DnD Character
In life, I'm a computer jockey. I spend my time making computers do
what they said on the side of the box. I use the things I've learned
from day to day to perform my job(s). I did not make it through
university. I never did well in school. I believe in my heart that if I
had perfect vision my whole life I would not have done much better in
school. I have not found love in my life. I have not found anything
that makes me embrace life for more than an evening's good time.
In the world of fantasy I insist on playing simple shallow characters.
They all have well defined rules. Even if the rules are those of
chaoss. My characters are usually true to themselves. I have the
hardest time with magic users. I like playing dwarf fighters. I like
playing strong, easy going characters who do not have to lead.
The waking world seems to take enough from me that I have little to
spare for the fantasy. It seems I am challenged just staying here. Like
something is pulling me elsewhere in the ether. Anyway, My choice of
character is mine and I made it. I will be a fighter. Just a
plane fighter. Wait, "just"? No. I will be the only fighter. I will be
the only player who plays fighters. I will be the best fighter.
When it comes to the world of fantasy, there are no shortage of
exceptional characters. Superman is a super hero. The Flash is a super
hero. Spiderman is a super hero (or, the spider that bit him is the
hero). The Hulk is a mistake that kind of works out for the side of
good. There are a million more, but there is one who stands out in my
mind.
Batman is just a guy who lived through his parents being murdered and
through force of his own will made himself a super hero. He is not a
super hero. "Some day a punk will get lucky. I accept that." He is a
man. He is a wise fighter. He learns as he goes and remembers
everything. He remembers how things connect. He reasons them out. He
fights. He is not complex. His toys are complex. He fights.
I play with a bunch of engineers. They like playing complex characters
and then not doing much more than fighting the bad guys. Our plots are
sometimes twisted, but simple. I don't know what the other players'
motivations are. An engineer playing a gadgeteer is like a shoe
salesman playing a cobbler. I don't get it. It is not mine to get. Let
them enjoy themselves.
2004-08-14
2004-08-13
Friday the Thirteenth
I went out back for lunch today. Every one seemed to bale on me for lunch. I went to the cafeteria. I don't mind. The food is OK. They have pick-nick tables out amongst the trees. One of these days I'll publish some pictures, but I'll have to wait until the company moves, because they are touchy about pictures. It was wonderful. The weather is really nice lately because there are two hurricanes slamming the East coast. I have to say this feels like un-August. While I was sitting out there, I noticed the Sun light filtering down through the dense trees. The ground hardly shown any light. As I looked up from the ground to the top of the trees, the speckles of light seem to float. The light changes every few moments as the Sun crosses above. The leaves blow gently and change the light. It makes me think of chaoss theory. Chaoss theory makes me think of the stock market. We might as well bet on the sun shining one the leaves. You cannot judge the future of the whole based on the part, or vise versa. The stock market moves just as mysteriously. You think "I can watch the trees and predict where they will grow and how they will filter the light." Well, you can study the companies and predict how they will grow and make money. So, why doesn't every one win with the stock market? Because it is gambling.
From Iraq
I don't know exactly where the person found this.
You know ten times as many South Africans as you've ever known before
The security guards are Ghurka or South African and you know them
Afrikaans at the pool is normal
DINING
You look forward to Mohammad's Mango ice cream as the treat for the day
Powdered eggs taste ok
You consider plastic ware the Palace China
You can distinguish inherent qualities of various plastic utensils
The quality of the plastics utensils becomes a hot dinner topic
Having to separate plastic plates causes you undue stress
Lettuce for your salad becomes a luxury
Scamming a 3rd can of soda makes you feel like you got even with someone
You are putting on weight because the Saddam's Revenge Diet no longer works
Going to another mess hall is an adventure
FASHION
You think desert combat boots look great with a dark blue suit or shorts
Sand between your thong sandals actually feels good
The color white is no longer an option
Speedos for security guards seem right
You can recognize 12 different camouflage patterns
You've given up on shoe polish
LIVING CONDITIONS
You get a big smile when you see your pressed clothes at the KBR laundry
You get a bigger smile knowing they didn't lose your laundry
You think the bullet holes in the roof of your trailer is just another form of ventilation.
You get upset because the post office won't ship your looted artifacts
You haven't had water from anything other than a bottle for months on end
You consider broken sandbags just a new beach expansion
The idea of a double wide is only for the fortunate
Forgetting your badge makes you feel naked...but pants are optional
A bootleg of the new stateside release is not available at the PX 2 days later
"Only one rocket has hit the Palace" is excellent news
Cardboard boxes have become substantial pieces of furniture
COMMUNICATION
Stars & Stripes seems to be a liberal newspaper
Acronyms become the acceptable language
It feels normal to have to run outside to make a cell phone call
You call your coworkers on a cell phone as soon as new T-shirt patterns arrive at the PX
"Can you hear me" takes up 50% of your cellular telephone conversations
You realize it is Saturday or Sunday because no one from DC phones
Baghdad
August, 2004
=====
I went out back for lunch today. Every one seemed to bale on me for lunch. I went to the cafeteria. I don't mind. The food is OK. They have pick-nick tables out amongst the trees. One of these days I'll publish some pictures, but I'll have to wait until the company moves, because they are touchy about pictures. It was wonderful. The weather is really nice lately because there are two hurricanes slamming the East coast. I have to say this feels like un-August. While I was sitting out there, I noticed the Sun light filtering down through the dense trees. The ground hardly shown any light. As I looked up from the ground to the top of the trees, the speckles of light seem to float. The light changes every few moments as the Sun crosses above. The leaves blow gently and change the light. It makes me think of chaoss theory. Chaoss theory makes me think of the stock market. We might as well bet on the sun shining one the leaves. You cannot judge the future of the whole based on the part, or vise versa. The stock market moves just as mysteriously. You think "I can watch the trees and predict where they will grow and how they will filter the light." Well, you can study the companies and predict how they will grow and make money. So, why doesn't every one win with the stock market? Because it is gambling.
From Iraq
I don't know exactly where the person found this.
=====
You know you've been in Baghdad too long if:
GENERAL
You start to think "it's not so bad here"
You say "this place sort of grows on you"
You say "it's not the humidity, it's the heat" (Houston residents only)
You say, "it feels cooler today" and find out that the temperature is 105.
The term "trailer trash" is a term of endearment
You think "DVD Mista" is a friendly greeting
You call your tent (trailer if you're lucky) 'home'
A "weekend" lasts from 0730 to 1200 on Friday (What about 0730 to 1000)
You get excited at the idea of ICE
You don't jump when a door slams or someone drops something
You aren't alarmed when every second person you see has a gun . . . or two . . . or three
You kick the M-16 on the floor aside without a second thought when you sit down to eat in the Dining Facility.
A Gloc or 9 mm on a lady's hip is considered sexy
Mortars and rockets sounds are "okay" compared to Vehicle bombs (IED's)
You can measure distances based on explosion sounds
"Scoring" means you acquired a new weapon
TRAVEL
You go to Fallujah and Mosul for R&R
You are soothed by the sounds of helicopters flying six feet over your trailer
You automatically get down on your hands and knees in the dirt to inspect the underside of your car, even when you are wearing a suit or skirt
Bullet holes in cars are no longer alarming
Car selections consist of "hard" or "soft", not Cadillac or Mercedes
Road trips consist of 6 vehicles and large caliber weapons
Driving on the sidewalk is normal.
Driving on the wrong side of a divided four lane street is normal
Driving 60 mph through a bustling street market is considered prudent
Hit-and-run fender benders are treated as mere warnings
Riding in a hot Humvee is preferred to an air-conditioned soft car
You get upset that you don't get C-130 Frequent Flyer Miles
Your carry-on luggage includes a flack jacket and helmet
HYGIENE
You enjoy waiting 45 minutes for the toilets to refill
You start believing that Deodorant should be a personal choice
KBR buzz cuts begin to look stylish
SURROUNDINGS
"Texas Barriers" are something other than a device to keep Texans out
"Jersey Barriers" are something other than fences to keep Holsteins away from Jerseys
You begin to believe that project construction being blown up only twice a week is progress
You get excited with the presence of cloudsYou know you've been in Baghdad too long if:
GENERAL
You start to think "it's not so bad here"
You say "this place sort of grows on you"
You say "it's not the humidity, it's the heat" (Houston residents only)
You say, "it feels cooler today" and find out that the temperature is 105.
The term "trailer trash" is a term of endearment
You think "DVD Mista" is a friendly greeting
You call your tent (trailer if you're lucky) 'home'
A "weekend" lasts from 0730 to 1200 on Friday (What about 0730 to 1000)
You get excited at the idea of ICE
You don't jump when a door slams or someone drops something
You aren't alarmed when every second person you see has a gun . . . or two . . . or three
You kick the M-16 on the floor aside without a second thought when you sit down to eat in the Dining Facility.
A Gloc or 9 mm on a lady's hip is considered sexy
Mortars and rockets sounds are "okay" compared to Vehicle bombs (IED's)
You can measure distances based on explosion sounds
"Scoring" means you acquired a new weapon
TRAVEL
You go to Fallujah and Mosul for R&R
You are soothed by the sounds of helicopters flying six feet over your trailer
You automatically get down on your hands and knees in the dirt to inspect the underside of your car, even when you are wearing a suit or skirt
Bullet holes in cars are no longer alarming
Car selections consist of "hard" or "soft", not Cadillac or Mercedes
Road trips consist of 6 vehicles and large caliber weapons
Driving on the sidewalk is normal.
Driving on the wrong side of a divided four lane street is normal
Driving 60 mph through a bustling street market is considered prudent
Hit-and-run fender benders are treated as mere warnings
Riding in a hot Humvee is preferred to an air-conditioned soft car
You get upset that you don't get C-130 Frequent Flyer Miles
Your carry-on luggage includes a flack jacket and helmet
HYGIENE
You enjoy waiting 45 minutes for the toilets to refill
You start believing that Deodorant should be a personal choice
KBR buzz cuts begin to look stylish
SURROUNDINGS
"Texas Barriers" are something other than a device to keep Texans out
"Jersey Barriers" are something other than fences to keep Holsteins away from Jerseys
You begin to believe that project construction being blown up only twice a week is progress
You know ten times as many South Africans as you've ever known before
The security guards are Ghurka or South African and you know them
Afrikaans at the pool is normal
DINING
You look forward to Mohammad's Mango ice cream as the treat for the day
Powdered eggs taste ok
You consider plastic ware the Palace China
You can distinguish inherent qualities of various plastic utensils
The quality of the plastics utensils becomes a hot dinner topic
Having to separate plastic plates causes you undue stress
Lettuce for your salad becomes a luxury
Scamming a 3rd can of soda makes you feel like you got even with someone
You are putting on weight because the Saddam's Revenge Diet no longer works
Going to another mess hall is an adventure
FASHION
You think desert combat boots look great with a dark blue suit or shorts
Sand between your thong sandals actually feels good
The color white is no longer an option
Speedos for security guards seem right
You can recognize 12 different camouflage patterns
You've given up on shoe polish
LIVING CONDITIONS
You get a big smile when you see your pressed clothes at the KBR laundry
You get a bigger smile knowing they didn't lose your laundry
You think the bullet holes in the roof of your trailer is just another form of ventilation.
You get upset because the post office won't ship your looted artifacts
You haven't had water from anything other than a bottle for months on end
You consider broken sandbags just a new beach expansion
The idea of a double wide is only for the fortunate
Forgetting your badge makes you feel naked...but pants are optional
A bootleg of the new stateside release is not available at the PX 2 days later
"Only one rocket has hit the Palace" is excellent news
Cardboard boxes have become substantial pieces of furniture
COMMUNICATION
Stars & Stripes seems to be a liberal newspaper
Acronyms become the acceptable language
It feels normal to have to run outside to make a cell phone call
You call your coworkers on a cell phone as soon as new T-shirt patterns arrive at the PX
"Can you hear me" takes up 50% of your cellular telephone conversations
You realize it is Saturday or Sunday because no one from DC phones
Baghdad
August, 2004
=====
2004-08-12
Wednesday
Yesterday was so busy at work I didn't have time to look up. I got home and did some cleaning. Before I knew it, I had to run over to a friend's place to do some research for my return to DnD. More to come on that later. I was supposed to check out some evening work pages. I was supposed to read another chapter in my cousin's book. It felt good to have a full day. I have a pile left over for this morning and this evening. That's OK. I feel needed. Oh, I forgot to write anything for the blog. That's a shame.
Blue-Ray
Twenty five gigabytes on a "DVD" disk fro the same cost. That sounds better than it really is. The next version of Windows (Longhorn) will support some versions of high definition DVD formats. I've heard that the storage requirements for HDTV are vast. I bet a twenty five gigabyte disk may not cut it for true high quality HDTV. The Japanese have had HDTV for decades and the means of recording shows (TiVo esque) for years as well. I don't remember if I mentioned the trouble DVD/audio CD (dual Disks) problems the movie and music industry have at the moment. It reminds me of the audio book conundrum I went over earlier.
Music people want their money.
Movie people want their money.
Producers want EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW!!!!
Every one has an agent, a service, and an assistant.
Agents have agents.
They all own different cars for different occasions.
The U. S. is New Saddam. We are headed for a fall of biblical proportions. It will not be terrorists, or a big rock from space. Our own decadence and excess will simply collapse under its own mass.
Creepy
Go to Google and search for "Different Cars for Different Occasions" including the quotes. Normally, long search phrases like that severely shorten your list of hits. When I got to the bottom of the list, my heart skipped a beat.
Paranoid Kelly
1) Project Tasks
There is a particular project I perform a particular task for at my day job. I just got a note saying IS will perform that particular task for the particular project. The reason I got is dubious. I think they don't like the job I did, or the flack I give them for wanting a one day turn around (hence the quality). Let them deal with IS. IS has a two week turn around, and a turn over that makes call centers look like a career choice..
2) Moving Office
Speaking of the above project, my department is splitting down the middle. The people who work on the magic project are staying here and the rest of us are headed up to a cave on the third floor. I ran through the list of people staying and those moving. I don't like what I get. It seems to me, one or the other will disappear or get melded into another group.
Conclusion
I don't mind change, as long as I understand it. The reasons for the move are quite obvious and were there years ago. The high-ups want to get out of cubicals and go back to offices. Go figure.
Why am I so paranoid? Maybe it is because I don't work for the company. Maybe it is because I have been a temporary worker for seven years. But I'm not bitter.
Yesterday was so busy at work I didn't have time to look up. I got home and did some cleaning. Before I knew it, I had to run over to a friend's place to do some research for my return to DnD. More to come on that later. I was supposed to check out some evening work pages. I was supposed to read another chapter in my cousin's book. It felt good to have a full day. I have a pile left over for this morning and this evening. That's OK. I feel needed. Oh, I forgot to write anything for the blog. That's a shame.
Blue-Ray
Twenty five gigabytes on a "DVD" disk fro the same cost. That sounds better than it really is. The next version of Windows (Longhorn) will support some versions of high definition DVD formats. I've heard that the storage requirements for HDTV are vast. I bet a twenty five gigabyte disk may not cut it for true high quality HDTV. The Japanese have had HDTV for decades and the means of recording shows (TiVo esque) for years as well. I don't remember if I mentioned the trouble DVD/audio CD (dual Disks) problems the movie and music industry have at the moment. It reminds me of the audio book conundrum I went over earlier.
Music people want their money.
Movie people want their money.
Producers want EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW!!!!
Every one has an agent, a service, and an assistant.
Agents have agents.
They all own different cars for different occasions.
The U. S. is New Saddam. We are headed for a fall of biblical proportions. It will not be terrorists, or a big rock from space. Our own decadence and excess will simply collapse under its own mass.
Creepy
Go to Google and search for "Different Cars for Different Occasions" including the quotes. Normally, long search phrases like that severely shorten your list of hits. When I got to the bottom of the list, my heart skipped a beat.
Paranoid Kelly
1) Project Tasks
There is a particular project I perform a particular task for at my day job. I just got a note saying IS will perform that particular task for the particular project. The reason I got is dubious. I think they don't like the job I did, or the flack I give them for wanting a one day turn around (hence the quality). Let them deal with IS. IS has a two week turn around, and a turn over that makes call centers look like a career choice..
2) Moving Office
Speaking of the above project, my department is splitting down the middle. The people who work on the magic project are staying here and the rest of us are headed up to a cave on the third floor. I ran through the list of people staying and those moving. I don't like what I get. It seems to me, one or the other will disappear or get melded into another group.
Conclusion
I don't mind change, as long as I understand it. The reasons for the move are quite obvious and were there years ago. The high-ups want to get out of cubicals and go back to offices. Go figure.
Why am I so paranoid? Maybe it is because I don't work for the company. Maybe it is because I have been a temporary worker for seven years. But I'm not bitter.
2004-08-10
Keyboard
Well, I'm not the only one who is dissatisfied with keyboard design. What did I say about layout changes? This is a new one. This keyboard is designed to be held and looks a bit like a game controller. The mouse joystick is right handed only. Not only that, but it is a joystick design. I bet I'd have a hard time with it. That's too bad. I wonder how stout the space bar is.
Chernobyl
They are filming a zombie movie inside Chernobyl. I can hear the set now "I didn't say action yet ... Hey .. Cut . . . CUTaargh!!!" I like zombie movies. Most of the time, they don't pretend to be anything more than a zombie movie. Those are the good ones. The only exception is 28 days later. It had a plot and pulled it off. That is quite a feat.
Generic Computer Fix
I'm getting crotchety and impatient with computer problems these days. People come to me with an old busted-ass machine and want me to make it run like new. What they forget is it ran lick shit the day they bought it. It just ran slow as all the other computers sold in the world on the same day. The first thing out of my mouth these days is "Buy a new hard drive, they are cheap. Take the old hard drive out and put it on a shelf for later reference. Format the new hard drive. Install the operating system. Install only the minimum software you need (no themes, screen savers, games) and configure as needed." There, I'm done. I'm sick of helping people just call me wanting to use my knowledge for free. It has taken me a lifetime to learn this stuff. I get paid for what I know and can make computers do. I have one friend who asks me questions and to fix her computer, but invites me over for dinner in the process. I don't get too many home cooked meals. That is a nice trade. I have another buddy at my day job who offers me rides home when it rains in an exchange for some advice. That's a good exchange too. My mom (can get whatever she wants out of me with no exchange) actually cleans my apartment occasionally Tat almost makes up for the four trips the roll-top desk made up and down the stairs..As for the rest of you, I accept cash, PayPal and exchange of favors (of a non-sexual nature) for my knowledge and time.
I've gotten fed up enough over the past couple of years to tell people who I haven't spoken to in weeks to go to Dell when they ask "Hey Kelly, what computer should i get?" When people ask what camera they should get, I send them to Digital Photography Review. They only cover high-end cameras and equipment, but what do I care. I'm only interested in high-end stuff. They asked me, I told them.
Poler Bear
Baby poler bear walks up to his mom and says "Am I a full blooded poler bear?"
His mom says "Yes, you are a full blooded poler bear. Go ask you father."
The young bear runs to his pop and says "Dad, am I real poler bear?"
His dad looks down at him and says "Yes son, I'm full blooded poler bear. Your mother is full blooded poler bear. All your grandparents are full blooded poler bear. You are a real poller bear. Why do you ask."
The young poler bear looks his dad in the eye and says "Because I'm freezing!"
Well, I'm not the only one who is dissatisfied with keyboard design. What did I say about layout changes? This is a new one. This keyboard is designed to be held and looks a bit like a game controller. The mouse joystick is right handed only. Not only that, but it is a joystick design. I bet I'd have a hard time with it. That's too bad. I wonder how stout the space bar is.
Chernobyl
They are filming a zombie movie inside Chernobyl. I can hear the set now "I didn't say action yet ... Hey .. Cut . . . CUTaargh!!!" I like zombie movies. Most of the time, they don't pretend to be anything more than a zombie movie. Those are the good ones. The only exception is 28 days later. It had a plot and pulled it off. That is quite a feat.
Generic Computer Fix
I'm getting crotchety and impatient with computer problems these days. People come to me with an old busted-ass machine and want me to make it run like new. What they forget is it ran lick shit the day they bought it. It just ran slow as all the other computers sold in the world on the same day. The first thing out of my mouth these days is "Buy a new hard drive, they are cheap. Take the old hard drive out and put it on a shelf for later reference. Format the new hard drive. Install the operating system. Install only the minimum software you need (no themes, screen savers, games) and configure as needed." There, I'm done. I'm sick of helping people just call me wanting to use my knowledge for free. It has taken me a lifetime to learn this stuff. I get paid for what I know and can make computers do. I have one friend who asks me questions and to fix her computer, but invites me over for dinner in the process. I don't get too many home cooked meals. That is a nice trade. I have another buddy at my day job who offers me rides home when it rains in an exchange for some advice. That's a good exchange too. My mom (can get whatever she wants out of me with no exchange) actually cleans my apartment occasionally Tat almost makes up for the four trips the roll-top desk made up and down the stairs..As for the rest of you, I accept cash, PayPal and exchange of favors (of a non-sexual nature) for my knowledge and time.
I've gotten fed up enough over the past couple of years to tell people who I haven't spoken to in weeks to go to Dell when they ask "Hey Kelly, what computer should i get?" When people ask what camera they should get, I send them to Digital Photography Review. They only cover high-end cameras and equipment, but what do I care. I'm only interested in high-end stuff. They asked me, I told them.
Poler Bear
Baby poler bear walks up to his mom and says "Am I a full blooded poler bear?"
His mom says "Yes, you are a full blooded poler bear. Go ask you father."
The young bear runs to his pop and says "Dad, am I real poler bear?"
His dad looks down at him and says "Yes son, I'm full blooded poler bear. Your mother is full blooded poler bear. All your grandparents are full blooded poler bear. You are a real poller bear. Why do you ask."
The young poler bear looks his dad in the eye and says "Because I'm freezing!"
2004-08-09
Well Duh
I wonder how many Israeli tax dollars are going for this study. I could have told them weed helps wane stress. They intend to give marijuana to stressed out soldiers to help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
I wonder how many Israeli tax dollars are going for this study. I could have told them weed helps wane stress. They intend to give marijuana to stressed out soldiers to help with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Blogging is hard on the old keyboard
Well, I would not have guessed it, but I must be typing quite a bit on this blog. My cheep keyboard is about to loose its space bar. The left side anyway. It turns out I use my left thumb almost exclusively to hit the space bar. I had to switch to an old USB keyboard I originally bought for testing OS/X beta a million years ago. It is the most awesome keyboard. It clacks like an old IBM or TRS80 terminal. I learned to type on a manual typewriter. That is why I pound the keys. I should invent a computer keyboard made from a manual typewriter (drat). I own about half a dozen keyboards. You would think I would have found one I like. Either they change the key-layout, connector, or design (flexible/wireless/split/silent) so often that I cannot just have a favorite keyboard it seems. I'll live.
Short Day
I was so busy today that I didn't have time to think outside the box. I often wonder if people do nothing in their off time to make it seem longer. I don't think that is a good idea. I bet, if people got off their butts, myself included, they would find themselves fulfilled.
On the other side. I know some busy people who fill their days and evenings from one end to the other, solid, with every moment accounted for, some times more than once. They need to relax and take a moment to smell the flowers.
Balance is the secret. I bet it is different for each of us.
Cool Site of the Day
Well, I would not have guessed it, but I must be typing quite a bit on this blog. My cheep keyboard is about to loose its space bar. The left side anyway. It turns out I use my left thumb almost exclusively to hit the space bar. I had to switch to an old USB keyboard I originally bought for testing OS/X beta a million years ago. It is the most awesome keyboard. It clacks like an old IBM or TRS80 terminal. I learned to type on a manual typewriter. That is why I pound the keys. I should invent a computer keyboard made from a manual typewriter (drat). I own about half a dozen keyboards. You would think I would have found one I like. Either they change the key-layout, connector, or design (flexible/wireless/split/silent) so often that I cannot just have a favorite keyboard it seems. I'll live.
| The X-Box Murders (The X-Box Massacre) |
Here is what I've gathered from
the news stories
I've
heard. A girl let some people stay at house owned by her grandparents.
Somehow some cloths and an X-Box ended up in her possession. The people
staying in her grandparents house killed her, and every one else in the
house, to get the cloths and the X-Box, allegedly.Here is how I infer events. The girl let some people stay at her grandparent's place. She expected something in return. When the four men, who had all lost their jobs recently, could not produce, she obtains the X-Box and some cloths as collateral. The four guys show up with baseball bats and kill the woman and every one else in the house. One of the stories suggested that at least some people were killed in their sleep and that no one put up a fight. The girl was beaten so severally, the authorities could not use dental records to identify her. I would like it noted for the record that no firearms were used in the execution of this crime. It was just that much more horrible because baseball bats were used. Certainly the X-Box had little to do with it. The X-Box only plaid the part of a commodity. Anything these people considered valuable would have sufficed It may as well have been a TV, a car or a ring. . |
Short Day
I was so busy today that I didn't have time to think outside the box. I often wonder if people do nothing in their off time to make it seem longer. I don't think that is a good idea. I bet, if people got off their butts, myself included, they would find themselves fulfilled.
On the other side. I know some busy people who fill their days and evenings from one end to the other, solid, with every moment accounted for, some times more than once. They need to relax and take a moment to smell the flowers.
Balance is the secret. I bet it is different for each of us.
Cool Site of the Day
2004-08-08
Movies
I found a new outlet for movies. I suppose it is an inlet. Anyway. horror movies. They have all the classics. I can't wait to get some in. I can't say horror is my favorite genera. I may have been over heard saying SciFi is my favorite. Lately, I just can't say. There have been so many bad SciFi movies out. <cough>Riddick</cough>. The cartoon was better. Honestly, I don't know where they went wrong with that one. It sounded like a good idea. Vin Diesel is a DND nut (like myself) and may have liked the idea of playing a comic book hero. The two Star Wars pictures made me yawn. The last couple in the Alien series didn't get my hackles up. I can't wait for Alien vs. Predator. I may have to break down and catch that one in a theater. Their site looks like they put more time into it than the movie.
There have been a number of series I liked lately. Firefly was canceled before I started to really watch it. I hate that. I don't have cable, so I miss most of the good series. I hate that too. They are making a movie from that series. They are digging up Battlestar Galactica. Looking at SciFi.com, I should not complain until I get cable. I have nothing against cable. I watch too much TV with five channels.
Too Far
Have you heard about this? It is a TV show like Fear Factor for Mexican immigrants. The prize is a law firm helping with your green card application. Mexican people are being exploited. There is not much a lawyer can do, except throw their name behind your paper work. Mexicans will humiliate themselves for little more than a promis to look into it.
Prozac in the Water Supply
Britain found Prozac in the water supply. I know some people who swore fluoride was a mind control method. They would not let their kids drink city water because the florid was going to rot their brain, or make them mindless all-consuming zombies, who eat too much, and buy all shinny things they find, hmmm. maybe I should look further on that one. Wait, wasn't that the flu shots?
I found a new outlet for movies. I suppose it is an inlet. Anyway. horror movies. They have all the classics. I can't wait to get some in. I can't say horror is my favorite genera. I may have been over heard saying SciFi is my favorite. Lately, I just can't say. There have been so many bad SciFi movies out. <cough>Riddick</cough>. The cartoon was better. Honestly, I don't know where they went wrong with that one. It sounded like a good idea. Vin Diesel is a DND nut (like myself) and may have liked the idea of playing a comic book hero. The two Star Wars pictures made me yawn. The last couple in the Alien series didn't get my hackles up. I can't wait for Alien vs. Predator. I may have to break down and catch that one in a theater. Their site looks like they put more time into it than the movie.
There have been a number of series I liked lately. Firefly was canceled before I started to really watch it. I hate that. I don't have cable, so I miss most of the good series. I hate that too. They are making a movie from that series. They are digging up Battlestar Galactica. Looking at SciFi.com, I should not complain until I get cable. I have nothing against cable. I watch too much TV with five channels.
Too Far
Have you heard about this? It is a TV show like Fear Factor for Mexican immigrants. The prize is a law firm helping with your green card application. Mexican people are being exploited. There is not much a lawyer can do, except throw their name behind your paper work. Mexicans will humiliate themselves for little more than a promis to look into it.
Prozac in the Water Supply
Britain found Prozac in the water supply. I know some people who swore fluoride was a mind control method. They would not let their kids drink city water because the florid was going to rot their brain, or make them mindless all-consuming zombies, who eat too much, and buy all shinny things they find, hmmm. maybe I should look further on that one. Wait, wasn't that the flu shots?
Wheel of Time (continued)
I'm on book five. I half way through and I don't understand why every one complained about this book. The first half has been full of intrigue. It doesn't seem slow to me. The chapters are a bit shorter.
. . .
I tried taking notes for a minute. It would be excruciating to keep it up for any length of time. Int 5 paragraphs there were about 10 new names of people or places. Give me a break. I just had to give up.
. . .
Almost done now. It looks like the climax was several chapters back. More one politics and the game of houses.
. . .
The fight at the end of this book is more personal. The other books are grand at the end.
Book five, done.
P2P
I user a program called eDonkey. This software has gone through many changes. Lately they have gone back to an old name. The company moved from eDonkey 2000 to Overnet back to eDonkey. The network used by this software has been taken up by several other software. When you download something on one, it may come from another.
* It has taken a while, but I've just about got this thing figured out.
* Stick to common files. Use the web pages that have file links. Try to stay away from searches in the software itself. Every file has an ID. The IDs on the web pages are fare more common and usually they are more complete.
* Make sure you have the right ports routed. They change sometimes. There are two ports this software uses. Incoming and outgoing. You have to configure them in the software and in your router.
* Keep your DL list full. At any time, I have about 35 files trying to download. The computer tries to get the one's it can and leave those it must for later.
* Make sure you stifle all incoming messages. There are nothing but jerks on the network. It is best to ignore them.
Following these rules will not guarantee any good results. A download of 30 (Kb/sec) is usually considered good. I can achieve 150 on occasion, but it does not last. The problem with P2P is it is unreliable. You cannot always get what you want, when you want. However, if you are patient, and you don't let the red progress bar make you mad, you may have some fun watching Don't depend on it. Just let it happen. Trying to get a specific file on a P2P network is like throwing a live bee at a loose paper target in a hurricane.
I'm on book five. I half way through and I don't understand why every one complained about this book. The first half has been full of intrigue. It doesn't seem slow to me. The chapters are a bit shorter.
. . .
I tried taking notes for a minute. It would be excruciating to keep it up for any length of time. Int 5 paragraphs there were about 10 new names of people or places. Give me a break. I just had to give up.
. . .
Almost done now. It looks like the climax was several chapters back. More one politics and the game of houses.
. . .
The fight at the end of this book is more personal. The other books are grand at the end.
Book five, done.
P2P
I user a program called eDonkey. This software has gone through many changes. Lately they have gone back to an old name. The company moved from eDonkey 2000 to Overnet back to eDonkey. The network used by this software has been taken up by several other software. When you download something on one, it may come from another.
* It has taken a while, but I've just about got this thing figured out.
* Stick to common files. Use the web pages that have file links. Try to stay away from searches in the software itself. Every file has an ID. The IDs on the web pages are fare more common and usually they are more complete.
* Make sure you have the right ports routed. They change sometimes. There are two ports this software uses. Incoming and outgoing. You have to configure them in the software and in your router.
* Keep your DL list full. At any time, I have about 35 files trying to download. The computer tries to get the one's it can and leave those it must for later.
* Make sure you stifle all incoming messages. There are nothing but jerks on the network. It is best to ignore them.
Following these rules will not guarantee any good results. A download of 30 (Kb/sec) is usually considered good. I can achieve 150 on occasion, but it does not last. The problem with P2P is it is unreliable. You cannot always get what you want, when you want. However, if you are patient, and you don't let the red progress bar make you mad, you may have some fun watching Don't depend on it. Just let it happen. Trying to get a specific file on a P2P network is like throwing a live bee at a loose paper target in a hurricane.
2004-08-07
3D screens
I fear advances in visual technology for consumer electronics. I can't always use the latest thing. I can barely read the screen on new phones. I envision some advance in computer monitors or mobile phones that will prevent me from getting full use from the new devices. I do hate being left out of new technology because I cannot see as well as others. Of course, with the aging of America, there may come a backlash to manufacturers forcing recognition that God did not create us all the same. We shall "see".
There was a story at some point talking about top executives who demanded some high-end camera phones have the ability of removing the camera as an option. This comes about because most companies ban camera phones. If you want email and chat, goodness knows what else, you were stuck with a camera too. No more. Now some phone manufacturers have removed the cameras. I've heard rumors that some phone manufacturers have banned camera phones too. I cannot prove it.
Didn't they know this was coming? Couldn't they have asked some one? I could have told you that my company would eventually ban these things. My day job has a strict policy against cameras anywhere on the site. I know several people with camera phones. Not one of them uses the camera feature for more than a couple of days before it becomes old.
Sudan
I'm not the only one who feels Sudan is just an excuse to focus away from Iraq and other areas. These articles say it is a conflict between farmers and nomads. The real trouble is not so much ethnic as economic. I wonder if it is the neighbors of this area who want military action. One problem with nomads is your cant draw a line around them on a map. The stuff happening here is scary and should be dealt with, but I don't want to use U. S. troops to do it.
Question
Why are audio books so expensive?
A) Writers want to make novel money off the sale.
B) Audio producers want to make CD money off the sale.
C) Publishers want to make book money and CD money off the sale.
D) Producers want everything RIGHT NOW!! AND LOTS OF MONEY!! BWAA-AAh-AAh!!!
E) Distributors want to make book money and CD money off the sale.
F) All of the above, plus they all think they are gigging extra from lazy people, while forgetting that blind people might enjoy an audio book as well.
I have the strange feeling The Wheel of Time would break me.
I fear advances in visual technology for consumer electronics. I can't always use the latest thing. I can barely read the screen on new phones. I envision some advance in computer monitors or mobile phones that will prevent me from getting full use from the new devices. I do hate being left out of new technology because I cannot see as well as others. Of course, with the aging of America, there may come a backlash to manufacturers forcing recognition that God did not create us all the same. We shall "see".
There was a story at some point talking about top executives who demanded some high-end camera phones have the ability of removing the camera as an option. This comes about because most companies ban camera phones. If you want email and chat, goodness knows what else, you were stuck with a camera too. No more. Now some phone manufacturers have removed the cameras. I've heard rumors that some phone manufacturers have banned camera phones too. I cannot prove it.
Didn't they know this was coming? Couldn't they have asked some one? I could have told you that my company would eventually ban these things. My day job has a strict policy against cameras anywhere on the site. I know several people with camera phones. Not one of them uses the camera feature for more than a couple of days before it becomes old.
Sudan
I'm not the only one who feels Sudan is just an excuse to focus away from Iraq and other areas. These articles say it is a conflict between farmers and nomads. The real trouble is not so much ethnic as economic. I wonder if it is the neighbors of this area who want military action. One problem with nomads is your cant draw a line around them on a map. The stuff happening here is scary and should be dealt with, but I don't want to use U. S. troops to do it.
Question
Why are audio books so expensive?
A) Writers want to make novel money off the sale.
B) Audio producers want to make CD money off the sale.
C) Publishers want to make book money and CD money off the sale.
D) Producers want everything RIGHT NOW!! AND LOTS OF MONEY!! BWAA-AAh-AAh!!!
E) Distributors want to make book money and CD money off the sale.
F) All of the above, plus they all think they are gigging extra from lazy people, while forgetting that blind people might enjoy an audio book as well.
I have the strange feeling The Wheel of Time would break me.
2004-08-05
Curmudgeon
I'm a curmudgeon on my blog. So says a couple of people. (only one used the word curmudgeon) I suppose I am. Well, <in a Cartmen voice> "Screw you guys. I'm going home!"
Happy Place
Why do people do drugs, or drink alcohol for an entire lifetime? I had a friend, many years ago, ask me why people keep doing things that hurt them so? Well, It is to escape themselves. I think most people have some kind of escape. Something that helps them think or focus on everything else. I know a guy who goes on vacations and hates it. He wants the vacation to be the escape, but it is his TV shows he watchs that make him relax. I told this friend to take a week off and watch TV. Kind of like Al Bundy did in "Married With Children". I seem to enjoy reading current events and writing garbage like this in my blog. My escape is in my head. People have said heroin is like a vacation from yourself. Not every one has an escape I suppose. Some people are either well centered or just too oblivious to need one. Another friend got married and had kids. She didn't realize until too late that was not what she wanted. She used college for her escape. She said "I screwed up and graduated." Then, she had to get a job.
Freaky
I read that book. Why did i read that book. It has really made me think about strange stuff. I'm referring to "A Brief History Of Almost Everything"of course. That Ax factory I mentioned before made me think about other inventions that human kind did not come up with. We were not the first to invent the ax. We did not start the whole cloths thing. I heard somewhere that neanderthals used crude boles dug out of wood. It struck me that neanderthals are not considered our true relative, more of a genetic cousin. That thought humbled me. suddenly I realized that some one else walked the Earth and created things before us. What happened? What finished off the dim neanderthal?
I'm a curmudgeon on my blog. So says a couple of people. (only one used the word curmudgeon) I suppose I am. Well, <in a Cartmen voice> "Screw you guys. I'm going home!"
Happy Place
Why do people do drugs, or drink alcohol for an entire lifetime? I had a friend, many years ago, ask me why people keep doing things that hurt them so? Well, It is to escape themselves. I think most people have some kind of escape. Something that helps them think or focus on everything else. I know a guy who goes on vacations and hates it. He wants the vacation to be the escape, but it is his TV shows he watchs that make him relax. I told this friend to take a week off and watch TV. Kind of like Al Bundy did in "Married With Children". I seem to enjoy reading current events and writing garbage like this in my blog. My escape is in my head. People have said heroin is like a vacation from yourself. Not every one has an escape I suppose. Some people are either well centered or just too oblivious to need one. Another friend got married and had kids. She didn't realize until too late that was not what she wanted. She used college for her escape. She said "I screwed up and graduated." Then, she had to get a job.
Freaky
I read that book. Why did i read that book. It has really made me think about strange stuff. I'm referring to "A Brief History Of Almost Everything"of course. That Ax factory I mentioned before made me think about other inventions that human kind did not come up with. We were not the first to invent the ax. We did not start the whole cloths thing. I heard somewhere that neanderthals used crude boles dug out of wood. It struck me that neanderthals are not considered our true relative, more of a genetic cousin. That thought humbled me. suddenly I realized that some one else walked the Earth and created things before us. What happened? What finished off the dim neanderthal?
2004-08-04
Meetings
At work today I had three meetings. That in itself is not unusual. However, all three meetings were scheduled at the exact same time and I had no meetings longer than a half hour at any other time during the whole week. Something strange happened from 8:00 to 10:00 this morning.
Email
It seems email is the vulnerability of choice for hackers these days. I understand MS and some game companies both lost their source code because hackers got in through some one opening up an email attachment. Some malicious programs will capture your keystrokes and send user names and passwords to the bad guys. Some hackers have figured out ways to get around needing the user to click on an attachment. Just surfing the web is dangerous these days.
At my day job, so many emails come in the system that it can take twenty four hours or more for an email with a zip file attached to make it through the scanners. At home, I notice a lesser delay, but just as much annoyance. I wish someone would implement a good fix for this. I hear there are a bunch of options. I don't know which one(s) will work. I know it costs the company (both) I work for money and time dealing with email hassles.
Wednesday Evening
I got off work at 3:00. I went straight home. I should have stopped for groceries. It is so damn hot. I have to wait for the bus in beside a busy road. The heat from the cars and the road is harsh. I got home by my normal time. It was about 4:20 or so. It is nearly 6:00 and it feels like I just stepped through the door.I'm watching a movie. Every one gets phone calls. I can't remember the last time I got a phone call. Just some one calling out of the blue to go do something. They don't want a computer question answered. They don't need help moving. They just want to spend some time with me. Bryan called a couple of weeks ago. Adam and Laurie called to go to lunch a bit back. My mom calls every now and then. (not what I'm talking about) It's better this way.
I never wanted to sweep Scarlet O'Hara off her feet. I never wanted to save Marilyn Monroe. I wish they left Pretty Woman a drug addict.
At work today I had three meetings. That in itself is not unusual. However, all three meetings were scheduled at the exact same time and I had no meetings longer than a half hour at any other time during the whole week. Something strange happened from 8:00 to 10:00 this morning.
It seems email is the vulnerability of choice for hackers these days. I understand MS and some game companies both lost their source code because hackers got in through some one opening up an email attachment. Some malicious programs will capture your keystrokes and send user names and passwords to the bad guys. Some hackers have figured out ways to get around needing the user to click on an attachment. Just surfing the web is dangerous these days.
At my day job, so many emails come in the system that it can take twenty four hours or more for an email with a zip file attached to make it through the scanners. At home, I notice a lesser delay, but just as much annoyance. I wish someone would implement a good fix for this. I hear there are a bunch of options. I don't know which one(s) will work. I know it costs the company (both) I work for money and time dealing with email hassles.
Wednesday Evening
I got off work at 3:00. I went straight home. I should have stopped for groceries. It is so damn hot. I have to wait for the bus in beside a busy road. The heat from the cars and the road is harsh. I got home by my normal time. It was about 4:20 or so. It is nearly 6:00 and it feels like I just stepped through the door.I'm watching a movie. Every one gets phone calls. I can't remember the last time I got a phone call. Just some one calling out of the blue to go do something. They don't want a computer question answered. They don't need help moving. They just want to spend some time with me. Bryan called a couple of weeks ago. Adam and Laurie called to go to lunch a bit back. My mom calls every now and then. (not what I'm talking about) It's better this way.
I never wanted to sweep Scarlet O'Hara off her feet. I never wanted to save Marilyn Monroe. I wish they left Pretty Woman a drug addict.
2004-08-03
The Wheel of Time (Continued)
Book four, done. People keep saying it is one of the best books. I think it was the best so far. I hope there is not too much of a down hill slide. I've herd book five is the most difficult to get through. I've noticed I don't always get the people right. Sometimes I cross who did what. I can hardly blame myself. I should have taken notes. Min did this, Rand did that. Something else I noticed about the fourth book was a touch of comedy. "Don't call me that."
Austin
My evening job is talking about moving to Austin. I would love that. Not only is it a more pleasant climate,but the transportation is by far better. Austin just feels more like home. There are hills and trees. I like the layout of the city. There is this thing called zoning that was intelligently applied decades ago, so it kind of works now. I hear driving in Austin can be a chore, but I will be on public transit, or in a cab, so that isn't too much of a concern. My parents might freak. I don't have a girlfriend or career to hold me back.
Houston is ugly. It is built on a grassy swamp. It floods. It is humid. The mosquitoes will carry off small children. It is a nightmare to get around. The air is nasty. There are hurricanes. Can I move today?
War
How well we kill ourselves. We get better at it every day. So prowed we are of ourselves. We keep track in the news papers. We watch it on TV. The deadly in pools of their own will, just out of camera shot.
Book four, done. People keep saying it is one of the best books. I think it was the best so far. I hope there is not too much of a down hill slide. I've herd book five is the most difficult to get through. I've noticed I don't always get the people right. Sometimes I cross who did what. I can hardly blame myself. I should have taken notes. Min did this, Rand did that. Something else I noticed about the fourth book was a touch of comedy. "Don't call me that."
Austin
My evening job is talking about moving to Austin. I would love that. Not only is it a more pleasant climate,but the transportation is by far better. Austin just feels more like home. There are hills and trees. I like the layout of the city. There is this thing called zoning that was intelligently applied decades ago, so it kind of works now. I hear driving in Austin can be a chore, but I will be on public transit, or in a cab, so that isn't too much of a concern. My parents might freak. I don't have a girlfriend or career to hold me back.
Houston is ugly. It is built on a grassy swamp. It floods. It is humid. The mosquitoes will carry off small children. It is a nightmare to get around. The air is nasty. There are hurricanes. Can I move today?
War
How well we kill ourselves. We get better at it every day. So prowed we are of ourselves. We keep track in the news papers. We watch it on TV. The deadly in pools of their own will, just out of camera shot.
2004-08-02
Sudan
Here is what I bet is going on in Sudan. You have nomads and you have farmers. The nomads want to roam around living off the land and having a few laughs. The farmers want to fence off all the land and water, thus keeping the nomads from their rounds. I imagine this has been going for quite some time. I bet it has been going since before people called themselves Christin or Muslim. I bet stuff like this has been going on for thousands of years.
More on Boots
They are cool. They weigh about 35 pounds a piece. They are black, steel toe biker kind of boots. I complained about the new boots hurting my feet until they get broken in. A female friend of mine asked me why I don't have more "practical" shoes. It took me a minute, but I thought "A woman giving me advice about buying practical shoes that don't hurt my feet?" Give me a break. I can't remember the last time I noticed a woman waring shoes that didn't look like they were taken from a torture chamber. Anyway, my old steel toe work boots should feel like moccasins tomorrow.
Lamp
Buffy season 5 episode 2 has a lamp in the first screen that I have on my shelf. The lamp on the series is in a character's room named Dawn. The girl who gave me the lamp is named Dawn. Mildly interesting.
Sunday
Lunch
I went out with some friends to lunch. Normally, this would be a complete Sunday.
Benefit concert
Tom and Jen asked me over to a benefit concert at a local bar, Big John's Ice House (down the page a bit). it was hot. The food looked good, but I was stuffed from lunch. It was pretty cool.
Open Mic Night
We went to a bar over on Highway 6. They have an open mic from 6 to whenever. It was pretty cool. There was a twelve year old kid who did a great job playing some classical keyboard. Jen Kicked ass. I like her new stuff.
The Wheel of Time.
My buddy had the following to say about The Wheel of Time series.
--- Email from 2004-07-21 ---
I think that people that want the story to end get a little grumpy. It seems that at book 9, where I'm at, that the final fight between Rand and the Dark One is no closer to happening than in Book 3. There is a certain amount of "lets get on with it" that sets in around book 6 -- but if you make it through that and just accept that the story will never, ever end until the author dies (and then, of course, it will be incomplete) I think Book 9 is just as good, if not better, than book 3. Book ranks from myself:
Book 4 - Cool middle part, Perrin becomes cool
Book 7 - Cool ending, Nynaeve becomes cool
Book 5 - Mat becomes cool
Book 8 - Rand becomes cool
Book 6 - Egwene becomes cool
Book 9 - Elayne becomes cool -- haven't finished reading it yet
Book 3 - The Stone is taken, cool-ass sword
Book 2 - Padin Fain is tres-creepy
Book 1 - Gearing up the world -- slowest of all books
From Amazon, I think the books are ranked as so:
Book 4
Book 3
Book 2
Book 5
Book 1
All the rest
In all the reviews of Book 1, several people didn't like Jorden's style and bitched about it mightily. Those that liked it kept reading, so the first book weeded out a lot of grumps. People that were looking for the series to be a new "Lord of the Rings" started to get pretty tired of the meandering story line around book 5, and the numbers of people put off by the length grow with each book released. So the last books are panned by a large segment of the reviewers. There has only been one story arc that I thought went on too long (and did it go on and on). But other than that, as long as you accept that the story will not end, the later books just get better.
--- End email ---
Irony
How frigging ironic is this. I heard a lyric in a song saying "there are no cows in Texas .. if I don't love you." Suddenly, I had to know how many cows there are in Texas. I clicked over to Google and did a search for -"cows in Texas" many- and got the following answer, 13,900,000. The funny thing is, it is a bitch session from some nut job wining about Semantic Web searches, or, the lack there of. Seems to me the current system doesn't suck too bad. That is a big buzz these days. People say "Why can't I just get the answer I'm looking for instead of a web page that may or may not contain related information?" Well, because the web is a gigantic database contained on a billion servers all over the world, being maintained by nearly half as many people. It would take a single database at one point almost as big and complex to contain that data. I know all about complicated databases, I'm reading the Wheel of Time series. Trust me, MS is trying to provide this very service. One of the VPs at MS said he wanted people to experience the entire Internet without leaving MS sites. That doesn't make any sense to me, but he seemed please with himself after saying it. I don't know if you may remember the AOL experience from the early nineties. AOL tried to provide the "Internet" before there was an Internet. They stuck everything including the kitchen sink on their service. They ended up with a slow kick-you-off service that made promises and then dashed dreams. I fear that no matter who tries to take control of the world, some one will provided niche services better and be pushed out of the system by the conglomerates.
There is a term for one company trying to provide every service and sell you everything you will ever need without leaving their site. This term is sand-boxing. It is a kin to putting a child in a play-pen so mom can sip her margarita and play bridge without you wandering off a cliff. It is also a great way for MS or AOL or whomever to make sure you only get options they want you to see.
OK, it is not very ironic. It just pisses me off.
Here is what I bet is going on in Sudan. You have nomads and you have farmers. The nomads want to roam around living off the land and having a few laughs. The farmers want to fence off all the land and water, thus keeping the nomads from their rounds. I imagine this has been going for quite some time. I bet it has been going since before people called themselves Christin or Muslim. I bet stuff like this has been going on for thousands of years.
More on Boots
They are cool. They weigh about 35 pounds a piece. They are black, steel toe biker kind of boots. I complained about the new boots hurting my feet until they get broken in. A female friend of mine asked me why I don't have more "practical" shoes. It took me a minute, but I thought "A woman giving me advice about buying practical shoes that don't hurt my feet?" Give me a break. I can't remember the last time I noticed a woman waring shoes that didn't look like they were taken from a torture chamber. Anyway, my old steel toe work boots should feel like moccasins tomorrow.
Lamp
Buffy season 5 episode 2 has a lamp in the first screen that I have on my shelf. The lamp on the series is in a character's room named Dawn. The girl who gave me the lamp is named Dawn. Mildly interesting.
Sunday
Lunch
I went out with some friends to lunch. Normally, this would be a complete Sunday.
Benefit concert
Tom and Jen asked me over to a benefit concert at a local bar, Big John's Ice House (down the page a bit). it was hot. The food looked good, but I was stuffed from lunch. It was pretty cool.
Open Mic Night
We went to a bar over on Highway 6. They have an open mic from 6 to whenever. It was pretty cool. There was a twelve year old kid who did a great job playing some classical keyboard. Jen Kicked ass. I like her new stuff.
The Wheel of Time.
My buddy had the following to say about The Wheel of Time series.
--- Email from 2004-07-21 ---
I think that people that want the story to end get a little grumpy. It seems that at book 9, where I'm at, that the final fight between Rand and the Dark One is no closer to happening than in Book 3. There is a certain amount of "lets get on with it" that sets in around book 6 -- but if you make it through that and just accept that the story will never, ever end until the author dies (and then, of course, it will be incomplete) I think Book 9 is just as good, if not better, than book 3. Book ranks from myself:
Book 4 - Cool middle part, Perrin becomes cool
Book 7 - Cool ending, Nynaeve becomes cool
Book 5 - Mat becomes cool
Book 8 - Rand becomes cool
Book 6 - Egwene becomes cool
Book 9 - Elayne becomes cool -- haven't finished reading it yet
Book 3 - The Stone is taken, cool-ass sword
Book 2 - Padin Fain is tres-creepy
Book 1 - Gearing up the world -- slowest of all books
From Amazon, I think the books are ranked as so:
Book 4
Book 3
Book 2
Book 5
Book 1
All the rest
In all the reviews of Book 1, several people didn't like Jorden's style and bitched about it mightily. Those that liked it kept reading, so the first book weeded out a lot of grumps. People that were looking for the series to be a new "Lord of the Rings" started to get pretty tired of the meandering story line around book 5, and the numbers of people put off by the length grow with each book released. So the last books are panned by a large segment of the reviewers. There has only been one story arc that I thought went on too long (and did it go on and on). But other than that, as long as you accept that the story will not end, the later books just get better.
--- End email ---
Irony
How frigging ironic is this. I heard a lyric in a song saying "there are no cows in Texas .. if I don't love you." Suddenly, I had to know how many cows there are in Texas. I clicked over to Google and did a search for -"cows in Texas" many- and got the following answer, 13,900,000. The funny thing is, it is a bitch session from some nut job wining about Semantic Web searches, or, the lack there of. Seems to me the current system doesn't suck too bad. That is a big buzz these days. People say "Why can't I just get the answer I'm looking for instead of a web page that may or may not contain related information?" Well, because the web is a gigantic database contained on a billion servers all over the world, being maintained by nearly half as many people. It would take a single database at one point almost as big and complex to contain that data. I know all about complicated databases, I'm reading the Wheel of Time series. Trust me, MS is trying to provide this very service. One of the VPs at MS said he wanted people to experience the entire Internet without leaving MS sites. That doesn't make any sense to me, but he seemed please with himself after saying it. I don't know if you may remember the AOL experience from the early nineties. AOL tried to provide the "Internet" before there was an Internet. They stuck everything including the kitchen sink on their service. They ended up with a slow kick-you-off service that made promises and then dashed dreams. I fear that no matter who tries to take control of the world, some one will provided niche services better and be pushed out of the system by the conglomerates.
There is a term for one company trying to provide every service and sell you everything you will ever need without leaving their site. This term is sand-boxing. It is a kin to putting a child in a play-pen so mom can sip her margarita and play bridge without you wandering off a cliff. It is also a great way for MS or AOL or whomever to make sure you only get options they want you to see.
OK, it is not very ironic. It just pisses me off.
2004-08-01
Sunday
I have a friend supporting a comrade who's wife has cancer. They support their friend by having music and merriment at an Ice house near my home. I intend on going. I worry only that they will not let me in with my backpack. I will go without it. No pictures. I need to make an inventory of my backpack for the blog sometime.
Another Time Absorbing Survey
I have a friend supporting a comrade who's wife has cancer. They support their friend by having music and merriment at an Ice house near my home. I intend on going. I worry only that they will not let me in with my backpack. I will go without it. No pictures. I need to make an inventory of my backpack for the blog sometime.
Another Time Absorbing Survey
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Does your weblog own you? |
2004-07-31
Boots
Today was a good day. It was hot, but beautiful outside. I read some information about a software package my second job wishes to use for support. I am reading my book. I received my new boots that I ordered over the net. That is dangerous. I simply requested 11 D and they fit. I'm very happy about that. They are pull on boots called "Engineer Boots." I don't get the name. I just walked up to the Quick-Mart and my feet strain a bit under the strain of slip on boots. If I don't ware the thick hiking socks the boots are a quarter size too big. I order boots that way by choice. There is a big difference in lace-up boots and pull-on or slip-on boots when walking. If you had asked me years ago, I would not have know the difference. It's funny the things age brings to your knowing. Wisdom is not a number, or a length of time. Think of all the things I know I Have no knowledge of. Think of all the things I have no idea about.
Book
A couple of things I learned from the book "A Brief History of Almost Everything" that I forgot to mention.
* The Moon's orbit really is deteriorating. It will one day float away.
* The last Dodo was stuffed and kept in a museum. It was burned because it was "musty" and lost.
* A single lighthouse keeper's cat ate the entire species of the last ground roosting, perching, flightless bird ever.
* Neanderthals had a hand-ax factory that was in business, that showed signs of division of labor, for a million years. Some of the axes were so large they were completely useless for anything except to be worshiped.
Today was a good day. It was hot, but beautiful outside. I read some information about a software package my second job wishes to use for support. I am reading my book. I received my new boots that I ordered over the net. That is dangerous. I simply requested 11 D and they fit. I'm very happy about that. They are pull on boots called "Engineer Boots." I don't get the name. I just walked up to the Quick-Mart and my feet strain a bit under the strain of slip on boots. If I don't ware the thick hiking socks the boots are a quarter size too big. I order boots that way by choice. There is a big difference in lace-up boots and pull-on or slip-on boots when walking. If you had asked me years ago, I would not have know the difference. It's funny the things age brings to your knowing. Wisdom is not a number, or a length of time. Think of all the things I know I Have no knowledge of. Think of all the things I have no idea about.
Book
A couple of things I learned from the book "A Brief History of Almost Everything" that I forgot to mention.
* The Moon's orbit really is deteriorating. It will one day float away.
* The last Dodo was stuffed and kept in a museum. It was burned because it was "musty" and lost.
* A single lighthouse keeper's cat ate the entire species of the last ground roosting, perching, flightless bird ever.
* Neanderthals had a hand-ax factory that was in business, that showed signs of division of labor, for a million years. Some of the axes were so large they were completely useless for anything except to be worshiped.
2004-07-30
DNA, Black Holes, Nuclear Bombs, blah
blah blah
One of the guys who worked on the double helix of DNA died Wednesday. One of the guys was famous for saying something like "I wanted to discover the secret to DNA without learning any biology." He was a character.
I learned that from my new book "A Brief History On Almost Everything".
Izak Newton married his first cousin. (so did Louis Carrol, not in this book)
* A mars sized planet hit the Earth and formed the moon. (I speculate that the moon, covered in rocks from earth, is, at it's core, the other celestial body still.)
* An earthquake in Alaska sloshed water out of swimming pools in Texas.
* Yellowstone has erupted twice in the past and is slowly moving east (not the park, the lava under it.)
* Science: "First they say it isn't true, then they say it isn't important, then they credit the wrong person."
* Earth and our moon are considered by many as a twin planet. This may be why we still have a molten core, and why there is still life on Earth. Apparently we need the gravitational "friction" or something. They didn't go in to it in the book.
* There has never been a time before where both poles were frozen soled. (I infer this means we are in a time of transition.)
This book is hard to read. It just drones on and on with a bunch of facts that are loosely tied together through history. It reads like a well written text book, without the details. Engineers must love it. .
Watching
I'm obtained the original Star Trek series, all 64 or so episodes I have the first 6 seasons of SG1 (Stargate). Those are the seasons on regular TV. I'm almost done with the Simpsons, seasons 1 through 15. I'm about half way through Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The Muppet Show is next..
One of the guys who worked on the double helix of DNA died Wednesday. One of the guys was famous for saying something like "I wanted to discover the secret to DNA without learning any biology." He was a character.
I learned that from my new book "A Brief History On Almost Everything".
Izak Newton married his first cousin. (so did Louis Carrol, not in this book)
* A mars sized planet hit the Earth and formed the moon. (I speculate that the moon, covered in rocks from earth, is, at it's core, the other celestial body still.)
* An earthquake in Alaska sloshed water out of swimming pools in Texas.
* Yellowstone has erupted twice in the past and is slowly moving east (not the park, the lava under it.)
* Science: "First they say it isn't true, then they say it isn't important, then they credit the wrong person."
* Earth and our moon are considered by many as a twin planet. This may be why we still have a molten core, and why there is still life on Earth. Apparently we need the gravitational "friction" or something. They didn't go in to it in the book.
* There has never been a time before where both poles were frozen soled. (I infer this means we are in a time of transition.)
This book is hard to read. It just drones on and on with a bunch of facts that are loosely tied together through history. It reads like a well written text book, without the details. Engineers must love it. .
Watching
I'm obtained the original Star Trek series, all 64 or so episodes I have the first 6 seasons of SG1 (Stargate). Those are the seasons on regular TV. I'm almost done with the Simpsons, seasons 1 through 15. I'm about half way through Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The Muppet Show is next..
2004-07-29
IM
This is a conversation I had with a friend today on Yahoo IM.
James: bug
James: bug bug
James: bug bug bug bug bug
zhsy00001: **** SMACK!!! ****
James: hahahhahaa
This is a good use for IM.
Sorry I have not been writing much. I'm reading A Brief History of Nearly Everything in between some other projects. It isn't everything, it is science. There is more to everything.
This is a conversation I had with a friend today on Yahoo IM.
James: bug
James: bug bug
James: bug bug bug bug bug
zhsy00001: **** SMACK!!! ****
James: hahahhahaa
This is a good use for IM.
Sorry I have not been writing much. I'm reading A Brief History of Nearly Everything in between some other projects. It isn't everything, it is science. There is more to everything.
2004-07-27
Dog Bit
I got bit by a dog this morning on my way into work. I didn't realize it got more than a stitch of pant leg until I got to work. There is just a scratch, but that is enough to get an infection. Now, I have to go to the doctor. I have to find out which apartment it was. The dog was tied to a front door. I walked along from the bus stop like I do every day. The dog had just enough leach to run after me (after I passed it) and nip me on the left leg. I only heard it growl at the last second. I intend on sending the resident a bill for a pair of pants and the doctor. I didn't even think to snap a picture this morning. Man that would have been a good idea. I had the stinking camera. More later.
More on dog
I've noticed I'm very distracted at work. It is funny how much I have to focus to do my jog. It is a good feeling really that I have to concentrate on my work. I feel a bit more like an artisan because of that. Any distraction, like being hit by a car or bit by a dog on the way in to work, will through off my game all day. I suppose it is natural.
. . .
I got back from the doctor and I'm fine. I am looking at pepper spray online. I think the pills I have to take (antibiotics) are bigger than the dog that bit me.
Hit by cars
I've been hit by four cars on the way to work in the last seven or so years I've been here. I walk about a mile from the bus stop to the front door. I used to walk down the belt way, but now I walk through a neighborhood behind the building.
1. I got off the bus and as I was crossing the street, in the crosswalk, a car just pulled up too far and bumped me. I screamed at him and kept going. They just didn't stop at the line. The rolled forward into me at a slow speed.
2. While walking down the belt way a pickup pulled out of a driveway and as the driver looked left and turned right he just ran into me at a slow speed. I went up on the hood of that vehicle. I screamed at them and kept going. They just were not looking where they were going. 3. I was walking down the belt way. There is this corner at Brier Forest and the belt way when you are headed South and make a right on Brier Forest. The landscaping of the building will not allow you to turn the corner on the curb without plowing through the foliage. While stepping off the curb to round the corner I was clipped by a person turning right. I doubt they even know they hit a pedestrian. They were looking left and turning right.
4. The paper guy in the neighborhood behind the building, never stops at the corners. They do only have yield signs. He creeps along and concentrates on throwing papers. One morning he was well back from the intersection as I approached on foot. I stepped into the street thinking he was far enough off. I crossed more than half way across the street when I realized he was right on top of me. I was on the left side of the street. He was so busy messing with his papers he didn't notice he was making a left from the left side of the street without stopping. (cutting the corner)
All of these have things in common. They were at intersections. They were at slow speeds. They were distracted (as best as I could tell), and they all hit a pedestrian following the rules as best as he could. I've had people tell me not to walk in the street. I've never been hit by a car while walking in the street. It is always while following the rules as best as I can that I have been hit. I need to move to a city with good public transportation. I need to find a city where pedestrians have some rights. I'm told Texas laws dictate that any one in the street, not in a crosswalk, who is hit is at fault. I feel oppressed.
Funny thing is, the dog did more damage than the cars.
Damn It
Here we go again. Now it looks like Egypt is paying off the bad guys. I bet the U. S. has paid for bad guys to go away. It upsets me when leaders of nations just don't get it. They take the easy way out. This is not why I pay taxes.
I got bit by a dog this morning on my way into work. I didn't realize it got more than a stitch of pant leg until I got to work. There is just a scratch, but that is enough to get an infection. Now, I have to go to the doctor. I have to find out which apartment it was. The dog was tied to a front door. I walked along from the bus stop like I do every day. The dog had just enough leach to run after me (after I passed it) and nip me on the left leg. I only heard it growl at the last second. I intend on sending the resident a bill for a pair of pants and the doctor. I didn't even think to snap a picture this morning. Man that would have been a good idea. I had the stinking camera. More later.
More on dog
I've noticed I'm very distracted at work. It is funny how much I have to focus to do my jog. It is a good feeling really that I have to concentrate on my work. I feel a bit more like an artisan because of that. Any distraction, like being hit by a car or bit by a dog on the way in to work, will through off my game all day. I suppose it is natural.
. . .
I got back from the doctor and I'm fine. I am looking at pepper spray online. I think the pills I have to take (antibiotics) are bigger than the dog that bit me.
Hit by cars
I've been hit by four cars on the way to work in the last seven or so years I've been here. I walk about a mile from the bus stop to the front door. I used to walk down the belt way, but now I walk through a neighborhood behind the building.
1. I got off the bus and as I was crossing the street, in the crosswalk, a car just pulled up too far and bumped me. I screamed at him and kept going. They just didn't stop at the line. The rolled forward into me at a slow speed.
2. While walking down the belt way a pickup pulled out of a driveway and as the driver looked left and turned right he just ran into me at a slow speed. I went up on the hood of that vehicle. I screamed at them and kept going. They just were not looking where they were going. 3. I was walking down the belt way. There is this corner at Brier Forest and the belt way when you are headed South and make a right on Brier Forest. The landscaping of the building will not allow you to turn the corner on the curb without plowing through the foliage. While stepping off the curb to round the corner I was clipped by a person turning right. I doubt they even know they hit a pedestrian. They were looking left and turning right.
4. The paper guy in the neighborhood behind the building, never stops at the corners. They do only have yield signs. He creeps along and concentrates on throwing papers. One morning he was well back from the intersection as I approached on foot. I stepped into the street thinking he was far enough off. I crossed more than half way across the street when I realized he was right on top of me. I was on the left side of the street. He was so busy messing with his papers he didn't notice he was making a left from the left side of the street without stopping. (cutting the corner)
All of these have things in common. They were at intersections. They were at slow speeds. They were distracted (as best as I could tell), and they all hit a pedestrian following the rules as best as he could. I've had people tell me not to walk in the street. I've never been hit by a car while walking in the street. It is always while following the rules as best as I can that I have been hit. I need to move to a city with good public transportation. I need to find a city where pedestrians have some rights. I'm told Texas laws dictate that any one in the street, not in a crosswalk, who is hit is at fault. I feel oppressed.
Funny thing is, the dog did more damage than the cars.
Damn It
Here we go again. Now it looks like Egypt is paying off the bad guys. I bet the U. S. has paid for bad guys to go away. It upsets me when leaders of nations just don't get it. They take the easy way out. This is not why I pay taxes.
2004-07-26
White Trash Test
I like this one. I stole It from Cynthia. My results are below. I still like the evil genius test. I had that one on my blog a long while back. Feel free to comment like mad below.
The Wheel of Time
Man, this is a long set of books. I've found people who have read this series who I would have never expected. Most people say they like the books. I'm terrified. I'm about to start book four and I hear it is one of the best. Book five, however, is the most wordy and difficult to read. Most people I talk to about the series are upset it has taken so long to get the books out. They have been reading since the mid nineties and hate the book-every-two-years thing the author has going on. Some say they have to re-read the books to keep up. I'm running through the first ten books, if I can make it all the way through. I bet I remember as much at the end as any one else who read them as they came out.
I have to say, I have never read two books in one weekend. I've never completed 600 pages in a day. Sunday I got up at 8:00 and completed the book (three) around 9:30 or so. I only stopped for a couple of phone calls. I have an odd feeling of accomplishment. So far, the wordiness of the book hasn't bothered me. It is interesting to have the multiple plot lines. I can sympathize with those who have to wait a long time for the books to come out. The plots are complex and interwoven (like the fabric of our lives). The series lives up to it's name.
I believe the saying is "The wheel weaves as the weave wills." I might not have that right. I'll have to check. I just did a search on Google for the saying to verify it and I got a server error. creepy.
I like this one. I stole It from Cynthia. My results are below. I still like the evil genius test. I had that one on my blog a long while back. Feel free to comment like mad below.
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I AM 40%
WHITE TRASH!
The white
trash in my blood will not keep me from becoming a doctor or a lawyer,
but it will keep me from a good haircut and any sort of fashion sense.
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The Wheel of Time
Man, this is a long set of books. I've found people who have read this series who I would have never expected. Most people say they like the books. I'm terrified. I'm about to start book four and I hear it is one of the best. Book five, however, is the most wordy and difficult to read. Most people I talk to about the series are upset it has taken so long to get the books out. They have been reading since the mid nineties and hate the book-every-two-years thing the author has going on. Some say they have to re-read the books to keep up. I'm running through the first ten books, if I can make it all the way through. I bet I remember as much at the end as any one else who read them as they came out.
I have to say, I have never read two books in one weekend. I've never completed 600 pages in a day. Sunday I got up at 8:00 and completed the book (three) around 9:30 or so. I only stopped for a couple of phone calls. I have an odd feeling of accomplishment. So far, the wordiness of the book hasn't bothered me. It is interesting to have the multiple plot lines. I can sympathize with those who have to wait a long time for the books to come out. The plots are complex and interwoven (like the fabric of our lives). The series lives up to it's name.
I believe the saying is "The wheel weaves as the weave wills." I might not have that right. I'll have to check. I just did a search on Google for the saying to verify it and I got a server error. creepy.
2004-07-25
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