The Life of Lew Ayotte » just for fun

Not Penny’s Butt

Lew — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 12:00:06 +0000

I had this brilliant idea pop into my head Sunday. There is a famous scene from Lost where Charlie is about to drown but has important information… the boat that has come to “rescue” the Oceanic survivors is NOT PENNY’S BOAT! He quickly wrote this on his hand and showed it to Desmond (who was safely on the other side of the door).

As I was perusing CafePress on Sunday I saw that they were selling Valentines Day underwear. Immediately in my head I had an image of Charlie’s hand with “Not Penny’s Butt” written on it.

Aaaaahhhh, genius…

Unfortunately this is only available at CafePress because Zazzle doesn’t sell underwear. Also, this may only be available for a limited time…

Snowzilla!!!

Lew — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:01:35 +0000

Yesterday we got about 5″ of snow! Not too common in Georgia, but it was the second year in a row that we got a lot of snow. So, Kati and I spent the morning trying to beat our snowman last year… and one-up our neighbors this year. I think we won :).

[[Show as slideshow]]

LOST Dharma Coffee Mug

Lew — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:29 +0000

LOST is the best television series in the history of television. In just under two weeks it will begin it’s final season, season 6. My wife and I are HUGE fans of the show. We have seen every episode and are anticipating a great finale. I already have a LOST t-shirt in my Zazzle store and decided it would be fun to create a LOST coffee mug. Check it out:

UPDATE: The Dharma Coffee Mug is currently only available at Cafepress.

This mug is also available at Cafepress for a little less than the Zazzle version.

How to Turn Orange Fanta into Beer

Lew — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:02:01 +0000

[[Show as slideshow]]

I entered a twitter contest a couple weeks ago to win this awesome Dharma Beer Koozie, turning any drink into a look-a-like Dharma beer can. For those of you who do not follow Lost, the Dharma Initiative was a group of scientists who once lived on the island the survivors of Oceanic flight 815 crashed on. Special thanks to Andy Page from Dark UFO and Erika Olson from Long Live Locke for throwing this little contest. I could not be more pleased with my winnings :).

Merry Christmas 2009

Lew — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:21:07 +0000

A special Christmas wish from Abi, Jughead, Veronica, Betty, and Midge…

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Why I Hate Ice in My Drinks

Lew — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:00:01 +0000

I live in Georgia where putting ice in your drinks is like breathing air. In fact, if you do not put ice in your drinks then you are considered an outcast and sometimes they make you wear a scarlet “I” on your shirt. But I am not originally from Georgia, I am from Maine. Sure, Northerners put ice in their drinks, but it was never a big thing. Maybe it is because it’s so cold in Maine… or maybe it’s because it’s so hot in Georgia. I do not have the answers, but my reasons for hating ice do not stem from my birth place or any odd loyalty I may hold. I hate ice in my drinks because it is a nuisance.

First, using ice in an already cold drink is not economical. I have never been served a warm beverage at any restaurant. They use ice, refrigerators, and more to keep their beverages cool. This is one of two only acceptable uses of ice. Putting ice in your drink will keep it cooler longer, yes, but how often do you let a drink sit out for hours on end? I have never been to a restaurant and thought to myself, “Boy, this drink sure did get warm fast”. It just doesn’t happen.

Second, the act of putting ice in a drink can be linked to sin in Scripture. I’ve already explained in my first point that there is no reason to put ice in a drink. Yet restaurants around the U.S. continue to do so. Why is this? I’m no conspiracy theorist, but I believe it is to make more money on drink purchases. The more ice in your glass, the smaller serving of drink you actually get. You paid 2$ for a glass of Coke, but what you got was a glass of water with some Coke to fill in the cracks. Not only are you paying an exorbitant price for soda, you’re getting a glass filled with water instead. The practice of watering down wine in the Bible was considered a bad thing, as the Lord says, “Your silver has become dross, Your drink diluted with water” (Isaiah 1:22, NASB).

Third, ice ruins the flavor of the drink. This is a common complaint about ice and it is a proper complaint. If I order a soda, it already contains the proper water to other ingredient ratio. Adding more ice to it waters it down as the ice melts. Then I am no longer drinking my favorite drink, I’m drinking a watered down version of it. The phrase “watered down” is never a good one.

Fourth, ice always gets in the way of taking a good hearty swig. Maybe I am the only person who hast his difficulty, but when there is ice in my drink, I feel like I’m having to battle the ice to get a good gulp in. Either I’m having to push the ice away with my upper lip or I am twisting the cup around trying to find an opening. Further, when the ice starts to melt and get tiny, I always end up drinking little bits of ice. It is uncomfortable, too cold, and just awkward. It is really quite unbearable, why do people voluntarily put themselves through this?

Now, do not get me wrong, I do not want to be seen as a legalist. There are some acceptable uses for ice. As I mentioned above, you can use ice to keep things cool, like in a cooler, or an ice pack. Also, if you must have ice, it is acceptable to put ice in water. Reasons 1, 2, and 3 for not using ice cannot apply to water. It’s not watering it down, your not get less than you paid for, and generally ice water is cooler than tap water. Of course you still have to deal with a glacier in your face every time you take a swig, but hey, get a straw. In the U.S. today, there is practically no reason to use ice. Ice had it’s day in the sun before modern day refrigeration practices came on the scene. But most reasonable uses of ice are quickly melting away.

Random Crap – 2009.09.25

Lew — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:07:41 +0000

During the last Woot-Off I was one of the lucky 1499 people who was able to order a Random Crap. I received it last night and made a video of me opening it. Check out my loot!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=u27KxY4jVWU

Here’s a picture if you don’t want to watch the video:

This is what I got…

Projection Thermometer w/ Forecasting
Nero 6 CD
Sansa Clip 2GB (seems like I’ve gotten it to work)
Burpmaster Pen x2 (both work)
Flash Time (Flash light that projects the time w/ corroded batteries)
Targus Chill Mat (missing USB power adapter)
Random USB printer cable
Excalibur Bag
Daiwa Bag (pink trim)
Posthumous Pale Ale Cozy x2
External DVD Drive Mount
Bag of Texas Air x17

Boxed In (iPhone Game) – Complete Walkthrough w/ Screenshots

Lew — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:00:19 +0000

I downloaded Boxed In a few weeks ago when it went “free”. I got a little stuck on level 44 and went online to find a hint. There were not very many out there, so I figured I’d make a walk-through for each level of the game. So I posted all the screen shots here, separated by level. Just click on the level you want help with and you’ll see the screen shots in the order of which box I moved.

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

On The Road Again – New Lyrics

Lew — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:00:44 +0000

I have to admit, this was completely inspired by my uniquely intelligent and hilarious wife. During a conversation she was having with some of her friends about Willie Nelson and Scripture (don’t ask how they were connect, I don’t know). She came out with this zinger and I’m building on it.

So here is Willie Nelson’s ‘On The Road Again’ with Kati’s inspired lyrics:

On the Damascus road again
Just can’t wait to get on the Damascus road again
The life I love is makin’ Disciples with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the Damascus road again
On the Damascus road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been
Seein’ things that I may never see again,
And I can’t wait to get on the Damascus road again.

On the Damascus road again
Like a band of Gentiles we go down the Roman highway
We’re the best of friends
Insisting that the world be turnin’ our way
And our way
Is on the Damascus road again
Just can’t wait to get on the Damascus road again
The life I love is makin’ Disciples with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the Damascus road again

On the Damascus road again
Like a band of Gentiles we go down the Roman highway
We’re the best of friends
Insisting that the world be turnin’ our way
And our way
Is on the Damascus road again

Just can’t wait to get on the Damascus road again
The life I love is makin’ Disciples with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the Damascus road again
And I can’t wait to get on the Damascus road again

If someone would record this, that would be awesome! Thanks.

Sermon Outlines – A Better Idea

Lew — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:00:15 +0000

My wife and I have been visiting with some various churches in our area. My main concern is not the preaching style on Sunday morning or what services they can offer me, my concern is finding a group of people who are actually interested in building relationships. Although, since Sunday mornings are very important to most, it would be nice to not be bored during the sermon. So, yesterday, while I was sitting, wondering where Preacher Joe was going with his sermon about why GM and Ford are failing, I came up with a great idea. Sitting there, with my “fill-in-the-blank” style outline, waiting in anticipation for the next word, I thought to myself… MAD LIBS! Think about how interested the church would be in the sermon, if we could fill in our own blanks!

Here is an example of what the outline COULD look like:

Sermon Outline Mad Lib

Here is what it would look like filled out (Thanks Alan for unknowingly fill in this mad-lib):

Sermon Outlin Mad Lib (filled)

I think this speaks for itself. You should expect to see Sermon Outlines in a Mad Lib format in a Church building near you!

Photo Tag

Lew — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:00:50 +0000

I’ve been tagged by the Alan over at the Knox Clan.

Here are the rules:

Go to the 4th folder in your computer where you store your pictures.
Pick the 4th picture in that folder.
Explain the picture.
Tag 4 people to do the same.

Magnets

This is a picture I took a looooong time ago. Back in 2003, I had built myself a small little shadow box and wanted to take some pictures with my new macro lense for my Nikon SLR. These are various magnets that I had saved up. I have a bunch more pictures that I like much better than these. If only I had a nice DSLR, I’d probably still take pictures like this :).

I don’t usually re-tag people because I don’t know who reads my blog… so if you read this, you’re tagged!

Things I’ve Done… Meme

Lew — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:00:50 +0000

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (If PERL counts)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a mobile phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

More Random Crap…

Lew — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:36:03 +0000

I wrote about this over a year ago, here. Woot.com has a unique business model – they sell 1 item every day. Actually it’s more like 4 items now, they have www.woot.com (the normal site), shirt.woot.com (a new t-shirt everyday), wine.woot.com (for all you wine-o’s), and sellout.woot.com (a partnership with shopping.yahoo.com). Anyways, last year, in July, Woot had their Birthday. On their birthday they sold the ever so covetted “Random Crap” aka “Bag of Crap”. You can buy up to 3 for 1$ and you can expect to get crap. The fun comes in trying to order, waiting, hoping, waiting some more, and finally receiving it. Anyways, I missed out on the Birthday Crap last year, but I added Woot’s birthday to my google calendar and set it to remind me. So this year I was fully prepared to stay up until 1AM. I wasn’t really sure if it would be a BOC, but it was worth the wait, and as it turned out, the rest of the world (slight exaggeration) was waiting as well. At approximately 1:08AM the new woot showed up and BINGO a Bag of Crap! I was able to get my order in (8$ – 3$ for three craps and 5$ for shipping).

Well I received my shipment yesterday and this is what I got:

1x Kodak EasyShare 5300 All-in-One Printer (I’m selling it on ebay since I already own two printers).
1x Verizon Bluetooth (I think – I’m a bluetooth virgin)
1x Loose Screw (looks like one you use on a hard drive mount)
1x Targus Digital Memory Card Case
1x Birthday Card
Overall I’m very please with my crap. They printer retails for 100-150$, so I hope to get at least 50$ on ebay. The memory card case is currently holding my four thumb drives (I know, I know, they’re not “memory cards”).

I’ve never purchased a card for a 4 year old, but the writing on the inside of the card kinda weirds me out. Maybe in 70 years I’ll bring it to the Antique Road Show and they’ll tell me how it’s worth millions of dollars because it was a Woot Crap :).

Miracle!

Lew — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 11:30:42 +0000

My wife is a big fan of the show How I Met Your Mother on CBS. I usually watch it with her because I generally find it entertaining as well. About a month (maybe more) ago they had their season finale. One of the major themes of this episode was miracles. One of the main characters, Ted, had been in a car wreck and his friend, Marshall, was trying to convince another friend, Robin, that it was a miracle. Robin claimed to not believe in miracles, so Marshall kept telling her different stories that he claimed was miracles.

This video clip is one of the miracles that he told Robin about. It literally had me laughing/crying for about 10 minutes. Whenever I think about it I usually started laughing pretty hard. And now I found it on YouTube! I hope y’all enjoy it as much as I did.

Free iPhone? Why Not…

Lew — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:22:24 +0000

This post is just for fun…

Ok, I know I’m a retard…

My wife has been thinking about getting an iPod… recently the subject of the iPod Touch and now the iPhone has come up. The problem, there is no way on God’s green Earth that we’re going to pay 500$ for an iPhone!

So I remembered that I worked with a few guys who went to one of those free iPod sites and it actually worked. So I found a free iPhone site and am giving it a try. They offered two methods of getting the iPhone, one was to sign up for a bunch of services and earn enough points to get the free iPhone. The second was to sign up for one service and get 10 people to do the same. I chose option 2 and signed up for Blockbuster for 10$ a month. And since we don’t have cable, we’ll watch the first season of Lost to catch up on anything we’ve missed and then I’ll cancel it at the end of the month.

Now, I’m soliciting y’all… click here (my referral link) and sign up for something like Blockbuster, Gamefly, or Netflix. If it works, great, if not, I’ll watch the first season of Lost and a couple movies for 10$ this month :).

There are other “rewards” too… I’m going for the 16GB iPod… They all require either 1 Level A offer completion or 50 points worth of Level B offers only the referral number changes. (I don’t know what the point system is like, I only signed up for the referral system).

Here are all the options:
16GB iPod – 10 referrals
8GB iPod – 8 referrals
599$ Apple Card – 12 referrals
580$ Cash – 11 referrals
490$ Cash – 10 referrals

Anyways,
Lew