Too busy playing StarCraft II to review it
So I finally got Starcraft 2 – and I finally broke away from it just long enough to write this review. Find out why this game has got me hooked and see if it might be right for you, as well!
Author Archives: John McDonald
Standing desk update
Two months in, the standing desk seems better and better every day. There was definitely some pain in the adjustment, but now the benefits are starting to add up instead.
ECU lockdown updates – “gunman spotted!”
More pictures and video from the ECU campus lockdown on November 16, 2011
Police lock down ECU campus – over an umbrella
Rumors of a gunman with hostages seem to all be sparked by a man with an umbrella. In the meantime, the ECU campus and half of Greenville, NC was locked down under police surveillance.
My Custom Standing Desk
After hearing a bit about the benefits of standing desks, Aisling offered to build one for the office in the new house. Everything went better than expected!
A Day in the Life
The trite log of a mundane work day.
A chance to write… (summer 2011)
Summer 2011 was quite an adventure – and a thoroughly enjoyable one. However, a bit of downtime is now a welcomed relief.
Vintage / Nova
A trust – an illusion of memories Differing under darkened light. Unholy mistruths and half-lies, unearthed by bone-cracking misconceptions. Purple steel churns, under crushing eternal gravity. Hammer-weakened, tempered in eternity’s forge and crashing against dimmer, weaker realities. Vintage It stands majestic in temperate woods and rolling fields. Stone is cold, cracked, chipped, and battered. Here [...]
Evolution Cubensis
Water slimes in to life, threatening the dry it grows in to death Drowning, growing over life, synthesized disease patched in to factions. Choking health, soiling that which was once its own life – dry yet alive. Creation, (the) melting (of) two minds in to one as is/has/will (ever) be defined. Possibility of infinite new [...]
UNF Iron Pour – Spring 2011
Photos and videos from the University of North Florida’s Spring 2011 Iron Pour. See the process of melting iron to create sculptural art.
100 hours without a cigarette
Cigarettes are one of the worst addictions you can have, and I’m now just starting to reach the point that I can look back on that experience and part of my life without extreme cravings & weakness. While I can’t say I’m completely nicotine-free yet, there might be some ideas in here to help you break the quitting process down in to more approachable steps.
A few miles above Georgia
This is what Georgia looks like from the sky on a sunny spring day.
“Somewhere Along the Line”
Sometimes, you can’t point to a specific time when things went wrong. A little bit of speculative distopia.
Sympathy for the devil.. or at least a wasp
What do you do when there’s a wasp in the bathroom? If you’re crazy like me, you get some video and then help the little devil find his way outside.
Internet TV feels like the future is here
Internet TV is starting to catch on, and now that I’ve replaced cable with it for a month I can definitely see why.
John McDonald in Jacksonville
Resume and contact information for John McDonald in Jacksonville, Florida.
Moonrise
Silence and fear rises with the moon
Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear Pictures
Here are a few choice shots from the recent Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington D.C. Thanks to Jon Stewart, Steven Colbert, Comedy Central, and a whole bunch of random people for making it such a great event.
Heading to the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear
While there are a lot of intense debates regarding what the rally is all about, what I do know is that I’m looking forward to a sarcastic and irreverent political event.
Red cayenne peppers
Some cayenne peppers chilling on the plant that lives in a five gallon bucket outside. The spicy red peppers really did well this year and the freezer will be stocked for months to come.
Street Nights
On a darkened, shadowed street – a neon globe creates shadows of unknown
Butterfly Fight
Two butterflies flutter about, trying to attract the attention (and perhaps affection) of a third butterfly.
Back online with a new design
A few changes around the site, but it should be back a little faster, more stable, and better looking than before.
Best Buy has Civilization V – CompUSA and Game Stop don’t
Civilization V is out, but if you’re planning to pick it up from CompUSA or GameStop you might be frustrated to find out they don’t have any. Skip the hassle and head down to Best Buy instead.
Basil in a concrete block
Can you grow herbs in the small hollow spaces of a concrete cinder block? After failing with quite a few plants, I’ve found that basil seems to enjoy the small space and heat.
A banana pepper in the garden
Two firsts in one: My first digital camera and my first successful vegetable harvest combine to bring you a picture of a banana pepper enjoying the Florida sun.
That first battery charge is the worst
When you’ve finally got that new toy and you can’t wait to use it – you still have to sit around for another day or so while the battery builds up its initial charge. At least I’ve got a new camera to look forward to soon!
Civilization 4: Colonization is buying us time until Civ 5
Civilization 4: Colonization puts you in charge of a colonial empire – and the fight to declare independence on its behalf!
Got some free food and good exercise this summer
Three kinds of peppers, onions, garlic, scallions, ginger, basil: Without too much financial investment or knowledge of agriculture, I’ve somehow managed to get in to great shape while growing a whole bunch of fresh, delicious, and healthy foods.
Age of Conan Sucks – Don’t Bother
Age of Conan isn’t worth buying, and if you’re on a Vista computer its probably not even worth the free download.