The ability to reconnect with people whom I haven't seen, or frankly thought of, throughout a large part of my life, has become less novel. In novelty's absence arose persistent attraction. For the younger folks, it will never be fresh; it originates as the mundane. Those of my ilk marvel at, "Jeez, how did 30 years go by since I last saw this person?", and the youngers say, "30 years? WTF?! I can't even imagine."
The compiled years are not an insurmountable abyss across which one leaps. They are just the period that passes without really noticing. We travel within a small envelope, a week or two into the past, and a few days or weeks into the future, and with us we carry those with which we interact during that time frame. Everything else is just passing sets -- both stage and mathematical -- and everyone else are entries on the 'Guest Stars' list. We weave our own fabric at our own loom, our threads occasionally intersecting.
Social sites expose the threads, showing us snippets of other designs, through windows of which we imagine we can see the true colors, where we think we can remember the tastes and sounds, yet knowing we are observers watching the show. Allowed to vote or comment, for sure, we needst turn away and again pump the foot pedal, until the realization of isolation is too much to ignore, and again we gaze. Once blind, the gift of sight lures us. We can live without it, as we had always done, but it's just too convenient...too present...to care to try to do so. The upside of annoying non-productive familiarity beats the freedom of isolation.
12 December, 2009
01 December, 2009
Netbooks versus Notebooks
A friend of mine asked me to comment on netbooks versus notebooks, so I sent her the below message, slightly modified for this blog.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
The main attractions I consider in a netbook are price, ease of portability, and battery life. The down-sides are the inability of them to run any intense apps, especially games. For kids, that might be a big deal. Although it sounds like a good idea, netbooks without hard drives, the ones with the solid state memory, are almost useless. At least get one with a hard drive. Most netbooks of any worth have at least 160GB HD's, such as the Acer's seen here: http://www.circuitcity.com/applications/campaigns/campaigntemplate.asp?CampaignID=1192&SRCCODE=CCEM175MS&cm_mmc=EML-_-Main-_-CCEM175-_-circuit175 . None of them have CD drives, so basically, to install software one has to either copy it, to a thumb drive first, or use an external CD drive. I recommend the later, as it is much easier. One can find an external CD/DVD drive for between $50-$60, but remember that when you're pricing netbooks. Thus, the difference in price, between an entry-level notebook, and a decent netbook, might be the difference of an external CD drive. The point is that, if you're looking at a netbook to get into a PC, for a kid, under a notebook price, one must consider the CD drive when doing so.
A 6-cell battery lasts longer than a 3-cell battery. For this reason, always go 6-cell if one can.
Netbooks are great for accessing the net (thus their name), as they are compact, have long battery lives, and can run basic applications. Some of them have Windows CE on them, which is the same OS that some hand held devices have. I would avoid those and instead aim for something with true Windows XP or Windows 7, as they will run more apps. Installing the fully free and compatible OpenOffice.org (www.openoffice.org) on them, for example, is a great idea, as they are great for doing papers and rudimentary spreadsheets. However, large spreadsheets are cumbersome, on the little screens. PowerPoint-type things...dunno, as I haven't tried them, and I don't have a netbook myself (I've just played with them).
If I had a spare $200 I just might pick one up, for myself, as my aged Gateway laptop has almost no battery life left, and taking it to Starbucks involves plugging it in, holding the power cord in it, as its now loose, etc. These little netbooks are simply convenient, for email, Facebook, and general Internet browsing, while on the go. I cannot see spending more than $200-$260 for one though. At that point one can really start to be in decent notebook country.
A $299 notebook can be seen here [update: out of stock] (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=A180-15614) . Yeah, it's an eMachine; I don't think of it as a fully modern notebook; it only has one processor (versus dual), but it's got more balls than a netbook and satisfies the minimum requirements for running medium level games. and being able to store adocuments documents.
Hope this helps.
A 6-cell battery lasts longer than a 3-cell battery. For this reason, always go 6-cell if one can.
- Samsung - Cyber-Monday priced Samsung - $269 - (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Samsung+-+Netbook+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Atom%26%23153%3B+Processor+-+Black/9569816.p?id=1218127632119&skuId=9569816) looks like a decent unit. It comes with Windows 7 Starter edition and has a 6-cell battery. $269 and free shipping. I'd probably buy this one if I were going to buy a netbook today.
- Asus - $249 - I generally like Asus stuff, and this one (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Eee+PC+Netbook+with+Intel%26%23174%3B+Atom%26%23153%3B+Processor+-+Midnight+Blue/9556811.p?id=1218124205088&skuId=9556811) looks good. However, I think the $20 difference, for the Samsung, is worth it, just for the extra battery power if nothing else, because this one just has a 3-cell battery.
Netbooks are great for accessing the net (thus their name), as they are compact, have long battery lives, and can run basic applications. Some of them have Windows CE on them, which is the same OS that some hand held devices have. I would avoid those and instead aim for something with true Windows XP or Windows 7, as they will run more apps. Installing the fully free and compatible OpenOffice.org (www.openoffice.org) on them, for example, is a great idea, as they are great for doing papers and rudimentary spreadsheets. However, large spreadsheets are cumbersome, on the little screens. PowerPoint-type things...dunno, as I haven't tried them, and I don't have a netbook myself (I've just played with them).
If I had a spare $200 I just might pick one up, for myself, as my aged Gateway laptop has almost no battery life left, and taking it to Starbucks involves plugging it in, holding the power cord in it, as its now loose, etc. These little netbooks are simply convenient, for email, Facebook, and general Internet browsing, while on the go. I cannot see spending more than $200-$260 for one though. At that point one can really start to be in decent notebook country.
A $299 notebook can be seen here [update: out of stock] (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=A180-15614) . Yeah, it's an eMachine; I don't think of it as a fully modern notebook; it only has one processor (versus dual), but it's got more balls than a netbook and satisfies the minimum requirements for running medium level games. and being able to store adocuments documents.
Hope this helps.
28 November, 2009
The Holidays and Why You Shouldn't Be Stressed
This recession has made me more centered. I'm enjoying being frugal, living on cash, versus credit, reducing the amount of money we're spending on Christmas, eating at home more often, making sure to make coffee at home versus picking it up at the gas station, and buying just a small (tall) coffee, at Starbucks (versus a latte), streaming Netflix content to the home TV's versus going to or renting movies. None of it has reduced my quality of life. If nothing else I'm more tuned in, more aware of my surroundings, more . . . conscious.
It all comes back to the premise that convenience itself takes one away from experience, and without experiencing, we are merely observers. Through experience we gain insight, the first step to wisdom.
So here's to experiencing.
It all comes back to the premise that convenience itself takes one away from experience, and without experiencing, we are merely observers. Through experience we gain insight, the first step to wisdom.
So here's to experiencing.
24 October, 2009
Bill Cosby joins CinchCast
Cosby sends periodic audio updates, from his phone, to CinchCast.
It's kind of like Twitter, only with voice. Way too darn easy. Anyway,
if you go to the site, you can click the 'Play' buttons and play
anything he's said, then comment on it. Same would be true for just
about anyone.
As with Twitter, or any status updates on Facebook or MySpace, I am
ambivalent. I mostly think this sort of thing is distracting, for the
viewer/listener/reader, and self-aggrandizing for the poster. And yet,
both sides of the equation attract me, mildly. Like gravity, it is a
weak force, yet it pulls me in, and with enough of it, it can become
crushing. Of course, it can also keep one grounded...remembering there
are others with whom to share the tick-tock..the on-going entropic march.
Everything in moderation, and all that. With that disclaimer,
experience it at http://www.cinchcast.com/BillCosby .
It's kind of like Twitter, only with voice. Way too darn easy. Anyway,
if you go to the site, you can click the 'Play' buttons and play
anything he's said, then comment on it. Same would be true for just
about anyone.
As with Twitter, or any status updates on Facebook or MySpace, I am
ambivalent. I mostly think this sort of thing is distracting, for the
viewer/listener/reader, and self-aggrandizing for the poster. And yet,
both sides of the equation attract me, mildly. Like gravity, it is a
weak force, yet it pulls me in, and with enough of it, it can become
crushing. Of course, it can also keep one grounded...remembering there
are others with whom to share the tick-tock..the on-going entropic march.
Everything in moderation, and all that. With that disclaimer,
experience it at http://www.cinchcast.com/BillCosby .
21 October, 2009
OpenOffice.org and the OpenOffice.org2GoogleDocs extension
Many of us use OpenOffice.org as a fantastic, free alternative to MS Office, because it offers compatibility, with MS Office products. I've recently started using an extension for it that makes it even more attractive to use OpenOffice.org.
'OpenOffice.org2GoogleDocs' allows one to export and import documents to Google Docs, Zoho, and WebDAV. I use it to sync my Google Docs, to my local drive. I can then edit them, off-line, and then sync the docs back up to my Google Docs. Google Docs itself uses the open ODT format, so there is no translation needed. However, because OpenOffice.org can read and write DOC files, translation is not an issue anyway.
I discovered this extension because a friend of mine was looking for a way to sync her Google Docs, to her netbook, for times when WiFi was not available. Thanks, Cindy, for taking me down this research road!
You can find OpenOffice.org, available for download for LINUX, Windows, and Mac, here: http://download.openoffice.org/index.html
Look here for the extension: http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/ooo2gd
'OpenOffice.org2GoogleDocs' allows one to export and import documents to Google Docs, Zoho, and WebDAV. I use it to sync my Google Docs, to my local drive. I can then edit them, off-line, and then sync the docs back up to my Google Docs. Google Docs itself uses the open ODT format, so there is no translation needed. However, because OpenOffice.org can read and write DOC files, translation is not an issue anyway.
I discovered this extension because a friend of mine was looking for a way to sync her Google Docs, to her netbook, for times when WiFi was not available. Thanks, Cindy, for taking me down this research road!
You can find OpenOffice.org, available for download for LINUX, Windows, and Mac, here: http://download.openoffice.org/index.html
Look here for the extension: http://extensions.services.openoffice.org/project/ooo2gd
02 October, 2009
Top10 Ways for a Madisonian To Celebrate Her Birthday
Advice I Sent to My Madison, WI. Sister on her Birthday
Top10 Ways for a Madisonian To Celebrate Her Birthday
10 - Picket a Wal-Mart
9 - Secretly visit a Wal-Mart, in the middle of the night, when you think no one you know will be there. Save numerous dollars.
8 - People-watch on State Street and remember fondly back.
7 - People-watch on State Street and remember that you used to be stoned, just like them, and lament at how, now that you're not, everything is much clearer.
6 - Eat a burrito as big as your head. Wonder if they have lasers, at the door, that measure your head.
5 - Buy fresh vegetables.
4 - Remark how nice the bus system is, even though you never utilize it yourself.
3 - Recycle something. Forget that it will likely end up in a landfill anyway, but at least it will travel there in a green truck.
2 - Organize a car-pool to help the environment. After a couple days of people not showing up on time, farts in enclosed spaces, and personality clashes, return to driving solo.
1 - Look at the doorknobs in the state capitol building. They say 'Wisconsin' on them.
Top10 Ways for a Madisonian To Celebrate Her Birthday
10 - Picket a Wal-Mart
9 - Secretly visit a Wal-Mart, in the middle of the night, when you think no one you know will be there. Save numerous dollars.
8 - People-watch on State Street and remember fondly back.
7 - People-watch on State Street and remember that you used to be stoned, just like them, and lament at how, now that you're not, everything is much clearer.
6 - Eat a burrito as big as your head. Wonder if they have lasers, at the door, that measure your head.
5 - Buy fresh vegetables.
4 - Remark how nice the bus system is, even though you never utilize it yourself.
3 - Recycle something. Forget that it will likely end up in a landfill anyway, but at least it will travel there in a green truck.
2 - Organize a car-pool to help the environment. After a couple days of people not showing up on time, farts in enclosed spaces, and personality clashes, return to driving solo.
1 - Look at the doorknobs in the state capitol building. They say 'Wisconsin' on them.
26 September, 2009
Fall TV off to a decent start - Season Finales too
New Season or New Shows
"Fringe" - Two episodes in, it's settling down a bit. Not sure if I like settling down, but the scripts have been solid if a bit too expository...but that's good for new viewers.
"Dollhouse" - One episode in, a bit confusing at the beginning, with ex-FBI dude jumping from unknown status, to client, then to employee. Obvious editing cuts due to time-constraints. However, great dialog, especially between the 'creator' and 'Whiskey', about her status as a human -- total psychology meets sci-fi time, and pure Whedon. Let's not forget he wrote Toy Story.
"Community" - Two episodes in, the first was fantastic, although heavily spoiled due to promotion. Second episode...not sure I dug it. Seems like the show is shaping up as a series of one-liner put-downs. Hope #3 is better. The cast is great, although the female lead delivered her lines, in episode 2, in rapid fire succession. Seemed like an acting exercise, but I like her, so I'm considering it a one-off or a bad director approval.
"Heroes" - One episode in. I'm still a fan of the show. I'm digging that the guy from "Prison Break" is now on as the head of the carnival freaks. Aside from telekinesis I can't really tell what his tattoo power does, and why it links to "naked-back chick"'s power of apparently being able to read tattoos...given by him...whatever. Anyway, I'm still a fan [one of the few, apparently] of the show, and I like seeing the characters returned to some semblance of normalcy, meaning having actual lives.
"Smallville" - One episode in. It's nice to finally see the damn 'S' on his chest, now in Season 9. A bit confusing when he dove off the building in an attempt to fly, then ended up back in the fortress working on his mental exercises (ala Spock in ST:IV). Would have been nice to see him hit the ground, but probably not in the budget. Story wise? Herky-jerky start, with the Watchtower folks (Green Arrow and the rest) disappearing due to "guilt over Jimmy's death". Kind of whiny. 'S' happens and all that. Still a fan though. Eight years invested means something...but not much, as I think we bailed on 'ER' at year 7 or 8.
"The Vampire Diaries" - Watching it. Some cool stuff. Dawson's Creek meets "Twilight" (oh, wait, "Twilight" is already DC meets Buffy and Underworld, without the Buffy humor..so confusing...). Zero surprises, although the Rob Lowe-like brother is a pleasant high point as a villain. Decent acting. I'll keep watching for a while and see how it pans out.
"Michael & Michael Have Issues" - Lots of good here. Where are the rest of the new episodes? I think there have only been five or six.
"Glee" - Three episodes in. Still strong. The addition of the stud who like MILF's...a LOT...a welcome addition.
"Eastwick" - One episode in, I liked this and actually chuckled often. I think I laughed out loud a couple of times. Sort of Desperate Housewives meets Charmed, with a dash of Old Christine on top. We'll be around for episode two, for sure. Humorous with the potential to be joltingly dark when it needs to be.
Finales
"Eureka" - Clearly shot as if it was the SERIES finale; I hope it's not. Haven't heard either way. Perhaps they hadn't, either, during production, and did it as a "just in case". A decent, standard fare episode. I do like that Carter has a steady, or temporarily steady, love interest, although it's nice to move her away so he can start over...if the series continues. Monogamy doesn't make for good action drama, at least not since "Hart to Hart".
"Dark Blue" - Yes. We got to see Carter make a mistake, or sort of a mistake, and the team cover it up. Everyone behaved pretty much as expected, although the level of loyalty might have been a bit over the top for what we viewers have SEEN over the season. Good stuff and hoping for more.
"Warehouse 13" - Good finale right up to five minutes before it ended, when the recording stopped. Turned out some wrestling match ran over, prior to the beginning. Dammit, SyFy Channel! Oh, and there was no re-run scheduled, and that episode is not yet posted to the Free section of U-verse OnDemand. I'll have to wait for that, the re-run, or see if it's online yet. I saw it to the point where McPherson got busted out of the "Bronze Room" (ala Han Solo at the beginning of 'Jedi'), and was "caught" screwing with the computer. A show that I truly didn't think would keep me coming back each week...it succeeded in doing so.
"Fringe" - Two episodes in, it's settling down a bit. Not sure if I like settling down, but the scripts have been solid if a bit too expository...but that's good for new viewers.
"Dollhouse" - One episode in, a bit confusing at the beginning, with ex-FBI dude jumping from unknown status, to client, then to employee. Obvious editing cuts due to time-constraints. However, great dialog, especially between the 'creator' and 'Whiskey', about her status as a human -- total psychology meets sci-fi time, and pure Whedon. Let's not forget he wrote Toy Story.
"Community" - Two episodes in, the first was fantastic, although heavily spoiled due to promotion. Second episode...not sure I dug it. Seems like the show is shaping up as a series of one-liner put-downs. Hope #3 is better. The cast is great, although the female lead delivered her lines, in episode 2, in rapid fire succession. Seemed like an acting exercise, but I like her, so I'm considering it a one-off or a bad director approval.
"Heroes" - One episode in. I'm still a fan of the show. I'm digging that the guy from "Prison Break" is now on as the head of the carnival freaks. Aside from telekinesis I can't really tell what his tattoo power does, and why it links to "naked-back chick"'s power of apparently being able to read tattoos...given by him...whatever. Anyway, I'm still a fan [one of the few, apparently] of the show, and I like seeing the characters returned to some semblance of normalcy, meaning having actual lives.
"Smallville" - One episode in. It's nice to finally see the damn 'S' on his chest, now in Season 9. A bit confusing when he dove off the building in an attempt to fly, then ended up back in the fortress working on his mental exercises (ala Spock in ST:IV). Would have been nice to see him hit the ground, but probably not in the budget. Story wise? Herky-jerky start, with the Watchtower folks (Green Arrow and the rest) disappearing due to "guilt over Jimmy's death". Kind of whiny. 'S' happens and all that. Still a fan though. Eight years invested means something...but not much, as I think we bailed on 'ER' at year 7 or 8.
"The Vampire Diaries" - Watching it. Some cool stuff. Dawson's Creek meets "Twilight" (oh, wait, "Twilight" is already DC meets Buffy and Underworld, without the Buffy humor..so confusing...). Zero surprises, although the Rob Lowe-like brother is a pleasant high point as a villain. Decent acting. I'll keep watching for a while and see how it pans out.
"Michael & Michael Have Issues" - Lots of good here. Where are the rest of the new episodes? I think there have only been five or six.
"Glee" - Three episodes in. Still strong. The addition of the stud who like MILF's...a LOT...a welcome addition.
"Eastwick" - One episode in, I liked this and actually chuckled often. I think I laughed out loud a couple of times. Sort of Desperate Housewives meets Charmed, with a dash of Old Christine on top. We'll be around for episode two, for sure. Humorous with the potential to be joltingly dark when it needs to be.
Finales
"Eureka" - Clearly shot as if it was the SERIES finale; I hope it's not. Haven't heard either way. Perhaps they hadn't, either, during production, and did it as a "just in case". A decent, standard fare episode. I do like that Carter has a steady, or temporarily steady, love interest, although it's nice to move her away so he can start over...if the series continues. Monogamy doesn't make for good action drama, at least not since "Hart to Hart".
"Dark Blue" - Yes. We got to see Carter make a mistake, or sort of a mistake, and the team cover it up. Everyone behaved pretty much as expected, although the level of loyalty might have been a bit over the top for what we viewers have SEEN over the season. Good stuff and hoping for more.
"Warehouse 13" - Good finale right up to five minutes before it ended, when the recording stopped. Turned out some wrestling match ran over, prior to the beginning. Dammit, SyFy Channel! Oh, and there was no re-run scheduled, and that episode is not yet posted to the Free section of U-verse OnDemand. I'll have to wait for that, the re-run, or see if it's online yet. I saw it to the point where McPherson got busted out of the "Bronze Room" (ala Han Solo at the beginning of 'Jedi'), and was "caught" screwing with the computer. A show that I truly didn't think would keep me coming back each week...it succeeded in doing so.
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