What I did notice was the blog missed a quote from one of my favorite Kevin Smith movies, Chasing Amy. Although not the most popular, mainstream movie, I think it makes the cut. The scene is where Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck) announces his love for his friend, Alyssa Jones (Joey Lauren Adams) who just happens to be, well, gay. Check out the clip.

This definitely doesn’t capture the entire moment and the ending to the scene is cut out where she runs back into the frame, jumps into Holden’s arms and kisses him. They make-out all intensely on the truck, in the rain, and then… of course sleep together. Which throws a wrench in the whole friend/gay/straight/lovers dynamic. It’s pretty interesting. Especially when Holden’s best friend, Banky (Jason Lee) walks in on them in the morning after, naked and on his couch.

If you’re a Kevin Smith fan, like myself, and haven’t seen this movie check it out. It’s one of my all time favorites. It’s got the witty banter, great characters and as always an underlying geek motif since pretty much all the characters are comic book illustrators and writers. There’s also a cameo from Jay and Silent Bob.

Snoochie Boochies

Alyssa Jones: Why are we stopping?
Holden McNeil: Because I can’t take this.
Alyssa Jones: Can’t take what?
Holden McNeil: I love you.
Alyssa Jones: You love me?
Holden McNeil: I love you. And not, not in a friendly way, although I think we’re great friends. And not in a misplaced affection, puppy-dog way, although I’m sure that’s what you’ll call it. I love you. Very, very simple, very truly. You are the epitome of everything I have ever looked for in another human being. And I know that you think of me as just a friend, and crossing that line is the furthest thing from an option you would ever consider. But I had to say it. I just, I can’t take this anymore. I can’t stand next to you without wanting to hold you. I can’t, I can’t look into your eyes without feeling that, that longing you only read about in trashy romance novels. I can’t talk to you without wanting to express my love for everything you are.

And I know this will probably queer our friendship – no pun intended – but I had to say it, because I’ve never felt this way before, and I don’t care. I like who I am because of it. And if bringing this to light means we can’t hang out anymore, then that hurts me. But God, I just, I couldn’t allow another day to go by without just getting it out there, regardless of the outcome, which by the look on your face is to be the inevitable shoot-down. And, you know, I’ll accept that. But I know…I know that some part of you is hesitating for a moment, and if there is a moment of hesitation, then that means you feel something too.

All I ask, please, is that you just, you just not dismiss that – and try to dwell in it for just ten seconds. Alyssa, there isn’t another soul on this fucking planet who has ever made me half the person I am when I’m with you, and I would risk this friendship for the chance to take it to the next plateau. Because it is there between you and me. You can’t deny that. Even if, you know, even if we never talk again after tonight, please know that I’m forever changed because of who you are and what you’ve meant to me, which – while I do appreciate it – I’d never need a painting of birds bought at a diner to remind me of.

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Now, his message is not to pay your professionals less money so they’ll be more productive but to allow them to concentrate on their passion of what they do without the thought of money or any type of reward. People in my line of profession want to be passionate about what they’re doing and allowed to accomplish their job without someone standing on their feet about it. We want to concentrate on our work and enjoy it. That is our reward. That’s why we do what we do.

“Pay people enough to take the issue of money off the table.”

Autonomy, Mastery and Performance!!! What an awesome concept. I love being able to manage myself. I’m not the type of person that wants to be told when to get to work and when to leave work. Some days I feel like putting in 12 to 15 hours of work and can be pretty productive during that time. My creativity is flowing and my mind is on point. Then there are days where my mind is blank and I am not productive at all. I’m just there wasting time. I’d be better off doing something else where my head is not on my job.

The ideal situation for me would be to let me work at those times that I’m feeling most productive. Let me manage myself. Thing is, I am a lot more productive in the evenings. I’m just not a morning person. And at the age of 30 I pretty much know that I will never be a morning person. If I could, I would work from mid morning, maybe even noon, to early evenings or even late into the evenings.

I’ll use a day out of my week from last week. I was at my day job from 8:00 am in the morning till around 5:30 pm. During that time I was tired and not as productive as I could have been. My head and my thoughts were clouded and I really couldn’t concentrate. After that I went home, caught an hour nap and got up to work on a contract website. During that time until around 2:30 AM in the morning I was a lot more productive. Some of my best work came during that time. I felt refreshed and energized. I could think clearly and productively.

I love Dans concepts and the information he’s including. I think what he speaks about would be a great business model. I think allowing your employees to control and express themselves is ideal. Let them be autonomous, especially in a creative environment.

My favorite part of the entire lecture is when Dan touches on the open-source industry. I’m a HUGE advocate of the open-source business model and I can understand his thoughts on why it’s been so successful and how it relates to his subject matter. Creative and IT professionals don’t do what we do for monetary benefit – not entirely anyway. We do need money. Its all about “Autonomy, Mastery and Performance.”

Anyway, I loved this video. The icing on the cake was the illustrations. Great stuff and I hope you enjoyed it as well.

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Anyhow, the coolest part of the night was just hangin’ out with my uncle. He’s been a rock in my life and it’s good to chill out with him and “shoot the shit.” He’s definitely someone I’ve looked up to throughout my life.

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The Script, Break Even – Lyrics

I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing
Just prayed to a god that I don’t believe in
Coz I got time while she got freedom
Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t break even

Her best days will be some of my worst
She finally met a man that’s gonna put her first
While I’m wide awake she’s no trouble sleeping
Coz when a heart breaks no it don’t break even, even no

What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?
What am I supposed to say when I’m all choked up and you’re OK?
I’m falling to pieces, yeah
I’m falling to pieces

They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop me bleeding
Coz she’s moved on while I’m still grieving
And when a heart breaks, no it don’t break even, even, no

What am I gonna do when the best part of me was always you?
What am I supposed to say when I’m all choked up and you’re OK?
I’m falling to pieces, yeah
I’m falling to pieces, yeah
I’m falling to pieces
I’m falling to pieces

You got his heart and my heart and none of the pain
You took your suitcase, I took the blame
Now I’m trying to make sense of what little remains
Coz you left me with no love, with no love to my name

I’m still alive but I’m barely breathing
Just prayed to a god that I don’t believe in
Coz I got time while she got freedom
Coz when a heart breaks, no it don’t break–
No it don’t break, no it don’t break even, no

What am I gonna do when the best part of me was always you?
What am I supposed to say when I’m all choked up and you’re OK?
I’m falling to pieces, yeah
I’m falling to pieces, yeah
I’m falling to pieces
I’m falling to pieces

Oh, it don’t break even, no
Oh, it don’t break even, no
Oh, it don’t break even, no

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This picture was taken today on my way back to work from the gym.  Some adjustments in Photoshop and this is what I came up with.

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Now let me say that I am by no means anti-Mac. I love their products and if I had the chunk of change I would own one of their top of the line Mac Book Pros. However, I do understand Mac’s attractiveness and why it’s so popular. With that understanding I can also see thier faults as well.

To me the iPad missed on a great market with some of it’s short comings. Flash support being the biggest. Sure the refined OS of the iPad is amazing and from what I have read about it, it’s flawless and an experience in itself. This is all typical of an Apple product. Having said that, I still wouldn’t throw my money at one of these things. I understand it’s not necessarily a laptop, netbook or phone but there is still some things it could have capitalized on being such a great concept.

For a techie like me I’m not really attracted to cute apps and tricks. I need functionality and compatibility. Yes there is a lot of productivity software type of apps for the iPad but no multitasking you say? I can’t imagine what the developers at Apple were thinking when they didn’t integrate some sort of multitasking capability.

I want something that’ll allow me to to do more than the simple day-to-day stuff. Sometimes I may need to jump onto one of my websites and edit code while I’m on-the-go. In doing so, I have to be able to jump back and forth between my ftp client, a text editor, and a browser and maybe sometimes a graphic editor. With my Lenovo S10 Netbook, this is easy and I carry it around with me for that reason. It’s extremely convenient; so much so that I’ve whipped it out in a bar a few times to make a couple edits to a clients website. Plus it has a fully functional Ubuntu OS so it’s not just small and cute.

The answer to the iPad’s woes: The ICD Gemini.

This thing is chock full of awesomeness. Way too much to be covered here but for starters it has an 11.2″ HD display and will play full resolution High Definition videos. The device runs Google’s Android OS and along with that a web browser that supports Flash.

Further more, you can use this thing as a cellular phone. It supports Cellular Voice, Data, SMS and MMS along with wifi connectivity. Not to fall short of anything it also sports an FM tuner.

I can’t wait to see this thing out in the world and hopefully get my hands on one. I would like to see if this thing can handle a full on Ubuntu install.

For more info check out the Engadget.com review of the ICD Gemini. This has a full listing of specs and a comparison chart to the iPad and another device called the JooJoo.

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This season I’m hoping to see Quinn make a huge push for the starting position over current starter, Kyle Orton. Although Orton was able to put together an average season last year, he just isn’t the answer. At least not in my opinion. Orton is at best a backup and lacks the “big play” capabilities. He just doesn’t have the ability to get out of the pocket and make something happen DOWN FIELD.

One of the things that impressed me about Jay Cutler at his combine was his strength. He bench pressed 215 lbs. for 23 reps. As a quarter back, that’s fucking strong. Brady Quinn, is just as strong and considered a workout warrior. The guy loves to be in the gym which is pretty evident by looking at his physique. At his combine he bench pressed 215 lbs. for 24 reps. One more than Cutler. His throwing strength isn’t as huge as Cutler’s but he’s athletic and capable of extending plays with his scrambling.

Here’s to hoping for a positive season and hoping that Quinn turns a corner in Denver and is able to make believers out of us fans.

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It’s so cool how life progresses and everyone and everything changes. You literally never know how things are going to end up. So stop stressing and worrying and enjoy life. It’s not that bad. Be optimistic and smile.

We all go through tough times but it’s how you survive them that counts.

Enjoy the video… and yes, wear sunscreen.

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The day was awesome. Light rain and clouds surrounded the Santa Fe and Los Alamos areas and just as the sun was setting down everything cleared up perfectly. It was a much needed break for me to get away and enjoy the calming silence of nature. Enjoy the pictures!

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1. Photo Opportunities: A Sunny Afternoon

I don’t know where I would use this thing but I can just picture myself in it with a beer and a shotgun cruising around campsites and raising hell. Cause who the hell wants to mess with a dude in a motorized easy chair never mind the shotgun. That just screams bad ass. Add to that a fishnet t-shirt and you got yourself a one man party machine. Video after the break.

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1. Cool Trick; Tying A Tie The Easy Way