It's 14,000 words to NaNo, we've got a full pot of coffee, a couple of cigars, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses.
Posts
I love reading a wide diversity of blogs because you never know what you'll find serious, thoughtful, ranking, or funny.
its like Tigger got drunk in tijuana and had an illegitiate kid .
I near spit out my drink when I read that . Here is to diversity of opinions emerging via blogs. And especially the humor they inspire...
The New York Times had an interesting article on a sociologist living in the environment they are examining. (Thanks to Joi for the pointer) She is in the space of Social Software (LOAF) but the line I liked best was this
"Apparently Friendster management could conceive of only one reason: to subvert the site. So it began terminating the Fakesters. That set off a Fakester revolution, complete with a manifesto: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all fakesters and real people are created equal."
To paraphrase the X-files, the myths are out there. Maybe even more actively created than in the industrial revolution, because of the more inherent social revolution that is side by side with this technological one.
Technology is helping us to rewrite society, it's rules, norms, and social behaviors. It's empowering the individual and their role in society. All is not perfect, this is a difficult and challenging process that we are learning along the w...
Poetry Wednesday
Destiny
Like winds or waters were her ways:
The flowing tides, the airy streams,
Are troubled not by any dreams;
They know the circle of their days.
Like winds or waters were her ways:
They heed not immemorial cries;
They move to their high destinies
Beyond the little voice that prays.
She passed into her secret goal,
And left behind a soul that trod
In darkness, knowing not of God,
But craving for its sister soul. - George William Russell
Long day, five hours to go, very tired. That is all...
The Project goes well another week and we will finish up, if this had been a normal week the other person helping out might have completed it, but with Thanksgiving this week it looks like I'll be going up one last time next Monday.
Like via osmosis, I have learned a lot about Indian rugs of the last few weeks.
1 - While there were elaborate rugs before 1930, you can tell in the 1930-40s rug making became more of an artistic and money making venture as opposed to purely practical one. Especially pre-1890 most rugs were fairly simple design it seems to me (very novice opinion).
2 - I get a real thrill by looking at some of the 1960s rugs, because it may have been some of the same rugs my Mother saw when she took her first trip West. I can't say for sure, but I enjoy the thought anyways.
3 - Today, I started to think often about the old trading posts, how many are still out there and operating in the modern bi...
Dean
My consideration of Dean as a candidate has ended, I don't know who I'll vote for but it won't be him. While I do enjoy his shoot from the hip style too many negatives have racked up against him.
1 - Union endorsements
2 - The idea we should reregulate right more bureaucracy is exactly what the economy needs right now
3 - Lastly Ted Rall has stated his preferance ( note his spelling not mine ). Rall has been know for his bad taste in cartooning, but he obviously doesn't live on the same planet as I do when he writes "Dennis Kucinich, Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton have brought common sense...". These are three people I don't think should ever be in the same sentence with common sense. So it's an endorsement, big deal, but the Dean camp wants you to know they are happy of his support.
I have a lot of respect for David and Joi , they definitely have helped put him on the map by his intelligent use of the internet, but i...
Jeff Jarvis reminds us that it's nearly time for the man/dog/overexcited monkey of the Year. He also suggests that bloggers should have a few of their own.
Blogosphere's Fool of the Year - While Josh Marshall is always in the running for his chicken little the Bush Administration is falling posts, I'll go with John Dvorak for his lack of understanding blogs . Note - He has gotten a late start this year but I have strong hopes for Jason Calacanis for next year.
Tyrant of the Year - Hussein is too passe, Kim Chong-il of North Korea has the wacky factor, but I am going with Robert Mugabe on his one man crusade to starve Southern Africa.
Nonstory of the Year - Bush is Evil Dictator that will ruin America. I don't agree with a lot of his policies, I doubt I'll even vote for him, but he is not the worst President we have had. While his black and white leadership is often annoying to foreigners and liberals, it is nice to have a President to point to certain thi...
Friday Five
1. List five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year. Finish my Nano novel (over half way there...), find a better job, get the back door of the cabin insulated for winter, make squash soup for my Mom, and enjoy New Years with my friends in Flagstaff at the pinecone drop.
2. List five people you've lost contact with that you'd like to hear from again. James, Sajid, Garth, Jochen, and Tiff
3. List five things you'd like to learn how to do. Get back to learning Tai Chi, fix my drive in golf, find a way to make a living blogging for fun and profit, how to make sushi, and how to make love last.
4. List five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit). G4 Powerbook, G5 for home, spare house in DC, go to all the conferences I'd like to attend (SXSW Interactive, Poptech, CFP, Emerging Tech, SuperNova, etc etc etc), and live in Germany for a year to get my fluency back.
5. List five things you do that help you relax. Hi...
Poetry Wednesday
Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing the self is enlightenment.
Conquering others is power;
conquering the self is strength.
Know what is enough, and you'll be rich.
Persevere, and you'll develop a will.
Remain in the center, and you'll always be at home.
Die without dying, and you'll endure forever. - Tao Te Ching
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 3.46
1. I read an article that said the reason many people like hot and spicy food is because that pain actually causes them pleasure. Do personally find a connection between pleasure and pain? *pause* ahem, well a little definately for spicy food.
2. On the local NPR station their was a news item that about a recent study which said men who do housework get more sex. What do you think about that? Why would that be the case? Hmmm let's see drunk guy on the couch watching football, vs. helping his S.O. and making her life a little easier, yeah that is a total mystery I don't understand it at all.
3. A friend and I were talking about the stigma attatched to divorce. He said that men can usually be divorced and not have much social backlash, but that women are often looked at as having failed in some way. The church especially, he said, tended to look down upon divorced women as if it were totally their fault and not the man's. Do you th...
Cory Doctrow has a great letter supporting Amazon's new book search function. His point is simple "I want to work *with* my readers, not *against* them." I think this is a good time to plug his new book of short stories and mention I heartily recommend you buy a copy of Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom . It was one of the best books I read this year. If you aren't familiar with his work check out the short story 0wnz0red in Salon. You won't regret it.
In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen people.
I love that quote . The idea that some folks are famous to you.
A few for me...
Reemul - Sculpter, Theologian, and General Miscreatant
[ CENSORED ] - I love a good conversation and thanks to this person I have had a few lately. ( identities are blocked to protect the innocent )
Jen Raj - Rock Star to be!!!
So who is famous to you and not the world at large?
First snow fall...
The road up the canyon was highlighted by the perfection of Fall colors. The end of the canyon the trees were bare showing Winter's soon arrival. Then on my way home I saw my first snow up close driving home on an empty country road. The snow thick enough that it slowed my progress, but lifted my spirits. It's good to be home.
I got to thinking about the nature of cities, their feel and how it comes about, thanks to a stimulating conversation yesterday. And some words from last night are seeping into my thought process. That consciousness can create reality, I started to ponder that may be why the San Francisco city feel is different from New York, but they both possess a city feel.
Charles and I used to get on kicks of discussing different cities feels that there was a sense of energy and emotion in their experience, seperate from just the buildings and individuals that occupy it. I had not thought of it in specific terms but realized on my drive to Flagstaff today that I think of cities and some towns as in terms of emotions, that they have a spirit to them.
This feel may be the collective subconscious of the residents and their reality that is created. Yes this enters almost into that weird Ghostbusters 2 zone, but I have seen it grounded in reality. Seattle is different from Chicago. In the early 9...
The Long, Hard Year...
It's sneaking up on a year since I left DC and it's been a hard one. I have lost dear friends then this morning found out my Grandmother had died. Add in an aunt with cancer and my struggle to find a decent job becomes a minor thing. Not that I regret the move though, sure there are moments like a wine festival next week I'd love to attend, but then I see the red rock mesas blasking in the moonlight and night skies so clear you can see the Milky way and I don't mind.
All reminders that time is valuable I suppose. Make the moments count, to dream, to enjoy a friend's laugh, or a warm sunset.
NaNo struggles on I have managed to clear the 15k word hurdle and working tonight to close in on 20k. I have gotten through most of my chartered plot another scene or two ahead and it's vast unknown. I know roughly where I'd like the character to end up, if he manages to life that long *evil laugh*. Not that I really intend to kill him, bu...
The web can discuss important things, it can convey valuable information, but this isn't one of those sites. It is, however, hilarious . Every once in a while you find a great site online, then forget about it and end up ever so pleased when you find it again.
Most of it is not safe for work, but as an example...
Raize- can you guys see what I type?
vecna- no, raize
Raize- How do I set it up so you can see it?
It's like a best of IRC.
Adopt a Cigar
Some friends from Germany just called and they were how do I say, yes three sheets to the wind. The two of them had gone through three bottles of wine and the one sounded reasonably in control of himself the other was rather drunk. Anyway we got to talking and a buddy proposed adopt a cigar program. This program would be similar to the Adopt a Child in the Third World ads on tv. The difference would be an opportunity for American's to make sure Cuban cigars find a good home, since they are illegal to buy here. For just $4 my friend will buy and smoke, even record the pleasure with photographs and written account of the cigar so that you knew it was properly cared for. If it were 1999 I'd be talking IPO, but instead after work tonight while I'll be sleeping, they will be enjoying fine Cuban tobacco. Have fun Franky and Pete and thanks for the call, it made my day.
PS - If anyone is interested just let me know...
PromoGuy's Monday, ahem Thursday Mission 3.45
1. I've found myself using abbreviations and acronyms a lot when I "talk tech" with other geeks like me. I rattle off things like "I took the Jay-Peg into Photoshop and made it into a Jiff for the EightchTeeEmmElle. Then took the Kadd and saved it as a PeeDeeEff with EechsEmElle. So now I'll blog this for you in EmmTee in my PeeDeeAyy so you can use your ArrEssEss reader, hope this isn't too OhhTee. BeeArrBee." Do you ever sling slang from your area of expertise around accidentally and leave folks scratching their heads? Do you feel left out when others start speaking in terms specific to their industry? Gimme some examples! Alot of politicial ones the Floor (of the House of Representatives), HHS (Health and Human services), plus my fair share of tech ones. Although in the last two months I have been using alot of hotel ones ADR (Average daily rate) and Comp (complimentary room).
2. My hotel room ...
Poetry Wednesday
A Dream Girl
You will come one day in a waver of love,
Tender as dew, impetuous as rain,
The tan of the sun will be on your skin,
The purr of the breeze in your murmuring speech,
You will pose with a hill-flower grace.
You will come, with your slim, expressive arms,
A poise of the head no sculptor has caught
And nuances spoken with shoulder and neck,
Your face in a pass-and-repass of moods
As many as skies in delicate change
Of cloud and blue and flimmering sun.
Yet,
You may not come, O girl of a dream,
We may but pass as the world goes by
And take from a look of eyes into eyes,
A film of hope and a memoried day. - Carl Sandburg
" Not only the greatest dialogue in the history of cinema, but it's a genre that doesn't exist anymore: the newspaper comedy. And it's a blistering social satire '' - Quentin Tarantino in NY Times
Fun interview between Tarantino and Brian Helgeland, but this quote stuck out to me as particularly true.
Why I wondered?
Maybe it is because most newspaper/reporters take themselves to seriously or lack the sense of humor to be a realistic location for humor? Perhaps though I can think of plenty of reporters with a sense of humor.
Maybe more because it would take place in blogs which would not translate well into film medium? Perhaps.
Or maybe it's a combination of the previous two points combined with the point that Hollywood doesn't write great dialogue anymore.
Thoughtful article on why the left hates Bush and right hated(hates) Clinton. It may contain a kernal of truth about the differences. I never hated Clinton like some of my colleagues on the Hill. I didn't know the man and while I didn't agree with his slick style I noticed it was effective. While the article indicates GenX may be more Republican, I am not sure if I buy it, I do think they are more pragmatic and less ideological than the previous generation. In DC this has translated to people I know were willing to go work for someone regardless of their own beliefs if it provided a good job experience. In fact there is a Chief of Staff for a very conservative member who himself is very Libertarian, or another example my own work experience. The key I think is to know your limit and not let it change you. The best way to maintain a balance was trips to where politics isn't the center of the world on a regular basis and having friends across the political spectrum.
Quick update NaNo continues on I just cleared the 10% mark tonight, and seem to be gaining steam with increasing my word count production, though with today's speed I have hit the stride of the amount I'd like to be writing daily.
Looking back on what I wrote I have realized this much...
- Many drafts until this is readable...
- I am changing perspective in chapters which I hate and I know is wrong, but since I pushing word count, not quality I'll fix it later.
- typos, spelling errors and bad grammer oh my!
- I hate when I typed something and then next day I figured out the character wouldn't know that information yet. At least it's something minor.
Writing is hard, but then I knew that. No regrets and the story is slowly starting to emerge.
Okay everytime I think of saying something nice about Dean he promptly puts his foot in his mouth. The bright side of this it shows he is not just regurgitate speeches and thoughts given to him by his handlers, the down side is he embarrasses himself and potentially causing serious damage to his campaign. But if you are going to go down in flames it may as well be for being true to yourself.
Among the Democrats I think have mentioned I prefer Dean among them, not that I am willing to say I'd vote for him yet. But considering that the Bush administration has done a lot to grow government and nothing much to shrink it the Libertarian in me could palette Dean about as much as Bush and remind Republicans they should be supporting individual rights and smaller government. But all of that really has nothing to do with this post I am more interested in Dean's use of the internet.
First off he has a great team advising him. More importantly he is using the internet and media in general to communicate to people that they have a voice in his campaign and this can be a VERY powerful message. True I can cite his blog and that's nice and wonderful, but most every Democrat candidate has one now. His use of the Meetup software likewise has been very astute. But actions like polling people to whether or not he should accept Federal matching funds is even more amazing. I ...
Opposite of Social Software...maybe
Ever since Joi posted about his experiences at Disney, Social Software and crowds, a thought has been rumbling in the back of my mind about what would be the opposite of social software. Here is what I have come up with so far.
A personal software program or daemon. I suspect some of these characteristics will not be available due to computing power for 5 to 10 years.
It would most likely initially be web based agent because of the information feeds necessary it would have to be always online, some people eventually would have them home based with the highest broadband speeds. This would be because it would be tied directly to technorati , google , RSS news feeds, and other publications (think Fast Company, Wired, CNN, etc) to monitor you and news or people you are interested in.
The program would have to been adaptive both in terms of learning your preferences (data display, methods of interaction, etc) and improving it's searches ...
Poetry Wednesday
A little offering to honor the joy of the first snowfall on the Peaks, hopefully the harbinger of a good winter.
The First Snow-Fall
The snow had begun in the gloaming,
And busily all the night
Had been heaping field and highway
With a silence deep and white.
Every pine and fir and hemlock
Wore ermine too dear for an earl,
And the poorest twig on the elm-tree
Was ridged inch deep with pearl.
From sheds new-roofed with Carrara
Came Chanticleer’s muffled crow,
The stiff rails softened to swan’s-down,
And still fluttered down the snow.
I stood and watched by the window
The noiseless work of the sky,
And the sudden flurries of snow-birds,
Like brown leaves whirling by.
I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn
Where a little headstone stood;
How the flakes were folding it gently,
As did robins the babes in the wood.
Up spoke our own little M...
I was offered a subscription to Fast Company for one of those ridiculously low prices. It works out to a dollar an issue I think, so I figured what the heck and sent in the subscription card. Yesterday my first copy arrived and as I started flipping through it a few thoughts hit me...
1 - Wow, the Dot Ad Boom really is over or this magazine has gone Mad Crazy Atkins , it has gone from it's phone book heft to slim and sleek. But at least it still has kept it's 100,000 year trash life slick paper.
2 - I nearly had an epileptic fit over all the font changes, i.e. type, color, size, bold. It's got it all, in the end it's more distracting than readable.
3 - It may be because it's this specific issue (November 2003) but it seriously gives the impression of the New York magazine from the cover splattered with New York faces to the Jet Blue article on their terminal at Kennedy to a Q and A with New York Life Insurance Co. CEO. I seem to remember last time I grabbed...
I was awake during the day on my days off so getting back into the work schedule last night was a little rough, my writing suffered because of it, though I did accomplish about half my daily goal. Today I ended up in Flag for a few hours and had a pleasant surprise a nice dusting of snow on the Peaks . It looked absolutely incredible, I had half a mind to drive up the road to the ski resort and check it out, but I was up there for a project. I am doing some data-entry and webpage clean up on a virtual exhibit. Initially the display will be available in the gallery but eventually the pages will be posted online. It is interesting to me because we are making a cultural heritage of making blankets/rugs accessible to a much wider audience, especially once it hits the web. I didn't think much about the blankets, but going through the data sheets I am starting to get an idea of their history and it's pretty amazing and because of the age of these materials, if not for the web it is l...
PromoGuy's Monday Mission 3.44
1. This week the Episcopal Church USA installed the Rev. V. Gene Robinson was as a bishop of New Hampshire. This would probably not be news if Robinson were not an openly gay man. Critics are upset because their beliefs view bible to be condemning of homosexuality. Another point of view sees this as an opportunity for the church to reach a wider audience. What do you think of the church consecrating an openly gay person as Bishop? Should a person's sexual preferences be tied to religious beliefs? How do you think this should be handled? Should gay people in church leadership even be an issue? Frankly I don't care since I don't practice any organized religion, but if I am forced to have an opinion on the matter people's sexual preferences is something personal and I don't see how anyone else can judge if they aren't hurting anyone else so people should pay more attention to their own business.
2. Have you ever supported an...