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Tuesday, July 31, 2007


"Love Never Fails"

This morning has been a tough one for me: My Jenny let me go.

Tonight she chose to move on, to face her struggles alone -- To devote her heart to spiritual matters. And while I am extraordinarily saddened by her solitary choice, and will miss her presence in my life like nothing I have ever known, I'm happy for her. Despite my confused and painful tears, I'm happy she's finding peace.

In these past eight months, I've loved her with all my heart, all my dreams, and far more time and moments than I can even count. And there has never been a woman in my adult life more deserving of that love than my beautiful Jenny from Tennessee. She may not understand it at times, and she may not want to accept it, but she's a far greater woman than she thinks. Flawed, perfect, intelligent, foolish, strong, weak... she's all of these and more.

In the end, perhaps the Lord brought her into my life to show me how to love, to teach me renewed persistence in the face of struggle, to love beyond myself, and to want of nothing more than her own happiness and joy. Yeah, I've had my moments of success, and I've had moments of failure, but through it all, I've loved... I've hoped... And I've had faith. There may be greater "distance" between the two of us now, but my heart has never changed. I still love her. I will always love her.

A woman like Jenny is one in a million. They're hard to find, sometimes hard to love, but always worth fighting for. And you know what, I'd do it all over again!

My heart may have a hole for a while, but it will heal.

UPDATE: - (4:31 PM)
You know, I think the Lord *has* been teaching me persistence.

In her life, Jenny has never had someone fight for her. Her father was/is an alcoholic, never treated her like the blessing she was to him, belittled her, mocked her for her failings, and wasn't there for her when she needed him. He constantly argued with his wife, cheated, and set a poor example of the leadership a good father should display. As a result Jenny grew up with very low self-esteem. Then, as she got older, a string of not-so-great romantic relationships only helped to pound that self-worth into the ground even further. Needless to say, she's had a hard life.

But, despite all that, I still find myself irresistibly drawn to her. Something about Jenny has this unexplainable magnetic attraction on my heart. I can't help loving her. I can't avoid fighting for her. And I can't help longing for her to find that peace and joy her heart so desperately needs. Maybe God *does* create hearts like puzzle pieces, some fitting together by design. And maybe, just maybe, our design is still in the works.

As Jenny and I heal, and as we chip away at the confusion in our lives right now, I know and believe two things -- with a passion: Jenny *will* find her peace, and our hearts will never be all that far away from each other. Oh, sure, there may not be any "us" right now, there may never be again -- I can accept that -- but I do know this....

I will not give up on Jenny -- or her heart. I was not built to give up. I love her her for who she is -- faults, shortcomings, and all. And no matter what happens, love never fails.

-Jon

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Monday, July 30, 2007


"Wisdom of the Day"
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

-- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

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Sunday, July 29, 2007


"My Real Age"

Your health, lifestyle, and habits have a dramatic affect on your lifespan. The choices we make, the food we eat, and the medical conditions we have affect our lives in either positive or negative ways. Here is a Real Age Calculator which illustrates a few of these factors. Answer 33-34 brief questions, and calculate your health age.

Please note, the results are, of course, only approximations. The science of aging cannot predict all the events in ones life -- those are entirely unique to you. However, it can average the lifespan of persons with known conditions, and make an educated guess from there. This test, while based on that educated guess, is for entertainment only.

Here are my results: It would appear that I am far healthier than I assumed, and -- scientifically -- I could live to be a very wise and happy old man. Hey, sounds good to me! :)
  • My Biological Age: -- 27 years
  • My Health Age: -- 6.6 years

  • Average Life Expectancy (Real Age Calculator): -- 74 years
  • Average Life Expectancy (CIA World Factbook, male, USA): -- 75.15 years
  • My Life Expectancy (Real Age Calculator): -- 94.4 years

And, according to this Age Calculator (my age in relation to the actual earth orbit), I am:
  • 27 years and 161 days old.
  • 2.74 decades old.
  • 10023.61 days old.

And my upcoming birthday in 2008 would be:
  • February 18 -- celebrated day.
  • February 17 at 18:00:00 -- based on the earth's orbit.
  • March 10 at 19:49:54 -- based on full moon cycles.
  • January 22 at 22:04:48 -- on the moon.

Feel free to check out Poodwaddle for more nifty little gadgets and programs like the ones above. (Warning: They also have a few addictive games for those of you with free time on your hands!).

Have fun, enjoy, and have a great Sunday all!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Saturday, July 28, 2007


"Rest and Relaxation"

No musings today. I'm taking the day off. Have a great weekend!

-Jon

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Friday, July 27, 2007


"Movie Friday: "A Ninja Pays Half My Rent"

Another Friday, another movie! This week my selection is titled, "A Ninja Pays Half My Rent".

You're not looking for a new roomate, are you? If so, avoid ninjas. They have a high turnover rate. Plus, they come across as creepy and self-involved. Trust me, you don't want that. Here's today's short film to prove my point. Oh, and be careful around grapefruit while you're at it!

Enjoy, and have a wonderful Saturday everyone!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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"My Friday in Review"

Maintenance work; played around in 32 toilets (aka, replaced parts, etc). Climbed sixteen flights of stairs, twice... Sore thighs. Warm day, plenty of sweat. Met some cute cats/kittens. Scared two parrots. Tasty Chinese buffet lunch. Relaxing evening; missing my Jenny.

-Jon

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"A New Spock"

It's official. Actor Zachary Quinto (Sylar from the NBC series, "Heroes") has been cast to play the role of Spock in the upcoming eleventh Star Trek movie.

"Heroes villain, Nimoy join Star Trek pic"

"Big Movie News from Comic-Con"

-Jon

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Thursday, July 26, 2007


"Technical Issue: Blog Comments"

Just an FYI. It would appear that my comments host, Haloscan, is having serious database problems at the moment. As a result, over 450,000 bloggers around the net (myself included) are suffering slow load times. It happens intermittently, but it's definitely their server, not mine.

So please be patient. The nice folks over there are working on the issue, and will have it fixed shortly. In the meantime, if things load slowly, just blame them. :)

I'm off to bed for the "night". Have a great morning!

UPDATE: - (3:33 PM)
It would appear the issue has been resolved -- at least for now.

-Jon

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"T-Shirt Thursday: Fruit T-shirts & Gifts"

In an effort to show off some of my popular (or new) t-shirts, artwork, and gift ideas exclusive to my online store, Jon Baas Designs, I've decided to feature a few of them here on my blog every Thursday. I call it, "T-Shirt Thursday". Feel free to comment, and enjoy!

Today's Featured Designs:
(click on each image to see available products)

Cherry T-shirtsPineapple T-shirtsLemon T-shirts

More Fruit Gifts: .... Fruit Buttons .... Mini-Buttons .... Teddy Bears

And for those of you who like to shop, weekly sales and coupons are available on the front page of my store. Feel free to use them for special discounts!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Wednesday, July 25, 2007


"Wisdom of the Day"

For my Jenny -- My muse.
"A man reserves his true and deepest love not for the species of woman in whose company he finds himself electrified and enkindled, but for that one in whose company he may feel tenderly drowsy."

-- George Jean Nathan (1882-1958)

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Tuesday, July 24, 2007


"Babies Eating Lemons"

Here is your "cute of the day". This time it's a compilation of online videos featuring children tasting their first lemon. Yep. Definitely cute! Babies just don’t hide their feelings, do they! ... [video]

Hehe! Enjoy, and have a great Wednesday everyone!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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"32+ Common Color Names for Easy Reference"

I love color, so, here's a great little list of color names used most often, as well as a best guess at their corresponding visual colors -- based upon web standards and common usage.

From the ColourLovers Blog.

-Jon

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"The Laws of Cat Physics"

If you have (or have had) a cat, you might want to become familiar with these. They're the laws which determine the scientific and behavioral functionality of cats. Here are a few examples:
Law of Cat Inertia
A cat at rest will tend to remain at rest, unless acted upon by some outside force - such as the opening of cat food, or a nearby scurrying mouse.

Law of Cat Disinterest
A cat's interest level will vary in inverse proportion to the amount of effort a human expends in trying to interest him.

Law of Cat Elongation
A cat can make her body long enough to reach just about any counter top that has anything remotely interesting on it.

More at: The Laws of Cat Physics

-Jon

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Monday, July 23, 2007


"Quote of the Day"

"Woman was taken out of man; not out of his head to top him, nor out of his feet to be trampled underfoot; but out of his side to be equal to him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved." -- Unknown

-Jon

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"Practice Makes Perfect"

Twelve-year-old Tyler Hudson is the son of a professional musician, and has played the drums since he was a toddler. Here's a video that shows his progress through the years.

-Jon

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Sunday, July 22, 2007


"Baas Updates"

My parents called from Minnesota this evening, and I got an update on what us Baas siblings are up to these days. I find some of this news quite fascinating!:

My actress sister, Rachel (second oldest), is finally getting married! She and her lawyer fiance will be tying the knot in the church she purchased and converted to a theatre. Their wedding is in October up in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.

Becca (the third oldest, and Lieutenant in the Air Force), is currently undergoing additional training down in Atlanta. She was formerly based in Texas, however, in November, she'll be reassigned to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Her new assignment will be for three years.

Ben continues to train with the Marines. He's based down in the desert near San Diego, and is preparing for a second Iraq deployment in early 2008.

Joel is on break from college. He's spending the summer at home in Minneapolis, and will be resuming his education studies in the fall. He's on track to be a high school history teacher.

And finally, Lydia (the youngest) begins her Naval training and enlistment in September. She is currently spending her last civilian summer at home.

-Jon

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"Bonds Watch: Sunday"

Good news: Barry Bonds didn't play in today's game against the Brewers, so no homeruns. Instead he'll return to San Francisco, and resume chasing Hank Aaron's record on home turf. In other words, the number 755 remains safely uncontested on Milwaukee soil.

Oh, and the Brew Crew won this afternoon, 7-5.

-Jon

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"Playstation Baseball"

Scott sprang for an exciting new addition to our apartment yesterday -- He bought a Playstation 2. Yes, *another* computer/gaming system. Of course, that meant both of us just had to spend most of the evening playing a graphical baseball game. You know,... we had to... umm... test it out and... umm... you know, make sure it worked.

Well, that's *my* excuse anyway, and I'm sticking to it! So there! Hehe!

Have a great Sunday everyone! I'm heading off to bed -- finally.

Until next time,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Saturday, July 21, 2007


"Bonds Watch: Saturday"

Well, good news, Barry Bonds didn't hit any homeruns against Milwaukee today. He remains at 753. The bad news: The Giants beat the Brewers, 8-0.

-Jon

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Friday, July 20, 2007


"Hank Aaron, Brought to You by the Number 755"

In the world of baseball, today is the 31st anniversary of Hank Aaron's 755th (and final) career home run -- hit right here as a Brewer in former Milwaukee County Stadium.

For those that are unfamiliar, Hank Aaron is a Milwaukee sports legend, a current Baseball Hall-of-Famer, and without a doubt one of the best ballplayers to grace professional baseball. He began and ended his 23-year career in Milwaukee, coming up as a rookie for the 1954 Milwaukee Braves, playing for the Atlanta Braves from 1966-1974 (after the team relocated), and then returning to play for the Brewers until his retirement in 1976. His jersey number has been retired and hangs in the outfield rafters of Miller Park.

"Hammerin' Hank", as he was so fondly referred to, is known for many contributions to the game of baseball. Not only was he one of the most durable and versatile hitters in major league history, he is also a member of the elite 3,000 Hit Club, he played in 24 All-Star games, and he batted .300 or more in 14 of his 23 Major League seasons. He appeared in two World Series', owns one MVP award (1957), and eclipsed the legendary Babe Ruth's career homeruns (714) by 41. Aaron also broke ground for the participation of African Americans in professional sports (suffering greatly due to racist attitudes at the time).

He is, without a doubt, a hero to the game -- Soft-spoken, quiet, and enduring.

But change is in the wind, and it could happen this month. Barry Bonds, current left-fielder for the San Francisco Giants, is looking to eclipse Hank Aaron's 755 career homeruns. As of this blog post (July 20), Bonds sits at 753 -- three shy of a new record. With the Giants playing here in Milwaukee this weekend, history could be made yet again.

But, Bonds is no Hank Aaron. He may be good, but he's far less of a hero.

In fact, all statistics aside, Bonds is accused of taking steroids to enhance his play. He is also under investigation for perjury by a federal grand jury regarding his steroid-case testimony -- testimony in which he denied using performance-enhancing drugs. On top of that, he strives to consistently remain one of baseball's highest paid players ($189 million in his career so far), and he has withdrawn from the MLB Players Association's (MLBPA) licensing agreement because he felt independent marketing deals would be more lucrative for him.

Bonds is about making money, and getting as much recognition as possible -- two things the mild-mannered Hank Aaron preferred to avoid. Bonds enhanced his playing abilities... Aaron was nothing but natural self-taught ability. And, no matter what any Barry Bonds fan may say, suffering in the media spotlight is nothing like receiving racist death threats for being an African-American ballplayer during segregated times.

Oh, and, in case you haven't caught on yet... Barry Bonds is African-American.

So, this weekend here in Milwaukee will be an interesting one. The slugging Barry Bonds is in town playing against the Brewers -- and he's only three homeruns away from a new record. You can bet Miller Park will be standing room only.

Let's just hope he gets shutout. 755 is Milwaukee's number.

-Jon

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"Movie Friday: "The Wheel"

Another Friday, another movie! This week my selection is titled, "The Wheel".

It's a German animation short (subtitled in English) about the evolution of mankind -- as seen through the ageless eyes of two dimwitted rocks. I don't believe in evolution myself, but I did find this little gem to be rather entertaining. Plus, there's a bonus... it received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Short Film in 2003! Not bad. Not bad at all!

So, sit back, grab your popcorn, and enjoy!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Thursday, July 19, 2007


"Eight Things"

One of my favorite bloggers -- Marsha Loftis -- tagged me today with a blogging meme. So, per the rules below, I must share eight facts about myself that no one else knows.

Rules of the Meme:

1. -- I must post these rules before I proceed.
2. -- I must list eight facts/habits about myself that no one else knows.
3. -- I must further this meme on my blog. Aka, I am required to write a blog entry.
3. -- At the end of this post, I must also list and tag a few bloggers of my own.
4. -- A comment on those blogs, informing them that they've been tagged, is recommended.

Alright then. Let's have some fun! Here are...


Eight little-known facts about me:
  1. I am a walking encyclopedia of Star Trek knowledge. Literally. I've gone to Star Trek conventions, I've met a few of the now-famous actors, and I'm working on building a collection of Star Trek memorabilia -- including props.
  2. I hated wearing blue jeans until half-way through my high school education.
  3. I won a Major League Baseball (MLB) essay contest shortly after my family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in the early 1990's. My prize: Tickets to the Metrodome to see a Minnesota Twins game from the luxury/press box. Ironically, my winning essay was written about the Milwaukee Brewers -- then-divisional rivals.
  4. I am connected to Russian royalty. My Great-Great-Grandmother Virkshus (paternal side of the family; first name and maiden name unknown) was a seamstress to the Czarina of Russia. One of Grandmother Virkshus' sons got involved in the Bolshevik opposition to the Czar, and was exiled from Russia. He emmigrated to America in 1906. His sister, who later emmigrated as well, became my Great-Grandmother.
  5. I have never broken a bone in my body. Not yet anyway.
  6. I have been interviewed by television stations throughout the Upper Midwest USA.
  7. I studied Latin in high school.
  8. A local Milwaukee-area housing development is named after my family. It resides on the original homestead owned by my Baas ancestors. "Baas East Point" as the development is now called, resides near "Baas Bay" of Big Muskego Lake. It is a gated community containing luxury estates.

Fun stuff, no? Of course, now that I've pursued this meme, it's time to pass it on to other bloggers I know. I tag, my Jenny (private MySpace blog), Gerard at The Presurfer, Jonathan Nail, my brothers Ben and Joel, and a few other bloggers. Have fun with it, and enjoy!

Have a great Friday all, and until next time,

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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"T-Shirt Thursday: Love T-shirts"

In an effort to show off some of my popular (or new) t-shirts, artwork, and gift ideas exclusive to my online store, Jon Baas Designs, I've decided to feature a few of them here on my blog every Thursday. I call it, "T-Shirt Thursday". Feel free to comment, and enjoy!

Today's Featured Designs:
(click on each image to see available products)

Love is PatientLove is Worth Fighting ForLove is Forgiving

More Designs: .... Love T-shirts .... Women's T-Shirts & Lingerie

And for those of you who like to shop, weekly sales and coupons are available on the front page of my store. Feel free to use them for special discounts!

Have a great Thursday everyone!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Tuesday, July 17, 2007


"The Night Sky"

I've always been fascinated by the night sky. When I was younger, I remember gazing up at the universe and seeing the twinkling lights looking back down at me. I would stand there in awe, knowing God had created all that (with one simple command!), and I'd wonder what was out there.

So much space... so much to tickle the imagination!

Well, recently, I came across a website that reminded me of those youthful stargazing moments. It's a website that -- in very simple terms -- shows you how to identify constellations, stars, planets, etc, and how to navigate them at night. It's our sky out there, and it's the same star-filled sky our ancestors mapped thousands of years ago. How much of it do *you* recognize?

Take this Night Sky course, and in about 15 minutes, you'll find out. Have fun!

-Jon

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"Untamed"

For more than 10 years, photographer Steve Bloom traveled all over the world, roaming throught the jungles of Borneo, the African savannahs, and the frozen banks of Antarctica, to assemble a dazzling photographic collection of animals in their natural environments.

This slideshow of his photos brings to life a vast panorama of animal diversity, as well as the stunningly wild landscapes, climates, and habitats in which they live.

-Jon

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Monday, July 16, 2007


"The Internet Crash of 2007"

BREAKING NEWS:
Officials confirm that all online data has been lost after the internet crashed, and was forced to restart. For more indepth coverage, visit ONN News. ... [video coverage]

-Jon

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Saturday, July 14, 2007


"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire"

Here's a fun little game for you: An online version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

I played, and unfortunately left the game with a wrong answer (something about an alcoholic beverage containing gin), and only $1000. Think you can do better than that?

-Jon

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"Justine Ashbee’s Sharpie Pen Artwork"

Justine Ashbee is living proof that fantastic art does not need to be made using fancy brushes and paint. In fact, she uses Sharpie pens to create hers!

-Jon

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Friday, July 13, 2007


"Friday Recap"

Friday the 13th, nothing happened. Painted an apartment, more next week. Getting used to my "new" computer, reloading everything. Played "The Sims 2". Thinking fondly of my Jenny.

-Jon

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"Movie Friday: On Vacation

"Movie Friday" is taking a break today -- it's on vacation. Stay tuned next week, though, when I once again resume featuring a great and/or entertaining short film found somewhere on the internet. It's a whole lot of fun; don't miss out!

In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Thursday, July 12, 2007


"T-Shirt Thursday: Actor T-shirts"

In an effort to show off some of my popular (or new) t-shirts, artwork, and gift ideas exclusive to my online store, Jon Baas Designs, I've decided to feature a few of them here on my blog every Thursday. I call it, "T-Shirt Thursday". Feel free to comment, and enjoy!

Today's Featured Designs:
(click on each image to see available products)

Stage PeopleI heart MeActor on Stage

More Designs: ... Actor T-shirts .... Occupation T-shirts .... Humor T-Shirts

And for those of you who like to shop, weekly sales and coupons are available on the front page of my store. Feel free to use them for special discounts!

Have a great Friday everyone!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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Wednesday, July 11, 2007


"The Obituary of a Dead Computer"

"Jon1", personal computer to Jon Baas, died today. It was 4 years old.

Born sometime in late 2002 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, "Jon1" served Jon Baas faithfully as his primary desktop computer. It had specialized training in artistic design software, had a propensity for creative simulation games, and loved to play musical MP3 files. Cause of death was a heart attack, brought on by massive electrical shock.

Earlier in the evening today (July 11, 2007), a transformer box blew outside Jon Baas' apartment. As a result, all electricity to the neighborhood was suddenly lost. Less than an hour later, as the local power company restored the grid, Jon went to wake up his computer. Almost immediately, he was greeted by sparks, sputtering gasps, and the smell of burned microchips. "Jon1" had blown it's power supply. It's heart had stopped.

Thankfully, all was not lost. Almost at once, Jon and his technically savvy roommate, Scott, went to work conducting surgery on the lifeless computer. Obtaining the body (CPU) of one of the other many functioning computers in Jon's apartment, the two men successfully removed and transplanted part of "Jon1"'s undamaged brain (the hard-drive) into it's new case. Surgery took a few hours, but was ultimately a success.

"Jon1" was preceded in death by it's predecessor -- Jon Baas' first computer -- which served the young artist faithfully throughout most of his college years. That first computer died on New Years Day 2003, due to sudden brain failure (motherboard).

"Jon1" now lives on in a new (and technically upgraded) body as computer "Jon2".

"Jon2" is survived by it's half-siblings -- the other many functioning computers in Jon Baas' apartment -- including the newest addition to the the family, Scott's top-of-the-line laptop.

Funeral arrangements for "Jon1" have been entrusted to Scott. However, there will be no visitation, as "Jon1"'s body has been donated to science. It's still-usable parts are for sale on Ebay.

-Jon

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"The Wheels of the Law"

On Friday, I had an acting gig, and today, I went to court as a result. Here's what happened...

My landlord has a friend whom he's known since he was young. For 22 years, that friend used to live in an old apartment structure in downtown Milwaukee -- a four-floor building, built in the 1930's, containing around 50 individual apartments. Old architecture, small apartments, safe neighborhood.

Well, recently, this friend moved out of that downtown location, and into the much smaller (and cheaper) apartments that I currently live in. However, when he moved, his former landlord (aka, the company that owned the building) decided to take advantage of him (for whatever reasons), and chose to make his move a legal nightmare. This came in the form of fraudulent move-out charges, double-charged rental amounts, errant cleaning fees, broken repair promises, flared tempers, etc. The manager even chose to fabricate excuses to cover over the truth.

So, since the apartment manager/owners, and my landlord and his friend weren't on good terms with each other, I was requested to become a third party (unfamiliar to the manager/owners) and help build a case for the defense.

This past Friday, I was asked to play a role and pose as a potential new tenant. I set up an apartment viewing (for a different apartment in the building), and was then told to inquire about any other available units (opening the door for me to investigate the apartment my landlord's friend just moved out of). I was instructed to be curious (yet not blow my cover as a possible new renter), take subtle notes of the condition I saw things in, and ask a few specific questions -- questions designed to clarify the manager's fabricated excuses.

As it turned out, the mission went off without a hitch, I played the role flawlessly, and I ended up with answers that clearly incriminated the manager (which I'm sure he figured out not long after I left). I returned with my new data, handed it off to my landlord (legal counsel for the defense), and prepared to be a witness in court.

Earlier today, we arrived at the massive downtown Milwaukee County Courthouse, and, as scheduled, prepared to give a solid case in defense of my landlord's friend. As it turned out, the prosecuting lawyer was there waiting for us. However, when our case came up, he handed us an adjournment, and went on his way. In other words, he had been instructed (by the building owners) to postpone today's trial hearing if we showed up ready to fight. We did; the prosecution crumbled. Apparently, they realized we had a stronger case than they did.

The results of that adjournment are still up in the air, and things should be settled with my landlord's friend in the next few weeks, but I think it's safe to assume my acting gig did the trick. I had fun, I got to pretend, and I did it all for a good cause. Sure, my audience was small, but in the end, I got 'em thinking. And that's exactly what an actor strives to do.

Sometimes all it takes to expose the truth (and frighten the bad guys), is a lot of hard work, the full extent of the law, and a really good thespian!

-Jon

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Tuesday, July 10, 2007


"When LEGO meets Fine Art"

What do you get when you mix LEGO and Fine Art? Why, you get LEGO remakes of Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Munch, and Rembrandt classics of course! Take a peek!

-Jon

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"Misunderstood and Alone"

Now, here's an absolutely brilliant TV commercial! ...I'll say no more than that, though, because I don't want to ruin it for you. Just watch; you'll see what I mean. Enjoy! ... [video]

-Jon

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Sunday, July 08, 2007


"Summer Heat"

Blech. Today's high temperature in Milwaukee: 91 degrees (with a heat index of at least 94). That's just hot and downright muggy. Tomorrow's forecast? Slightly cooler, but still miserable. Then on Tuesday we finally get rain in the form of thunderstorms, wind, and a cold front. Temperatures dip back down into the mid 70's by Wednesday.

I tell you, I love summer, I really do. It's a great time of year to get out and about, but not so much in weather like this. The hot, sticky, humid air just takes the energy right out of me. All I want to do is lay around and conserve water.

-Jon

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"Quote of the Day"

"Most people give off as much heat as a 100 watt bulb, but not as much light."
- Unknown

-Jon

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"Women in Art: Revisited"

Remember that beautiful morphing video called "Women In Art" -- aka, "five hundred years of female portraits in western art"? (I linked to it back in May). Well, now there’s a website that identifies each individual portrait, the title, and the artist who created it.

-Jon

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Saturday, July 07, 2007


"Here There Be Fire"

Ah, the smell of burning wood chips in the mid-day sun!

Earlier this afternoon, I heard a knock on my apartment door, and when I opened it, my downstairs neighbor informed me that the bark mulch just outside our front door (aka, the "flower bed" area) was on fire. When I got outside, sure enough, the sidewalk between our two buildings was thick with smoke, and small flames were lapping up the mulch.

After a few moments seeking out a suitable hose, we doused the flaming area (and the building wall right next to it) with water, soaked it thoroughly, and began to assess the cause. There was a melted football in the middle of the burned area, so that might have heated up under the hot sun and sparked the dry mulch. Or, perhaps someone had dropped a lit cigarette into the area and it went up (although, no one on this side of the building smokes).

Scott suggested another possiblity, though. Fresh bark mulch -- under a piercing hot sun -- is known to catch fire spontaneously. If *that's* the case, then the rest of this weekend should be fun. Tomorrow (Sunday), the temperature could hit 96 degrees, with high humidity, and a heat index near 100. Since the bark mulch was freshly placed as of a few weeks ago, that might be a bit of a fire hazard. I'll just have to keep a eye on it I suppose.

As far as I can recall, this was the first uncontrolled fire at my apartments since I moved in over five years ago. We're in luck, though, because had the fire spread to a larger area, there's a volunteer fire department right across the street.

Of course, now I smell like smoke. I think I'll go take a shower.

-Jon

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"Baby Bumbo"

This cute little baby gets around! ... Ready-Set-Bumbo. ... [video]

And be sure to check out the thrilling sequel, part two. Enjoy!

-Jon

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Friday, July 06, 2007


"Jon Baas Goes to Court!"

I had an acting gig today... and I'll be going to court as a result.

Don't worry, it's serious, but not as bad as it sounds. If you want to hear all the fun details, you'll just have to stay tuned, because I can't share the story until Wednesday.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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"Movie Friday: "Ratatouille"

Another Friday, another movie! This week my selection is titled, "Ratatouille".

Today's animated film is actually the first nine minutes of "Ratatouille" now playing in movie theatres. It's a Pixar movie about Remy, a rat, who dreams of becoming the greatest chef in all of Paris! But it's not easy being a rat who likes to cook.

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon

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"Who Reads My Blog?"

So, I was thinking earlier.... Who reads my blog? Who are my "regular" readers, and what do I know about them? Where do they come from? As it just so happens, I keep track of my blog stats, so, here's what my curiousity discovered:

Over 92 percent of my readers live in the United States. No surprise there, right? Ok, so let's focus on the good 'ole US of A then. Where in these fifty states do my readers come from?

Well, interestingly enough, with the obvious exception of Wisconsin, most of my readers come from the South and Southwest. In fact, six of my top ten readership states are located in the southern part of the country. So what does that mean? Do those of you who live in the South find me to be more interesting than those who live here in the North? And does that mean I appeal more to the laid back, down-to-earth, conservative types -- like myself?

And, can I assume too, that I have fans among the "Southern Belles" and "Georgia Peaches" of the country? I've always had a certain appreciation for the South, ever since I was a Civil War reenactor. Am I really a country boy at heart? Does that show through in my blogging?

Top 10 Readership States: (in %)
  • Georgia -- 22.25
  • Wisconsin -- 21.65
  • California -- 17.22
  • Colorado -- 10.89
  • Arizona -- 4.78
  • Minnesota -- 3.59
  • Texas -- 2.39
  • New York -- 1.20
  • Tennessee -- 0.84
  • Illinois -- 0.84

    Top 3 Readership Cities:
    Atlanta (GA), Milwaukee (WI), Sacramento (CA), Denver (CO), Pheonix (AZ)

    Total Readership Cities (in US): 80

  • And the rest of the world? Well, beyond the United States, Asia comes in second (2.99 percent of all readership), followed by all of Europe (2.88 percent), and Canada (1.22%). Australia and New Zealand round out the list at less than one percent (0.33).

    So, in other words, I'm not AT ALL popular in South America. :)

    Ok... so, now that we know where all of you come from (to date anyway), what can we find out about you, in particular? Who are you as blog readers?

    Well, since I started tracking my blog stats over two months ago (I was merely watching traffic before that), I've discovered that 75.97% of all my readers revisit my blog more than once. The other 24.03% stop by once, and take little interest in me or my musings. So, to me, that would seem to indicate that over 3/4 of those who visit my blog, find me (or what I write about) interesting.

    And for those that are curious, no, I do not count my own blog hits.

    Also, based upon the fact that only 6-10 people have left regular blog comments in recent months, I can deduce that most of my readership is passive (aka, does not choose to interact).

    Furthermore, 24.48% of those 3/4 regular vistors, have visited my blog over 100 times. That's one third of my regular readership! That's awesome!

    Only 16.06% of those who have read my blog choose to visit other areas of my website. And while 63.35% of my readers use DSL/Cable to access the internet, 17.05% use Dialup. That would lead me to believe that a majority of you are dedicated internet users (possibly bloggers yourselves).

    Only 7.62% of my readers actually visit my blog archives.

    So, we know a little about where my readers come from, and how you interact on my blog... But how do they find me? Where do you come from on the internet?

    Well, now this is interesting....

    Top 5 Sources of Traffic: (in %)
  • JonBaas.com -- 27.80
  • Reader Bookmarks -- 23.70
  • Google Searches -- 21.48
  • My MySpace Profile -- 17.94
  • Yahoo Searches -- 2.55

  • According to this analysis, 27% of the traffic to my blog actually comes straight from the main page of my website. Right now (in this post), I'm only considering stats related to this blog, but I bet if I checked the traffic for the rest of the site, I'd find rather notable levels there too.

    Over 23% of all traffic to my blog could be categorized as non-referral. In other words, most of this is the result of readers who have bookmarked my blog, and come back again and again. This includes those of you who have visited my blog over 100 times.

    Roughly 24% percent of all traffic is the result of web searches on Google and Yahoo -- the top two search engines on the net. Keywords range from my name and projects, to anything I've written about. In the past month, 80+ hits have come from the keywords, "jon baas friend scott". Go figure. I guess people want to know about my roomate too!

    And, interestingly enough, nearly 18% of all traffic to this blog comes from my MySpace page! Yes, MySpace! And I have nearly 12,000 hits there in the past fifteen months.

    So, there you have it. My readers in a nutshell. Amazing stuff, if you ask me! I'm honored to have such a fan base (and to have found such great friends too!). I've been blogging here for over five years, and let me tell you, it gets more and more exciting with each passing year. Thank you for being a part of my life, and for following along as I pursue my acting, my art, and my creative musings. You guys are awesome!

    Have a wonderful Friday everyone, and until next time,

    Your happily blogging friend,
    -Jon

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    Thursday, July 05, 2007


    "T-Shirt Thursday: Firefly T-shirts"

    In an effort to show off some of my popular (or new) t-shirts, artwork, and gift ideas exclusive to my online store, Jon Baas Designs, I've decided to feature a few of them here on my blog every Thursday. I call it, "T-Shirt Thursday". Feel free to comment, and enjoy!

    Today's Featured Designs:
    (click on each image to see available products)

    Bad GuysEta Kooram...Kill Brain

    More Designs:
    Firefly T-shirts .... Sci-Fi T-shirts .... About Me T-Shirts

    And for those of you who like to shop, weekly sales and coupons are available on the front page of my store. Feel free to use them for special discounts!

    Have a great Friday everyone!

    Your happily blogging friend,
    -Jon

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    "Simpson-ize Yourself!"

    Here's something fun.

    On July 27, the well-known animated show, "The Simpsons" hits the big screen. Yes, the "satiric adventures of a working class family in the misfit city of Springfield", are coming to a theatre near you. And, like any major movie these days, they've come out with a flashy new website to promote it.

    HOWEVER, this website allows you to do something unique... It allows you to actually become part of the Simpson universe. It allows you to recreate yourself as a Simpson's character.

    As you can see, this is me (clean-shaven, of course). What do you look like?

    Have fun, and enjoy!

    -Jon

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    Wednesday, July 04, 2007


    "Eleven Score and Eleven Years Ago..."

    ..."our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal."

    Two hundred and thirty one years ago -- on July 4, 1776 -- America claimed it's independence from Britain... and Democracy was born. Since then, every day, thousands of immigrants risk everything to come to this country, so they too can live the American Dream of Freedom and Prosperity. If it weren't for my own ancestors doing just that, and coming from Prussia, Pommerania (Germany), Norway, and Russia 100-150 years ago, I wouldn't be here writing this.

    So, here's to Freedom! Here's to Liberty. Happy Birthday America!

    UPDATE: - (7:59 PM)
    And, since it's a festive day here in the States, how about a unique performance of a truely American song. Here's a great version of "Stars and Stipes Forever" by John Philip Sousa -- played on the electric guitar! Enjoy! ... [video]

    -Jon

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    Tuesday, July 03, 2007


    "Star Trek Motivational Poster Parody"

    You've seen those inspiring motivational posters, right? Well... here's a collection of the Star Trek kind -- full of parody and humor. There are seven gallery pages. All images are free for use. If you're a Trek fan, you'll love these! Enjoy!

    -Jon

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    "Don't Fall Asleep at the Game!"

    Don't let this happen to YOU!

    Here's a video of a guy who falls asleep in the stadium at a sports game, and the cameras broadcast it on the big screen. His friend is filming it as the crowd throughout the stadium joins in. Poor guy! ... [video]

    -Jon

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    Jon Baas

    Blogging Since 2002!
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    Stories I Tell:
    USS Enterprise 1701-D
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