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OFFICIAL BLOG :: Jon Baas
"Picard vs. Darth Vader" The Sci-Fi geek in me strikes again! :) Many of you have probably seen those Star Wars vs. Star Trek videos on YouTube. Most of them are rather amateur, and poorly edited. But this one isn't -- it's actually quite well done! I bring you, Star Trek vs. Star Wars. Enjoy! ... [video] -Jon I I 0 comments "Movie Friday: "Puppet" Another Friday, another movie. This week my selection is titled, "Puppet". This short animated film tells the story of a young man who creates a hand puppet, and then discovers that it doesn't like him. It's a story of desperation, fear, and an ever-present question: does the puppet have a mind of its own, or is the hand causing all the trouble? Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend all! -Jon I I 0 comments "Thanksgiving in Review" Woke up at 5:30am. Caught a ride with Milwaukee-based family out to small town Wisconsin (Thanksgiving tradition). Uncle is a Lutheran pastor there; went to his morning service. Returned to Aunt/Uncle's house, hung out with cousins and youngest sister Lydia (my parents and other siblings were unable to attend). Filled up on tasty turkey, stuffing, and all the fixings (uncle cooks the turkey and bakes the pies!). After eating, sat around, chatted, joked, and watched the Detroit Lions lose. Played pool and Legos with my 9-year-old cousin Mary. Returned to Milwaukee in the late afternoon (much to Mary's disappointment!). Exhaused; unable to keep eyes open. Went to bed... thankful and feeling truly blessed! -Jon I I 0 comments
"Winter Wonderland Photos" Winter photography, especially in the colder parts of the world, is a specialized niche. Photographers often venture into these remote wilderness areas in search of the perfect winter landscape. And they must take special care of their cameras and guard against frostbite and hypothermia. The reward, however, is stunning imagery! -Jon I I 0 comments
"Light Bulbs and a Pretty Girl" Throughout our lifetimes, there are moments when we long to find that someone special. We hope for her, we pray for her... we might even go out and search for her, but nothing happens. Those prayers just aren't answered with a "yes". We get frustrated. We feel alone. We curse our luck. But then, one day, when we least expect it, when we decide to stop searching, when we choose to accept things as they are... there she is, standing right in front of us, smiling. And just like that, our prayers are answered. That happened to me this past weekend, and there just aren't any words to express the joy it brings! It was as if, for the first time in my life, I saw a dear friend in a whole new light. The blinders fell away, and without any changes on her part, there she was... the woman I had been praying for -- only better! I never even saw it coming! And yet, looking back on all the little arrows in my life.... they were pointing right at her, I just didn't realize it. God works in wondrously simple ways sometimes. So simple, in fact, that we usually overlook them. We're expecting a certain kind of answer –- something powerful, something dramatic... something grand. Yet, in the end, some of God's greatest gifts are nothing more than a whisper and a new perspective. This past weekend, I saw my friend Kelli in a whole new way. God turned on a few light bulbs, and suddenly there she stood... beaming brightly as more than just the friend I adored. All those arrows in my life were lit up, and a few life-long prayers had new answers. My adventure with Kelli is just beginning. Our friendship may be well-established, but the path is yet to be discovered. I don't know where this will end up, I don't even know what will come of tomorrow, but I do know one thing -- we both share the same Cornerstone; The most important part of our relationship has already been built. And that gives me great hope. This adventure may be young, it may be new, but it holds far more promise than I could ever imagine! The lights are on now, and I see the pretty girl before me. I hope (and pray) that I can be someone with the strength, heart, and endurance to love, understand, and support her. She's more than I asked for, less than I deserve, and far beyond the realm of my imagination. God works in wonderful ways. His love endures forever. When we least expect it, he turns beautiful, ordinary things into priceless, extraordinary gifts. He nudges us like a father, with gentle loving whispers, but from time to time, he has a little fun too. Sometimes he shows his sense of humor, and sometimes... he tosses in a few neon signs –- just for good measure! God works in wonderful ways. And this past weekend, he proved it yet again! -Jon I I 0 comments
"I Love You This Much" Something beautiful happened this weekend, and while I won't blog about it just yet, I do want to share something else instead. At the root of this weekend's joys, are the poignant words of a Country song. Sung by Jimmy Wayne, here's the music video: "I Love You This Much" And, for those with interest, here are the lyrics. -Jon I I 0 comments
"Movie Friday: "The Time Machine" Another Friday, another movie. This week my selection is titled, "The Time Machine". Do you remember those cool "Choose Your Own Adventure" books? You know, the ones where you could determine how the story went, just by making decisions as you read? Well, the comedy team of Chad, Matt, and Rob have finally created a video version! Take a moment and watch as our three cheesy heroes zip around in time. Do they make it to their 12 o'clock meeting.... or do they die along the way? I don't know. You decide. Good luck! Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend all! -Jon I I 0 comments
"Crawdaddy's" For dinner this evening, Scott, a friend, and myself went out to eat at Crawdaddy's -- a popular West Allis restaurant that specializes in New Orleans style cuisine. Scott had jambalaya, my friend had catfish, and I went with a zesty grilled chicken sandwich. All three of us were impressed. If you're in the Milwaukee area, and looking for something different, I highly recommend Crawdaddy's. The menu is reasonably priced (though slightly higher for more traditional entries), and the ambiance/decor is -- as you would expect -- decidedly cajun. It's a little piece of the traditional South... right here in a Northern city. A cultural experience waiting to happen. Enjoy! -Jon I I 0 comments "Quote of the Day" "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson -Jon I I 0 comments "T-Shirt Thursday: About Me 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)
More T-shirts & Gifts: .... About Me 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 wonderful Thursday everyone! Your happily blogging friend, -Jon I I 0 comments "Blog Stats" As many of you already know, I love Google Analytics. It keeps track of all sorts of fascinating data about this blog. The last time I posted stats was back in April, so... I thought I'd take a moment and offer an update. Here are some neat blog facts, based upon the last 30 days. Enjoy! Jon Baas Blog Stats (Oct. 20 - Nov. 19, 2008):
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"Guidelines for Cats" Cats have rules for their lives, they just don’t like to share them with us humans. James S. Huggins, however, has compiled a list of these guidelines. Enjoy! -Jon I I 0 comments "The Perfect GNDN Gift!" You know there's a lotta geek in me, when I think these are really cool (and yes, I even had a brief moment where I considered buying one): Star Trek Light Switch Cover Plate. (GNDN = "Goes Nowhere Does Nothing") -Jon I I 0 comments "Snow Wars: Milwaukee vs. Minneapolis" So, I was thinking: Now that we're getting back into winter, and the flurries have already begun to fall, which city do you think will get more snow? Milwaukee... or Minneapolis? Last winter, Milwaukee got an all-time record of 99.1 inches, while Minneapolis fell 50 short. So far this year, Milwaukee clocks in at 0.3 inches, while Minneapolis tops us by two. Will this be another snowy winter in Wisconsin, or will Minneapolis get it's season in the sun? Care to make any predictions? -Jon I I 0 comments
"Hey Little Sparta: Revisited" In honor of my friend Alexis (and her two mischievous cats), I though I'd repost a fun little "music video" that I found last year. I called it "Hey Little Sparta", but apparently the title has changed to: "The Mean Kitty Song". Alexis -- as well as any cat owner -- can probably relate! ... [video] Enjoy, and have a wonderful Tuesday all! -Jon I I 0 comments
"The David Caruso School of Acting" I'm not that big a fan of the television crime-solving show, CSI: Miami, however, I do get a big kick out of the dramatic and over-the-top David Caruso character! So, for your viewing pleasure, here's an insightful little comedy skit that takes a look at... [takes glasses off] .... David Caruso as... [puts glasses back on] .... Horatio Caine. And, if you don't see the sarcasm in the above video, then here's a collection of his infamous one-liners -- straight from the episode footage itself. And, what the heck, just for the fun of it, here's a cool CSI: Miami clip... [looks over his shoulder over-dramatically] ... that you might enjoy. -Jon I I 0 comments "New Star Trek Trailer Online" For all my fellow Trekkies out there, the official Star Trek trailer is now online. If you haven't seen it yet, this is the second best way besides seeing it in theaters. Also, the official site for the movie has been re-launched and sports some hidden features. Check 'em out, and enjoy! -Jon I I 0 comments "Orange to Brown to White" Current temperature: 28F. Earlier this afternoon, I took a mile and a half walk to the store, and found it necessary to wear winter cap and fleece gloves. It's getting cold outside -- cold enough that I can see my breath. Only a few weeks ago, the trees were rich with Autumn color: rust red, fire orange, bright pink. Now, however, those same trees are bare, and those once pretty leaves are dead and brown. Fall is at an end; winter knocks at the door. In fact, as I was walking back from the store, it even started snowing! Around here, we got a light dusting at best, but in other areas of Milwaukee, snow totals reached a quarter of an inch. Roads are slick as the temperature drops with the sun, and the evening commute has slowed to a stand-still. Now, mind you, this is nothing compared to what we can expect from the dead of winter, but it's a sure sign that the cold, white chill is moving in. Winter is upon us, and pretty soon, those browns of late fall will be covered in 1-2 feet of snow. Tis the way of things here in Wisconsin. And as long as we can avoid the 100 inches of last winter, I'll be happy. Winter is upon us. Time to start thinking about a world of white. -Jon I I 0 comments
"Weekend in Review" Friday: Pounded steel posts into the ground; helped set up winter snow fences. Eagerly consumed some of Famous Dave's famous BBQ ribs. Licked my lips (and fingers) happily! Came home. Spent some time on the computer. Roommate, Scott, left for the weekend (visiting girlfriend in another state), so I had the place to myself. Watched the movie, "Dave". Went to bed. Saturday: Took a walk. Watched the movie, "Love Story". Moved by it. Watched "Save The Last Dance" Enjoyed it! Watched the movie, "Forces of Nature". Appreciated the ending. Spent a little time on the computer. Did some reading. Did some thinking. Went to bed. Sunday: Just hangin' out. Enjoying the quiet. Being a bum. :) -Jon I I 0 comments
"T-Shirt Thursday: Patriotic Heart 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)
More T-shirts & Gifts: .... Patriotic Heart T-shirts .... Military 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 wonderful Friday everyone! Your happily blogging friend, -Jon I I 0 comments
"The New USS Enterprise" If you're a Trekkie -- like me, you'll find this fascinating: In anticipation of the upcoming Star Trek movie trailer (premiering this weekend with "Quantum of Solace"), Paramount has released the first full image of the new USS Enterprise. Take a peek, and enjoy! -Jon I I 0 comments
"Cold Winds" Today's average temperature: 33 degrees. I finally broke out my fleece winter gloves, and, sadly, that can mean only one thing.... winter is upon us. Nearly gone are the pretty Autumn leaves, and the nice warm weather. In their place: barren skeletal trees, and icy cold snow. I just don't think I'm ready for winter yet. -Jon I I 0 comments "Geeky Thought of the Day" Twice today, I happened upon a cable reality show titled, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians". I wasn't impressed. Earlier this evening I was chatting with Scott, and we both agreed, a show titled, "Keeping Up With the Cardassians" would be far more interesting. -Jon I I 0 comments
"Interesting Times" Not too long ago, my roomate, Scott, was the guest comic for one of my favorite online comic strips -- Interesting Times. I assisted him slightly in his creative process. If you have a moment, you should hop on over and take a peek. And, if you aren't a reader of Interesting Times, you might find the strip fascinating too. It's simple in style, but the humor is priceless! -Jon I I 0 comments "An A Cappella Tribute to John Williams" Corey Vidal is a professional YouTube producer. He’s also a singer... but he didn’t sing all the parts in this tribute to the music of John Williams. That honor goes to Moosebutter, a comedic barbershop quartet. Vidal lip-syncs to all four parts. ... [video] I've always loved this tribute, so I thought it was time to share. Enjoy! -Jon I I 0 comments "Who Needs Pockets?" I came across something funny this afternoon that just begged to be shared. It comes in the form of a question: "How many frogs can one toddler collect in her underpants? Yes, yes, I know... tis a strange and unusual question to ask, but perhaps this little video clip will provide an answer. Oh, and a word of warning too, set down your beverage (and/or swallow) before hitting play. You'll thank me later. Enjoy! -Jon I I 0 comments
"Quote of the Day" "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson -Jon I I 0 comments
"T-Shirt Thursday: President Obama 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)
More T-shirts & Gifts: .... Election 2008 T-shirts .... Military 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 wonderful weekend everyone! Your happily blogging friend, -Jon I I 0 comments
"Tiny People Everywhere" I've probably posted this before, but it's so creative, it bears revisiting. Did you know that there's an entire population of tiny little people living among us, and we rarely notice them? Yep, it's true. And, sometimes they even help us out by shooting insects! -Jon I I 0 comments "Expanded Beard Type Chart" If you're looking for some unique ideas on how you can incorporate your facial hair into your personal style, then here's a chart of facial hair types that might help. All the old favorites are there, as well as some newer more modern styles. I wonder how many I could pull off. Any suggestions? -Jon I I 0 comments "The Astounding Subterranean Salt Cathedral" Deep underground in Poland lies something rarely known outside Eastern Europe. For centuries, miners have extracted salt there. But what might surprise you more than anything, are some of the things they left behind: an art gallery, cathedral and underground lake. Yep, it's the most unusual salt mine in the world. Take a peek, and enjoy! -Jon I I 0 comments
"History & Change" The nation has spoken, and history has been made. The United States of America has elected it's first ever Black President. Regardless of what you may think of his politics, he ran a skillful campaign, and his charisma won out. Congratulations, Mr. Obama. The eyes of the world are on you. Now be that positive change you promised.... and govern wisely. "Obama becomes first black president in landslide" -Jon I I 0 comments "Election Day 2008" Well, folks... today's the day. Obama vs. McCain. Get out and vote! -Jon I I 0 comments + Full Blog Archive I Blog Home |
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