"Don Marco's Crayon Art"

Don Marco has a unique artistic talent: he's developed a way to draw amazingly life-like artwork using Crayola Crayons! Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 9:47 PM  I   I  0 comments

"9/11 Broadcast Memorial"

CNN.com to replay 9/11 attacks coverage

On Monday, September 11, CNN will mark the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by replaying, on the Internet, the cable network's coverage of that day's events.

Viewers can watch how events unfolded starting at 8:30 a.m., minutes before the first reports of an airplane hitting the World Trade Center. The feed will run in real time, as the network showed it five years ago, and end at midnight.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 7:25 PM  I   I  0 comments

"What is Love?"

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
- Genesis 1:1 (The Bible)

Now here's something to think about.

When you look up into the night sky, stars are everywhere. There's a whole universe of them... trillions upon trillions of stars, and all of them very much like the sun. And that universe out there has no end... no borders... no boundries. It's endless, vast, and entirely beyond comprehension.

Now, in our part of that immense universe sits the sun. To us, it's a huge ball of burning gas that sustains all life on earth. To the universe it's hardly even a tiny dot of light among many. And orbiting that tiny dot of light is an even smaller planet -- one million times smaller than that dot of light. And on that tiny pebble orbiting that tiny dot of light live over six BILLION people!

I am merely ONE of them.

But consider this, as small and insignificant as the earth and sun are in the massive scale of the universe, each and every day, the Creator of that massive universe chooses to walk by my side. He knows the number of hairs on my head. He knows everything about me in such detail that a biography would fill an entire library. And He loves me so much that He actually WANTS to walk beside me through life -- sometimes even carrying me through the rough times.

Now how utterly awesome is that! The Creator of this boundless universe actually chooses each one of us -- out of an incalculably large universe -- to know, love, and care for so personally that He hears us when we sigh... and knows what that sigh means.

Life may get you down sometimes. But just remember, no matter how utterly insignificant you may be in the physical universe, there's a God out there who has made you His entire world.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
- John 3:16 (The Bible)

What is love? God is. And there's no better example than that.

Have a wonderful new week everyone, and until next time,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 6:28 AM  I   I  0 comments

"Downtown"

The evolving cityscape. Six photos of downtown Toronto shot in about a two hour time frame. From a daily dose of imagery by photographer Sam Javanrouh.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 5:43 AM  I   I  0 comments

"Tumbleweed Tiny Houses"

Jay Shafer constructs houses that are smaller than some people's bathrooms. How each house gets used, though, depends upon the occupant's particular needs. What one person would enjoy as a quiet studio in their backyard, another couple might choose to inhabit as a full-time residence.

Shafer's tiny houses have been composed with meticulous attention to light, warmth, energy efficiency, and proportion. He makes the most of each cozy interior by minimizing transitional areas like hallways and stairwells, and by using otherwise unusable space as storage.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:53 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Pluto No Longer a Planet"

Leading astronomers declared yesterday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight. After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930.

For now, membership will be restricted to the eight "classical" planets in the solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:17 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Bound for Glory: America in Color"

Bound for Glory: America in Color is the first major exhibition of the little known color images taken by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information. These vivid scenes and portraits capture the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations, the nation’s subsequent economic recovery and industrial growth, and the country’s great mobilization for World War II.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:26 PM  I   I  0 comments

"The Book of Truths"

A truism is a claim that is so obvious or self-evident, that is it hardly worth mentioning -- except as a reminder or as a rhetorical or literary device. The Book of Truths is dedicated to collecting absolute truisms that have no profound meaning whatsoever.

Some examples of truisms are:

A book does not end until the last page.
He who has an ax to grind has a tool in need of sharpening.
He who is oldest has been living longer than any other.
To burn the candle at both ends is to have more light.
When the rain falls, the ground is wet.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:39 PM  I   I  0 comments

"A SuperHero Tribute"

Just another fan site: You Are Mighty. (Caution: music!)

-Jon
posted by Jon at 8:23 PM  I   I  0 comments

"The Official Record Store Cats"

These were too cute not to pass along:
From B3ta: The Official Record Store Cats.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 2:07 PM  I   I  0 comments

"New York in Lego"

Now this is just plain cool. Amazing Lego work: New York Miniland.

And there's more where that came from: Brickshelf.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 1:51 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Yahoo!"

Did you know this? Turn on your speakers, go to Yahoo.com, and click on the exclamation mark in the logo. It adds a whole new element to logo design!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:47 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Subway Stations from Around the World"

Architecture can be very creative, and as a creative person myself, I usually find it very interesting. So, having recently come across a list of photos and information about some of the worlds most beautiful subway stations, I thought I'd share it with you. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:17 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Google Sightseeing"

Now here's a fun blog: Google Sightseeing. Why bother seeing the world for real?... View it from Space. It's a collection of all the neat things you can see see on earth via satellite photography. Pretty cool if you ask me. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 4:32 AM  I   I  0 comments

"Quote of the Day"

"Nobody "becomes" a character. You can't act unless you are who you are."
- Marlon Brando

-Jon
posted by Jon at 9:47 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Google Game: You Look Like..."

I had a little free time this afternoon, so, here's a fun little game you can play with Google. For example, if your name is Bob, you google "bob looks like". I did this with my first name and here are some of the results:

Jon looks like he's deep in thought
Jon looks like Mel Gibson in the movie Mad Max
Jon looks like he's ready for anything
Jon looks like young Skywalker here carrying Yoda around on his back
Jon looks like he's honestly having a good time
Jon looks like he's acclimated well to being a Mountain (Time Zone) Man
Jon looks like a local boy from Hawaii
Jon looks like Bruce Willis
Jon looks like his voice sounds
Jon looks like he's in his mid-twenties
Jon looks like he did 25 years ago

So, if we break it down, I look like a few famous celebrities, I'm intelligent, attentive, fun-loving, and I age well. Oh, yeah, and I'm a "Mountain Man" from Hawaii. Cool. I can go with that! :)

Give it a try, have fun, and until next time,

Your happily musing friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 4:33 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Th-th-that's all folks!"

Yep. The Wisconsin State Fair ends today. Gone will be the cars, the traffic, the pedestrians, the sights, the sounds, and the news helicopters overhead. In their place, I will once again have my quiet neighborhood back. And while the people-watching was good, and the yard parking a success, I think it's time for the usual calmness that is where I live.

Maybe next year I'll actually go to the State Fair. We'll see. For now, though, it's back to business as usual. Lots to do. So little time to do it in. Ah, such is life.

Have a wonderful new week all, and until next time,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:08 PM  I   I  0 comments

"It's All in the Timing"

Well, the news is official. I have not been cast in the show I auditioned for earlier this week. So, unfortunately, no "All in the Timing" for me. But, hey, so goes the "Biz". You win some, you lose some. Time to start thinking about the next audition. Stay tuned. :)

Have a wonderful evening all, and until next time,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 12:17 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Being an Entrepreneur"

Today, after working almost seven hours for my landlord (and doing mostly outdoor painting), I set to work on another task -- parking cars on my front lawn.

See, the Wisconsin State Fair is going on around here, and due to the increased traffic, and decreased parking spots, parking is at a premium. So, I've taken a hint from my neighbors, and have turned my front lawn into a parking lot. I'm charging a reasonable fee for fair-goers to park their cars, and they have less than a block to walk before they reach the nearest State Fair entrance.

Now, granted, I am doing this with my landlord's permission. He, of course, gets part of the profits because I'm parking cars on his land, and I get part of the profits because I'm doing the work. But, in the end, I make a little extra pocket change, and fair-goers find themselves with a prime parking spot. It's a win-win situation!

And I'm not the only person doing this during the State Fair. Some of my neighbors (in this neighborhood, not "next door") have been offering yard parking for years. This, however, is just my second year. But, hey, we have a substantial yard, fair-goers need a place to stash their cars. It makes perfect sense. And it just goes to show too, you don't need to be Donald Trump to find a good financial opportunity. Anyone can be an entrepreneur. Just find a need... and fill it.

So, by the end of the day today, I've made a little extra pocket change (with Saturday and Sunday still to go!), and, I've found yet another way to validate my title as a "professional entrepreneur"! Not bad! Granted, we'll still have to see how the rest of the weekend shapes up, but for now, I'm going to go relax, celebrate a long day of work, and go to bed early. Afterall, I did put in twelve hours today. Saying that I'm exhausted, is by far an understatement! :)

So, have a wonderful evening all, thanks for stopping by, and until the morrow,

Your friendly blogging entrepreneur friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 8:43 PM  I   I  0 comments

"The Only Piece of Art on the Moon"

I did not know this:

The only piece of art on the moon (depending upon your definition of art) is a 3"-tall aluminum sculpture titled "Fallen Astronaut". It was created by Belgian artist Paul Van Hoeydonck and installed by Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott, along with a plaque bearing the names of the 14 astronauts and cosmonauts who died in the service of space exploration.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:27 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Quote of the Day"

"Acting is standing up naked and turning around very slowly."
- Rosalind Russell

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:16 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Call-Backs"

Tonight's call-back audition went well. We were told it was quite likely that the few of us who were there would all get roles, however, we won't find out for certain (or what those roles will be) until the weekend. Three people have yet to audition.

I'll have an official release out once I hear anything, however, until then, we wait. Stay tuned!

Your happily blogging actor friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:31 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Back on the Boards"

Well, good news folks (especially for those who want to hear more about my acting endeavors!), I went to a notable stage audition this evening.... and got called back. So, I'll be attending the second round of auditions tomorrow night, and I'll share any news with you as soon as I hear it.

It's a show I've been looking forward to for months, so, keep your fingers crossed. Fun, witty, and full of snappy dialogue. A favorite that I certainly wouldn't mind adding to my resume (again).

So, have a wonderful evening all, stay tuned, and until the morrow,

Your happily blogging actor friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:07 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Flatlife"

So, how about a fun little movie this evening?

Here is, Jonas Geirnaert's graduation project, "Flatlife"(2004), selected for Short Films in Competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2004. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 8:41 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Cartoon Laws of Physics"

Cartoon Laws of Physics:

* Any body suspended in space will remain in space until made aware of its situation.
* Any body passing through solid matter will leave a perforation conforming to its perimeter.
* A sharp object will always propel a character upward.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:51 PM  I   I  0 comments

"The Disappearing Lake"

When does a shallow lake suck up a $5 million Texaco drilling platform, a tugboat, eleven barges, a barge loading dock, part of an island, greenhouses, a house trailer, semi-trucks, tractors, a parking lot, tons of mud, trees, and an estimated 1.5 billion gallons of water?

Only when something goes wrong, of course... like it did on Thursday, November 21, 1980, at Lake Peigneur in southern Louisiana.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 8:01 PM  I   I  0 comments

"A Day of Garage Doors"

I spent most of my day today painting twelve of sixteen garage door frames with a final coat of white paint. Good work. Hot work. And rather tiring work too. Now that I'm back home again, though, I think it's time for a shower and a good long nap.

So, until next time,

-Jon
posted by Jon at 4:49 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Wisconsin State Fair, 2006"

Well, it's that time of year again -- the Wisconsin State Fair officially opened it's gates today. And, since I live in the same neighborhood as the massive State Fair Grounds, I get to hear pedestrians walking through my neighborhood late into the night, ten times as much traffic traveling down my street on weekends, cars parked in every available parking spot, and yes, the sights and sounds of the food and fairway wafting into my front yard.... (Mmmm, deep fried food!)

Anyway....

Not that I'm complaining much. I haven't been to the Fair in years, yet I still find myself looking forward to it every August. In a way, where I live, I get to experience most of it, and I don't even have to leave my apartment! For my frugal personality, that really is the best of both worlds.

So, with the festivities right outside my doorstep, I'll probably be writing about it a bit more during the coming days. Feel free to enjoy, and my sincere appologies if you aren't the fair-loving type. On the upside, though, it'll all be over on August 13th. :)

So, with that said, have a wonderful Thursday, and until next time,

Your happily blogging and ever-musing friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 3:03 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Make that two in Iraq."

On Thursday, I shared the news that my sister Becca (Lieutenant in the Air Force) is being deployed overseas to Kabul, Afganistan in early November. Today, however, I recieved an update to that... and there's a change in plans. Her deployment has been moved up by two weeks, and she will instead be sent over to an Air Base in war-torn Iraq.

So, now there will be two Baas siblings serving in Iraq. Ben with the Marines patroling the Syrian border, and Becca coordinating officials and dignitaries at an Air Base elsewhere in the country. Both locations are in/near combat "Hot Zones".

-Jon
posted by Jon at 2:13 PM  I   I  0 comments