Geistbear Musing

Happy New Years

More navel gazing by Big Media of blogs in the USA Today. It's not really that bad of article, but it only looks at the political angle, of which blogs often contain far more. The article mentions the big dogs of course, but ignores the niches and small publishers that make it interesting. I don't say this out of personal spite, just that oh wow politics angle got written up, been there seen that before. Maybe it's just easier for things related to politics make it easier to get print, but places like Making of a Restaurant (sadly over) or Blogcritics are changing the way people interact with media and it while politics is a segment of it, it's not all of it. Most of these newspaper articles seem to miss out on that perspective.

PromoGuy's Monday Mission 3.52 1. So, what did you get for Christmas? Some books, cigar case, DVD of Blade Runner and some luggage. 2. Are you returning any gifts you were given for Christmas? One present I am considering it, while I appreciated the thought it is not something I would ever use. 3. For me, the best part of Christmas being over is that there will be no more Fran Drescher "Old Navy" commercials. Ugh, bring back Morgan Fairchild! What is the best part of Christmas being over? The worry and struggle to get there is over, it has not been the best of Christmases or Year, so I'll be happy when it's over. 4. Used to be, we would always get together with friends and have Margaritas on New Year's Eve (though time has passed and friends drift apart, so not anymore, sadly). My Grandma always makes sure to eat Black Eyed Peas on N.Y.E. I know of another couple who "do it" on NYE, and time it to reach their "peak" right at 1...

I have pretty straight forward directions about installing the new MovableType based site, but as I go through the process, making mistakes left and right going back to fix and then waiting to see if the database updates properly all I can think is next time I'll pay to have the work done for me. I'd rather it just work and don't really care how it gets there...

Crazy Thought of the Day People joke or rumor about changing the Constitution to allow foreign born nationals to become President, specifically Governor Arnold. But the thought occurred to me tonight, wouldn't it be far simpler to invade and annex the country, I mean Austrians are used to being annexed into countries already. ( Joking...joking... )

Phillip Torrone did an experiment of taking a picture of himself every 30 minutes, 24 hours a day, 7 days, for 3 weeks. My immediate thought is sleep deprivation, which he verified on irc it messed with his REM patterns. He notes in the comments of Scoble's blog actually, the reason the expression(s) are the same is: to have the viewer (ya'll) ignore the human in the photo (me). after looking at a few hundred photos, the person in the photo in this case goes away, and you look at the background only. at least that was the experiment. The funny thing is while I notice the background I constantly referred back to Phillip's picture as I went through it, it would be one thing if he just clicked away pictures, but the fact he remains a frame of reference through out the series means you notice details on his face, and lack of smiling. I don't know, maybe it's just a personal perspective that I noticed the people out of things, but it just seems difficult not to no...

Merry Christmas all , a little holiday flash fun .

Blogroll and comments hopeful fixed. or maybe not...

Tim Blair has quotes from the year, check it out funny stuff.

Poetry Wednesday Maybe a holiday poem will cheer my mood, perhaps yours as well. A Visit from St. Nicholas ’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively a...

Had the holiday blahs this last week or so between work, job hunt, and other asundry issues. My spirits have been better frankly, but I'll survive. I changed the templet here as well, why? well I am helping a friend to start blogging and need to play with templates a bit, I'll probably leave it in this new style as the blog will be moving very shortly anyways. And with the change in formats I have my archives back, very cool development and will help in the move to the new location. Just a quick wish of happy holidays. ps- I just realized as of November 7, Bear Droppings is two years old, wow!

Every year I forget mentioning folks about Despair products until it's too late, I especially love this years thoughts on what Ambition gets you.

Anyone around here want to buy a town ? First order of business is fix their caps-lock button, granted it's alittle too far into the desert for my taste, but your mileage may vary.

What do you know, the government gave a Xmas gift to the internet. (Via Drudge ) The policy meaning of this is clear, if it stands, write your members of Congress and urge they support the internet, not corporate entities wanting to sue children and grandparents , and well the poor.

Blog's of note points to Fox Searchlight pictures which is basically a bad press release site, using blogger software, under another name Jeff Jarvis media guru has the details .

Death and Writers study , I don't know if it's true but it is intriguing idea, hmmm no explanation why Poets are more likely to die sooner. I wonder where bloggers will fall into the mix...

Interesting piece of campaign management by the Dean campaign. It took a good degree of web surfing to figure out what Howard Dean's undergrad degree was in, it turns out Political Science. So while his campaign touts his medical background, and I don't mean to imply he isn't a Doctor, but he has been a politico from day one. Not that it is necessarily a bad thing, it just would be the more honest admission. His official biography page and most of the prominent google hits only site him as receiving a degree from Yale in 1971, but no indication as to what it is. What started me to wonder about this was the recent report of Dean taking a number of courses on the Soviet Union and Marxism. I took a number of similar courses, three or four I think, as well in my international affairs degree but then I don't report my academic history as B.A. from Northern Arizona University in 1995. It just strikes me as he is hiding his background not unlike he did with his governor...

Dean sealed his gubernatorial records, and this makes some suspect he was an abortionist who sold the sundered remains to Satanists for Black Mass rituals. Not that I believe it, but it is an interesting theory and can't be disproven until we can see his records. Some days Lileks is too fun for words.

Remember folks if you are going to buy music this holiday season support independent artists and labels , especially certain new albums , otherwise be ready for what a crappy present . Or simply don't buy music as a present... ( yes brother this might be viewed as a hint as well )

Clay Shirky has another essay this one on how the RIAA is succeeding in driving encryption to the masses in a way that sci-fi never could, like his other articles it's well worth the read.

If it hadn't been for the fact he killed her she would be really happy with his work File Some quotes are too funny for words... " If she had lived, Mary Jo Kopechne would be 62 years old. Through his tireless work as a legislator, Edward Kennedy would have brought comfort to her in her old age ." - Charles Pierce in a January 5 Boston Globe Magazine article. Kopechne drowned while trapped in Kennedy's submerged car off Chappaquiddick Island in July 1969, an accident Kennedy did not report for several hours. A number of great media quotes from the year.

Verisign is Clueless . The fact that the internet is based at the edges is what gives the internet it's strength, having it managed from a central location gives greater opportunity for regulation, bureaucracy, and censorship. It's also gives a primary point of attack for those wanting to disrupt the network. It's more than a bit frightening that the head of a major Internet company does not understand the medium in which his company makes it's income.

Poetry Wednesday Winter is in the air... Sonnet XCVII. How like a winter hath my absence been How like a winter hath my absence been From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! What old December's bareness every where! And yet this time removed was summer's time; The teeming autumn, big with rich increase, Bearing the wanton burden of the prime, Like widowed wombs after their lords' decease: Yet this abundant issue seemed to me But hope of orphans and unfathered fruit; For summer and his pleasures wait on thee, And, thou away, the very birds are mute: Or, if they sing, 'tis with so dull a cheer, That leaves look pale, dreading the winter's near. - William Shakespeare

Social network article from NY Times, mostly just posting so I don't forget it, but if you are interested in how the internet is being used for social purposes check it out.

I didn't feel comfortable with Dean's foreign policy speech , but could not put my finger on why until I read this , then it suddenly becomes all too obvious. Further more his comments on the intelligence organs for the US did not make sense, yes he wants to fix them, but he does not explain how. Sure there should be more domestic-foreign cooperation, but Bush has addressed this and the results of Bush's effort will take time. All and all I am not any less convinced he is the wrong candidate. As for AIDS it is easy to speak now when Bush has made a larger contribution of any previous President, but I can't help but wonder will it pan out or where will he find the budget for it? Most importantly, Dean is a Doctor, he understands in theory preventing future illness through advanced preparedness, I don't see the wisdom in his comments. I really wish I did. Because of Dean's internet savy I want to be sold on his policy, I really do, but I haven't be...

"You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss". Your romance is Casablanca. A classic story of love in trying times, chock full of both cynicism and hope. You obviously believe in true love, but you're also constantly aware of practicality and societal expectations. That's not always fun, but at least it's realistic. Try not to let the Nazis get you down too much. What Romance Movie Best Represents Your Love Life? brought to you by Quizilla I could have easily predicted this outcome, so to those that have received a drunken phone call or email at three am akin to Sam's behavior, please forgive me ;)

I awoke to this news with two dogs jumping all over my bed, who knew dogs were so politically aware. This should make our troops job a bit easier. ps - after the next four to eight weeks...

Okay, I admit, I listen to too much late night talk shows deadicated to spreading fear and paranonia across America. But that said I not opposed to the flu shots as part of some crazed govt conspiracy, I just think it makes more sense to build ones immune system than shooting it with a shot that may or may not be the designated govt thought to be flu of the season. Weather forcasters do a piss poor job of predicting the weather so I ask you, why do we think the govt will do a good job of predicting a virus 3-6 months in advance? I would argue it is an even tougher prediction.

Certain friends who I shall not name, give me faith, they make me read things I would not have read. Okay maybe in paperback a year or three later, but if I could find it for a good used price. And they help us to think, and maybe, just maybe will help us to grow and learn.

Bureaucratic creep always happens if a technology can be used for tracking sooner or later it will. The latest example is EZ pass . People were told, no it won't be used for tracking purposes and now it is . I think that is why I continued to use the old fashioned paper cards on the DC metro system, not that I had anything to hid or worry about but they were untraceable, unless you bought a card using the credit card but even then it would be only trace your initial purchase time/location. The new chip based cards, while I have been told are untraceable, I am still not convinced, but it will be interesting to watch and see. The advantage of new technology you can find anyone anywhere, the disadvantage of new technology you can find anyone anywhere. A double-edged sword.

Poetry Wednesday Yes, it's a little late, been occupied with other stuff. Here the Frailest Leaves of Me Here the frailest leaves of me and yet my strongest lasting, Here I shade and hide my thoughts, I myself do not expose them, And yet they expose me more than all my other poems. - Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

More on the UN attempts to take over the internet from Jeff Jarvis . For the moment breath a sigh of relief, but as typical with bureaucrats once they get their eye on something keep an eye on it just in case. I think he covers the key points and a few that I would have missed. It's the monopoly interests in developing countries that are holding up internet development, not the developed world as India has demostrated.

Forgot to post something, something I have posted in the past to other folks but for some reason it did not occur to me until today. Friday was a very important day in history, my father was born. Belated by Happy Birthday Dad!

PromoGuy's Monday Mission 3.49 1. Do you have any vacation time from work saved up for the Holidays? Or are you taking any time off or traveling this month? What are your plans? Nope since I am working service industry this year time off won't really be happening. In fact Christmas morning since my alternate will be out of town I'll be getting off work and then driving to Phoenix to be with family, a few hours sleep and then back to work. It happens. 2. When do you do most of your blogging? During the day, at work, at home, at night? When it strikes me I'll blog day, night, work or home there is not a specific pace it's just when something fascinates, infuriates, makes me laugh, or think. And sometimes just to be silly. 3. What tends to keep you from blogging more? Or could it be that you blog too much and should do less? Hmmm maybe just right I suppose, I started it as writing practice and continue with it today for that reason, it pushes me to do at lea...

Last week I mentioned how the UN wants to get involved in the internet. This would be a great opportunity for freedom and participation right? Maybe not... Paul Twomey, the president of the Internet's semi-official governing body, Icann, learned Friday night what it feels like to be an outsider. Mr. Twomey, who had flown 20 hours from Vietnam to Geneva to observe a preparatory meeting for this week's United Nations' conference on Internet issues, ended up being escorted from the meeting room by guards. The officials running the meeting had suddenly decided to exclude outside observers. ... "I am not amused," Mr. Twomey said via a cellphone outside the conference room Friday evening after he was barred from the planning meeting. "At Icann, anybody can attend meetings, appeal decisions or go to ombudsmen. And here I am outside a U.N. meeting room where diplomats - most of whom know little about the technical aspects - are deciding in a closed foru...

Quote of the Day "duct tape applies to everything"

Salon has an article on youth and activism that is interesting. But in interviews with more than 30 fans attending the Tell Us the Truth tour in New York and Boston, two criticisms repeatedly emerged. First, concert-goers were turned off by the shrillness of the political rhetoric. Second, they wanted to know how to become more politically active; they weren't content with simply being in the audience. It's a limited survey but it is showing some interesting trends, remember this is the first generation to grow up with the internet around, frankly I didn't use it until the end of my college years, but these people have had it around and gotten used to it. It is an interactive medium which means people participate. They have gotten used to that as a requirement for their attention, if they are going to bother spending time with your product/political campaign/media they need to be able to participate. And not just a bit of Flash on a website either. Frankly while I enjoy...

Washington Post has an article on the upcoming UN summit on the internet. ICANN does have serious problems and needs reform, but when it comes to freedom and free speech I am not sure that the UN will do any better job than ICANN has done. Especially since certain nations like France and Germany have a history of banning speech if they don't like it, granted the US has similar problems with free speech in regards of copyright issues, but overall I think we are more balanced than most other nations. China and most of the Middle East use content filters. It just strikes me that this beaucracy will not improve the situation, but can do plenty of harm. I am all in favor of the UN getting involved when there is a benefit to their involvement, but this is not one of those areas. More on the Summit...

you are lightsteelblue #B0C4DE Your dominant hues are cyan and blue. You like people and enjoy making friends. You're conservative and like to make sure things make sense before you step into them, especially in relationships. You are curious but respected for your opinions by people who you sometimes wouldn't even suspect. Your saturation level is low - You stay out of stressful situations and advise others to do the same. You may not be the go-to person when something really needs done, but you know never to blow things out of proportion. Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything. the spacefem.com html color quiz

Shadows are falling and I'm running out of breath Keep me in your heart for awhile If I leave you it doesn't mean I love you any less Keep me in your heart for awhile When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun Keep me in your heart for awhile There's a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Sha-la-la-la-la-la-la-li-li-lo Keep me in your heart for awhile Sometimes when you're doing simple things around the house Maybe you'll think of me and smile You know I'm tied to you like the buttons on your blouse Keep me in your heart for awhile Hold me in your thoughts, take me to your dreams Touch me as I fall into view When the winter comes keep the fires lit And I will be right next to you Engine driver's headed north to Pleasant Stream Keep me in your heart for awhile These wheels keep turning but th...

There is something in the air, big things are going to change for Bear Droppings. New host and it's own domain, hopefully I'll have something for people to see before the New Year. In the meanwhile got a bit of learning to do on SQL, Perl, and maybe PHP. I'll also be willing to offer dirt cheap hosting for domains if any friends are interested let me know. Greymatter? Movable Type? Other blogging tools? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments I need the input. While I have loved using Blogger it doesn't offer categories something I have wanted since day one and is a requirement for the new site. A major word of thanks to Blogger. Yes it has problems but if you want to get started blogging I would HIGHLY recommend Blogger. It's easy to use, simple and direct interface and just works. But it's time to grow...

Here at Bear Droppings I like to highlight the best in ursine humor when available, but in the meanwhile how about a panda joke .

Necessity is the mother of invention an interesting story of high tech engineers learning how to make low tech or low economic devices.

Poetry Wednesday Meeting and Passing As I went down the hill along the wall There was a gate I had leaned at for the view And had just turned from when I first saw you As you came up the hill. We met. But all We did that day was mingle great and small Footprints in summer dust as if we drew The figure of our being less than two But more than one as yet. Your parasol Pointed the decimal off with one deep thrust. And all the time we talked you seemed to see Something down there to smile at in the dust. (Oh, it was without prejudice to me!) Afterward I went past what you had passed Before we met and you what I had passed. - Robert Frost

Protesting the RIAA a rather underground way, I don't know that I would have included pictures of myself in it, but I can't deny I am sympathetic to the idea.

Working night audit I listen to a lot of Coast to Coast AM, it's an admitted guilty pleasure listening to some very reasonable folks and well a whole lot of freaks. But one thing struck me tonight while listening... to American ears nearly anything suggested by a British accent will sound reasonable. " and then of course the seaslugs will take over civilization from man, it will to be sure quite an unusual experience, but we will adapt. " Of course I already had a crazed British roommate so I am immune to the effects.

Neat little quick writing exercise . I am posting to remember myself as well as point out to folks like Jen who may enjoy.

After Nano, like I said I did it , but you fair reader are probably wondering how I will ever keep occupied now that NaNo has passed, never fear for I had made plans! December NaFiThFlMa - National Fight Your Way Through Flagstaff Mall, as the towns 50,000 residents try to squeeze into the space of a single Walmart February NaFlSnSiDa - National Flagstaff gets 50,000 Snowflakes in a Single hour for a Day ( weather pending ) March NaCoPCMo - National Consume Potato Chip Month, 31 days, 50,000 chips April NaHaHeAtMo - National Have a Heart Attack Month, after eating all those chips May AnBlMoMo - Flagstaff's Annual get Blown of the Mountain Month ( actually this is really in April, but you know after all those chips it will need to be pushed back a month ) June AnAvKiToMo - Annual Avoid being Killing a Touron Month, 50,000 mob of Tourons hit Flagstaff and they are deadly! August NaReCoMo - National Return to College Month, in Flagstaff this means the students ...

I did it !