Archive for 'projects' Category
2008.11.01
People Pissing on the Toilet Seat
(At work I was getting rather angry at some one who would daily come up to my floor, where the men’s room had only a single sit down toilet, and pissing on the seat because they were too lazy to lift it up before going. I wrote what follows, printed it up and put it on the wall of the bathroom where they would see it. Since then I haven’t seen any piss on the toilet seat.)
Here’s the deal.
This is not your home.
When you piss, lift the seat.
It’s pretty damn irritating to come into the bathroom and find piss all over the toilet seat. Even if someone does not need to poop, it’s a disgusting thing to see. Not only that but it is rude. Every time you piss without lifting the toilet seat you are essentially saying, “I don’t give a crap about my co-workers!”
Hints:
1: If you’re grossed out by touching the seat, use your foot.
2: If you’re in a hurry, pinch your tip until you can lift the seat.
3: If your arm’s too weak to lift the seat ask for help or go to the 2nd floor.
4: If it’s your habit to never lift the seat, change your habit.
5: If you are sitting and still hitting the seat, please see a doctor.
6: You can aim it; please practice at home.
7: If your spatter is bad please see a doctor.
8: If we catch whoever you are, you will be called out publicly.
2008.06.15
Just a Couple Things
Several random links. I’m going to watch the Czech Republic take on Turkey in the Euro Cup in just a few minutes. Speaking of Turkey, I was just telling a friend a couple days ago about how Turkey is such a mystery to me. I know a lot about its history but not much about modern Turkey, especially its politics and how it fits (or doesn’t fit) into Europe (it is trying to join the European Union) or entirely in the Muslim world, either. This article, which I think was written to clarify, actually just confuses me more. I will have to look into this unique country’s situation more.
In the more nerdy world, I was alerted to a new independent film being produced about constructed languages. It’s not a topic you’d think would be made into a comedy but as you can see if you mix in awkward high school crushes anything can be pretty funny. More information on this film here.
Meanwhile, I want to build these goggles. Pretty freaking cool, and surprisingly simple.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad!
UPDATE: Czech Republic lost in a very dramatic second half. *sigh*
1 Comment | Catergorized: games geek prague worldbuilding2008.02.27
iMovie 08 Sucks
I used to use iMovie 06 from Apple to edit movies. Quick, easy to use, loads of awesome effects and transitions… I didn’t use the application often but I always had a good time with it.
Today I am trying to gather together various movie clips at work to make into a master DVD. My computer at work has iMovie 08 and I’ve been looking forward to using it to see where things are better. I expected it to maybe not be easier to use (iMovie 06 is already so simple!) but somehow… Better.
Wrong.
iMovie 08 SUCKS. I cannot figure it out. Where is the timeline? Why can’t I simply change the order of the clips? Where is the ability to export to iDVD? I cannot understand what Apple was thinking. I guess enough people complained so that they have release iMovie 06 as a free download if you already own iMovie 08. This doesn’t fix the problem, but at least it will let me get around it.
I recently bought Final Cut Express as I anticipate doing more video editing. I am extremely nervous they might have fracked that up by emulating their “success” with iMovie 08.
If you’re new to iMovie and have the 08 version on your machine, give yourself a treat and go download the 06 version. You’ll be ecstatic you did.
1 Comment | Catergorized: apple film grrr2007.08.23
Welcome to The Island
Not so long ago me and some friends formed a sort of secret society. I won’t go into the details here -for obvious reasons- but I will divulge one of the goals.
We wanted to form our own country.
Now, this is a lofty goal and one I would still like to pursue. One of the stepping stones on the way to this was an idea we called The House. Now, this was not a literal house but a whole bunch of interconnected things. Buildings to live in, yes, but also workshops, studios, forests, fields, etc. The House could be located almost anywhere in the world, and one of the more interesting ideas was to create it on an island.
It just turns out that for only 250,000 Euro (about $350,000) we can make it happen (here’s the eBay listing for as long as it remains active). Look at that place! Yes, it’s a bit remote (Fiji isn’t exactly commuting distance from… anywhere) but with satellite hookups and a fast internet connection that won’t be so important. Plus we could then get a huge honkin’ boat to cruise the world and… the surfing there would be amazing!
Anyone want to spot me the money?
9 Comments | Catergorized: friends life projects surf2007.07.29
New Song: Goodbye
Scott (member of the Not Bill band) wrote a new song and we recorded it just recently. The lyrics (after the jump) are cheesy when read alone, so give it a listen and read along! The recording was done in Apple’s Garageband. Quite a good bit of software for being free.
2 Comments | Catergorized: music2007.07.17
Tom the Trucker
My name’s Tom. Tom the trucker. I’ll haul your cargo from one end of this god damned country to the other. Fast. I don’t sleep less I need to and I smoke my cigarettes to keep from going there. Safer than that smack them rest do. Only time I know I’m in trouble is when I’m pulling over for a fresh pack of cigarettes more often than I am to fill up the tanks.
(This came from a conversation with Mookee. I thought he might make an interesting background character once fleshed out a bit more… Tom the chain smoking trucker.)
No Comments | Catergorized: writing2007.05.26
Light Posting Lately, Obviously
Obviously I haven’t been posting a lot lately. I’ve been in several moods the past week, none of which have been condusive to public writing. But that’s OK. Instead I’ve dredged up an old story line and have been working on it again. For those few who I’ve talked to about it, it’s the teen superhero schtick.
I haven’t forgotten the site, but until I start engaging the world again I think things will continue to be a bit light. I’ll try to keep it interesting by just posting quick links and such.
No Comments | Catergorized: life site writing2007.05.06
San Francisco and Science Fiction
My friend and co-worker Marc Weidenbaum posted an interview he did some time ago with local science fiction writers Richard Kadrey, Pat Murphy and Rudy Rucker about the future of the genre and about San Francisco.
Kadrey: For me the thing that makes San Francisco unique is that we’re waiting for the catastrophe. I honestly believe this plays into the ethos of the city.
…
Kadrey: That’s Susan Sontag: “Science fiction is the literature of catastrophe.” We’re living in a catastrophe zone. It’s part of the air here. Like L.A., we’re the end of the world, as far west as you can go without falling into the water. The difference geologically is that probably we’re going to go first. We’re on more of a time bomb.Murphy: One of the other things about San Francisco is the geographic constraint. If you want to leave San Francisco, you either use the bridge, or there’s a very narrow neck of land. The constraint of being packed into this one area of land, and you can’t have suburban sprawl, it really does sort of shape the character of the city.
If you’re into obscure electronic-related music be sure to check out the rest of his site, too!
1 Comment | Catergorized: san francisco writing2007.03.07
Battlestar Galactica Video Contest
Do you think you could tell a Battlestar Galactica story better than SciFi Channel? Here’s your chance.
Be a part of Battlestar Galactica!We’re giving you sound and visual effects and music clips that you can use to create and share your own four-minute Battlestar videos.
Create your own mock commercials, short scenes or even mini-episodes — funny or dramatic. Choose from more than 30 visual effects, 20-plus audio effects and cuts from the show’s soundtrack, specially selected to help give your videos the Battlestar look and sound. Use them to make your video, add the required promo clip at the end, and send it to us!
Battlestar Galactica executive producer David Eick will choose one video to broadcast in full on SCI FI Channel during an upcoming Battlestar episode.
The video can only be four minutes long but that should be plenty.
Is anyone interested in making a video with me?!?
No Comments | Catergorized: film geek tv2007.01.13
Gay Eight: Epidemic
Intro. (Sorry for posting this a day late…)
The epidemic that arrived with the comet Pelosi called “Rave” has spread to the West Coast and “Der Governator” now insists on being called “The Governess”. Gay marriages resume in San Francisco and begin in New York, Chicago, DC, LA, and all other major metropolitan areas.
A teamster union spokesman from the Deep South, done up in Jean-Paul Gaultier Coveralls and Prada work boots, spoke to the press: “Working Americans don’t just have a right to warm clothing, they have a right to wear the most fabulous outfits and the cutest shoes. Every day. Period. That’s why the new, higher federal minimum wage doesn’t just make sense, it’s positively pretty!”
No Comments | Catergorized: political writing
