The Death of All Romance", "Who Are You, Defenders of the Universe", and "We Go Down Together".

Compelling.

Thu, 26 May 2005 05:50:16 GMT

Tch. What kind of bogus force training is this, Grimmy? This is the wuwst two hundwed dolluws I evuw spent.

Coughing and cartoons.

Tue, 10 May 2005 06:50:19 GMT

I was going to pick up the new Beck album yesterday, but was about a buck short. I want to buy it as opposed to downloading it because a) it's good to be excited about things and b) I think Beck Hansen is the kind of guy who should have my money. So, being a buck short, I didn't get to buy any new music. While talking to the sales guy, though, I saw a small advertisement for the new Gorillaz album and expressed interest in that. I put it on reserve for two dollars and got a neat little book with drawings and "what have they been up to?" blurbs on the fictional band members. I'm quite excited about this one.

I'm coughing and congested and running in the nose. It came pretty suddenly. I blame it on a pretty hard week sleep-wise. Couple that with a new job and some travel and a lot of sun and a lot of human contact. Bam. Petri dish for disaster. Stefani's sick too, though. So kissing's O-Kay.

Mass suicide occult figurines

Mon, 09 May 2005 04:19:37 GMT

I'm in the mode where I'd very much like to create something and even have a vision for what I'd like to create, but lack the focus and easy skill that would make creation possible. I'm sure that, if I tied myself down (or had someone do it for me, rowr), I could narrow my eyes and just carve something out. I want to play with colors.

Don't have crushes on anyone ever. It is always a frustrating state of affairs.

So, Soulseek is pretty keen. I've been getting diverse high-quality music. Saul Williams, Cat Power, Bright Eyes, Pedro the Lion, Regina Spektor and The Arcade Fire. I'll admit the latter took me some time to get around to. I had no desire to check them out, but Brenda liked them, so I figured they were cool.

I've got this reaction to music that has people's attention. I tend to avoid it. They could be the greatest muse-ick-ill act to grace the cement, soil, and sea, but I won't give them a listen. Example: The Shins. Aren't the Shins amazing? All my research has pointed to "yes". They are quite amazing. I'm quite sure they'd make my list of bands I like, but I've never actually checked them out. There's a very rich tapestry of reasons for this reaction, but I'm not getting into that now.

This Skype program is pretty amazing. Online, I've talked to this guy Phil for quite some time, but I'd never talked to him with voices and everything. It was pretty rad. It helps that we're both pretty easy-going guys. But hey. If you want to talk to me, I'm ntopp2. Go for it. I'm told that you can talk even if your connection's bad, but I think I've confirmed that this is a dirty lie. I could be wrong though.

Let's hear it for our friend, the meme.

Tue, 18 Jan 2005 20:16:32 GMT

Describe yourself using one band and song titles from that band
Created by naw5689 and taken 7954 times on bzoink!
Choose a band/artist and answer only in song TITLES by that band:	Tom Waits
Are you male or female:	Ice Cream Man
Describe yourself:	Just Another Sucker on the Vine
How do some people feel about you:	The One That Got Away
How do you feel about yourself:	Clap Hands
Describe your ex girlfriend/boyfriend:	All Stripped Down
Describe your current girlfriend/boyfriend:	Such a Scream
Describe where you want to be:	In the Neighborhood
Describe what you want to be:	Dead and Lovely
Describe how you live:	I Don't Wanna Grow Up
Describe how you love:	Tango Till They're Sore
Share a few words of wisdom	T'ain't No Sin
Create a Survey \| Search Surveys \| Go to bzoink!

This is just a meme thing, but...

Mon, 27 Dec 2004 01:38:22 GMT

ntopp is completely awesome.

Nate is less awesome, though only slightly.

lentilstew is more complex than he needs to be.

Nathaniel is just completely ridiculous.

Also, this song sounds a lot better than the title implies.

Wowee wowee wow

Fri, 10 Dec 2004 20:36:46 GMT

So, I've been given the opportunity to draw for the San Diego Union Tribune. It is not a small paper. It is a big one. This is exciting as well as intimidating.

So, I'm not drawing normal San Diego scenes, but stuff from the South Bay. This place isn't exactly packed with tourist destination, so I'm coming up with landmarks and events that make southern San Diego special.

Unfortunately, I can't get started on that immediately. My grandpa's memorial service is on Sunday. So I'll be flying out to Massachusetts tomorrow and will be gone until Friday.

Yeah, it's a meme.

Sat, 27 Nov 2004 17:40:49 GMT


rocking out is love
brought to you by the isLove Generator

And don't you forget it.

So... yeah.

Sat, 20 Nov 2004 19:13:51 GMT

My grandpa had a massive heart attack the other day. He's still alive, but he can only use about 25% of his heart now. I'm told you can survive with your heart at 10%, but you won't be very happy. A side effect of this is that his leg with the poor circulation would have to be amputated, thanks to a run-in with a deer tick many years back.

My grandma's in a rough situation now. I guess my grandpa hasn't woken up yet and they've given her the option of "pulling the plug". I can't imagine what that's like.

I'm not sure who decided it, but when he does eventually die, his body will be cremated and the ceremony held in Massachusetts. See, they live in Illinois right now, but they raised the family in Mass. and have a lot of history there. Over here, we think that's a good way to set it up.

Now, how do I feel about this whole business? It hasn't really hit me yet, actually. It's not very surprising that he had a heart attack. He's in his early 70s, smokes a pipe, eats mayonaisse sandwiches, and sits listening to the radio all day. He wasn't exactly Carl Lewis, but it's still strange to hear about this happening.

I almost forgot

Sat, 20 Nov 2004 01:21:16 GMT

lonelyplanetgrl (whom I love like a step sister) asked me some questions for a meme thing that I never answered. So I'm gonna answer 'em like I'm crazy.

(1) If you could have your nose picked by anybody, living or dead, who would you chose?
Oscar Wilde. I think he'd have clean fingers.

(2) What's better the cake or the ice-cream?
Oh don't put that over my head. The cake and the ice cream are complementary. They go together so well. But if you want to get into it (and you do), the ice-cream totally trumps that lazy cake. Scavenger hunt in the sun: Cake dries out and crumbles. Ice-cream, on the other hand, spreads out to cover more area.

(3) Anywhere in the world, cost isn't a concern, where would you go?
Baliwood.

(4) When is the best time to enjoy a nice, tall glass of Tang?
When you are also enjoying a nice, thick slice of Rice Krispies treat.

(5) Why can't we all just get along?
We're all sort of mean. And a lot of it is our parents' fault and the fault of all the people that were here before us. And kids. Fuckin' kids.

(Extra Credit) How would you prefer to go out: Spontaneous human combustion while on a magic show stage -OR- imploding/exploding in outer space?
Spaceship explosion. I'd make the news and little kids wouldn't get nightmares like they would with the magic show thing.

I hope you found this edifying. If you didn't, I hope scrolling past was pretty easy.

Couple things you may not know.

Sat, 20 Nov 2004 01:13:00 GMT

I'm doing okay right now. Was pretty sick this week, what with the dizziness, the fatigue, and the sudden headaches. I've missed three Herstory classes in a row. Regrettable, but I never learn anything in class anyway.

On the other hand, my African American History class is working out pretty well. The way Mr. James teaches appeals to me. We come to class and he lectures the fuck out of us about interesting stuff. Then we have two major tests. One in the middle of the semester and one during finals. I just got the midterm back and I aced that mamma jamma.

Another schooly thing, I'm in the school newspaper. I'm the cartoon editor. I make sure all (one) of my cartoonists are working on their cartoons. Then I tweak the drawings in photoshop. There's drama, yeah, but it's a good deal. Someone there paid me twenty dollars for drawing something for her magazine.

Another nice thing about the newspaper is that it's the place where I met my current love interest, Stefani. She had black hair at the time, but it has since been bleached and pinkened. Having a girlfriend can be excellent. Especially if you are excellent to each other. *air guitar* Our personalities match up pretty well, which is a nice change of pace.

I love you all.

Huuuuuuuuuuuuuugs.

5 answers to 5 questions.

Thu, 16 Sep 2004 22:33:24 GMT

Ali (who is our friend) asked me the following questions, which I will attempt to answer.

1. If you could meet any famous person living or dead and smack them in the face with a trout, who would it be? Whichever British "scientist" came up with the concept of race back in the day. And it'd be vicious.

2. What was your most recent dream about? I don't normally remember my dreams, but I vaguely recall one last night. It featured a fictitious girl who may've been an amalgamation of ladies I rather fancy. It was like in a movie where, before we can move any further in the relationship, she has to share her big dark secret. And she steps out from behind these double sliding doors and she's in a shiny gown and holding a wand with a star at the tip. So, my dream girl was secretly the tooth fairy and that was cool, I guess.

3. What is your signature meal? What is the one dish that you make really really well? I'm embarassed to say it, but I don't really cook. I can do some simple things, but I never really tried. I'd like to make some nice meals, but don't know how to go about starting.

4. If you had to have a hand replaced with a common, everyday object, what would it be? Set of drumsticks.

5. Choose one person from your friends list to swap places with for a week [nevermind what they think about the swap]. Why that person? What would you do?I'd switch places with the amazing Canadian, Ryan North, qwantz.

Five question meme.

Thu, 16 Sep 2004 05:00:15 GMT

So, I'm sure you've seen the 5 question meme going around. I always feel a little timid about asking personal stuff like that. But I don't mind sharing.

So, if you'd like to know a few things, please ask and I'll go on and respond. You can get as personal as you like, but I can't guarantee I'll give up Everything. Try my best, though. ;)

But please don't ask how I came up with "ntopp" or "lentilstew". I think those are both explained on here somewhere.

DEEDLE DOOT SOMETHING SOMETHING

Sun, 08 Aug 2004 19:25:52 GMT

CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU ARE THE OTHER EASILY
STARTLED
CAT!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

WHICH CAT TOWN CHARACTER ARE YOU?
brought to you by Quizilla

Just so you, you know, know.

Post-con non-report

Sat, 24 Jul 2004 08:22:44 GMT

How the heck do you find waitresses? Are there special goggles or something?

Maybe James Kolchaka knows. Maybe I should've asked him.

Comic-Con International in two informative sections.

Fri, 23 Jul 2004 08:43:11 GMT

Part 1: One sentence at a time
01. Woke up upside-down in bed to "Chewbacca's on my Underwear" by RBHID.
02. Went back to sleep in spite of being woken up by my mom on her way out.
03. Went back to sleep several more times.
04. Woke up with an "Oh hell" on my lips.
05. Got ready right-quick.
06. Wore the "Give me your (tater) tots" shirt with a button down shirt on top of it.
07. Caught the bus without rushing or waiting.
08. Completely rocked out to my new CD, "Out From Out Where" by Amon Tobin.
09. Asked some geeky punk kids where I should transfer to get to the convention center and ended up walking the half mile instead of taking the second trolley.
10. As it turns out, there's no line to get in when you show up two hours after the convention's opened its doors.
11. I signed up to volunteer at 6:00 and got my free Comic-Con passes.
12. Quickly found the Dumbrella booth and bothered the people there with unreasonable requests.
13. Ventured over to the Flight booth (though Vera Brosgol apparently wasn't appearing there) and ended up buying some books from a guy whose work I'd never seen before.
14. I bought a book from Greg Dean of Real Life Comics and he recognized me from the last two years though quickly lost interest.
15. Got in contact with my friend Matt (who had come dressed as Hellboy) and waited for him beneath a big plastic Yoda.
16. Met up and wandered.
17. Got delicious glowing alien lollipops from the folks at the Sci-Fi channel section.
18. Bought a poster from the movie Snatch.
19. We walked a few blocks to the mall and got pizza instead of paying 2.50 for a fucking can of Coca Cola at the con.
20. Ended up in at least five pictures from people trying to photograph Matt.
21. Got Gabe from Penny Arcade and Piro from Megatokyo to draw on my tube.

Part 2: Paragraphic
22. I went to do my volunteer work to earn the free pass I'd already been using. Sat next to some borderline mentally disabled guy hitting on some very kind woman. Ended up telling some guy that used to smell like dogs that living at home isn't bad, even if you're paying rent. I mean, he's got a T1 line that he doesn't have to pay for. What's food and cheap rent, anyway? Don't you eat ramen?
23.I ended up sitting around for an hour waiting to be put to use but ended up getting out two hours early. Apparently, there was no demand for paper-sorting, photo-prevention, or impromptu fire brigades. Their loss, I guess.
24. Met up with friendly folk again and found out that Matt talked to Mike Mignola (Hellboy creator and damn nice guy). Mike said it was the first Hellboy he'd met outside of Ron Perlman (who will be there tomorrow) and gave Matt a free book. Even signed it "To Hellboy". That's classy.
25. We ended up going to dinner at The Spaghetti Factory. The food was... okay. The ice cream was pretty boss, though. And I'm pretty dang sure the waitress fancied me. She told us that she'd be working tomorrow and that we should come by then. So, unless we were fantastic customers or she was concerened about the restaurant's fiscal wellness, I'm pretty sure she was being smooth. I regret not leaving my name and number on a stray sugar packet or getting her name, but I'll try and stop by tomorrow and see if I can woo her into a cup of coffee.

Happy Endings to Mundane Sagas

Sat, 17 Jul 2004 10:12:40 GMT

So, I went Tom Clancy on my surviving AOL software and figured out what the password to my old name was. I'd set it to something I thought would be simple to remember, but had never field-tested. So, I forgot it. Hardcore.

You know, though, "lentilstew2" was supposed to be a temporary name until "ntopp2" was available again. But, now that I've used it for a while, I feel attached to the temporary name. So, though the old name's available again, I think it's best that I move on.

We had some good times, baby. But I think you know that folks can't be apart for so long without things changing. So stop calling and give me back that cool Threadless shirt I finally received in the mail today. http://www.threadless.com/product/122.html

Here is my resume. Pass it on along to the devil.

Fri, 04 Jun 2004 00:02:41 GMT

So, check it out. I'm Anheiser/Busch's newest employee. I went to Sea World today for an interview and got hired on the spot. It's custodial work and requires a 2-hour commute, BUT the pay's keen and so are the benefits. Also, it's pretty easy to move up to a better job, so hooray for that. I'd rather have a job that only requires a 30-minute trip, but this is good. Being in the work force is good. Having money is good. Not having to clean out the change bowl just to get somewhere is good.

Being able to hook people up with tickets to see Shamu is good.

Two more things.

Tue, 25 May 2004 23:28:47 GMT

1. LJ kind of sucks when you lack HTML skill.

I don't actually have a jacket like that, though.

Finals and vagueries.

Tue, 25 May 2004 23:15:06 GMT

So, check it out. I got a computer desk and it's revolutionized my free time. I'm sitting two feet above the floor. What a trip. And it was only five dollars.

I took my astronomy final today. The teacher was generally awful all semester and failed to prep us for the final. In spite of that, I think I did decently. I'm hoping for a B in the class, but a C wouldn't me much of a shock. Especially when you consider the fact that I didn't do any homework.

Tomorrow's my African American history final. It's an essay test. It's also open-notes, which is a mixed blessing. On one hand, all the facts I need should be right there in front of me. On the other hand, open-notes tests are more demanding. I need to give as much factual information as I can, which should be interesting.

AUGUST: Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave
and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to
console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride of oneself. Thirsty
for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when
provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly.
Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in
the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance
against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and
caring. Loves to make friends .

What does your birth month say about you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Now, I'm not sure how being born in August would make you instantly attractive, but... *shrugs* I'd say this is... vaguely true. Vague being the operative phrase. It's good to know that I'm both hasty and cautious.

3

Tue, 18 May 2004 07:41:38 GMT

I'm feelin' kind of mean, lately. I'm not sure why. Also, I did another comic.

Jellybones.

Mon, 17 May 2004 09:06:15 GMT

After going to see her perform at a coffeeshop tonight, I officially have a crush on Free Dominguez from Kidney Thieves. *sighs* She's so dreamy. Her performance made my knees go wobbly.

Also, for a limited time only, Nate with MUTTONCHOPS. DO NOT ASK WHY. I'm not sure, myself.