…Did Kubla Khan a Stately Pleasure Dome Decree
I’ve been listening to audio recordings of Open Tech 2005 (previously known as NotCon). As seems to often be true, about half the presentations are uninteresting, dully presented, or so poorly recorded as to be unintelligible. The other half are fascinating. In particular, I listened to a talk given by a distinguished-sounding gentlemen, explaining that his view of computing is different from probably everyone else’s in the room, and how he’s been using computers for decades, […]
Anime Musings
Been watching a lot of anime recently, and it’s been instructive in its own way about the state of the anime industry and how folks in the anime industry have changed lately. A good example is The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, the story of an extremely odd, extremely energetic high school girl who starts her own club. The entire first episode consists of the terrible video project that they put together as a project; there are […]
Resilient and Alive From All Sides
Stayed up until 12:30 last night, then tried to get up at 7:15. I clearly need to make a few adjustments to my “workload.” Which probably makes me sound like I’m stuffing my evenings with busywork. Here’s the thing: When I get home, I have four broad ways to fill my time: maintenance work like checking my truck’s oil or dusting the house, creative work that feeds my desire to build things (like […]
Feeling Good
I had a great day at work today, and I’m feeling good this evening. I have all the energy I need to get stuff done. Which means I need to slow down and not burn through all this energy and go into another boom-and-bust cycle, probably. I’ll try to do some relaxing tonight, and see how that goes. Comments: Saalon Actually I disagree. We can’t control when we feel ready […]
Sunday, April 9, 2006
I went out on Friday night to Blues Alley, where I and a date watched Jack Jones perform. Boy, was I nervous. Felt ill all day. Freaked out at the idea of taking a date in to Washington, D.C. and into an alley where we’d be in a blues club. Very, very much outside of my regular comfort zone. And I had a wonderful time. Jack was great, my date was great, and I just had a great time eating chocolate […]
My Beef With Relaxing
Following on to some comments I’ve made here recently about resting and relaxing and not getting too much of it in, here’s the beef I have with relaxation: I don’t mind relaxing. Especially taking out an hour or so to do something fun (read a book, watch a TV show, putter around in the garden; whatever). But I think that “boom and bust cycles” usually signal that something is wrong. If I have […]
Television, A Subject Rarely Discussed Here
The more I think about it, the more I realize that the best possible way to enjoy a TV show is to have it all at once on silvery discs, instead of doled out a week or two at a time over the course of three to five years (if you’re lucky). Comments: Animom You know, I DO know what you mean. But TV has become something different than movies for me. I tend to look forward […]
A Big Vacation
Not sure if any Otherspace employees read this blog, but if so, this entry won’t be a surprise to them, at least. On Saturday, I announced that I’m taking a one-month vacation from Otherspace. I’ll complete whatever work that really requires me and nobody else (like submitting tax paperwork), but other than that I’m taking a break. Why? I’m not having fun any […]
Sunday, April 2, 2006
I just noticed something amusing. I’m not quite sure what lesson to take from it. I was just finished gathering a few books to buy in a local bookstore. I headed to the counter, where one of the two employees was helping another customer find a book, while the other was shelving. The first employee said, “I’m still helping this gentleman,” and I waved and said, “No problem.” I pulled out my Moleskine pocket notebook […]
Just Like Muscles
I’ve been sick most of this week. It’s gotten me to thinking about things, particularly the idea of relaxation. Forced relaxation will do that. For example, today I spent all day reading Fox Trot and Calvin & Hobbes collections. And boy was it nice to just while away a day, doing absolutely nothing of consequence. And then sit down and lose myself in writing. I’m working away at the script for “Leviathans,” […]