Essays

These are more in-depth posts that deal with real-world material, but aren't direct commentary on news events.
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Learning New Technology

Written: April 9, 2009
Despite the fact that really don't like teaching, I find myself doing a surprising amount of it. Usually, it's in the form of helping older/less tech-savvy people learn how to use new (to them) technology. Most recently, I had to help my grandma figure out how to use a cellphone.

Superbowl Commercials

Written: February 5, 2012
It's Superbowl Sunday, and everyone's crowding around the largest available TV for the big game. If you're watching it because you're a fan of American football, fantastic. I'm not here to rain on your parade, and while I don't understand the appeal myself, I'm not writing this to attack football....

Harrisonburg Tax Stickers Are A Rip-Off

Written: March 30, 2009
Edit: Since the original writing of this article, there has been a change to the Harrisonburg City tax stickers. Specifically, as of the 2012 tax year, the stickers are no longer required. Instead, they've been replaced with a local registration fee, which is even more ridiculous; instead of payi...

Prohibition Still Lives in Pennsylvania

Written: March 27, 2009
BELLEVUE, Pa. -- A local community will remain a dry town until at least 2011. The town of Bellevue fell short of the required number of signatures needed to place a referendum question regarding community alcohol sales on the spring primary ballot. The question would have asked residents if...

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Miscellaneous

Articles which do not fit other categories.

Weather Forecasts

Updated: February 1, 2012
These are easy-reference weather reports and forecast links for locations I frequently travel to.  Largely for my own reference, but you might find them useful too.

SURVEY: Sex or Ice Cream?

Written: April 5, 2010
Just after April Fool's Day, I posed a question on Twitter and Facebook, inspired by a silly conversation with someone close to me. The question was, which is better, sex or ice cream? I left it up to the reader to define "better", but I intended it to mean "more enjoyable". I figured we'd get a ...

Star Trek Experience to Re-Open, Nerds Rejoice

Written: March 13, 2009
[ Click for Article ] As a self-proclaimed nerd, this is some of the best news I've heard all week (which is really lame, but true). Having never been to Vegas, and only recently discovering how much I like Star Trek, I was really disappointed when I heard about this closing down. The fact that...

The Open Road

Written: April 18, 2002
The place I would like to go Is not one place at all. It is a simple thing seen in all areas Yet often taken for granted. Where I would like to go Is the open road, riding into the sunset No destination, no agenda Just my bike and I, partners in the breeze The wind whips over us ...

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Reviews

Reviews of pretty much anything, from products, to restaurants, to books and movies.
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HAM Radio: Kenwood TH-D7A(G) HT

Written: September 22, 2007
As someone who buys a lot of expensive toys, I'm not really in the habit of writing reviews of the things I buy.  However, every once in awhile, a product I use on a regular basis simply begs to be reviewed, in the hopes of sharing my positive experience with the world.  This is one such product,...

Paul Blart - Mall Cop (2009)

Written: March 17, 2009
On a whim, my mom and I saw Paul Blart: Mall Cop this evening. I didn't have high expectations; the previews made the movie look rather dumb, and when LilPup & Spike saw it last week, they seemed less than impressed. So, I was expecting a movie full of stupid humour that I probably wouldn't rememb...

Candy - Starbucks Vanilla Truffles

Written: March 9, 2009
A good friend of mine writes a blog called "For the Love of Candy" which focuses on reviewing different types of candy. From classic, everyday favourites, to local delicacies, she has an impressive talent for taste-testing sweet treats. Her site is currently on hiatus for a short while, but she'll...

Still Waiting (2009)

Written: February 25, 2009
One of my "guilty pleasures" is a fondness for the movie "Waiting". If you haven't seen it...well, I'd have a hard time recommending it to anyone, on the same level that I'd recommend any other movie. It's quite possibly one of the most disgusting, poorly-written movies I've ever seen in my life. ...

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Trips and Events

Articles about trips I've taken, events I've been to, hiking and off-roading excursions, and other related topics.
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Obama's Inauguration

Written: January 22, 2009
My close friend Syme and I went to watch Obama's inauguration, and holy crap, what a day! It was like the entire day was one long adrenaline rush; Syme and I didn't have a chance to sit down from the time we got out of his car at the Metro station at 7:30, to the time we sat down for lunch at 15:30...
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Obama Rally In Harrisonburg

Written: November 3, 2008
This past Tuesday (Oct. 28), Barack Obama held a campaign rally in my hometown of Harrisonburg, VA! And I managed to go! It was, in a word, intense. It was also the first time in almost 150 years that this town hosted a presidential campaign rally.

Rally to Restore Sanity

Written: November 5, 2010
Simply put, the Rally to Restore Sanity was the most awesome thing I've been to in a very, very long time! Definitely worth the extra effort to go to it in-person, rather than watch it on TV. The trip actually started Friday, I came up to stay with Syme so that I wouldn't have to get up at the c...