Saturday, December 30, 2006

Cool new books!

I just received new books I ordered in the mail "Thoughtless acts?" by Jane Fulton Suri and "Geometry of Design" by Kimberly Elam. They seem a nice edition to my other favorite "Universal Principles of Design" by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, and Jill Butler.

I know I'm a geek. I was looking for online education for Universal Design degrees and couldn't find them! The ones that exist have dates from 2 years ago, or are add-on courses to Industrial Design degrees. Guess I may have to get an industrial design degree, but I'm really more interested in the universal accessibility as it relates to disability.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Happy, Happy, Joy, Oh Fu...

Well, dear reader, I'm glad I got that bit about my geeky happiness out before I updated you with my downer.

Actually, it isn't a downer as much as a larger challenge. I just today, a week and a half after classes started, received my college textbooks. English Creative Writing and World History before 1650. Now I can begin to catch up on classwork. Unfortunately, beyond posting 'hello' in to the online discussion boards there was squat I could do in advance. So now I'll be really busy with college, trying to catch up.

So apologies in advance if you don't see me for awhile. I'll be trying hard to be a good student and pass my courses with good grades.

I hope I'll get a chance to goof off, play games, drink, and kiss & hug the cute ones, soon. I suppose if there is enough drinking involved I might kiss & hug the ugly ones too...

Christmas Squee!

The stork is on the way...
Picture of Apple Black iMac laptop computer
a new baby for me! Squee! I love me!

BLACK With the following configuration:
* Processor 065-6699 2.00GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* Memory 065-6726 2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM-2x1GB
* Hard Drive 065-6768 200GB Serial ATA @ 4200 rpm
* Optical Drive 065-6704 Superdrive 6x

Ships by: Dec 14 - Dec 16
Delivers by: Dec 18 - Dec 21

I already mentioned I purchased the developer kit for OS X. I'm hopeful to make some comparisons of it versus accessibility on other platforms. I'm just filled with geek joy to learn yet another operating system! Am I sick or what?

Well, that and I don't always like hauling my mobile gaming monster (Inspiron 9100) about all the time. I'm into weightlifting but the power brick is large enough to replace exercising with dumbells.
Picture of Dell Inspiron 9100

Thursday, December 7, 2006

Wood You Could You?

On the floor?

Hardwood Floor view from window.Hardwood Floor View from Doorway.
Hardwood Floor Almost Finished.

I just finished installing Gaby's wooden floor. What a p^h^h^hleasure it was to have it finished. Well mostly - we still need to put down the edging and finish it all off with a fresh prime and paint.

The cutting was a pain - I'm no carpenter - but actually the vacuum was the hardest part; lots of dust. Still, not bad for my first install of a floating wood floor. :)

El Oper

Well, I've been wanting to play with OS X for awhile now (for it's unixy goodness & when friends asked me for help) as it has some interesting accessibility features. So I haven't decided what hardware to purchase, but I did just register to be an Apple Student Developer (note I just started back to school) and get an Apple discount for one selection of hardware. So, I'm waiting for the developer package to arrive sometime next week, have to fax in my school registration info. for verification, then I'll be even geekier ever! (Linux, Windows and now OS X!)

Actually, I hope to use it for some comparative analysis of modern operating systems implementations. Primarily in the usability and accessibility arena.

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Yesterday I couldn't Speal Edumakated...

Today I paid for two classed for college at AMU. So I'm back to school, taking two classes. Work was supposedly paying for it but I went ahead and did so as they still haven't approved it - I started it a month ago!

A good friend asked when I would be done. I don't really know. I don't think in those terms - it doesn't work well for me. What does work is taking the classes, inching to the goal. Progress in the immediate sense lets me better deal with when I judge myself too harshly that I should have completed it long ago. I won't give up, so I won't inspect my progress in too much detail.

Saturday, December 2, 2006

Consumer Hoar...

Well, I did it. I finally broke down and purchased a television! 32" of LCD flatness!

Not that I expect much to change in the entertainment section of my life; no cable, just DVDs and now I can watch them with someone else in the room (before I used the computer and the screen and setup wasn't conducive to more than watching from the computer chair).

"I am a consumer hoar", "boy and how!" (thanks Don)

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Friday, November 24, 2006

A position on my staff...

...or is that how to comment on my post?

A friend mentioned not being able to make a comment on my blog without logging in first. Just wanted to mention, since I was encouraging you to write comments, that you only have to log in you want to be recognized, otherwise you have the options under "Choose and Identity" of Google/Blogger (log in), Other (enter your name, web link optional), or Anonymous.

I don't know what it was in the past, but that was one reason I left Friendster - I didn't want people to have to create an Friendster account just to post.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Arco Voltaico

I believe that last word heard on this video rhymes with "duck"

So this guy walks into a grocery store...

So I'm in the grocery store looking at the microwavable dinners and it hits me like a sack of bricks. I start tearing up realizing I'm 37 years old, alone, looking at instant dinners.

Thoughts of being undesirable single; thoughts I have no one to cook for; thoughts I have no one that wants to cook for me; no one who loves me in that way.

No amount of thinking about how great it is to have friends, or that I have wonderful daughters, or that most of my past relationships created some unique happiness can undo the feeling - I'm about to loose it right there in the frozen food isle.

I zoned out and checked out. I'm glad no one stopped and asked if I was OK, because I would have lost it. I was too sensitive and vunerable at the time to do anything else.

Thoughts of non-attachment; thoughts that we are all alone, even when we think we have someone; thoughts if the person I loved died, what would I do, thoughts that I delude myself thinking someone has the same feelings I do.

I miss the illusion that someone loves me for me. I'm unsure of myself to trust I can do it since I thought someone loved me and I was wrong. The shared illusion - that I was loved and loved someone - was in fact a delusion; only I felt that way. Makes me feel like I'm unskilled and unable to figure it out through clarity of thought, it must be blind luck - and I don't feel lucky.

Being present in the moment helps me live through these times, but it is very unpleasant. I'd much rather intellectualize the fact that life is a gift and we are alone while smothered in the glorious shared illusion of being loved.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

World of Whatever

Yeah, this is what I spend my time on...whatever!

V visits the US government to file petitions

A long video, but watch these asshats. The government is made of people and they forget they serve first. If you are in public office, especially police, you should be subject to video while on duty.

I need to get my V suit ready...

Monday, November 20, 2006

Where for art thou, blog?

I don't like friendster's blog for a few reasons and I do like blogger's blog (did I just say that?) for a few reasons, so I've moved all my stuff over to my new blogs: http://gggildas.blogspot.com/ will be where my poetry (dare I say art? It may be a self performance only, which makes me feel like I've been masterbating in public. I hope you enjoy the show!) will be. My regular blog nonsense will be on here (http://gildas.blogspot.com/), where it always has been.

Now this is a good thing for you who bother to visit and watch me drool, you can use Atom or RSS feeds to track my postings. No longer waiting on Freindster's lackluster abilities, it seems to come home late and drunk more often than not, and I'm tired of waiting up for it. (Imagine me with curlers in my hair)..wait for it...wait for it..Bingo! [It helps to know I shave my head].

Now for those of you who don't know what the hell I'm talking about, I offer you a free geek card, redeemable by visiting Wikipedia's article about Atom feeds and perhaps Wikipedia's article about RSS. I personally use the Firefox Web Browser for just about everything so I installed The Sage feed reader but as I mentioned, you can use whatever tool you choose.

I've deleted my old postings and moved them into the new blogs. Sorry for the auto-feed update nonsense - I'm still learning.

Oh, one more thing. I've heard directly some of you like my postings. Please do feel free to post a comment in the blogs. I use these things like diary entries and nothing would please me more to capture something from you to cherish and remember sometime in the future. I hope that pleases you as well.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Friday, November 10, 2006

Boob of death!

I didn't get to Dragoncon this year, but now I feel my 'con needs are sated...
Yeah, I'm goth

Creamy cheezy cheezy, yeah. I'm cream AND cheezy!

Need a new place

Not really happy with Friendster's formatting. Been thinking about moving my blogs together on my own server. Their formatting sucks and (although I block with Firefox's adblock so I don't see them) I don't like their advertising placements either.

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Why Time Travel Won't Work...

Thanks Gary!
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0zFtBuFNiw&NR

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Brokeback Djs

Couldn't quit you - damn guitar rifts - so I modified you - now I can move..on and on..
And people

...who talk at the theater
And now for not so fuzzy

but still cute!
I want a new baby

I wish I had the place and support needed for a new child.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

A Special Present...

Caberat Cover Art; woman in spotlight
For those of you who actually read my blog!

Cabarat

FREE TICKET! FREE TICKET! FREE TICKET!

I have for 2 tickets for the 2 p.m. Saturday, October 28th performance of Cabaret. Would you like to be my guest? People who miss me encouraged to apply!

All you have to do is send me an email or call.

Arena Stage Theatre is located at 1101 Sixth Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. The play will be held in the Fichandler Theatre. The Running time is approximately 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission. You may log onto http://www.arenastage.org for more information.

More than one guest applying means we may decide the winner based on games of skill. You know, something like tequila shots or something of equally dangerous consequences. Presents and persuasive gifts (did you see my post on roses? Red isn't required! ;) or shameless self-promotion is allowed to persuade the judge.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Brokeback Galactica

After many spoofs of this I find this one really good. It is amazing because the emotional portrayals in BSG work so well in this. I'm going to go cry now. :p

Friday, September 15, 2006

Perception is Reality

...and reality does not exist.

I've been asked by more than one person about my poetry. What does it mean? Please explain it.

I can't. I won't.

I think poetry, posts, are art (With apologize to Ash: good, bad, I'm the guy with a keyboard) and my attempt to explain it to you will fall short of your own interpretations.

I also caution you that I myself might interpret my own work differently that what you think is obvious, logical, or most likely. I.e., If you think the post is about you, it might be, or it might be as a dream with symbolism only I can recognize. Or, I can't recognize it either but it is the imprint of emotions and memories that key to something more than just reading some words.

That said, if you want to get to know me in person, you might gain some insight into my personality. No profile can define me. Attributes are isolations and about as useful as one chemical in my makeup to a scientist - "Yes. Carbon - but is it intelligent life?". If you are lucky, we might share ideas that make us happy.

I hope someone, somewhere, enjoys my posts.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Here and there

Sometimes I'm here and sometimes I'm there posting blogs in other places. Reminds me that information is only relevant to the purpose for which it is organized.

At any rate, if you don't find me here you might know where else to look. Of course if you are looking you might try my yahoo photos - among other places ;)

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Long life?

...is a chinese curse. Or at least "Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior" seems to indicate that life is half empty as it is full.

A FYI for all of you who don't know; "A" and I are no longer "an item" as they say. I wonder what a non-item would be?

N.

Monday, March 13, 2006

Monday mourning

I mourn the loss of my weekend ( typing /mourn into my chat window ).

How sad is it that when I came to work I automatically placed my fingers on the A, W, D combonation as if I was driving my World Of Warcraft (WoW) character about?

The really weird part is how I think the WoW interface could be used in a desktop setting. Not in it's current incarnation, but close. I've experimented with other 3D interfaces on Linux (shh, don't ask, don't tell) but couldn't find one that really performed anything other than eye candy. There are a few useful demonstrations, but lack of any full system with applications designed for 3D use and designed for that type of user interaction.

I tell you another thing; sound rocks. I've turned down all the special effects and turned up the ambience in WoW. I've observed the game becomes much more emmersive, which if you've played WoW is scary. I can also tell what zone I am in without looking. I find it cues me in to expect certain animals and non-player characters. Sound is a subtle but easy to ignore attribute that really does enhance playability and enjoyment of the game.

Not that I played all weekend. I finished my college work for the week, read my Heavy Metal magazine, installed and connected to my Kuro Box (still trying to determine what firmware I wish to run).

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Back to School!

Well, I'm back to school!

As part of my attempt to focus on learning, I'm going to keep a diary. Hopefully this will help increase my desire to write and eliminate some of the writing blocks I have in my personal and professional work.