I am a competent carpenter, but not an expert. My Dad, and I have been helping my brother rebuild and refinish a hope chest that was in his girlfriend's family for several generations. It was in pretty bad shape. Its veneer top was cracked and splintered; someone had previously altered the feet by cutting them. Badly. And its hinge was weak.
So when my brother took this task, I'm not sure he was aware of how much work was required to bring it back. He has spent the majority of the time, striping the stain off, removing the old veneer, and sanding like crazy. He is now about ready to stain and seal with some polyurethane.
When he's finished he's going to present it as a Christmas gift to her. His attitude has been that he knows it won't be perfect, but no matter what she will be able to tell how much effort went into refinishing the piece, so she'll appreciate it.
Update: She loved it, and the work was well worth it.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Monday, December 20, 2004
Broken
I've been simultaneously upbeat and depressed about the holidays. I spent my money from a painting job on presents, mostly. I hope everyone likes them, but if they don't they can go fuck themselves. Merry Prickmas.
I still don't have my computer back. The person looking at it has a full time job, and computer repair isn't it. I don't want to be too pushy. Also I heard someone with a laptop, (who gave their PC to him to look at) also has a similar problem. He's trying to load new software, and see if a new battery will fix things.
[ On a side-note, I bought the Rockstar North game GTA: San Andreas for PS2, and the album Seether II. I was pleased with both. ]
I still don't have my computer back. The person looking at it has a full time job, and computer repair isn't it. I don't want to be too pushy. Also I heard someone with a laptop, (who gave their PC to him to look at) also has a similar problem. He's trying to load new software, and see if a new battery will fix things.
[ On a side-note, I bought the Rockstar North game GTA: San Andreas for PS2, and the album Seether II. I was pleased with both. ]
Monday, November 29, 2004
Been Some Time
I hate not having my own computer. Just like last month, the last couple of weeks were far less productive than the first. Again, the Power Management issue. It is now in its travel-case over at my friend's, the resident expert's house. My money is on a failed processor, again.
Mental Note: This is what happened to me on Sept. 11th, 2001. Such a small and unimportant issue, that it makes what did happen all that more unreal to me, because I didn't lose anyone I knew. Real tragedy like that makes me feel even less sympathy towards someone who also didn't lose anybody, but instead wants to revel in others pain as their own. Like that kid who after a complete stranger dies at school cries and stays home from school because they're too uncapable of coping.
Sunday, November 14, 2004
The Power of Music
Just in case I mentioned this before I'll keep it brief; but sometimes music makes it better. It being everything from the single moment to the entire day to life. There are just times when you can't stop turning the dial that controls volume, up. Unless you're wearing headphones and don't want to permanently damage your ear drum. Even then, the urge can be difficult to resist.
On another note, it seems the 'stuck-song-syndrome' has a name:
earworms.
It must be a fairly recent name aquisition, as I'm not sure 'worm' was used to describe a theoretical burrowing, prior to the computer virus era.
I'm going to come back and edit this, so there is just one song per album.
On another note, it seems the 'stuck-song-syndrome' has a name:
earworms.
It must be a fairly recent name aquisition, as I'm not sure 'worm' was used to describe a theoretical burrowing, prior to the computer virus era.
My List of Favorite of Stuck Songs:
[I guess I should at least come up with ten.]
1. Almost Anything from Disturbed's BELIEVE
2. Most Anything from System of a Down's TOXICITY
3. Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen. And many others.
4. Stellar, Incubus.
5. Too Bad, Nickleback.
6. Living Dead Girl, Rob Zombie.
7. Several Songs from Sum 41.
8. Several Songs from Blink 182.
9. Locomotive Breath, Jethro Tull.
10. Interstate Love Song, Stone Temple Pilots.
I'm going to come back and edit this, so there is just one song per album.
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Liberty
Liberate your mind you motherfucker,
You're so narrow-minded, So narrow-minded
Liberate your mind now motherfucker,
will you liberate your mind, This time
Bold motherfucker, don't limit your mind
Can't you see that the pace has fallen behind
All the hate in your heart, will be leaving you blind
So bold motherfucker, don't you limit your mind, This time
Waiting, for your modern messiah to take away all the hatred
That darkens the light in your eye. Still awaiting. I
Waiting, for your modern messiah to take away all the hatred
That darkens the light in your eye. Still awaiting. I
-Disturbed. Liberate, Believe. © 2002
I was just thinking about how we, as Americans, are regarded in the world, especially since the faux-election took place, and immediately following our (P)resident went on vacation while our troops were sent on a massive offensive strike in Fallujah...
Ah, Camp David. Sending others to die for your agenda must be hard work.
You're so narrow-minded, So narrow-minded
Liberate your mind now motherfucker,
will you liberate your mind, This time
Bold motherfucker, don't limit your mind
Can't you see that the pace has fallen behind
All the hate in your heart, will be leaving you blind
So bold motherfucker, don't you limit your mind, This time
Waiting, for your modern messiah to take away all the hatred
That darkens the light in your eye. Still awaiting. I
"Out of Zion shall come forth the law
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem
Nation shall not raise sword against nation
And they shall not learn war anymore
For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken"
Waiting, for your modern messiah to take away all the hatred
That darkens the light in your eye. Still awaiting. I
-Disturbed. Liberate, Believe. © 2002
I was just thinking about how we, as Americans, are regarded in the world, especially since the faux-election took place, and immediately following our (P)resident went on vacation while our troops were sent on a massive offensive strike in Fallujah...
Ah, Camp David. Sending others to die for your agenda must be hard work.
Tuesday, November 09, 2004
Another Proof
of the Non-Existence of God
Mechanics are usually expected to be less the reputable. They have almost all been, in my experience an unlawful, scheming pack of miscreants who are usually unable to distinguish between exaggerations and flat out lies. The only occupation as a group that are less inclined to have a conscience are lawyers.
Short explanation: My Parents needed an electrical connection fixed on the undercarriage of a Dodge Neon. They knew what was wrong with it, I knew what was wrong with it, unfortunately the mechanic didn't. He was so stupid he couldn't figure out where to adjust (there's a trick) in order to make the car start.
Long explanation: His wife (who doubles as the secretary) calls us, and tells us that it is the fuel-pump, it needs to be replaced, and will cost 419 dollars before tax. She also let slip that they actually hadn't been able to get the thing started. Being the gracious and always helpful people we are, my brother came over and gave me a ride down to the repair shop so we could show them what we needed to do in order to get it started.
The moronic mechanic got flustered and blurted out that he had already gotten the thing started and had it running, it needs a fuel pump.
Except his son (I'm assuming) also has the kind of loose lips that sink ships, and let loose that the other guy is the only one to have worked on it, and here's the catch: someone would have needed to tap the gas tank near the electrical connection while someone was turning the key in order to start it, and they didn't.
The lying liars couldn't keep their stories straight. Nor would they admit their incompetance. So, they lost our business, my brother picked up the keys from them this morning. Then they brought it to a new level. They called us and told us to take the car off their half empty lot, because they needed the room for others.
They didn't need any such thing, but I had to walk over and drive it back, so they wouldn't tow the thing. Sometimes people are such useless pricks.
Mechanics are usually expected to be less the reputable. They have almost all been, in my experience an unlawful, scheming pack of miscreants who are usually unable to distinguish between exaggerations and flat out lies. The only occupation as a group that are less inclined to have a conscience are lawyers.
Short explanation: My Parents needed an electrical connection fixed on the undercarriage of a Dodge Neon. They knew what was wrong with it, I knew what was wrong with it, unfortunately the mechanic didn't. He was so stupid he couldn't figure out where to adjust (there's a trick) in order to make the car start.
Long explanation: His wife (who doubles as the secretary) calls us, and tells us that it is the fuel-pump, it needs to be replaced, and will cost 419 dollars before tax. She also let slip that they actually hadn't been able to get the thing started. Being the gracious and always helpful people we are, my brother came over and gave me a ride down to the repair shop so we could show them what we needed to do in order to get it started.
The moronic mechanic got flustered and blurted out that he had already gotten the thing started and had it running, it needs a fuel pump.
Except his son (I'm assuming) also has the kind of loose lips that sink ships, and let loose that the other guy is the only one to have worked on it, and here's the catch: someone would have needed to tap the gas tank near the electrical connection while someone was turning the key in order to start it, and they didn't.
The lying liars couldn't keep their stories straight. Nor would they admit their incompetance. So, they lost our business, my brother picked up the keys from them this morning. Then they brought it to a new level. They called us and told us to take the car off their half empty lot, because they needed the room for others.
They didn't need any such thing, but I had to walk over and drive it back, so they wouldn't tow the thing. Sometimes people are such useless pricks.
Monday, November 08, 2004
Thirty Seconds Publishing
I continue to be plagued by power management issues with my computer. Since I remain unable to do anything about it, I have instead opted for trying to trick the battery to hold at least a short-term charge, and relying on a method of page editing that includes saving often, and writing briefly. Spell-checking becomes more optional than mandatory.
And so, for the most part I am forced to deal with the limitations of the computer by not dealing with it.
I think I am going to go make a pot of coffee, and drink about half of it myself. It is 6:30 on the dot now, and it feels a little odd, to be up before the sun rises. One good thing about it, I got to see the crystal clear stars just before the sky changed colors. I don't understand how most people do it on a regular basis. The demands of work aside, I think most people would choose to at least stay in bed until the sun was up.
And so, for the most part I am forced to deal with the limitations of the computer by not dealing with it.
I think I am going to go make a pot of coffee, and drink about half of it myself. It is 6:30 on the dot now, and it feels a little odd, to be up before the sun rises. One good thing about it, I got to see the crystal clear stars just before the sky changed colors. I don't understand how most people do it on a regular basis. The demands of work aside, I think most people would choose to at least stay in bed until the sun was up.
Sunday, November 07, 2004
Time Well Spent
Sort of...
Two Brothers, my father, and I all spent this weekend painting an apartment for a predetermined amount of money, of which I am now waiting for my cut. My brother works in social services, and he was asked to outsource painting a client's future apartment, coming in with a bid less than 2700 dollars.
[Originally a professional painter's bid, I guess that makes us the scabs.]
"No problem," he said.
"and did that include ceilings?"
"Uh, it could..." he said.
"Oh, and you might have to move some furniture."
"Oh. I thought it was going to be moved out, uh alright." he said.
"Ah, that includes your supply budget too."
"I see." he said.
See a pattern here? The real problem is not only that our original assessment was 1800, and we only added 200 bucks for the ceilings, [this for an apartment with approx. 1800 SF of paintable wall, not including the closets or utlities room] the problem is that his boss is kind of a prick, that kept changing the deal, making it less and less of a request, and more and more of a test of his employee.
Bitches' games.
This complete jerk has a lot of nerve. It was simply not anything one person could do on their own, and his partners in this deal had to put in more and more effort for less money. This is just a simple excercise to my brother's boss; He is only trying to show his boss what a smart money manager he is, and in the end, the guy's just screwing an already generous group giving up their weekend.
I have already made plans for this money, so this ass had better keep his end of the bargain and pay up, or he is going to have a very unhappy individual who is not his employee breathing down his [not necessarily] proverbial neck.
Two Brothers, my father, and I all spent this weekend painting an apartment for a predetermined amount of money, of which I am now waiting for my cut. My brother works in social services, and he was asked to outsource painting a client's future apartment, coming in with a bid less than 2700 dollars.
[Originally a professional painter's bid, I guess that makes us the scabs.]
"No problem," he said.
"and did that include ceilings?"
"Uh, it could..." he said.
"Oh, and you might have to move some furniture."
"Oh. I thought it was going to be moved out, uh alright." he said.
"Ah, that includes your supply budget too."
"I see." he said.
See a pattern here? The real problem is not only that our original assessment was 1800, and we only added 200 bucks for the ceilings, [this for an apartment with approx. 1800 SF of paintable wall, not including the closets or utlities room] the problem is that his boss is kind of a prick, that kept changing the deal, making it less and less of a request, and more and more of a test of his employee.
Bitches' games.
This complete jerk has a lot of nerve. It was simply not anything one person could do on their own, and his partners in this deal had to put in more and more effort for less money. This is just a simple excercise to my brother's boss; He is only trying to show his boss what a smart money manager he is, and in the end, the guy's just screwing an already generous group giving up their weekend.
I have already made plans for this money, so this ass had better keep his end of the bargain and pay up, or he is going to have a very unhappy individual who is not his employee breathing down his [not necessarily] proverbial neck.
Friday, November 05, 2004
And the First Order of the Day...
Bush wins and of course his first press conference demonstrates his inability to stay focused for even a week. He's going on vacation.
What a waste of a second term.
What a waste of a second term.
Friday Is Easier to Handle
To say I am disappointed over the election results this week is an understatement. I feel defeated. I can only imagine how canidates feel after such an excercise. It must be taxing to the ego.
Still currently looking for a job. I thought I had something, but the transportation issue kind of fell through, and on top of that, the company insisted on a work history, even after I explained to them I had no relevant work experience, which in my experience of job hunting means they wanted to judge me for my stretches of unemployment. I hate people.
I am defeated. I feel like I can't accomplish much of anything, that I am lost and useless. On top of everything else my back fell out of place this week, and it occassionally gives twinges of soreness, and is a little more achey than usual.
Complain, complain, complain...
Still currently looking for a job. I thought I had something, but the transportation issue kind of fell through, and on top of that, the company insisted on a work history, even after I explained to them I had no relevant work experience, which in my experience of job hunting means they wanted to judge me for my stretches of unemployment. I hate people.
I am defeated. I feel like I can't accomplish much of anything, that I am lost and useless. On top of everything else my back fell out of place this week, and it occassionally gives twinges of soreness, and is a little more achey than usual.
Complain, complain, complain...
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
A Couple of Weeks
It's been a good two weeks since I devoted any time to the blog, and truth be told, probably closer to a month since I wrote about anything I put more than a few minutes thought into.
I can't explain my lack of enthusiasm, nor attribute my loss of creativity as of late to anything more than writer's block. Since I'm not published, I'm not even sure I can count that one. I'll just continue to post about random things, since the blog really is more for the author than the reading audience.
Wednesday Oct. 27th:
Game Four of the 2004 World Series, and potentially the last game of the series. The Red Sox could actually win, and I am dumb-founded.
Saturday Oct. 30th:
Trick-or-Treat night for my town, sadly from 5-7 PM but it is for the kids. My Dad always gets a kick out of decorating the front porch and giving out the candy.
Sunday Oct. 31st:
New England Patriots v. Pittsburgh Steelers.
Possibly to continue the longest winning streak in NFL history.
Tuesday Nov. 02nd:
Indecision 2004. The National Presidential Election, for everyone who hasn't 'banked' their vote. The last of persistent polling and unending camapaign commercials, we now return you to your regularly scheduled lives.
I can't explain my lack of enthusiasm, nor attribute my loss of creativity as of late to anything more than writer's block. Since I'm not published, I'm not even sure I can count that one. I'll just continue to post about random things, since the blog really is more for the author than the reading audience.
Wednesday Oct. 27th:
Game Four of the 2004 World Series, and potentially the last game of the series. The Red Sox could actually win, and I am dumb-founded.
Saturday Oct. 30th:
Trick-or-Treat night for my town, sadly from 5-7 PM but it is for the kids. My Dad always gets a kick out of decorating the front porch and giving out the candy.
Sunday Oct. 31st:
New England Patriots v. Pittsburgh Steelers.
Possibly to continue the longest winning streak in NFL history.
Tuesday Nov. 02nd:
Indecision 2004. The National Presidential Election, for everyone who hasn't 'banked' their vote. The last of persistent polling and unending camapaign commercials, we now return you to your regularly scheduled lives.
Wednesday, October 13, 2004
The Third and Final Debate
2004
1st presidential debate: Thursday;
Kerry decisively won.
Bush embarrassingly lost.
Outcome: Fox News reported the oppossite.
1 and only vice-presidential debate: following Wednesday;
Edwards earned a strong victory.
Cheney finished a closer second than Gee-Dubya.
Outcome: Republicans wonder again why Jr. wasn't just another Dan Quayle Human-BPV.
2nd presidential debate: Friday;
Kerry earned another strong victory.
Bush exceded his shockingly low expectations.
Outcome: Fox News reported Bush's triumph, and predicted the election results.
3rd presidential debate: Wednesday;
Kerry can't believe he's still not ahead in the 'polls' especially that stupid fucking 'likely voter poll'
Bush can't believe Kerry's still not ahead in the 'polls' even the Gallup Poll...
Outcome: Democrats continue banging their heads against their walls.
1st presidential debate: Thursday;
Kerry decisively won.
Bush embarrassingly lost.
Outcome: Fox News reported the oppossite.
1 and only vice-presidential debate: following Wednesday;
Edwards earned a strong victory.
Cheney finished a closer second than Gee-Dubya.
Outcome: Republicans wonder again why Jr. wasn't just another Dan Quayle Human-BPV.
2nd presidential debate: Friday;
Kerry earned another strong victory.
Bush exceded his shockingly low expectations.
Outcome: Fox News reported Bush's triumph, and predicted the election results.
3rd presidential debate: Wednesday;
Kerry can't believe he's still not ahead in the 'polls' especially that stupid fucking 'likely voter poll'
Bush can't believe Kerry's still not ahead in the 'polls' even the Gallup Poll...
Outcome: Democrats continue banging their heads against their walls.
The More I Know...
The Less I Understand.
I find more and more often that the more I learn about people and psychology or politics (which can be thought of as group sociology, to a degree) the less I am comfortable with in regards to blanket statements that encapsulate the entire group of something. That being said, I am wholly dumb-founded at an increase of the encumbant this late in the game. Has no one been paying attention? Didn't anyone see? He's not only a unintellectual meathead, he's also an angry little prick, who starts shouting and stamping his feet when he doesn't get his own way.
What a malignant little baby. What a sheltered life he is now entirely exposed for living, he's not only less aware of his financial holdings than a near stranger, he's completely devoid of anything useful.
I'm done talking about this. If America is so blind that we as a whole can't see the destructive chaos of the Bush administration, then we deserve four more years, and may God have mercy on us.
I find more and more often that the more I learn about people and psychology or politics (which can be thought of as group sociology, to a degree) the less I am comfortable with in regards to blanket statements that encapsulate the entire group of something. That being said, I am wholly dumb-founded at an increase of the encumbant this late in the game. Has no one been paying attention? Didn't anyone see? He's not only a unintellectual meathead, he's also an angry little prick, who starts shouting and stamping his feet when he doesn't get his own way.
What a malignant little baby. What a sheltered life he is now entirely exposed for living, he's not only less aware of his financial holdings than a near stranger, he's completely devoid of anything useful.
I'm done talking about this. If America is so blind that we as a whole can't see the destructive chaos of the Bush administration, then we deserve four more years, and may God have mercy on us.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Short Brief
I'll be quick; new neighbors moved in next door. They're young Republicans and sporting a 'Support Bush and our Troops' sign or some such thing on their front lawn. Ok. Seems like bipolar causes, but I will try to resist the urge to walk over there and squirt lighter-fluid on their sign, and set it ablaze.
Maybe I'm just not thinking clearly, but I thought supporting the guy who cut military benfits, increased the likelihood of combat, and lengthened the duration of commitments by the soldiers was decidely anti-troops, if still considered pro-military.
Oh well, I'm sure it is just my liberal-bias silliness. Even though when I took a political poll I tested just to the right of dead center. Perhaps it was the poll that was inadequate, but when I finished and it called me a centrist; neither a liberal nor conservative, neither a Libertarian nor a supporter of big government, it sounded right to me.
Maybe I'm just not thinking clearly, but I thought supporting the guy who cut military benfits, increased the likelihood of combat, and lengthened the duration of commitments by the soldiers was decidely anti-troops, if still considered pro-military.
Oh well, I'm sure it is just my liberal-bias silliness. Even though when I took a political poll I tested just to the right of dead center. Perhaps it was the poll that was inadequate, but when I finished and it called me a centrist; neither a liberal nor conservative, neither a Libertarian nor a supporter of big government, it sounded right to me.
An Update to this angry little blurb:
The day after George's vacation anaouncement I noticed the sign of support gone from the neighbors lawn. I can't decide whether their sign vanished (to their trash) due to the election being concluded (and therefore their support [i.e. use] of the troops has concluded.) or if they got one to many crooked glances from their neighbors for being pro-Bush.
It disgusts me that they wouldn't continue to show support for their troops especially considering they [10,000 American troops] are now (now that the silly nonsense of the forced re-election is behind us) being sent into a Fallujah offensive. But, we must remember, soldiers to these NeoCons are useful instruments, not friends or family.
Monday, September 27, 2004
Not Much New
My computer, which has taken to occassional and unexplainable shutdowns lately has apparently an 'overcharged' battery. If I have mentioned this before, excuse the repetition, but it concerns the website a bit. It seems okay as long as I periodically unplug the machine, so its laptop battery can get drained, but not too much, or it shuts down again...it seems its capacity has been more than halved.
My Dad and I went out and bought a new tool, a router for the immediate utility of hanging door hinges. My Dad has also had some interest in furniture making, so we may go back to Home Depot, and purchase a router-table. so we can make our own moulding and sculpt the edges.
My younger brother finally took his X-box with him to his apartment, (lament) actually I was happy to see it go, for now. I haven't got any money for new games, so I was just wasting my time playing out different side-stories of Knights of the Old Republic. I can't wait for KotOR II: The Sith Lords. I am sure it will be another great game. Currently the only other game I am looking forward to on the X-box, is The Fall of Max Payne.
On a completely unrelated note, I love cordless headphones. I've got a pair of RCA 900 MHz Headphones, and they work great. Especially when you do something like get up from your desk, and go downstairs and outside to hang clothes on the line, you never leave your music.
My Dad and I went out and bought a new tool, a router for the immediate utility of hanging door hinges. My Dad has also had some interest in furniture making, so we may go back to Home Depot, and purchase a router-table. so we can make our own moulding and sculpt the edges.
My younger brother finally took his X-box with him to his apartment, (lament) actually I was happy to see it go, for now. I haven't got any money for new games, so I was just wasting my time playing out different side-stories of Knights of the Old Republic. I can't wait for KotOR II: The Sith Lords. I am sure it will be another great game. Currently the only other game I am looking forward to on the X-box, is The Fall of Max Payne.
On a completely unrelated note, I love cordless headphones. I've got a pair of RCA 900 MHz Headphones, and they work great. Especially when you do something like get up from your desk, and go downstairs and outside to hang clothes on the line, you never leave your music.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Lunch-Time Reading
As I sat in front of my laptop, eating a bologna sandwich on an english muffin w/ honey mustard, I read recent poll information regarding the election on Democratic Underground, and other friendly online message boards, (completely different subjects).
It was quite enjoyable, and while I don't always get to it, I think I like reading from message boards more than I like reading online newpapers. Also, I think in this greater age of information distribution, more and more 'common' news sources developed from individual efforts to distribute information, should be getting a larger slice of the pie. Maybe we'll see several sites merge into a News-Ring with a set of advertising contracts that evenly distributes the wealth.
It was quite enjoyable, and while I don't always get to it, I think I like reading from message boards more than I like reading online newpapers. Also, I think in this greater age of information distribution, more and more 'common' news sources developed from individual efforts to distribute information, should be getting a larger slice of the pie. Maybe we'll see several sites merge into a News-Ring with a set of advertising contracts that evenly distributes the wealth.
regarding the poll:
looks like Kerry is ahead again, and picking up steam...
Friday, September 17, 2004
Hopefully It Won't Die Yet.
My Computer has been acting persnicketey this week. Oddly shuts down for no obvious reasons. I'm starting to think either a.) I need to not let it go into standby mode (Windows had a hard time with that) or b.) it has nothing to do with that, and my computer is going to die soon.
Hard to imagine life without. Sharing the family PC again. Little or no privacy while e-mailing or whatever. Seems fine now. Hopefully it will stay that way...
Hard to imagine life without. Sharing the family PC again. Little or no privacy while e-mailing or whatever. Seems fine now. Hopefully it will stay that way...
Tuesday, September 14, 2004
It's Been Some Time
More than a week, actually, since I wrote on here. Haven't had much to say. My younger brother is dropping off my application at the place he works at, and also unfortunately at the Kindergarten school my neice will be attending. That is a horrible thought. But it is better than the alternative.
The alternative: a friend from that I've known since high school called me up the other day. He never attended a day of school past high-school graduation. Which is fine, he prefers to work outdoors. He currently works at a construction supply store, that deals in concrete supplies; rebar, forms, that kind of thing. And so I applied there. No sooner had the would-be boss seen the application, than he uttered, "You haven't worked since last October? Prick. Jack-ass as I referred to him later did not impress me. I may be an unemployed nobody, but I still have a small semblance of pride. I am done subjecting myself to others, and their taunts, or extreme short-comings. He is an uneducated moronic ass, and I can't make myself work for those types anymore. They offend me too much, and I am better than them. At least I think so.
The alternative: a friend from that I've known since high school called me up the other day. He never attended a day of school past high-school graduation. Which is fine, he prefers to work outdoors. He currently works at a construction supply store, that deals in concrete supplies; rebar, forms, that kind of thing. And so I applied there. No sooner had the would-be boss seen the application, than he uttered, "You haven't worked since last October? Prick. Jack-ass as I referred to him later did not impress me. I may be an unemployed nobody, but I still have a small semblance of pride. I am done subjecting myself to others, and their taunts, or extreme short-comings. He is an uneducated moronic ass, and I can't make myself work for those types anymore. They offend me too much, and I am better than them. At least I think so.
Monday, September 06, 2004
Fun Labor Day Weekend
It was a fun time had by all. Most of the family did their own thing. My parents went out for breakfast on Saturday, but they brought me back something, Irish Eggs, which is my favorite from the Early Bird, I highly recommend it to anyone along the Massachusetts-New Hampshire Border. Then my older brother's girlfriend from Toronto was visiting, so he, she, and I all went to see the Bourne Supremacy. Good movie, but the first was better. Today, my younger brother, his wife and stepdaughter stopped by, and he brought a load of comic books, so that was nice, then they left to go eat out for a late brunch. My Dad is celebrating Labor Day by cleaning every facet of his 1988 Ford Escort GT, which can be mistaken for an early eighties mustang, but only from certain angles. He is now either Turtle-waxing it, or cleaning the wheel rims.
Planning on going out again later today, either to see the movie Hero, or maybe to book shop, [Reads: sit in a comfortable chair reading like it is a library.] or both.
Planning on going out again later today, either to see the movie Hero, or maybe to book shop, [Reads: sit in a comfortable chair reading like it is a library.] or both.
Monday, August 30, 2004
Still Can't Get Something for Nothing
This TV appeared out of nowhere through ordinary circumstances at my house, and sat in my garage for the better part of six months. No one could figure out who it actually belonged to, but my brother wanted it out of the garage, because he wanted to pretend to do some work out there, without the cumbersome girth of the 25 inch screen monster in his way. Nowadays that doesn't seem so big, except it is a slightly older model, (maybe 10 years old) so it had a large backside, even though it was front-heavy.
Long story short it ended up in my room, we had tested it out it looked fine, but no more than 24 hours later and the screen starts moving and flipping on its own, and then filling with static. The thing sucks and it is broken, and now a day after it was moved into my room it becomes entirely obvious why it was in the garage. So I carried it back downstairs, (it's raining out so outside will have to wait until tomorrow) but I'm disappointed. Let it not be said that 19 inches is too small, as long as the color stays true, and the image sharp.
Long story short it ended up in my room, we had tested it out it looked fine, but no more than 24 hours later and the screen starts moving and flipping on its own, and then filling with static. The thing sucks and it is broken, and now a day after it was moved into my room it becomes entirely obvious why it was in the garage. So I carried it back downstairs, (it's raining out so outside will have to wait until tomorrow) but I'm disappointed. Let it not be said that 19 inches is too small, as long as the color stays true, and the image sharp.
Worried About Nothing
I was actually concerned that my other website of the same name would grow stagnant after the election, and I would have nothing to write about after the political angle dried up. Now, however, I see I had nothing to worry about, since I have found a new cause to advocate, and that is the free distribution of open-source software.
In many cases just as good as the software corporations these free programs are often designed and structured around college programs and earnest groups of volunteers as apposed to the 'fly-by-nighters' and malware proponents some would have you believe. These open-source groups are dedicated to the ideal of providing a real alternative to the failed software industry, and are willing to allow free distribution of their creation, whether seen as a sevice or product, often times they also provide downloaders the access to become a part of their efforts as contributors.
This is an acceptable future for the computer as a tool, not a way of life. Software dictated by the needs of people, without the constraintsof an industrial complex founded on the basis of charging fees for maintainence, fees for upgrades, fees for repairs, etc.
In many cases just as good as the software corporations these free programs are often designed and structured around college programs and earnest groups of volunteers as apposed to the 'fly-by-nighters' and malware proponents some would have you believe. These open-source groups are dedicated to the ideal of providing a real alternative to the failed software industry, and are willing to allow free distribution of their creation, whether seen as a sevice or product, often times they also provide downloaders the access to become a part of their efforts as contributors.
This is an acceptable future for the computer as a tool, not a way of life. Software dictated by the needs of people, without the constraintsof an industrial complex founded on the basis of charging fees for maintainence, fees for upgrades, fees for repairs, etc.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
My Computer Changes
The computer is looking much better, thanks to freebies. I thought this years ago and it still stands true. I am never upgrading past Windows 98. There is no point. You are basically just throwing money at a continuing problem, that refuses to fix itself, because it isn't profitable. Instead they keep offering fixes and patches, and upgrades, which never fully repair the problems.
changes to the PC software;
-- browser --
was : MS IE 6 with service pack 1
then was : Mozilla firefox
now : MS IE 5
(for windows) and firefox (for browsing); no evil updates
-- desktop --
was : standard desktop Win98 SE
then was : shell desktop talisman 2
now : standard desktop Win98 SE
(but looking for a good [and unlimited] desktop shell just like talisman2
also looking into; Linux or some Linux variant, for an Operating System.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Programs and Plans
This one was also sent in via E.mail. It also messed up boundaries by it's own html. I basically bitched about Malicious advertisement programs embedded in many downloads today and their effect on one's sanity. I ended up reformatting the harddrive. So, that obviously didn't go well.
Let me sum up;
anything that rewrites your registry in order to take over your computer and change it into a digital billboard is evil. Anyone who does this for a living is a whore.
Let me sum up;
anything that rewrites your registry in order to take over your computer and change it into a digital billboard is evil. Anyone who does this for a living is a whore.
Is This Thing On?
Just tried out the Posting via E.mail. It didn't go so well. I erased the message, and the format is all messed up on here. Damn narrow boundaries.
Monday, August 23, 2004
Annoyances In Life:
Job searches, Unemployment rates, Politics, Main-stream media, JackAsses, Bad coffee, Running out of cream, People who made Starbuck's thrive, Younger brothers, Older brother's need to talk almost constantly. Incessant comes to mind.
CEOs; all of them, people in charge and their inability to remember what it was to be unappreciated and under-compensated, the Internet, PC-viruses, hackers, stackers, and packers. Spellcheckers that never work, Checking my spelling using a dictionary, Pages with errors on them.
Pagers, Cellphones, Telemarketers, Telemarketers that call Cellphones. Technology based society, ineptitude, discourtesy, and the unskilled ignorant people with jobs treating others like they're better than them, rather than just better off.
CEOs; all of them, people in charge and their inability to remember what it was to be unappreciated and under-compensated, the Internet, PC-viruses, hackers, stackers, and packers. Spellcheckers that never work, Checking my spelling using a dictionary, Pages with errors on them.
Pagers, Cellphones, Telemarketers, Telemarketers that call Cellphones. Technology based society, ineptitude, discourtesy, and the unskilled ignorant people with jobs treating others like they're better than them, rather than just better off.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
A Fool's Errand
The old man walked the road every morning with his dog to get a newspaper and a coffee from the local farm-store.
The younger man drove by every day, and waved. This was the extent of their friendship.
Every morning that the young man worked, each going in the opposite direction, they would cross each other's path, and smile. Content that each other was well.
Then the man's dog was hit by a car. The old man grew sick, he no longer had a purpose to walk to the store every morning. He drove instead.
The younger man drove by every day, and wondered. This was the extent of his knowledge.
Every morning through that winter the old man missed his pet, and the younger man watched the icy road. Neither saw hope.
Then in the Spring after the snow had melted, the younger man found a lost puppy on the side of the road. He carried the dog in his lap, as he drove to work.
He saw the old man at the store, and stopped, he delivered to him a new reason to walk to the store every morning. Now he sees him walking everyday. They wave and smile that each other is well.
This is the extent of their friendship.
The younger man drove by every day, and waved. This was the extent of their friendship.
Every morning that the young man worked, each going in the opposite direction, they would cross each other's path, and smile. Content that each other was well.
Then the man's dog was hit by a car. The old man grew sick, he no longer had a purpose to walk to the store every morning. He drove instead.
The younger man drove by every day, and wondered. This was the extent of his knowledge.
Every morning through that winter the old man missed his pet, and the younger man watched the icy road. Neither saw hope.
Then in the Spring after the snow had melted, the younger man found a lost puppy on the side of the road. He carried the dog in his lap, as he drove to work.
He saw the old man at the store, and stopped, he delivered to him a new reason to walk to the store every morning. Now he sees him walking everyday. They wave and smile that each other is well.
This is the extent of their friendship.
Monday, August 16, 2004
Back for Another Round
I am currently taking digital photographs, and making a master-invenotry list for my friend's website. It should be up and running shortly, even if only as a store catalogue for now. I also learned that a mutual friend, who shared the same sentence in high-school with me, works with webpages professionally. It was nice being able to discuss some of the issues of language code.
It also felt good to get out and get some work done, with the photography. When the site is finally posted, I'll make a link here. As always I am making modifications to the sibling website, as it has been a learning model for me.
A beautiful thing has been happening again. I have dreamed in terms of architecture. It probably sounds weird to non-architects, and also to some architects. But I am seeing forms and construction methods that translate well into actual buildings again. It felt for awhile that that portion of my brain had nearly turned itself off. Not as bad as losing my vision, more like if I had gone color blind. Or maybe as if I felt I had lost my sense of smell, and I could almost taste the ideas, but only in terms of sour, bitter, salty, or sweet.
Now both awake and asleep I am seeing my ideas in their full spectrum again, it is good, and I feel like designing again. This is something we used to say in our architectural program at school.
It also felt good to get out and get some work done, with the photography. When the site is finally posted, I'll make a link here. As always I am making modifications to the sibling website, as it has been a learning model for me.
A beautiful thing has been happening again. I have dreamed in terms of architecture. It probably sounds weird to non-architects, and also to some architects. But I am seeing forms and construction methods that translate well into actual buildings again. It felt for awhile that that portion of my brain had nearly turned itself off. Not as bad as losing my vision, more like if I had gone color blind. Or maybe as if I felt I had lost my sense of smell, and I could almost taste the ideas, but only in terms of sour, bitter, salty, or sweet.
Now both awake and asleep I am seeing my ideas in their full spectrum again, it is good, and I feel like designing again. This is something we used to say in our architectural program at school.
[ I Am An Architectural God ]
[ Ich Bein Ein Architektonisch Gott ]
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
An Endless Sea of Morons
What is happening to everybody involved in developing the internet. People went and got selfish. What happened to the lots of free stuff just waiting to be accessed? It all vanished, replaced by its retarded cousin; free-sample-you-must-buy-something.
Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is being deemed a 'service', in the aftermath of the P2P crackdowns, disallusionment has really taken a foothold. No longer a world or sharing, unless you've signed up for about a million almost free memberships. For the same garbage you could surf absolutely free a decade ago.
Now if people think there is money to be had, there's a price tag, and it usually dangling in front of the images. Made some stupid buttons using Photoshop? List a couple of examples and hang a shingle as a graphic designer. Got a stupid cartoon that looks like a third-grader eeked it out holding the pen between his thumbs? You too can market your crap on a coffee mug and be signed up with pay-pal. Got nice boobs? Pay for college with them.
You get the point, this is getting more and more ridiculous by, well at least by the month. Everytime I make a search it seems things have gotten more restrictive. Now I added my name to an add-your-url-to-search-engine service months ago. It was supposed to add my own garbage little site to the likes of Yahoo! and Google ages ago. I just did a web search using my URL and nada came up.
To top it off, now when I look for search engine promotion 'services' I'm finding VERY little for free. WTF, I just want to put my site up so my friends can look at my dumb little site. I'm not making any money you 'tards, so I'm not paying for anything. Anything. I'm sure if I keep looking, I'll find what I'm looking for, but it took almost no time at all to find a free little javascript chat to add to my site. It should all be that easy.
Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is being deemed a 'service', in the aftermath of the P2P crackdowns, disallusionment has really taken a foothold. No longer a world or sharing, unless you've signed up for about a million almost free memberships. For the same garbage you could surf absolutely free a decade ago.
Now if people think there is money to be had, there's a price tag, and it usually dangling in front of the images. Made some stupid buttons using Photoshop? List a couple of examples and hang a shingle as a graphic designer. Got a stupid cartoon that looks like a third-grader eeked it out holding the pen between his thumbs? You too can market your crap on a coffee mug and be signed up with pay-pal. Got nice boobs? Pay for college with them.
You get the point, this is getting more and more ridiculous by, well at least by the month. Everytime I make a search it seems things have gotten more restrictive. Now I added my name to an add-your-url-to-search-engine service months ago. It was supposed to add my own garbage little site to the likes of Yahoo! and Google ages ago. I just did a web search using my URL and nada came up.
To top it off, now when I look for search engine promotion 'services' I'm finding VERY little for free. WTF, I just want to put my site up so my friends can look at my dumb little site. I'm not making any money you 'tards, so I'm not paying for anything. Anything. I'm sure if I keep looking, I'll find what I'm looking for, but it took almost no time at all to find a free little javascript chat to add to my site. It should all be that easy.
Brain Lint:
Google found it first try in 0.33 seconds.
More Brain Lint:
Shortly after this post, Angelfire added yet another irritant called the lycos-sidebar to all free pages.
I am now in the process of moving my entire site to a new server.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
It's Been a Busy Week.
I've been spending a couple of days working on a business related website for a friend of mine. It looks like it is turning out well for someone who doesn't get paid for this sort of thing. Also it was put together only using code I understand myself. I just need to spend a little time working out the code for things like order-forms, and maybe a few more sharp looking graphics.
This morning I went along with my Dad to look at the alternative tile product that has been advertised at LOWE'S; Edge & Precizion Tile.
We watched a demonstration video outlining the whole process. It is garbage. The backing-board is made out of particle board which can't get wet; you're not supposed to let standing water occur, but it is safe for bathroom application, the special grout is intolerant to alcohol-based cleansers; I imagine that means the stuff will dissolve in it, so basically the tile backing will eventually rot and break underneath the tile, the grout lines will split, and you'll be left with a worse mess than when you started. And it isn't cheap either, It can run up to $4.18 SF ($8.36 per panel) as apposed to $2.24 for regular porcelain 12x12 tiles.
So installation, application, and maintainence all add up to;
This morning I went along with my Dad to look at the alternative tile product that has been advertised at LOWE'S; Edge & Precizion Tile.
We watched a demonstration video outlining the whole process. It is garbage. The backing-board is made out of particle board which can't get wet; you're not supposed to let standing water occur, but it is safe for bathroom application, the special grout is intolerant to alcohol-based cleansers; I imagine that means the stuff will dissolve in it, so basically the tile backing will eventually rot and break underneath the tile, the grout lines will split, and you'll be left with a worse mess than when you started. And it isn't cheap either, It can run up to $4.18 SF ($8.36 per panel) as apposed to $2.24 for regular porcelain 12x12 tiles.
So installation, application, and maintainence all add up to;
a.) not as durable
b.) just as difficult
c.) more likely to fail
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Law of Averages
It takes the average intern architect about 3 years of working in the profession to learn enough to take the ARE.
The average advertisement for intern architect jobs asks for 5-7 years experience.
More and more I also see licensure preferred...FUCK YOU.
To those individuals who are solidly ingrained in the industry:
Stop treating young architects who've put in their time, like garbage. Stop withholding the ability to get in the field from those of us who haven't gotten the chance yet. Stop outsourcing jobs to foriegn countries, or at least stop screwing those guys by paying licensed architects in other countries a tenth of what their owed.
Stop being the spoiled stupid little assholes you are, or you will kill the field of architecture.
Monday, August 02, 2004
Authoring Webpages
Working more on both my political humor-based Webpage, and my new resume Webpage. Both free servers have their ups and downs, but today, while I was free to adjust files in the 'manager', I wasn't allowed to view any of them, because 741 was down for maintenance until 12 PM MST. I assume that means tomorrow, because by almost 4 PM EST they were still down. It happens.
Angelfire fared better today. Having no means of viewing my Webpage, I imported it into the Lycos Interface I viewed it as a Webpage there. It looked much as I expected.
So tonight I am finishing my online effort by writing an innocuous paragraph or two here. One website I've been particularly thankful for is the W3 Schools Website. I've been viewing a lot of their free excercises and using them as a reference for my own html and css documents.
That's all for now. I'll think of more tomorrow.
Angelfire fared better today. Having no means of viewing my Webpage, I imported it into the Lycos Interface I viewed it as a Webpage there. It looked much as I expected.
So tonight I am finishing my online effort by writing an innocuous paragraph or two here. One website I've been particularly thankful for is the W3 Schools Website. I've been viewing a lot of their free excercises and using them as a reference for my own html and css documents.
That's all for now. I'll think of more tomorrow.
Sunday, August 01, 2004
The Useless Tree
There is a tree, so full of knots at its base.
Full of twisted branches, so irregular,
that it will never serve a carpenter's purpose.
The tree sits idle, in its wasteland surroundings.
Its purpose is its life's duration, alone in its beauty.
It will forever sit undisturbed.
Its permanance provides comfort.
Its shadey branches provide relief.
It claims no innate value to others.
How can I measure up to its ignoble importance.
How can I find my life's purpose, when I too,
sit useless and undisturbed in my wasteland.
-interpreted from the way of chuang tzu-
Full of twisted branches, so irregular,
that it will never serve a carpenter's purpose.
The tree sits idle, in its wasteland surroundings.
Its purpose is its life's duration, alone in its beauty.
It will forever sit undisturbed.
Its permanance provides comfort.
Its shadey branches provide relief.
It claims no innate value to others.
How can I measure up to its ignoble importance.
How can I find my life's purpose, when I too,
sit useless and undisturbed in my wasteland.
-interpreted from the way of chuang tzu-
Saturday, July 31, 2004
A Problem with Technology
I don't remember editing anything out of the ordinary, but aparently my imcompetent editing of the template resulted in the blog showing everthing below the tag-line as invisible.
So rather than scroll through lines and lines of code trying to figure out the typo that caused the error, I just set the template in new, and lost my blog-links. Which sucks, but it is a quicker fix than scrolling. The real problem is sometimes the laptop moves the cursor and redirects the text independant of what I'm doing, which is fun in a program like Word, but in an application where the displacement of text is horriffic, well: not good.
Hope I can find them again. They're fun bloggers. I should have just cut and pasted, but I panicked. White screen does that to a person.
So rather than scroll through lines and lines of code trying to figure out the typo that caused the error, I just set the template in new, and lost my blog-links. Which sucks, but it is a quicker fix than scrolling. The real problem is sometimes the laptop moves the cursor and redirects the text independant of what I'm doing, which is fun in a program like Word, but in an application where the displacement of text is horriffic, well: not good.
Hope I can find them again. They're fun bloggers. I should have just cut and pasted, but I panicked. White screen does that to a person.
Thursday, July 29, 2004
Blogs and Counters
I hate visiting a web log for several days straight and absolutely nothing is new about it. I have actually done the same thing, left the blog for days at a time, only to come back and write a few short sentences which neither explain the abscence nor make up for it.
It isn't like anyone is getting paid, like a sitcom blog with promised new episodes at least once a week. But it is almost like getting a reminder; " 'you know, you haven't done anything here or on your webpage yourself' 'I know, I was just looking forward to something.' "
The thing that annoys me most is when the counter on the webpage is still active, but it is just a bunch of people checking back to make sure nothing new has been posted. Maybe we should get an anti-counter, for when you let a page load only to realise there won't be anything for you to do or see. If you back out in the first ten seconds, a little popup comes in as a piece of javascript
That way you'd know. Especially where a site has adbanners that actually generate revenue for the website. "Nope, I'm not really here, and you can't count me, because you haven't made anything new or entertaining. You stink."
It isn't like anyone is getting paid, like a sitcom blog with promised new episodes at least once a week. But it is almost like getting a reminder; " 'you know, you haven't done anything here or on your webpage yourself' 'I know, I was just looking forward to something.' "
The thing that annoys me most is when the counter on the webpage is still active, but it is just a bunch of people checking back to make sure nothing new has been posted. Maybe we should get an anti-counter, for when you let a page load only to realise there won't be anything for you to do or see. If you back out in the first ten seconds, a little popup comes in as a piece of javascript
- Count? - - Don't Count. -
That way you'd know. Especially where a site has adbanners that actually generate revenue for the website. "Nope, I'm not really here, and you can't count me, because you haven't made anything new or entertaining. You stink."
Year of the Monkey
Another year has gone by, and it will be my birthday in a couple of days. August 3rd, the personalized New Year's Day for me. Nothing has happened that makes me want to make me celebrate. I'm not riddled with accomplishments. I am Jack's angry bile-filled contempt.
That nothing noteworthy has transpired is not the only problem, but it is the most persistent one. I don't think my parents understand when I want to not celebrate my birthday anymore. It isn't just that 18 or 19 really is the cut-off for childish celebration simply for being here, I'll be 28. It isn't just that I feel like a loser. It is more than that, and it is less than that. It just is.
Maybe next year.
Tilling my own grave to keep me level
Jam another dragon down the hole
Digging to the rhythm and the echo of a solitary siren
one that pushes me along, and leaves me so
Desperate and ravenous, So weak and powerless, Over you
Someone feed the monkey
while I dig in search of China
White as dracula, As I approach the bottom
Desperate and ravenous, So weak and powerless, Over you
Little angel go away, Come again some other day
The devil has my ear today, I'll never hear a word you say
He promised I would find a little, Solace and some peace of mind
Whatever, just as long as I don't feel so
Desperate and ravenous, So weak and powerless
Desperate and ravenous, So weak and powerless, Over you
- A Perfect Circle, Thirteenth Step
That nothing noteworthy has transpired is not the only problem, but it is the most persistent one. I don't think my parents understand when I want to not celebrate my birthday anymore. It isn't just that 18 or 19 really is the cut-off for childish celebration simply for being here, I'll be 28. It isn't just that I feel like a loser. It is more than that, and it is less than that. It just is.
Maybe next year.
Weak And Powerless
Tilling my own grave to keep me level
Jam another dragon down the hole
Digging to the rhythm and the echo of a solitary siren
one that pushes me along, and leaves me so
Desperate and ravenous, So weak and powerless, Over you
Someone feed the monkey
while I dig in search of China
White as dracula, As I approach the bottom
Desperate and ravenous, So weak and powerless, Over you
Little angel go away, Come again some other day
The devil has my ear today, I'll never hear a word you say
He promised I would find a little, Solace and some peace of mind
Whatever, just as long as I don't feel so
Desperate and ravenous, So weak and powerless
Desperate and ravenous, So weak and powerless, Over you
- A Perfect Circle, Thirteenth Step
Monday, July 26, 2004
Mind Wiped Clean
The reason why I haven't posted in the last few days, is because everytime I go to write something my mind gets sidetracked. I forget what it was that was so important a few moments ago, and decide if all I can think of is some aimless bitching, then I might as well leave the page blank, and go web-surfing.
I've been writing my novel again, maybe just a novella. What's the cut-off point? I wrote ten pages the day before yesterday, and today while sitting outside at a concrete bench and table, I wrote another six or so. I also took an earlier draft of the first couple of chapters and reread them, giving them a cursory once-over, then editing a few points here and there. It is really coming together.
In ROLLING STONE, Gary Trudeau, the author of Doonesbury was talking about his characters, and the recent changes of one inparticular, B.D. He's lost his leg to the Iraqi conflict, but Trudeau explains that he feels less empathy towards his characters than his audience tends to. To him characters aren't living out their lives in his head, they are tools in a mental box, to be used in order to tell the story.
I don't know if that holds true for most authors, it seems not for someone like George Lucas, and his creations in Star Wars. For me, I let characters go where they will, but like a nervous parent, I feel like I am keeping an eye on them. I don't know if I could write a book like Desperation, and then in the fashion of a Shakespearian play, kill half of my cast even though Stephen King has never had the dificulty of filling ten rolls with five actors.
I might have trouble letting go of a character. Is that bad?
I've been writing my novel again, maybe just a novella. What's the cut-off point? I wrote ten pages the day before yesterday, and today while sitting outside at a concrete bench and table, I wrote another six or so. I also took an earlier draft of the first couple of chapters and reread them, giving them a cursory once-over, then editing a few points here and there. It is really coming together.
In ROLLING STONE, Gary Trudeau, the author of Doonesbury was talking about his characters, and the recent changes of one inparticular, B.D. He's lost his leg to the Iraqi conflict, but Trudeau explains that he feels less empathy towards his characters than his audience tends to. To him characters aren't living out their lives in his head, they are tools in a mental box, to be used in order to tell the story.
I don't know if that holds true for most authors, it seems not for someone like George Lucas, and his creations in Star Wars. For me, I let characters go where they will, but like a nervous parent, I feel like I am keeping an eye on them. I don't know if I could write a book like Desperation, and then in the fashion of a Shakespearian play, kill half of my cast even though Stephen King has never had the dificulty of filling ten rolls with five actors.
I might have trouble letting go of a character. Is that bad?
Friday, July 23, 2004
Two Cars in Every Garage
In every home in America, where there are two or more computers in the residence, it typically falls on one individual in that house to repair, maintain, or upgrade those PCs. An IT-dept.-of-one, as some might put it. In my parents' home, whether I lived at home or away, that one-man-maintenance crew was me. Too slow?, need a better processor. Chokes on media files?, might be it needs a better graphics card. The home computer eventually becomes your creation.
Mine started out a Frankensteinian amalgamation of old parts from used computers, but in a few short years...ahck, it became a respectable custom unit. Finally, this year, they allowed the operating system to be upgraded by a friend, and now the software more closely fits the hardware. It is a fairly smooth-running machine, which hums to life quickly and efficiently, without too many worries. Still not absolutely perfect, (I still think it could use a better soundcard), but damn close.
Now my brother's on the other hand, started out a monster, and we are both trying to master its enormous potential. It is and editing station (he designed the requirements, and our very capable friend provided the know-how) with its newest card (a forward-port coaxial-station) which allows the digital camera (professional looking Canon XL1s) to be plugged in to the front.
It is a beast, all said, it allows at least three video outputs, and three in, without including an analog cable-tv port, and at least two seperate audio-ports. A fantastic monolith to technology.
Unfortunately it is not currently without the 'occassional digital hiccup' it is now being worked on over my brother's friend Tony's house. (He runs a nice little side-business of making said custom computers.) But before that my brother asked me to work on it. With no boot disk set, and no O/S disc, and a Stop-Disk error or something at the startup. I'd like to think I'm geek enough to tackle most minor problems, but not without the tools of the trade. That said, I wondered why my older brother blew up at me, when he got home from work. When I explained I couldn't do anything without the proper software, he gave the typical jackass response, 'I knew that."
Well, if he knew that, why the insane reaction to something he was already made aware? More importantly, I don't know either;
I've got to be a special kind of idiot.
[incidentally, I almost left the typo- a special king of idiot(s).]
Mine started out a Frankensteinian amalgamation of old parts from used computers, but in a few short years...ahck, it became a respectable custom unit. Finally, this year, they allowed the operating system to be upgraded by a friend, and now the software more closely fits the hardware. It is a fairly smooth-running machine, which hums to life quickly and efficiently, without too many worries. Still not absolutely perfect, (I still think it could use a better soundcard), but damn close.
Now my brother's on the other hand, started out a monster, and we are both trying to master its enormous potential. It is and editing station (he designed the requirements, and our very capable friend provided the know-how) with its newest card (a forward-port coaxial-station) which allows the digital camera (professional looking Canon XL1s) to be plugged in to the front.
It is a beast, all said, it allows at least three video outputs, and three in, without including an analog cable-tv port, and at least two seperate audio-ports. A fantastic monolith to technology.
Unfortunately it is not currently without the 'occassional digital hiccup' it is now being worked on over my brother's friend Tony's house. (He runs a nice little side-business of making said custom computers.) But before that my brother asked me to work on it. With no boot disk set, and no O/S disc, and a Stop-Disk error or something at the startup. I'd like to think I'm geek enough to tackle most minor problems, but not without the tools of the trade. That said, I wondered why my older brother blew up at me, when he got home from work. When I explained I couldn't do anything without the proper software, he gave the typical jackass response, 'I knew that."
Well, if he knew that, why the insane reaction to something he was already made aware? More importantly, I don't know either;
- a.) why I bothered. He is usually an ass about his high-tech.-toys.
- b.) why I was surprised, I acted out his reaction prior to his arrival home.
- c.) why, eventually, I'll help him out again, even with his computer.
I've got to be a special kind of idiot.
[incidentally, I almost left the typo- a special king of idiot(s).]
WE TODD DID
I AM SOFA KING
WE TODD DID
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Out Applying Again
There is yet another Home Depot opening in the area (Northeastern Massachusetts/ Southern New Hampshire area) and I was there with everyone else applying for a job. Actually five. My preference would be to work in the kitchen-design center. (My preference would be to work in a moderate-sized firm in Cambridge designing partially prefab homes for single family residences. But no one cares.)
But I have some forklift experience, so I checked that off, and I know my way around electricity so I checked off lighting, and let's face it, a job is a job, and if I have to work at (effectively) a hardware store, I'd be remiss to leave out that several jobs I've had include jocking a register.
Ah, there it is, that familiar wave of sensation I get when I feel the urge to fling myself into traffic. It passed.
So, as usual, I hope I get this job. But I hope more that someone gives me a call back and saves me from this fiscal depression. Call it a recession all you want "Bushists", if it lasts four years, it's a depression.
But I have some forklift experience, so I checked that off, and I know my way around electricity so I checked off lighting, and let's face it, a job is a job, and if I have to work at (effectively) a hardware store, I'd be remiss to leave out that several jobs I've had include jocking a register.
Ah, there it is, that familiar wave of sensation I get when I feel the urge to fling myself into traffic. It passed.
So, as usual, I hope I get this job. But I hope more that someone gives me a call back and saves me from this fiscal depression. Call it a recession all you want "Bushists", if it lasts four years, it's a depression.
Monday, July 19, 2004
The Grid
My brother and I are ghouls.
We started watching the new TNT mini-series, The Grid. It was well developed. The direction was good, the editing was fantastic, so were the graphics. And in the first five minutes or so, we were laughing so hysterically I thought I was going to dislodge something in my midsection.
We laughed hard. It started as the cigarette ash fell from the mouth of one of the members in the terrorist cell. It continued as the lid on the bio-weapon vial dissolved, and went on right up until after the lucky survivor ran past the rolling baby carriage and the man draped over the wall railing. (Who, I surmise was supposed to have fallen out the hotel room window.)
There was another couple of inappropriate funny moments, but that was the most intense. Mostly because people were dying and I really don’t think the show’s producers intended for there to be hilarity in those moments. I really enjoyed the show overall, and I think I will definitely watch this show again. Hell, before the show ended, I thought I wanted to own the series on DVD.
We started watching the new TNT mini-series, The Grid. It was well developed. The direction was good, the editing was fantastic, so were the graphics. And in the first five minutes or so, we were laughing so hysterically I thought I was going to dislodge something in my midsection.
We laughed hard. It started as the cigarette ash fell from the mouth of one of the members in the terrorist cell. It continued as the lid on the bio-weapon vial dissolved, and went on right up until after the lucky survivor ran past the rolling baby carriage and the man draped over the wall railing. (Who, I surmise was supposed to have fallen out the hotel room window.)
There was another couple of inappropriate funny moments, but that was the most intense. Mostly because people were dying and I really don’t think the show’s producers intended for there to be hilarity in those moments. I really enjoyed the show overall, and I think I will definitely watch this show again. Hell, before the show ended, I thought I wanted to own the series on DVD.
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Not Much Luck
Still annoyed that there is no longer a spellcheck or preview on here. WTF.
I thought I was having a tough time without a spellcheck here, but now I'm having more trouble with my Angelfire webpage than ever. I decided to rewrite my page so it would conform to more concise standards. I restructured the page with some new embedded CSS, and the page (while still simple) looked more uniform, and had an easier feel to it, when editing. (I transferred most of the content from the old index in about 20 minutes.
Unfortunately all did not go well. I'm having issues with layout, and with more than half of the main table just not showing up. (Still there when I move my cursor over it.) Then this morning, when I first opened the page to take a look at it, every graphic and picture of mine had been replaced with a standardized angelfire-logo.
(I left then came back, all was normal again, sort of.)
It's starting to make me think either:
I thought I was having a tough time without a spellcheck here, but now I'm having more trouble with my Angelfire webpage than ever. I decided to rewrite my page so it would conform to more concise standards. I restructured the page with some new embedded CSS, and the page (while still simple) looked more uniform, and had an easier feel to it, when editing. (I transferred most of the content from the old index in about 20 minutes.
Unfortunately all did not go well. I'm having issues with layout, and with more than half of the main table just not showing up. (Still there when I move my cursor over it.) Then this morning, when I first opened the page to take a look at it, every graphic and picture of mine had been replaced with a standardized angelfire-logo.
(I left then came back, all was normal again, sort of.)
It's starting to make me think either:
a.) I have no idea what I'm doing. (possible.)
b.) The Terra-Lycos network was being
debugged this weekend. (also possible.)
c.) Both. Also, I'm stupid.
d.) Both, and my computer has a virus again. (acting extremely odd. very possible.)
Friday, July 16, 2004
Red Alert
Where the hell did my Spellcheck tool go? I need it. I can't believe that blogger would intentionally update something to diminish the benefits of this place. Oh well. I just came on here to complain about my own computer illiteracy.
I am trying to teach myself more advanced HTML, as well as Javascripts, XML, and CSS. The Stylesheets are the most difficult to me, because of having to switch back and forth. I can see how it will be easier once I can have three or four different color schemes, and all I have to do is change one link to get them.
Which is good, because I like changing my desktop layout constantly, so I think this will be a good solution.
I am trying to teach myself more advanced HTML, as well as Javascripts, XML, and CSS. The Stylesheets are the most difficult to me, because of having to switch back and forth. I can see how it will be easier once I can have three or four different color schemes, and all I have to do is change one link to get them.
Which is good, because I like changing my desktop layout constantly, so I think this will be a good solution.
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Better Afternoon
The rest of my day went well. I spent some quality time gluing the pieces of a re-designed model together, (which incidentally was made with the use of my newly refurbished table saw. Previously posted.) My one complaint is that if I had money I would get new glasses. The lenses are scratched after an accidental encounter with blacktop awhile back, and I never got them replaced. It also doesn't help that now a lens keeps popping out, and then I have to get my fingerprints all over it, getting it back in place.
Continued 'exploration' of my design. Will probably photograph and post the project soon, on my other website, which is listed in my profile. Still haven't found the battery pack to the digital camera.
Continued 'exploration' of my design. Will probably photograph and post the project soon, on my other website, which is listed in my profile. Still haven't found the battery pack to the digital camera.
Interview Headed South
My interview did not go as I had planned this morning. For starters, it was not a real interview, it was only a preliminary interview meant as an initial weeding-out process and a chance to collect references. Secondly the person conducting the interview seemed to be pushing for the counter-position. I was hoping for something in the kitchen design center. Instead I received the explanation that there are rarely if ever regular consumer clients, and most often the customers are contractors with tract housing developments consisting of 50 or so houses with about 3 different variations.
"Ah. The devils, who have corrupted and defiled the industry, [of architecture]" I thought. "So there really isn't any design at all, since these things are made from the same set of plans."
While unoriginal, uncreative, and inept construction managers are just trying to squeeze in as much as possible [to increase the sales-price] they put in as little consideration as possible into a solution. [to reduce their costs]"
In any case, I will continue to not work in my field. Even if I get the job at this place, I will be working at the counter of a hardware store. Nothing that requires a bachelor's degree.
I hate interviewing for jobs, it always feels like an older adult is scolding you for being what you are, for example when I interviewed at Zen Associates, it was for a menial laborer's job. Any retard with or without a high-school diploma could do it. The guy in charge of onsite work was one such retard. He'd 'been doing this since he got out of high-school' which means grade twelve is as far as he got. Then he spent the rest of the interview basically rubbing in my face that I went to school and had nothing to show for it.
If I could have that day over again, I would have turned his desk over and called him an asshole. I wasn't naive, but I was still holding back for the hope he was just a typical grunting Neanderthal and this was his low-brow way of saying hello.
"Ah. The devils, who have corrupted and defiled the industry, [of architecture]" I thought. "So there really isn't any design at all, since these things are made from the same set of plans."
While unoriginal, uncreative, and inept construction managers are just trying to squeeze in as much as possible [to increase the sales-price] they put in as little consideration as possible into a solution. [to reduce their costs]"
In any case, I will continue to not work in my field. Even if I get the job at this place, I will be working at the counter of a hardware store. Nothing that requires a bachelor's degree.
I hate interviewing for jobs, it always feels like an older adult is scolding you for being what you are, for example when I interviewed at Zen Associates, it was for a menial laborer's job. Any retard with or without a high-school diploma could do it. The guy in charge of onsite work was one such retard. He'd 'been doing this since he got out of high-school' which means grade twelve is as far as he got. Then he spent the rest of the interview basically rubbing in my face that I went to school and had nothing to show for it.
If I could have that day over again, I would have turned his desk over and called him an asshole. I wasn't naive, but I was still holding back for the hope he was just a typical grunting Neanderthal and this was his low-brow way of saying hello.
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Star Wars: Republic
Dark Horse Comics produces stuff that is rarely comic, and more often than not more like the pulp fiction of a different era. Mike Mignola's Hellboy and B.P.R.D., Usagi Yojimbo, and both Star Wars: Empire, and Star Wars: Republic have all been a staple of my monthly and collected graphic novel entertainment.
My hope is that after spending the years invested establishing a new group of characters in the modern mythos of the Star Wars universe, they will see fit to draw to a satisfactory conclusion, their 'lives' as they have been developed in the continued story arc. Particularly Quinlin Vos: a Jedi Knight. In typical fashion of both the graphic novels, and film franchise, Jedi often face the duality of man in themselves. It isn't the enemy in front of them, it's the one inside all of us.
To some extent, they have already explored the conflict of the light side versus the dark side of the force in Vos's life. He seems to have already conquered his demons on several fronts. Ultimately, I think they should let us have our 'happy' ending. Whether Vos is fated to die in the conclusion of the Clone Wars, or later in the 'great jedi purge' that follows, we the reader should be satisfied that Quinlin overcame his fear, defeated his enemies both internal and external, and was at peace with himself when he died. Otherwise it would seem just another regurgitation of the original trilogy.
My hope is that after spending the years invested establishing a new group of characters in the modern mythos of the Star Wars universe, they will see fit to draw to a satisfactory conclusion, their 'lives' as they have been developed in the continued story arc. Particularly Quinlin Vos: a Jedi Knight. In typical fashion of both the graphic novels, and film franchise, Jedi often face the duality of man in themselves. It isn't the enemy in front of them, it's the one inside all of us.
To some extent, they have already explored the conflict of the light side versus the dark side of the force in Vos's life. He seems to have already conquered his demons on several fronts. Ultimately, I think they should let us have our 'happy' ending. Whether Vos is fated to die in the conclusion of the Clone Wars, or later in the 'great jedi purge' that follows, we the reader should be satisfied that Quinlin overcame his fear, defeated his enemies both internal and external, and was at peace with himself when he died. Otherwise it would seem just another regurgitation of the original trilogy.
Western Civilization and the Modern Work Ethic: Part 2.
Francis Fukuyama is his book The End of History and the Last Man, defines work through Traditional Liberal Economic Theory. And while he moves on to explain other views for his purposes, this portion says;
His argument tries to break down this logical progression by providing the alternate example of a "type-A" personality, with tendencies towards being a workaholic. A rational calculation of endurance versus gain does not explain everyone's work ethic. I think in a truly larger scheme however, it does.
His argument persists that benefit and leisure do not accumulate in direct proportion to the rate at which some people demand of themselves. Their 'work ethic' is incalculable. He goes on, and on, and on...The book never stops.
Fortunately I do. My point is simple. There are individuals that work themselves to death for the self-decided noble pursuit of a high standard of hard work. These people do destroy their own lives and health, and their benefits are not corollary. These people should not be the norm, they are instead, the aberration.
CEOs and CFOs and all the other higher-ups in a multi-national corporate entity don't work for an insubstantial amount of return. When one of these creatures 'gives up' their Saturdays, or puts in 12 hour work days, they have ulterior motives, and let's face it, their labor is inconsequential compared to the exertions of someone below them. Even if you (as the outsider) don't see the direct connection between their effort and their stability, it is there.
When a corporation exists, it is still and always only comprised of individuals, and it is those people, not a faceless entity, which reap the rewards of others' hard work. Time and again, their practices are deemed legal. Ken Lay being led away in cuffs is (again) the aberration, not the norm. It doesn't take away everyone else's culpability.
We the People, [workers, employees, underlings, fodder]
in order to maintain our standards, our morals, and our ethics often push ourselves to succeed beyond the promise of accumulation of wealth. Every time one of us works our person into poor health, or struggles with our finances while our efforts create immeasurable wealth for our bosses, a crime is committed.
Work is an essentially unpleasant activity undertaken for the sake of the utility of the things created by work. [He also says] Man will remain at work for as long as he calculates its benefits outweigh the unpleasantness of being there. [paraphrased]
His argument tries to break down this logical progression by providing the alternate example of a "type-A" personality, with tendencies towards being a workaholic. A rational calculation of endurance versus gain does not explain everyone's work ethic. I think in a truly larger scheme however, it does.
His argument persists that benefit and leisure do not accumulate in direct proportion to the rate at which some people demand of themselves. Their 'work ethic' is incalculable. He goes on, and on, and on...The book never stops.
Fortunately I do. My point is simple. There are individuals that work themselves to death for the self-decided noble pursuit of a high standard of hard work. These people do destroy their own lives and health, and their benefits are not corollary. These people should not be the norm, they are instead, the aberration.
CEOs and CFOs and all the other higher-ups in a multi-national corporate entity don't work for an insubstantial amount of return. When one of these creatures 'gives up' their Saturdays, or puts in 12 hour work days, they have ulterior motives, and let's face it, their labor is inconsequential compared to the exertions of someone below them. Even if you (as the outsider) don't see the direct connection between their effort and their stability, it is there.
When a corporation exists, it is still and always only comprised of individuals, and it is those people, not a faceless entity, which reap the rewards of others' hard work. Time and again, their practices are deemed legal. Ken Lay being led away in cuffs is (again) the aberration, not the norm. It doesn't take away everyone else's culpability.
We the People, [workers, employees, underlings, fodder]
in order to maintain our standards, our morals, and our ethics often push ourselves to succeed beyond the promise of accumulation of wealth. Every time one of us works our person into poor health, or struggles with our finances while our efforts create immeasurable wealth for our bosses, a crime is committed.
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Antique Craftsman
Today was a pretty good day. I had known there was an old table saw in my basement for years. I hadn't seen it in operation for the better part of two decades, and I wasn't even sure it still worked. After giving it a good dusting with a clean paintbrush, I saw the metallic product ID tag, and old-fashioned company emblem.
It was an antique Craftsman table saw set onto what looked like a custom stand and wired with an extra set of sockets. One of its interesting features, was the hardwired switch connected to a socket, which meant it needed a double-male power chord. It was nowhere to be found. So I took the chord from a broken jigsaw, and a wall switch, and spent part of my morning rewiring it.
I didn't use the old socket, so the spare pair on the other side of the frame wasn't rewired, but the machine worked. Then I replaced the grinding wheel with a blade meant for cutting plywood and veneer, and replaced the rubber belt with a new one from AutoZone. (Visiting four different stores beforehand, including Sears. I only mention that store because they are advertised on television as being Craftsman brand dealers, their store was filled with woodshop equipment, no replacement parts.)
I now have a nice little table saw, quiet as well. Perfect for cutting the scaled plywood for models that I like. My Dad helped. He too was into one of his around-the-house projects, and he stopped building his natural-stone masonry retaining wall in the front yard, long enough to visit the stores with me. So in conclusion; I hate being told to contact the manufacturer for something so simple, but it didn't ruin my day, because I liked having the opportunity to fix something.
It was an antique Craftsman table saw set onto what looked like a custom stand and wired with an extra set of sockets. One of its interesting features, was the hardwired switch connected to a socket, which meant it needed a double-male power chord. It was nowhere to be found. So I took the chord from a broken jigsaw, and a wall switch, and spent part of my morning rewiring it.
I didn't use the old socket, so the spare pair on the other side of the frame wasn't rewired, but the machine worked. Then I replaced the grinding wheel with a blade meant for cutting plywood and veneer, and replaced the rubber belt with a new one from AutoZone. (Visiting four different stores beforehand, including Sears. I only mention that store because they are advertised on television as being Craftsman brand dealers, their store was filled with woodshop equipment, no replacement parts.)
I now have a nice little table saw, quiet as well. Perfect for cutting the scaled plywood for models that I like. My Dad helped. He too was into one of his around-the-house projects, and he stopped building his natural-stone masonry retaining wall in the front yard, long enough to visit the stores with me. So in conclusion; I hate being told to contact the manufacturer for something so simple, but it didn't ruin my day, because I liked having the opportunity to fix something.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
Wasted Wednesday
Played with a digital camera, with a floppy-drive. Finally as I managed to adjust the settings to how I liked them, just as I was feeling comfortable with it, the battery died. (I can't find the directions.) Now I need to find the charger and extra battery, before I can do anything with it.
Played video games this morning. Final Fantasy IX. In the middle of playing I was interrupted by my cat Moses playing a game of his own. Ferocious feral killer kitty.
Moses V. Chipmunk. I caught it once, when it escaped behind the dining room server, then twice when I grabbed the cat by the shoulders and shook him to drop it. Both times the rodent (appearing unharmed) ran to safety, by running away from the basket, attempting to outrun the cat. Finally Moses ran into the basement clutching the chipmunk in his jaws to claim his prize. For those of you that can't guess, when the game is over he finishes by biting the critter's head off. Proof again of the order of the food chain, "good riddance," I said. (Productive morning.)
Played video games this morning. Final Fantasy IX. In the middle of playing I was interrupted by my cat Moses playing a game of his own. Ferocious feral killer kitty.
Moses V. Chipmunk. I caught it once, when it escaped behind the dining room server, then twice when I grabbed the cat by the shoulders and shook him to drop it. Both times the rodent (appearing unharmed) ran to safety, by running away from the basket, attempting to outrun the cat. Finally Moses ran into the basement clutching the chipmunk in his jaws to claim his prize. For those of you that can't guess, when the game is over he finishes by biting the critter's head off. Proof again of the order of the food chain, "good riddance," I said. (Productive morning.)
Sunday, July 04, 2004
St. Anger
I won't publish much more than this. This day was horrible. I just want to remember today, but it isn't Independence Day for me.
I want to say more than that, but I wouldn't feel comfortable putting that much out in the open. It is enough to say that this song perfectly sums up what I'm thinking.
I want to say more than that, but I wouldn't feel comfortable putting that much out in the open. It is enough to say that this song perfectly sums up what I'm thinking.
-Metallica
saint anger 'round my neck, saint anger 'round my neck,
he never gets respect, saint anger 'round my neck.
f*** it all and no regrets, I hit the lights on these dark sets,
I need a voice to let myself, to let myself go free,
put down your noose, I'll hang myself, st. anger 'round my neck
I feel my world shake, like an earthquake, hard to see clear, is it me, is it fear.
I'm madly in anger with you, I'm madly in anger with you, madly in anger with you...
Saturday, July 03, 2004
Problems with Publishing
I've been having difficulty viewing mine and other pages here on Blogger.com today. It seem every time I try to load the main page of a blog, I have to hit Reload/Refresh a couple of times to get the page to actually show. More weekend traffic, maybe?
In any case, it is still easier to update here, than on Angelfire, because there even when previewing the page, you have to close an ad window. Annoying.
In any case, it is still easier to update here, than on Angelfire, because there even when previewing the page, you have to close an ad window. Annoying.
Friday, July 02, 2004
Moving Day, This Way Comes
Music:
Nickleback; The Long Road. 3. Someday
The Ataris; So Long Astoria. 3. In This Diary
Good Charlotte; The Young and the Hopeless.
12. The Young and the Hopeless.
I am helping my younger brother and his wife move out into their own apartment. I'll probably post several short messages this weekend. Not that I'll have anything worthwhile, but I'll feel like commenting on the events of the next couple of days.
The most witless thing I've ever heard: waiting until the Fourth of July weekend to move, then working Saturday morning while your brothers help move your things, and the rental truck isn't coming to 1:00 PM, (by the way it is 1:30 on Saturday as I finish this post) and the truck hasn't been here yet.
So good thing my older brother owns a pick-up. It is only a Ford Ranger, so it is smaller than a F-150. This day has been hot and sweaty in that annoying I-wish-I-was-somewhere-else way. We moved a bedroom set, an entertainment center, some kind of spice-rack/cabinet, and a decent number of boxes. Next up, large Sterilite (like Tupperware) boxes filled with their clothes. Good thing my father has taken over, as he would say; "they have no game plan."
Amendment to this blog post: The moving truck never showed, the aunt who was arranging the truck was actually getting it for herself, and needed to go to the Springfield area. She was in the middle of Massachusetts, and we ended up using all our smaller vehicles to make the move. She's a real giver.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Music as Medication
-Take Two Tracks and call me in the morning.
Sometimes music (real music) feels like it is influential enough to dictate the course of events around it. At least alter the moods of the people listening, and therefore the actions of those individuals, and vice versa. The current mood could also be held responsible for the musical selection.
For Example:
I have often heard of the comparisons of music to architecture.
I have even heard a similar argument made that architecture influences people's behavior. Buildings are bound to steer the course of action of the people inside them. Maybe that is the failure of a place like a state hospital, [Danvers] designed in a Gothic Revival style, or the unplanned success of another building.
Maybe for the same reason that is why so many stories of heroism came from the World Trade Center, a structure built to be the ultimate expression in open form design. (The Core and the exterior walls were the structure. It leaves a very open floor plan.) My point is that a person would feel more attached to his co-workers if he looked at them on a daily basis, which this floorplan allowed.
In any case; I feel better mentally today, than I did a few days ago, and better physically, than I did a week ago.
Sometimes music (real music) feels like it is influential enough to dictate the course of events around it. At least alter the moods of the people listening, and therefore the actions of those individuals, and vice versa. The current mood could also be held responsible for the musical selection.
For Example:
Two days ago: Depression.
Musical Selection: Disturbed, Metallica.
Yesterday: Not so much.
Musical Selection: Incubus, Bush.
Today: Not Bad.
Musical Selection: Zwan, Vertical Horizon.
I have often heard of the comparisons of music to architecture.
I have even heard a similar argument made that architecture influences people's behavior. Buildings are bound to steer the course of action of the people inside them. Maybe that is the failure of a place like a state hospital, [Danvers] designed in a Gothic Revival style, or the unplanned success of another building.
Maybe for the same reason that is why so many stories of heroism came from the World Trade Center, a structure built to be the ultimate expression in open form design. (The Core and the exterior walls were the structure. It leaves a very open floor plan.) My point is that a person would feel more attached to his co-workers if he looked at them on a daily basis, which this floorplan allowed.
In any case; I feel better mentally today, than I did a few days ago, and better physically, than I did a week ago.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Not So Special
I wish I was special
You're so f***ing special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
-Radiohead
I keep wishing my life was more interesting than it is, I see other people working, in their chosen field. I see students who haven't even gotten out of school working in architecture firms. These same firms won't even look at me, it seems. I hear about people's trips to Ireland, Italy, Japan, and I've been nowhere. I can afford nothing.
Nothing is happening to me. It is like my life was indefinitely put on hold, but no one told me the reason. I'd just like a sticky-note put on my desk before I wake-up in the morning.
You know, something to make me feel like a real person again. Instead I have a collection of rejection letters from the Boston area. And I am applying to (for an innocuous example): hardware-supply stores with Kitchen Design Services, and customer services at the counter.
Some days I feel fine, and some others I feel like walking in front of a bus. Metaphorically speaking.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." -Ferris | Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
You're so f***ing special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
-Radiohead
I keep wishing my life was more interesting than it is, I see other people working, in their chosen field. I see students who haven't even gotten out of school working in architecture firms. These same firms won't even look at me, it seems. I hear about people's trips to Ireland, Italy, Japan, and I've been nowhere. I can afford nothing.
Nothing is happening to me. It is like my life was indefinitely put on hold, but no one told me the reason. I'd just like a sticky-note put on my desk before I wake-up in the morning.
Dear Sir,
We are currently assessing future changes to your life, and as we allot budgets, release work-orders, and commit to a new timeline, your life is subsequently and until further notice, officially put on hold.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but there is really little you or anyone else can do about it. Thank you.
You know, something to make me feel like a real person again. Instead I have a collection of rejection letters from the Boston area. And I am applying to (for an innocuous example): hardware-supply stores with Kitchen Design Services, and customer services at the counter.
Some days I feel fine, and some others I feel like walking in front of a bus. Metaphorically speaking.
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." -Ferris | Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Western Civilization and the Modern Work Ethic.
In the United States, particularly Modern Western Civilization instills in us, an established work ethic. We believe it is for the greater good. There are some variations; here in the states it is not uncommon to think of overtime as mandatory. (Working overtime if you're salaried is part of the job.) Or Friday as a day to relax, (unless you have a deadline). Not all bad, but I have heard that in some European establishments, (not country, so as not to assume everyone in a particular nation does things the same way,) it is customary to award reduced hours in place of monetary compensation, when giving raises or promotions.
For the most part The ideal work week model is:
40-45 hours.
More than that is Overtime.
Less than that must be excused
Those allotments are divided into 4-5 'shifts'
Typically in the middle a period of rest is allowed in the middle.
if breaks are allowed they are brief and considered extraneous.
holiday pay is rare. vacation time is usually no more than two weeks out of the year, if it is paid, and sometimes it is combined with sick time for a cumulative assessment.
For the most part The ideal work week model is:
Without examining all the variations as separate models, ask yourself the question: how viable is this? It doesn't work at all in some professions; actors, authors, musicians. But if you're not working within this model of efficiency, you're considered lazy.
Also, ask yourself the question: who benefits?
Another might be: what is my ideal?
True most of us if given the opportunity to give up the struggle of seeking employment, following a work schedule, and answering to somebody else, we would. This isn't even about what we would do if we won the lottery, or inherited a fortune. [Assuming the reader of this blog works a steady job, or is trying to,] ask yourself why it is you should work in excess of 50 hours a week, skip lunch, sometimes even take work home with you, all for the benefit of the company.
Who made it so the very few benefit so greatly from the constant supply of willing workers. Got arthritis, becoming slow? You're fired, (laid off) and with no benefits, because we found someone else who is willing to work for half your payrate, and no benefits.
On top of everything else, employers are acting more and more in the interest of the profit margin than their staff. Time can be siphoned off of a regular week and banked, to allow the business to lay off their workers as seasonal. These practices are supposedly illegal, and in use, in the United States today.
Corporate entities are constantly using unethical pratices like producing life insurance policies on their own employees that benefit the corporate entity, not the individual. This is also practiced in America.
The only question left worth asking is; how much is too much? Are you already victim to one of these, or other business practices that hurt your bottom line, put you further into debt, or else put a strain on your relationships, and lower your standard of living?
How much is too much?
Tuesday, June 22, 2004
Back to the Basics
Building an architectural model today. Between designing, and having my head plugged into a set of cordless headphones, I find the experience almost like meditation. The outside world can't get in, and its influence becomes minimalized. Pure form.
As I've stated in a previous post: I like building with scaled plywood. Typically 3-ply, very sturdy, and it cuts well. I also have purchased several packages of scaled W-sections. For those of you who wonder, W is an abbreviation of Wide Flange, because before steel members were called I-beams, and typically that's what they looked like. I'm not sure why they didn't start calling them H-beams, except that by that time it didn't make sense to use the name 'beam' for something that worked as both a beam; horizontal member, and as a column; vertical member. None of that is relevant, so I'll leave further explanation to the textbooks.
Currently I am waiting for my brother and his wife to move out, so their things stored in the garage get moved to their new apartment. Work can then resume in there, for now, my workshop consists of half of my bedroom. I have a light-table [approx. 3'x5'], that I use for both drawings and model-making. The fluorescent light inside lights up the whole room. The one draw back is trace paper rips easily, and using a compass against a large glass surface usually results in a tear.
Most of my model supplies stay in storage crates until I need them. I think when the office is finished I will make a finished built-in cabinet for the models when they are complete. The doors will be fitted with Plexiglas so there isn't a chance of breakage.
As I've stated in a previous post: I like building with scaled plywood. Typically 3-ply, very sturdy, and it cuts well. I also have purchased several packages of scaled W-sections. For those of you who wonder, W is an abbreviation of Wide Flange, because before steel members were called I-beams, and typically that's what they looked like. I'm not sure why they didn't start calling them H-beams, except that by that time it didn't make sense to use the name 'beam' for something that worked as both a beam; horizontal member, and as a column; vertical member. None of that is relevant, so I'll leave further explanation to the textbooks.
Currently I am waiting for my brother and his wife to move out, so their things stored in the garage get moved to their new apartment. Work can then resume in there, for now, my workshop consists of half of my bedroom. I have a light-table [approx. 3'x5'], that I use for both drawings and model-making. The fluorescent light inside lights up the whole room. The one draw back is trace paper rips easily, and using a compass against a large glass surface usually results in a tear.
Most of my model supplies stay in storage crates until I need them. I think when the office is finished I will make a finished built-in cabinet for the models when they are complete. The doors will be fitted with Plexiglas so there isn't a chance of breakage.
Monday, June 21, 2004
The College Experience
I hated being broke all the time in college. Many people I know have said it was those unifying details that made our experiences so similar. It wasn't at all true, but it is a nice notion. A lot of college students played poor, (simulated poverty, driving a Mercedes-Benz) but it wasn't the same as actually being impoverished. Very few were actually threatened with their classes being cancelled, but they got better financial aid coverage than I did.
The deciding factor: they lied better than I did, (or their parents lied better than mine). Now after college, I've paid almost nothing back in my student loans, and the accrued interest is staggering. Former peers in school have held jobs in their intended field, and others had help from their parents after the fact, proving they had more means than admitted previously.
This fact is, I'm told, one of the primary reasons that federal grants and the loan programs are so poorly managed. An overall lack of funds. My argument remains that despite this we are indisputably the wealthiest nation on the planet. Students should be able to attend school for free (no hassles while going) and members of the armed forces should get a full expenses paid-deal, (like athletic scholarship students enjoy today.) Everyone should have automatic healthcare at least until age 21, or until graduation.
The deciding factor: they lied better than I did, (or their parents lied better than mine). Now after college, I've paid almost nothing back in my student loans, and the accrued interest is staggering. Former peers in school have held jobs in their intended field, and others had help from their parents after the fact, proving they had more means than admitted previously.
This fact is, I'm told, one of the primary reasons that federal grants and the loan programs are so poorly managed. An overall lack of funds. My argument remains that despite this we are indisputably the wealthiest nation on the planet. Students should be able to attend school for free (no hassles while going) and members of the armed forces should get a full expenses paid-deal, (like athletic scholarship students enjoy today.) Everyone should have automatic healthcare at least until age 21, or until graduation.
Friday, June 18, 2004
In the Meantime...
Making the arduous trip to the career center, I actually had a good experience. The modern version of the unemployment office is usually a horrid depressing experience, more so because you're typically surrounded by people you'd normally consider losers. And here you sit with them. It is especially hard to accept because while the doofus on either side of you seems content to chat it up with the doofus on the other side of you, there you sit, thinking you're diligently working at finding employment.
Typically all I can stand is approximately an hour, and today was no different. All I did was grab a copy of the 'hotsheets' and an a calendar of the months workshops. What made this trip to hell's waiting room different was the job postings were much more numerous, and even a bit promising.
There is nothing so humbling than getting your professional B. Arch., but scouring the want ads for fork-lift operator jobs. On that note, I've never felt like walking in front of a bus more, than while I was waiting in line at Taco Bell and looking at the application dispenser. (I had worked there both during, and just after high school, quitting and going back to school a year later felt like one of life's milestones.) But there it was, life sucked.
Typically all I can stand is approximately an hour, and today was no different. All I did was grab a copy of the 'hotsheets' and an a calendar of the months workshops. What made this trip to hell's waiting room different was the job postings were much more numerous, and even a bit promising.
There is nothing so humbling than getting your professional B. Arch., but scouring the want ads for fork-lift operator jobs. On that note, I've never felt like walking in front of a bus more, than while I was waiting in line at Taco Bell and looking at the application dispenser. (I had worked there both during, and just after high school, quitting and going back to school a year later felt like one of life's milestones.) But there it was, life sucked.
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Other Projects In Mind
Here is a brief and incomplete list of other things I have in mind, (some in the early planning stages, others with concrete work finished) they are as follows:
Continued construction on the conversion of my parents garage into a multi-purpose office. It already has the new wall built into where the garage door used to be, with the new front door and a double-hung window in its place. It was either that or replace the old doors with a new metal door, and that doesn't look so great from the perspective of the interior. It will, when complete, have space enough for two computer workstations, a very large drafting table/model building space, a small table saw, (I like working with scaled plywood) and finally a bed alcove in the roof fit for a futon, and a 2x6 ladder. (Also thinking of making a rope-and-plank bridge out the back to a tree platform.) Summer of BBQ party in the trees. Yay. This is actually coming along fairly nicely. I will post a picture or two when I have it completed to the degree that I can set up shop in there.
Starting a redesign proposal of the Woolworth building that has been vacant in my town for close to 50 years. The idea is simple enough, it is a multi-story building which could easily accommodate several varied smaller businesses with a unified theme, like a mini-mall. It would have a main colonnade in the center with an open glassed-in elevator bank, and skylights down the center of the building. In my mind the more uses to a building the better, my main proposal would also have small apartments attached to each of the stores, so commute is minimized.
My brother and I have purchased an XL-1s Digital Camera. I planned a movie set on the site of Danvers State Hospital, but I'm broke, and they have it slated for demolition between 2004-2005. I would have to organize a covert operation, including but not limited to; breaking and entering, trespassing, loitering, and possibly disturbance of the peace. It would also have to be at night, and that would seriously give me a raging case of the heebie-jeebies. I might shudder, I could cry, I may also gallantly wet myself if I start to hear noises that don't belong in a derelict building. If anyone has tips on either filming at night, or filming on location sans permit, let me know. I don't know why, but after seeing what can be done with layering and blue-screen technology in The Others, I'm inspired to try my own ideas out.
As you can tell, I'm fairly busy for one who remains unemployed. It is either that or fall full force into a fit of depression. Stay tuned for more updates...
Sunday, June 13, 2004
Back to the Book
Just resolved some major plot issues, while writing my novel. I apologize for remaining vague in my descriptions, but besides being someone who has little faith in others, I am also slightly paranoid. Career hazard, I suppose.
I probably won't be done writing for another month or so, and even if I do finish that early, I still have to find an agent to market it, along with all of the hassle that goes with it. If anyone has been published and not raked across the coals their first time out, give me a line, I could use help.
On this Sunday morning, I will spend the better half of my time processing all of my hand-written sections to disk. I hope to make the book approximately 300 pages. A little short for the modern novel, but it might be a struggle to attain that length, since I believe the story can be told in that allotment without becoming too wordy.
My question for the day: Is 300 pages enough? What is the average length of people's favorite books?
I probably won't be done writing for another month or so, and even if I do finish that early, I still have to find an agent to market it, along with all of the hassle that goes with it. If anyone has been published and not raked across the coals their first time out, give me a line, I could use help.
On this Sunday morning, I will spend the better half of my time processing all of my hand-written sections to disk. I hope to make the book approximately 300 pages. A little short for the modern novel, but it might be a struggle to attain that length, since I believe the story can be told in that allotment without becoming too wordy.
My question for the day: Is 300 pages enough? What is the average length of people's favorite books?
Friday, June 11, 2004
Working at Home
It's Friday. Yay. I managed to write another section of my novel. Since this is my first mention of it on this blog, I'll explain. A while back I decided rather than just be angry about not having a job, I'd try my hand at writing a scathing book about my dislikes of corporate America. Sort of like the satirical Jennifer Government. Only not a satire.
The main focus is on the treatment of all employees as though they are simply numeric values. Pay rates, expenses, productivity, etcetera. The point was I thought I had something to say. While it took me longer than I expected to get it out on paper, it still feels good.
More on that later.
In other unrelated news I should have a few building models ready for photographs in the next few days, and I will be adding them to my portfolio webpage in about a week. I'll post a link here, if anyone is interested.
The main focus is on the treatment of all employees as though they are simply numeric values. Pay rates, expenses, productivity, etcetera. The point was I thought I had something to say. While it took me longer than I expected to get it out on paper, it still feels good.
More on that later.
In other unrelated news I should have a few building models ready for photographs in the next few days, and I will be adding them to my portfolio webpage in about a week. I'll post a link here, if anyone is interested.
Thursday, June 10, 2004
My First Entry
Here's my first entry to the blog.
Nothing interesting happening lately. Unless you count my spine getting a little pinched, and me feeling recurring numbness throughout different areas on my body.
At first I was feeling like a hypochondriac, and I started looking up symptoms on WebMD. After I was done with my weirdness over descriptions of things like Multiple Sclerosis, I realized that the height of my laptop on my already low particle board desk was causing me to have the posture of an old woman with osteoporosis.
So, long story short: crooked neck = pinched nerve = loss of feeling in my body. Nice. Also, this morning I woke up around 2 AM with zero loss of sensation, and a backache.
Nothing interesting happening lately. Unless you count my spine getting a little pinched, and me feeling recurring numbness throughout different areas on my body.
At first I was feeling like a hypochondriac, and I started looking up symptoms on WebMD. After I was done with my weirdness over descriptions of things like Multiple Sclerosis, I realized that the height of my laptop on my already low particle board desk was causing me to have the posture of an old woman with osteoporosis.
So, long story short: crooked neck = pinched nerve = loss of feeling in my body. Nice. Also, this morning I woke up around 2 AM with zero loss of sensation, and a backache.
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