The following is not directed at anyone in particular, and was not inspired by any one post or event.
What is up with people who don't capitalize or use correct punctuation or grammar because "im too lazy" or "its not important" or whatever? Fine, fine, you only don't do it when using online communication. I get that. I'll even grant that maybe you won't slip up when you're typing up a resume, a cover letter or (if you're lucky enough to get the job) an annual report or email to your boss or something like that. To me, that's a good enough reason on its own. I am a creature of habit, and if I misuse it in casual conversation, I'll be more likely to misuse it when it matters. Maybe it doesn't work that way for them. "kewlies"
But here's the thing: It's online COMMUNICATION. I.e., by DEFINITION, you're trying to send a message to a reader. Non-capitalization, incorrect punctuation and bad grammar make it HARDER for the reader to receive your communication. I don't WANT to read something written in that way, unless I have a very good reason to. What you have to say probably doesn't qualify. I'd wager most people who read your writing are similar.
The bottom line: If what you have to say isn't worth enough of your time to write correctly, it isn't worth my time to read.
My girlfriend bought me a 256 MB Lexar jumpdrive for Christmas, and while I haven't used it a ton, I still think it's pretty cool. After reading all the stuff on Hackaday, I got to thinking. . .
That's the actual guts of the jumpdrive. I scanned my room for something about that size. I thought of making a Zippo-drive, attaching it to my watch (it's about the size of the face of my watch...the USB plug would be sticking out to the side, and various other things. I then went in search of a Pez dispenser after reading about the guy who invented and successfully pitched to PEZ an .mp3 player stuffed into a Pez dispenser.
So anyway, I pulled out my easter pez dispenser and its two packs of Pez candy. Hmm, I thought.
I got to work. Using a pocket knife I heated in a candle, I managed to cut a CD case down into the sizes I needed. I then duct taped the pieces together, resulting in this:
That part took the most work. Then I simply carefully unwrapped the Pez candy (it USED to be a removable sleeve with the flavor around the foil pack of candy...that would have been a LOT more handy, thank you very much...now it's all one piece), wrapped the USB drive and taped. The results:
It's actually smaller than the size of a pack of Pez candy: two inches long, plus the plug, and about 3/8 of an inch thick. I like it.
POOP. I've just found a large amount of ticket vouchers for a long-defunct arcade. From April 3 of 1999 to November 26 (I apparently went there six weekends during that period, as those are the only dates I have vouchers from), I earned 1421 tickets. And now they're worth nothing. DRAT!
I keep hearing the commercial for the Betty Crocker Bake 'n Fill cake pan set, and I swear I keep hearing them say, "Make bacon-filled cakes to please your whole family!"
It seems as if IU has finally decided to revoke my mail account and webspace, almost a whole year after I left. Or maybe they're just having problems. I don't know.
Anyhow, anyone have suggestions on free webspace that won't pummel me with ads?
Oh man, this is so cool. I'm writing this post using Ritepen. It's handwriting recognition software for ANY text input area. For example, I'm writing this post right in Semagic without any intervening windows or input areas. One of the coolest things about the software is that regular cursive handwriting works! and that's exactly how I'm writing on my graphics tablet. Another pretty cool thing is that you can write entire phrases at once, just as if you were writing normally. I would estimate about a 75% success rate (and it even handled the percent sign and parenthases just fine!) (and the exclamation point!) at this point, and I only downloaded it about fifteen minutes ago. It is slower than typing, but it's interesting and might just be worth the $20.
I'm sure most of you will have no use for this, but if you do have a graphics tablet, you should definitely check this out. I wrote this entire post without touching the keyboard.
Offenders: Roseanne, Family Matters (TWICE!), Boy Meets World, et. al.
General Premise: Main characters somehow find themselves in a boxing ring with a pro. Hilarity ensues.
Exceptions: Full House (I think), Step by Step (maybe...I seem to remember Mark wrestling someone. Or maybe JT).
Elaboration: Family Matters' Wrestling Match episode was the best. Both of them. The one where Steve fights for Laura's honor or somesuch (STEVE, STAY DOWN!), and the one where Eddie and Carl tag team against some "pro wrestlers" (I HATE cops!).
Anybody in the market for a Dell notebook? They're having a deal today and today only (ok, ok, until 5:59 a.m. CST tomorrow, 10/20) for $750 off $1500. I was somewhat looking, so I took advantage of the deal.
Go here for the coupon. (Note: I'm not affiliated with Dell, I just think this is a pretty good deal..)
Name a CD you own that no-one else on your friends list does: I'd be willing to bet that a large portion of my CDs are unique to me. Anyone ever heard of Knowdaverbs? Christian rap artist. Yes, really. Luna Halo, anyone? Up With People? I've got local groups too. Also about 8 bajillion compilations, mostly Christian music.
Some actual interesting ones: "The Wit & Wisdom of Andy Griffith" (all comedy), "The Other Guys" which is an acapella group from the University of Illinois, "Thank You" by Straight No Chaser (the acapella group of Indiana University), and "Main Street Electrical Parade" from Walt Disney World, which is just the soundtrack to the parade.The song only physically takes up about half of the disc, so the other half is transparent. It's pretty cool.
Name a book you own that no-one else on your friends list does: Jeeze, I have no idea. Most of my textbooks you probably don't have. I have M.C. Escher, his life and complete works...Henry Ernest Dudeney's 536 Puzzles & Curious Problems published in 1967? Considering the political bent of most of the people on my friends list...The O'Reilly Factor?
Name a movie you own on DVD/VHS/whatever that no-one else on your friends list does: Discounting home movies and movies of events I was in (concerts and whatnot), of which I have a lot...I'm gonna say either Short Circuit or *Batteries not included.
Name a place that you have visited that no-one else on your friends list has: Besides my hometown? Any number of the little tiny towns around here, I suppose. I figure someone has to have been to Branson, MO. Hope College in Holland, Michigan? Cooperstown, NY? I need to get out more.
From the "Weird ways to censor movies on TV" file,
You see what happens, Larry? You see what happens when you find a stranger in the alps? Larry, do you see what happens? Do you see what happens when you feed a stranger scrambled eggs?
Firstly, I should say that I'm not entirely sure what made me realize this particular thing at that particular moment. I believe it was that I was looking up the history of eye-black use by athletes for a thread on the SDMB (that's that message board I'm always talking about, for those of you (that one of you?) on my friends list who are (is) unaware). That and the fact that I received a Levenger catalogue in the mail the other day, and have been using my fountain pen more. Odd combination, I know, but stick with me here.
Ok, so the thing is, I don't appear to be specializing in anything. I'm not sure if it's a problem or not, but it's just strange to think about. I'm comfortable on a baseball/softball field. As I was looking up the eye-black, I reminisced about my days in little league and chuckled to myself over the thought of a couple friends of mine being in that situation. Would they even know what to do with the eye-black? Where the shortstop plays? The proper way to catch a fly ball? I'm talking fundamentals, people. Runner on first, no outs, pitcher up? Bunt the man over. Lay down a good one too, none of this jabbing at the ball crap. This isn't billiards.
I flit back to the Levenger catalogue, I don't know why. Deep earthy tones, leather armchairs that swallow you and your book, gleaming fountain pens with real ink flowing smoothly from the nib onto a textured page. Leatherbound. Academic. Lavish. Makes me think of fall for some reason.
Flit back to my job. I know basic principles of design. I know basic principles of journalism. Give me stories and photos and I can throw together a readable and perhaps attractive newspaper page, program for a play, poster, etc. Give me a camera and a subject and I can make a passably artistic photo. Give me a notepad and a pen and I can interview.
Flit back to college. Stately. Academic (again). Slow. Archaic. I sing, solo or in a choir. Acapella or not. Latin? Italian? German? Spanish? French? Olde English? Check. I play piano. I explore campus.
Flit back to sitting in front of the computer. I can slap together a crude HTML page. I know where to find things. I have access to information and I know how to use it. I've designed Flash animations for various things.
Thing of it is, I know how to exist in each of these worlds. I can get along in any or all of them just about as often as I need to. More worlds than this...these are just a sample. I can get by in any of those environments. So what's the problem?
I guess the problem is that I'm not entirely comfortable in any of them. Not entirely. I don't quite fit. Something's just a bit off. I go after one for a while, and the part that doesn't fit, the part that's irritating me, the part that is unfulfilling, the part of me that's not getting satisfied, whichever of those things, makes me move on to the next one. And after a while, I do it again. I'd like to find something I'm comfortable with. Some thing, activity, place, that's mine. Completely.
Another part of this, and one that I happen to think is pretty selfish but at the same time, normal, is that I'm not the best at anything. I don't mean the best of anyone anywhere, I just mean the best I know. As far as I'm aware, no one ascribes any particular ability or activity particularly to me. I've never heard of anyone in my real life (admittedly I'm limiting the sample considerably there...) thinking "Hm...he really knows _______." or "Maybe I should call him to ask about/see about doing _______." If I was the "go-to" guy for something, I think that would (sort of by definition, if you take my meaning) make me feel as if I had a niche.
Offenders: Full House, Family Matters, Step By Step, (more that I'm sure I'm unaware of).
General Premise: EITHER
One main character finds out he's really good at pool, the other main characters get him to play a shark for money, main character's glasses get broken (or they are otherwise not able to play), shark insists on playing, main character's father/grandmother/whatever comes in and makes a trick shot to save the day.
OR
One main character hustles another (in the case of Full House).
Exceptions: I don't think Roseanne had a Pool Hustle episode.
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