Offspring, Part Deaux

In nine days, we’ll be a family of four, having welcomed a new baby girl into the Gradin household on the 24th of this month…at 6:00am. That’s how we role. My wife likes to plan for the unplannable. However, she has made certain assurances for this life-event, and I have little doubt that this date… Continue reading Offspring, Part Deaux

Gym Jones – The Discipline Behind “300”

It’s better to die on your feet than live on your knees. The men of Zack Snyder’s “300” trained 10-12 hours a day, five days a week, for four months – all while eating barely enough to cover their needs and recovery. It was at the invitation-only fitness center in Utah, Gym Jones, where strength… Continue reading Gym Jones – The Discipline Behind “300”

Ed Gein

I took a morning stroll through man’s disturbing past and read some articles about Ed Gein recently. If you’re planning on reading through this man’s history, you should probably do so a little later in the day. Gein is the man who inspired such characters as Buffalo Bill (Silence of the Lambs), Texas Chainsaw Massacre,… Continue reading Ed Gein

In Memory of Douglas Adams (1952 – 2001)

Today is Towel Day throughout the Universe. If you know of and love Douglas Adams, you will wear your towel in reverence of his comedic brilliance. Pictures are everywhere, though Flickr is a good start. And here’s mine. More importantly, a towel has immense psychological value. For some reason, if a strag (strag: non-hitch hiker)… Continue reading In Memory of Douglas Adams (1952 – 2001)

Back to the Future: COBOL

Some psychos out there have implemented COBOL.NET, that is, COBOL for Microsoft.NET. Fujitsu is, at least in part, to blame for their Windows implementation of a compiler and interpreter. On one hand, it speaks volumes of the capabilities of the CLR, but on the other hand it just goes to show you that the Internet… Continue reading Back to the Future: COBOL

Trading Spouses: The Eclectic Edition

Is anyone watching this show?!? Tonight’s episode of Trading Spouses on the FOX Network must have been the best comedy drama on TV in a long time! I didn’t even see the whole thing, I just came in for the finale. The gist was that they put a fanatical Cathoholic woman into the home of… Continue reading Trading Spouses: The Eclectic Edition