tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53155772008-07-23T11:08:57.157-04:00MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comBlogger679125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-72710363086203450832008-07-22T06:15:00.000-04:002008-07-22T15:05:29.980-04:00

I know, I know - I haven't posted in forever, and it's über-lame to come back and only have a link to a review. I've been a little busy, what with trying to buy a house and all. This was the last game I was able to play before my Xbox 360 went all RROD on me. It's getting repaired, but it'll be a few weeks yet. For what it's worth, I miss blogging when I don't do it for a while. It seems the

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-72004498016662886382008-06-26T21:50:00.004-04:002008-06-27T06:40:41.340-04:00

People who know me a little know I don't like the outdoors and I hate water and they make fun of me for it. People who know me even better still make fun of me for the outdoors thing, but ease up a little on me when they find out that my deal with water is more of a petrifying fear. I've heard it all before and I realize it's something "normal" people need to do, so I just get through it. That

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-36194076549043318802008-06-17T21:08:00.003-04:002008-06-17T21:19:24.258-04:00

We here at MadMup.com are experiencing technical difficulties. The hard drive in my computer has died, and none of my attempts to salvage it have been successful. Yes, it happens to computer guys, too. And all those times you've been told by a computer guy to "back up your stuff"? They don't do it like they ought to, either. It wouldn't be that bad except for the year and half of digital

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-18839043917351543132008-06-06T06:11:00.000-04:002008-06-06T08:28:29.508-04:00

I'm normally one for keeping a clean text messaging inbox - once I read it, it's gone. There's a lot of reasons for it, but one is that I can't create folders on my phone for some stupid reason, so I don't have a good way to store them. So normally when I go to my inbox, it's got the one or two messages I haven't read yet, or else it's empty. A while back, though, I got a text message from a

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-57396779306435280402008-05-30T05:49:00.001-04:002008-05-30T10:35:22.317-04:00

I've come to realize another proof that blogging is social for me - I blog more when I have less contact with people. The more time I spend with people, the less I blog. You can go two ways with this: if you want me to blog more, ignore me. If you want me to blog less, hang out with me. This summer is a big one for movies - Iron Man, Prince Caspian, and Indy IV already, with The Dark Knight and

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-86231984761741291712008-05-22T22:30:00.002-04:002008-05-22T22:46:54.614-04:00

Perhaps you've been saying to yourself, "Hey, I wonder what sort of crazy/cool links Mup stumbles across while he's surfing?" but didn't know what to do about it. Today is your lucky day, my friend! Clicking this link right here will take you to my Google Reader Shared Items. To keep up with those things even more, you can add that page's RSS feed to your favorite RSS reader and be notified

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-73255880782773925842008-05-21T06:02:00.001-04:002008-05-21T11:07:47.095-04:00

When I see Wayne Brady on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" or Turk on "Scrubs" do some fancy Michael Jackson-like dancing, it always makes me wish I could do it myself. Not because I want to hit nightclubs and enter competitions or anything, just because I think it'd be fun to be able to do it, and I like making people laugh. Doing an MJ impression in an improv show - a good impression, anyway - is a

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-88133827751049531252008-05-18T22:55:00.004-04:002008-05-18T23:03:52.565-04:00

I'm currently reading the book Service Included - I'm not entirely sure why, as I'm not a foodie even a little bit. I'd heard it mentioned somewhere and read an excerpt that I found intriguing, so I got it. It's interesting enough, and an easy read, so I ought to be done with it soon. The author is relating her experiences working at a high-class restaurant in New York, and I haven't been able

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-69589973876785525512008-05-14T05:44:00.000-04:002008-05-14T08:48:58.868-04:00

This is the T-shirt I pre-ordered last night. Those of you who get it are now going "yessssssssss!" Those of you who don't should read this and then commence with the rolling your eyes thing.

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-59562059071035928722008-05-13T05:26:00.002-04:002008-05-13T10:47:56.161-04:00

It's actually been a very long time since I wrote a game review. Too long. After seeing the Iron Man movie on opening day, I was pumped enough to go rent the videogame. While everyone else in the known universe was playing Grand Theft Auto IV, I was flying around and catching missiles. To each his own. I had to actually rent the game a second time to get all the way through it, but did finally

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-9980882457314204552008-05-08T06:02:00.002-04:002008-05-08T07:11:25.209-04:00

Make it a good day!-SooAnnI got that at the bottom of an email from my friend SooAnn a couple of weeks ago. I think the email was about setting up pictures for contacts on her Blackberry, I'm not sure. What struck me was that it wasn't "have a good day" or "hope your day's good," it was "(implied 'you') make it a good day." I determine how my day will be based on my actions and reactions.

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-25929720544018711392008-05-07T06:09:00.002-04:002008-05-07T07:36:03.568-04:00

My brother sent these cards along to me yesterday, drawn by my nephew (6 years old) and niece (4). As I understand the procedure, the kids draw and/or write, the results are scanned, and then the scanned pics are fiddled with in Photoshop according to the wishes of the specific kid. This one is by my nephew, and he's very aware of the cat situation at my place, i.e., that there are some. I

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-83131714487603471672008-05-06T00:01:00.003-04:002008-05-06T00:01:01.572-04:00

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear. 525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?525,600 minutes! 525,000 journeys to plan. 525,600 minutes - how can you measure the life of a woman or man? In truths that she learned, or

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-44064970841254430562008-05-01T06:10:00.001-04:002008-05-01T07:29:36.741-04:00

Today is New Boss Day at work. The boss that hired me retired last October, and we've had an interim boss since then. Today's the first day for the new fellow. I can't speak for the rest of the people in my department, but I'm a little nervous. I like things to stay the same, and it's pretty much a sure thing that they won't. There's been rampant speculation on what might change, but no one

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-79923527377042587822008-04-28T21:26:00.003-04:002008-04-29T07:26:27.351-04:00

(click to embiggen) With thanks to bd for the image.

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-65068907300198463432008-04-25T12:16:00.000-04:002008-04-25T13:19:53.587-04:00

Twitter saves lives. So maybe more of you should join up. I worry! (Thanks, Cousin Laura!)

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-62275923401617703132008-04-24T21:57:00.002-04:002008-04-24T22:15:18.322-04:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my Fifth Year Anniversary Contest. I think maybe I'd have gotten more responses had I offered a new car or Wal-Mart gift cards instead of Star Wars DVDs and MadMup.com gear. Something to keep in mind for the next contest, I guess. The actual numbers are as follows: 675 blog entries and 72 articles written for DEN. I don't know whether to be surprised or

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-77905451332446840462008-04-23T05:59:00.004-04:002008-04-23T10:00:06.455-04:00

It was five years ago today that I started this blog. I wish my first entry was something memorable and different from all the other first entries to blogs, but it isn't. I remember wondering if the thing would even work and if I would ever do anything with it. Here I am, five years later, desperately clinging to some sort of misguided hope that this blog will turn me into some kind of writer.

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-90331978211052599922008-04-20T16:26:00.002-04:002008-04-20T16:29:16.989-04:00

Africa Edition! There are palm trees and coconuts in Africa.Now, that might seem like a silly thing to you, but it was a revelation to me. It wasn't that I had decided on my own that there were no coconuts in Africa, it was more along the lines that I had not considered it and, when confronted with the idea, came to the idea that there were no palm trees in Africa.I guess it's because I associate

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-26135754885031614612008-04-17T22:51:00.002-04:002008-04-17T23:09:27.808-04:00

Pledge drives produce conflicting feelings in me, and I can't be the only one. I'm talking specifically about the pledge drives that radio stations do, as I rarely run across the TV ones, and even more specifically about a station here in town. I realize that non-profit stations need to raise money somehow, but there has to be a better way, doesn't there? Most of the chatter they do to try to

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-36706727082562202372008-04-13T21:42:00.001-04:002008-04-13T23:55:54.207-04:00

I'm sure most of you know the story of Job or have, at least, heard of "the patience of Job." On top of the hardest time he's ever gone through, he's receiving really bad advice from his so-called friends. I can just imagine that he's had just about enough of their idiocy when he says the following: Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!Job 12:2 (NIV) It's one of my favorite

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-86824579303384461022008-04-10T06:16:00.003-04:002008-04-10T10:41:35.175-04:00

I'm sure most of you have seen this: While I was looking for that one, I found this one, the sequel: I enjoy these for a couple of reasons, but the biggest one being the texting shorthand, this all-encompassing form of communication that all teenagers use all the time. The "big" news networks frequently trot out a list of abbreviations that "all the kids are using," and I know I'm not the only

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-49322019969811290462008-04-03T22:05:00.004-04:002008-04-04T09:25:39.765-04:00

(The end of Impromptu Michael Jackson Week - five posts equals one blog week, as we all know.) When I leave for work in the morning, it's generally still dark. As summer goes on, it gets light before I'm out the door, so either way I miss the sunrise. There's something about the beginning of the day, whether it's cold and grey or warm and sunny or raining, it's a beautiful time and I'm sorry I

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-47292113932118450362008-03-31T05:58:00.001-04:002008-03-31T11:24:52.127-04:00

(Impromptu Michael Jackson Week continues apace!) I'd be surprised to learn that there was someone out there who has never thought "I wonder if other people see/feel things the way I do?" Some things are easier than others to come to a conclusion on. I mean, we can all look at a chicken and agree on its inherent chickenness (chickenity?): the beak, the beady eyes, the feathers, the sharp talons -

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315577.post-342318083248679232008-03-26T22:20:00.003-04:002008-03-31T11:26:13.912-04:00

Last year there was a documentary released entitled The King of King: A Fistful of Quarters (Tagline: "Don't get chumpatized") about the world of competitive videogaming. Many of you, I suspect, weren't aware there was a world of competitive videogaming until just this moment. Not only is there, but it's a booming business and full of drama and intrigue, apparently. The documentary follows

MadMuphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00423479074385854137noreply@blogger.com