Machismo Aug 9, 2006
Sometimes I have surprisingly macho ideas and desires.  I wouldn't call myself a "typical male", so these things don't seem to fit in with the rest of my life.  I don't have a subscription to Maxim magazine.  I don't like sports cars.  I don't pride myself on drinking dark beers. 

But I sometimes have a strong desire to get a motorcycle.  All my logic and conservatism says this is a bad idea, but I can't deny that the desire is there.  I wouldn't want to get a stupid little racing bike.  And I wouldn't want to get a loud Harley.  I would just want a simple motorcycle that would get me from point A to point B while making me feel like I'm a dog sticking my head out the window.  I think it's less about the object and more about the idea:  For years, motorcycles have been a symbol of rebellion and "badness" (can't think of a better word).  Despite wearing khaki pants and a collared shirt, I sometimes want to strap on some leather (ok, not really) and ride across the country with nothing but a knife and a change of underwear. 

I also have the occasional urge to get a tattoo.  I'm not sure why.  I've been opposed to them in the past, but I can't deny that a permanent marking on my pale flesh has a certain amount of appeal.  Again, I think it's more about the idea:  Tattoos traditionally signify independence, strength, devotion, or some other sort of cool thing.  (These days, most tattoos are the result of drinking or a fleeting interest.)  But to permanently let people know that I'm a fan of dragons that breathe fire out of their mouths and have spikes on their tails, just sounds awesome. 

And like I mentioned before, I like watching people beat each other unconscious.  I think it's because I'd sort of like to learn Brazilian JuJitsu and know how to hyper-extend a person's elbow and knee.  I would imagine that it's quite liberating to have that kind of knowledge.  And I think it's sort of like what Tyler Durden said in Fight Club:  "How much can you know about yourself, you've never been in a fight?"  Few things have existed since the beginning of time, but violence is one of them.  And it's not that I'm a violent person or have a desire to hurt or kill other people.  It's just that I'd sometimes like to test myself as a human being through "feats of strength" like hand-to-hand combat.  But then other times, I just want to sit around and write about it on my website.  Geeks 'R' Us!  #psychology
Not microwave safe (6) Aug 9, 2006
The biggest mistake of my life up to this point was getting dinner plates that aren't microwave safe.  What a stupid thing.  Why on earth would a company make plates that aren't microwave safe?  What's the benefit?  Was there a thought process behind that decision, and did someone make the call to go with a non-microwave safe material?  If so, that person is a jerk.  And an idiot.  A jerkiot. 

But when something isn't microwave safe, it doesn't mean it can't go in the microwave.  It just means the object will heat up faster than the food that's likely to be placed on it.  And if it's in the microwave for too long, it'll heat up past its "comfort level" and basically crack or burn.  So the "solution" (I haven't perfected it yet) is to use the power control settings.  Oddly enough, "power control" doesn't mean the microwave is producing any more or less power.  It means it's turning the magnetron (the thing that makes a microwave work) on and off in cycles.  Things with water molecules (and fats and sugars) in them are affected by a microwave's radiation, and this "effect" causes them to heat up.  So by cycling the power, the non-microwaveable plate is allowed to cool off (by not continually injecting it with radiation), while the food stores its heat until the next power cycle. #technology