Jacob Edward Shirley

In 2002, my original intention was to create a graphic interface in which a viewer could get lost in a maze of links and animations. Over time the web site grew too large to keep the viewer's interest. I also had too many complaints that it was difficult to way find. After many many years of updates and redesigns, it has evolved into what you see now; a collection of creations that are 'Jacob Edward Shirley.'

» June 5: Kern's Elementary Spray Paint Class

Miss Hollister invited me out to Kern Elementary to teach her students about spray painting. The kids were rad. Need I say more?

	Great little montage between the school desk and the spray paint. Thanks Jeni.
			the 'fish' method

» May 17 09: Swine Flu

Recently my 'bed ridden by sickness' average is annually higher than I would prefer. Jeni, my wife, has been very helpful and she took me to the doctors the other day. While waiting at check in there were very clear and legible signs that said 'if you have fever, cough or rash please ask for a face mask.' As I looked around the room not a single coughing person was wearing a mask. The coughing elderly man with his wife whom were next in line seemed on the brink of the plague, but no mask. I figured if the office asks of it, and hell they do it in Japan, I should sport the mask. What ever has infected me had previously restricted me to bed for 2 weeks just a couple months earlier. I'd hate to bourdon someone else with the same misery.

As I sit down and put on my mask the elderly plagued man's wife leans towards me and says 'You can't be too careful with the swine flu. I don't blame you for being too cautious with all these sick people around.' At this point her husband coughs up a lung with no regard to covering his mouth. I was at a disadvantage in this conversation. My raspy weak voice can only be audible at around 8 feet in my current state and she was sitting a good 10 feet away, barricaded by the booming sound of Tom Hanks voice giving solid political advice on the tv. I attempt to say to her 'The swine flu is nothing to be afraid of. I'm just wearing the mask to be polite.' but what came out may have sounded like the gurgle of a coffee pot. She laughed. At first I assumed it was at my pitiful nature but then she continued to tell me how serious and dangerous of a threat the swine flu had become. At this point the tv on the other side of the room, put on mute to give Mr. Hanks his spot light, was boasting the potential dangers of H1N1.

People tend to get swept up with what ever the media tells them they should be swept up with. The swine flu obviously is NOT the most dangerous threat to the American people but it sure gets high ratings. Lets look at the numbers. According to Seattle Times May 17th there have been 4,714 cases of H1N1 in the US resulting in 5 deaths. When broken down that means that as an US American you have a 1 : 64,913* chances of getting swine flu and 1 : 61,200,000* chance of death from swine flu. How do those numbers stack up with other possible deaths? Lets take a look at some numbers from the National Safety Council.

• 1 : 261 - chances you'll die from an automobile accident.
• 1 : 194 - chances you'll die as result of a fall.
• 1 : 13,909 - chances you'll accidentally strangle yourself.
• 1 : 309 - chances you'll be shot and killed.
• 1 : 11,549 - chances you'll die from 'legal intervention involving firearm discharge.'

My point being to just calm the f*** down people. You should be just as paranoid about death from H1N1 as you should be about winning the lottery.

Or just as silly, you should be just as paranoid about getting shot by a police officer as becoming infected with H1N1. At least with the H1N1 infection you still stand a 99.89% chance of survival.

* numbers based on a 306,000,000 US population

» Feb - May 09: Home Projects

Prices at the local second hand stores have gone up making it harder to live frugal. However, the best products can still be found as a diamond in the rough.

1 D.I. side table + 1 can of primer + 2 cans of spray paint + 1 scrap piece of 3form from a mate = my kind of side table.

8 Feb 09

To expand on this post, I also repainted a table that our friend Austin donated to our house. Originally it looked to average so I needed to spice it up a bit. Unfortunately I can't take quality photos so it looks like dump on the image. I also built a planter box & pirate treasure chest but don't have photos of them yet.

17 May 09

The always famous 'before picture'.

The less famous 'in progress picture'.

The crappy camcorder 'finished picture'.

» Apr 22 09: Earth Day

This year, to be cliche and nerdy I decided to plant a tree for Earth Day. I want a tree that will last and produce max amount of CO2 defense. Despite the mockery of my peers who put down the aspen as a weed, I choose to plant aspens for their durability and ability to reproduce quickly. A single aspen tree can live up to 150 years and sprout other trees off of it's root system, sometime 40 meters away from the parent tree.

Aspens need a bit of water to get started. I don't want to tend to a potentially wild tree to ensure it's survival. This aspen will drink from the drip irrigation of the office park I work in.

Some pot holes seem big enough to plant trees in.

Big open fields of grass seem like such a waste of land and materials. I spruced up this grass field with some aspens.

To go the extra mile, i've returned this rock sample to it's natural habitat, saving it from the fate of becoming masonry or being sent to the land fill.

» April 09: Fail

Some time ago Jeni and I noticed this Japanese tourist fail. It's taken me about 5 months to finally post it.

»22 Feb 09: Best of New Zealand

Planning a trip to New Zealand? Maybe this will help you decide on where you'd like to go.

Attempting to sum up New Zealand in ten photos, these are some of the best spots / memorable / must see spots. We spent most of our time on the North Island, but the South Island is more hyped.

Cricket. It doesn't make sense but one day you'll realize you enjoy it.	Mt Ruapehu (meaning two peaks) in central north island gives way to spectacular views, great riding terrain but it's lousy snow pushes it to the back of the list.	Zorb - Rotorua. Leave it to a kiwi to invent a sport where you climb inside a big ball and roll down a hill. I suggest getting the 3 pack. It's cheaper per run and one run isn't good enough.	Seafood. It's every where. Eat it, love it. If seafood is too pricey try diving for green lip muscles and scallops or catching a local fish and chips shop.	Great Barrier Island. A 4 hour ferry ride from downtown Auckland and you arrive on the location for a season of British Survivor. Bring a tent, rent a 4 wheel drive and get lost.
Castle Rock Kihikihi. A commercialized rock climbing area with a great view and fantastic climbs for all abilities.	Bungy Jumping Queenstown. We jumped K Bridge (worlds first commercial bungy) but the area offers plenty of jumping options. Word of advice; when you're done 42 meters is not tall enough.	Lake Taupo, Whaganui Bay. Find Mary on the beach and ask her for permission to camp. Bring climbing gear. Prep for cold evenings. The rocks on the beach float.	Cable Bay Kayaking - near Nelson. All of south island has really clean water, but cable bay has caves to explore via kayaking. Maybe you'll get lucky and see some seals or Orcas.	A tie between Cathedral Cove and Hotwater Beach. (due to them being neighbors) The cove has recently gained fame from Narnia: Prince Caspian, and is comparable to a beach in Thailand.

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