It was a tough decision, but I'm looking forward to my preservation class next semester. Its close runner-up, rare books, will have to wait for another day. But in the meantime: http://www.illwillpress.com/bookbind22.html
Crude, but gothically amusing. A friend got me into Foamy the Squirrel, and when I realized I hadn't checked out the website a while, I find a short on rare books! It has little to do with rare books, per se, but I still felt like sharing.
Maybe next semester I'll be taught how to treat those old books bound in human flesh.
Mwahahaha...
Friday, November 14, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Can you hear me now?
I've been sick with some sort of cold bug for the last five days, which "forced" me to disconnect with computers, gadgets, and all manners of shiny things that go "ping", as one might imagine.
On that note of technological skepticism, may I present to you a few observations on cell phones. Consider this:
Here we see a piece of performance art done by Nick Rodrigues on the perils of becoming one with the phone. Basically, it's a commentary about how we shut out interactions with other human life forms and goings on in our vicinity because we choose to walk around with the phone attached to our ears, tuning in instead to someone somewhere else.
Okay...information phone calls aside: do we really need to be on these danged things as much as is observed on the streets, in cafes, etc.?
Now consider this (as experienced by myself these past few days):
1) A teenager on her phone, talking loudly, yet casually to a friend about something while simultaneously walking up to a man on a boardwalk who is trying to play Mozart on an elaborate set of water-filled glasses and the gathered crowd who have come to listen to him.
2) Me, pretending to be on my phone to avoid having to say as much as "good morning" to someone in front of my building because it's early in the morning and I don't much feel like talking.
Now, as bad as that second thing makes me sound, what do we see here? In number one, a girl is not only bothering others around her who are trying to listen (mainly me, who turned around and gave her a direct look), but she is also losing out on a chance to enjoy some well-played musical glasses. I mean, it's life -- interesting, beautiful, serene -- happening right in front of you! Your friend, wherever she is, can wait. Or, if it's really that important, you could move out of earshot of the rest of us. Just saying. And then we take a look at yours truly in the second scenario, where I am using the phone to blatantly avoid real life (i.e. people with whom I could potentially be interacting). I may have known exactly what I was doing in this instance, but it still doesn't make my misuse of a portable phone any better than that of Loud Cell Phone Girl.
With all the things our phones can do nowadays (and heck, they can pretty much tuck you into bed and sing you the lullaby Momma used to sing), are we also using them as our own personal phone booths/escape pods? Does it really take a good cold to pry us from our beloved devices and launch us back into real time?
On that note of technological skepticism, may I present to you a few observations on cell phones. Consider this:
Here we see a piece of performance art done by Nick Rodrigues on the perils of becoming one with the phone. Basically, it's a commentary about how we shut out interactions with other human life forms and goings on in our vicinity because we choose to walk around with the phone attached to our ears, tuning in instead to someone somewhere else.
Okay...information phone calls aside: do we really need to be on these danged things as much as is observed on the streets, in cafes, etc.?
Now consider this (as experienced by myself these past few days):
1) A teenager on her phone, talking loudly, yet casually to a friend about something while simultaneously walking up to a man on a boardwalk who is trying to play Mozart on an elaborate set of water-filled glasses and the gathered crowd who have come to listen to him.
2) Me, pretending to be on my phone to avoid having to say as much as "good morning" to someone in front of my building because it's early in the morning and I don't much feel like talking.
Now, as bad as that second thing makes me sound, what do we see here? In number one, a girl is not only bothering others around her who are trying to listen (mainly me, who turned around and gave her a direct look), but she is also losing out on a chance to enjoy some well-played musical glasses. I mean, it's life -- interesting, beautiful, serene -- happening right in front of you! Your friend, wherever she is, can wait. Or, if it's really that important, you could move out of earshot of the rest of us. Just saying. And then we take a look at yours truly in the second scenario, where I am using the phone to blatantly avoid real life (i.e. people with whom I could potentially be interacting). I may have known exactly what I was doing in this instance, but it still doesn't make my misuse of a portable phone any better than that of Loud Cell Phone Girl.
With all the things our phones can do nowadays (and heck, they can pretty much tuck you into bed and sing you the lullaby Momma used to sing), are we also using them as our own personal phone booths/escape pods? Does it really take a good cold to pry us from our beloved devices and launch us back into real time?
Monday, October 6, 2008
Laying down The Law
If you believe that the United States government (keeping in mind that it was set up as an organization by and for its people, whose sole purpose is supposed to be ensuring us all that we may live, be free, and have the ability to attain happiness in our lives) is overstepping its bounds with the latest in "bail outs" for America -- or are at least keen on/open to the idea -- then this treatise is for you:
Read the work itself in one form or another here or here (yes, it is that important that I gave you two locations to choose from). And for those of you even further intrigued, here's the gentleman's website. Pretty good for a guy who died in 1850.
Aside from the free trade that Bastiat was arguing for in his native France, this work -- written alllllllll the way back in the 19th century -- remains relevant today not only in regard to the economy and trade, but in the way we choose (or seemingly choose) to govern ourselves. Do we protect our citizens from oppression, pillage, and the deprivation of our freedoms as human beings in a civilized society in earnest, or do we allow our government to oppress, pillage, and deprive our citizens because we have made such actions just in the name of "I know what's best for you" laws and practices? If you've ever noticed an unnecessarily large hole in your paycheck or have watched your elected official (local or otherwise) screw you over big time while in office, I believe you know to just what I'm referring.
Seriously, this treatise knows no political party. If you are planning on voting in an election -- or, you know, thinking of becoming part of a democracy at any point in your life -- is it so vital to read up. I'm not just saying this because I'm studying to become a librarian. If we find ourselves sick of repeating history, we must look beyond the colors and the fray of the bodies that govern us to the ideas and concepts that our systems stand for and the great minds who have argued for their preservation and even in some instances for their destruction. Chances are these men and women had something to say. Think about it... if what those we regard as great philosophers argue for and caution is applicable still, we must have not yet listened and/or learned.
Aside from the free trade that Bastiat was arguing for in his native France, this work -- written alllllllll the way back in the 19th century -- remains relevant today not only in regard to the economy and trade, but in the way we choose (or seemingly choose) to govern ourselves. Do we protect our citizens from oppression, pillage, and the deprivation of our freedoms as human beings in a civilized society in earnest, or do we allow our government to oppress, pillage, and deprive our citizens because we have made such actions just in the name of "I know what's best for you" laws and practices? If you've ever noticed an unnecessarily large hole in your paycheck or have watched your elected official (local or otherwise) screw you over big time while in office, I believe you know to just what I'm referring.
Seriously, this treatise knows no political party. If you are planning on voting in an election -- or, you know, thinking of becoming part of a democracy at any point in your life -- is it so vital to read up. I'm not just saying this because I'm studying to become a librarian. If we find ourselves sick of repeating history, we must look beyond the colors and the fray of the bodies that govern us to the ideas and concepts that our systems stand for and the great minds who have argued for their preservation and even in some instances for their destruction. Chances are these men and women had something to say. Think about it... if what those we regard as great philosophers argue for and caution is applicable still, we must have not yet listened and/or learned.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Browse this!
I knew there was a preference for Firefox over Internet Explorer these days, but sheesh.
And on that note, ever notice how your HTML varies based on the browser you're using? It's kind of annoying when doing projects, but at the same time shows you how screwed up your code can look to someone who might not have access to the browser you do. I would hope, however, that it also serves as an impetus for developers to synchronize. Then again, there still exists the whole Mac vs. PC dynamic, so maybe it's a little too much to hope for.
WAR. HUH. Good god, ya'll. What is it good for? Absolutely nothin'! (Say it again!)
Nah, but seriously... there's got to be a slew of products out there because, when combined with various personal preferences, the market will inevitably decide. Anyone remember paying for America Online? I do. But just barely.
And on that note, ever notice how your HTML varies based on the browser you're using? It's kind of annoying when doing projects, but at the same time shows you how screwed up your code can look to someone who might not have access to the browser you do. I would hope, however, that it also serves as an impetus for developers to synchronize. Then again, there still exists the whole Mac vs. PC dynamic, so maybe it's a little too much to hope for.
Nah, but seriously... there's got to be a slew of products out there because, when combined with various personal preferences, the market will inevitably decide. Anyone remember paying for America Online? I do. But just barely.
Monday, September 29, 2008
When doing by hand gets out of hand
As I create my second website-based homework assignment for my information systems class, I find that the more complex I'd like to make it, the more futile it gets to do this kind of thing by hand. I think I get Dreamweaver now.
There is something to be said for handicraft and the time and effort that goes into it. I really enjoy doing HTML by hand. The tags and the Notepad document might look like one hell of a mess, but turn it into a Firefox/Internet Explorer/etc. page and you've got yourself a pretty nifty website. It reminds me of those decoder markers I used as a kid to reveal pictures in something that looked like a black hole on paper.
Oh yeah... that's the stuff...
But once I really get into it, stare at the screen, and sweat it out for several hours, I think, "Wow...as fun as this is, it's taking way too long. And this is probably the seventeenth time I've changed my font." Then I go off on a tangent and think of all the other things we do that are unnecessary because someone/something else will do it for you. There are some things I will let slide into that realm (i.e. not laundering everything by hand, hot water, light bulbs), but come on... there are still those things we tough out the hard way because it's more fun, rewarding, masochistic (hey, to each his own), or tasty (refer to my previous entry).
Again, coming back around to my main point, there is a threshold after which point the costs outweigh the benefits when you're doing something with your own two hands. Why sit and rub two sticks together when you can turn on the stove top (camping trips excluded)? Our day-to-day existence doesn't permit this kind of hard work with its slower-paced, blood, sweat, and tears mentality. We want efficiency because there's always something else that needs to get done. We want to see where any of our effort is getting us, and we want to see it now. Results have always been important, but it seems like now we want results to come before everything else. Hey, when it comes to homework, I don't argue that point so much, but it does make one wonder about the state of humanity's input/output... what we want, where we're going, and how much effort we're willing to put in to see it all happen.
There is something to be said for handicraft and the time and effort that goes into it. I really enjoy doing HTML by hand. The tags and the Notepad document might look like one hell of a mess, but turn it into a Firefox/Internet Explorer/etc. page and you've got yourself a pretty nifty website. It reminds me of those decoder markers I used as a kid to reveal pictures in something that looked like a black hole on paper.
But once I really get into it, stare at the screen, and sweat it out for several hours, I think, "Wow...as fun as this is, it's taking way too long. And this is probably the seventeenth time I've changed my font." Then I go off on a tangent and think of all the other things we do that are unnecessary because someone/something else will do it for you. There are some things I will let slide into that realm (i.e. not laundering everything by hand, hot water, light bulbs), but come on... there are still those things we tough out the hard way because it's more fun, rewarding, masochistic (hey, to each his own), or tasty (refer to my previous entry).
Again, coming back around to my main point, there is a threshold after which point the costs outweigh the benefits when you're doing something with your own two hands. Why sit and rub two sticks together when you can turn on the stove top (camping trips excluded)? Our day-to-day existence doesn't permit this kind of hard work with its slower-paced, blood, sweat, and tears mentality. We want efficiency because there's always something else that needs to get done. We want to see where any of our effort is getting us, and we want to see it now. Results have always been important, but it seems like now we want results to come before everything else. Hey, when it comes to homework, I don't argue that point so much, but it does make one wonder about the state of humanity's input/output... what we want, where we're going, and how much effort we're willing to put in to see it all happen.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Making bread vs. winning bread
I have had my little purple binder of recipes open for over a week now, with the page open to my grandmother's (mother's mother's, etc.) bread recipe. I have wanted to make this bread, but I need about three hours (yeast must rise, bread must sit). To get three hours I would have to have either a) no work, b) no homework, or c) no boyfriend (or a boyfriend who lives a little closer to where I do). And seeing as how "c" is not really an option, as I am quite happy with that situation and know it will soon be resolved, I will have to negotiate work and school. It's most likely school that will be taking the hit, which had gotten me into thinking about my home life vs. career life.
Alright, so I'm not married with ten kids... that doesn't mean I don't like to be a homebody every now and then. For example, I'm a huge proponent of fresh or homemade foods. If I'm going to eat bread, it better be crusty and from a bakery or made with a sack of flour, eggs from the carton, and my own two hands. I know I am a girl (and, in my family, will have been automatically taught to cook anyway), but I have found myself having followed my father's philosophy, which goes a little something like: "I like food, so I learned to cook." To put it another way: "No self-respecting person of a food-enjoying nature will permit him- or herself to thrive on Hungry Man dinners." No sirree, Bob.
But as you age, time begins to be taken and not requested of you like it used to be. Convenience falls prey to necessity. I like food, but I also have school/work, which I need to do (although I like these enough for them to keep me occupied with thoughts of what I'm doing and where I'm going). Then there are those things that I don't like, but I have to do anyway (i.e. laundry). Believe it or not, I don't always enjoy downtime either. Okay, so there's the downtime you plan, as in, "Gee, it's been a while since I've read a book for fun. Why don't I go curl up and do that?" Then there's the downtime that takes you -- the kind you need after a long day that causes you to fall asleep by 9pm. Regardless, all of it is time. There will never be enough hours in the day for the things I want to do and all the things I have to do.
The key to any happy life is balance (although I suppose you could also balance a perfectly horrid life as well). I have to remember that I can't always focus on just homework, or work, or lazing about, cooking, exercise, and what have you. There are things that will always need to be done -- things like paying bills, doing homework -- the steps that are necessary to achieve desired goals above and beyond the immediate (i.e. having a roof over your head, getting a degree). But there are also the things that "need" to be done -- things we tell ourselves we should do, have to do, but it would otherwise not make any difference if we did them or did them to the degree we want to or not. It is here that we must look, because this is where one can start subbing in something different/new/fun to keep the peace within ourselves. Some people have an internal mechanism that takes care of regulating all of this, as well as getting things done that need to be done. I think I have one. It's how I survived high school and college, and it's how I'll survive grad school. But it needs to be wound. We need to keep reminding ourselves of the difference between needs and "needs". I know I have to work on this homework, but do I have to work on it now, or do I have time?
The hamster in the wheel in my head is running, its beady little eyes focused on work, work, work. But even a head hamster will want to do something else after a while. Will that bread recipe be sitting on the counter too much longer? I'm hoping not. Before I start working on my homework, and before I even start dinner, maybe I will proof some yeast.
Alright, so I'm not married with ten kids... that doesn't mean I don't like to be a homebody every now and then. For example, I'm a huge proponent of fresh or homemade foods. If I'm going to eat bread, it better be crusty and from a bakery or made with a sack of flour, eggs from the carton, and my own two hands. I know I am a girl (and, in my family, will have been automatically taught to cook anyway), but I have found myself having followed my father's philosophy, which goes a little something like: "I like food, so I learned to cook." To put it another way: "No self-respecting person of a food-enjoying nature will permit him- or herself to thrive on Hungry Man dinners." No sirree, Bob.
But as you age, time begins to be taken and not requested of you like it used to be. Convenience falls prey to necessity. I like food, but I also have school/work, which I need to do (although I like these enough for them to keep me occupied with thoughts of what I'm doing and where I'm going). Then there are those things that I don't like, but I have to do anyway (i.e. laundry). Believe it or not, I don't always enjoy downtime either. Okay, so there's the downtime you plan, as in, "Gee, it's been a while since I've read a book for fun. Why don't I go curl up and do that?" Then there's the downtime that takes you -- the kind you need after a long day that causes you to fall asleep by 9pm. Regardless, all of it is time. There will never be enough hours in the day for the things I want to do and all the things I have to do.
The key to any happy life is balance (although I suppose you could also balance a perfectly horrid life as well). I have to remember that I can't always focus on just homework, or work, or lazing about, cooking, exercise, and what have you. There are things that will always need to be done -- things like paying bills, doing homework -- the steps that are necessary to achieve desired goals above and beyond the immediate (i.e. having a roof over your head, getting a degree). But there are also the things that "need" to be done -- things we tell ourselves we should do, have to do, but it would otherwise not make any difference if we did them or did them to the degree we want to or not. It is here that we must look, because this is where one can start subbing in something different/new/fun to keep the peace within ourselves. Some people have an internal mechanism that takes care of regulating all of this, as well as getting things done that need to be done. I think I have one. It's how I survived high school and college, and it's how I'll survive grad school. But it needs to be wound. We need to keep reminding ourselves of the difference between needs and "needs". I know I have to work on this homework, but do I have to work on it now, or do I have time?
The hamster in the wheel in my head is running, its beady little eyes focused on work, work, work. But even a head hamster will want to do something else after a while. Will that bread recipe be sitting on the counter too much longer? I'm hoping not. Before I start working on my homework, and before I even start dinner, maybe I will proof some yeast.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Technology a go-go
In an age of infinite possibilities of ways to communicate, schedule, document, and otherwise share with and express ourselves to others, I ask: Is all this really necessary? Not that I'm a complete Luddite, mind you, but this is a thought that we should all be keeping in the back of our minds. Whether we're salivating over the newest i[insert gadget here] or trying to figure out the best way to get in touch with someone for work or play, we must ask ourselves: What is the simplest way? The most direct way? The clearest way?
I have been thinking about this in the wake of my introduction to the Sakai site (a relationship which, fortunately, has become less and less trying). Don't get me wrong, this site is a good tool for the class for which I'm using it. The fairly basic interface is not the least bit offensive or distracting. But in the beginning, I thought, "Why are we using this instead of Blackboard? So we need a Wiki page. Does that really constitute having to use yet another system to keep track of our classes?" For the most part, I would say, yes, the experience has been worth while... although I am sure there are others who would argue the other way, and for obvious reason. Read: It's just something else to keep track of!
Today's generations are learning to multitask, manipulate, and manifest in ways which those in the days of yore only dreamed of doing. Before we crash like our computerized friends, it will always -- always -- remain important to ask ourselves in the face of any "innovation": Are we being fancy or are we being fruitful?
I have been thinking about this in the wake of my introduction to the Sakai site (a relationship which, fortunately, has become less and less trying). Don't get me wrong, this site is a good tool for the class for which I'm using it. The fairly basic interface is not the least bit offensive or distracting. But in the beginning, I thought, "Why are we using this instead of Blackboard? So we need a Wiki page. Does that really constitute having to use yet another system to keep track of our classes?" For the most part, I would say, yes, the experience has been worth while... although I am sure there are others who would argue the other way, and for obvious reason. Read: It's just something else to keep track of!
Today's generations are learning to multitask, manipulate, and manifest in ways which those in the days of yore only dreamed of doing. Before we crash like our computerized friends, it will always -- always -- remain important to ask ourselves in the face of any "innovation": Are we being fancy or are we being fruitful?
Salutations
Strange that I've never been a blogs person, but it was a school email regarding a blogs and wikis class that made me think, "Hm, I bet I could do one of those things." Well, here it is. Be gentle.
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