Monday, March 31, 2008
Joseph Haydn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Today is Franz Joseph Haydn's Birthday! He's pretty much my all-around favorite composer. This Wiki bio actually has a lot of stuff about him that I never knew. Pretty interesting.
It Lives!
Yuck what a crappy last few days. I went home early Thursday and went to bed. I woke up feeling crappy Friday so I stayed home and pretty much slept all day. Saturday and Sunday I did my Spin classes but very little else. I just mostly rested and slept and watched TV. During my convalescence I watched 4 Voyager Episodes (damn, that Harry was so cute, and his ass looked great in that uniform), The original Matrix (Keanu was smokin' hot), and Real Genius (remember that one from the 80's? With the hilarious 80's fashions and the Tears For Fears music (and Val Kilmer, of course).
I'm not totally back 100%, but definitely feel way better than I have in awhile. Everyone is talking about how bad the pollen is though.
I'm not totally back 100%, but definitely feel way better than I have in awhile. Everyone is talking about how bad the pollen is though.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Today is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's birthday. My nickname in Architecture school was Mies.
Observer Redux
Loyal readers (I know there are a few of you still out there) will remember my obsession with Mysterious Asian Man a few years back. Actually I wouldn't call it an obsession; but there was just something compelling and interesting about him to me.
Today at the G-town club I encountered a totally different guy, who nevertheless was fascinating to observe as he got dressed. I felt a little bad because when I first saw him as I walked into the locker room, he was kind of stumbling as he pulled on his boxer shorts. That's always embarrassing: losing your balance when your pulling on your underwear. He was a young white guy, maybe in his mid-20's, short, a little stocky, with nearly-black hair, very dark eyes and fair skin. I wondered what his racial background might be with that combination.
I tried to make it a point not to stare, but there was something about the extra-careful, but sort of fretting way he was dressing that made me wonder if this was not a typical routine for him, like maybe he was preparing for an interview. He had a huge clear plastic travel bag of toiletries. He was dressing in a suit, and when he put his pants on, the right-rear pocket was inside out. I was tempted to warn him, but the next time I looked he'd fixed it himself. Then he combed his previously-wild hair (not a very flattering style) and spent an inordinate amount of time at the mirror arranging the odd white-with-orange-trim handkerchief in his breast pocket. All through this he kept glancing over at me (while I was changing into my spin gear, not with an expression like he thought I was staring, but more curious. Finally he put on a pair of tennis shoes (I assume he had dress shoes to change into). Finally, in a kind of cute boyish gesture, he stood on the bench on his toes to see up to the back of the shelf in his locker and fished out a wallet or something. I was half-afraid he was going to tip the bench over. Well wherever he was headed, I hope it goes well for him.
In other news, I think I must have a sinus infection. It's been nearly two weeks, and I still have a cough and drainage, and when I get home at night I pretty much go to bed and go right to sleep. I'm gonna take my sister's advice and try to do the neti pot more often, and if not better next week, maybe see if the Dr. thinks it might be bacterial and need antibiotics.
Today at the G-town club I encountered a totally different guy, who nevertheless was fascinating to observe as he got dressed. I felt a little bad because when I first saw him as I walked into the locker room, he was kind of stumbling as he pulled on his boxer shorts. That's always embarrassing: losing your balance when your pulling on your underwear. He was a young white guy, maybe in his mid-20's, short, a little stocky, with nearly-black hair, very dark eyes and fair skin. I wondered what his racial background might be with that combination.
I tried to make it a point not to stare, but there was something about the extra-careful, but sort of fretting way he was dressing that made me wonder if this was not a typical routine for him, like maybe he was preparing for an interview. He had a huge clear plastic travel bag of toiletries. He was dressing in a suit, and when he put his pants on, the right-rear pocket was inside out. I was tempted to warn him, but the next time I looked he'd fixed it himself. Then he combed his previously-wild hair (not a very flattering style) and spent an inordinate amount of time at the mirror arranging the odd white-with-orange-trim handkerchief in his breast pocket. All through this he kept glancing over at me (while I was changing into my spin gear, not with an expression like he thought I was staring, but more curious. Finally he put on a pair of tennis shoes (I assume he had dress shoes to change into). Finally, in a kind of cute boyish gesture, he stood on the bench on his toes to see up to the back of the shelf in his locker and fished out a wallet or something. I was half-afraid he was going to tip the bench over. Well wherever he was headed, I hope it goes well for him.
In other news, I think I must have a sinus infection. It's been nearly two weeks, and I still have a cough and drainage, and when I get home at night I pretty much go to bed and go right to sleep. I'm gonna take my sister's advice and try to do the neti pot more often, and if not better next week, maybe see if the Dr. thinks it might be bacterial and need antibiotics.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Idol
Well the Professionals Moraes on TV and EW, and also Mac
say it better than me, but I want to mention three things:
1. Simon's telling comment to Archedorable after his disappointing performance: "I bet you didn't pick that song. It's not you." And by David's faltering smile and rapid eye-blinks I would say that Simon was on the money. Who picked it then? Perhaps his evil controlling father? David, please take dance lessons or stick to what you know. And stop with the cutesy mouthing of the phone number while Seaquest announces it. It's not cute any more. Thanks.
2. Country Skank totally playing the patriot card with that sickening 'Proud to be an American' song. I wanted to puke. How calculating.
3. I miss the stripper.
I was going to vote for Archedorable out of pity, but I fell asleep halfway through the show (I woke up at 4:30 am and watched the rest). I'm still definitely not completely over whatever this bug is.
say it better than me, but I want to mention three things:
1. Simon's telling comment to Archedorable after his disappointing performance: "I bet you didn't pick that song. It's not you." And by David's faltering smile and rapid eye-blinks I would say that Simon was on the money. Who picked it then? Perhaps his evil controlling father? David, please take dance lessons or stick to what you know. And stop with the cutesy mouthing of the phone number while Seaquest announces it. It's not cute any more. Thanks.
2. Country Skank totally playing the patriot card with that sickening 'Proud to be an American' song. I wanted to puke. How calculating.
3. I miss the stripper.
I was going to vote for Archedorable out of pity, but I fell asleep halfway through the show (I woke up at 4:30 am and watched the rest). I'm still definitely not completely over whatever this bug is.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Arrogance
While Dick Cheney's now-infamous "So?" retort was incredibly offensive, it wasn't that surprising coming from him.
What I find almost as insulting is Press Secretary Perino's snippy, condescending defense of this kind of arrogant behavior.
What I find almost as insulting is Press Secretary Perino's snippy, condescending defense of this kind of arrogant behavior.
HELEN THOMAS: The American people are being asked to die and pay for this. And you’re saying they have no say in this war?
PERINO: No, I didn’t say that Helen. But Helen, this president was elected…
THOMAS: But it amounts to it. You’re saying we have no input at all.
PERINO: You had input. The American people have input every four years, and that’s the way our system is set up.
Spin Torture
Still have R. on my mind, which is a bad thing. Meanwhile I need to decide if I want to take on another spin class. It's Monday nights at 7:30. In a way it would be good to get me out of the house in the evening, and it's late enough that it's unlikely to interfere with work. The extra money and a class 'cushion' wouldn't hurt either, since you need a minimum of 3 a week to keep a free membership, and this would bring me up to 4. Decisions, decisions.
I got in bed last night at 8, thinking I would do a little reading, and boom I was out cold within a few minutes. So I slept 10 hours. Guess I'm still recovering. I do still have a bit of a lingering nasty wet cough.
I got in bed last night at 8, thinking I would do a little reading, and boom I was out cold within a few minutes. So I slept 10 hours. Guess I'm still recovering. I do still have a bit of a lingering nasty wet cough.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Blah
Where does the weekend go? Actually I did get some stuff done, some scanning and miscellaneous other junk. I even made it to work out Sunday afternoon--I needed to get out for awhile. Saturday, though around 3 pm I was hit by a real bad bout of depression. I'm sure R calling had something to do with it. I posted something in the Secret Diary. Anyway, I was in such a bad state that there was nothing for it but to crawl in bed and pull the covers up, so I did.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Five Friday Things
It's Friday, so time for Five Random things:
1. I meant to blog this way back when it first appeared on NPR, but I forgot. Today's religious holiday brought it back. It's a story about how Huckabee used all these bible fable references in his speeches, and how few supposedly religious people had any idea what he was talking about. THey asked all these people on the street who identified as pretty serious christians, and most of them could not identify his bible references. Ironically, atheist me knew them all (though I was shaky on the widow's mite one). What does that tell us about these evangelicals?
2. On Colbert Report the other night, he exposed some McCain hypocricy. He played the infamous clip of Falwell after 9/11 blaming it on the abortionists, gays, lesbians, the ACLU, etc., and Falwell agreed. McCain, back in 2000:
Then in 2006,
Right.
3. I'm feeling much better, though still kind of tired. I'm actually excited that Sunday is Easter. Not because of the whole undead thing, but because my spin class is cancelled. I'll probably go in a work out anyway though.
4. With gas prices spiking, have I mentioned lately how I so do not miss the Mac consulting job with all the driving (not the least of which the really stressful 40 min each way commute through stop-n-go traffic that I did not get reimbursed for)?
5. I've started doing the layout for my latest book! I love doing layout, and I'm learning new InDesign stuff as I go.
1. I meant to blog this way back when it first appeared on NPR, but I forgot. Today's religious holiday brought it back. It's a story about how Huckabee used all these bible fable references in his speeches, and how few supposedly religious people had any idea what he was talking about. THey asked all these people on the street who identified as pretty serious christians, and most of them could not identify his bible references. Ironically, atheist me knew them all (though I was shaky on the widow's mite one). What does that tell us about these evangelicals?
2. On Colbert Report the other night, he exposed some McCain hypocricy. He played the infamous clip of Falwell after 9/11 blaming it on the abortionists, gays, lesbians, the ACLU, etc., and Falwell agreed. McCain, back in 2000:
Speaking with reporters aboard his bus, the "Straight Talk Express," after his loss in three state primary elections, McCain referred to Baptist evangelists Pat Robertson and the Rev. Jerry Falwell as "evil." At an earlier speech in Virginia Beach he dubbed the same men "agents of intolerance."
Then in 2006,
McCain gave the commencement address at Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University. During his 2000 presidential bid, McCain called the Fundamentalist Baptist pastor, Falwell, an “agent of intolerance.” With significant coverage during the campaign, McCain said that he would never back down from his earlier statement. His later appearance at Liberty University prompted questions about the McCain-Falwell relationship and a possible presidential run in 2008. McCain stated that Falwell is no longer that divisive figure and the two have discussed their shared values.
Right.
3. I'm feeling much better, though still kind of tired. I'm actually excited that Sunday is Easter. Not because of the whole undead thing, but because my spin class is cancelled. I'll probably go in a work out anyway though.
4. With gas prices spiking, have I mentioned lately how I so do not miss the Mac consulting job with all the driving (not the least of which the really stressful 40 min each way commute through stop-n-go traffic that I did not get reimbursed for)?
5. I've started doing the layout for my latest book! I love doing layout, and I'm learning new InDesign stuff as I go.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Spinning and lingering hydrocodone
I took my cough medicine early last night so that it would be well past the 12-hour supposed effective time before I was spinning this morning. I think it lasted a little longer. Between the darkened room with just a few dim blue lights on, the trancy music and the sweaty faces all looking at me, there were several moments when the situation took on a disturbingly hallucinogenic feeling. And not in a good way. I feel okay now though; glad to have finally gotten some exercise.
Oh, and I have David Archadorable singing Long and Winding Road completely stuck in my head. Apparently there was some speculation that he didn't sing the first verse of Imagine because of its agnostic message (and he's a Mormon, ugh!)
Oh, and I have David Archadorable singing Long and Winding Road completely stuck in my head. Apparently there was some speculation that he didn't sing the first verse of Imagine because of its agnostic message (and he's a Mormon, ugh!)
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Arthur C. Clarke
Sadly, one of my favorite authors, Arthur C. Clarke, has died. He'll seemingly be remembered most for co-writing 2001, but there were many books I enjoyed, including Rendezvous with Rama, Against the Fall of Night, Imperial Earth... and others.
As an aside, check out the picture in the Wiki article... he used an iMac! I remember an earlier picture of him with a Kaypro II computer (stylish, huh?) on his desk, the same machine I used to write Cloudlords, and a bunch of other old ICE books.
As an aside, check out the picture in the Wiki article... he used an iMac! I remember an earlier picture of him with a Kaypro II computer (stylish, huh?) on his desk, the same machine I used to write Cloudlords, and a bunch of other old ICE books.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Bang Bang
This is unfortunate, I suppose: U.S. Supreme Court seems poised to strike down D.C. handgun ban.
But in DC, where guns are illegal, there are shootings almost every day. Over the river in Arlington (in 'feel free to tote an arsenal' VA), there's one maybe once a month. But I think that is more about the populations and police forces of DC vs. Arlington than the gun laws.
But in DC, where guns are illegal, there are shootings almost every day. Over the river in Arlington (in 'feel free to tote an arsenal' VA), there's one maybe once a month. But I think that is more about the populations and police forces of DC vs. Arlington than the gun laws.
Pillows
Reading this article makes me want to go home and throw all my pillows away. And I probably should.
"Repositories of body moisture, dead skin and drool, pillows offer irresistible digs to dust mites and fungi. A 2005 medical study of pillows -- said to be the first since 1936 -- found up to 16 species of fungi in a single pillow. Testing both feather and synthetic pillows that ranged from 18 months to 20 years old, University of Manchester researchers found several thousand spores of fungus per gram of used pillow -- a higher count than you'd find on a used toothbrush. A minute's soak in hydrogen peroxide can kill the toothbrush spores; not so with a pillow."
Bailouts
I dunno, I am kind of with Senator Harry Reid on the whole Bear Stearns bailout:
And who exactly gets bailed out anyway? Apparently retirement and such for the employees was based on the company's stock value, which went from $90 a share to the $2 a share JP Morgan paid for it. So they are still screwed. I guess at least they have jobs... for the moment. Meanwhile on NPR last night they said that the CEO of Bear Stearns was at a bridge tournament as his company was falling apart. The arrogance of these people.
And what is the cause of all this? Greedy banks and mortgage lenders making loans to deluded or deceived people who should not have been given mortgages. Then they package this debt and sell it to the investment banks who think they can make a quick profit on it.
This morning on NPR they said that often these banks are leveraged to 30 times their actual value at any given time. That sounds like asking for trouble.
It would be interesting to see a simulation of what would happen if the government did not bail out these rich greedy jerks, and some people had to take responsibility for taking extreme risks with other peoples' money. These companies that got themselves into trouble would suffer the consequences. Of course, Citigroup might be one of them and that's my bank. I'd say the investment bank portion would be forced to split off and face bankruptcy (I think that was Spitzer's idea before his untimely fall... speaking of taking responsibility).
This is fun!
Meanwhile the monkey in the White House just keeps saying that 'our economy is strong.' What an idiot.
"Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said the Fed's latest actions 'appear to shift large risks to taxpayers, who may find themselves on the hook for billions in worthless securities.'"
And who exactly gets bailed out anyway? Apparently retirement and such for the employees was based on the company's stock value, which went from $90 a share to the $2 a share JP Morgan paid for it. So they are still screwed. I guess at least they have jobs... for the moment. Meanwhile on NPR last night they said that the CEO of Bear Stearns was at a bridge tournament as his company was falling apart. The arrogance of these people.
And what is the cause of all this? Greedy banks and mortgage lenders making loans to deluded or deceived people who should not have been given mortgages. Then they package this debt and sell it to the investment banks who think they can make a quick profit on it.
This morning on NPR they said that often these banks are leveraged to 30 times their actual value at any given time. That sounds like asking for trouble.
It would be interesting to see a simulation of what would happen if the government did not bail out these rich greedy jerks, and some people had to take responsibility for taking extreme risks with other peoples' money. These companies that got themselves into trouble would suffer the consequences. Of course, Citigroup might be one of them and that's my bank. I'd say the investment bank portion would be forced to split off and face bankruptcy (I think that was Spitzer's idea before his untimely fall... speaking of taking responsibility).
This is fun!
Meanwhile the monkey in the White House just keeps saying that 'our economy is strong.' What an idiot.
Goggle "Decide"
Dr said I had a virus on top of allergies, gave me a cortizone spray which he said would really help the allergies long term, and a narcotic cough syrup to help me sleep. Last night I took my temperature. 102°F Sounds like I have the flu.
I had some real fun hydrocodone-fueled dreams (I slept quite a bit better than the last couple of nights, but still woke up a few times). one dream was that there was something called Google Decide. This morning I had to go to this page just to be sure that I hadn't actually seen something like that there.
Anyway, Google Decide was this program that would answer certain subjective questions for you. It was limited in some ways, and could be a bit too literal, but it came up with interesting results. For instance you could ask it "Who was a worse president, George W. Bush or Millard Fillmore?" First it would give you a disclaimer that there wasn't much historical perspective for the Bush Presidency, and it wasn't even over yet. Then Decide would search the internet, using a wide variety of sources to make a determination. You could also upload two images of human face and ask it which one was more attractive. It would search for norms for attractiveness, examine the images, and give an answer (Actually I remember a TIME Magazine cover several years back with a series of computer-morphed faces of a young woman, with various racial influences subtly shifting from one to the next; I think it was about 'what is beauty?') So, you could ask it any number of fairly specific questions, and it would use whatever web resources (Wikipedia, images files) it thought appropriate to give you an answer. It would rate sources on their credibility and take at into account.
While Google announced this thing as an amusement, they were really just getting the public to help them test out a new artificial intelligence program they had been working on....
I had some real fun hydrocodone-fueled dreams (I slept quite a bit better than the last couple of nights, but still woke up a few times). one dream was that there was something called Google Decide. This morning I had to go to this page just to be sure that I hadn't actually seen something like that there.
Anyway, Google Decide was this program that would answer certain subjective questions for you. It was limited in some ways, and could be a bit too literal, but it came up with interesting results. For instance you could ask it "Who was a worse president, George W. Bush or Millard Fillmore?" First it would give you a disclaimer that there wasn't much historical perspective for the Bush Presidency, and it wasn't even over yet. Then Decide would search the internet, using a wide variety of sources to make a determination. You could also upload two images of human face and ask it which one was more attractive. It would search for norms for attractiveness, examine the images, and give an answer (Actually I remember a TIME Magazine cover several years back with a series of computer-morphed faces of a young woman, with various racial influences subtly shifting from one to the next; I think it was about 'what is beauty?') So, you could ask it any number of fairly specific questions, and it would use whatever web resources (Wikipedia, images files) it thought appropriate to give you an answer. It would rate sources on their credibility and take at into account.
While Google announced this thing as an amusement, they were really just getting the public to help them test out a new artificial intelligence program they had been working on....
Monday, March 17, 2008
Bleah
What a crappy weekend. I survived Sunday morning class but I still feel like crap, my throat is so raw. I got very little sleep last night. I am going to try to get an appt with an otolaryngologist today, because obviously this is more than an allergy. Interestingly, my health biorhythm is bottoming out right now...
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Allergies Suck
I was pretty much laid out all yesterday with my pollen allergy. The Zyrtec and the Singulair didn't seem to make a dent in it. I don't get so much the sneezing or congestion, as I get this drainage that goes down my throat and tries to go in my trachea, and of course it doesn't like that, so I cough... and cough and cough. My throat is raw. A couple of my coughing fits were so violent that I... well you get the picture.
A bit better this morning, but I have to go teach spin class with my voice already halfway gone.
A bit better this morning, but I have to go teach spin class with my voice already halfway gone.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Five Random Friday things
1. Poor little David Archadorable from Idol, apparently his father is a total psycho stage dad, and his hollering may have made David screw up so badly the other night. Ban him!
2. I am debating whether to take on a 4th weekly spin class. I could use the money and the exercise. It's on Monday nights. It would give me a little 'cushion' in case I wanted to ditch the early Thursday one.
3. I'm still more than 5 lbs. over over the weight I want. I just don't have good eating self-discipline, which is very vexing.
4. My huge writing project is almost done! I spent last evening tinkering with a Bryce picture for the cover. I'm sending the final text off to the editor/publisher tomorrow. Yayyy! Next comes layout/page design, which I always kind of enjoy.
5. Nerd alert! My Stargate: Ark of Truth DVD came today!
2. I am debating whether to take on a 4th weekly spin class. I could use the money and the exercise. It's on Monday nights. It would give me a little 'cushion' in case I wanted to ditch the early Thursday one.
3. I'm still more than 5 lbs. over over the weight I want. I just don't have good eating self-discipline, which is very vexing.
4. My huge writing project is almost done! I spent last evening tinkering with a Bryce picture for the cover. I'm sending the final text off to the editor/publisher tomorrow. Yayyy! Next comes layout/page design, which I always kind of enjoy.
5. Nerd alert! My Stargate: Ark of Truth DVD came today!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
OMG!
I can't believe that cutie David Hernandez got voted off Idol! I guess no one loves a gay (I assume) stripper. He was the only eye candy (Archedorable doesn't count; he's, like, 12).
We didn't even get to see David H. take some clothes off, darn it.
We didn't even get to see David H. take some clothes off, darn it.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Hilarious IDOL Recap
This is great: Recap: The David Archuleta Debacle. The best line is the VH1 Divas line in Hernandez's review
Idol
I admit I watched that two-hour show in probably half an hour, so I missed some of the jokes, but Lisa de Moraes' column is still hysterical.
I thought Stripper David's voice was weak and his performance was forced. Next time he really must do a Britney and halfway through the song tear his clothes off.
Comb-over managed to ruin for me Eleanor Rigby, one of the few Beatles songs I actually like.
Country Chick is so going home.
Poor little David Archuleta; how could he be nervous doing a Beatles song, when he did a Lennon song 2 weeks ago? And forgetting the lyrics, shocking. Still, I hope he rebounds, and stops licking his lip like that.
I thought Stripper David's voice was weak and his performance was forced. Next time he really must do a Britney and halfway through the song tear his clothes off.
Comb-over managed to ruin for me Eleanor Rigby, one of the few Beatles songs I actually like.
Country Chick is so going home.
Poor little David Archuleta; how could he be nervous doing a Beatles song, when he did a Lennon song 2 weeks ago? And forgetting the lyrics, shocking. Still, I hope he rebounds, and stops licking his lip like that.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Yes I am a nerd
I pre-ordered the Stargate SG-1 direct-to-dvd movie Ark of Truth. Even if it did get weird the last couple seasons with the Farscape refugees, I still like it better than Atlantis. Though I watch that too.
Gaming
So, about D&D. Lo, many years ago I was a shy boy off to college at the tender age of 17. Not too far into my First Year* I met a young woman named Ann, who shared my interest in Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings. She told me about this game that she thought I would love, and she got me invited to go observe. I was skeptical. And at first, watching it (the group were almost all upper-class wargamer types, who looked upon us with barely-concealed condescension), it seemed kind of boring. However, they let us make up characters, and we were off, joining in on the tail-end of a multi-year campaign known as the 'Crown-quest' (the quest to destroy the Iron Crown of Morgoth; this predated the Silmarillion, where we learned that the crown had been made into manacles).
Anyway, I soon became quite addicted. At one point I was playing three times a week in different games, two run by the incomparable Pete: one in the known Middle-earth, and the other in the 'east.' Also at this time, Pete, Coleman and Kurt were working on adapting D&D with better rules...
Years passed, I graduated, and had a bit of a crisis. Would I go to graduate school? (Pretty much required of an Architecture career). I was absolutely not going back home to Pittsburgh. I managed to pretty quickly get dual part-time jobs at U.Va.'s Sci-tech and Architecture Libraries, so I had a decent full-time job, and I was living pretty inexpensively. Meanwhile, Pete and crew were gearing up to formally found ICE (Iron Crown Enterprises), though not with enough money to have more than one person on staff full-time. Slowly, though, ICE grew and we were able to hire ourselves, and I ended up working for ICE for over a decade. It was a wild and (mostly) fun time, and it gave me a lot of good experience for the future. I certainly don't regret going that way instead of Architecture.
*At U.Va., we do not say 'freshman,' etc. Just like it is the 'Grounds' not the 'Campus.'
Anyway, I soon became quite addicted. At one point I was playing three times a week in different games, two run by the incomparable Pete: one in the known Middle-earth, and the other in the 'east.' Also at this time, Pete, Coleman and Kurt were working on adapting D&D with better rules...
Years passed, I graduated, and had a bit of a crisis. Would I go to graduate school? (Pretty much required of an Architecture career). I was absolutely not going back home to Pittsburgh. I managed to pretty quickly get dual part-time jobs at U.Va.'s Sci-tech and Architecture Libraries, so I had a decent full-time job, and I was living pretty inexpensively. Meanwhile, Pete and crew were gearing up to formally found ICE (Iron Crown Enterprises), though not with enough money to have more than one person on staff full-time. Slowly, though, ICE grew and we were able to hire ourselves, and I ended up working for ICE for over a decade. It was a wild and (mostly) fun time, and it gave me a lot of good experience for the future. I certainly don't regret going that way instead of Architecture.
*At U.Va., we do not say 'freshman,' etc. Just like it is the 'Grounds' not the 'Campus.'
Monday, March 10, 2008
Daylight Shifting Time
I've always thought Daylight Saving Time was stupid and pointless. If you're not turning the lights on at night, you are early in the morning. But thanks to Gene, now it all makes sense.
There was one time it was actually cool, though, many years ago in October, we were playing a D&D game and a battle went horribly wrong. We used a limited wish to turn time back one hour. It was the night when you turn your clock back one hour...
But back to the present: I'm groggy and grouchy today, and on top of everything else, the tree pollen count is surging. I knew it was last week when my eyes started itching.
There was one time it was actually cool, though, many years ago in October, we were playing a D&D game and a battle went horribly wrong. We used a limited wish to turn time back one hour. It was the night when you turn your clock back one hour...
But back to the present: I'm groggy and grouchy today, and on top of everything else, the tree pollen count is surging. I knew it was last week when my eyes started itching.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Random Wednesday
Okay, this will be really all over the place...
Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons® has died. I was surprised how it has been all over the news though. It even made the NPR News headlines this morning. I'm sure this will sound uber-geeky, but it changed my life (for the better, I hope). More on that later today.
I've been watching Idol for the first time in years (well I watch the boys). This news that hottie David Hernandez was a male stripper for a few years is just delicious. We were waiting for Seacrest to make a crack about it, but nothing.
Hillary won! To be honest, I am still leaning towards her, especially after J. told me heard that Obama would pick Richardson as his running mate (a kind of tokenish move to get the Latino vote, I think), who does not have a very good record on gay issues.
Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons® has died. I was surprised how it has been all over the news though. It even made the NPR News headlines this morning. I'm sure this will sound uber-geeky, but it changed my life (for the better, I hope). More on that later today.
I've been watching Idol for the first time in years (well I watch the boys). This news that hottie David Hernandez was a male stripper for a few years is just delicious. We were waiting for Seacrest to make a crack about it, but nothing.
Hillary won! To be honest, I am still leaning towards her, especially after J. told me heard that Obama would pick Richardson as his running mate (a kind of tokenish move to get the Latino vote, I think), who does not have a very good record on gay issues.
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