Monday, July 14th

So, Monday came and went, and I never posted, as I had promiced.  My deepest and most sincerest apologies.  I’ve just been feeling listless as of late.  No energy.  Plus, I’ve had nothing to say, so I haven’t said a thing.  Well, the urge to be creative hit me this afternoon, BUT, well, it’s nearly my bed time.  Maybe I’ll find the energy to post tomorrow.  Maybe.

Boston & the iPod

This is my first attempt at a video post. Very boring. But here you go anyway.

Lego Heaven!

I need to start reading Gizmodo more often.  They find some of the coolest stuff out there!  Such as THIS article about a trip to the headquarters of Lego.  It contains the Lego Secret Vault that contains one of Every Lego Set Ever Made!!!  (And there was also THIS article which answers many of your Lego Questions!)

I’m one of those people who believe that Legos are more then simple toys (which is why I buy too many Legos for my kids), and the writer of this article is of a similar mind set.  In fact, his words got me a little misty eyed.  I’m such a big baby!

I’m Famous! Part Four

It’s been two and a half months since ROFLcon, and the media coverage of the event continues to role in. No, I’m not talking about the recent mention on Cracked.com, but rather an article that appeared on Wired, two days ago. Before you read the article, take a look at the photo. Yes, the first thing your eyes will be drawn to is the magnificent Mr. Jay Maynard, aka The Tron Guy! BUT, you may also notice the Ickabod Crane-type character in the back ground. Well, that gangzly geek is me! Yup, I’m famous! Famous by osmosis, but famous none the less!

Anyway, I jut wanted to share this. ROFLcon was the only thing I’ve done all year that was fun, in a non-kid related way. Sorry for mentioning it so much. I have had other adventures, but I tend not to want to write about stuff I do with the kids. This site is my imaginary-place where I can escape the daily routine of fatherhood, and pretend that I’m still young and free. Kinda like why I always imagined that Mr. Rogers kept that little house that he would stop each day, before going home to his family. Damn, I wish i had a place like that. Though, I’d use it to drink beer and play games, not chat with “My TV Friends”.

But wait, since I’ve started using JustinTV to occationally “lifecast”, isn’t that exactly the same thing I am doing? Oh crap.

Connections

I’ve added my contact information to the site, in the upper right hand side. As I’ve mentioned plenty of times before, the schedule I keep (at home with the kids during the day, and working an unsatisfying job at night) has left me a bit board with life. The lack of friendly adult interaction (something that I cant even get at work, for the most part) has really brought me down. If it werent for my wife and a couple of good friends, I’d be all alone. But don’e weep for me, i’m not hear o be all emo or too look for your pitty. I’m here to tell you I’ve found a solution. I’ve turned to the internet.

Now, this site isn’t breaking any records for blog readers, but I have been able to strike up a few conversations online recently. And it’s been fun. Talking with strangers given me a bit of what I have been missing in my life. So, I hope to keep doing that, being it via email, chat, Skype or something else. Anyway, the whole point of this post it to point out the addition I’ve added to the site, and to ask you, who ever you are, to contact me. I look forward to talking to YOU!

I’m On Tv - Come Watch! (updated)

Since I haven’t received any Skype calls from strangers yet…

I set up a channel on JustinTV today. — www.justin.tv/senselessbabble — I’m not “putting on a show”, I’m just going to broadcast while I’m online. I figure my show (excuse me, “channel” is the proper term) will be just as boring as this site. So, go, watch, and you’ll find endless hours of me typing, reading and ignoring my kids. Send me an email and tell me what you think. Thanks.

Updated - I was just using JustinTV to “chat” (more like dueling lifecasts) with “The Senseless Bloggr“, Matt.  (See His Tumblr, See His Twitters).  It was odd.  I’ve been wanting to meet strangers online because I am so board, and I finally did.  But, to finally KNOW that there someone out there has read my Tweets and this site, well, it was odd.  To know that they can see my ugly face, to hear my nasally voice, well, I dont think I’m ready for the attention.  I thought I was, but I may not be.  Maybe I should ease into this world of lifecasting by first getting my podcast idea off of the ground first?

Nah, I’ll just do it and results be damned!  They’re only strangers after all.  (But strangers hope to make my friends!) (my gawd that was sickly, wasn’t it.)

Must Have!!!

This one needs no commentary.

Buying For Minors

I’m sitting back tonight with an old friend who I haven’t spent some quality time with in a long, long time.  Theakston’s Old Peculier.  Now, I’m not a big drinker; as much as I would like to be, my sense of responsibility to my family, coupled with a family history of alcohol problems, prevent me from investing as much time with my favorite drinks as I would like.  And what really sucks is the fact that I kinda consider myself a real beer conasior (sp?).

Back in my college days, I dabbled in home brewing.  This hobby lead me to read all the books on the subject, study the history of beer, and learn the science behind brewing.  I churned out some pretty bad bottles of brew, but I did come to understand and appreciate a good bottle of bear.  Now, i sometimes feel like all this knowledge is going to waist.

Anyway, tonight with the Old Peculier, well, my mind got to thinking about the past.  (”my mind got to thinking about the past.”  Yes, i realize this is a ridicules statement.)  I purchased the O.P. at a local shop that has the best selection of beers in town.  While it is the best selection in town, it is not the best selection I have ever seen.

I once lived for a short time in Southampton, New York.  There was a place in town (whose name escapes me now) that had, or so it seemed to me, Every Beer In The World!  This place was like a mecca to me!  I have been to bars with hundreds of brews to chose from, but this was the first, and only time, I had seen such a selection in a retail setting.  I knew that each time I walk through the doors of that place, I was going to find something new and something grand.

Anyway, not to go to much into my own personal past, when I was in Southampton, well, I was over the age of 21 (but not by much), and many of the people around me were not yet of the leagal age to purchase alchohal.  As you can imagine, this me we a very popular guy! 

Now, I could remember being under 21 in college, and I could remember the jackyles who would charge you an arm and a leg to make a run to the liqueur store for you.  Well, now it was my turn to charge an arm and a leg!  Actually, I didn’t set out to be such a dick.  The only think I asked for in exchange for breaking the law was a simple six pack.  Just six little beers.  BUT, it was six beers of my choice, from the store I mentioned in the paragraph before last.  And let me tell you, six beers from the farthest corner of the globe can some times cost upwards of $25.oo or more.

What was so great about this was the look on the face of the “youngsters” who thought they were getting off cheap for their beer.  See, going into “the deal”, I would say “Sure, I’d be happy to buy for you and your firends.  All I ask in exchange is ONE SIMPLE SIX PACK.  My Pick.”  Their limited palate didnt extend much beyond Michaloed and Miller Genuine Draft, and as such, they could not imagine a six being more then six dollars.  But, when they saw the receipt, with a a bier they had never heard of, let alone could pronounce, with a price tag more then an Andrew Jackson, well, it was priceless!  (does that count as a pun?  If so, it wasn’t intended, but it makes me laugh even more!  That, or it’s just the afore mentioned Old Peculier.)

Anyway, thanks to those kids, I was able to experience many tastes created around the world I would not have been able to have able to other wise.

And if I may (and I may, it’s my crappy site, so shut the f*ck up!), another quick story from this time in my life, one that still makes me chuckle.  There was a time that some guys came to me and asked me to buy for them.  Sure, not a problem.  They knew my “costs” and agreed to it.  Now, these guys had a specific requests for the evening.  They wanted a couple of bottles of wine from the vineyards of the Grateful Dead, for some girls they had coming over that night.

No problem, I could handle this.  I went to the local shop with a good wine selection.  I approached the man behind the counter and told him what I was looking for.  He brought me right to the correct bottles.  In the few moments of small chit chat we shared, he informed me that the wine in question was alchohal free.  See, the Dead had cleeaned themselves up, and as such, had apparently cleaned their wine up as well.

Well, as you can imagine, these guys were not buying the wine for their lady friends because they appreciated the oakey aroma and heady floral bouquet.  No, they wanted the alcohol so they could loosen up these girls, and then hopefully…  Well, you can guess.  BUT, even though I knew this, I also knew that the customer is always right, so I went ahead and purchased the requested grape juice.

Jump ahead two hours later.  I’m sitting back and enjoying my latest beer from some place you’ve never heard of before.  The phone rings.  “Dude, this wine is alcohol free!  Can you return it for us and get something else?”  Sorry, no, you cant return wine.  I refused.  I just wish I could have been there in person to see their faces.  I wonder if they got laid that night?

Normally, I’m not a prick.  But I guess I was back then.  And it still makes me laugh when I think about it.

Amsterdam

What is the worst thing you’ve ever thought or said out loud? Intentionally or unintentionally. Mine was an unintentional thought I had while in Amsterdam, many years ago.

It was the summer of ‘94, and I was doing the cliched “back packing through Europe after college graduation” thing. The trip was coming to an end, and I was in the last city on my itinerary. Even though I was enjoying all that the city had to offer (well, almost all of it. Amsterdam does have a lot to offer, after all! Nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more, say no more!), my mind was on what awaited me at home. See, when I flew home and landed in the states, I was going to be officially homeless. I had left my old apartment before the trip, and had no place lined up to live. So, as I walked along the canals, I kept thinking about apartment hunting, and what a pain that was going to be.

While in the capital city of The Netherlands, one of the places I visited was the Anne Frank House. I wont go into the sad history which I’m going to assume you already know, but this is where my “worst thought ever” popped into my head.

While walking around the secret attic hiding place where Anne and the others hid those many years ago, I contemplated what it must have been like to live there. Then somehow, my mind slipped to my own lack of accommodations, and out popped “Man, they sure were lucky, this would be a great place to live!”

Of course, a moment later I was hit by a tsunami of guilt. How could I have allowed such a thing have crossed my mind? Well, I didn’t “allow it”, the neurons in my grey matter just misfired and there ya go, worst. thought. ever.

But then, to make it worse, once I thought about what I said, and the lunacy of such a thought, well, I started to laugh! The side of me that loves dark humor really latched onto what I said and wouldn’t let go, and I had a very hard time holding back the giggles. And let me tell you, there are few places on earth where merry laughter is frowned upon quite the way it is in the Anne Frank House.

So, I got out of there quickly and made my way to the Sex Museum where I also made myself feel bad, but in another kind of way. And no thank you, i do not want to go into that dark part of my mind right now.

In an ironic postscript, after getting back to the states, I moved into a great little apartment, which just happened to be an attic apartment. Ha!

Summer Projects - Part Two

Well, you may remember my post about the online projects I want to accomplish this summer (Read It Here!), well, I’ve finally got the ball rolling on these!  See, the problem with these projects is that I need the help of you, the peoples of the internets, to accomplish these goals.  Well, I’ve had some takers to my offers, and so things have begun…

“Can I Act?” - My project to find out if I have what it takes to win the Oscar.  I received a short script from a guy named Phil.  He used the old “one side of a phone call” technique.  It’s pretty good.  I should have it up this week.  I’m having a problem through.   Something I didn’t think about.  Acting requires memorization.  And I’m finding this to be a stumbling block for me.  Maybe if I use some tricky editing I’ll be able to get through it.

And even though I have recieved Phils scrit doesnt mean you can’t send me yours!  I welcome all works, and I’ll be happy to give them a try.

“Stranger Danger” - My project to start a podcast where I talk to complete strangers about nothing in particular at all.  I received an email from Dale who said he would be willing to give this a shot.  So, I set up Skype, and we’re going to try and make some time this week to get together online to talk.  Look for episode one of Stranger Danger soon!

And even though I have received Dales offer to appear on my show doesn’t mean you cant talk with me too!  I welcome anyone to sit down and talk with me at anytime.  Heck, even if you don’t want to be on the podcast, but just want to say hi, look me up on Skype.  Search for me by the name Senseless Babble, or by my email address, SenselessBabble@gmail.com.  Thanks, and talk to you soon!

:-(

Yesterday was my birthday.  Worst day ever.  Ugh.  - More later.

Twitter

I haven’t been posting much because I am playing with Twitter too much.  If you really need to know what I’m doing, follow me there.  More stuff coming to this place soon; I have a big weekend a head of me.  I thank you for your patience…

Growing Up Star Wars

A link I’ve borrowed from Laughing Squid, a Flickr pool of vintage Star Wars photos, from childhoods in 1977 to 1985.  This is so who i was, and who I still am today, a big arse Star Wars Geek, and proud of it, prequels be damned!

Summer Projects

Okay, I have two summer projects I want to work on on-line. The first is my Can I Act idea, which I’ve already written about. I haven’t received any feedback about this yet, but I haven’t given up on this one yet. I just need to find a way to spread the word. Any ideas? Any scripts for me? Let me know.

The second project I want to do is a podcast/v-log type thing, where I just strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. (I’m thinking of going with the title “Stranger Danger”. Too cheezy?) I just want to see if I can have an interesting discussion with someone I do not know, without having preplanned anything, with having more then one or two prepared questions.  It will be interesting to see what common ground two strangers can find, what difference we’ll have, what we come up with to talk about, and if we can make it entertaining.  I think this will be a challenge, and I look forward to it.

I hope to do this online, via iChat or Skype or something, so that I can talk to people all over the world.  But, to keep it from being too tech-ish, I am also going to try and find some local strangers to talk to. I just have this urge to “put on a show”, and my whole idea of interviewing semi-famous people hasn’t really worked out, so I thought I would shift gears and move to more regular folk. (I know I’ve mentioned that idea before, i just cant find the post, so sorry, no link.)

So, if your reading this, and you’ve never spoken to me before, and you would like to spend 15 to 60 minutes chatting with me, let me know! Send me an email (SenselessBabble@Gmail.com) and hopefully we can talk sometime, and share the conversation with the world!

Sleep Problems

My sleep schedual has been all screwed up lately.  Normally, I don’t get enough sleep; about 4 to 6 hours a night, about 4 nights a week.  But for teh past week or two, my schedule has been even more “wacky”, leading to some 30 hour days between sleeps, or nights with only 3 hours of sleep, and then I crash and end up sleeping for 12 plus hours when I can.  Let me tell you from personal experience, that a bad sleep schedule will fuck you up.  It will make you sick, it will drag you down, and it will crush your soul!  And I have been doing this for nearly a decade now; no wonder I hate the world most days.

Anyway, earlier in the week, I went through my annual Red Cross CPR, AED and First Aid training.  I do this through my employer, as part of their “first responder” team.  Basically, if someone at work is hurt or is having a heart attack, one of us with the training will be there to assist for the few minutes before the real EMT’s can arrive (luckily, across the street from our office is a fire station).  These are good skills to have, and I hope I never need to use them.  In the six years that I have been on the first responder team, I have never needed to help anyone.

So, after a week of no sleeping, after a night of only three hours of rest, I had to sit through the eight hour Red Cross training.  Most of it was watching films and discussions with the trainers.  There was some hands on work with dummies (and I’m not talking about my co-workers, ha!), but most of it consisted of sitting there in a comfy chair, in a dimly lit room, listening.  As you can imagine, this did not do much to help keep me alert.

Soon into the night, my eye lids became heavy and started to droop.  I fought off sleep with all my might, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t begin to snooze.  Instead, something else happened.  i think.  I cant be sure.  I think I began to hullicenate.

The characters in the Red Cross started to do things I don’t think they  were really doing.  The man having the stroke became a zombie and was trying to eat the brains of the other people in the restaurant.  The girl with the bee sting allergies was someone I knew in high school.  And the young man suffering from heat stroke, well, lets just say, suddenly, he was joined by two ladies and well.. Never mind.

You probably think I’m making this up, but I’m not!  My mind started to wonder and in the haze of no sleep, my imagination took over.  And i couldn’t control it!  At the time, it didn’t scare me, but now, it kind of worries me.  What if I do get the call to help someone, and I suddenly start having flashbacks?  What if my boss suddenly has a stroke, and I end up shooting him in the head (which is the only way to really kill a zombie, ya know!)?  Sure, i don’t carry a gun, but still, yeah never know, weirder things have happened.

Anyway, the moral of this story is to make sure that you get enough sleep.  Otherwise, you could end up like me, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone!

How Many Cannibals Could You Feed?

I could feed 9. How about you?

OnePlusYou Quizzes and Widgets

New Software

Today I purchased MacSpeech Dictate, a software program similar to Dragon NaturallySpeaking.  I am speaking into a microphone, and what is said is dictated into a notepad. I’ve gone through the tutorial to teach the computer my voice and now I’m testing its ability to understand me. I am wondering if this will make posting easier. In the past I have written that I wanted to make video posts, but I can’t bring myself to actually turn on the camera and talk to it; it’s it’s just a little too weird for me. I guess I’m more self conscious then I thought I was.  Talking is also a little too weird right now, I think it may be faster than simply writing, and in time many alow me to post more, and more easily, but it’s going to take some time to get used to.

Okay one paragraph down and so far it’s not too bad.  I see a few edits I need to make before posting this online, but I like it so far. Well, I like that it works, but getting used to talking out loud instead of writing is going to take some time to get used to. Simply because I don’t speak the same way that I write, and vice versa. Like I said, it’s a little weird, it’s a little odd.

Let me try some random stuff, and I wont edit it, the phrases below are as they software dictated them…

To be quick random (brown) fox jumped over the lazy brown dog.

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.

The wind is blowing through the true use (trees).

I invade a command (am the eggman), I am the walrus, Newton in June we (goo goo ga joob)

I can see a command (am the eggman), I am the walrus, do you think you. (goo goo ga joob)

May the force be with you.

And what’s the deal with airline food?

This little taking went to market, this little piggy stayed on (home). This little piggy had a roast in the and (beef), and in this little piggy and (had) none. And this little piggy went in the (wee) wee meet (wee) all the way home.

Okay, the first two paragraphs turned out better thenthese test lines, but, oh well, that’s what ya get.  We are far from Star Trek-like voice communications with our ‘puters.

I’m going to wrap this up, I’m worried that my wife is going to think I’m talking to myself, so I’m turning this off now.  I have a long list of of stuff I want to post, since I haven’t really written much in the last two weeks or so, but that will have to wait until tomorrow.  For now, it is time for me to go to bed.  Sorry for another boring entry, I just needed to try this software out.  I think I’ll stick with it for now.  I’ll keep you informed on my thoughts and opinions about this project.

Where am I?

Last week was the week of no sleep - 7 days in a row with only 5 hours (or less) a night.  No energy to blog

This week the wife is home from work, using some vacation time.  She’s keeping me busy.  No time to blog.

Just wanted to let anyone and every one who might be worried about me know what I haven’t been online.

Be back next week, promise!

My Old Stomping Grounds

Tuesday night, I went to bed just after midnight.  I woke up with my son around 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning.  And other then a 2 hour nap on the couch, I’ve been awake ever since.  It’s now near 4 p.m. on Thuresday.  you do the math!  (thus, no energy to write today, sorry!)

Anyway, my old stomping grounds have made the news recently.  Here the article in the New York Times.

I’m Famous! Part Two

At ROFLcon, Current TV was following the Tron Guy around. Today, the story they did on him came out. And I’m in it! (for three seconds, starting at the 4:43 mark)! Enjoy!

Here’s The Link!

a post about nothing

I spent yesterday half asleep on the couch.  My son was not happy with me.  I’m still feeling a bit run down from the flue last week.  Speaking of last week, my report about Day 2 of ROFLcon should be up tomorrow.  Maybe.  I know there are so many of you sitting on the edge of your seat waiting.  - That’s sarcasm.  No one is reading.  But that’s okay.  I think.  Ugh.  i don’t know.  ugh.

I’m not doing anything important right now, but I really want to play GTA IV.  But I cant.  It’s not a game I feel comfortable playing in front of the kids.  To much “naughty language”.  The violence isn’t so bad, I just dont want the kids dropping the f-bomb. - my early thoughts on the game: great too look at, and fun, but I’m not finding anything “new” in the game, as compared to the last few versions.  (though I haven’t tried multiplayer yet)  And I find Nikko, the main character, to be a likable guy, so it makes me not want to do horrible things with him.  Is that odd?

Besides finding some alone time to play games (which I doubt will happen!), I need to finish scanning the slides for my in laws.  I also need to finish the family movies I started putting on disk a few weeks ago.  I also need to finish figuring out Final Cut Express.  Damn, I never finish anything.

Speaking of unfinished, I also have some half finished posts to post.  I’m thinking of moving to video posts soon.  talking is faster then writing.  Though, I’m more comfortable with writing.  But, I think I’m going to give it a try next week.  So, prepair yourself for some whiny video posts, coming soon.

Also, I payed the $5.00 fee to use Metafilter.  I really want to per sue my “Can I Act?” video project, but haven’t found any takers yet.  No one has responded and sent me some scripts.  So, I though I would try the good people at Metafilter (I’m a long time reader, never posted till now.) After spending my $5.oo, I have to wait a week before I can post.  I hope I get some takers!

Well, that’s a wrap up of my last two days.  Just some senseless babble, thus the name of the page.  Thanks for visiting.

I’m Famous!

I made it onto Rocketboom!  Kinda.

I’m the guy at the 3:50 mark, when the camera zooms in.  I’m the one in the center of the screen, in the green cap.

GTA IV

As I have said before, I have so little free time in my life. So little time, that I rarely get anything done. (I start so much, and never complete it.) Well, today I shot myself in the foot, time-wise. I went out and got Grand Theft Auto IV. Great, just what I need, a 60 to 80 hour video game. Where the hell am I going to find 80 hours to complete this game? Ugh. I’m such an idiot! - Anyone else there playing GTA IV?

Can I Act?

My wife has often told me that I should have been an actor. She claims I have the skills, and I need the attention. Well, I dont know about that, but, I have always wondered what it is like to seriously act. Is it an art that has to be in you, or is it a skill that can be learned? I dont’ know. I’ve never really tried (I had bit parts in two plays; one in high school, and the other in college, that was it), nor have I ever had lessons. But, I am curious. So to find out, I think I am going to start a new project. So, ladies and gentlemen, I give you… “Can I Act?”

Here is what I have in mind… I want you, the people of the internet, to write me scenes to perform. Write a scene for me to act out, and I’ll do it. Keep in mind that I am just one person, so make it a monologue. And that I’ll just be in front of my MacBook emoting, so, please, no action scenes or stuff with multiple characters. Just write up a paragraph or page or two, give me direction, tell me my motivation, and I’ll see what I can do. Make it heavy drama or a light comedy, I don’t care, just write it, tell me how you want me to do it, and I’ll give it a shot!

Oh, and please, original material only thank you. I don’t want to “re-interrupt” a character that everyone already knows and loves. Nor do I want to get sued. Thanks for understanding.

Anyway, after I perform your scene, let me know what you think. Leave a comment on my site. Then tell your friends, and then tell them to leave a comment. I’m just doing this for the lulz, just to have fun. I am not a struggling actor trying to make it big. I’m just a guy trying to have some fun.

So, what do you think? Let me know. Or better yet, write me a scene to perform, and then tell me, “Can I Act?”

ROFLcon - Day One

OKay, so the day after i went to the Hospital for the flu, I was in Boston (actually, Cambridge) for ROFLcon. What is/was ROFLcon? It is/was the Internet, in real life. It was a gathering of Internet celebrities, meme makers, academics and people like me who spend too much time online. Speeches were given, discussion panels where held, shows were given, and people were met. It was a good combination of education and entertainment, about culture, technology, fame, fun and fads.

There was so much more when it comes to what ROFLcon was/is about, but I’m not going to go into that any further. There are others out there who are more articulate and more interesting and better writters then I who are discussing this. Just Google ROFLcon, and on Google News you’ll find a couple pages of articles.

Today, Im just going to write about my ROFLcon experience. What I did, what I saw and what I think. I’m not a reporter, so this is by no means a full report of the weekend, just my timeline of it.

OKay, so, Friday being a work day and all, we thought traffic going into the city would be thick in the morning, and as such, we left mighty early. Mighty early. 6am early. Well, traffic wasnt so bad, and we got to the M.I.T. campus about an hour or more before the 10 am. The worst part about the trip was that it cost me $70 to fill the gas tank. (As a side note, I have decided to start walking to work from now on!)

ROFLCON ON THE MIT CAMPUS

No problems going down, or getting there. Snacks were had, my fever wasn’t too bad, and the conversation was good. I went with my friend Roe. Roe is a talker, and normally people who talk alot bother the hell out of me. But I find Roe to be an entertaining conversationalist, so it’s like have a living talk radio next to you talking about things you are interested in, rather then being next to an annoying prick, which so many “over-talkers” can be.

Anyway, we get in line to register I think we are 10th or 15th-ish. Two guys in front of us are talking. One guy is a bit annoying (and oddly, this annoying guy will keep popping up around me all weekend, and all weekend I do my best just to ignore him. Sadly, I think he was there alone, and it appeared to me that he was trying to hard to make friends. Sad, sure, but I still found him annoying.). The other guy was a reporter. Turns out he was from Wired. After talking to the annoying guy he turns to us for our take on the weekend.

I dont really remember his questions, but I remember that in my answers I mention the long tail, the theroy of the 1000 “true fans”, and the saying that instead of everyone one being famous for 15 minutes, now we can all be famous to 15 or 15 hundred or 15 thousand people, and that is what this weekend was about. To cut forward a bit, the opening speech by David Weinberger was all about these topics, and every thing I had mentioned to the reporter, Mr. Weinberger referenced by name. This made me feel smart, and like I was in the right place for me! And I think Roe was impressed with my academic ability.

DAVID WEINBERGER GIVES THE KEY NOTE SPEACH

But back to the time line. We check in. We buy our t-shirts. I’m not cool enough to buy a lunch box. We get a goodie bag with a can of Brawndo, the official guide book for the weekend (which I have since lost. If anyone can spare a copy, please let me know!), and a crazy straw! We then go into the conference hall that will hold all 500 ticket holders, and where the opening comments will be held and the first panel discussion will be.

Now, it’s barely after 10 am. Things don’t start until after noon. We decide to leave and come back. But as we turn around to go, there he is, signing in like a mere mortal (but he is so much more then that!), there he is, the legendary Tron Guy!!! Holy Fuck, this Internet thing is real, and it is here in person!

TRON GUY CHECKS IN

Something about seeing the Tron Guy, ten feet away, well, it made us a bit giddy. Up until this point, we weren’t sure what we were in for. We didn’t know if this event would be a over hyped flop, full of faux academia and pretentious discussion, or if it would be something really cool. Well, when Jay Maynard, THE TRON GUY!, walked through the doors, then we knew it was on!

We said hello to Mr Maynard, and I had my picture taken with him. He was the only “celebrity” there I did this with. I didn’t feel comfortable walking up to other people, but there is something cool about a pot-bellied guy in a glowing spandex suit that makes you just have to go up to him and say hello and ask for a picture.

ME AND THE TRON GUY, MR. JAY MAYNARD!

After meeting Mr. Maynard, we couldn’t leave. We had to see who else was going to walk in! I saw faces I knew (Bre Pettis, Steve Garfield, Andy Ihnatko -all of who where there in the crowd, they weren’t even people on any of the panels!), and I saw people who’s sites I knew, but whose face were new to me. It was all very exciting in a geeky sort of way. Plus I got a free ‘Dead Meme’ T-shirt, for Snakes on a Plane! I love me the free t-shirts!

Oh yeah, and we met moot! Roe was giddy as a school girl! It was funny. moot was cool, but seemed amazed that two no-bodies like ourselves would want to talk to him. I bet he got over that by the end of the convention. Anyway, he was funny in very subtle way. (I wont tell you what he said about getting advertisers for 4Chan, but it was classic!)

Well, the standing around watching people did start to get boring, so we killed some of the the two hours buy running downstairs to Dunkin Donuts, and by counting the media. We saw press from BBC, The Guardian, USA Today, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Rueters, Boston Globe, MSNBC, G4 and others. Downstairs, we sit outside, and are right next to Andre Baron and the crew from Rocketboom! They looked busy coordinating, so I don’t say hello. But I do sneak a pict!

ROCKETBOOMERS

Outside, we listen to a live DJ from some outdoor international festival going on, I feed a bird from my hand, and we watch little kids dance.

Then the event starts. Who kicks off the event? The MC was none other then LEEEEEEEERROOOOOOOOOOOOOY JENKINS!!! Damn, I couldn’t get my camera into video mode fast enough to catch his battle cry on video.

As I mention, gave the opening speech, about fame and celebrity in the Internet age, and how the power of the people online can now “make fame” in ways that we were unable to do only 15 years ago. It was interesting, smart and fun. Then the first panel began. The topic was about if people are able to make money in there online endeavors. Andrew from Rocketboom was up there (yes, he does okay), The Million Dollar Homepage Guy (Yes, but that was the point of page, and now that he made the money, no new cash is rolling in), the One Red Paper Clip guy (yes, he traded up from a paperclip to a house, and he got a book out of it), the Chuck Norris Facts guy (no, no money. In fact, he is being sued by Chuck Norris), one of the guys from Jib Jab (yup, big time money there), and the Marmaduke Explained guy (no money going his way.)

The discussion was interesting, but it really didn’t stay on topic once the crowd was able to start asking questions. People just wanted to ask about the projects these people do. This was a problem at other panels I went to during the weekend; they didn’t always stay on target.

So, after that ended, we had some time to kill during the lunch break. We ended up at a place called Cinderellas on Mass Ave, where we GIANT sandwiches for next to nothing. I couldn’t finish mine. But then, at this time, my fever was back big timr and I was feeling oddly, but I was trudging on.

Walking around M.I.T., or any big college campus always makes me mad. I’m angry at my parents, my teachers, my guidance counselors and all the adults in my life who let me slip through the cracks as a kid and who didn’t guide me along the path towards adulthood properly, like I feel adults have the moral obligation to do with the children under their care. I could go on about how I was an abandoned child, but i wont, but I will tell you that I get so jealous/upset/regretful when I visit big schools. Sure, i should have taken more responsibility for my own education, but damn it, at age 15 I was only 15 years old, so to all the adults in my life at that time, fuck you, you all failed me.

Okay, enough of that tangent. After the lunch break, we got in line for tickets for the ROFLcon Concert that was going to be held that night. In line, we heard our first rendition of Rick Astleys “Never Going To Give Your Up”. Before this weekend, I enjoyed Rick Rolling. Now, I’m sick of it, and I think this fad has to end. Ugh! Also, in line, I saw Leslie Hall and Matt Harding, from “Where The Hell Is Matt”.

After getting our tickets, we then went to the talk by historian Jason Scott, who gave talk about memes in the pre world wide web world. Apparently, where there has been communication technology, there have been memes. Interesting stuff, and an entertaining speaker.

JASON SCOTT

MATT AND JAY

After Jason Scott was a talk by Matt Harding and Jay Maynard about surviving internet fame. Matt said it has been easy for him. He has not had to face any negativity, because he is just a goofy guy dancing with a big grin on his face. His videos are just pure joy, and it would take some one really dark to try and crap on it. The Tron Guy, well, he has it a bit harder, as you would guess. He didn’t set out for the world to find him. He just put his picture on his site to share with friends and family, and to show the creation process. But, the world did find him, and at first, there was a lot of negativity sent his way. But like I said before, he over came this, and is stronger for it. Actually, Matt did say that “wacking morning dj’s” have been rude to him, but that’s about it. Jay said he had the same problems. And he said they’re not wacky, just assholes.

When talking about places where people gave him crap, Jay mentioned Fark. And funny enough, Drew Curtis of Fark was there in the audience. There was a funny exchange between the two, but it was all in good nature!

That was it for the academic side of the day. It was time for dinner, then we needed to kill some time before the show. We walked to Harvard Square and got some undercooked burgers. On the walk there, we decided we would be best served to skip the music show and drive home. If we stayed for the show, we would have left Boston until after midnight. This would have meant a long drive home only to have to turn around and drive back after only 3 or 4 hours sleep. Plus, we thought MC Frontalot was going to be at the show when we got the tickets, but it turns out he wasn’t going to perform, and he was the guy we really wanted to see. Plus, I was feeling really crappy at this time, and Roe was tired (he said only got 4 fours of sleep the night efore) So, we ate, and drove home. We missed a good show from what I understand, but, well, we just simply weren’t up for it. Ugh.

That was it. End day one. Day two, tomorrow.

What A Week

Okay, sit back and settle in, this is going to be a long story. Not necessarily a good story, but a long one.

So, it’s Monday now, and this story begins back on Tuesday night. I had the night off of work, as i do every Tuesday. Tuesday night is normally Girls Scout night (yes, I am a Girl Scout, and damn do i look cute in my sash and skirt! - Just Kidding. I’m actually just the assistant to the Troop Leader of my daughters troop.), but this week was a school vacation, so no girl scouts.

This is a good thing, because that night I starting to feel a bit “uncomfortable”. My back was aching. I had done some raking and lifting of heavy barrels of wet leaves, so I thought maybe I had just overdid it a bit. Anyway, when I went to bed, that’s when the pain really kicked in. I was up and down all night. I didnt sleep more then hour at a time. I was in some real pain!

Three years ago, I passed a kidney stone. It was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life. It was so bad that I blacked out. Pain alone caused me to loose consciousness. Tuesday night, I was beginning to think I was about to pass another stone, but, the discomfort never reached that level of extreme “oh my gawd kill me now!” pain.

Wednesday, I get out of bed after not sleeping, and I trudge through the day. Now my head hurts, and I’m developing a cough. I make it through the day somehow, and go to work that night. After 45 minutes of sitting there, I just KNOW that I am not going to make it through the night, so I get up and leave. My jack ass of a boss isn’t amused, but screw him.

Thursday, the pain is so bad in my head, my back and my lungs, that I can sit up for a while, and yet I cant get comfortable lieing down. So, I go to the doctor. I get there to find I have a fever of 102.5 (don’t you die at 103?) and I’m feeling a bit delirious. (I don’t tell me wife this much though, because I don’t want to worry here.) The doctor sends me to the hospital emergency room for testing.

So, to the emergency room we go! The family gets me registered and then drops me off. See, my daughter had a birthday party to go to, and to a seven year old, that;s more important then a die parent. After an uncomfortable wait, they get me in. The poke me (blood is taken), they prod me (fingers are inserted in my back side), the make me fill a cup (always fun!), and I’m given a cold I.V. to cool me down. Anyway, after a few hours, it turns out I simply have the Flu. Though, the paperwork says “Influenza A”, which to me, is far more interesting then simply saying “The Flu”.

This is the first time in my adult life that i have been told by a doctor I had the flu. I’ve had some bad colds that could have been the flu, but this was my first trip to a doctor due to this virus. And I learned that the only thing they can do for you is mega doses of Tylenol and Advil and water.

Well, the drugs and the I.V. worked, and my fever was brought down and the pains resided and I was sent home, where I was finally able to ge some sleep. I cant wait to the see the itemized bill from the hospital, all for some over the counter pills and water. Thank goodness we have insurance!

Well, that was Thursday. On Friday was ROFLcon! Yes, i should have spent the next two days in bed, but instead, I went to the big city and saw the Internet in real life! And it was great. My fever kept coming and going, but I was running on caffeine and pure will power, and that made the whole event all that more interesting.

So, that’s me sickness store. I hope I get better soon. I’m close, but not quite there yet. Anyway, I have been that healthy this past month. Hopefully with the coming of summer, all these germs and cookies will die off and leave me alone.

Up next, all about ROFLcon!!!

Lots going on…

I was sent to the Emergency Room yesterday by my doctor because of a very bad case of Influenza A, and today i spent all day in Boston at ROFLCon. I’m probably killing myself by going to Beantown, but ROFLCon was AMAZING!!! Looking forward to tomorrow, day two.

Look for more details about all of this on sunday or monday, after I come home and sleep for a very long time, and then write for a very long time. Thanks for your patience.

Ugh.

I feel like I have been ignoring this site.  And I have been.  Kinda.  First i was sick, then i was busy, and now this week is school vacation week, so I’ll have my hands busy with the kids.  Ugh.  Too much to do, and not enough time to do it.  But there is some good news…

ROFLcon is this Friday!!!!  Yeah baby!  I’m so excited!  I’m not excited for the event itself, but more for the excitement of doing something, anything, out of the normal.  It’s been so long since I’ve had a road trip.  Taking the kids to their grandparents (while a good time) simply doesn’t count.  Nor is it the same.  I just want some fun.  I have nothing fun in my life right now.

My goal for the summer is to have some fun.  ROFLcom is the the first step.  My attempt to get some interesting people talk to me on this site is the second.  My attempt to learn Final Cut Express, and then create some video, is step three. These are very small steps, but it’s been so long since I’ve had fun, that I need to take small steps.  Otherwise my fun-endix might explode and then I’ll need a fun-dectimy.

Anyway, I really hate blogging about blogging, but that’s what this post it.  I fall back on the theme of blogging about blogging whenever I have nothing else to say.  Which is all to often.  Sorry.

Family Slides

I’ve been spending the day scanning the old slides that belong to my in-laws.  They have all these pictures just sitting in their closet, unshared.  Now, we’ll have them online to share with the family, and we’ll print out hard copies to have, to as something more convenient to view then slides.

My wife is the youngest of five, and there is nearly ten years between her and the closest sibling.  So, she’s not in most of these pictures.  So, that makes it kind of weird for me to be doing this.  Yes, i know these people, but here I am, viewing their life waaaaaay before they knew me, and even waaaaay before they knew my wife!  I feel like a peeping tom, of sorts.  A historical peeping tom, but a voyeur none the less.

Anyway, this project is only one third done, and it has taken up my whole day.  Just wanted to share.

Welcome Back!

Thank you, it’s good to be back!  After a long week of feeling kinda crappy, and then working all weekend long to make up my time lost from work (double shifts of hell!  Don’t get me started about how crappy a company I work for is.  But if you need to buy something from a catalog, don’t buy something from a New England catalog company, okay?), I’m finally back.

But of course, today, Monday, is my one “free day”, meaning I have about 5 hours to myself, my five hours for the week.  So what did I do with my time?  Beer and pizza!  So now, I’m full, tired, and not quite drunk, but not quite “with it” enough to write clearly.

But, I wanted to post something, anything, because I haven’t in so long.  But, as always, I cant think of a damn thing to say.  Nothing interesting anyway.  So, since I am not all that interesting, I think I need to find some interesting people to come on my site.  (this is an idea I’ve been brewing for a while now.)  I have decided to try and “interview” some people I find interesting, since I’m not, and this site isn’t.  Maybe by talking to them, and then posting the conversations on this site, I can then get more people to visit, and can make myself seem “more better” to the world online.  (Because, as you know, everything I do, I do it for you, you wonderful online strangers.)  I’m not going to tell you yet who i am trying to get on the site, but if any one knows the publicists of anyone even remotely semi-famous, please, let me know.  Thank you.

That’s about it for today.  Just a not to tell you I am here, and that I am feeling better, and that I have a new idea for this site.  Just “checking in”, if you will.  That’s all.

sorry…

I’ve been a bit under the weather the last few days, thus the lack of updates. More latter, when i have my strength back. Thanks for your patience.

Wendy McBurger Kingonalds

I, like many of my fellow fat and lazy Americans, I enjoys me the fast food burgers! Mmmm Mmmm Good! But, I’m getting older, and I know this fatty food will eventually kill me. Heck, we all die, but I want to leave behind a good looking corpse for all the girls to cry over.

Anyway, I decided to give it up. Fast food burgers and that sweat elixir of the gods, Coca-a-Cola. (Actually, all soda in fact.) I went cold turkey. My last trip to a drive through window was on January 1st. Well, since that time things have been realativley easy. Until…

Well, for the last three weeks, I have had this urge, this need, this craving… I need to gets me some junk food!!! I need some grease in my veins. I need that lump of heavy fat in my gullet. I need to loudly burp after gulping down the bubbles in an extra large Coke!

I’ll let you know that I’ve been a good boy. But, I almost wasn’t. In fact, my four year old son saved me from giving in. You see, after a long Friday of running errands and doing other busy woek, we were well over due for lunch. And I had a few dollars in my pocket. And there was a Burger King just two blocks away. And…

I turned to my son, and asked if he wanted some French Fries or Chicken Fingers. I told myself that if he says yes, we’d make the stop. And you no what he said… “No, I dont want any.” No? No!?! NO!?!?!?!!??

When have you ever heard of a kid to turn down a trip to Burger King? I hadn’t, until that day.

So, anyway, the moral of the story is don’t eat crap, you don’t need crap, and even little kids know this. I think. Actually, no, they dont know this, because the next day his mom took him to McDonalds.

Lucky bastard.

Stolen Links

Since I have nothing to say today, and since I want to post, I’m just going to steel some links from other sites.

Via Boing Boing - Stoners and Pizza. Best Craigslist Post EVER!

Via Boing Boing - Steampunk. I enjoy the look of Steampunk but I am starting to get sick of people who take it too seriously. However, this makes me laugh. (of an adult nature, but very funny)

Via Boing Boing - 2001. One o my favorite movies of all time. However, I’ll admit that it took me years as a kid to finally wrap my mind around it and “get it”.

Via Dvorak - Fast Forward. Major League Baseball versus Mother Nature.

Via Dvorak - Slow Motion. A bullet versus various stuff.

Via Geekologie - Legos. More specifically, famous photographs recreated with Legos. Legos are very big in our house right now. Plus I have a growing appreciation of fine photography, so this is a great combination for me.

Via Waxy - South Park: Battle of the Memes. I hope this doesnt happen at ROFLcon!

Via Digg - Mars. I’m a space nut. love this kind of stuff!

Via Digg - McCain. First Clinton wouldn’t release her tax records, now McCain wont release his medical records. I think if your going to run for public office, you should have anything to hide. You dont need to be squeaky clean, but you you should be willing to expose everything about yourself. But then, I’m not running for office myself, am I?

Via Digg - GTA IV. I can’t wait to play this game! (Please make a PC version soon! I cant afford a next gen console!)

This is all stuff I liked or found interesting. By viewing these stories, you’ll also get to know a little bit more about me (and what a nerd I am).

Denied Before I Applied

It’s been a busy week, with lots of kid-orrient activities and duties. No time to myself. No time to write.

And, I’ve been a bit too bummed to write. Remember my post last week about trying to write a new cover letter? Well, here’s a recap…

On Friday, I found a job posting within my company that I intantly knew was for me. It was in a bette department, for better pay, it was a job I had done before, and was a job I wanted to do right away. Well, on Monday, my currently manager said I should send an informal email to the hiring manager, so introduce myself, and to let him know thay my letter of interest was coming this week. So, I sent a nice little email on Monday.

I don’t work on Tuesdays. So, I come in Wednesday to find a responce from the hiring manager. I’m going to paraphrase his reply here for you, but it basically boiled down to… “Oh, is that job posting still up? We’ve pretty much made up our mind, but if the listing for the position is still on the intranet, then your welcome to try.” Ugh.

Ugh.

Ugh. I just feel so deflated now. I made the misake of getting all excited for the job over the weekend. In my mind, I all ready had it and I was on to bigger and better things, (even as I stressed over my letter and realistically knew I would most likely not get the job.) But no- Ugh. (Yes, like an idiot, I’m still going to submit my cover letter this week, even though I wont even get an interview; told the guy I was sending it, and I dont want to tlook like the quitter/loser that I am.)

Well, that’s about it for now. I’m too busy this week to writing anything else. Sorry to be so distant. More next week.

A Good Idea

I just had a good idea, that started with a good question. “Sunshine4All“, a member of ‘Wish Upon A Hero‘ sent me a note about my wish. In the note, she asked…

“…in the future how many will know or even care of any one person’s existence. Well I say where are all the blogs gonna be when the author no longer cares or is around. Hmmmm wonder what will be done with them??”

Good question. My first thought about this was the practical. Two ideas came to mind. First, the data would eventually be lost, as unused accounts are closed by the hosting companies, the hard-drives the ones and zeros are stored on will be wiped and reused. Or, the second idea was that, as technology marches forward, storage memory will be come cheaper and more plentiful. The spinning disks we call hard drives today will soon become solid state, and then some other fantastical medium. I believe that soon, there will be enough space for all the ones and zeros out there, that nothing will ever be erased. And that some way, some where, all the blogs will live on, like books in a giant library, though most likely books that are rarely if ever checked out, and ones that eventually only become of interest to historical researchers.

I’ve no clue if I’m making any sense here, but those are my ideas, and they make perfect sense to me. (so there! ha!)

But, after I came to these conclusions, my mind stayed on this subject, and looked at it in another way. I started thinking about my own blog. This blog. These words you are reading now. I wondered, when I’m gone, will my family, my decedents ever find these words? Will they get the chance to read them and get to know me through this site? I kind of doubt it, especially since I don’t really say my name in these posts. (I like the anonymity!)

So, I’ve decided to try a attempt a little project. I am going to start printing and saving these posts, (and all the related links and photos), and then binding them. I’ll create a journal out of this site. I’ll turn these ones and zeros into something tangible, something I can pass along after I am gone.

But, I cant think about this too much. Heck, I have yet to share this site with my family in the here and now because fear their response (I’m a bit shy!). Now, I have to worry about the reaction of my unborn grandchildren and great grandchildren!

Anyway, I thank Sunshine4All for the great idea, and say hello to my decedents (Hello from the past! Have the robots taken over yet? Do you have a flying car yet? How many of you are named after me?). Wish me luck as I undertake this newest endeavor.

ps - why am I ending so many posts with “wish me luck”? pps - how am I going to print out video links? ppps - why do people worry about where they go after they die, but they don’t worry about where they were before they were born? pppps - i really dont like the word blog. it’s such an ugly sound.

Cover Letter

My son is going into kindergarten in the fall. I have told myself that at that time, I will leave my sucky third shift job and get back to the “real world”. While I extremely dislike my job (hate is too strong of a word), it has allowed me to stay at home during the day for the last 8 years with my kids. Besides saving money on child care, being here with my children as they grow has been beyond any financial reward, and is the greatest thing I have ever done. I may grumble about the job, the lack of sleep, and the long days when the kids are, well, being kids, but I do not regret the path I have taken. In fact, just the opposite!

Away, with the fall coming, and with both kids entering school full time, I have decided to start a job hunt. I’m taking it easy, being picky, and just looking around. I’m in no rush, it’s not like I am going to loose my current job when school starts, so I can take my time.

One of the options I am pursuing is to stick with the company I am in, but to move to a position that is a better fit for me. And today, i stumbled onto a position that is PERFECT for me. They would be insane not to hire me right away! So, what do I have to do now? I need to write a cover letter. Ugh.

Okay, here is the problem, the position is nearly the same thing I did at my last job, before I left to stay home with the kids. It is a technical oriented position (with them new fangled computers and what nots), and one I enjoyed and would love to do again. The problem is… Well… I do not have a degree or certification in this field. I am a self taught geek. I got my old job simply because I was… Well, keep reading.

At my old job, I got by by learning as I went. The manager would present me with a project, ask if I could do it, and I’d say “Not yet, but give me a few days and I’ll figure it out.” (This is where I learned the ins and outs of Linux, a skill I taught myself on the job.) But, at my last job, i was 10 years younger then I am today. While I am no means old (yet), well, not to sound ageist, but computer related jobs tend to be a younger persons world. I know I was able to get away with alot of stuff at my old job simply because I was the youngest guy on the team. Heck, i know they hired me because of my age (The older manager who hired me for the position assumed that all young guys know the ins and outs of compouters. I don’t know if she was right or wrong, but it got me the position. That and my “yes I can” aditude Now, I doubt I would be even close to being the “young guy” on the team. I fear I wont be able to charm my way into basicaly the same job I did before.
So, anyway, my whole struggle right now is, how do I write a cover letter that says “Yes, I don’t have the training and degrees under my belt, but I do have the knowledge. Trust me! And the knowledge I do not have, I am willing to learn. And I am a fast learn who is self motivated and can easily self teach.” And how do I say “Please take a chance on this old guy.