by Ethan Johnson
June 29, 2008

[Updated 6/30/2008 - see end of article]

I have been engrossed in the pursuit of learning about energy production and consumption. And as I have mulled about these topics, I have been observing that a good percentage of the energy we US denizens consume seems to be based on the concept of "doing it because we can." Simply put, if you had to generate the necessary electricity to power all of your electric doo-dads "off the grid", you'd be a Luddite inside of a week.

by Ethan Johnson
September 21, 2007

For whatever reason, we have taken on a lodger. Well, another lodger, what with all of the house geckos creeping around our yard. A few weeks ago, I found something new on our patio that was decidedly unlike a gecko: A toad. I took some photos of it, then released it across the alley from our house. Nothing like getting a handful of toad pee. It brings back memories of Lake Superior, or scout camp. (Sniffle) Another one hopped along a few days later, resulting in another photo shoot and relocation. Now we're on our third distinctly different toad. Since the third time is the charm, I left it alone to see what businesses it had with our yard. The answer: A burrow.

[Edit 9/23/2007: Upon reviewing the photos, it is the same toad each time. Not sure how it is homing in on its burrow, but that kind of tenacity has inspired me to be more welcoming and protective.]

by Ethan Johnson
August 26, 2007

It only took for-freakin'-ever, but we finally cleared out our infamous "crap" room and created a "crop" room.

by Ethan Johnson
January 29, 2007

I watch waaaaay too much TV. I have been trying to cut back, but boy howdy, there's some really compelling stuff on these days, and even with the magic of Tivo&0153; it's hard to keep up. Rather than prattle on about the shows I watch regularly, here are some off-the-wall shows I've seen recently:

by Ethan Johnson
September 10, 2006

I was working on the first of a series of articles, when I lost myself in thoughts about the brute force nature of advertising. Simply put, advertising, especially in the realm of the Fortune 500 company, is intended to decimate your imagination, and therefore increase the likelihood exponentially that you will pay for their product or service.

by Ethan Johnson
June 23, 2006

Dave Rogers recently wrote an amazing blog post about what he calls the Church of Web 2.0. Here is a small sample of his must-read screed:

Love is faith in action. It is the first derivative of faith. Our love of technology is rooted in our faith in the power of tools to shape the world. But tools don't shape the world that needs to change, and all the technology needed to effect that lies between your ears.

I agree with Dave wholeheartedly, and I have some thoughts to add.

by Ethan Johnson
July 28, 2002

The latest:

HGTV: Otherwise known as "the channel we watch instead of Food Network". We got saturated on watching people cook with garlic, so now we're all about watching people remodel or redecorate their home and decide amongst ourselves where the homeowners lie on the "taste-o-meter". We're glued to shows like Before & After and Designer's Challenge. Our big favorite of late is Designing for the Sexes, with the swooshy and malleable interior designer that loves everything. Just say "I agree" with a British accent whilst surrounded by carpet samples at Lowe's or Home Depot, and count how many people whip their heads around in your general direction. Those are your fellow viewers. Go to them and have a few laughs.

by Ethan Johnson
April 21, 2002

Much has been happening in ethmar.com-land, so rather than let this web site sit idly by, here are some random thoughts to entertain and inform for the time being:

Dallas Short List: It needs an overhaul, totally. There are things to add and things to subtract. I won't go on about the additions just yet, since that defeats the purpose of updating the list, but I will segue neatly into...

Central Market: Good God, man! It only exists in Texas. Which is not to say that there's no other place like it on Earth, or in the US, more to the point, but hot damn! It's both a blessing and a curse to have such a great grocery nearby such as this. I got 2 Maine lobster tails the other day for $6.99 apiece, and to go with it, I got the infamous Normandy butter (as seen on Food Network). Oh. My. God. This butter, coupled with this lobster, is the meaning of life. Thousands of years of philosophy and theology have been laid waste by a single bite of dinner. I remarked that the lobster tails (which actually is the only part of the lobster we like anyway) cost less than it did for the whole shootin' match in Maine itself. We just went back today and bought more. We're bad, bad people.