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Monday, June 28, 2004


"The Passion"

Scott was in town to drop off a few more things. We did some cleaning and modifying of the apartment, and while we were out, took in a showing of Mel Gibson's controversial The Passion of the Christ at the budget. Neither of us had seen it before, but we both had an interest.

After seeing it though, I'm not really sure how to review it. It was certainly a powerful movie. Very powerful. But I wasn't emotionally moved so much as I was in awe at the gritty and realistic retelling of my core faith and beliefs.

I kept looking at the film from the strong Lutheran Christian perspective from which I was raised (being the son of a former Lutheran pastor). I noticed certain inaccuracies, mostly minor, that conflicted with my intimate knowledge of true biblical accounts. Small things, but they threw me off a bit. Most of them were references to Catholic traditions. I respect such religious references, but for me, they lessened the personal emotional impact the film had.

Otherwise, though, The Passion was a very good movie and certainly one worth going to see. Not one of my favorite films, but certainly a very powerful one with excellent acting performances and an important message for all.

-Jon

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"Black Pixel Shortage"

Unconfirmed Sources report that the world supply of black pixels is running out. The shortage is believed to be caused in part by the overuse of exclamation points (!) in online humor web sites and blogs. Experts from around the globe are gathering in Silicon Valley to solve the problem.

Bob Jones from Network Solutions explained the situation. "It's really pretty simple, we are running out of black pixels. There are only so many black pixels out there and when they are gone... We are in trouble.
"Black Pixel Shortage Threatens Internet!"

-Jon

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"House of Ugoff"

Those of you that have seen the recent Burger King commericials, already know this guy. His name is Ugoff. One look at him and you understand he's all about style. He sees what others do not see. Like beauty in an egg, or the power of a grain of salt.

Ugoff designs pouches. He can design a pouch with his eyes closed. If he had his hands tied behind his back, he even could design a pouch with his toes.

The logic behind Burger King promoting a new salad with a character named Ugoff seems a little off the wall to me. But, hey, what works, works, right? :)

-Jon

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Saturday, June 26, 2004


"Milwaukee Summerfest 2004"

There are many things about Milwaukee that make living here a unique experience. However, summer always brings with it one that garners the city nationwide attention. Wisconsinites call it "the Big Gig". Officially it's known as Summerfest.

Summerfest is an annual 11-day music blowout that takes place on 75 acres along the shores of Lake Michigan in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Big Gig features 13-stages offering live music all day and night from minor bands to some of the top names in musical entertainment, plus a variety of food, shopping and children’s activities. Nearly one million attendees usually visit the festival each year.

Today was the third day of festivities. Attendance: 99,211.

This year, some of the biggest-name musical groups include Country singers Kenny Chesney, Tim Mcgraw, and Phil Vassar; Uncle Kracker; John Mayer; Will Durst; Kid Rock; Jason Mraz; Prince; Jessica Simpson; Nickelback; Three Doors Down; and Blink-182. Britany Spears was also scheduled, but due to injury she had to cancel.

I doubt I'll actually be able to head down to the lakefront this year and take in the festivities, but I did enjoy a televised re-broadcast this evening of Thursday's "Big Bang" -- the Midwest's largest and probably best fireworks display -- hosted each year by the Bartolotta Fireworks Company. Very impressive! Incidently, it will also be this same Big Bang fireworks display that will be broadcast to our troops over in Iraq on the Fourth of July. Pretty cool!

"Great Milwaukee Summer" (Summerfest guide, news, and events)

"Broadcast Of 'Big Bang' To Be Shown To Troops In Iraq"

-Jon

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"Ugly Website Nominations"

Two nominations for the World's Ugliest Website:
(Proof that the world desperately needs talented artists!)

- The Wild Rose Home Page
- Afghan Hounds

-Jon

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"The Retrofuture"

The Retrofuture is a concept based on a simple question -- What happened to all that futuristic stuff that was supposed to change our lives by the year 2000? (Stuff like rocket belts, flying cars, food pills, and inflatable homes).

-Jon

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Friday, June 25, 2004


"Moved Out"

Well, the task is done. Noah's furniture and a good deal of his other belongings are now in two passanger vans and on their way to his new apartment (some thirty miles away) to be unloaded into their new home.

Since he, and the two friends he also had helping move, live out in that area, they won't be returning to the city this evening to drop me off. My assistance with Noah's move is thus complete, and I now sit here comfortably in my furnished office/bedroom of a now very empty apartment.

Earlier in the afternoon -- before the busyness of carrying bulky furniture down a narrow 360 degree second floor stairwell -- my friend and new roommate, Scott, stopped by to bring a few of his first things into the apartment. He scoped out some apartment issues, and we talked for a while. He'll be filling a good portion of this newfound empty space when he moves in permanently on July 1st. That gives me a week with the place to myself.

So, fun as it was, this was -- with the exception of the few remaining hours until midnight -- the gist of my Friday. Busy, but not too stressful. Productive, but unfortuantely not within the realm of my own projects. Still, it was an enjoyable start to a new begining of sorts. And usually, those often present wonderful new prospects. We shall see. :)

Have a blessed weekend, and until the marrow,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Thursday, June 24, 2004


"Another Afternoon Hideaway"

Last year I created a commissioned artwork titled, "Afternoon Hideaway", for a company called Mastervisions that specializes in creating beautiful etched glass home decor. Over the past year or so, this piece has actually become one of their most popular etched works.

Well, recently, while surfing the web, I happened by chance upon another website that sells "Afternoon Hideaway". But this site had something different in their catalog listing -- a beautiful color image of the piece. Mastervisions doesn't use photographic references to feature their products, rather opting for a more detailed digital mockup. So, you can imagine my surprise to suddenly stumble upon such a beautiful featured photograph of my "Afternoon Hideaway". Needless-to-say, I was rather impressed.

Granted, if you're ever interested, Mastervisions is still the best place to get a copy of this etched artwork. But to actually see a real photo of it online, though, makes the experience all the more pleasing. Afterall, what they say really is true, "a picture says a thousand words".

Have a blessed Thursday, and enjoy the art!

-Jon

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"Free JonBaas.com E-Cards"

You are cordially invited to take a gander at one of the newest experiments on this website -- free E-cards. They aren't greeting cards though. No, they actually feature smaller versions of some of my digital landscape art (including some new works). I prefer to call them electronic postcards.

Feel free to take a look. I'd love to hear what you think.

-Jon

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Wednesday, June 23, 2004


"Quote of the Day"

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."
-- Mark Twain

-Jon

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Tuesday, June 22, 2004


"Tuesday: Preparing to Move"

No, no, not me. I'm not moving. My roomate, Noah is. This Friday is his big moving day. Once again, my apartment will be nice and open. I'll have space again.

I say this because, right now, most of the furniture is his -- the chest freezer that I have no clue what he needed it for; the large oversized entertainment center which I've made more use of than he has; the two desks and computer he's never used in two years of living here; the many cabinets full of stuff he probably isn't even fully aware of anymore; the two couches in the small living room; the dining room table he's rarely ever used.... you get the picture. He's a nice guy, but he has way too much stuff.

This coming weekend, all of that will be gone. Sure, I'll miss the use of the living room television, the dining room table, a chair here and there, and maybe even the freezer to some degree. But all of that is just an extra bonus for rooming with him. If it's there, I'll make use of it, but frankly, I'd prefer the space.

I'll obviously be keeping my own desk, computer, dresser, bed, television, and one of the two couches (which I've convinced him to part with). But I have furniture of my own now. That's about all I need. I'm probably much more practical than Noah to be honest. I've got a fully stocked apartment even without him. I'm happy.

But the cool part is, once Noah is out, I have the apartment to myself for a week before my new roomate, Scott, moves in -- and he has a lot less stuff than Noah did. And, get this, it's stuff he actually uses! Besides that, Scott is my closest friend, and my former college roomate of 2 years. So, I'm really happy with how things have worked out.

I actually took the time today, and spent most of it reorganizing my room and apartment -- after Noah moved his first load of possessions out. I had been using one of his extra book shelves in my room, so I decided not only to remove the shelves, but to rearrange a little while I was at it. As a result, I spent most of the day playing 'interior decorator' and planning for the newfound space. I didn't get much else done, but, it was a productive day nonetheless.

For the first time in a long time, it's moving day, and I'm not the one who's moving. :)

-Jon

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Monday, June 21, 2004


"Summer Solstice"

Today is what is referred to as the Summer Solstice -- the longest day of the year -- or more widely known, the first day of summer.

Ironically, the temperature here in Milwaukee -- on this beautiful summer day -- was only 57 degrees. Usually, it's a little warmer. I certainly won't complain there, but, I do think this is definitely going to be a very interesting year when it comes to weather! :)

Have a blessed new week all,... and Happy Summer!

-Jon

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"Living in a Paris Airport"

You may be interested to read the strange story of Merhan Karimi Nasseri. He's a man without country, trapped in Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris, France. He has been there since August 26, 1988 due to his lack of a passport or any refugee documents.

-Jon

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Sunday, June 20, 2004


"Bicentennial Man"

I think the genes are starting to kick in. I'm starting to rate good movies on my dad's "tear scale". One tear = good movie. Two tears = even better movie. Three tears... well, you get the idea.

This evening, "Bicentennial Man" -- one of my favorite films -- was on television. I actually happened upon it completely by chance after deciding not to go to bed early. Instead I sat down by the tv, turned it on, and -- boom. There it was, a wonderfully written story about a robot (played by Robin Williams) who learns what it's like to be human and to love.

For me, this is a two tear film. The first time I saw it in the theatres the "tear scale" didn't apply. But, this time it did. I guess it's just one of those movies that can tug at your heart strings. Great flick. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend it, especially if you enjoy Robin William's work.

-Jon

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"Father's Day, 2004"

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! I hope you had the chance to spend it with family. God's blessings on even more years down the road. :)

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Saturday, June 19, 2004


"Rejecting a Rejection Letter"

You know, with the previous frustrations I've had finding a suitable art job around Milwaukee, I wonder if John Kador's rejection letter that rejects a job application rejection letter might come in handy? :)

-Jon

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"Bank Error In My Favor: Collect $95,000"

This website has been around for a while, but, nonetheless, you're invited to give it a read. It's an entertaining -- and true -- story about a guy who received a fake marketing-type check for $95,000, and his bank accepts it.

"Bank Error in My Favor: Collect $95,000"

(FYI: It's written in ten parts.)
(via J-Walk Blog)

-Jon

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Friday, June 18, 2004


"Make Ice Cream Quick (with liquid nitrogen)"

Now this I found very interesting.

"Liquid nitrogen is cold. Very cold. So cold that if a drop falls on your hand, it feels like fire. So cold that it can turn a fresh flower into a thousand shards of broken glass. So cold that it can make half a gallon of ice cream in 30 seconds flat."
-Jon

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Thursday, June 17, 2004


"Technical Illustrations"

Demonstration for a cutaway technical illustration of a cruise ship. Very cool!

-Jon

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"Thursday's Business"

After six hours of sleep, I awoke again this morning at 8:45 AM. Why I was able to get by with only six hours of sleep, I'll never know. But, hey, more time for work today I guess, right?

Thankfully my self-imposed work day wasn't as tedious as I'd expected it to be. I had two larger projects to work on. I wanted to get them both done, completed, and no longer on my palatte. It's now a little after 5:30pm, and they are both history! ...Yes, definitely a good eight hours of work. I guess all I needed to do was drag myself over to the computer, turn on the radio, grab an ice-cold bottle of water, and get busy.

What's next? I'm taking the rest of the day off! ...(and getting paid in a few days!).

Have a blessed weekend all, and until next time,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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"Sleep 1, Jon 0"

Well, sleep won out. It's almost 3am. I'm going to bed. :)

-Jon

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Wednesday, June 16, 2004


"Procrastination Revisted"

When it comes to working for yourself and being your own boss, there are two battles that need to be fought on a constant basis -- the battle against procrastination, and the struggle to remain motivated.

So far this week, I'm facing those two head-on. I should be a lot farther in certain projects than I am at the moment, but for some reason I'm not. I don't know why really. Maybe this is just one of those weeks. I keep getting distracted into other things -- things that I don't need to be working on right now. As a result, the important projects face a slow-down. Not good.

But, after a few kicks in the butt, I think I'm finally lumbering up to the starting line. I'm going to see how far I can sprint before I collapse into blissful sleep. In other words, I'm going to see how long I can stay awake and on-task before sleep finally gets the better of me. It's a daunting prospect, but I've gotta get these things done. So far I've been up for eleven hours. We'll see.

Kind of reminds me of college Finals Week... Hmm. This should be interesting. :)

-Jon

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"Vidu Creator"

Do some mouse clicking and create an avatar with the Vidu Creator.

There are lots of possible combinations, and each part can be modified by clicking the the 'Grusse' button. Have fun!

-Jon

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"Two Unlikely Webloggers"

First, there's the blog, Perplexing Times. It's from the perspective of a baby, and proves quite humorous.

Born the son of a struggling satirist and a redhead, Brendan Alexander has labored diligently through his life with a(n often wet) smile. Unemployment and living off his parents have fostered a view of life rivaled by few.
Oh, and then there's Ripley. He's a cat. ...He has a weblog too. And he types.

-Jon

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Tuesday, June 15, 2004


"New Uniforms for the US Military"

Today, the Army unveiled a redesigned combat uniform. It features a digital camouflage pattern that looks strikingly different from soldiers' current uniforms, and marks the first major change in the Army uniform since 1981. New recruits will be issued the new uniforms starting in October 2005 and the entire Army will be outfitted by December 2007.

"Army Shows 1st Uniform Redesign Since '81"

-Jon

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Monday, June 14, 2004


"Victoria's Secret.... Revealed"

Everyone knows Victoria's Secret, the leading specialty retailer of lingerie. But what exactly is Victoria's secret? And why is it so hush-hush?

Well, thanks to a discerning eye, we may now know the answer.
Victoria's Secret... revealed.

-Jon

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Sunday, June 13, 2004


"When Artists Get Creative"

Ok, I'm all for art and creativity -- as most of you know,-- but sometimes I happen upon the work of other artists and start to wonder. Often, I'm intruiged, but sometimes there are those who, ...well, go a little too far, and leave the realm of art completely.

Here are some examples of the good,... and the bad. Enjoy!

INTERESTING:
Wearable Art

"Estelle Akamine is a leading designer in the wearable art as a costume movement. She has created outfits out of material found at the dump, some of which were glamorous enough to be worn to the Black and White Ball in 1993.

The materials for Akamine's imaginative formal wear include computer tape, zipper discards, plastic bags, 6-pack harnesses, shredded paper, hardware items and much more. Graceful hats from floppy phone disc and tiaras from Venetian blinds completed the costumes."
PRACTICAL:
Art from bottle caps.

"Mr. Lamb has been collecting "outsider art" made from bottle caps for many years. The most peculiar category of this collection is "Nuts and Butts," a term Mr. Lamb has coined for figurative constructions that hold an ashtray in their arms and sport what is assumed to be a bowl for nuts on their heads."
COMFORTABLE:
Chairs by Szado.

"The Roadster chair is inspired by the long sleek lines of old race cars. The seat encapsulates the sitter like a driver. You must step into the chair, then put your feet up on the leather foot rest -- it's a fabulous feeling. The chair really is an experience."
A COMPLETE WASTE:
Ham Art

Cosimo Cavallaro, who once repainted a New York hotel room in melted mozzarella, has covered a bed in processed ham. "I feel like I am back in my mother's deli," the artist said Thursday.

His installation in a street-level gallery space of the Roger Smith Hotel in midtown Manhattan involved slicing 312 pounds (140 kilograms) of ham and tossing the meat on top of a four-poster bed. The installation, which took 3 1/2 hours, will be kept in the air-conditioned room for two days.
Right. Think of all those hungry people in New York that could have been eating that ham! Instead it's sitting in an air-conditioned gallery being called art. Maybe he should get into nut art instead. :)

He has a website, but I'm too appalled that someone can create that and call it art, that I'm not even going to support his efforts with a link. (Besides, some of his "art" borders on being downright disgusting.)

-Jon

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Saturday, June 12, 2004


"Field of Dreams"

Quote of the Day:

"People will come Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $20 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack.

They'll walk out to the bleachers; sit in shirtsleeves on a perfect afternoon. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray.

The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."


- Terence Mann, "Field of Dreams"
-Jon

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"Dipped in Magic Waters"

I'll be honest, I love baseball. It's in my blood. I grew up on it. I breathed it. Made some astonishing memories with it. And today, it still has a firm grasp on my very being. I just love baseball.

I love good movies too. There are very few times when these two combine to move me as deeply as does the film, "Field of Dreams." The title says is all, when dreams, persistance, and passion collide, magic can happen. You just have to believe.

"Field of Dreams" was on television this evening, and I was excited to see it. Actually, I was excited all week. I don't yet own a copy (although you can be certain, now that it's out on DVD, that will change!). So I sat down and watched, eager to see arguably one of the greatest baseball stories ever told. I enjoyed every minute of it. But, like I said, I just love baseball. :)

I got to thinking, though -- after I wiped the tear away at the end of the film -- just how deeply rooted the sport is in my own personal life. As a young boy growing up in the Wisconsin countryside (surrounded by cornfields), whenever I played outside, I had my baseball bat and glove in hand. I played it all the time. I probably even dragged my younger brothers into it -- more than they may have liked at times I'm sure. I just had to play baseball.

When we moved to the Minneapolis, Minnesota in seventh grade, thankfully we still had a yard, although a much MUCH smaller one than we had in the country. But we still had room to play baseball. And we did.

When I got into high school, I tried out for the baseball team my freshman year, and made it in. I wasn't nearly as good a hitter as I had been in my own backyard, but I had the speed, the defensive skills, and the eye to get on base. Perfect steal record too. Yeah, that was a fun year.

My sophomore year, the stage and theatre stole me away from the baseball diamond. I couldn't do both. But I still loved the game from afar. I played it through board games and computer simulations (countless simulations actually -- I have the records to prove it!). I tossed the ball whenever I had the chance. I dived into the history. And I followed my favorite Milwaukee team (as I still do today) -- even on "foreign soil".

In college I thought about trying out again, but by now, giving up theatre, acting, and art was no longer an option. So, I continued to be passionate from afar.

But then came the movies...

I often fail to realize this, but my love of acting and the game of baseball are now quite firmly intertwined. When I was younger (shortly after moving to Minnesota) I was part of a baseball movie -- "Little Big League" filmed in the Twins Metrodome. I ate up the opportunity. Baseball and acting.... There's nothing better!

Years later -- now in Milwaukee after college -- I suddenly had the good fortune to find myself part of the upcoming movie, "Mr. 3000" (September 2004). Once again, a baseball movie. Go figure.

I'd come to believe, when I was younger, that the true way to be happy in life is to pursue those things that you live and breath for -- those things you have an intense passion for. I have many of those kinds of passions, so to be able to combine any of them into one is a dream come true.

Ironically, though my days and hopes of playing baseball on any organized or professional level are probably well behind me, apparently acting or participating in baseball films is not. I eagerly look forward to that next opportunity when my love of baseball, and my love of acting, can be one in the same. If practice makes perfect, than passion makes opportunity.

I've been dipped in the magic waters of baseball. I think maybe I'll stay for a while.

-Jon

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Friday, June 11, 2004


"A President is Laid to Rest"

Throughout life, there are many firsts. For me, such can be said of the recent passing of Ronald Reagan. Never before have I witnessed the passing of an American President.

President Reagan was actually the first American Head of State to be elected into office while I was alive. At the time, I was only a year old. I grew up not fully realizing the impact of the events of his terms in office. I was too young to fully ponder such things. It was through history classes as I got older that I really learned of his personality and leadership.

Today, though, Friday, June 11, 2004, that leader -- "The Great Communcator" as he is often called -- was finally laid to rest. His legacy to the American people has been committed to memory, and his soul to his Heavenly Father. As President George W. Bush said in his eulogy, "Ronald Reagan belongs to the ages now, but we preferred it when he belonged to us."

Farewell to our 40th President. May he rest in peace within the arms of the Almighty.

-Jon

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"Nike Commercial, Revisted"

Two weeks ago, I was called by a local talent agency here in Milwaukee and asked to audition for a National Nike commerical. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend on such short notice, and didn't get in on the gig. Since I wasn't told any details about the shoot either, I never really learned what I missed.

Recently, however, I came across a local news article that talked about the now-complete filming of that commercial. The opportunity appears to have been a unique one, and though I certainly wouldn't have been in the running for the lead role (since I don't dance at arcades), had I been able to attend, I could very well have been part of the "posse". :)

If you're interested, feel free to give the local Milwaukee news article a gander:

"Nike ad-makers find sleek dancing in unstylish setting"

-Jon

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"Europe Through the Backdoor"

Today, I was up in the early hours of the morning, and invariably, for a short while, sat down in front of the television. I just so happened to find that one of my favorite public television travel shows was airing -- Rick Steves: Europe Through the Back Door.

Now, personally, when in comes to traveling, if it means just getting from point "A" to point "B", I'm not all that excited. There's usually very little fun involved. But if it involves exploring history, seeing classic works of art, dicovering unfamiliar cultures, or meeting new peoples... by all means, count me in!

Like Europe for example. I'd love to visit Europe some day. Taking in the art, observing the architecture, or even stopping to visit in one of the out-of-the-way villages; that would certainly thrill me to no end. Exploring is definitely in my genes. But, unfortunately, as I'm not in a position to pack up and travel around the birthplace of my forefathers at this point in my life, I'll just have to let Rick Steves do the travelling, and enjoy his journeys vicariously through him.

If you get the chance though, and you're like me, unable to actually go over to Rome or Bulgaria at the drop of a hat, I'd certainly recommend Rick Steves travel series. It's definitely not as much fun as the real thing, but it does live up to it's name -- "Europe: through the back door". And, even better, you don't even need a passport! :)

Enjoy your weekend all, and until next time,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Thursday, June 10, 2004


"Titanic"

Titanic in 30 seconds, re-enacted by bunnies. (humorous)

-Jon

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"A Long Road to Victory"

The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Anaheim Angels last night by a score of 1-0 in 17 innings. Those 17 innings matched the high for an interleague game, first done by Florida in a 4-3 win over Toronto on June 8, 1998. It was also matched last June 27 when Philadelphia beat Baltimore 4-2.

So far, the Brewers are doing surprisingly well this year. Apparently, they also appear to be playing a lot of long extra-inning games. :)

"Milwaukee 1, Anaheim 0, 17 innings"

-Jon

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Wednesday, June 09, 2004


"Storms and a Cold Front"

I think this may indeed prove to be an interesting summer -- at least when it comes to the weather. Yesterday (and perhaps even the past few days) was remarkably hot, humid, and sticky. Rather uncomfortable, and perhaps even downright miserable.

But today ended up being a different story. The tables were turned back to the norm for this time of year, and we ended up having a high of only 80 degrees, with much more comfortable weather conditions. Not a bad day at all. At the moment, the temperature is even back down to 55 degrees and we're expecting storms this evening. Go figure.

I'm certainly thankful for the comfortable breezes and the cooler weather, I hope they stick around! But at the moment, I think maybe God's having a little too much fun playing with the weather machine again. :)

Have a blessed day, and until next time,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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"Atlantis Found?"

I found this to be of interest from an article in BBC News:

Scientist Dr. Rainer Kuehn says he may have found remains of the lost city of Atlantis. Satellite photos of southern Spain reveal features on the ground appearing to match descriptions made by Greek scholar Plato of the fabled utopia.

"Satellite images 'show Atlantis'"

-Jon

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Tuesday, June 08, 2004


"90 Degrees"

High Temperature Today: 91 degrees
Here in Milwaukee, this is officially the first 90 degree day of 2004. The last time we had a day like this was August 28th of last year. Yep, summer is just around the corner. :)

-Jon

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Monday, June 07, 2004


"A Hot One in Milwaukee"

Man, it sure seemed like a hot day today here in Milwaukee! High 80's I think it was? Of course, I spent most of my day indoors working on a website -- where I might add, it was a bit warmer. I had the fans on, which helped more than I expected. But, then again, I do live on the second floor of my building; Heat rises.

I did get to take a walk in the evening though, and once the sun went down, so did the warmer temperatures, and, to some degree, the humidty. The cool refreshing evening breeze was wonderful.

Granted, today was nothing compared to what is normal for summer, but it was still a warm one by my standards. That, and unfortunately, since Noah (current roomate) is moving out at the end of the month, he takes the air conditioning unit with him. That leaves my comfortable prospects for summer a little lower than previous years. I'll have to see what my new roomate, Scott, and myself decide to do about that.

But, other than the warmer temperatures, and my increased status as an aquaholic who loves ice cold water, it wasn't too bad of a Monday. Now, if only I can get this website done and online, I'll be happy. One more project down, more to go. Which, of course, means a payday might be around the corner. I always appreciate those. :)

But, enough babble. I'm off to finish a few things yet before bed. Have a blessed Tuesday, and I'll catch you all on the marrow. Until then,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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"You in 1905"

Get a snapshot of your life as it might have been had you been living in Britain 100 years ago. Just enter your gender and your fathers profession. I would have been a printer 100 years ago.

You leave school at 14. You work hard for ten years as a printer and you're eventually promoted to the position of manager. Occasionally you go to the theatre – your wife loves musical comedies. More often, you go to the music hall with your family, where you love a good laugh and a sing along after a hard day's work.

You marry but your wife dies while giving birth to your second daughter. You have saved enough to give her a good burial. Despite bronchial problems, you're able to join the army in 1914. You die as a private soldier in 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele.

Hmm. Interesting life, and ironically, still a creative one. Not bad! :)

-Jon

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Sunday, June 06, 2004


"D-Day: June 6, 2004"

Sixty years ago today, Normany Beach marked the begining of the end for Adolf Hitler and his tyranny in WWII. Today we honor the thousands of brave allied men who fought there. Some came home as heroes. Some died on that beach, but all are heroes of freedom. Today we salute them.

"Tears, Pride Mark D-Day Ceremony in France"

-Jon

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Saturday, June 05, 2004


"Ronald Reagan: 1911-2004"

Ronald Reagan, actor and 40th President of the United States, died today at the age of 93. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for over a decade.

"Former President Ronald Reagan Dies at 93"

-Jon

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"New Artist Pages"

For those of you that may be interested, one of my recent personal projects has been to remodel my art pages. Finally, after a good deal of work, I've completed them. You'll now find a sample gallery of my work, as well as a comprehensive freelance listing of all my design skills for hire.

Feel free to investigate, and if you happen to be one of those people looking for a good award-winning artist to complete a design project, I'd be more than happy to offer my services.

Have a blessed day all, and until later,

Your happily blogging artist friend,
-Jon

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"U.S. Citizenship Test"

The VoteBook Citizenship Test is based on the actual test given by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Federal regulations say that persons applying for citizenship must "be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of U.S. history and principles of government."

The main difference between this test and the real test is that this is a multiple choice exam. Also, in the real test, the examiner gets to pick the 10 questions that will be asked, so they aren't really random. In the online VoteBook test, the computer randomly selects the 10 questions.

For fun, I took the test and it said:

"You have completed the VoteBook Citizenship Test. Your score was 9 out of 10. Congratulations! You are qualified to be a U.S. citizen!"

Excellent news! Although, being the informed student of American history that I am, I know that both legal rights, Jus Soli and Jus Sanguinis already apply to me. As a result, I'll never actually have to take the real test. But I can live with that. I never really liked tests anyway. :)

-Jon

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Friday, June 04, 2004


"Grading the Ballparks"

Being the Milwaukee Brewers baseball fan that I am, this interested me...

ESPN has put together graded reviews of all the major league ballparks. Miller Park -- the Brewers new home stadium (and my personal favorite!) -- ranked 16th out of the 30 ballparks. If you're interested, here's the rather interesting review.

Incidently, the top rated ballpark is PNC Park in Pittsburg, with a score of 95. The worst, not surprisingly, is Olympic Stadium in Montreal. It scored a measly 49 points.

-Jon

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"Test Your Southern-ness"

Just for fun, I took this Southern-ness quiz, and scored 26 out of 71.
Incidently, that easily qualifies me as a Yankee -- which I am anyway -- so, hmm.... Good to know. :)

-Jon

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Wednesday, June 02, 2004


"A Beautiful Night"

The weather was gorgeous this evening, so I decided to take a leisurely walk. The cool refreshing breeze, the cool night air, the serene silence, the bright glow above the treeline from the area field lights -- beautiful. Absolutely beautiful!

I love nights like this. There's no doubt about it, the day certainly has it's own share of natural beauty, but the night is a whole different ball of wax!

-Jon

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"Unusual Photos"

Unusual photographs for your enjoyment.

-Jon

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"I hate it when that happens...."

I hate it when I'm working on a project, unknowingly mess it up, and then don't realize the mistake until later -- after I've gone on further in the project. That's definitely a pain in the butt. Not only do I have to repair the orginal mistake, but I then have to redo everything that was done after that particular point in the project. Man, I hate it when that happens. :)

-Jon

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Tuesday, June 01, 2004


"Summerland"

I may have found a new favorite television show this evening. Granted, it's probably a little too early to add the WB series, Summerland, to that list of favorites, but I did enjoy the pilot. That's usually a good sign.

The characters were rather engaging, the story pretty well-written, and the plot surprisingly moral -- for a series set in "Sunny California". The premise of the series has been done before, (see: Raising Helen), but overall, not too bad. I'll have to watch over the next few weeks, and make a better assessment, but for now, maybe I'll actually have something to watch on Tuesday evenings.

We'll have to see I guess. :)

Have a blessed day all. I'll catch you on the marrow.

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Jon Baas

Blogging Since 2002!
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Stories I Tell:
USS Enterprise 1701-D
   • Story Page - (in real-time)
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- ProBlogger
- Seth Godin
- The Brothers Brick
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- Improv Everywhere


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