(Actually now with PhD, but Doctor of Philosophy just doesn't have the same evil ring, does it?)
After three years of car-free bliss/nightmare, I am no longer sans car. As I will be moving to TheLimey's slightly removed home next month, I will have to actually drive to my academic and clinical duties instead of walking.
Pros of car-free: no car-buying; no insurance & maintenance etc.; someone else drives while you sit on the bus reading; no parking problems; a feeling of smug self-righteousness about pollution and roadkill; lower expectations of others about social life; less road rage (I don't say "no road rage" because I still become quite cross at careless drivers even as a pedestrian); smelling all the seasons; seeing many small things daily that simply are not visible from a car; no concern with running over squirrels; not having personal identity invested in what metal box you're currently occupying; fewer concerns about oil and its whimsical pricing.
Cons of car-free: bad public transport that goes almost nowhere on the weekends and stops early at night; smelly and/or intrusive fellow passengers; dragging six heavy bags of groceries home in a flimsy wheeled cart; people treat you like you're a teenager even if you're nearly forty; the months of February and March; broken capillaries on my cheeks each winter; nonstop asthma in cold weather; having to be ferried about by others or else left behind; always being at the mercy of when others want to go to and leave the party; not being able to go fetch UPS and FedEx packages that require a signature; not buying wine, birdseed, canned soup, or fresh vegetables because they're a pain in the behind to get home.
The "new" car is a 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier sedan, which basically has all the opposite qualities from those I have assembled over the years as what I want in a vehicle. (Including its automatic transmission.) However, as it had extraordinarily low miles for its age and was a very low price, I really couldn't find a way to rationalize not buying it. Even though online reviews dubbed it the Big Mac of automobiles. Not so much for its size, which is pretty small, but for its bland popularity.
Its color is turquoise, or teal, or even dark aqua. I know that "tealmobile" sounds better phonetically, but I like "aquamobile" better, as it then sounds submersible.
The old (?) adage "Driving an automatic is like having someone else shift for you--poorly" does hold true, but I will simply have to rein in my impulses towards jackrabbit starts at red lights. While I seem able to drive an automatic okay for the most part, I still find myself occasionally hitting the brake by way of automatically seeking out the clutch. Especially in an emergency situation.
For example--just hypothetically speaking--if I were to need to turn around quickly in someone's driveway in order to go back and pluck, say, a small turtle off a hot country road, I might brake while trying to clutch.
The hypothetical turtle would then make small furious hissing sounds from the recesses of its shell when I picked it up off the road as SUVs whizzed past.
Hypothetically.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Lisa and Liz
Of all the photos I took last night, here is one taken by someone else.
There was a little get-together at a nearby pub for another of our cohort who just got engaged. (Not pictured here.)
I was definitely happy to get out of the house and see some familiar people, and run around in the rain with them.
Some of them.
Okay, only one other person was nuts enough to go out in the downpour and prance around with me. (Not pictured here.)
There was a little get-together at a nearby pub for another of our cohort who just got engaged. (Not pictured here.)
I was definitely happy to get out of the house and see some familiar people, and run around in the rain with them.
Some of them.
Okay, only one other person was nuts enough to go out in the downpour and prance around with me. (Not pictured here.)
Have added a new link to my blogroll; partly because who can resist the words "carbon" and "geek" in close proximity?, and partly because of his Bob Geldof/Gollum discovery.
Oh yeah; he also has a robots section.
Oh yeah; he also has a robots section.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Spent the weekend trying to work, and even working some.
I spent last summer agonizing over my thesis for hours each day in a 95-degree apartment while construction crews rebuilt the street in front of my building from sunup to sundown while experiencing terrible asthma*. So this year is definitely an improvement.
Instead of my thesis, I'm working on research publications of my own. Instead of construction workers, I have ants swarming throughout my apartment that have suddenly taken to biting me after four years of peaceful coexistence. Instead of terrible asthma, I have much-improved asthma and really, really terrible eye allergies 24-7. (I'm thinking maybe it's actually pinkeye. Or eyeball-eating bacteria.) Have also had unbelievably terrible cabin fever due to the isolation.
Thank goodness for the improved asthma and the lack of the giant street-stomper machine!
Awoke two hours later than usual with a hangover. Headachey, groggy, nauseated, dehydrated...only--wait a minute, I haven't had so much as a glass of beer with dinner in about two weeks! All I did last night was stay up until midnight redoing the regression tables in my results section. Maybe this is that "getting old" thing I've been hearing so much about.
Today I met with the advisor I have over the summer. I told him that as much as I claim to like writing, I sure am finding this process agonizing, even when I know what I want to say. He assured me that was normal.
Still, it seems that there must be some better way. I know people typically find themselves feeling "unmotivated" and they get stuck because of that. However, I have been feeling motivated, yet I still feel stuck. (Motivation is not all it's cracked up to be.) It's something else that is making this agonizing. It feels like when you're learning the tasks at a new job, or first speaking a foreign language, or ... some other activity where you have to feel your way through algorithmically, step by step, because it's not yet intuitive.
I have had flashes of that feeling of "flow" (you remember your basic Csikszsentmihalyi, right?) while doing research and research writing; there must be people who feel like that a lot of the time. I want to be one of them!
*Me, not the construction crew. In fact, scratch that whole sentence. Replace with this one: "I spent last summer agonizing over my thesis for hours each day in a 95-degree apartment while experiencing terrible asthma as construction crews rebuilt the street in front of my building from sunup to sundown ."
I spent last summer agonizing over my thesis for hours each day in a 95-degree apartment while construction crews rebuilt the street in front of my building from sunup to sundown while experiencing terrible asthma*. So this year is definitely an improvement.
Instead of my thesis, I'm working on research publications of my own. Instead of construction workers, I have ants swarming throughout my apartment that have suddenly taken to biting me after four years of peaceful coexistence. Instead of terrible asthma, I have much-improved asthma and really, really terrible eye allergies 24-7. (I'm thinking maybe it's actually pinkeye. Or eyeball-eating bacteria.) Have also had unbelievably terrible cabin fever due to the isolation.
Thank goodness for the improved asthma and the lack of the giant street-stomper machine!
Awoke two hours later than usual with a hangover. Headachey, groggy, nauseated, dehydrated...only--wait a minute, I haven't had so much as a glass of beer with dinner in about two weeks! All I did last night was stay up until midnight redoing the regression tables in my results section. Maybe this is that "getting old" thing I've been hearing so much about.
Today I met with the advisor I have over the summer. I told him that as much as I claim to like writing, I sure am finding this process agonizing, even when I know what I want to say. He assured me that was normal.
Still, it seems that there must be some better way. I know people typically find themselves feeling "unmotivated" and they get stuck because of that. However, I have been feeling motivated, yet I still feel stuck. (Motivation is not all it's cracked up to be.) It's something else that is making this agonizing. It feels like when you're learning the tasks at a new job, or first speaking a foreign language, or ... some other activity where you have to feel your way through algorithmically, step by step, because it's not yet intuitive.
I have had flashes of that feeling of "flow" (you remember your basic Csikszsentmihalyi, right?) while doing research and research writing; there must be people who feel like that a lot of the time. I want to be one of them!
*Me, not the construction crew. In fact, scratch that whole sentence. Replace with this one: "I spent last summer agonizing over my thesis for hours each day in a 95-degree apartment while experiencing terrible asthma as construction crews rebuilt the street in front of my building from sunup to sundown ."
Saturday, July 09, 2005
As I continue to throw out and clean up my possessions, I have been scanning a few things that don't need to be kept in hard copy form, for example: the notes I took at the lecture of Dr. England about Mars and space travel. (I may have been the only person in the audience scribbling madly the entire time.)
So here it is in PDF form, with no accompanying clarifications. Therefore I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. (No, I just mean about the notes!)
So here it is in PDF form, with no accompanying clarifications. Therefore I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. (No, I just mean about the notes!)
Friday, July 08, 2005
After getting home from the anxiety clinic last night, I finally got to do some art work for the first time in about 4 years. Of course, it's just logos and T-shirts for the AWP conference, but still I'm pleased. I ended up staying up until 2am working on it, since I have other tasks scheduled for today. (For me, that's really really late.)
I was asked to design the T-shirt for the Women of Color Caucus, but I went a step further and took the overall AWP design and redid that, too. I hope we end up using them both, as it/they look a lot better than the original B/W sketch. IMHO.
I posted the designs on Flickr and the description of the whole process on my Prog Blog.
I guess I should also post the original design just so people understand what the heck I'm talking about.
I was asked to design the T-shirt for the Women of Color Caucus, but I went a step further and took the overall AWP design and redid that, too. I hope we end up using them both, as it/they look a lot better than the original B/W sketch. IMHO.
I posted the designs on Flickr and the description of the whole process on my Prog Blog.
I guess I should also post the original design just so people understand what the heck I'm talking about.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
[Can't ... stop ... posting!]
From TopFive email today:
The Top 5 Things You Don't Want to Hear From Tech Support:
5. "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."
4. "In layman's terms, we call that the Hindenburg Effect."
3. "Hold on a second ... Mom! Timmy's hitting me!"
2. "Okay, turn to page 523 in your copy of Dianetics."
and TopFive.com's Number 1 Thing You Don't Want to Hear From Tech Support...
1. "Please hold for Mr. Gates' attorney."
From TopFive email today:
The Top 5 Things You Don't Want to Hear From Tech Support:
5. "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."
4. "In layman's terms, we call that the Hindenburg Effect."
3. "Hold on a second ... Mom! Timmy's hitting me!"
2. "Okay, turn to page 523 in your copy of Dianetics."
and TopFive.com's Number 1 Thing You Don't Want to Hear From Tech Support...
1. "Please hold for Mr. Gates' attorney."
Ever since the taking-classes bit of my degree finished (about two years ago now that I think about it--no, wait--is just one year? just seems like two, I guess) I've had these odd patches of loneliness.
When I was taking classes with my cohort of 8, we all saw each other a certain number of times a week, chatted regularly, etc. But now we only see each other in passing here and there, or if someone makes an effort to create some kind of social event.
I'm too busy for these damn events, I tell you. Plus people seem to organize events that are either late at night (for me being out past 10 is late) and that I would have to find a ride to and from, or they're all-day things for which the "younger" cohorts are getting people together. Which I just don't have the time, money, or patience for right now.
Actually, I think there's a poker night at one colleague's house on Thursdays, but it involves being out late and drinking, and I'm tired enough all day lately as is. (Plus I'm horribly allergic to their cat, of course.) And I just--have little interest in learning any kind of complicated meaningless behaviors such as card playing when I'm using all my limited thinkin' power to do these research write-ups. I also have little interest in gambling in general (even a token system), and little interest in social events that are primarily competitive in nature ("let's get together and play a game!") So I end up very out of the loop.
I know, I know. I'm unnatural and wrong, but that's just the way I am. I would rather attend a free lecture on campus about space travel. Which I did. But it's not very social.
On the other hand, I get pretty squirrelly undertaking my current behavior, which is working my behind off while being at home most of the time. It's a breeding ground for neurosis, I tell you. Being around other people some of the time keeps people balanced. (That's why we try to increase the social contacts of almost any client who walks through the door of the clinic.)
And with how busy I've been, and TheLimey's been, we've only seen each other one night and one weekend in the past...what, two months? Six weeks? And we won't see each other much over the next month, either.
So here's me: I don't go to work every day and see people, and I don't see people on the weekend, my place constantly looks like a tornado hit it (with a pile of boxes)--no wonder I'm feeling unbalanced and lonely. The problem is, I'm too desperately busy trying to get all this crap done "over the summer"* to remedy that.
I'm continuing to pack my stuff and move the boxes when we do see each other, but I feel I have nearly reached the point where I either have to just move what's remaining and be done with it, or stop for now until I'm ready to actually move. Which I can't do until I have a car.
I'm also discovering it's really hard to buy a car when you don't have a car to go look for cars.
So I'm at this impasse: can't move, can't not move, can't get a car, can't continue without one, must finish academic work, but becoming very lonely and neurotic because of the solitude. Feeling very paralyzed with all these conflicting courses of action, all of which I must undertake.
(There's that verb "undertake" again, but it'll have to do.)
*"Over the summer" always sounds like a long time, but it actually ends up really being, like, six weeks or something. Summer was only really long when we were kids, but by saying that phrase still makes it sound like it's a long and potentially productive time.
When I was taking classes with my cohort of 8, we all saw each other a certain number of times a week, chatted regularly, etc. But now we only see each other in passing here and there, or if someone makes an effort to create some kind of social event.
I'm too busy for these damn events, I tell you. Plus people seem to organize events that are either late at night (for me being out past 10 is late) and that I would have to find a ride to and from, or they're all-day things for which the "younger" cohorts are getting people together. Which I just don't have the time, money, or patience for right now.
Actually, I think there's a poker night at one colleague's house on Thursdays, but it involves being out late and drinking, and I'm tired enough all day lately as is. (Plus I'm horribly allergic to their cat, of course.) And I just--have little interest in learning any kind of complicated meaningless behaviors such as card playing when I'm using all my limited thinkin' power to do these research write-ups. I also have little interest in gambling in general (even a token system), and little interest in social events that are primarily competitive in nature ("let's get together and play a game!") So I end up very out of the loop.
I know, I know. I'm unnatural and wrong, but that's just the way I am. I would rather attend a free lecture on campus about space travel. Which I did. But it's not very social.
On the other hand, I get pretty squirrelly undertaking my current behavior, which is working my behind off while being at home most of the time. It's a breeding ground for neurosis, I tell you. Being around other people some of the time keeps people balanced. (That's why we try to increase the social contacts of almost any client who walks through the door of the clinic.)
And with how busy I've been, and TheLimey's been, we've only seen each other one night and one weekend in the past...what, two months? Six weeks? And we won't see each other much over the next month, either.
So here's me: I don't go to work every day and see people, and I don't see people on the weekend, my place constantly looks like a tornado hit it (with a pile of boxes)--no wonder I'm feeling unbalanced and lonely. The problem is, I'm too desperately busy trying to get all this crap done "over the summer"* to remedy that.
I'm continuing to pack my stuff and move the boxes when we do see each other, but I feel I have nearly reached the point where I either have to just move what's remaining and be done with it, or stop for now until I'm ready to actually move. Which I can't do until I have a car.
I'm also discovering it's really hard to buy a car when you don't have a car to go look for cars.
So I'm at this impasse: can't move, can't not move, can't get a car, can't continue without one, must finish academic work, but becoming very lonely and neurotic because of the solitude. Feeling very paralyzed with all these conflicting courses of action, all of which I must undertake.
(There's that verb "undertake" again, but it'll have to do.)
*"Over the summer" always sounds like a long time, but it actually ends up really being, like, six weeks or something. Summer was only really long when we were kids, but by saying that phrase still makes it sound like it's a long and potentially productive time.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Squirrel Kissing
No, this is not me, but I wish it was.
Of course, squirrels make terrible house-companions because of the combination of claws and leaping onto one's head, which can't be trained out of them.
I keep telling myself that.
Of course, squirrels make terrible house-companions because of the combination of claws and leaping onto one's head, which can't be trained out of them.
I keep telling myself that.
Guess I'm susceptible to peer pressure at a certain level after all...
...Nice to know! Considering my goal of living to be 100. A moving goal, as now I want to live past 100. Maybe to 120.
| You scored as Natural Causes. Your death will be by natural causes, though not by any disease, because that is another option on this test. You will probably just silently pass away in the night from old age, and people you love won't realize until the next morning, when you are all purple and cold and icky. So be happy, you won't be murdered.
How Will You Die?? created with QuizFarm.com |
...Nice to know! Considering my goal of living to be 100. A moving goal, as now I want to live past 100. Maybe to 120.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
The Button
I don't know what this anonymous button was for, but I sure as heck wanted to push it.
TheLimey has suggested that it begs for a story/stories to be written about it.
So, whaddaya got?
TheLimey has suggested that it begs for a story/stories to be written about it.
So, whaddaya got?
So, I'm finally infamous, but unfortunately not for any of the interesting bad things I've done in my life. (Next it'll be something like being a "Glamor don't" with nylons stuck in my skirt, or getting photographed next to the governor, picking my nose.)
Serves me right for actually giving a proper attribution link to someone's work instead of wild-eyed-ly plagiarizing, huh?
If only I had known before that while my everyday writing is completely uninteresting to the public, the way I keep track of it is fun to laugh at. I could have just been doing that all along! It's a lot less work, I tell you whut.
I'm mainly just annoyed that someone assumed I was a man. Is that the default for someone writing about research?
Maybe I should have included references to progress on that pink sweater I've been knitting since last fall, or my recipe-indexing project*.
*One of those things for someday, like when I have a broken leg and can spend a few weeks at home alone with my scanner.
Serves me right for actually giving a proper attribution link to someone's work instead of wild-eyed-ly plagiarizing, huh?
If only I had known before that while my everyday writing is completely uninteresting to the public, the way I keep track of it is fun to laugh at. I could have just been doing that all along! It's a lot less work, I tell you whut.
I'm mainly just annoyed that someone assumed I was a man. Is that the default for someone writing about research?
Maybe I should have included references to progress on that pink sweater I've been knitting since last fall, or my recipe-indexing project*.
*One of those things for someday, like when I have a broken leg and can spend a few weeks at home alone with my scanner.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
I was having trouble posting to my new blog yesterday, and then today the entry showed up on this one. Blogger is weird.
* * * * * * * * *
You know what's really great?
I'll be able to tell my future kids that their dad is an alien. And it will be true!
(This happened to a colleague of mine whose mom is German.)
* * * * * * * * *
You know what's really great?
I'll be able to tell my future kids that their dad is an alien. And it will be true!
(This happened to a colleague of mine whose mom is German.)
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Progress?
As you can see, at the bottom of my sidebar (on right) I have placed a progress bar like wot Tim has that he got from this Hasselhoffing guy.
Currently I'm working on writing up the results of my gender and nutrition study for submission to the research journal Appetite. (I am basing the percentage on the vague average of about 8,000 words in recently published reports.)
I have several analysis and writing projects I hope to finish this summer, so that when I apply for internships this fall I can have them on my vita as "in submission".
Actually, since I have so many balls in the air at once right now, I think I may start an entire new blog regarding my progress on various things...
Yeah, now that I think of it, it's a good idea. Then my advisor can just go look at my progress blog instead of pestering me.
I hope no one's taken "prog blog" yet, but I'm guessing they have.
.....
Okay, here it is.
Mmmmm....organizey bars.....
.....
Later:
I have removed the progress bar from this page. All progress bars are now corralled on the Prog Blog.
(I want to add a "wedding arrangements" one, but it's so difficult to quantify. )
Currently I'm working on writing up the results of my gender and nutrition study for submission to the research journal Appetite. (I am basing the percentage on the vague average of about 8,000 words in recently published reports.)
I have several analysis and writing projects I hope to finish this summer, so that when I apply for internships this fall I can have them on my vita as "in submission".
Actually, since I have so many balls in the air at once right now, I think I may start an entire new blog regarding my progress on various things...
Yeah, now that I think of it, it's a good idea. Then my advisor can just go look at my progress blog instead of pestering me.
I hope no one's taken "prog blog" yet, but I'm guessing they have.
.....
Okay, here it is.
Mmmmm....organizey bars.....
.....
Later:
I have removed the progress bar from this page. All progress bars are now corralled on the Prog Blog.
(I want to add a "wedding arrangements" one, but it's so difficult to quantify. )
Monday, June 27, 2005
Overlooking Sheffield
I love this photo (from someone else's Flickr album). I've had it as wallpaper for a few days.
I hope I get to see this for myself some day.
(How could you stand to leave this and move here?)
I hope I get to see this for myself some day.
(How could you stand to leave this and move here?)
Saturday, June 25, 2005
Squirrel Action Shot
This squirrel was skittish of coming close, but was leaping from branch to branch for the peanuts I tossed up into the tree for her. I could probably have just held one up and waited patiently, but it was fun tossing them.
Here you can see her little paw sticking out to try to catch the peanut.
She would have eventually caught one, too, if some guy hadn't come over to try to "help" me, and instantly scared her off into another tree entirely.
I was very disappointed. She had been doing such great tricks, and I was about to reward her!
Then I had to pretend to listen nicely while this amateur told me in all seriousness about how campus squirrels were bored with peanuts ("they can get peanuts anytime!"), and adored cookies instead.
Which is an exactly wrong argument -- rodents generally prefer familiar food items overall, and usually take a while to cautiously acclimate to new foods. (Not to say that campus squirrels might not be used to cookies at this point.)
It's an evolutionary device meant to reduce the risk of being poisoned. Humans have it too, especially in childhood. Hence those "picky eaters".
Here you can see her little paw sticking out to try to catch the peanut.
She would have eventually caught one, too, if some guy hadn't come over to try to "help" me, and instantly scared her off into another tree entirely.
I was very disappointed. She had been doing such great tricks, and I was about to reward her!
Then I had to pretend to listen nicely while this amateur told me in all seriousness about how campus squirrels were bored with peanuts ("they can get peanuts anytime!"), and adored cookies instead.
Which is an exactly wrong argument -- rodents generally prefer familiar food items overall, and usually take a while to cautiously acclimate to new foods. (Not to say that campus squirrels might not be used to cookies at this point.)
It's an evolutionary device meant to reduce the risk of being poisoned. Humans have it too, especially in childhood. Hence those "picky eaters".
Incredibly hot up here in my third-floor AC-free apartment. I'm not yet used to the heat this year. Even when I do get used to the heat, the way my body wants to deal with it is to lie about like a melty blob rather than working. Shoot. 'Cause I got a lot of work to do.
The weather and early light is also influencing my waking up around 5:30 these days. I like that, especially when it's full light so early. (I observed the solstice by watching and appreciating both the sunrise and the sunset.) The only problem is that I'm very hot and tired by noon-ish.
However, the very early part of the morning is lovely and begs to be enjoyed outdoors.
I have managed to increase my jogging distance to three-quarters of a mile. You fit types may well laugh, but this is a big deal for me: a person with exercise-induced asthma and raised primarily to sit inside and read books. It wasn't too long ago that I could barely go an eighth of a mile. Now it's six times that! [Pats self on back]
Not only can I go farther now, but it seems that the increase has been going a lot faster lately, like I got past some kind of exercise hump. Something feels different and less torturous about it suddenly. I think that the increase to two miles will be a lot quicker than the increase to one mile was. (Or--I guess--is, as I am technically still at three-quarters. But I anticipate doing a full mile very soon.)
If I can get up to five miles at some point, perhaps I will join the notorious Hash House Harriers, a self-described "drinking club with a running problem". They're also known as the "lunatic fringe of running", and were (of course) originally started by some bored expatriate Brits in Malaysia, but are now international. An athletic friend of mine has been entertaining me with her experiences with them during the past few years.
However, for now, I think just the jogging itself is enough of a challenge. Chasing someone pretending to be a rabbit cross-country can be distant a fantasy for now.
The weather and early light is also influencing my waking up around 5:30 these days. I like that, especially when it's full light so early. (I observed the solstice by watching and appreciating both the sunrise and the sunset.) The only problem is that I'm very hot and tired by noon-ish.
However, the very early part of the morning is lovely and begs to be enjoyed outdoors.
I have managed to increase my jogging distance to three-quarters of a mile. You fit types may well laugh, but this is a big deal for me: a person with exercise-induced asthma and raised primarily to sit inside and read books. It wasn't too long ago that I could barely go an eighth of a mile. Now it's six times that! [Pats self on back]
Not only can I go farther now, but it seems that the increase has been going a lot faster lately, like I got past some kind of exercise hump. Something feels different and less torturous about it suddenly. I think that the increase to two miles will be a lot quicker than the increase to one mile was. (Or--I guess--is, as I am technically still at three-quarters. But I anticipate doing a full mile very soon.)
If I can get up to five miles at some point, perhaps I will join the notorious Hash House Harriers, a self-described "drinking club with a running problem". They're also known as the "lunatic fringe of running", and were (of course) originally started by some bored expatriate Brits in Malaysia, but are now international. An athletic friend of mine has been entertaining me with her experiences with them during the past few years.
However, for now, I think just the jogging itself is enough of a challenge. Chasing someone pretending to be a rabbit cross-country can be distant a fantasy for now.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Last night, while the world of all my desperate to-dos continued to crash down around me, I went to Chuck E. Cheese.
This was really because one of my colleagues threw a surprise birthday party for his wife there.
As it was my first time at a Chuck E. Cheese, I took full advantage of the entertainment possibilities. Along with several others, I played air hockey, but on my knees since it was really really tiny. I also tried skee-ball, which was slightly harder but also very small in scale. My favorite, however, was the game in which I had to punch some buttons to get little plastic balls to jump into the mouth of a big plastic frog.
I also tried some of the rides:
...and after spending the evening envying the children their gerbil-tube hanging from the ceiling, I finally snuck into it via the exit slide once the employees had closed it down. I think they preferred not to notice, as there are cameras everywhere in that joint.
It turns out that crawling around in plastic tubes is very hard on the knees. We must all have had much chubbier knees as children.
This was really because one of my colleagues threw a surprise birthday party for his wife there.
As it was my first time at a Chuck E. Cheese, I took full advantage of the entertainment possibilities. Along with several others, I played air hockey, but on my knees since it was really really tiny. I also tried skee-ball, which was slightly harder but also very small in scale. My favorite, however, was the game in which I had to punch some buttons to get little plastic balls to jump into the mouth of a big plastic frog.
I also tried some of the rides:
...and after spending the evening envying the children their gerbil-tube hanging from the ceiling, I finally snuck into it via the exit slide once the employees had closed it down. I think they preferred not to notice, as there are cameras everywhere in that joint.
It turns out that crawling around in plastic tubes is very hard on the knees. We must all have had much chubbier knees as children.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Peanut!
A sorely needed squirrel break today.
They probably thought, "A sorely needed peanut break today".
There are some cute hand-wrestling photos in this set. Their little paws were warm on my air-conditioner-chilled hands.
They probably thought, "A sorely needed peanut break today".
There are some cute hand-wrestling photos in this set. Their little paws were warm on my air-conditioner-chilled hands.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Industrial wasteland and hunk
We went for a walk around Ypsi Saturday and saw several houses, streets, and neighborhoods that we both liked.
This particular shot was in the kind of deserted industrial area I always want to picnic in.
Unfortunately, we found a yard sale with an extraordinary selection of really cool books. For very cheap.
This is unfortunate because I am trying to pack/ move/ sell/ throw out my possessions, not acquire more.
I don't know how much more the shelves can take!
This particular shot was in the kind of deserted industrial area I always want to picnic in.
Unfortunately, we found a yard sale with an extraordinary selection of really cool books. For very cheap.
This is unfortunate because I am trying to pack/ move/ sell/ throw out my possessions, not acquire more.
I don't know how much more the shelves can take!
Friday, June 17, 2005
I was recently at a baby shower for my advisor, where I was conversing with a certain author whom I've met a few times around campus. (Exceptionally nice lady, BTW.)
Her advice about publishing (although I want you to know it was unsolicited, since I was honestly not trying to snark writing tips from the token author) was that fiction really doesn't sell. Non-fiction does.
Therefore, one should start with writing non-fiction, and then you can branch out into fiction once you're already published. (It seemed to make sense, when I thought about, for example, Michael Crichton, who knows how to write medical matters in a way that laymen understand.)
I asked, "So, is that how you did it? Did you start with non-fiction?" Sheepishly, she admitted that she had actually started right in with fiction, although she attributed her initial "break" to the luck of being in the right place at the right time.
Her advice about publishing (although I want you to know it was unsolicited, since I was honestly not trying to snark writing tips from the token author) was that fiction really doesn't sell. Non-fiction does.
Therefore, one should start with writing non-fiction, and then you can branch out into fiction once you're already published. (It seemed to make sense, when I thought about, for example, Michael Crichton, who knows how to write medical matters in a way that laymen understand.)
I asked, "So, is that how you did it? Did you start with non-fiction?" Sheepishly, she admitted that she had actually started right in with fiction, although she attributed her initial "break" to the luck of being in the right place at the right time.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Sunday, June 12, 2005
The RSVPs have begun trickling in. It's fun to see that they actually work!
However, yesterday I received a non-attending RSVP card...with no name on it. It has a Detroit postmark, but we haven't sent any to anyone actually in Detroit.
So it's just someone we know who happened to be in Detroit and thought they'd send their no-name RSVP right then. Just to drive me mad!
(If you're reading this, please let me know who you are.)
However, yesterday I received a non-attending RSVP card...with no name on it. It has a Detroit postmark, but we haven't sent any to anyone actually in Detroit.
So it's just someone we know who happened to be in Detroit and thought they'd send their no-name RSVP right then. Just to drive me mad!
(If you're reading this, please let me know who you are.)
Spock-Anki-Sofa
This cracks me up. Oh no, it's not mine. It's from here.
(Notice the little heart in the browser bar.)
Somebody spent a lot of time on this painting.
.............................
(Notice the little heart in the browser bar.)
Somebody spent a lot of time on this painting.
.............................
Campus Squirrel
"Ready. Set. Peanut snatch!"
I tried to get a shot of this squirlie pup lying spread out on the cool stone bench, but the minute I stopped, she jumped up in anticipation of peanuts.
I tried to get a shot of this squirlie pup lying spread out on the cool stone bench, but the minute I stopped, she jumped up in anticipation of peanuts.
Heinz Beans
I have to get these in the imports section of the grocery store here. Must keep my sweetheart happy by providing the traditional food of his people.
For some reason I really like how the cans [tins] look in their lovely turquoise labels.
I would make a display of them in the kitchen...
For some reason I really like how the cans [tins] look in their lovely turquoise labels.
I would make a display of them in the kitchen...
Saturday, June 11, 2005
I so often feel like I never get anything done, and that my to-do list(s) either maintain(s) its/their size or seem/s increasingly longer with each passing month and year. And the things on it/them seem to be getting more urgent, complicated, and important.
And yet, I have successfully completed a graduate degree and done all sorts of other things along the way, too. So why do I feel like I never get anything done? Even completion of big hairy tasks, like thesis defense, doesn’t leave a lingering feeling of accomplishment. Instead, I end up feeling something like, “Thank goodness that’s out of the way, because now I can get to all this other stuff it was keeping me from doing”.
I have decided that it’s similar to the phenomenon wherein we always find something in the last place we look, but it’s because then we stop looking. Similarly, this “nothing done” phenomenon exists because I have “to-do” lists, and I don’t have “have-done” lists. That is, once I complete a task, it falls off my radar entirely. Thus, I am always focused on what remains to be done, which will truly be endless until the day I die.
June 11 to-do item: begin keeping a “have-done” list.
And yet, I have successfully completed a graduate degree and done all sorts of other things along the way, too. So why do I feel like I never get anything done? Even completion of big hairy tasks, like thesis defense, doesn’t leave a lingering feeling of accomplishment. Instead, I end up feeling something like, “Thank goodness that’s out of the way, because now I can get to all this other stuff it was keeping me from doing”.
I have decided that it’s similar to the phenomenon wherein we always find something in the last place we look, but it’s because then we stop looking. Similarly, this “nothing done” phenomenon exists because I have “to-do” lists, and I don’t have “have-done” lists. That is, once I complete a task, it falls off my radar entirely. Thus, I am always focused on what remains to be done, which will truly be endless until the day I die.
June 11 to-do item: begin keeping a “have-done” list.
Friday, June 10, 2005
BathroomColors
I don't think I'll be able to recreate this kind of flagrant toiletries display in TheLimey's bathroom, so I better have a record of it.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Have managed to upload a few photos to Flickr.
This reminds me that the original reason I began blogging (back in the mists of time) was in order to post my photos with comments for friends and relatives. So how did it turn into this random journal/confessional/thingamajig? [I originally wrote "thinkamajig", and now I think I like that as a new word.]
I did two OCD assessments per phone today. They are supposed to take 30 - 45 minutes, which the first one did. However, the second one took two hours.
These people are both coming in next week for in-person interviews that usually take 2.5 - 3 hours. If the conversion holds true, will that one person's take twelve hours?
For some people with OCD, normal conversation can be difficult, particularly if they have the "just right" thing going on. That is, they have to make sure that everything they say is exactly the right thing.
That means, if I ask the question "Do you have current or past unreasonable fears that you may harm someone in some way?" Then they are compelled to parse every single word in the sentence to make sure they are saying the right answer, and not inadvertently lying, if they say "current". For example.
"Well, the last time I felt that way was last week, because I haven't been driving since last week, and it's mainly about whether I'll accidentally hit someone on the road. So I don't know if last week counts as presently. Or currently. But since last week I've been avoiding driving, so it may not count. If you mean any kind of harm at all, I also worry that I might accidentally put chemicals in my husband's food. But I won't be cooking the meals until next week. So that's more--future--than...currently. And I don't know for absolute sure if he would really be harmed if I did that anyway, so I don't know if you can call it a fear of harming someone. More a fear of possibly harming someone." --you get the idea.
This reminds me that the original reason I began blogging (back in the mists of time) was in order to post my photos with comments for friends and relatives. So how did it turn into this random journal/confessional/thingamajig? [I originally wrote "thinkamajig", and now I think I like that as a new word.]
I did two OCD assessments per phone today. They are supposed to take 30 - 45 minutes, which the first one did. However, the second one took two hours.
These people are both coming in next week for in-person interviews that usually take 2.5 - 3 hours. If the conversion holds true, will that one person's take twelve hours?
For some people with OCD, normal conversation can be difficult, particularly if they have the "just right" thing going on. That is, they have to make sure that everything they say is exactly the right thing.
That means, if I ask the question "Do you have current or past unreasonable fears that you may harm someone in some way?" Then they are compelled to parse every single word in the sentence to make sure they are saying the right answer, and not inadvertently lying, if they say "current". For example.
"Well, the last time I felt that way was last week, because I haven't been driving since last week, and it's mainly about whether I'll accidentally hit someone on the road. So I don't know if last week counts as presently. Or currently. But since last week I've been avoiding driving, so it may not count. If you mean any kind of harm at all, I also worry that I might accidentally put chemicals in my husband's food. But I won't be cooking the meals until next week. So that's more--future--than...currently. And I don't know for absolute sure if he would really be harmed if I did that anyway, so I don't know if you can call it a fear of harming someone. More a fear of possibly harming someone." --you get the idea.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Today it has been my pleasure to go about the clinic whistling obscure yet catchy tunes in order to infect others with them.
For example "I've got the joy joy joy...etc.", or "On Top of Old Smokey [On Top of Spaghetti]", or even the theme to Hawaii-5-0, complete with trumpet riffs. I was very gratified to hear some poor soul also start whistling said theme a few minutes later. ("Liz!")
They oughta just be grateful I'm not singing my version of the theme for that latest Star Trek series ("I'm goin' where my pants may take me...").
I also had some pictures to upload to Flickr for you, but I'm in the clinic, where computers simply won't interface with any disk or memory stick. And I've really tried. Danged stupid things.
Anyway, the pictures involved a raccoon and my bathroom. (Not in the same picture, however.)
Maybe I'll get a chance to post them if my neighbor's wireless comes back on. Internet access has been pretty tight lately for some reason.
For example "I've got the joy joy joy...etc.", or "On Top of Old Smokey [On Top of Spaghetti]", or even the theme to Hawaii-5-0, complete with trumpet riffs. I was very gratified to hear some poor soul also start whistling said theme a few minutes later. ("Liz!")
They oughta just be grateful I'm not singing my version of the theme for that latest Star Trek series ("I'm goin' where my pants may take me...").
I also had some pictures to upload to Flickr for you, but I'm in the clinic, where computers simply won't interface with any disk or memory stick. And I've really tried. Danged stupid things.
Anyway, the pictures involved a raccoon and my bathroom. (Not in the same picture, however.)
Maybe I'll get a chance to post them if my neighbor's wireless comes back on. Internet access has been pretty tight lately for some reason.
Monday, June 06, 2005
IllumiSquirrel
Here; this is the photo that finally compelled me to join Flickr. How can I not share this with as many people as possible?
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Sunday, June 05, 2005
I give in.
All the cool kids now have Flickr accounts, so I had to get one too.
If you have never seen an illuminated squirrel, now you can. It was at Lowe's.
Too busy this weekend to write a post. Maybe later.
All the cool kids now have Flickr accounts, so I had to get one too.
If you have never seen an illuminated squirrel, now you can. It was at Lowe's.
Too busy this weekend to write a post. Maybe later.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
During this past week, we have successfully completed a few necessary tasks such as beginning our prenuptial (pre-incorporation?) financial meetings, some medical stuff, and of course the continuation of the ongoing discussions of the shelves in the livingroom, and of shelving generally.
If you've ever had a student loan or married someone with a student loan, you can guess how frightening that particular discussion was. Particularly for me, as I am the one who has incurred said loan. But as with most issues, better to face it squarely now despite the discomfort.
I also discovered that many of Juice's "Mister Herman's Cat Games" can be effectively applied to humans. For example, while I don't have the heart to carry it out, I may have threatened to play "No Sleepy Limey" when Someone was napping on the High-Gravity Couch. I may have been threatened in return not only with "No Sleepy Yankee" but also "Sleepy Yankee Surprise."
I did, however, find it fun playing "Pet The Limey To Death." Turns out this combines well with a loud rendition of Abe Simpson's quote "I'm gonna pet you raw!"
If you've ever had a student loan or married someone with a student loan, you can guess how frightening that particular discussion was. Particularly for me, as I am the one who has incurred said loan. But as with most issues, better to face it squarely now despite the discomfort.
I also discovered that many of Juice's "Mister Herman's Cat Games" can be effectively applied to humans. For example, while I don't have the heart to carry it out, I may have threatened to play "No Sleepy Limey" when Someone was napping on the High-Gravity Couch. I may have been threatened in return not only with "No Sleepy Yankee" but also "Sleepy Yankee Surprise."
I did, however, find it fun playing "Pet The Limey To Death." Turns out this combines well with a loud rendition of Abe Simpson's quote "I'm gonna pet you raw!"
In the nearby neighborhood park last night, TheLimey and I saw a number of (probably) college students engaging in some kind of informal running and shrieking event. "Gothlympics," I opined, spying one young man with severely (or severally) pierced ears, goatee, and giant baggy black jeans entirely unsuited to running.
Naturally, this led to a discussion of what kinds of events the Gothlympics would have. TheLimey suggested "Speed Tattooing," while I thought there would likely be "Team Eyeliner Application."
There's gotta be something involving piercing, but I haven't come up with it yet.
Naturally, this led to a discussion of what kinds of events the Gothlympics would have. TheLimey suggested "Speed Tattooing," while I thought there would likely be "Team Eyeliner Application."
There's gotta be something involving piercing, but I haven't come up with it yet.
I have made some progress on the Giant Video Conversion Project (GVCP) front.
Having tried several apps that edit either movie clip content or various movie/data files (including Gordian Knot, Auto Gordian Knot, Moviemaker, and a few others) I have settled on AutoGK as being most useful for my purposes.
The apps that edit the content of movie clips (Moviemaker, Quicktime Pro) are certainly fun, but don't really suit my ultimate purpose of GETTING A &*%$ 2-HOUR MOVIE FILE ONTO A SINGLE DISK, dangit. (Can you tell the means has far outstripped the end at this time?)
I think Gordian Knot might be best, but there are some things I still can't figure out about it. However, AutoGK is so far doing just what I need it to do (compress my MPG-2 files). Maybe if I were more technically sophisticated, I would scorn it, but it seems pretty cool for now. And it's free! (If this whole deal works, I am so going to donate to Len0x, the creator of GK.)
At this point, I could now theoretically capture all my videos onto files that would each fit on a single CD, but they could only be played on my computer (they're avi files). This might even be acceptable as a final outcome. (It is still progress, as before I would have needed 2 disks for most movies regardless of the format.)
Now all I need to do is see if I can do a conversion for burning that allows the resulting CDs to be played (as VCDs) in a standalone DVD player. For this part of the project, the instructions suggest using Nero. While it's $80-$100 new, it is also available used on Amazon and eBay for a lot less. (I paid $13 including shipping.)
So basically, I am waiting to get this app in the post. Then, if I can indeed create VCDs that will play in the DVD player, I'm totally golden. If I can't, then I'm still pleased, as I can at least have a collection of all my movies, albeit watchable via computer only.
If this all works, I will post a summary of the how-to.
Having tried several apps that edit either movie clip content or various movie/data files (including Gordian Knot, Auto Gordian Knot, Moviemaker, and a few others) I have settled on AutoGK as being most useful for my purposes.
The apps that edit the content of movie clips (Moviemaker, Quicktime Pro) are certainly fun, but don't really suit my ultimate purpose of GETTING A &*%$ 2-HOUR MOVIE FILE ONTO A SINGLE DISK, dangit. (Can you tell the means has far outstripped the end at this time?)
I think Gordian Knot might be best, but there are some things I still can't figure out about it. However, AutoGK is so far doing just what I need it to do (compress my MPG-2 files). Maybe if I were more technically sophisticated, I would scorn it, but it seems pretty cool for now. And it's free! (If this whole deal works, I am so going to donate to Len0x, the creator of GK.)
At this point, I could now theoretically capture all my videos onto files that would each fit on a single CD, but they could only be played on my computer (they're avi files). This might even be acceptable as a final outcome. (It is still progress, as before I would have needed 2 disks for most movies regardless of the format.)
Now all I need to do is see if I can do a conversion for burning that allows the resulting CDs to be played (as VCDs) in a standalone DVD player. For this part of the project, the instructions suggest using Nero. While it's $80-$100 new, it is also available used on Amazon and eBay for a lot less. (I paid $13 including shipping.)
So basically, I am waiting to get this app in the post. Then, if I can indeed create VCDs that will play in the DVD player, I'm totally golden. If I can't, then I'm still pleased, as I can at least have a collection of all my movies, albeit watchable via computer only.
If this all works, I will post a summary of the how-to.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
If you are the one person on the face of the planet who doesn't know that Revenge of the Sith contains the genesis of Darth Vader, then this post contains a spoiler. Unfortunately, you already read it, so now you might as well continue.
TheLimey pointed out that in the scene where the new Sith gets his Darth name, his evil mentor [dementor?] really doesn't take the opportunity to be menacing at all. As he says "You shall be Darth...Vader" his pause is ripe for Monty Python-esque farce. "You shall be known as Darth...Bunnyrabbit. --No! I mean, Vader." "You shall be known as Darth...Nicely. --No! I mean, Vader."
What bothers me is that while two of the Darths (Vader and Sidious) have perfectly good evil names apparently created by removing the "in-" prefix from words with negative connotations, this whole "Darth Maul" thing came completely out of the blue. It should have followed the pattern, if I can call two instances a pattern, which I can't.
This leads inevitably to which other Darth names they could have chosen instead of "Maul" (I won't even go into the dopey Maul character itself).
For example, using the negative-word protocol, we could have had "Darth Terrogator", "Darth Vective", "Darth Jection", "Darth Quisition", "Darth Culcation", or "Darth Cendiary". Or alternatively by just using any ol' word beginning with "in-", we could have had all sorts of great names.
This is where it gets fun:
For starters, there would be "Darth Timacy", "Darth Termission", "Darth Testines", "Darth Troverted", "Darth Tolerable", "Darth Terpretation", and "Darth Vigorate". Then we could go on to "Darth Boardmotor", "Darth Dependent", "Darth Controvertible", "Darth Hibitions", "Darth Diana", "Darth Dy 500", and so on.
The possibilities are endless!
(I will let TheLimey post the ones he came up with, so as not to steal them.)
TheLimey pointed out that in the scene where the new Sith gets his Darth name, his evil mentor [dementor?] really doesn't take the opportunity to be menacing at all. As he says "You shall be Darth...Vader" his pause is ripe for Monty Python-esque farce. "You shall be known as Darth...Bunnyrabbit. --No! I mean, Vader." "You shall be known as Darth...Nicely. --No! I mean, Vader."
What bothers me is that while two of the Darths (Vader and Sidious) have perfectly good evil names apparently created by removing the "in-" prefix from words with negative connotations, this whole "Darth Maul" thing came completely out of the blue. It should have followed the pattern, if I can call two instances a pattern, which I can't.
This leads inevitably to which other Darth names they could have chosen instead of "Maul" (I won't even go into the dopey Maul character itself).
For example, using the negative-word protocol, we could have had "Darth Terrogator", "Darth Vective", "Darth Jection", "Darth Quisition", "Darth Culcation", or "Darth Cendiary". Or alternatively by just using any ol' word beginning with "in-", we could have had all sorts of great names.
This is where it gets fun:
For starters, there would be "Darth Timacy", "Darth Termission", "Darth Testines", "Darth Troverted", "Darth Tolerable", "Darth Terpretation", and "Darth Vigorate". Then we could go on to "Darth Boardmotor", "Darth Dependent", "Darth Controvertible", "Darth Hibitions", "Darth Diana", "Darth Dy 500", and so on.
The possibilities are endless!
(I will let TheLimey post the ones he came up with, so as not to steal them.)
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Over the weekend I kept thinking of things to blog, but now that I'm here in the lab I can't really remember them.
Except the incident in which I set up PCTV to record some shows one evening through my VCR (which I normally use as a tuner for my TV), and then forgot and left the VCR tuned to the wrong channel. So, I captured about three hours of stuff I had absolutely no interest in seeing.
Also that I just now, in my late thirties, read the Tripods series. I liked it a great deal. At first, I just read a few pages a night before dropping into a dead sleep, but over the past week I somehow found time to become engrossed in the books and devoured them. For my next catching-up-on-teen-classics trick, I will be reading Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence. (Why is it a sequence and not a series, anyway?) From the few pages I've read so far, it's very like the Narnia chronicles. Which is fine with me; I'm not looking for great literature, but entertainment.
This morning I accidentally printed out a short list of student grades on the front of one of the precious Invitation Envelopes that I left loaded in the printer last night.
D'oh! (Okay, who wants that one?)
Oh yes, and we saw three films in three days over the weekend. I was pleased with Star Wars, perhaps by comparison to the recent ones. Moreover I was very, very happy about Hitchhiker's Guide. I think I would go see it again. (Not to leave you in suspense, we also saw Kicking and Screaming with the young football coachees en masse. It was cute.)
Except the incident in which I set up PCTV to record some shows one evening through my VCR (which I normally use as a tuner for my TV), and then forgot and left the VCR tuned to the wrong channel. So, I captured about three hours of stuff I had absolutely no interest in seeing.
Also that I just now, in my late thirties, read the Tripods series. I liked it a great deal. At first, I just read a few pages a night before dropping into a dead sleep, but over the past week I somehow found time to become engrossed in the books and devoured them. For my next catching-up-on-teen-classics trick, I will be reading Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising sequence. (Why is it a sequence and not a series, anyway?) From the few pages I've read so far, it's very like the Narnia chronicles. Which is fine with me; I'm not looking for great literature, but entertainment.
This morning I accidentally printed out a short list of student grades on the front of one of the precious Invitation Envelopes that I left loaded in the printer last night.
D'oh! (Okay, who wants that one?)
Oh yes, and we saw three films in three days over the weekend. I was pleased with Star Wars, perhaps by comparison to the recent ones. Moreover I was very, very happy about Hitchhiker's Guide. I think I would go see it again. (Not to leave you in suspense, we also saw Kicking and Screaming with the young football coachees en masse. It was cute.)
Friday, May 20, 2005
This is the week when all the baby squirrels born about 6 weeks ago are doing their first explorations of the scary below-tree area. It has been very fun for me when on campus to watch their first clumsy, coltlike endeavors that inevitably end in scampering back to the tree full force. For example, in trying to not get caught by The Scary Blowing Leaf or The Scary Car Noise.
I got to see the mama of a singleton sitting in the grass at the base of their tree, grooming the the little one as s/he clambered all over her and clung for all the world like a little monkey to her front. S/he ran for the safety of the tree when confronted with The Scary Flying Peanut, though Mama ran over and grabbed it.
There was also a treeful of four siblings of varied courage whom I began teaching about getting peanuts from strangers (all the wrong messages, I know). They didn't seem to connect the human throwing things with the food that began appearing about the foot of the tree, but in time, they will.
I got to see the mama of a singleton sitting in the grass at the base of their tree, grooming the the little one as s/he clambered all over her and clung for all the world like a little monkey to her front. S/he ran for the safety of the tree when confronted with The Scary Flying Peanut, though Mama ran over and grabbed it.
There was also a treeful of four siblings of varied courage whom I began teaching about getting peanuts from strangers (all the wrong messages, I know). They didn't seem to connect the human throwing things with the food that began appearing about the foot of the tree, but in time, they will.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Let's Just Agree to Call Her Candy
I can find just as much material referring to "Candace Bergen" as to "Candice Bergen" in a general online search, but the ABC official cast bio listing for Boston Legal refers to her as "Candice",* as does that [fount? font?**] of all media, allmediaguide (movies domain), (for whom I used to edit copy, BTW).
Therefore I am going to go with my catfight searcher and use "Candice".
*You may notice that I have lately just given up the fight and begun using that British-variety inside-the-other-punctuation-marks type of quotation mark, whatever it's called.
**I want to say "font", but I feel the uncomfortable semantic clash of its old-fashioned meaning and the meaning that refers to Garibaldi 12 or Helvetica 8 Bold.
I can find just as much material referring to "Candace Bergen" as to "Candice Bergen" in a general online search, but the ABC official cast bio listing for Boston Legal refers to her as "Candice",* as does that [fount? font?**] of all media, allmediaguide (movies domain), (for whom I used to edit copy, BTW).
Therefore I am going to go with my catfight searcher and use "Candice".
*You may notice that I have lately just given up the fight and begun using that British-variety inside-the-other-punctuation-marks type of quotation mark, whatever it's called.
**I want to say "font", but I feel the uncomfortable semantic clash of its old-fashioned meaning and the meaning that refers to Garibaldi 12 or Helvetica 8 Bold.
Although mine don't ever seem to be as good as Library Liddy's, I still get some amusing search terms from time to time. Today's are: "albino panther"; "woman are evil" (those who think women are evil don't seem to know that there is more than one woman); "Candice Bergen catfight"; the omnipresent "UTI treatment"; "nonwords" (yay!); and whoever the heck keeps looking up "old-tyme porn".
Speaking of nonwords, I heard an almost nonword. Well, it's a word, but a flagrantly misused one. "Contents".
As in, "taking my words completely out of contents".
Speaking of nonwords, I heard an almost nonword. Well, it's a word, but a flagrantly misused one. "Contents".
As in, "taking my words completely out of contents".
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
In the continuing saga of my attempts to reduce my VHS tapes to digital format, I have made enough progress to know that there is a LOT more to this than meets the eye. It sounds simple enough: play a tape, capture it in digital form, and then freeze that for later consumption.
However.
It appears that The Industry in general try to keep things from being that simple [paranoid interpretation] in order to reduce copyright infringement. Also, despite looking like the really simple little objects we treat them as, CDs and DVDs are actually incredibly complicated wads of numbers and calculations and so forth [technical interpretation].
I have managed to capture various items such as an episode of Monarch of the Glen, my Yoga for Du mmies tape, and Nanny 911, etc., and burn them to CVD for later (somewhat blurry) viewing. I've been able to play these in both VCD and SVCD format on TheLimey's DVD player. (This bodes well for the future, when this will be the thing I play my movies on.) I have also been able to play them on my computer.
I have had a crash course in the basic characteristics of MPEGs (-1, -2, and even -4) as well as some issues regarding the differences between VCDs, SVCDs, CDs, DVDs, and even weird things like XCVDs. Not to mention a beginning understanding about some coding issues regarding MPEGs, and some of the grey-market applications with which a person might modify their characteristics.
The reason all this information is even necessary is that I don't have a DVD burner, so I must burn the MPEGs as a CVD. Now, it turns out that a 1-hour program fits snugly on a standard 650-700 MB disk if you're using cruddy MPEG-1 format. This means that a standard 2-hour movie requires two CDs.
I also tried capturing a standard 2-hour show in the much nicer MPEG-2. This format would have taken 4 CDs to record!
This would all not be that big a deal (except for the whole "changing the disk in the middle of the program"--remember laser disks of the '80s? Heh) -- except that I think I probably have about 300 VHS tapes to transfer. Even at 50c a pop this would mean $300 in disks alone. For that price, I might as well buy a dang DVD burner.
However!
It looks as though there are some ways for an intrepid person to get into the MPEG files and fiddle about with them before burning them, in order to burn a 2-hour file onto a single disk. Possibly even MPEG-2s.
I think I have found some ways to do this, but all of them involve manipulating the guts of files whose surfaces I have barely even seen before. I am not sure if this is easier or harder than one of you programming types attempting self-taught psychoanalysis. At least my MPEGs are unlikely to harm anyone but me if I miscalculate. (That's what I'm telling myself.)
I think I will probably use the instructions I found for altering MPEGs with Gordian Knot (after killing off that clean-removing DAE spyware/adware, of course). While Gordian Knot is meant for those with DVD burners, it looks like one can use it just for editing MPEG files.
I like the PCTV USB2 for capturing MPEGS, but for burning them---eah. It seems to create files that make my computer hang up permanently instead of playing, although they play fine in the standalone. Also, the files burned thusly all lose exactly 30 seconds, for some reason, AND the PCTV burner renames them unimaginatively as "Track 1, Track 2", and so forth.
I have found that if I capture them with the PCTV and then burn them to disk with plain ol' Sonic media burner (bundled with computer), the disk works as it should in the computer, and the tracks remain their original length, as well as retaining the names I gave them when capturing, such as "DrWho_Dalek_1".
However, I have not yet had a chance to try these Sonic-burned disks in the standalone. Hopefully it will accept them as it did the previous ones.
However.
It appears that The Industry in general try to keep things from being that simple [paranoid interpretation] in order to reduce copyright infringement. Also, despite looking like the really simple little objects we treat them as, CDs and DVDs are actually incredibly complicated wads of numbers and calculations and so forth [technical interpretation].
I have managed to capture various items such as an episode of Monarch of the Glen, my Yoga for Du mmies tape, and Nanny 911, etc., and burn them to CVD for later (somewhat blurry) viewing. I've been able to play these in both VCD and SVCD format on TheLimey's DVD player. (This bodes well for the future, when this will be the thing I play my movies on.) I have also been able to play them on my computer.
I have had a crash course in the basic characteristics of MPEGs (-1, -2, and even -4) as well as some issues regarding the differences between VCDs, SVCDs, CDs, DVDs, and even weird things like XCVDs. Not to mention a beginning understanding about some coding issues regarding MPEGs, and some of the grey-market applications with which a person might modify their characteristics.
The reason all this information is even necessary is that I don't have a DVD burner, so I must burn the MPEGs as a CVD. Now, it turns out that a 1-hour program fits snugly on a standard 650-700 MB disk if you're using cruddy MPEG-1 format. This means that a standard 2-hour movie requires two CDs.
I also tried capturing a standard 2-hour show in the much nicer MPEG-2. This format would have taken 4 CDs to record!
This would all not be that big a deal (except for the whole "changing the disk in the middle of the program"--remember laser disks of the '80s? Heh) -- except that I think I probably have about 300 VHS tapes to transfer. Even at 50c a pop this would mean $300 in disks alone. For that price, I might as well buy a dang DVD burner.
However!
It looks as though there are some ways for an intrepid person to get into the MPEG files and fiddle about with them before burning them, in order to burn a 2-hour file onto a single disk. Possibly even MPEG-2s.
I think I have found some ways to do this, but all of them involve manipulating the guts of files whose surfaces I have barely even seen before. I am not sure if this is easier or harder than one of you programming types attempting self-taught psychoanalysis. At least my MPEGs are unlikely to harm anyone but me if I miscalculate. (That's what I'm telling myself.)
I think I will probably use the instructions I found for altering MPEGs with Gordian Knot (after killing off that clean-removing DAE spyware/adware, of course). While Gordian Knot is meant for those with DVD burners, it looks like one can use it just for editing MPEG files.
I like the PCTV USB2 for capturing MPEGS, but for burning them---eah. It seems to create files that make my computer hang up permanently instead of playing, although they play fine in the standalone. Also, the files burned thusly all lose exactly 30 seconds, for some reason, AND the PCTV burner renames them unimaginatively as "Track 1, Track 2", and so forth.
I have found that if I capture them with the PCTV and then burn them to disk with plain ol' Sonic media burner (bundled with computer), the disk works as it should in the computer, and the tracks remain their original length, as well as retaining the names I gave them when capturing, such as "DrWho_Dalek_1".
However, I have not yet had a chance to try these Sonic-burned disks in the standalone. Hopefully it will accept them as it did the previous ones.
I've been selling off some of my possessions on eBay as a way to whittle them down before the big move in August. What I've learned is that if you're not careful (or ridiculous) about how much shipping you charge, you may end up paying someone to take your stuff. For example, I did sell that Borg-head collector's mug, but after shipping to California, I basically made $2 from the sale.
I also sold a big poster for $15. Unfortunately the mail store said that shipping for it would be $52. !!! Good grief. I have told the buyer that I will have to refund his purchase price if I can't find a vastly cheaper way to send it.
This drastically affects my plans to sell off all those Beanie-Baby gifts that should have been gathering value all these years, but in actuality have been gathering only dust and are worth about $2 each (from what I've seen in others' listings).
I am also having that terrible feeling of having so many things to catch up with that when I anxiously awake before my alarm or even dawn, I already feel behind. Unfortunately, most of it is not stuff I can take home, but rather stuff that has to be done in situ. Dangit.
I also sold a big poster for $15. Unfortunately the mail store said that shipping for it would be $52. !!! Good grief. I have told the buyer that I will have to refund his purchase price if I can't find a vastly cheaper way to send it.
This drastically affects my plans to sell off all those Beanie-Baby gifts that should have been gathering value all these years, but in actuality have been gathering only dust and are worth about $2 each (from what I've seen in others' listings).
I am also having that terrible feeling of having so many things to catch up with that when I anxiously awake before my alarm or even dawn, I already feel behind. Unfortunately, most of it is not stuff I can take home, but rather stuff that has to be done in situ. Dangit.
Friday, May 13, 2005
The other night there was a stranger rape (as opposed to the far more frequent rapes by those who people know) in the building where my department is. In fact, the floor just below mine. And it wasn't even dark out at the time--maybe 8pm, if that.
There was a student working in the biology lab and her lab partner left briefly to get something to eat, and that's all it took. It sounds like the attacker may have been scoping out the situation for a while; who knows. I can't tell you how many nights I've spent alone in that building working on my data and pacing the halls while taking phone breaks. Everybody's a little weirded out, but nobody's talking about it. This is somewhat strange for a psychology department.
Today I accompanied my clinical supervisor to a debriefing for some people who work in the building. But really, it could have been any of us--he could have chosen any floor. I think we should have a debriefing amongst ourselves, too.
I'm feeling pretty resentful that I now don't feel I could comfortably work alone in my own department, should I choose to. Or walk home across campus in the evening, let alone at night.
Even if they catch this particular assailant, it'll be all the campus women who are paying with our freedom, once again.
There was a student working in the biology lab and her lab partner left briefly to get something to eat, and that's all it took. It sounds like the attacker may have been scoping out the situation for a while; who knows. I can't tell you how many nights I've spent alone in that building working on my data and pacing the halls while taking phone breaks. Everybody's a little weirded out, but nobody's talking about it. This is somewhat strange for a psychology department.
Today I accompanied my clinical supervisor to a debriefing for some people who work in the building. But really, it could have been any of us--he could have chosen any floor. I think we should have a debriefing amongst ourselves, too.
I'm feeling pretty resentful that I now don't feel I could comfortably work alone in my own department, should I choose to. Or walk home across campus in the evening, let alone at night.
Even if they catch this particular assailant, it'll be all the campus women who are paying with our freedom, once again.
The wedding singing went well, although I was a nervous wreck up until the moment of the actual singing. (In truth, I was pretty cranky for two or three days beforehand.) However, no one seemed to care or even know about my made-up part of the responsorial, including the priest.
It's just too bad that they didn't feel like singing along to the chorus that was already in the songbook. I think one guy in the entire congregation sang along. (Instead of making up the verses only, I could have made up the entire thing and it would have turned out about the same.)
At the reception, several people individually felt compelled to tell me they felt guilty about not joining in on the chorus, but felt they should leave me to do the singing. In other words they were chicken!
A goodly number of people also mentioned getting goosebumps during the Ave Maria. As a good clinician, I should have inquired about other symptoms such as nausea, shaking, hot flushes, heart palpitations, chest pain, a sense of suffocation or choking, and other symptoms of anxiety. However, I forgot to do so in my relief at having finally finished.
The bride has since reported that scores of people have been asking her if I "do weddings". But you know, I tried all that before grad school, and it didn't go anywhere. At least I don't have to sing at my own wedding, as Argotnaut did at hers. Sheesh! Talk about piling on the pressure.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Today I trained in the use of some instruments for assessing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. It was tiring, as any new job is. Even if this isn't strictly a job, but rather volunteering in order to help a colleague with his dissertation. And also to rack up some assessment hours for the next time I try to apply for internship.
The omniscient receptionist/secretary/executive assistant/whatever had a little goldfish in a little bowl. She informed me that his name was "Gil" (or perhaps "Gill") but that his nametag was away due to fishbowl cleaning.
"Ah--I can tell what nationality he is, then," I replied.
"What's that?" she asked, cocking her head.
"Finnish!"
That will now be placed on the new name tag.
The omniscient receptionist/secretary/executive assistant/whatever had a little goldfish in a little bowl. She informed me that his name was "Gil" (or perhaps "Gill") but that his nametag was away due to fishbowl cleaning.
"Ah--I can tell what nationality he is, then," I replied.
"What's that?" she asked, cocking her head.
"Finnish!"
That will now be placed on the new name tag.
Tomorrow is the day I sing at a friend's wedding. In addition to the aforementioned Ellens Gesang, the priest is also having me do an alleluia (which consists of singing "alleluia" a few times) and a responsorial (which consists of me singing something that the "audience" replies to, also in song).
Not being nor having been raised Catholic, these are not exactly familiar things burned into my memory. After the wedding rehearsal, I took home the church songbook in order to practice the chosen responsorial. Since I read music at about the same level that someone who only knows the alphabet reads normal words, I had to be pretty creative and persistent to figure out which notes were there on the page.
It wasn't until last night that I realized those were only the notes for the chorus that the congregation sings back to me: the verse that I sing by myself was simply printed out in words--there's no music! (I wondered why the 12 notes of the chorus wouldn't accommodate the 16 or 17 syllables of the verse.)
Naturally, I decided I'd just have to make up a verse. I'm very glad that I have that little recording wizard application, because it allowed me to sing and record a line, then pause it, then sing the next line and pause it again while I picked out the notes.
I ended up with an MP3 of the whole song (albeit a bit clumsily sung) as I've written it, so I can burn it to CD and hopefully into my memory as well by listening to it over and over.
Today I will be working at a nearby hospital with a colleague who is collecting research data so I won't have much chance to sit around listening to it before tomorrow, though. Yikes!
Not being nor having been raised Catholic, these are not exactly familiar things burned into my memory. After the wedding rehearsal, I took home the church songbook in order to practice the chosen responsorial. Since I read music at about the same level that someone who only knows the alphabet reads normal words, I had to be pretty creative and persistent to figure out which notes were there on the page.
It wasn't until last night that I realized those were only the notes for the chorus that the congregation sings back to me: the verse that I sing by myself was simply printed out in words--there's no music! (I wondered why the 12 notes of the chorus wouldn't accommodate the 16 or 17 syllables of the verse.)
Naturally, I decided I'd just have to make up a verse. I'm very glad that I have that little recording wizard application, because it allowed me to sing and record a line, then pause it, then sing the next line and pause it again while I picked out the notes.
I ended up with an MP3 of the whole song (albeit a bit clumsily sung) as I've written it, so I can burn it to CD and hopefully into my memory as well by listening to it over and over.
Today I will be working at a nearby hospital with a colleague who is collecting research data so I won't have much chance to sit around listening to it before tomorrow, though. Yikes!
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
I have been running out of my favorite non-steroid inhaler (Serevent*) during the past couple weeks, meaning I've been reduced to digging out some shoulda-been-thrown-out-last-year canisters.
If I weren't singing in that wedding this weekend, I probably would have temporarily gone back to the steroid inhaler. But it messes with my voice in the way that running over a saxophone with a car does. Sound still comes out, but the range and quality are severely affected, and it takes more effort to even get sound to come out. It feels uncomfortable. (And I'm sure as heck not going to use steroids long-term, considering the associated bone density problems and low birth-weight concerns.)
So I grudgingly (it costs about $100) came to the conclusion that I will have to get a refill on the Serevent, because my lungs aren't better enough yet to entirely do without.
I called the University Health Center and left a message asking if I could get any samples of Serevent, or if I needed to actually get the scrip filled. I asked about the samples because I had gotten samples of some other meds earlier this year (steroid inhaler, Singulair), although I knew that I had used up my quota for those particular things. Therefore I wondered if I still could get samples of Serevent, or if it was a blanket moratorium on all meds.
So the nurse returned my call an hour or so later.
"It says here," she began normally enough, "that you want samples of Serevent."
"I also see on your chart," (here she began scolding me outright,) "that in February of this year we told you that you could no longer get samples--"
(--here I tried to interject that I knew I had no more samples of those other meds and simply wondered if that also applied to meds of which I had not yet gotten samples, but she overrode me--)
"--and also that We discontinued you on the the Serevent."
"We" did?? Huh.
From what I remember, and I remember a lot, what actually happened was that the student-docs and their supervisor tried to convince me that it was in my best interest to basically use steroids forever, and I disagreed, although I was certainly willing to use them in a crisis. This does not mean that "We" mutually came to a health-care plan that excluded Serevent.
And this nurse wasn't even present for those visits. How presumptuous of her to take absolute ownership of my health care (or should I say "symptom care") in such a way. I'm thirty-seven years old, for Pete's sake, not a teenage freshman.
And how dare she treat me like I was trying to pull some kind of scam for simply asking if I was allowed to get Serevent samples! Dang.
I bet she goes home and bosses people around and they resent her for it.
At least, I hope they do.
At least the pharmacy still had my prescription when I called them.
*Apparently I've gotten over the whole thing where Serevent has been shown to cause asthma deaths.
If I weren't singing in that wedding this weekend, I probably would have temporarily gone back to the steroid inhaler. But it messes with my voice in the way that running over a saxophone with a car does. Sound still comes out, but the range and quality are severely affected, and it takes more effort to even get sound to come out. It feels uncomfortable. (And I'm sure as heck not going to use steroids long-term, considering the associated bone density problems and low birth-weight concerns.)
So I grudgingly (it costs about $100) came to the conclusion that I will have to get a refill on the Serevent, because my lungs aren't better enough yet to entirely do without.
I called the University Health Center and left a message asking if I could get any samples of Serevent, or if I needed to actually get the scrip filled. I asked about the samples because I had gotten samples of some other meds earlier this year (steroid inhaler, Singulair), although I knew that I had used up my quota for those particular things. Therefore I wondered if I still could get samples of Serevent, or if it was a blanket moratorium on all meds.
So the nurse returned my call an hour or so later.
"It says here," she began normally enough, "that you want samples of Serevent."
"I also see on your chart," (here she began scolding me outright,) "that in February of this year we told you that you could no longer get samples--"
(--here I tried to interject that I knew I had no more samples of those other meds and simply wondered if that also applied to meds of which I had not yet gotten samples, but she overrode me--)
"--and also that We discontinued you on the the Serevent."
"We" did?? Huh.
From what I remember, and I remember a lot, what actually happened was that the student-docs and their supervisor tried to convince me that it was in my best interest to basically use steroids forever, and I disagreed, although I was certainly willing to use them in a crisis. This does not mean that "We" mutually came to a health-care plan that excluded Serevent.
And this nurse wasn't even present for those visits. How presumptuous of her to take absolute ownership of my health care (or should I say "symptom care") in such a way. I'm thirty-seven years old, for Pete's sake, not a teenage freshman.
And how dare she treat me like I was trying to pull some kind of scam for simply asking if I was allowed to get Serevent samples! Dang.
I bet she goes home and bosses people around and they resent her for it.
At least, I hope they do.
At least the pharmacy still had my prescription when I called them.
*Apparently I've gotten over the whole thing where Serevent has been shown to cause asthma deaths.
I just realized that my time is running out fast for fixing something dumb I did with my domain name last year.
I've had that doctorlizardo.com (where all my stuff is hosted) through Yahoo Geocities for a while. Last year about this time I got a notice that my license on the domain name was running out and I'd better renew it posthaste.
Now, normally I do look at forms and things extremely closely and thus avoid being scammed. And I wasn't exactly scammed... But I did end up unbeknownst to me switching my domain name registration to some dang Australian registry service, instead of simply renewing it where I was, which is clearly what they intended to make me think I was doing.
So as of tomorrow my time on that Australian registry is up if I don't cough up some USD into their Aussie coffers. Now I have to figure out how to get it back to Yahoo--or whatever--in a day.
It's one of those things that I know enough about to screw it up, but then only really learn about it in depth when I'm trying to fix whatever I did.
I've had that doctorlizardo.com (where all my stuff is hosted) through Yahoo Geocities for a while. Last year about this time I got a notice that my license on the domain name was running out and I'd better renew it posthaste.
Now, normally I do look at forms and things extremely closely and thus avoid being scammed. And I wasn't exactly scammed... But I did end up unbeknownst to me switching my domain name registration to some dang Australian registry service, instead of simply renewing it where I was, which is clearly what they intended to make me think I was doing.
So as of tomorrow my time on that Australian registry is up if I don't cough up some USD into their Aussie coffers. Now I have to figure out how to get it back to Yahoo--or whatever--in a day.
It's one of those things that I know enough about to screw it up, but then only really learn about it in depth when I'm trying to fix whatever I did.
It started out as a cold day, but has warmed up to only somewhat chilly. At least the sun is shining, and it's not snowing and/or sleeting as it has been the past few days.
Furthermore, I got the replacement charger for my phone, which is here in the computer lab with me sucking up juice even as we speak (so to speak).
Not to mention, it's been a multi-squirrel morning here on campus. Some very pregnant-looking ones out there, including one mom-to-be who was too hungry to be satisfied with just one peanut and juggled several small ones at once before hopping off. I also got a glimpse of just one chipmunk before it saw me and dived down its tiny hole next to the walkway.
Nevertheless, I tossed one tiny peanut down the hole. [shaking fist] "You won't get away from my feeding you!"
Can't get "Fly Me to the Moon" out of my head. Especially the string-plucking parts. (I feel like I should be wearing a lemony chiffon dress that floats around me when I hear that kind of music.)
Furthermore, I got the replacement charger for my phone, which is here in the computer lab with me sucking up juice even as we speak (so to speak).
Not to mention, it's been a multi-squirrel morning here on campus. Some very pregnant-looking ones out there, including one mom-to-be who was too hungry to be satisfied with just one peanut and juggled several small ones at once before hopping off. I also got a glimpse of just one chipmunk before it saw me and dived down its tiny hole next to the walkway.
Nevertheless, I tossed one tiny peanut down the hole. [shaking fist] "You won't get away from my feeding you!"
Can't get "Fly Me to the Moon" out of my head. Especially the string-plucking parts. (I feel like I should be wearing a lemony chiffon dress that floats around me when I hear that kind of music.)
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
It's a good thing my neighbor has wi-fi, so at least I have internet. I feel so cut off without my phone. I don't have a landline, I don't have an office phone, I just have my cell phone. So being without it is beginning to make me feel kind of panicky. I know--people did without them for millennia. (But don't you think you'd like to have a cell phone if you were somewhere hiding from a cave bear?)
Anyway, I feel lonely, even though I'm not in much less contact with humans than usual.
* * * * * * * * * *
So, now I can make copies of my VHS tapes and then sell off the originals on eBay. (What would be unethical, for those of you who are wondering, is if I made copies and sold the copies on eBay.)
Considering that people sell $1 spells on eBay, fer chrissakes, as well as telephone "aura adjustments", perhaps I could make CD recordings of a relaxation session and sell those (containing long and short versions).
Not DVD movie clips, but only because I would have no idea what to wear for something like that.
And no video camera.
Or maybe I could do wedding drafting.
Anyway, I feel lonely, even though I'm not in much less contact with humans than usual.
* * * * * * * * * *
So, now I can make copies of my VHS tapes and then sell off the originals on eBay. (What would be unethical, for those of you who are wondering, is if I made copies and sold the copies on eBay.)
Considering that people sell $1 spells on eBay, fer chrissakes, as well as telephone "aura adjustments", perhaps I could make CD recordings of a relaxation session and sell those (containing long and short versions).
Not DVD movie clips, but only because I would have no idea what to wear for something like that.
And no video camera.
Or maybe I could do wedding drafting.
Now for the fun stuff.
My having a ridiculous number of VHS tapes (fig. 1) ...
Fig. 1: Many of my VHS tapes are on this shelf. But not all of them.
...combined with my upcoming move into a rather small space considering the number of residents (fig. 2) ...
Fig. 2: TheLimey trying to create enough space for all my books.
...means that I have been considering how to transfer the content of my VHS tapes to DVD. After looking into it at length, I have decided to go with the Pinnacle PCTV USB2.
I decided on it because I need a fast and easy way to make the transfer. I love that it's USB. True, firewire is better for audio/video stuff, and USB is a step down from that. But USB is a step down from "professional filmmaker" to "normal person creating stuff at home for their own use", so it's a step I'm glad to make.
Plus, not too many PC manufacturers are coming out with standard firewire-enabled products (as mine isn't). It's also a lot less costly than those standalone analog-to-DVD units. (I got mine new on eBay for $70USD including shipping!)
So. I got it for the whole transferring business. However, it turns out it has a lot of other neat-o capabilities. For example, it's a TV tuner on its own. This means you can take it travelling (I'm assuming you'd already be bringing your laptop) and never miss an episode of Dr. Who (as long as you are in Canada, where they still have decent programming on network TV.)
Not only that, you can view --I don't know, four? five? --channels at once in different windows on your PC screen. Or, as they advertise, "watch the game in a minimized window while you work!" (I have already allowed that TheLimey may take it to work to show off these capabilities once I get it set up.) Of course, you can then record what you're watching and capture still shots, too.
My having a ridiculous number of VHS tapes (fig. 1) ...
Fig. 1: Many of my VHS tapes are on this shelf. But not all of them.
...combined with my upcoming move into a rather small space considering the number of residents (fig. 2) ...
Fig. 2: TheLimey trying to create enough space for all my books.
...means that I have been considering how to transfer the content of my VHS tapes to DVD. After looking into it at length, I have decided to go with the Pinnacle PCTV USB2.
I decided on it because I need a fast and easy way to make the transfer. I love that it's USB. True, firewire is better for audio/video stuff, and USB is a step down from that. But USB is a step down from "professional filmmaker" to "normal person creating stuff at home for their own use", so it's a step I'm glad to make.
Plus, not too many PC manufacturers are coming out with standard firewire-enabled products (as mine isn't). It's also a lot less costly than those standalone analog-to-DVD units. (I got mine new on eBay for $70USD including shipping!)
So. I got it for the whole transferring business. However, it turns out it has a lot of other neat-o capabilities. For example, it's a TV tuner on its own. This means you can take it travelling (I'm assuming you'd already be bringing your laptop) and never miss an episode of Dr. Who (as long as you are in Canada, where they still have decent programming on network TV.)
Not only that, you can view --I don't know, four? five? --channels at once in different windows on your PC screen. Or, as they advertise, "watch the game in a minimized window while you work!" (I have already allowed that TheLimey may take it to work to show off these capabilities once I get it set up.) Of course, you can then record what you're watching and capture still shots, too.
I accidentally left my phone on all night after yapping on it yesterday at length. So I thought I better charge it up during the day today, but...now that I've unpacked my weekend bag, it seems that what I have always feared has finally happened. I finally left my charger at TheLimey's. And we won't see each other for another five days or so.
I bit the bullet and ordered a replacement overnighted to the psych department (in case I'm not home to sign for it, as usual).
Of course, after I put the order through the site gave me a message that they are experiencing trouble processing credit card orders, so if I haven't gotten an email in 24 hours I should assume it went through.
Well, thanks for letting me know beforehand! That gives me plenty of time to fret and wish I'd used another company while not knowing if I'll get it tomorrow or the next day or not.
Weiners.
I bit the bullet and ordered a replacement overnighted to the psych department (in case I'm not home to sign for it, as usual).
Of course, after I put the order through the site gave me a message that they are experiencing trouble processing credit card orders, so if I haven't gotten an email in 24 hours I should assume it went through.
Well, thanks for letting me know beforehand! That gives me plenty of time to fret and wish I'd used another company while not knowing if I'll get it tomorrow or the next day or not.
Weiners.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
While packing for the weekend this evening, I have been watching a "new" used VHS tape: "WEBMASTER" ("No one...is safe...in cyberworld"--emphases mine).
It has everything you could possibly want from a Danish cyberpunk samurai flick dubbed into English. (It's more stylish than iPods and Mitsubishi Eclipses and Starbucks combined.)
So far, my favorite part is the LED-green contacts worn by one of the bit characters. But I also have to admire the way that the hero is constantly hanging upside-down in anti-gravity boots, even while logged in to his online security job via a headset complete with glowing eyepiece-display.
I really have no idea what's going on with the plot, however.
Best narrator statement so far: "I once had a racecar that drove 'round in circles until it died".
It has everything you could possibly want from a Danish cyberpunk samurai flick dubbed into English. (It's more stylish than iPods and Mitsubishi Eclipses and Starbucks combined.)
So far, my favorite part is the LED-green contacts worn by one of the bit characters. But I also have to admire the way that the hero is constantly hanging upside-down in anti-gravity boots, even while logged in to his online security job via a headset complete with glowing eyepiece-display.
I really have no idea what's going on with the plot, however.
Best narrator statement so far: "I once had a racecar that drove 'round in circles until it died".
My Techno Junkie and Bridezilla aspects have come together to form a frightening creation. I stayed up until after 2am playing with the following image sequence, as you will see in a moment.
I used the Cosmi 3D Home and Garden Designer (which I picked up at the local supermarket for $5 three years ago and does not come with instructions!) to model the reception site, and then used Metacreations (now Corel) Painter 6--which is absolutely using an atom bomb to crack a walnut, even though it is now 4 versions old--to paint in some of the details.
This sounds like absolute playing, but I have some quite specific things I want. And since I will be busy enough preparing myself and actually being in the wedding ceremony, I won't be able to set up and decorate the reception site as I normally do for parties I throw. And this is quite a bit bigger and more important than any other party I've thrown so far!
Therefore I plan to get someone(s) I know to help me out by being my Reception Foreman and decorators and so on. When I reluctantly hand over the reins, I want them to have a clear idea of my design and plan, i.e.: reception blueprints.
Okay, so here's the actual site:
Here's my wireframe model. I made the floor first, then added two walls. I punctured the walls with four wide doors each to create the look of the pillars. Then I added the roof (it's not exactly like the real roof, but it was the closest one they had.)
Here it is fleshed out, and with a table added (actually a "coffee table" template, stretched out and colored white.)
Close-up of the "cake area":
Now, let's see what it would look like if the background were another planet: Hmmm...perhaps not. Okay, then, what about this background? I'll call it "Lothlorien":
Okay, here's the drapery effect (I actually had the park people--bless them--go out and measure the shelter so I know how much to order):
And let's add a ruffle to the cake table. Now, granted, this is not the best Art in the world: I just wanted to get a sense of it in 3D.
Yes, there is a closer shot with the actual cake design, but if you want to see it you will have to email me. TheLimey insists on being surprised about what the design is. (I'm pretty excited about it--and my aunt is a well-known nature artist [as nature artists go] who, along with my mother, used to "do" wedding cakes.)
I could post the image and have a link, but I think it would be too tempting to peek, don't you?
I used the Cosmi 3D Home and Garden Designer (which I picked up at the local supermarket for $5 three years ago and does not come with instructions!) to model the reception site, and then used Metacreations (now Corel) Painter 6--which is absolutely using an atom bomb to crack a walnut, even though it is now 4 versions old--to paint in some of the details.
This sounds like absolute playing, but I have some quite specific things I want. And since I will be busy enough preparing myself and actually being in the wedding ceremony, I won't be able to set up and decorate the reception site as I normally do for parties I throw. And this is quite a bit bigger and more important than any other party I've thrown so far!
Therefore I plan to get someone(s) I know to help me out by being my Reception Foreman and decorators and so on. When I reluctantly hand over the reins, I want them to have a clear idea of my design and plan, i.e.: reception blueprints.
Okay, so here's the actual site:
Here's my wireframe model. I made the floor first, then added two walls. I punctured the walls with four wide doors each to create the look of the pillars. Then I added the roof (it's not exactly like the real roof, but it was the closest one they had.)
Here it is fleshed out, and with a table added (actually a "coffee table" template, stretched out and colored white.)
Close-up of the "cake area":
Now, let's see what it would look like if the background were another planet: Hmmm...perhaps not. Okay, then, what about this background? I'll call it "Lothlorien":
Okay, here's the drapery effect (I actually had the park people--bless them--go out and measure the shelter so I know how much to order):
And let's add a ruffle to the cake table. Now, granted, this is not the best Art in the world: I just wanted to get a sense of it in 3D.
Yes, there is a closer shot with the actual cake design, but if you want to see it you will have to email me. TheLimey insists on being surprised about what the design is. (I'm pretty excited about it--and my aunt is a well-known nature artist [as nature artists go] who, along with my mother, used to "do" wedding cakes.)
I could post the image and have a link, but I think it would be too tempting to peek, don't you?
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Still trying to figure out how to record (or even just hear) spoken word via my Dell. I want to converse with Argotnaut in Germany, and record some relaxation sessions for clients, and...some vowel research thing Argot is doing.
I downloaded the trial version of Audio Record Wizard, which looks like a nifty application, and it appears to be working, yet...nothing happens. I can hear the computer's sounds through the headphones, but never anything through the mic.
My ignorance is such that I am not even sure if I have a sound card. Is that standard? (Guess I could look that up in my specs, huh?)
Also, my computer's clock keeps resetting itself to an hour earlier for some reason.
* * * * * * * *
Only seconds later .... !!!!
Now, I can RULE THE WORLD!!
As soon as I buy the licensed version, of course. (Only $24.95).
(Now I am free to create my "Human Imitations of Whale Songs for Lovers" CD.)
* * * * * * * *
Neat--it does wav files, too.
Anyone know which is better for recording stuff to CDs?
I downloaded the trial version of Audio Record Wizard, which looks like a nifty application, and it appears to be working, yet...nothing happens. I can hear the computer's sounds through the headphones, but never anything through the mic.
My ignorance is such that I am not even sure if I have a sound card. Is that standard? (Guess I could look that up in my specs, huh?)
Also, my computer's clock keeps resetting itself to an hour earlier for some reason.
* * * * * * * *
Only seconds later .... !!!!
Now, I can RULE THE WORLD!!
As soon as I buy the licensed version, of course. (Only $24.95).
(Now I am free to create my "Human Imitations of Whale Songs for Lovers" CD.)
* * * * * * * *
Neat--it does wav files, too.
Anyone know which is better for recording stuff to CDs?
Monday, April 25, 2005
Spent much of the weekend being Bridezilla, embroiled in wedding-related activities, such as viewing the actual reception (i.e. "picnic") site, creating a guest list spreadsheet in Excel, involving various family members in planning, setting up a gift registry, etc. Not to mention surviving the Great April Blizzard of ought-five as well as having an online "conference" with Argotnaut (in Germany) and Frinkenstein (now back in Oregon).
I probably could have made TheLimey do the guest spreadsheet part, as that would have likely been a snap for someone in his field. However, a number of factors influenced my being the one (AKA "sucker") to do it. Primarily, I was ready to get down to it and make the guest list, while he was running around doing other very important things. (I won't say what exactly, but let's just say there was smoke and swearing involved.) To be fair, the other part was that I really didn't know exactly what I wanted until I sat down and began doing it.
It took a lot longer than I expected, but I was very proud of myself at having come up with a design that subtotaled the guests into categories according to who invited them, whether they would be one of the few "family and very close friends" squeezed into the miniscule chapel or only the reception, and so forth. With color coding.
When I first made my own guest list (the very first week we were engaged, of course) I immediately hid it away because I was embarrassed at having come up with over 50 people, while TheLimey had been saying he wanted an incredibly small wedding with approximately 3.5 people in attendance.
However, now that he has compiled his own guest list (under considerable duress), I feel vindicated because he came up with--shall we say--a lot more than I did, and will actually have to whittle his list down to some extent.
The other time-sucking thing was the gift registry. However, this was compulsively fun, as we decided to use felicite.com, which allows one to register for anything, anywhere (it's really a web-based gift-buying service rather than a registry proper). So you can have anything from items on a given store's website, to items at your local corner mom-and-pop store, to donations to a specific charity or organization, to donations towards your honeymoon trip. Guests simply log on and view what you want, and either buy it or just put money towards it.
Guests without internet access get to call a 1-800 number and speak with an Inefficient Carbon Unit who will process their gift over the phone. And then the items are delivered right to your house! It also has an RSVP database, whereby guests can either log on by themselves and RSVP, or else they can send you the traditional postcard and you can add the guests manually to the RSVP list yourself.
Therefore I spent quite a lot of time transferring kitchen items from our Amazon registry, adding new items (such as towels from department stores, movie theater tickets, and chocolate bars), looking up worthy charities, and arguing with TheLimey about whether to put light blue bedsheets or only the white ones.
I tell you, it was great fun, despite the fact that we originally were going to try to get people to not bring any gifts at all. After we heard from about a dozen people that we might as well get a registry since people would bring us gifts regardless--and really bad ones, too--we gave in and registered. After all, how many plastic resin Light-Up Holiday Village Scenes can we be expected to tolerate and indeed display year after year?
I probably could have made TheLimey do the guest spreadsheet part, as that would have likely been a snap for someone in his field. However, a number of factors influenced my being the one (AKA "sucker") to do it. Primarily, I was ready to get down to it and make the guest list, while he was running around doing other very important things. (I won't say what exactly, but let's just say there was smoke and swearing involved.) To be fair, the other part was that I really didn't know exactly what I wanted until I sat down and began doing it.
It took a lot longer than I expected, but I was very proud of myself at having come up with a design that subtotaled the guests into categories according to who invited them, whether they would be one of the few "family and very close friends" squeezed into the miniscule chapel or only the reception, and so forth. With color coding.
When I first made my own guest list (the very first week we were engaged, of course) I immediately hid it away because I was embarrassed at having come up with over 50 people, while TheLimey had been saying he wanted an incredibly small wedding with approximately 3.5 people in attendance.
However, now that he has compiled his own guest list (under considerable duress), I feel vindicated because he came up with--shall we say--a lot more than I did, and will actually have to whittle his list down to some extent.
The other time-sucking thing was the gift registry. However, this was compulsively fun, as we decided to use felicite.com, which allows one to register for anything, anywhere (it's really a web-based gift-buying service rather than a registry proper). So you can have anything from items on a given store's website, to items at your local corner mom-and-pop store, to donations to a specific charity or organization, to donations towards your honeymoon trip. Guests simply log on and view what you want, and either buy it or just put money towards it.
Guests without internet access get to call a 1-800 number and speak with an Inefficient Carbon Unit who will process their gift over the phone. And then the items are delivered right to your house! It also has an RSVP database, whereby guests can either log on by themselves and RSVP, or else they can send you the traditional postcard and you can add the guests manually to the RSVP list yourself.
Therefore I spent quite a lot of time transferring kitchen items from our Amazon registry, adding new items (such as towels from department stores, movie theater tickets, and chocolate bars), looking up worthy charities, and arguing with TheLimey about whether to put light blue bedsheets or only the white ones.
I tell you, it was great fun, despite the fact that we originally were going to try to get people to not bring any gifts at all. After we heard from about a dozen people that we might as well get a registry since people would bring us gifts regardless--and really bad ones, too--we gave in and registered. After all, how many plastic resin Light-Up Holiday Village Scenes can we be expected to tolerate and indeed display year after year?
Thursday, April 21, 2005
I knew that buying things on eBay was addictive. (Particularly when it recently occurred to me that it was a potential source for Norwegian language books.) There is something thrilling about finding some weird, obscure item that you can't do without and beating some other bidder to the punch in the last 10 minutes. And then it shows up at your doorstep.
I had also heard that selling things on eBay is addictive, and now I find that it is true--even more exciting than buying things! I posted a boxed set of books (signed, limited edition, still in plastic) by a particular author from about 14 years ago. I recently saw a similar set sans plastic go for $113, so I thought I could do well with my set.
Man, is it ever exciting! You can see how many people have your item on "watched" status, and I saw it go from 0 to 13 in the first two days. Now the auction end is still two days away and it's already up to $130!
I felt bad at first, when it was clear that the bidders were trying to figure out how much my reserve was. I felt like I was cruelly holding out a piece of delicious cheese that was too high to jump up and grab. But once someone got past the reserve price ($120), it was all thrill, baby. Now they're only competing with one another, not with my invisible reserve.
And someone is already watching the green cape I just posted this morning.
Now, down to the basement to take photos of those old oscilloscopes I salvaged from the Psych department cleanout!
I had also heard that selling things on eBay is addictive, and now I find that it is true--even more exciting than buying things! I posted a boxed set of books (signed, limited edition, still in plastic) by a particular author from about 14 years ago. I recently saw a similar set sans plastic go for $113, so I thought I could do well with my set.
Man, is it ever exciting! You can see how many people have your item on "watched" status, and I saw it go from 0 to 13 in the first two days. Now the auction end is still two days away and it's already up to $130!
I felt bad at first, when it was clear that the bidders were trying to figure out how much my reserve was. I felt like I was cruelly holding out a piece of delicious cheese that was too high to jump up and grab. But once someone got past the reserve price ($120), it was all thrill, baby. Now they're only competing with one another, not with my invisible reserve.
And someone is already watching the green cape I just posted this morning.
Now, down to the basement to take photos of those old oscilloscopes I salvaged from the Psych department cleanout!
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
I will be singing in a friend’s (or frolleague’s) wedding in a few weeks, and she wants me to sing what is popularly known as Ave Maria, since those are the first two words. However, the actual song title is Ellens Dritter Gesang (Ellen’s Third Song), as it was written by Schubert for a particular piece in which, apparently, Ellen sings two other songs before that one.
I learned it with the original German lyrics by Sir Walter Scott rather than the popular Italian version, for some reason. If you look for Ave Maria online, you might get the Schubert one, or you might get one of several other completely disparate songs that really are called Ave Maria. So to get the proper musical score, it’s usually safest to look for it under the proper title.
This piece as written was probably a bit too high for me when I was at my singing peak anyway, let alone now that I have let my voice rust for four years as well as done damage to it with four years of stress-related asthma and coughing and so forth. I know from previous wedding experience that it is often transposed to a different (lower!) key, so I thought I’d look online to see if I could find for the harpist an arrangement in a key that is simpatico to my no-longer-soprano voice.
One of the things that came up was this site, Schubertline, which really has a quite a cool service for singers. Sheet music that reads itself! Especially good for those who read music only poorly, such as myself. It has not only Schubert but also several other popular composers. But try as I might, I couldn’t find Ellens Dritter Gesang—only songs I and II. Which is odd, seeing how popular it is. So I wrote this in the comments:
> Comments: What is a Schubert site without Ellens Dritter Gesang?
This was the apparently frustrated reply:
>True, except that we're not actually a Schubert site, we just borrowed the
>name. We try to give broad coverage to all the great lieder composers, so
>although we're constantly adding songs by Schubert (about 230 so far) we
>also have to remember Schumann, Brahms, Wolf etc. and it all TAKES TIME!
>But your suggestion in noted!!
>Thanks for writing,
>Best wishes,
>Alice
Well, that made sense. Perhaps the site was fairly young, and there were some kind of licensing fees attached to that song, given its popularity. Or something. At least she wished me the best, despite how incredibly overworked the staff in general must be, judging by her email. So I replied:
>Fair enough.
>Of course, the plebian masses (such as myself) will be seeking
>to buy that particular song above all others.
>*********************************************
>Elisabeth [Lizardo], M.S.
>[University] Psychology Department
Then a few days later, I received this considerably humbler reply:
>Hello again:
>With reference to your enquiry about Ellens Dritter Gesang, our Music Editor tells me that >this song is better known as Schubert's Ave Maria.
>This is the most popular of all Schubert's songs and has been included in our catalog since >we started. Is this perhaps what you were looking for? We have it with the original German >text (by Walter Scott, he says) or in the much-requested but not authentic version with Latin >words.
>Sorry I didn't know what you were talking about! I just deal with the emails... We sell
>about 100 copies of this each month!
>Best wishes,
>Alice [Emailchick]
>Schubertline: the online score service for singers
>mail@schubertline.co.uk
>A product of Enichi Music Services NR34 9AU (UK)
So….ha!
I don’t know what this proves, but it proves something.
I learned it with the original German lyrics by Sir Walter Scott rather than the popular Italian version, for some reason. If you look for Ave Maria online, you might get the Schubert one, or you might get one of several other completely disparate songs that really are called Ave Maria. So to get the proper musical score, it’s usually safest to look for it under the proper title.
This piece as written was probably a bit too high for me when I was at my singing peak anyway, let alone now that I have let my voice rust for four years as well as done damage to it with four years of stress-related asthma and coughing and so forth. I know from previous wedding experience that it is often transposed to a different (lower!) key, so I thought I’d look online to see if I could find for the harpist an arrangement in a key that is simpatico to my no-longer-soprano voice.
One of the things that came up was this site, Schubertline, which really has a quite a cool service for singers. Sheet music that reads itself! Especially good for those who read music only poorly, such as myself. It has not only Schubert but also several other popular composers. But try as I might, I couldn’t find Ellens Dritter Gesang—only songs I and II. Which is odd, seeing how popular it is. So I wrote this in the comments:
> Comments: What is a Schubert site without Ellens Dritter Gesang?
This was the apparently frustrated reply:
>True, except that we're not actually a Schubert site, we just borrowed the
>name. We try to give broad coverage to all the great lieder composers, so
>although we're constantly adding songs by Schubert (about 230 so far) we
>also have to remember Schumann, Brahms, Wolf etc. and it all TAKES TIME!
>But your suggestion in noted!!
>Thanks for writing,
>Best wishes,
>Alice
Well, that made sense. Perhaps the site was fairly young, and there were some kind of licensing fees attached to that song, given its popularity. Or something. At least she wished me the best, despite how incredibly overworked the staff in general must be, judging by her email. So I replied:
>Fair enough.
>Of course, the plebian masses (such as myself) will be seeking
>to buy that particular song above all others.
>*********************************************
>Elisabeth [Lizardo], M.S.
>[University] Psychology Department
Then a few days later, I received this considerably humbler reply:
>Hello again:
>With reference to your enquiry about Ellens Dritter Gesang, our Music Editor tells me that >this song is better known as Schubert's Ave Maria.
>This is the most popular of all Schubert's songs and has been included in our catalog since >we started. Is this perhaps what you were looking for? We have it with the original German >text (by Walter Scott, he says) or in the much-requested but not authentic version with Latin >words.
>Sorry I didn't know what you were talking about! I just deal with the emails... We sell
>about 100 copies of this each month!
>Best wishes,
>Alice [Emailchick]
>Schubertline: the online score service for singers
>mail@schubertline.co.uk
>A product of Enichi Music Services NR34 9AU (UK)
So….ha!
I don’t know what this proves, but it proves something.
Monday, April 18, 2005
I've begun collecting boxes for the big move this summer. I can get rid of a lot more than I originally thought, as many of my household possessions are redundant and not of sentimental value.
A good example would be the 100-lb coffee table I found at the curbside, carried home in the Ford Fiasco that I had at the time, and lugged up three flights of stairs by myself.
I need to begin selecting what things will go to auction on eBay (which I've never done before), which to Freecycle, to storage, and which things will simply be moved. What a hassle!
As far as what I will be cramming into TheLimey's smallish place, the only real bone of contention has been my collection of used VHS tapes. Many of them may have to go in storage for a while until we get Our Own Place, as for some mysterious reason he does not want to devote four square yards of wall space to displaying them.
So now of course I want to look at transferring the tapes to DVD. I'll figure out how to do that later. I'm broke and can't buy new toys right now, and I also have no idea which device(s) to get. The reviews on Amazon are still rather confusing to me, and I haven't had hours to sort through them.
Luckily, he's very happy to be getting my set of cast-iron cookware. He should be really happy to be getting my famous vacuum food sealer, now that I think of it. Whereas I'll be happy to have use of his office shredder and wi-fi.
I also need to begin weaning the birds and squirrels off of eating at my window, but I'm not sure when to start. Maybe in the height of the summer when seeds and things are plentiful? Poor birds and squirrels!
A good example would be the 100-lb coffee table I found at the curbside, carried home in the Ford Fiasco that I had at the time, and lugged up three flights of stairs by myself.
I need to begin selecting what things will go to auction on eBay (which I've never done before), which to Freecycle, to storage, and which things will simply be moved. What a hassle!
As far as what I will be cramming into TheLimey's smallish place, the only real bone of contention has been my collection of used VHS tapes. Many of them may have to go in storage for a while until we get Our Own Place, as for some mysterious reason he does not want to devote four square yards of wall space to displaying them.
So now of course I want to look at transferring the tapes to DVD. I'll figure out how to do that later. I'm broke and can't buy new toys right now, and I also have no idea which device(s) to get. The reviews on Amazon are still rather confusing to me, and I haven't had hours to sort through them.
Luckily, he's very happy to be getting my set of cast-iron cookware. He should be really happy to be getting my famous vacuum food sealer, now that I think of it. Whereas I'll be happy to have use of his office shredder and wi-fi.
I also need to begin weaning the birds and squirrels off of eating at my window, but I'm not sure when to start. Maybe in the height of the summer when seeds and things are plentiful? Poor birds and squirrels!
Friday, April 15, 2005
I have turned on Star Trek Enterprise (or, I have turned Star Trek Enterprise on? -- that sounds even worse) and I see that the writers continue to mine themes of the original Star Trek series. I approve of this in general, although I admit I haven't watched the show that often.
However, on tonight's episode I see this nostalgia has extended all the way to showcasing green-skinned hoochie dancers (though now they have obvious implants, and that utterly characterless diction I associate with either porn or Chaser advertisements).
And judging from the foreshadowing, I'm guessing that being a sexy female also means being evil. We'll see within 40 minutes. -- Oh, wait -- already, the doctor had some kind of fainting spell while talking about the women. Yep, they're going to be evil, for sure.
However, on tonight's episode I see this nostalgia has extended all the way to showcasing green-skinned hoochie dancers (though now they have obvious implants, and that utterly characterless diction I associate with either porn or Chaser advertisements).
And judging from the foreshadowing, I'm guessing that being a sexy female also means being evil. We'll see within 40 minutes. -- Oh, wait -- already, the doctor had some kind of fainting spell while talking about the women. Yep, they're going to be evil, for sure.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
This is the last week of classes; next week I give my students their final exam. So naturally it is only now that students are finally asking me things like "Why is there a zero for the grade on on my term paper?" The term papers were turned in weeks ago, of course. I not only post their grades weekly but also hand out hard copies of the spreadsheet in class every week so people can keep track of their grades and make sure that they get credit for the things they turn in.
Last night after class I got home and updated a pile of class material, answered students' emails, downloaded a few allegedly "gone lost" assignments that are just now trickling in, and so on. I have a gmail account specifically for their assignments so that I can archive them all for those "But I sent it and you replied to it!" arguments.
Today I have a lot of work to do at home, including more student material. So this morning at 7:25 I opened gmail to check for a few more entries, and [cue ominous music] that's when it started.
Instead of opening and loading quickly, as usual, gmail produced a new error that I hadn't seen before: the third party software error. (Yippee!) It also gave a number of suggested fixes, some of which seemed to apply to me (reconfigure McAfee privacy service to allow cookies from gmail.) So, did this mean that McAfee reconfigured or updated itself during the night all of a sudden? Perhaps.
Anyway, I spent the next half hour repeatedly following the simple instructions that McAfee gave for reconfiguring the cookie acceptance dealie. However, it stubbornly refused me entry into its "options" and would only allow me to change my password, over and over. And over. I even went into the program files and reinstalled it a few times to make sure I really am an administrator , while resetting it to accept ALL cookies (still not allowing me into "options", where I could allow an individual site's cookies). I even changed my browser settings to accept cookies from gmail. I turned off McAfee entirely!
Nothing.
That was when the roofers arrived. You may recall that I live on the top floor...
Last night after class I got home and updated a pile of class material, answered students' emails, downloaded a few allegedly "gone lost" assignments that are just now trickling in, and so on. I have a gmail account specifically for their assignments so that I can archive them all for those "But I sent it and you replied to it!" arguments.
Today I have a lot of work to do at home, including more student material. So this morning at 7:25 I opened gmail to check for a few more entries, and [cue ominous music] that's when it started.
Instead of opening and loading quickly, as usual, gmail produced a new error that I hadn't seen before: the third party software error. (Yippee!) It also gave a number of suggested fixes, some of which seemed to apply to me (reconfigure McAfee privacy service to allow cookies from gmail.) So, did this mean that McAfee reconfigured or updated itself during the night all of a sudden? Perhaps.
Anyway, I spent the next half hour repeatedly following the simple instructions that McAfee gave for reconfiguring the cookie acceptance dealie. However, it stubbornly refused me entry into its "options" and would only allow me to change my password, over and over. And over. I even went into the program files and reinstalled it a few times to make sure I really am an administrator , while resetting it to accept ALL cookies (still not allowing me into "options", where I could allow an individual site's cookies). I even changed my browser settings to accept cookies from gmail. I turned off McAfee entirely!
Nothing.
That was when the roofers arrived. You may recall that I live on the top floor...
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Now I have to steal something from Tim, and promote this research paper generator.
Seeing that one of the MIT gentlemen involved had a dating profile posted, I sent them the following email:
------------------------------------------
Dear Max and Jeremy,
Several of my colleagues have been shocked to discover that they have co-authored papers with me, apparently while sleepwalking or [in] some other state of consciousness. For this enjoyment, I have donated $5 to your travel fund.
While a number of the titles are vague enough to pass for psychology topics, I wistfully wish you had another [generator] that had psychology content.
Free, unrequested advice: as far as those dating endeavors are concerned, I strongly recommend seeking out grad students in your local psychology department (I'm assuming heterosexuality here, I realize). For one thing, psychology is becoming female-dominated.
Furthermore, for some reason it seems to be a natural match--a large proportion of the women in my program (including me!) are dating / marrying / married to someone who is involved in applied or theoretical engineering / programming type fields.
Anyway, good luck (whatever that actually means)!
*********************************************
Elisabeth [Lizardo], M.S.
[University] Psychology Department
http://www.doctorlizardo.blogspot.com/
I received the following kindly email in reply:
------------------------------------------
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks a lot for the pledge and the good advice. Our colleague Dan in
particular could use both a psychologist and a date, so this advice
should come in handy. If you have any friends at the MIT psychology
department, be sure to put in a good word.
Jeremy
------------------------------------------
...it appears that MIT is too genius-laden to have a standard Psychology department, but they do have a Brain and Cognitive Sciences department. And of course there's always Harvard practically next door.
Seeing that one of the MIT gentlemen involved had a dating profile posted, I sent them the following email:
------------------------------------------
Dear Max and Jeremy,
Several of my colleagues have been shocked to discover that they have co-authored papers with me, apparently while sleepwalking or [in] some other state of consciousness. For this enjoyment, I have donated $5 to your travel fund.
While a number of the titles are vague enough to pass for psychology topics, I wistfully wish you had another [generator] that had psychology content.
Free, unrequested advice: as far as those dating endeavors are concerned, I strongly recommend seeking out grad students in your local psychology department (I'm assuming heterosexuality here, I realize). For one thing, psychology is becoming female-dominated.
Furthermore, for some reason it seems to be a natural match--a large proportion of the women in my program (including me!) are dating / marrying / married to someone who is involved in applied or theoretical engineering / programming type fields.
Anyway, good luck (whatever that actually means)!
*********************************************
Elisabeth [Lizardo], M.S.
[University] Psychology Department
http://www.doctorlizardo.blogspot.com/
I received the following kindly email in reply:
------------------------------------------
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks a lot for the pledge and the good advice. Our colleague Dan in
particular could use both a psychologist and a date, so this advice
should come in handy. If you have any friends at the MIT psychology
department, be sure to put in a good word.
Jeremy
------------------------------------------
...it appears that MIT is too genius-laden to have a standard Psychology department, but they do have a Brain and Cognitive Sciences department. And of course there's always Harvard practically next door.
More unlikely search terms that have pointed to my blog recently (many for little or no reason):
“homemade breathing treatment” (good luck, my asthmatic compadre, in your survivalist preparations for the apocalypse)
“Parisian picnic” (thanks to a comment from Library Squirrel)
“What does a sample doctor fax look like” (discomfitingly vague, with intimations of forgery)
“Florida Boddington chapel wedding” (this brought up the entry in which I consumed a can of Boddington’s in Florida. The searcher must have been quite disappointed)
And of course, my blog still seems to be a perennial favorite among those suffering UTIs everywhere, though there are fewer of those than there were right after the holidays. We’ll see if that happens again this winter!
What I would really expect to see in my "referrerers" [sic] list would be something like "Robot Limey rat martini herbal potluck Mars Republican mistress vintage", or similar.
Curiously, that has never occurred.
“homemade breathing treatment” (good luck, my asthmatic compadre, in your survivalist preparations for the apocalypse)
“Parisian picnic” (thanks to a comment from Library Squirrel)
“What does a sample doctor fax look like” (discomfitingly vague, with intimations of forgery)
“Florida Boddington chapel wedding” (this brought up the entry in which I consumed a can of Boddington’s in Florida. The searcher must have been quite disappointed)
And of course, my blog still seems to be a perennial favorite among those suffering UTIs everywhere, though there are fewer of those than there were right after the holidays. We’ll see if that happens again this winter!
What I would really expect to see in my "referrerers" [sic] list would be something like "Robot Limey rat martini herbal potluck Mars Republican mistress vintage", or similar.
Curiously, that has never occurred.
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