Vinny Unplugged - Work Edition.

By the time you read this, I'll be at work... with NO INTERNET!!!

I know! It's been that way since Wednesday. I'd explain more, but I'm trying really hard to keep my vow not to complain about my job here on the blog. What I will say is that it involved a colossal amount of ineptitude and cheapness on the part of someone who will go unnamed. Since, I'm the one who's complaining, you know it's not me I'm talking about.

Anyway, that's not why I'm here. I'm most likely going to be spending my day doing this...

Or this...

YEAH! I'm recycling drawings! So what?!

But you won't have to. I've left you all something to, at least, help you get through your day. A brand new Sprocket post. In fact, I have TWO you posts for you. Check out Sprocket co-founder Nichole's interview (there was a link to it, but the site is gone now) with yours truly in the first of Sprocket Ink's weekly "Interview With the Writer" series. Get to know more about me than you probably did before (or wanted to).

My post today, I can't provide a link for, since I'm writing this before it drops and I'll be (ugh!) offline when it does. But just head on over to Sprocket. It won't be hard to find. It's the one with the Japanese police officer with a severe addiction that leads him down a dark road. Trust me, you won't believe this one.

Anyway, that's it for me now. Have fun! I won't...

Vinny Unplugged... AGAIN!

In case you've noticed my absence, my internet at home's down for the last few days. Yeah, I know. AGAIN! This will explain why I haven't been checking out your posts or posting on Sprocket Ink either.

I'm using the school's ultra slow wi-fi connection right now, which is like pulling teeth just to get pages to open.

Don't worry. I'll be back as soon as it's working at home again.

Shh-Shh-Shh! I know... I Missed You Too.

After almost two weeks without internet I'm glad to report that things are back to normal... Or as normal as things get around here anyway.

You haven't missed out on much. Things have been pretty quite around here in that time. Fear not, though, for my return to the virtual world means my return to Sprocket Ink, the best source for a snarky take on today's news this side of the interwebz... or any side, if you ask me.

Today, I deal with a story about a cell phone thief who gets way more justice than he deserves. As some of you may remember, Mrs. C has had her own run-ins with these petty thieves and, believe me, she wasn't particularly broken up about what happened to this guy.

Would you like to know more? Sure you do! In that case, all you do is just CLICK HERE (Sorry, Mr Sprocket no here anymore!)

Meanwhile At AVCI...

Internet's down again...

Vinny Unplugged.

For those of you who have been wondering why things have been so quite around here the past few days, I've was forcibly removed from the Matrix again. That's right! Our internet was down... AGAIN! This time, it was completely gone for FIVE WHOLE DAYS!!! Don't ask me how I survived. I don't know either. At first, I did take it the same way I always do...

Eventually, though, I snapped out of it. I decided to busy myself with other things. I'm a trooper like that.

Hey! Did you guys know there are other uses for a computer besides surfing the web? I know it sounds crazy, but stay with me on this. Among other things, I actually played games and music on it. It's like a giant cellphone!

I even went outside a few times. And not because I had to. It was just for the heck of it. I know! Crazy, right? I like to take chances every now and then. By the way, has anyone else noticed there's this giant ball of fire in the sky?

Between you and me, I don't think it comes in peace.

But my internet returned and I'm back! And I'm making up for lost time with a brand spankin' new post over at Sprocket Ink. Today, we're talking about one of my favorite topics: Coffee!

Awesome mug courtesy of Nubian. Being put to good use, as you can see.

The results on a new study on how the magic bean can help protect us from the fiery overlord looming overhead have been released and I couldn't wait to share the good news. So, as always, just click here and enjoy. In fact, go make a cup of coffee to sip while you read. You'll thank me later.

In Case You Hadn't Noticed...

I'm AWOL again. Landlady forgot to pay the nice internet people again so, like Neo popping that red pill, I've been once again forcibly ejected from my warm and cozy metallic pod, confused, scared and, yes, naked.

Don't ask.

I'm still working on getting my own internet but that's taking longer than planned.

But while that may limit my presence here in the ol' interwebz, it's not enough to stop me. Being exhausted from the crazy hours at work and the assignments heaped onto by my lecturers at school, that might be enough.

Nah! Not even all that.

So I'm here. In whatever limited capacity I can show up in. But I do come bearing a gift: a brand spanking new post over at Sprocket Ink! Thought it wasn't going to happen, did you? I know this isn't one of my usual days but I thought I'd mix it up a little. Keep you on your toes.

As always should you choose to accept this post (honestly, there's no reason not to) just click the link or the SI badge to the right and you're all set.

Celebrating Another Milestone... With Grape Soda & Adult Cartoons.

My limited presence of late is due to internet acting up again. To be honest, we getting pretty tired of it here. While we do appreciate the free access that comes with this apartment, we plan to take out our own, more reliable service from next month and put an end to all this drama.

Of course, that doesn't stop me from getting my regular post up at Sprocket Ink, and today I officially cross 100 posts there. Woohoo!!!

When I first announced I'd be shifting my focus there to stories that were more Japan in nature, I got one or two requests to investigate the Japanese phenomenon called "Tentacle Porn". Well, for my 101st Sprocket post, I look at a Japanese product that takes this weird fetish to the mainstream masses.

By the way, don't let the subject matter worry you. It's totally safe for work so feel free to click on the old SI badge to your right.

Not My Usual Weekend Wrap-Up.

I've been very inactive on the old interwebz for most of this week so I'll forego my usual weekly recap and just fill you all in on what's been going on here with me.

- It's been just about a week now since I lost internet access at home. Since we moved here we were fortunate to have free internet courtesy of the landlady (she provides free wi-fi access to both her tenants). While I've been busy cursing the ISP for the problem (they're the usual culprits so it's natural), it turns out it was actually the doing of our landlady. Seems she forgot to pay the bill before she took one of her frequent trips overseas, and the rest... well... you can figure it out. She assures us it'll be sorted out on her return at the end of the month. Hey, at least I get to bust this out again:

Which basically sums up how I feel about being unplugged.

- Due to my insane week of internet free living and employment hopes, I had only one post on Sprocket Ink which was on Tuesday. If you missed it, be sure to check out it out. Another dad of the year contender has just emerged and he's ready to fight for the top spot.

- Regarding the job hunt, I had the follow-up interview with the newspaper on Thursday. They say they have an opening for two reporters and have narrowed down their choice to three top contenders. And I'm one of them. They're being very cryptic, but they did say that things were looking good for me. I'll know by the middle of next week. I really hate suspense. You know that?

The other interview I was supposed to have on Friday was postponed. They'll call me back when they're ready to reschedule.

Okay! This one is really funny. For those of you who have been here long enough, remember the job I used to have? The one where I was fired, then promoted, then had the position I was promoted to declared redundant? They called and asked me to come back to fill a temporary position for a few months. I'm not kidding!

To be honest, I'm not sure how I should  respond to this. I don't know whether I should laugh or cuss uncontrollably. I may just do both. Either way, I don't think I'm quite desperate enough to willingly go back to (former) Bossman's and Bosslady's clutches. Even if it is just temporary.

Life's just too short, you know?

Just Some Quick Updates.

First, I've got another post over at Sprocket Ink today. Seems like there's yet another dad of the year contender making an appearance. Be sure to check it out.

In other news, I'm currently without internet access at home. It's been down since around 8PM last night with no real explanation as to why. While the ISP continue to be "currently in the process of trying to rectify the problem" I've been forced to rely on public internet, like the wi-fi here in school, for the time being. Hopefully, by the time I get home it'll be up and running again.

Finally, I got a call this morning about my follow-up interview. It's set for this Thursday. I did a happy dance and then, about two hours after that call, another place I sent an application to called They wanted to set an appointment for an interview this Friday. It isn't in the journalism field but at least it seems that I'm no longer persona non grata to employers.

And that's about it. Now get on over to Sprocket if you haven't already.