Wednesday, April 23, 2003
I’m working on a story I came up with quite awhile ago, tentatively titled Seeing Things Invisible (I do seem to be attracted to long titles, don’t I?). It’s a fantasy, set in a Renaissance-level world where their equivalent of Alexander the Great has just conquered the known world, and is attempting to consolidate his empire. He knows that it won’t last past his death unless he takes very […]
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Miyazaki’s right. Girls rock.
Friday, April 18, 2003
It’s distressing, though I’m not shocked: According to this survey, most computer users will give out their login password to a complete stranger if asked. The question is, how can we fix this? Do we just keep repeating good security practices over and over? Or is there some way to show people the impact of insecure tendencies? Oops…forgot to post this yesterday: It’s that time […]
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
I normally write my journal entries one day ahead, but occasionally, I either forget to write it, or can’t think of anything to write. Today’s entry is victim to both of these; I tried writing about my home cooking, but couldn’t make myself write an appropriately humorous entry. So, instead, I’m thinking about last evening, which I spent mostly watching anime. More correctly, I watched documentaries about anime. Three […]
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
My new apartment is lovely, I think. A round leather table sits comfortably next to my cherry wood desk, and all 650 books rest on the bookshelves. Most things have settled into their places now. But my apartment lacks two things. There’s no internet connection, and there’s no cable TV hookup (in fact, the TV isn’t even hooked up to receive local channels). This is deliberate. For one, the internet […]
April 14, 2003
Heh. How to be a social commentator. E-Mails Wow. This morning, I got an e-mail with the subject “GOD Has Sent YOU A Message” with the following contents: Look to GOD in this time!!!!Not happy with your life?Missing a loved one?Not feeling well?Depressed?Lost hope? GOD Can Handle It Change Your Life Now!! Don’t Wait Click Here Non- profit You can safely click on the link; it goes […]
Sunday, April 13, 2003
I’m sitting in a Starbuck’s, watching the people go by. A man and his daughter sit next to me, the girl delightedly drawing on a piece of construction paper. Just drawing. Her father flips through a newspaper, and occasionally plays a game of Hangman with her (what a morbid connection!). Others sit, and read their newspapers, and drink expensive coffee. And I suddenly realize…there are no televisions blaring newsbites here. These are people reading […]
April 11, 2003
Y’know, it’s a shame. Orson Scott Card (yes, of Ender’s Game) has a column called “War Watch” in which he argues about the war on terrorism (of which he considers Operation Iraqi Freedom to be a part). He’s for the war, but not rabidly so, and his books have been fascinating and intelligent enough that I was eager to read his views. And I find that, while his arguments are reasonable and interesting, […]
April 10, 2003
Isn’t it weird when you stumble across a definition of something you never really needed a definition for? “CALL ME MUSASHI!!” (If you don’t get the reference, explaining it won’t help.) Thanks to Brennen‘s efforts, the site seems back to normal. Thanks, Bren! And good luck with the Wiki. A good friend of mine happens to be an artist. I took advantage of this fact by arranging with her to take […]
April 9, 2003
Mr. Ebert, thank you. “Disney can do better, will do better, usually does better. To release this film theatrically is a compromise of its traditions and standards. If you have a child in the target age range, keep them at home, rent an animated classic or Miyazaki’s great “My Neighbor Totoro” and do them a favor. “Roger Ebert’s review of “My Neighbor Totoro” is in his Great Movies series at www.suntimes.com/ebert. — […]