It’s not just the Defy McQuaid that will be postponned until the site speeds up…

Posting in general will cease until the problem has been identified.

UPDATE: the problem has been upgraded to ‘level 2′ by my hosting company. They’re not quite sure what’s wrong.

Dear Public,

Due to the site slowness, there will be no updates to “Defy S. McQuaid” today.

Regards,
S. McQuaid.

This website is responding very slowly. My webhosting company is looking into it.

Hopefully the problem will be solved soon!

Double Dutch 2K6 Version 2.0 is officially on Saturday February 11th from 7-8:30pm. And YOU are invited.

While we know for sure that the party will be in worcester, the specific location of the event is not yet determined. What will DD2K6V2.0 consist of? Music, friends, hot chocolate, great times, and sick rope moves.

I’m going to get my hands on up to 4 more ropes, doubling our capacity! we have people coming from all over New England to participate! Write it on your calander, because it will be epic.

don’t know how to double dutch? that’s okay! we don’t know either! There will likely be some single rope jumping as well.

e-mail me at MikeDiDonato AT gmail DOT com if you’re interested.

Once again it’s Thursday and I don’t have anything planned I dig into my MSPaint archives and pull out a gem.

This particular Image shows some Martial Arts Vegetables.

Martial Arts Vegetables!

pretty awesome eh?

Wizzo found this.

It’s very enjoyable.

hmm. This one isn’t so much a video as an animation I created with Flipbook.

Check it out!

give it a smiley face vote if you like it!

We just had a company meeting during which a short video clip was played that highlighted some of the exciting moments of 2005. The soundtrack consisted of Eminem, Smash Mouth, and The Black Eyed Peas. and the subwoofer was pumping so hard that the shaking was disrupting the video.

talk about intense!

This made me start thinking about what I would do if I ever own/run a company. I think subwoofer pumping (though perhaps with a different music choice) would be right up there with unannounced pancake days and monthly cupcake battles in the test area.

Also, our manufacturing department could use a climbing wall. two and a half stories of overhang? I think yes.

Last night I had a dream that I had to fill up the gas tank on the acclaim to fame… but the tank had moved from the back to the front. And the grill of the car was totally different. And the gas nozzle was detatched from the gas pump. I was exceptionally confused.

The Question

Karen asks:

Dear Shaun (alias Dr. Hoogenheimer) Recently I moved back to my hometown—a quaint little place I am thoroughly enjoying. Every time I drive down Main Street I see something either very interesting or very amusing. Yesterday, I beheld what seemed to be, a very agitated person beating up one of the parking meters with a large piece of wood. This got me to thinking—–just how long have parking meters been in existance? Where were they first installed? I sincerely believe the ones in my town are in mortal danger……

Also, wasn’t that picture on the “Defy Shaun McQuaid” banner the same one that was on your bedroom door for years???

The Answer

Well, it’s an interesting question. It turns out that (with a few disagreeing folks) the parking meter was invented in 1935 by a fellow who goes by the name of Carl C. Magee. Mr. Magee had been appointed to the “traffic committee” of Oklahoma City, and was trying to resolve parking issues stemming from the fact that the employees of stores were taking all of the on-street parking, and customers couldn’t park. (This seems a little self-defeating on the part of the employees - but who am I to judge?). He applied for his patent that year and was awarded it in 1938. Of course, the first boxes were not armored, and it was simply a matter of swatting the box with a piece of wood to extricate the change within. Perhaps your meter attacker was a time-traveler from the past, who didn’t realize that parking meters are now impervious to wooden assault?

Indeed, the “Defy S. McQuaid” picture has been in my possession for many, many years. However, Mike D. has not yet seen fit to return it to the page, or update it for today’s discerning audience….perhaps this prod will push him in the right direction?

Sometimes I fumble the last few words of a phone conversation. Just now I combined ‘take it easy’ with ‘have a good one’ coming out with: “Take a good one.”

Other classics have been “thanks great afternoon” and responding to “Thanks for calling” with “you too.”

There’s a word for Vocal dislexia… I can’t think of it off the top of my head. A little help?

My friend Rhonda is selling some of her handiwork at this website: FigsAndGinger

Check it out if you have a few minutes. Her work is very good.

I really have no recollection of what this meal was. I came home one day a few weeks/months ago and JonAbad and Jesse were making some sort of sauce stuff. It may have been a mustard something-or-other.

They were excited enough about it that I went and grabbed my camera. I’m sure that once JonAbad reads this he’ll remember what the food was.

So why am I writing about this if I don’t remember it? Because of this photo:

How awesome does JonAbad look in that shot? The culinary master looks over his work pensively. Jesse awaits his every command. JonAbad knows exactly what to do all the time… the only question is when he will reveal it to the rest of us. The color is really great too. The picture captures the warmth (not literally) of the House of Rock’s kitchen atmosphere.

I love that photograph.

Upon returning to my computer the other day I was greeted with this message:

Nicole: Mike D! I have a request from the brotherhood
Nicole: as of late APO has be lacking in Big awesomeness
Nicole: It’s sad
Nicole: so many bigs dont do anything or they make wicked lame binders
Nicole: A certain Nick C. specifically requested you come teach the new bigs this semester how to make binders of amazingness
Nicole: Betsy D confirmed your binder making skills
Nicole: and a wave of hushed conversation swept the room “Mike D the legend?” “can he really be true?”
Nicole: then Ernie who showed up for the meeting stood up
Nicole: and everyone was silenced by his alumni power
Nicole: and his own legendry glowed from within him
Nicole: as he cleared his throat and said
Nicole: “yes, the legend of Mike D is true, as I have seen him. He is both strong and powerful, and could kick batman’s butt any day. We are all not worthy”
Nicole: then a chorus broke into song
Nicole: and a flock of snow white doves … fresh snow, not that yellow kind…. flew in from the windows and suddenly….
Nicole: Ice Ice Baby broke out and there was break dancing and chocolate cake for all!

that’s right. Chocolate cake for all.

Thanks Nicole for the hilarity.

Last night Jesse and Jon surprised me with some really impressive Visual Wonderment.

Perhaps many of you remember this House of Rock video that went up a few weeks back:

Perfect Balance.

Well, Jesse and Jon made a follow up. It’s called Perfect, and you can enjoy it here:

Perfect.

Depending on motivation and time constraints, there may be many more animations like these to come. The House of Rock is kind of like a wonderland of entertainment. If you haven’t experienced it yet, you’re missing out.

And the results are in!

We have a first in the history of MikeDiDonato.com
Roland’s portrayal of Max Liebermann being assassinated by a Ninja won BOTH the most Inane and the most Awesome award.

Well done!

Ninja 2!

It was really the little ninja in the painting that seduced most readers. Great job man.

(also, check out the hot new image feature that JonAbad added to my site. click on the link above to see the dramatic light effects!)

teeth cleaning club exchange

mike d: Ed, I forgot to brush my teeth today
Ed: 50 LASHES!
mike d: I’m sorry
Ed: It’s okay, we’ve made progress this week.

It’s 9:30am.

I just finished my lunch of hard boiled eggs, a tuna sandwich, and fruit. There’s some cottage cheese and a yogurt in the fridge, but it’s unlikely those will last past 11.

This happens far more regularly than I would like to admit. I can’t explain it, I usually get hit with hunger about two hours after breakfast. Today the hunger was a bit deeper than usual.

Thankfully I have a stash of emergency food for just such occasions. So, it looks like the rest of today will include oatmeal, and a variety of canned goods.

Does anyone else have morning, early afternoon excessive hunger issues? I rarely have problems in the afternoon or evening. If I can make it to 3:00 I’m golden until a late dinner. So strange.

I’m sure all of you know of Candy Land. Candy Land is game determined completely by chance that helps children learn and recognize colors as well as learn the difference between helpful rainbow slides and that torturous Jolly Gum Drop card that would always hit you on the final run. I myself am most familiar with the 1985 version. I think this was the first version to feature Queen Frostine.

I had a mini-crush on Queen Frostine, but really? Who didn’t! Not only was she holding a magical wand which could probably turn vegetables into candy, but she also had the Queen Frostine card, which, if chosen in the first few moments of the game could all but guarantee victory. She was cute too.

2002 saw a major downfall in the Candy Land saga. Queen Frostine went from seductive and magical to bubbly and fake. But the worst is yet to come! In 2005, Candy Land came out with a new edition that doesn’t even feature queen frostine.

Now it’s Princess Frostine. And she’s got gray hair and an unnaturally arched back.

I am genuinely disappointed with these so called improvements. Even Lord Licorice, who used to be vile and evil, is toned down. Let’s get our act in gear Hasbro! 2006 better bring Queen Frostine back with a vengeance.

The sun is shining in CT and it is glorious.

My dad’s band is playing at Palmers in Andover on February 24th. If you’re around, you should definitely join the party. The band plays mostly classic rock. My dad plays Baritone Sax.

It’s a fun show. The guys can really get into it. Let me know if you’re interested in attending!

This actually isn’t a House of Rock Video, as it was filmed by Ruth. But it is worthy of mention.

What happens when you combine extreme sports, a mattress, and a hallway? These are the results.

This one is smaller filesize, better quality, and larger movie. But it only works with Quicktime 7

This one is a much larger filesize, poorer quality, and a smaller movie. But it works with quicktime6
If you can only hear the audio on the first one, then you need to try the second video.

I want to go dogsledding.

I want to point out a new link in the ‘friends’ area below.

Mykal has started a culinary blog that discusses the amazingness that is cooking. Check it out.