My Top Five Favorite Movies
Over on a private forum for friends that I host a buddy of mine poised a question asking the top five films that everyone held so dear. I could easily list my top 2 or 3 but trying to round out a top 5 list was pretty difficult. Some of my answers may be a bit of a cop out but to hell with the naysayers. Here is the list that I generated:
"It's SHITE being Scottish! We're the lowest of the low. The scum of the fucking Earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilization. Some hate the English. I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are COLONIZED by wankers. Can't even find a decent culture to be colonized BY. We're ruled by effete assholes. It's a SHITE state of affairs to be in, Tommy, and ALL the fresh air in the world won't make any fucking difference!"
"I always said, if I had to fuck a guy... I mean had to, if my life depended on it... I'd fuck Elvis."
"Snakes. Why'd it have to be snakes?"
Popularity: 2% [?]
Square Pegs and Round Holes
I just came to a new understanding about how an IT Support person handles an application problem versus an engineer.
When faced with a problem, an IT Support person will troubleshoot the issue. They'll try alternate approaches or reference the documentation and online help. They'll go to the manufacturers website and consult support knowledge bases. When that fails they'll use Google to search the multitude of forums and blogs for a solution. As a last resort they'll contact an expert or official support from the manufacturer for assistance.
When an Engineer is faced with a problem, they will complain about the inferior design that did not anticipate their single minded approach and then they'll call IT Support for help.
It's a shame than an engineer makes more money than IT support.
Popularity: 2% [?]
The Calorie Game
Friday 01/14/2011 - 337.0 lb.
Friday 01/21/2011 - 335.4 lb.
This has not been my best week. I exceeded my daily calorie goal by 1000+ on three of the past four days! It looks like I'm going to have to hit the bicycle really hard this weekend if I hope to end the week under my weekly calorie goal.
Sure, a cheat day every once in a while will not kill your weight loss goals. In fact I believe a cheat day once a week is good as a reward for your hard work. My problem is that I let any little thing become an excuse to indulge myself. Having a bad day? It's pizza time! Was your routine thrown off by the unexpected? Sounds like chips and queso time! Plans fell through and you're bored? Time to kick back some beers for instant fun!
My mind is plagued with the bad habits of a life lived with no regard to my health or appearance. I don't eat because I'm hungry. In fact, I'd like to think that I'm pretty good about going without when I'm hungry or refraining from treats that are offered. My problem is when I'm alone I have a pot bellied imp who likes to weigh down my shoulder and whisper the wonders of the food and alcohol into my ear. I need to work harder at developing alternate avenues of relief and desire that involve things I enjoy that possess zero calories!
With all this talk about calorie intake I thought it would be cool to share this diagram that I found on the interwebs. Enjoy!
Via: WeightLoss.org
Popularity: 2% [?]
Litany Against Hunger
I must not hunger.
Hunger is the mind-killer.
Hunter is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my hunger.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it is gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the hunger has gone there will be nothing.
Only a smaller version of I will remain.
Friday 01/07/2011 - 340.6 lb.
Friday 01/14/2011 - 337.0 lb.
My apologizes to Herbert for the blatant plagiarism. I sort of came to a new enlightenment regarding hunger this week and it reminded me of the original quote from Dune regarding the overcoming of ones fear.
In our modern world of prepackaged convenience food, we rarely find ourselves lacking the ability to sate the slightest sense of hunger. We are fortunate to live in an era where many of us have never experienced true hunger due to a lack of actual nourishment. Yet, such a fortunate position has become a contributing factor to our current state of obesity. We've become impulsive to the desire of destroying the slightest hint of hunger with snacks and treats. Hunger bad! Cookies good! Why should we feel the discomfort of hunger when we can eliminate it with the sweet ecstasy of tasty food?
I have come to the realization that the hunger as we know it is simply not a reason to eat. I am not an animal who is a slave to his base compulsions. I possess the mental fortitude to be in control and decide when it is time to eat for energy and health and not because my poorly treated body feels the impulse to eat some Doritos.
Disciple over desire is the cornerstone of weight loss. It's time that we trained our body and minds to not perceive hunger as a bad thing. I promise you will not die in your sleep if you go to bed a little hungry. In fact, you won't even wake up feeling that same hunger! If you feel hungry then drink a glass of water and do something else. In less than 30 minutes you will find yourself forgetting about that sense of hunger.
Of course all this talk about hunger assumes you are sticking to your recommended calorie intake for your reasonable weight loss plan. You should never reduce your calories to a level where you would lose more than 2 pounds a week. If you stick to your recommended calorie limit then I promise you won't die from the pains of hunger.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Week of Resolutions
Friday 12/31/2010 - 349.0 lb.
Friday 01/07/2011 - 340.6 lb.
That's 8.4 pounds lost this week. Don't pat me on the back too hard. I always lose a lot of water weight during the first week when I get back on the diet bandwagon. Next week will be the real test.
I'm a big fan of the first of the year. It's like a big shiny reset button on your delayed or derailed goals. You get to take a deep breath and say goodbye to the failures and problems that plagued your life and instead embrace the wonderful refreshing year of new direction.
Too bad that new car scent that is your rededication only lasts a few days. Then, reality sets in. The issues and troubles that plagued your life and derailed your goals are once again upon you and you find yourself frustrated all over again. It's so easy to allow that frustration to get the better of you. I've been a victim to it more times than I care to recall.
Weight loss is an endless struggle that many of us battle in our minds and our hearts on a daily basis. We know we're not happy. We know life would be better if we were smaller and healthier. Unfortunately, we have conditioned ourselves to embrace instant gratification that our favorite foods and drinks give us. We don't look at food as fuel and energy. We look at it as the nectar of the gods! It is love and joy wrapped in a tortilla and doused in spicy excitement sauce!
The key is to constantly remind yourself that you didn't gain the weight overnight and you're going to have to work to undo all those years of bad habits. You're going to have slip ups. You're going to look back and get frustrated and angry at yourself. The key is to not give up! Don't let the frustration cause you to throw your hands up in despair. Use that frustration as determination fuel!
After you've taken a breath and calmed down, stop and take a critical level headed view of your failures and come up with a game plan to address your flaws and downfalls. That's why you should record everything that you eat and maybe even keep a journal where you record your daily emotional state and problems that plague your mind. A journal that you can later review when you're level headed will do wonders to help you identify triggers that lead to slip ups and thus give you direction on how to overcome those obstacles.
In future blog posts I'll expand upon my weight loss philosophy that got me this far and, God willing, will see me through to my ultimate goal of 225 pounds. I hope you enjoy riding along with me!
Popularity: 3% [?]
Putting the Fantasy into Fantasy Football
I really don't know jack about Football. I mean sure, I know basically how the game is played but I'm ignorant of the strategic nuances and theories that separate the beer swilling fan from the armchair coach. I used an iPad Fantasy Football app to help me during the draft party because honestly I'd be clueless without it.
Anyways, that's why I so enjoy talking crazy when my Fantasy Football team is doing good. Here's a transaction of my league's chat room during yesterday's game:
Jason R (5:59:20PM): Ted (Sluder here again) you are my best friend, but I'm having a hard time forgiving you for STEALING Best..... damn he lit it up today.
Ted C (6:00:02PM): You should have done better last year and you would have drafted him before me. You have no one to blame but yourself.
Jason R (6:00:51PM): damn you and your rational, calm response......
Ted C (6:00:56PM): Besides he's a rookie. He's the very definition of beginners luck. I don't see it lasting long. (and no I will not trade him to you).
Ted C (6:02:33PM): He did well the first game. 2nd game was a coincidence. If he rolls crits next week then we have a trend and something special 
Ted C (6:07:23PM): C. Johnson may have been shutout by those orcs the Stealers but ol' McCoy the specialty priest of Tempus was dropping twenties like his dice were loaded!
* IV H joined
IV H (6:19:30PM): Jeeezus! Ted...you and that I'm-gonna-rule-the-fucking-world-think-pad-i-pad-whatever-the-fuck-it-is-can-go-home! SHIT!
IV H (6:20:07PM): What kind of sick shit is this? Jahvid Best is a beast! Holy shit
Ted C (6:20:58PM): LOL Ruen had the same tools I had!
IV H (6:21:10PM): What the fuck ever...
Ted C (6:21:18PM): Best was a straight up lucky shot.
IV H (6:21:26PM): I actually felt the Earth move on it's axis because of that damn Ipad you had
Ted C (6:21:36PM): LOL!
IV H (6:21:37PM): re-aligning the sun and satellites and shit
IV H (6:21:59PM): Your an avatar of a Fantasy God...whatever
IV H (6:22:53PM): No one can read the magic Fantasy 8-ball and be so damn consistent...you got some kind of Bill-Gates-don't-look-behind-the-curtain-app with that Pad. I knew it!
Ted C (6:23:04PM): It's just the 2nd week man. The Fantasy God has only blessed me this week. He is a fickle deity. He will bless you and then curse you and make you wear pink underwear at his crazy whim!
Jason R (6:23:36PM): Next year at the Draft Party, NO electronic devices! Old school baby. (yes still Sluder here)
IV H (6:23:38PM): So says the 164+pt. titan
Ted C (6:24:30PM): 1/3 of those points were from a guy I drafted in the... 6th round? It was a ways down....
IV H (6:24:31PM): I'm thinking we should just put Ted in a corner annnnnnd give him some crummy pencil and a scrap of paper to scribble on.
IV H (6:25:28PM): All I'm saying is...that damn pad is a freaking unique item with INTELLIGENCE
IV H (6:25:36PM): I saw you nodding as it spoke to you
IV H (6:26:09PM): Such precision...I think I got EMP'd and just lost half of my train of thought and tactics while drafting...
IV H (6:26:55PM): or perhaps it was that deja vu moment I had...did you stop time you bastard?! Switch things around and have us all believe we picked who we did?
IV H (6:28:04PM): I'm on to you man...Gonna have to bring my tin foil hat to the next draft party and see you penetrate my brain waves with that damn I-wanna-rule-the-world-i-padasaurus you have!
Ted C (6:31:48PM): Ah the wonders of technology. I'll let you in on a little secret. My iPad gave me recon intel that it gathered from your car radio that that electric razor you're so fond of. Did you know that when you shave your head each hair cries out a little bit of info that was stored in your brain? True story.
Jason R (6:33:15PM): Its like Ted has a "scrying" electric razor at IV's house. LOL
IV H (6:35:04PM): Un be lievable!
IV H (6:35:11PM): I knew it!
IV H (6:35:31PM): That's it....it's bic time baby and then I'm layering the tin foil on
Ted C (6:46:32PM): Okay I'll level with you. Jarvis Best is really a nobody but what you guys don't know is that he actually possesses a symbiote known as a Goa'uld. His symbiote has granted him inhuman abilities that has enabled him to destroy the opposition.
Ted C (6:47:46PM): The System Lords feel that by taking over the NFL they will have a beachhead into the American minds that will enable them to take over the world.
Ted C (6:48:47PM): I normally would have reported this sort of thing since it spells doom for the human race, but seeing as Ben Browder feels it's more important to coach cheerleaders in that stupid new show The Hellcats instead of leading SG-1... well let’s just say I had to vote with my heart.
Ted C (7:18:27PM): I take it I blew everyone's mind with the harsh reality of an alien invasion.
Ted C (7:19:12PM): I understand. It's hard to wrap your brain around it. I'm just glad I could capitalize on it for some FF points.
Jason R (7:25:37PM): freaking icing the kicker worked!
Ted C (7:27:07PM): Icing!? As in Antarctica!?
Jason R (7:27:33PM): lol, as in calling a Time Out righ before a field goal attempt
Jason R (7:27:45PM): pretty much never works
Ted C (7:28:52PM): Oh okay. I thought you may have some sort of leverage in Antarctica, the home to some of the Ancients before they migrated to the Pegasus Galaxy. There is some untapped Ancient technology there.
Jason R (7:29:53PM): lol
Ted C (7:30:18PM): I have my eye on you!
Jason R (7:31:10PM): the electronic eye of doom?
Jason R (7:31:23PM): the all seeing eye-pad?
Ted C (7:33:26PM): So you're aware of Steve Job's Egyptian heritage? i knew that would come out eventually. Mixing Egyptian magic with modern technology is a tricky science/magic to base a company on. Did you know Osiris only ate Apples? True story.
Popularity: 3% [?]
My Review of Inno Velo Gripper Truck Bed Bike Mount
Originally submitted at Sun & Ski Sports
Introducing the all-new Inno Velo Gripper Truck Bike Racks from Inno Rack Systems. The most efficient pickup truck bed bike racks for securely transporting any bicycle without wasting any unnecessary truckbed space. Saves up to 90% of pickup truck bed space !
Super easy to use!
Pros: Durable, Easy to Install, Easy to Use, Lightweight, Stable
Best Uses: Mountain Bikes, Road Bikes, trucks
Describe Yourself: Avid Cyclist
I was surprised at how easy these mounts were to install and remove. Quick and easy mounts for keeping your bike firmly in place in the bed of the truck. I wanted something that didn't require any special tools and these mounts did the trick!
(legalese)
Popularity: unranked [?]
The Joss Whedon Experence
I really want to go to the San Diego Comic-Con and geek out live and in person at all the awesome panels. One of these days I will but until then I have Youtube and all the news blogs out there to thank for sharing the nuggets of excellence SDCC has to offer.
As many are aware, at SDCC they announced that Joss Whedon will be directing the Avengers film for Marvel Studios. Of course, for those of us who drank the Joss Kool-aid, this news is nothing short of epic. For the rest of you, just check out this epic ensemble at Joss' disposal and there is no denying the synergy of excellent that this film has going for it.
Popularity: unranked [?]
The Push to 300
On June 1st, 2009 I weighed 390 pounds. I was miserable, depressed, frustrated and simply not happy with myself. I wish I could recall what epiphany or mental kick in the pants occurred that caused me to do something about it. Everyday that June I exercised for 30 minutes in the gym and stuck to a 2000 calorie diet. I was focused and determined and hungry to make a change.
By the end of June I was down to 378 pounds. I continued to exercise (although not everyday) and stuck with counting my calories. By the end of July I was down to 367 pounds. By August 31st I was 355 pounds and by the end of September I weighed 341 pounds. In October I stalled out at 340 but was able to refocus and get down to 328 by the end of November. That was a total of 62 pounds lost in six months doing nothing but exercising and watching my calorie intake. Sure, I had my setbacks and occasional cheat days but back then I earned them.
I lost all that weight by simply exercising and counting calories. I had a clear focus on losing weight that rarely faltered. Getting complements and encouragement from family and friends was nice but that was never a driving reason for losing the weight. I was just motivated by my simple desire to better myself.
Since then it's been nothing but a series of excuses and piss poor decisions. Sure, everyone struggles during the holiday season but hell that was 6 months ago! Today, June 1st, 2010, is a year later and I weighed in at 329 pounds. That's the same as I weight at the end of November. That's six months I wasted feeling miserable, frustrated and depressed.
Before you say it, no it's not okay that I "maintained". I'm not at a weight that one should want to maintain. I'm at this weight because I'm a sorry fat ass who feels sorry for himself.
I'm ready to not feel that way anymore.
I'm writing this blog post for three reasons:
1. Writing this down helps me to reflect on what I've accomplished and gather my thoughts.
2. By making my thoughts public I'm helping assure to myself that I'm serious about continuing to lose weight.
3. I want my family and friends to know that I'm getting serious again so that they'll understand when I snap and bitch at them when they try to offer me to go drinking, dining or indulge in sweets.
You'll notice I didn't say that I'm wanting actual help from family and friends. I love my friends and I welcome their kind words and words of encouragement. I'm just too dang stubborn when it comes to friends offering to help. It always ends up with me childishly avoiding them because I just have to do things my own way. It's silly, I know. I just ask that my friends bare with me!
So, Facebook and Twitter friends get ready! You may want to unfollow me now if you don't want me to bombard you with my progress reports and healthy thoughts. That seemed to work last year so I'm gonna start it up again.
It's time to make the drive for 300 pounds!
Popularity: unranked [?]
Riding in Style!
I finally finished my awesome new dune buggy in Fallen Earth! I love how trashed out this thing looks! It has a nice deep rumbling engine too. It may not be as fast as the motorcycle but what it lacks in speed it totally makes up in armor and trunk space. This thing is like a mobile vault (ie. bank/storage/etc)! It has 44 slots and can hold 265 pounds of equipment. In comparision, my character with a strength of 33 can only carry 56.5 pounds.
Now I just need to research some alternate fuels to see if I can make one that runs on corn!
Popularity: unranked [?]
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