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| BrendanMcKillip.com brendan mckillip's daily journal |
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daily journal
She Seems Like a Friendly Person I don't think this is what my wife had in mind when she encouraged me to join Facebook so I could connect with a bunch of people.  Labels: Fun posted by Brendan | 1:30 PM | permanent link
Ghost Busters I love the original from the 1980's, but this version might have been pretty fun too. Labels: 80's, classic movies, Fun posted by Brendan | 10:25 PM | permanent link Crushed Like Crackers in a Fat Man's Bed It's my new favorite phrase.  Labels: comic strips posted by Brendan | 1:07 PM | permanent link
5 Things I Think (Okay, two exceptions. One, at Progressive Insurance they had offices, but I was there less than 9 months and hated it � so I rarely count that as a place I worked. Two, at the first company I worked for we had offices, but we would cram 2 or 3 people into each one.) Anyways � now I'm being moved into an office this week and I think I feel a little guilty about having an office. Not exactly sure why. Or maybe not I think my favorite poster is the one for High Society. Though the poster for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a close second.  The band�s latest album was produced by former Pixies front man Frank Black and the songs reflect Frank�s stripped down, straightforward style of music I really enjoy. And who can�t love lyrics like this: DC comics and chocolate milkshake Labels: 5 Things I Think posted by Brendan | 4:55 PM | permanent link
The Next 10 Begins Ian�s tenth birthday was yesterday, which means today Heather and I start on our second decade of being parents.  It�s been an interesting first 10 years of being parents. I think Heather and I have managed to navigate fairly well and without inflicting too much emotional damage on our children. (And I think if you asked, Ian, Emma, and Zoe they would agree with that statement.)The first ten years were about figuring out how to deal with new things like changing diapers, reduced sleep, and reduced privacy. It was about teaching your kids how to walk, talk, and being gracious when Grandpa gives you the exact same present for the third Christmas in a row. It was about learning how to live with kids. Ian broke us in, and things became easier with each subsequent child. The second ten are going to be about figuring out how to turn these kids into adults. That scares the crap out of me. What I see ahead is maturing bodies, more complex social situations, driving lessons, authority challenging, hormones, middle school, hormones, high school � did I mention hormones? Ten years from today I will have a 20 year-old son, a 16 year-old daughter days away from her 17th birthday, and a 15 year-old daughter. I never liked teenagers when I was one. How am I going to handle having a house full of them? Labels: Family posted by Brendan | 4:55 PM | permanent link
Kid Quote of the Week "Zoe is a burly bear" - Ian trying to translate Heather's Pig Latin phrase "oeZay ashay urlycay airhay" Labels: Kid Quote of the Week posted by Brendan | 4:00 PM | permanent link
The Deification of Youth and Stupidity Craig Ferguson is a genius. I should watch his show more often. posted by Brendan | 10:05 PM | permanent link
Cardinals Acquire Holliday Yesterday the St. Louis Cardinals sent a bunch of minor league prospects to the Oakland A's for outfielder Matt Holliday. Holliday gives the Cards another big bat and someone to slot in behind Albert Pujois in their lineup for some protection. The trade was just one of a few moves the Cards have made this season to keep their team competitive and position themselves to hold off the Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago Cubs in a weak NL Central Division. What have the Cubs done to try and catch the Cards - which they are currently only 1 games behind? Nothing. They send guys to the DL. Labels: Chicago Cubs posted by Brendan | 8:58 PM | permanent link More Batman on the Way? If Empire Magazine and Gary Oldman are to be believed, the next Batman movie will start shooting in 2010.
I'm not putting too much stock in Oldman's remark right now, let's wait and see what developers over the next six months. posted by Brendan | 6:34 PM | permanent link
Google Does ComicCon ComicCon, the annual orgy of all things pop culture, started today in San Diego and Google is getting in on the action. This is today�s Google logo, designed by Jim Lee and starring the heroes of DC Comics:  Google also released a bunch of new iGoogle themes drawing inspiration from comics. Everything from Batman to Ziggy, with some alternative comics and manga thrown in for good measure. I tried out the Pearls Before Swine theme for my iGoogle page, but I just can't get into that sort of embellishment on my personalized pages. I already have plenty of content on these pages � news, weather, email, quotes of the day � I don't need a bunch of images crowding things up. It's neat idea. Just not for me. Here's a real close look at the Jim Lee-design logo posted by Brendan | 6:42 PM | permanent link Slice versus Wedge Chicago Tribune writers Phil Vettel and Kevin Pang debate the correct way to cut up a pizza: slice versus wedge A snippet: I learned a few things from this exchange 1) Square cut or grid cut pizza is referred to as the "Party Cut" - interesting In any case, an argument over slice versus wedge is pointless. It doesn't matter how the pizza is cut, just as long as I get to eat it. posted by Brendan | 12:43 PM | permanent link
Death & Taxes Jess Bachman has created the 2010 version of the "Death & Taxes" poster. It is a large representational graph and poster of the federal discretionary budget (though he breaks down the total budget in the lower right-hand corner of the poster. Where money is going. How those amounts are changing from last year. It's an fan way to take a look at where the government puts its money. Labels: News posted by Brendan | 12:52 PM | permanent link Good Stuff The first four minutes of Green Lantern: First Flight, which debuts on DVD in about a week. One more DC DVD I plan to add to my collection. Labels: Animation, DC, Green Lantern posted by Brendan | 9:10 AM | permanent link
5 Things I Think It's a special Family Vacation edition of "5 Things I Think" Last week Heather and I loaded the kids into our van and drove over 1,200 miles to Port Canaveral, FL so we could board the Disney Wonder for a 5-day cruise with her family. When we were done with the cruise, we drove back � stopping one day in Chattanooga, TN. 5 Things I Thought About the Drive There and Back Again Although, the ads for these "spas" did break up the monotony of seeing another Cracker Barrel billboard.  Florida has the stupidest tollway system. They have a turnpike you pay to enter as opposed to exit. They also have a tollway that doesn't appear to have any logic to where toll booths are placed or the amount charged. Then they have two different E-ZPass type systems � one for the turnpike and one for the tollway � and nether is compatible with the E-ZPass system being used by 13 other States.I hate Florida's roads. It made me want to take a driving trip out to the Smoky Mountains 5 Things I Thought About the Disney Cruise I couldn't figure out how they didn't pass out from heat exhaustion. And yet the danced and sang and kept a huge Disney smile the entire time. Maybe they're heavily drugged.  The Trio � best dessert idea ever. Every night at dinner there would be a number of dessert options to choose from. The one I noticed the first night, and then enjoyed on subsequent nights, was the Trio. It was a sampling of three of the desserts all on one plate.Why have to lock yourself into choosing just one tasty treat when you could enjoy three. Labels: 5 Things I Think, Family posted by Brendan | 4:34 PM | permanent link
Apollo 11 versus Wal-Mart The Chicago Tribune has a short article arguing that while Apollo 11 reaching the moon in July of 1969 was momentous, they real �big� event of 1969 happened a few months later when Sam Walton incorporated Wal-Mart. Trib writer Rob Manker thinly argues that the creation of Wal-Mart had a much more direct and lastingly influence on American than the Moon landing. For better and for worse, the existence and success of Wal-Mart has influenced the way we shop, how we live, and how business is conducted. It�s an interesting question to ponder. I want to believe that the Moon landing was more influential; but when I consider what�s happened over the last forty years since Neil Armstrong�s first steps I have a hard time getting excited about the U.S. space program or revealing its influence on American life. posted by Brendan | 4:41 PM | permanent link
Kid Quote of the Week Ian: "Knock-knock" Me: "Who's there?" Ian: "Yodel-ay-ee-who . . . no, no wait . . . say 'Yodel-ay-ee-who' without the 'who'" - Ian, trying to tell me a knock-knock joke Labels: Kid Quote of the Week posted by Brendan | 4:00 PM | permanent link
Kid Quote of the Week "You do a great job of cutting the grass short" - Zoe, who can always find something to compliment you on Labels: Kid Quote of the Week posted by Brendan | 4:00 PM | permanent link
And So It Begins I've seen stores do "Christmas in July" sales, but Sears & Kmart are taking things to a whole new level this summer. They've already launched their Christmas Lane departments online and in stores.  And according to the story I read on the Chicago Tribune, it sounds like other retailers could take the Christmas Creep to a whole new levels this year. Ugh. Hopefully the all-Christmas radio stations will still hold off until November. posted by Brendan | 3:55 PM | permanent link
Start of Cyber-War? I guess if the North Koreans can't build a missile that will fly, then they will find another way to attack. WASHINGTON (AP) � The powerful attack that overwhelmed computers at U.S. and South Korean government agencies for days was even broader than initially realized, also targeting the White House, the Pentagon and the New York Stock Exchange. Other targets of the attack included the National Security Agency, Homeland Security Department, State Department, the Nasdaq stock market and The Washington Post, according to an early analysis of the malicious software used in the attacks. Many of the organizations appeared to successfully blunt the sustained computer assaults. The Associated Press obtained the target list from security experts analyzing the attacks. It was not immediately clear who might be responsible or what their motives were. South Korean intelligence officials believe the attacks were carried out by North Korea or pro-Pyongyang forces. Read the rest Labels: News posted by Brendan | 12:41 PM | permanent link Happy 123456789 Day Hey, It's 12:34:56 on 07/08/09 Live it up. Labels: Fun posted by Brendan | 12:34 PM | permanent link Something To Think About  Labels: comic strips, Fun posted by Brendan | 9:07 AM | permanent link
5 Things I Think  It's a technique I'd love to employee except that all the tree-hugging, pinko, namby-pandies who live in our neighborhood would probably complain. I am not comfortable with that. THE CARRIER DOES NOT EXPRESSLY OR IMPLIEDLY WARRANT, AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY AS TO, (a) THE FITNESS, CONDITION OR SEAWORTHINESS OF THE VESSEL AND (b) THE FITNESS, CONDITION OR MERCHANTABILITY OF ANY FOOD OR DRINK PROVIDED ON BOARD THE VESSEL. THE CARRIER SHALL NOT BE STRICTLY LIABLE IN TORT FOR ANY DEFECT, LACK OF FITNESS, IMPURITY OR CONTAMINATION OF ANY FOOD OR DRINK PROVIDED ON BOARD THE VESSEL.They won�t warrant the seaworthiness of the vessel? It�s a fucking boat for taking around 2,000 people out into the ocean. How can they even try to indemnify themselves from seaworthiness of the vessel? Lawyers? Please speak up. I was shocked when we started taking the kids to the Aurora Fourth of July parades about how much candy was throw to the crowd and how much the kids expected it. Now when our kids talk about going to the parade they mention candy as much as the things in the parade. And since I�ve started walking with my Dad in a few parades to help support his campaign, I�ve learned that some cities� kids are better behaved than others when it comes to candy expectations. Warrenville has some well-mannered, fun kids at their parades. Naperville has a lot of work to do. Labels: 5 Things I Think posted by Brendan | 12:40 PM | permanent link
Kid Quote of the Week "Dad, can you forget that you forgot something?" - Emma, who got us started on an interesting logic discussion - at least for a 6 year-old Labels: Kid Quote of the Week posted by Brendan | 4:00 PM | permanent link
The Ledge is Open The Ledge opened today. 4 glass-encased boxes suspended from the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower.  And here's a shot looking down through the glass floor:  I can't wait to go. posted by Brendan | 12:59 PM | permanent link
Here Come the Hawks . . .  The Blackhawks entered the NHL free agent market swinging when they signed two players from the Detroit Red Wings.Marian Hossa, who has played on the Stanley Cup runner-up the last two seasons, was signed to a 12-year deal worth $62 million and the Blackhawks gave Tomas Kopecky a 2-year contract worth $2.4 million. While I question giving a 30-year-old hockey player a 12-year contract, I can�t help but be a little excited about the Hawks bringing a player of Hossa�s caliber to the team. He�s a great player. It seemed like I was hearing his name constantly when I would watch the Blackhawks and Red Wings square off last season. Hopefully next season I hear his name as much � but this time it will be for the good guys. Labels: Chicago Blackhawks posted by Brendan | 3:15 PM | permanent link LEGO Fun Not only is it incredible cool that architect and certified LEGO professional Adam Reed Tucker has designed and built more than 15 skyscrapers that are part of the ART + SCIENCE = ARCHITECTURE exhibit opening today at the Chicago�s Museum of Science and Industry. But LEGO has also produced model kits based on many of Tucker�s designs.  I want my very own Sears Tower to preside over my desk at work. Labels: Chicago posted by Brendan | 12:41 PM | permanent link |
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Gary Oldman joined Denzel Washington and Mila Kunis today at Comic-Con, taking part in a panel for upcoming apocalyptic thriller The Book Of Eli. Towards the end of the panel Oldman was asked the obligatory Batman 3 question and, to eveyone�s surprise, actually answered it.
Kevin: Square-cut pizzas should go the way of Crystal Pepsi. The first time I laid eyes on one, I thought surely there was a mistake; perhaps in the course of slicing, the pizza maker slipped and his wrist went 90 degrees sideways. He kept going, covering his mistake, and thought, "Wow, I'm on to something. I'm innovating on decades of pizza tradition!" Except it's no innovation. It's impractical and dumb. Thoughts?
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