"WELS Lutheran Teacher Convention"

Today is the first day of the two-day state-wide WELS Lutheran Teacher Convention. As is the case every year, the massive thousand-or-more teacher event is being hosted here in Milwaukee at Wisconsin Lutheran High School (only a dozen or so blocks from where I live). And since all the WELS Lutheran teachers from the state of Wisconsin will be here, that means Kelli will be in town. In short, I get to see my fiancee this weekend!

Granted, she'll have to be at her teacher seminars today and tomorrow. And I'll be apartment painting again today (as I was yesterday), but we'll still be able to hang out for a while later tonight. Tomorrow afternoon (once her seminars are concluded for the day), I'll be traveling back up to Brillion with her, where I'll spend the weekend, and then return to Milwaukee by bus on Sunday.

So, all-in-all, it should make for a wonderfully enjoyable weekend! One that I've been looking forward to as well. With Kelli living 100 miles away, getting together often is a bit of a challenge. But we make it work. And when you love someone.... when you're engaged to be married... no distance is too far. As a result, little events -- like this teacher conference here in Milwaukee -- become all the more sweet.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 8:02 AM  I   I  0 comments

"Star Trek Movie Deleted Klingon Scene"

For those of you who saw the recent Star Trek movie in theaters, you might find this interesting. Tonight, during the Scream 2009 awards, Spike TV debuted one of the DVD deleted scenes from the movie. It features bad guy Nero being interrogated by Klingons while at Rura Penthe prison. Yes, Klingons. Take a peek. ... [video]

Oh, and a little bit of trivia: The helmeted Klingon interrogating Nero in the clip is played by veteran actor Victor Garber, one of the stars of JJ Abrams Alias.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 12:57 AM  I   I  0 comments

"World Series 2009"

Congratulations to the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies. Both baseball teams will be facing off against each other in this years World Series. May the best team Phillies win!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:24 PM  I   I  0 comments

"55 Ways To Get More Energy"

This post is for all of us who feel tired or sluggish during the day.

Tired? Change your socks! Seriously. Bring a change of socks to work, and change your socks midway through the day. You'll feel fresher, and, as a result, more awake. Other ways to get more energy during your days are to have a piece of chocolate, sniff some citrus, drink lots of water, flit, have a laugh, or eat some eggs.

55 Ways To Get More Energy.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 9:52 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Twitter No More"

I've decided to close up shop at Twitter. At first, it seemed like a wonderful service, and a great way to communicate with fans. But the truth be told, I'm not getting much out of it anymore. It's too limited for my tastes. And I just don't have the interest I once did.

So, I'm closing up shop. No more Twitter for me. I'll keep my profile online, it'll still be there, but I won't be posting. If Twitter improves its service, and entices me back, then maybe I'll pick up where I left off. But until then, my social network of choice is Facebook. Come look me up sometime, or become a fan of my Jon Baas Designs fan page.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:39 PM  I   I  0 comments

"R.I.P. GeoCities; Goodbye Footnotes"

A long-time piece of internet history has come to an end today, as Yahoo closed up GeoCities -- the pioneer of personal web pages. Back in the day, it used to be the cutting edge for individual users to publish their lives on the internet. But time has trudged on by, and social-networking websites Facebook and Myspace have long ago assumed that role.

Before I purchased the JonBaas.com domain back in early 2002, my first official website was hosted on GeoCities. I called it, "Footnotes", or in some places, "Capsule Jon". It was a simple little website, effective, but it did it's job. Today, GeoCities may be gone, but Footnotes remains. Thanks to the Internet Archive, this is what my first website looked like (back in 2001).

I've come a long way since then.

"Early Web Era Ends as Yahoo Shutters GeoCities"

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:49 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Movies: Change One Letter"

Lately, there's been a fun little challenge going around the internet. The concept is simple: Take a movie title and change one letter, thus changing the whole theme of the film. For example: "Raving Private Ryan", "Pilates of the Caribbean", "It's a Wonderful Lime", that sort of thing.

Yeah, it's silly, and probably a bit of time-waster, but it's fun. And who isn't up for a little distraction from the more mundane aspects of the day, eh?

So, in that spirit, a few friends and I have been going back and forth on Facebook coming up with fun altered titles. Here are a few that we've shared. See if you can determine what the original movie titles were... and, ultimately, how the "new" title would change the original plot. Enjoy!

Change One Letter Movie Titles:

- "The Dummy" (and it's sequal, "The Dummy Returns")
- "While You Were Sweeping"
- "Planet of the Ales"
- "Fatman Begins"
- "Cinderella Ran"
- "The Bedding Singer"
- "The Boonies"
- "Some Like It Not"
- "The Pound of Music"
- "Raid In Manhattan"
- "Barefoot in the Bark"
- "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Mowers"
- "Gone With The Wine"
- "The Bookie"
- "The Lake Mouse"
- "Never Been Missed"
- "Riding In Cars With Toys"
- "Fission Impossible"
- "Camino Royale"
- "Dunces With Wolves"
- "Stat Wars"
- "Graveheart"

Originally, this challenge included imagery -- such as those found on the cover of a DVD case. Here are a few altered movie titles with "new" covers.

I'm sure you could come up with even more clever titles. Feel free to share!

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

"The Jon Baas Designs 2009 Halloween Costume Contest!"

My Jon Baas Designs Facebook fan page is hosting a Halloween costume contest -- complete with prizes! Deadline for entries: Monday, November 2 at Midnight CST.

To participate, you need to be a fan of Jon Baas Designs. Take a picture of yourself wearing your most creative Halloween costume, and upload it to the appropriate photo album on the fan page. Then, next week, I'll pick the best costume, and announce the winner.

The winner for best costume will receive a Facebook trophy, and a free custom hand-drawn pencil portrait of themselves (or a family member) -- drawn of the same style and quality as seen here. The finished portrait (aka, the original) will then be mailed to the winner's home address, and be featured on the Jon Baas Designs fan page!

So... how creative are YOU? Think you've got the best costume this year? Upload your photo today, and let's find out! ... (You must be a fan of Jon Baas Designs to participate.)

Remember, this contest ends at midnight (CST) on November 2. So don't miss out!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:26 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Busy Friday"

I've been rather preoccupied by work as of late, and unfortunately, today has become another one of those days. So, aside from this post, today will have to be a day off from blogging. But not to worry, I'll be back tomorrow, and the musings can resume as usual.

For now, though, have a wonderful evening all! Stay warm.

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:07 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Beautiful Wednesday"

Ah, what a beautiful day it is today! The sun is out, cottonball clouds dot the sky, rust red melts into the treetops, and the temperature in Milwaukee is a balmy 66F. I went for a walk not too long ago, and I couldn't have picked a better day to get outside. I even left my jacket at home -- the first time I've been able to do that in weeks! It's definitely the height of Autumn. No doubt about that! And the Master Painter is proving -- yet again -- that his paintbrush cannot be matched.

The Creator of Beauty never sleeps. And he's got the colors to prove it!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 3:36 PM  I   I  0 comments

"The Van Gogh Letter Sketches"

A few people were lucky enough to be pan pals with Vincent Van Gogh. One of the neat things about this, was that Van Gogh often added sketches or paintings to his letters -- to illustrate what he wrote about. BibliOdyssey has a collection of these letter sketches, along with the letters that accompanied them.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 9:52 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Vivaldi: Performed on an Accordion"

Now here's something you don't see very often. And with good reason... it's not easy to do. Alexandr Hrustevich, a young man in Russia, gives a remarkable solo performance of the third movement ("Presto") of Antonio Lucio Vivaldi's "Summer" concerto from "The Four Seasons". And he does it on the accordion. Pretty impressive stuff! ... [video]

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:14 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Sculptures Made From Tires"

When it comes to trash, nothing is more unsightly or dangerous than tires. They take up space and emit terrible fumes when burned. However, in the right hands, they can also become a wonderful medium for art. That said, here's a collection of creative sculptures by Mirko Siakkou-Flodin -- made from discarded tires. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:41 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Old Barns"

Old barns are unique, sometimes creepy, but always fascinating. And around here (in Wisconsin), they're everywhere. Imagine the history these old barns hold. Stories. Tales. Childhood adventures among the hay bales. Yeah, it stimulates the imagination -- at least for me. So, with that thought in mind, here's a little something different. Here are some pictures of old barns. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:08 PM  I   I  0 comments

Jon Baas is constantly amazed at how happy his heart has become... all because of an extraordinary young woman who keeps it warm.
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(status on Facebook)
posted by Jon at 4:10 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Monday in Review"

Cloudy and cold. No snow. Started painting another apartment. Former tenant was a smoker... so the original white walls are slightly orange. Came home. Ran a few errands. Talked to Kelli on the phone, then talked to my parents for two hours. Wonderful conversations. Watching a movie on television while snacking on fresh artisan bread. Going to bed after.

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

"Twins Win! Out of Playoffs"

The 2009 baseball season is over for the Minnesota Twins. And so is the Metrodome as their home ballpark. After a magical race, and a thrilling tie-breaker win over the Detroit Tigers, the Twins were swept by the Yankees in the first three games of the Playoffs. The Yankees move on to the AL championship series, and the Twins prepare for a brand new era. Next year, they'll open the doors on their new $544 million open-air stadium -- Target Field.

"Punto’s gaffe dooms Twins in Metrodome finale"

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:43 PM  I   I  0 comments

Jon Baas says, "Things haven't always worked out like I want them to, but they have always worked out far better than I could ever have imagined."
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(status on Facebook)
posted by Jon at 10:17 PM  I   I  0 comments

"50 Extraordinary And Attractive Billboards"

I've always enjoyed the creativity found in advertisements. The goods ones capture your attention. The really good ones make you stop and think. It's the perfect blend between art, marketing, and creativity. So, with that said, I thought I'd share a collection of creative billboard photos I came across recently. Take a peek, and enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 9:52 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Autumn Scenes"

It's that time of year again, the Earth's northern hemisphere is tipping away from the warmth of the sun. Days in the north are getting cooler and shorter, leaves are changing, animals are migrating, and many harvests are underway.

The wet summer in New England should make 2009 a banner year for bright colors. And as an artist, I LOVE color! So, here's a group of 32 photos featuring recent Autumn scenes from around the northern hemisphere. Sit back, enjoy... and welcome to the stunning canvas that is Autumn!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 9:30 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Friday in Review"

Cold and rainy. Finished painting another apartment. Did the detail work yesterday; rolled the walls today. Enjoyed a tasty Italian beef sandwich for dinner. Came home. Chatted with Kelli on the phone. Did some computer work. Heading to bed in the early morning.

-Jon
posted by Jon at 11:39 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Movie Friday: "Replay"

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

In a destroyed world, the only glimpse of hope is the memory of a forgotten past. But be careful not to let your dreams control your mind. Animation by Anthony Voisin. ... [video]

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend all!

(Click link to watch.)

-Jon
posted by Jon at 6:33 PM  I   I  0 comments

Jon Baas paints. Some of his largest "canvases" are lived in.
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(status on Facebook)
posted by Jon at 5:50 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Turning a Staircase into a Piano"

Here's something creative: It's a Volkswagen commercial about an effort to get people to take the stairs instead of the escalator. The company turned a staircase at a Stockholm subway station into a piano and videotaped how travelers responded.

Take a peek to see what happened: The Fun Theory ... [video]

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

"10 Strange Places"

Our planet Earth has many strange and often beautiful places that retain the power to inspire and mystify. They remind us that even in this age of technical and technological marvels, there are still amazing places to be discovered.

Here's a pictoral list of ten of those strange places. Enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 12:33 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Google Doodles"

Doodles are simple drawings that can have representational meaning. Internet search giant, Google, often decorates their homepage to commemorate notable individuals, discoveries, holidays, or events in history. Unknown to most, though, Google actually has archive page where you can see each of their past doodles. It's quite an interesting display!

Take a peek sometime, and enjoy!

-Jon
posted by Jon at 12:20 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Twins Win!"

As most of you know, when it comes to Major League Baseball, I'm a Milwaukee Brewers fan through and through. However, with my team done for the season (80-82; 3rd place in NL Central), I wanted to take a moment and congratulate my American League neighbors to the west. Last night, the Minnesota Twins won a nail-biter of a 12-inning tie-breaker with the Detroit Tigers, they won the AL Central, and are going to the Playoffs! Whoohooo! ... [cheers happily]

So, here's to the Twinkies -- the only other team I'll root for in the MLB! Best of luck in the Playoffs. Now, go out there and down the Yankees in round one!

"Twins complete comeback, 6-5 over Tigers in 12th"

-Jon
posted by Jon at 10:57 AM  I   I  0 comments

"Quote of the Day"

"Autumn burned brightly, a running flame through the mountains, a torch flung to the trees."
-- Faith Baldwin

-Jon
posted by Jon at 9:13 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Star Trek Finishes Theatrical Run"

After a long life of 21 weeks in movie theaters, JJ Abrams new Star Trek movie has officially ended its run. The film is still showing in some theaters, but distributors will no longer be tracking performance. So, as of last Thursday, the final tally brings "Star Trek" to a world-wide gross of almost $385 Million. This makes it the highest grossing (and highest attended) film in the entire 11-film Star Trek franchise. Not bad! Especially for a franchise that was given up for dead by skeptics just a few years ago.

"Star Trek" comes out on DVD on November 17th.

(Stats from BoxOfficeMojo.com)

-Jon
posted by Jon at 4:07 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Weekend Recap: Fun, but Feverish"

Well, folks, I'm back in Milwaukee again. I spent the weekend with my fiance up in Brillion, and now I'm home, ready to resume business as usual. It was a good weekend, though... went to a wedding, went out to eat at Olive Garden, watched a few movies, did some shopping, enjoyed Kelli's company, etc. Spending time with my future wife is always enjoyable. The only downside was the fever I developed on Saturday that forced me to be bed-bound. It put a damper on the end of my visit, but it also let Kelli go into nurse mode, as she took very good care of me.

I returned home last night feeling better, but still not 100 percent. Whatever bug I had was short-lived (probably the result of painting outdoors on a cold/windy Thursday last week), but at Kelli's request, I'll still take it easy as I start my Monday. I'll also have to be more careful when it comes to working long hours in the crisp outdoors before a much-anticipated weekend. ... [shrug]

So, anyway... I'm home. Taking it easy, ready to work/blog.

Here's hoping all of you had a good weekend, too. Have a wonderful new week, stay warm, enjoy the pretty Autumn colors, and I'll see you on the morrow!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 3:16 PM  I   I  0 comments

"Wedding Date Weekend"

I'm up north visiting Kelli for the weekend. She was invited to a wedding here in Brillion, and I'm her date. So, I thought I'd take a moment (since I was unable to before leaving Milwaukee), and drop a note: Blogging is in hiatus for the weekend. Posts will resume again on Monday.

Have a wonderful few days, and I'll see you when I return!

Your happily blogging friend,
-Jon
posted by Jon at 12:13 PM  I   I  0 comments