Something a little different

I've tried my hand at writing some fiction. A comic book no less. If you dare, check it out here.

 A Contrarian Christmas.

I don't post in this weblog as often as most devoted bloggers do, but maybe I can get the edge by being the only one who posts on Christmas Day.

So anyway, Merry Christmas. Later today I'm headed for my sister's new house to celebrate with most of the rest of my family who are gathering there.

I suppose it's kinda sad that I'm even around today to be online writing in a weblog. Not something I should be proud of.

But I've felt for many years now that 'Christmas is for children and lovers'. And since I'm not in either of those groups this year, well, I'm afraid it doesn't do much for me. My biggest thrill is watching my nieces enjoy the holiday. So I guess it's OK.

Have a happy happy and a merry merry.

 Friday Five

1. What is the weirdest thing you've ever eaten? Raw Oysters.

2. Name one (material) thing you can't live without. My Sailboat.

3. Name something you've always wanted to do but didn't have time for. There aren't many things that I've failed to do due to lack of time.

4. What outrageous thing do you wish you had the nerve to do? Dance Lessons.

5. How do you plan to spend your weekend? Help my sister move.

 Happy... err... Holidays?

A few days back there was alot of discussion on the net about a company that forbid it's employees from saying "Merry Christmas".

I just received this from a friend, I think it pretty much covers it.

...

From me (and my counsel) to all of you...

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all . . . and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2002, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to your race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or choice of computer platform. By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher. The wishee further agrees to hold harmless and indemnify the wisher, along with its heirs, assigns, officers, directors, and/or shareholders.

 
This is WAY cool! blinkenlights

 Friday Five.

1. What did you want to be when you grew up? Such a long list. Highlights: Radio DJ, filmmaker.

2. Do you have any nicknames? Jack is a nickmname. "Real" name is John.

3. If you could change something about yourself what would it be? Less cute. OK... more, better, self-discipline.

4. Have you ever bought anything from an infomercial? No.

5. How do you plan to spend your weekend? I seem to remember that I have something I'm supposed to do tomorrow, but I don't know what. Niece's birthday party on Sunday.

 Lost Art

The sites that were serving the images for the two Art Tests below have disappeared. They may not come back and I do really like the pics. So Here they are served from my site. Click 'em to see bigger versions.

 Bruce Sterling. I've read some of his sci-fi novels and enjoyed them, but everytime I read his non-fiction I like it even more. This is from a speech he gave to a crypto conference.

"The big time in modern outlaw geekdom is definitely Microsoft. The Justice Department can round up all the Al Qaeda guys they can wiretap, but when they went to round up Redmond, they went home limping and sobbing, and without a job." More...

This is an amazing picture. I'm pretty sure that I've seen the original. Maybe at the Boston MFA, or possible in DC. This guy must have been really screwed up to see the world this way.

 I Wanted to be Starry Night.

If I were a work of art, I would be Claude Monet's Waterlilies. I am soft and gentle, but very colourful. Although based in reality, I look at the world through a filter of impressions which shape how I see things. Splashes of light help to define my presence and bring an endearing quality. Which work of art would you be? The Art Test

But if I couldn't be Starry Night, then this is a pretty good alternative. I always thought Monet's paintings are beautiful. I have two of them (prints of course) framed in my home.

 Recent History as seen by usenet

As many of you know, Google recently bought the Deja News archive of old newsgroup postings. They've put together a list of notable tech (and not so tech) milestones as written about in newsgroup postings. Kinda interesting.

 Over in the Radio Paradise Comments area, Stuart refers to the act of experimenting with a URL by changing its parameters as "playing the the parameters". I like it.

 Happy Birthday

According to this story, the WWW was born (in the US) ten years ago today!

"It was at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) that particle physicist Paul Kunz wrote and posted the first American Web page 10 years ago today."

Here's a display of the first US web pages.

 Interesting.

That cat thing below, which has gotten a huge amount of use across the web, has a bug in its code. It fails to close its final <bold> tag. As a result the boldface spills over into the NEXT item of the blog. I wonder how many people couldn't figure that out and it drove them crazy.

 Now I'm a cat.

Take the What Cat Are You? test by webkin!

 Friday Five

1. If you were to go to a movie this weekend, which one would you pick? Ocean's Eleven.

2. What movie would you like to rent this weekend? Finding Forrester.

3. What one TV show do you always try to watch? West Wing.

4. If you (and your S.O.) were cool with it, what five celebrities (at the most) would it be 'ok' for you to have a fling with? Jennifer Anniston, Emma Caulfield (Anya on "Buffy"), Heather Graham, Meg Ryan, Brittney Spears (Hey! I'm a guy!).

5. How do you plan to spend your weekend? EAA Meeting... Shovelling snow... coding php.

 Turns out, I'm the MONA LISA.

If I were a work of art, I would be Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. I am extremely popular and widely known. Although unassuming and unpretentious, my enigmatic smile has charmed millions. I am a mystery, able to be appreciated from afar, but ultimately unknowable and thus intriguing. Which work of art would you be? The Art Test

 I've created a new section on my personal site where I'll be posting alot of essays and media pieces. Check it out every now and then.

 Friday Five

OK, so it's not Friday anymore. But here it is anyway (trying to write it as if I HAD written it on Friday BTW):

1. What did you have for dinner last night? I picked up a bunch of Chinese food and took it to my friend Cindy's house.

2. Do you ever get up for a midnight snack? Not eating, no. But I get up and surf the web all the time.

3. What's your favorite dessert? Just about anything with chocolate. A big brownie with vanilla icecream, hot fudge and whipped cream is always good. (I don't understand why I'm so fat)

4. Tell us something about you that would surprise us. In my spare time I'm an international spy.

5. How do you plan to spend your weekend? Going to the Portsmouth Holiday Parade on Saturday, and Sunday I have to help button up a boat for the winter.

 This is a wonderful story. The Washington Post has,somewhat reluctantly, crowned Battle Mountain Nevada as "The Armpit of America".

I've been through Battle Mountain many times. It's on I-80 and I've driven by on my big cross-country trips. Two impressions I have a about BM:

First, every time I drive through I've thought it would be interesting to stop and visit the Airport which has some interesting planes on the ramp and is a base for firefighting aircraft. And second, it truly is in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

Stuff I'm involved with:
EAA Vintage Chapter 15
Prescott Park Arts Festival

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