Useless Blogging

In reponse to Julz…

In college, I lived for the 2-3 minute presentation. Presentations in general, actually. Preparing for them was usually hell, but when I was standing up in front of the room, everything came together and made sense. Sometimes my stomach disagreed, but I learned early on that when it spoke up the most was when I was at my best.

There are moments that bring us to life, that snap us out of the real world and into the place where we find who we are, simply because we don’t have to be anything else. I’ve found at least two things that put me in those moments: the spotlight, and technology prepared with a looming deadline. My focus shifts — if you can even call it a shift; it’s more like all focus melts away and all I’m left with is me — and I live. “Effort” becomes a meaningless term, because there’s no exertion on my part.

Maybe that’s the point of this rambing: I’ve found that clarity is inversely proportional to the amount of attention I give something. The best things in my life all stem from letting go, and I’ve found that when I stop worrying, stop fretting, stop trying so damn hard, all I’m left with is the way things ought to be.

The Loverboy Random Gentle Love Master (RGLMm) Well-liked. Well-established. You are The Loverboy. Loverboys thrive in committed, steady relationships–as opposed to, say, Playboys, who want sex without too much attachment. You’ve had many relationships and nearly all of them have been successful. You’re a nice guy, you know the ropes, and even if you can be a little hasty with decisions, most girls think of you as a total catch. Your hastiness comes off as spontaneity most of the time anyhow, making you especially popular in your circle of friends, too. Your exact opposite: The Billy Goat Deliberate Brutal Sex Dreamer You know not to make the typical Loverboy mistake of choosing someone who appreciates your good humor and popularity, but who offers nothing in return. You belong with someone outgoing, independent, and creative. Otherwise, you’ll get bored. And then instead of surprising her with flowers or a practicaljoke, you’ll surprise her by leaving. ALWAYS AVOID: The Nymph CONSIDER: The Window Shopper, The Peach

Link: The Dating Persona Test by OkCupid – Free Online Dating.

Tactical News

A failed experiment a few months ago had the TacticalGamer forums poulated with USENET feeds from various game- and technology-related sources. On the TG forums, USENET caused a pretty major bloat and made certain functionality all but useless (like “New Posts”, for example). It was a nice idea, but ultimately scrapped in favor of general usability.

Apophis has reborn that USENET experience in a new site, Tactical News. I’m pleased, because this is how I did comp.lang.python interaction. Neater still is that it seems mailing lists can be incorporated into the forum structure, making TN a one-stop shop for outside community needs.

Excellent work, Apophis.

As noted previously, I’ve been moving furniture around quite a bit. Reorganizing rooms and such has also been part and parcel.

I find myself in the throes of a feeling that doesn’t wash over me often, but when it does, it hits hard. I need to clean.

In general, if one looks at my life, it looks like a mess. In truth, it’s an organizational system that few outside of my biological family can really interpret. I can put my hands on just about anything in what seems to be a random pile of junk, because it’s not random to me.

But, every now and again (mainly again) the random filing system gets to me, and I go on a binge of cleaning and straightening and reorganization. The new bed has become a catalyst for this feeling. I’ve spent the past four nights of so moving furniture, putting books away, vacuuming, etc., and I don’t see myself stopping too soon.

I know this feeling doesn’t come along often, so I need to ride it as long as it lasts.

To those who have occasion to stay at my house from time to time:

The spare room has been upgraded to a queen-sized bed, and the floorplan of the space has opened up a fair amount of ground space for playing, an air mattress, or what-have-you.

Yay for me.

Guardian | Suspicious behaviour on the tube

Pay attention. Pay very close attention. Being innocent of a crime isn’t enough anymore.

Safe enough for work on the first click, but don’t play the movie if sounds coming for your computer will be heard by unappreciative folks.

Blah blah information sharing blah blah global network blah blah connect the world.

This is the reason the internet exists, people. Pay close attention. I’ve watched this about six times thus far today, and it gets better every time.

Andrew Sutherland is my hero, at least with regards to coolio plugins for the blog here. He’s the man behind the shoutbox, and now, the poll, thanks to a little plugin he calls Democracy.

Vote. Suggest polls. Enjoy and stuff.