NOTE FOR LJ READERS: Starting with this entry, comments on posts crossposted from my website will have comments disabled. If you want to comment, please do so on the original entry (linked at the bottom of every crosspost). I'm also trying to figure out exactly how I want to handle the content of future crossposts in an effort to make posts/content more centralized, so keep an eye out for changes :p

This entry has been sitting mostly-done in my drafts for a couple days now, but amusingly enough, “anachronism” popped up as today’s Merriam-Webster Word of the Day. I think someone’s trying to tell me to get off my keister and finish this up ;)

You will often hear people say things like “I should’ve been born in the sixties,” or the middle ages, or one of various other eras in history. It’s not uncommon for people to feel like living anachronisms. But I can’t be the only one who feels like they might have been born too early. I find myself genuinely baffled sometimes that technology hasn’t yet seemed to have caught up with where my brain tells me it’s supposed to be.

The particular instance that prompted this entry was while reading “What the Hashtag?” an entry by Meghan Wilker on Geek Girls Guide (ironically, my sense of time is stuck in the future, and my general online reading is a couple months behind); specifically the section subtitled “What does each hashtag mean?” where she introduces the readers to What the Hashtag, a “user-editable encyclopedia for hashtags found on Twitter.” She says, “…this approach of asking the public what [hashtags] each mean is the only way it can be realistically managed.”

And immediately, my brain says, “Why isn’t there a program handling that? You know, one that processes each instance of a hashtag and understands them logically and linguistically, and outputs the gist of each, as well as divergent/aberrant meanings based on cases of irregular usage?”

Yeah.

Then I think about it with my “Now Brain,” and I assume (without any personal knowledge of AI programming, of course) that it’s probably because that sort of program would require huge physical and intellectual/programming resources and likely lots of funding. But even Now Brain thinks this technology has to be out there somewhere, maybe in a research lab or something. Then Future Brain chimes in again. No no, this kind of thing should be so ubiquitous, people don’t even think about it anymore. Where the heck is this technology?!

This is not the first thing Future Brain and Now Brain have disagreed about, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Generally, it has something to do with technology that Future Brain says should be so pervasive as to be trivial, invisible…and isn’t, (and Now Brain grumbles about how this disparity inevitably impacts my bank account because things are expensive when they aren’t commonplace). And this is more than just a thought that crosses my mind occassionally. It’s an odd sensation that I feel at once in both my gut and my head, like my senses are telling me the wrong things. Very weird. Usually that part of it only lasts a moment, and then it turns into something almost completely intellectual.
Do you ever get this feeling? Like you’re out of place in time? Share in the comments! You are not alone! ;)

X-posted from Tabard's in!

I mentioned on Facebook how I’d switched from operating systems from Xandros to Eeebuntu on my EeePC 1000 last weekend, and a friend asked:

“How are eeepcs? I have never really thought of using one…I would always watch too many movies on my old laptop to really want anything smaller.”

So I answered, giving probably way more info than was necessary. But I wanted to save the info for posterity and share it with a more general audience. (Links added post FB for reference.)

All in all I love them. I *really* like the portability, though the 8G was insanely tiny compared to the 1000 I have now. The out-of-box OS wasn’t fantastic, and I’d never used Linux before, so there was/still is a little bit of a learning curve, but I have yet to find anything that completely stumped both me and the user community (which is a huuuge, and awesome resource). And you can get them with WinXP now too, or install the flavor of your choice. They take really well to a *lot* of systems, from what I hear.

Performance-wise, I’ve seen reports from people actually getting video games like WoW to work on them with just a little customizing. I’ve had good experiences with video on both the ones I’ve had, though I don’t use them for that kind of thing very often. The in-box sound isn’t fantastic, but for the size of the computer, it’s not bad, and headphones work just fine. I prefer the SSD versions because I’m rough on my portable electronics and less moving parts to worry about is a plus in my book. But you can get them in HDD too if you’re not concerned about bumps and jostling, or if you want lots more internal storage space.

The technology just keeps getting better with each new model, though they’re slowly making them larger, which doesn’t make any sense to me as far as netbooks are concerned :/ I can easily type on the 10″ 1000 model, and it’s still easy to carry with me. Much larger than that and you might as well just get a “real” laptop and lug it around. I’ve seen enough walkthroughs to assume that it’s upgrading the guts shouldn’t be too difficult if you know what you’re doing.

Here’s a comparison chart for the different models if you’re interested.

/infomercial :p

Disclaimer: These are the opinions of a general user, not in any way an expert. These opinions have not in anyway been purchased, or coerced. … Unless you count having an awesome product as coersion… >.>

X-posted from Tabard's in!

(These will be posted to my main blog until I make a decision on the whole creative side-blog thing.)

She swayed down the street, gazelle-like and teetering on her stilettos. Her makeup was immaculate.

One Word
One Word. Sixty seconds.
Don’t think. Just write.

What’s up

I may very well be out of my mind, but I’ve signed up for this year’s NaNoWriMo. Yeah. After not writing much of anything for months >.< I’m so out of practice! *headdesk* But I’m excited about getting started, if more than a little nervous and kind of intimidated by the goal. I figure if anything might be able to kickstart the writing habit again, it’d be this. 50,000 words in 30 days. 2000 words a day for 25 days would give me five days leeway or downtime so I don’t go crazy :p

I’m wishing I’d considered this much earlier. At this point, I’m trying to figure out a) what I might be able to wring 50k words out of, and b) what I want to write, because if it’s not going to hold my interest, I’ll never make it. :/ There are a small number of concepts I’ve ideas I’ve toyed with in the past that might work, and there’s a new very nebulous sort of concept that came to mind when all this started (which could be interesting/fun in a self-exploratory kind of way if I can manage to freewrite my way into it).
But I’m working on getting my head in the right place, writing-work-wise. I think I’m going to be using yWriter5 for notes and outlining and all that background kind of stuff, and likely some simple full-screen editor like TextRoom or somat for the actual writing part. Something super low-distraction :p I’m also actually considering creating a side-blog specifically for creative junk — NaNoWriMo to start with, since it’ll obviously be in the forefront here for a bit, and over time for other writing and art. If that pans out, I’ll be sure to post a link here. I still need to do some minor stuff like putting together a playlist or three to write to. I’ll definitely be throwing the Where the Wild Things Are soundtrack in there, just because it makes me want to make beautiful things, and I may have to see if I can dig up/dust off some old scifi/fantasy-based playlists.

What you can expect

Even if I do go with the side-blog for writing, expect to see daily wordcount updates (and if there are any regular lurkers out there, please feel free to give me a gentle nudge if I miss a day). It’s also very likely that I’ll be doing One Words here and there, most likely as warm-ups and cool-downs, doing Friday Fives and mid-week memes, possibly participating occasionally in Girl Talk Thursday (which link I got from Juliana), and generally doing things to get and keep me writing regularly. I’m hoping to make it out to some of the local WriMo write-ins for some in-person encouragement and a little socializing (which is the best part, if you ask me, as I don’t have many friends — and none locally, that I can think of — who share my creative interests :p).

For my local circle, consider this your fore-warning: I will have my laptop and/or notebook with me constantly. Don’t be surprised if I end up working some while we hang out. I consider myself good at that sort of multitasking, but feel free to poke me if I get too sucked into whatever I’m doing. Also feel free to cheer me on, ask questions about what I’m doing, buy me drinks, or whatever you think my keep the Muse hanging around. :)

X-posted from Tabard's in!

My 30th birthday is exactly eight months from yesterday. My last “landmark” birthday (25th) was spent alone and fairly miserable. I want to do something big and special for this one.

Brainstorming and planning begins now. Some possibilities I’ve thought of so far:

– Bungee jumping, sky diving, or some other adreniline surge-inducing feat.

– Starting the back piece I’ve been considering (or having it all or mostly done in one fell swoop, which would take quite a bit more planning, design-wise), or one/both of the shoulder pieces.

– Going on a cruise with my mom, who turns 50 next year, and her best friend, who turns 40 (thus making it the 30-40-50 Cruise :D). This is by far the most expensive option I’ve come up with so far.

– Horseback riding, or some sort of overnight/weekend riding thing. I’ve always loved horses and being around them, and it’s been forever aince I’ve been riding. If I could find some place that does camping+trail rides that don’t cost an arm and a leg this option might just shoot to the top of the list. Or if someone I know has horses and would be willing to let me fawn over the pretty ponies for my birthday weekend (or pay to?).

– Take a trip somewhere. Not a drive-to-the-next-state kind of trip, but a real, actual buy-a-ticket-and-go-play-tourist kind of trip. I’ve wanted to go back to Monterey for years at this point and see what it’s like to be a civilian there. I could probably think of a lot of places/sites/whatever I’d love to visit.

So yeah, that’s a good start, I think, and theoretically, there’s plenty of time to plan and save for any of these things. If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions, please share! :)

(Random aside: This is the first entry I’ve posted from my iPhone :D)
X-posted from Tabard's in!

Just a (theoretically) quick update since it’s been a while.

Another Dragon*Con has come and gone. This was a really good time, all told. It was a little disappointing on the geek-out end, as there was a lot of schedule confliction for things I was really looking forward to — Atl Radio Theater Co’s Call of Cthulhu performance (which I’d looked forward to more than anything else, and was rescheduled in the last week or so before Con :( ) vs. Dawn contest (which I still have yet to make it to) vs. Aquarium (with pre-purchased tickets, so obviously that won out), Arc Attack vs. mc chris performance (who I’ve seen before, and AA, I haven’t), and lots of cool discussion/guest panels early in the day (including Peter S. Beagle — and I forgot my copy of The Last Unicorn! Again!! >.<) vs. late too much late-night partying (which, yes, is completely my own fault :p)– and I didn’t see most of the friends I’d meant to. But experience-wise, and just in terms of relaxing on what is the one real vacation I take every year, it was fantastic.

It was another year with no true costuming, though most of our room got together and went out as Miskatonic University faculty (complete with ID badges!) for the Mad Scientists’ Ball. Apparently the badges were a huge hit, and there are a bunch of people who want to join us next year! Represented this year were the Biology Dept. (Marine Biology specifically), the Theater Dept. (ramping up for the student production of The King in Yellow — $2 off with student ID!), Field Archaeology, the Medical Reserch Lab, and the Orne Library Archives. I’m already researching for one costume for next year, with a well-formed idea for another, and a couple other nebulous concepts floating around. It’ll be the first year I’ll be doing costuming, and I’m really excited.

My Dragon*Con 2009 Flickr photo set (including the faculty badges)

X-posted from Tabard's in!

My first pair of knee-high combat boots. (I’m all growed up now! ;) ) I’ve been eyeing these things for 2 years or so. ♥ ! The listing where I bought them on Ebay. They actually gave me a 10% off coupon code too, so all-told they were only ~$110, shipping included!

View 1
View 2
Outside of Left Boot
Inside of Right Boot
Front View
Faux Knife Sheath -.-

X-posted from Tabard's in!

Used my monthly massage at the Massage Spa today, and invited my friend Malorie along. I had a rollover massage from last month because I didn’t get a chance to go, so I treated her.

For the first time, I had a male therapist whose name was Craig. We ended up running late and got there 20 minutes late, and they were booked up for the rest of the day, so they only had time to do 30 minute sessions for us. It might’ve been disappointing, but Craig made good use of the time, and did an absolutely fantastic job. It was a somewhat different experience than the last two times I’ve been, feeling a little more physically therapeutic than mentally. He used a good bit of pressure and quick, efficient strokes to work on problem spots in my lower back and shoulders. He asked me a few questions throughout, and said my lower back was insanely tight. He worked me through a few stretches, and breathing exercises during the session, using a small amount of scented oil (I forgot to ask what he used, but I think it was pepperment and lemongrass, maybe), which neither of the other two therapists I’d seen had done.

Overall, it was still very nice, but I’ll definitely be leaving home a little early next month :p I’ve already schedule my next appointment for the 13th, with Craig again. It’s the weekend after Con, so I think that will be perfect timing. Hopefully with a full session, I’ll get the mental therapy as well as the physical.

X-posted from Tabard's in!

Soooo…been meaning to do a general life update for a couple weeks now. Been doing some fun stuff here and there, and being alternately bored and frazzled too.

I took the 20th and 21st off last month and rode along with Paul for some into-the-weekend work in Alabama. Halfway through the first day, there was an adventure involving a dead alternator, and a series of lucky coincidences that saw us cutting out early for the night, and heading to a shop in the morning for a replacement, and breakfast at Dick Russell’s BBQ for breakfast while we waited (tasty!). Got a text from my mom who was vacationing with friends in Orange Beach, AL saying we should come down. So that Friday, after everything was done, we headed down there and crashed within a couple-minute walk from shoreline! ♥ Got to swim after dark for the first time ever, and it was awesome to hang out and just float around for a bit and watch the stars. Saturday, we headed home to Atlanta, lounged for a bit, then I got ready/headed to that night’s Skin Two pre-party. I’d originally borrowed a red latex dress from a friend, but decided I’d rather be comfortable and cute than uncomfortable and hot (in both senses of the word :p). So I threw together some fishnets, a tanktop, skirt and boots, and did my hair in braided pigtails (for the first time ever :D), and makeup in pinks. Had a great time watching all the pretty people, and listening to great (if loud) music, and hanging out with Ryan and his girl, and Mang, and Eddy, Roki, and Luke and everyone.

If I recall, we ended up sleeping in on Sunday, then went to dinner with Paul’s family around 6 or so. His grandpa was in town, so they wanted to get everyone together for a bit. I’ve been to a few gatherings like that with Paul, and it’s always pretty cool. His family’s awesome. Steak and carrots (which were OMGtasty — and I’ve never been a huge fan, so that’s saying something), and stuffed [pasta] shells *NOM*

That was pretty much it for Sunday, I think? Then back to work Monday. Ended up helping out Dean with a print project for his lady Andrea. Went and saw the new Harry Potter a couple weeks after it came out, and loved it. Very pretty and good adaptation, but just like the 6th book, it’s a very “in-between” movie. Haven’t been up to a whole lot since then really. Hanging out with Paul when he’s not working. Hanging out at home, trying to save money when he’s out of town. For most of last month, a bunch of us were getting together every weekend to play Arkham Horror, which was a blast. Haven’t played in three weeks or so at this point, and I’m jonesin’. I also think it’d be awesome to get a group together and play at Con.

Speaking of Con! It’s less than four weeks away! I’m so excited about geeking out this year! As of right now, there are two live performances I definitely want to see (ArcAttack, and the Atlanta Radio Theater Co’s production of Call of Cthulu), I want to go to the special Dragon*Con night at the Georgia Aquarium (need to buy tickets soon before it sells out! Done! :D), I hope to make the Dawn Contest this year (but if the time coincides with something I want to do/see that’s not an annual event, I’ll probably skip it (sorry Morgan! :p)). And Peter S. Beagle is going to be there again! When he came a couple years ago, I forgot to take my copy of The Last Unicorn for him to sign, so I’m excited that he’s coming back. Other guests I think it’d be cool to meet: Patrick Stewart (! XD), Adam Savage (! XD), Leonard Nemoy, Felicia Day, and Malcolm McDowell. I’m considering taking a new/blank sketchbook with me and seeing how many artists in the Alley I can get to do random doodles for me. Never tried anything like that before. I wonder if/how much they would charge for something like that :/ Though even if I can only afford one or two quick sketches, it’d be cool to make it a Con tradition, and add to it every year. As far as panels go, I won’t know for sure on any of them until I actually have the convention book in my hot little hands, but I think there are going to be at least a couple I’d like to check some out. Found out a couple days ago, too, that there’s a room opening for the weekend! w00t! So excited! XD

Uum, anyway. This past weekend was pretty awesome. One of my coworkers paints, and had his first solo gallery opening on Friday, so Paul and I went and checked it out. The gallery was smallis but really swank, and there were a lot of people there. He’s got another show opening in October. Hoping to check that one out too. Went and hung out with Ryan and Malorie after that, and again on Saturday for grilled burgers and John Hughes memorial movie night. Watched 16 Candles, then played a few games of Chez Goth. Lots of fun. Had planned on playing Arkham Horror too, but sadly, it was late by the time we finished our 4th(?) game, and my head felt like it was splitting from smoke and not-ideal lighting :/ Headed home, having a quick adventure with an upset stomach on the way, and crashed out. Sunday, slept in, decided it was Naked Day at home, and napped for most of the afternoon before we headed out (clothed :p) to do laundry and dinner.

So all in all, life is pretty good. :)

X-posted from Tabard's in!

Yesterday, I commented about one of the silly things that companies occassionally do in their mailed corresponence. Now, that aside, the enclosed letter said I’d soon be receiving a packet with a survey and a “$CASH$ incentive” (and yes, that’s verbatim, bold and all). Of course, I took that to mean some coupon or discount that I’d never need or use.

I got the packet today (that was fast! — and again with the “handwriting” font, though amusingly enough, my [maiden] last name was scratched through and my current last name [actually] written in *rolls eyes*) and lo and behold, here’s the survey…and a crisp new $5 bill! Color me surprised! And wondering if it’s my time, or their survey that’s apparently only worth a five-buck bribe. *lol* It makes me wonder how much money they go through, just in the hope that the people receiving this thing will feel obligated to fill it out and send it in. It’s a “new vehicle survey,” from a large enough company that I immediately recognized the name, so I’ve gotta assume that it’s not a small number of these things going out.

And now, a tangent.

Reading over the cover letter that came in the packet, I’m struck by this paragraph:

“In the enclosed survey, we are interested in your preferences in magazines and television programs, as well as other interests. This information allows auto manufacturers to spend their marketing dollars more effectively, which helps keep vehicle prices down.”

Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not sure what the correlation is between vehicle manufacturing and what kind of magazines I read, or tv shows I watch, or whether I like stamp collecting or gardening (neither, particularly, thanks). I’m just not sure I can take this survey seriously after reading the cover letter. :/ I did actually look through the survey, and here is a list of what it contained:

• 2 pages asking about general anonymous statistical junk: gender, marital status, employment status, age range, income range, etc.

• 1 page of agree/disagree questions on financial, technological, and consumer topics, among other things

• 1 page of agree/disagree questions on automotive topics

• 2 pages about the new car in question, and my driving habits

• 10 pages of yes/no/n/a bubbles and various other “choose your level of…” type questions regarding my magazine and tv habits, and hobbies.

So out of a sixteen-page “new car survey,” there are three pages that ask anything about the actual car or its use, or even general automotives.

Yeah…no thanks.

But I appreciate the free frakkalaka, guys! Cuz you know that’s where your money’s going, right? :)

Okay, well maybe not you. But Felicia Day, District 9, and Sherlock Holmes (among others) apparently made a good impression. :)

X-posted from Tabard's in!

Paul’s cat, Bellum, has been staying with me since he’s out of town for work so much. She’s a pretty little silver-smoke tabby with a cream undercoat (which is really pretty and kind of unusual to me — I’m used to seeing white), who can be a little temperamental if something’s wrong (she needs food/water or her litter box cleaned), or if she’s dealing with new surroundings/other animals/people. Other than that, though, she’s quite possibly the most well-behaved cat I’ve ever met. And it amazes me sometimes just how smart she is.

I heard her shuffling around in the kitchen, where I knew there was an empty cardboard box. And everyone knows cats love empty boxes (right?), so I thought I’d try and sneak in for a peak and possibly to snap a picture of her with my phone. I should’ve known better than to try and sneak up on a cat, I guess ;) She darted past me like she thought she’d been caught red-handed (-pawed? :) ) doing something she shouldn’t. She crouched under the coffee table and watched while I made sure the box actually was empty, and turned it on its side on the floor for her. I stood outside the doorway to the kitchen and waited. She looked up at me, then at the box, then at me again. I told her, “Go ahead! It’s for you!” and she looked up at me and gave me a little meow, then brushed against my legs long enough for me to pet her once (Kitty for “Thank you”?) on her way to check out the box.

Ya, rly.

Bellum: O crap, I’m caught! Ididn’tmeanitI’msorry!
Me: Nono! It’s okay! See? I was just fixing it for you! New toy!
Bellum: *big shiny kitty eyes* For me? Yaythankyou! *crawls into box and purrs*

♥

X-posted from Tabard's in!