The Gordo Blogga

Dates on the cheap

2008-08-01T15:25:00.000-04:00

A handy list next time you're trying to figure out where to take a (prospective) girlfriend out.

Props to Canada for encouraging saving

2008-03-04T00:46:00.000-05:00

Canada introduced a new type of savings account - you can deposit up to $5000 a year into an investment account and you won't pay any taxes on investment returns. In the age of profligacy I give Canada props for having a long view and trying to encourage saving, rather than spending.

"Ancient bat flew without 'sonar'"

2008-02-15T01:33:00.000-05:00

Disappointingly little is said of why it makes a difference whether flight or sonar developed first, but an interesting article nonetheless. Perhaps a good starting point for further personal research into the possible impacts of this find - someone must have a good explanation of why this is important. I hope it's not just because "it's cool" - that would be slightly disappointing.

YouTube - How to Build an Igloo

2008-02-10T02:50:00.000-05:00

Great video shot by the government of Canada back in 1949 of Unuit building an igloo. I so wanna build one!!

"McCain surges ahead in primaries"

2008-02-05T23:24:00.000-05:00

Go McCain!!

Venice Carnival

2008-01-28T09:15:00.000-05:00

Wow, OK... I am so tempted. Tickets are actually not that bad ($700). Maybe next year... :-)

Surviving (and thriving) on $12,000 a year

2007-11-26T00:44:00.000-05:00

Props! Seems slightly unnecessary as having to work so hard at saving money is energy expending; precious energy that could be better spent studying or having fun (also known as stress reduction for those who need a good excuse). After all that's what loans are for. However, definitely points for trying.

Some of the spin seems unecessary (are you really thriving, and if you are why are you planning to do this just temporarily, i.e. until you finish college), but it is good to explore the possibility of living life differently. I like the general idea, but it's not quite my thing. I do enjoy the finer things in life. And you have to be on a mission in order to force yourself not to be able to. Or just poor I guess; where choice is close enough to smell, but usually just out of reach.

If you were a poor father/mother would you sacrifice the time with your children in order to provide them a better future?

Can money buy happiness?

2007-11-19T17:58:00.000-05:00

Interesting article. To comment later on...

Space causes bacteria mutation

2007-09-26T17:47:00.000-04:00

They sent some salmonella into space and at the same time kept it under the same conditions on Earth (actually, pretty amazing the lengths they went to in order to produce the exact same environment - good science) - the space salmonella mutated and became more virulent. Way too cool!

Persistence against odds

2007-06-26T23:14:00.000-04:00

Let's try this. Ew, it's sour. Maybe if I try again. How about now? Maybe this side will be different? No, maybe if I try again? Now? Let's try again.

I think we've all done this with a few things in our lives up to this point. :-)

Photography links

2007-03-11T16:36:00.000-04:00

I've been interested in photography for a long time, but always on the sidelines. Partially, because of a lack of focus and partially due to lack of time/funds.

I randomly ran into a page listing someone's photo setup (link) and also showcasing a great illustration of how much difference lighting (= good flash) can make (link). So, to avoid random icons on my desktop or bookmarks I will most likely never use I'm posting it on here (which is really one of the purposes of this blog).

Gender perceptions in the modern world

2007-02-18T18:07:00.000-05:00

Generally speaking when I find a fascinating book I add it to my Amazon Wish List. In this case I do not think the book is actually worth obtaining, but I did find the following observation (from the Amazon.com review) fascinating:

"Turkle shows how playing with gender in cyberspace can shape a person's real-life understanding of gender. Especially telling are the examples of the man who finds it easier to be assertive when playing a woman, because he believes male assertiveness is now frowned upon while female assertiveness is considered hip, and the woman who has the opposite response, believing that it is easier to be aggressive when she plays a male, because as a woman she would be considered "bitchy." Without taking sides, Turkle points out how both have expanded their emotional range."

While these observations are by no means universal I do think they reflect some of the unease and inferiority people can feel in their own gender.

"Branson offers $25m climate prize"

2007-02-11T21:00:00.000-05:00

My idol is the business world is Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin empire. A constant maverick he has started a great variety of businesses and always brought something new to whatever field he entered. Once again, he is leading the pack.

Women aroused by male sweat

2007-02-10T11:39:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it cracks me up how big scientific revelations are just plain common sense. Yes, I realize that they somewhat proved it in this experiment, but if we would just stop denying our beastly origins and present nature our existence might become a tad easier.

Saudis and US dropping price of oil to pressure Iran?

2007-02-10T11:36:00.000-05:00

I found this article extremely fascinating!! It shows just how much can go behind the curtains that ordinary people never even know about. The article talks about how US and Saudi Arabia are trying to push the price of oil down in order to starve Iran of cash and force reforms.

"Happy 'Single Awareness' Day"

2007-02-10T11:29:00.000-05:00

Continuing along the line of posts for Valentine's day I found this article hilarious! So, in case you are with that special someone on Feb 14 I wish you a Happy Valentine's day. And in case you are not I wish you a Happy 'Single Awareness' Day. And as always, a Festivus for the rest of us!

Tips for men on buying lingerie

2007-02-10T11:22:00.000-05:00

Not that I am gonna have a chance to indulge in this particular activity this Valentine's but you might!

Fresh Whole Rabbit! on Amazon

2007-02-10T11:19:00.000-05:00

You truly can get anything on Amazon these days as this delicious Fresh Whole Rabbit confirms. Scroll down to read the comments - they are HILARIOUS!! :-)

Penny Arcade comic for your Valentine's

2007-02-10T11:06:00.000-05:00

Well, as usual my blogging is seriously lagging. But I've been collecting links and I'm trying to get organized now so I'm prob gonna flood it with posts. So, starting with a sexy comic for your Valentine's! It's all about the first panel.

Btw, if you're not familiar with Penny Arcade - it's a pretty cool (if not always so funny) comic dedicated to gamers.

Awesome resume tips

2007-01-13T17:39:00.000-05:00

This guide is by far the simplest and most to-the-point resume guide I ever stumbled upon. Hope you find something useful on it as well!

"Ecstasy fears based on 'flawed tests'"

2007-01-07T23:29:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a little while since I updated my blog. I am doing some temp work right now and don't have access to the Internet hence not much Internet trawling is happening right now. But as I was cleaning and organizing my computer I found this oldie-but-goodie.

Not to say that Ecstasy is completely benign, but it goes to show just how much fear-mongering was happening at the time this drug hit it big in Europe and US. It would be nice if research was allowed on all drugs so it can be clearly established what effects drugs have on people so everyone would be able to make informed choices. Seeing as our gov'ts don't deem us adult enough to handle these kinds of decisions they're choosing to ban them and use propaganda in order to make sure they stay banned.

Some day though...

Fascinating protest

2006-11-25T17:45:00.000-05:00

Kristian von Hornsleth, a Danish artist, donates livestock to Ugandan villagers in exchange for them taking up his last name. He aims to illustrate how most of aid to Africa usually comes with various conditionals. Comments from villagers:

"George Sabadu Hornsleth is grateful for the pig he got. “I never had a pig, I was jobless apart from some land,” the 46 year-old said. “Africans adopting European names for gifts—that’s nothing new. We’ve been doing that since colonial times. Why do you think I’m called George?”"

"“We don’t care about his idea, the art. We care about the benefits,” said David Sendulya Hornsleth, 29. “We can have a hundred new names if each brings us further out of poverty.”"

Relationships and kids without marriage?

2006-11-23T23:18:00.000-05:00

Great article exploring the raising popularity of long term relationships over marriage in France.

Yodelizlle

2006-11-15T03:14:00.000-05:00

As only Seinfeld could have said it: "I am speechless. I am without speech."

Have you ever wondered what a modern rap video would look like if it was filmed in Europe with a yodel eurobeat in the background? No? Naturally. Well, here is your chance to find out. I literally watched this entire thing with my mouth wide open, in such shock was I.

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-1740020579012437351

The group is Slovenian and in case this one video is not enough here are some more links.

Band website: http://www.skutermusic.com/intro.html
German site: http://www.zdravo.eu/videos.html

DEMS win!!

2006-11-08T23:05:00.000-05:00

Well, the people have finally come to their senses. The Dems took both the House and the Senate on Tuesday!! :-) Let's hope they'll actually do something productive with that power!

Also, the ballot measures spoke about how people feel about certain issues. I was pleasantly surprised to find that every state that voted on lifting the minimum wage approved that measure. Also, parental notification was turned down! I was surprised to see that two states (Nevada and Colorado) voted on making marijuana legal and while the measures were soundly defeated in both states it's a victory to see them on the ballot in the first place and to see that 44 and 40% of the voting public said yes! Astounding!!

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/ballot.measures/

Same-sex marriage took a sound beating in every state in which it was voted on. The saddest was in Colorado where "Domestic Partnership" was defeated even though it clearly stayed clear of marriage itself.

"Would legalize domestic partnerships, providing same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain the legal protections and responsibilities granted to married couples under Colorado law. The measure specifies that domestic partnerships are not marriage and do not change the public policy of the state, which defines marriage as only the union of one man and one woman."

C'mon Colorado. Have some tolerance for those who are not just like you! Especially when they are just looking for some of the same legal protection for their partners that everyone else gets.