OK, I admit it...

I've been distracted. I'd like to say it's been by some noble cause, some form of making the world, or someone else, or myself better - but it hasn't really. Yeah, there's been some of that. I'd certainly put parenting in the noble cause box, along with trying to be a decent husband. I'm also happy to place the noble cause label on teaching and being involved with church.

Yet, still, my garage is a before picture for some reality show about cleaning and organizing, my yard looks like it should be on the cover of Trailer Home Monthly, and there are plenty of other items on the To Do list destined for the same demise.

I blame it all on facebook.

The first step, I'm told, in breaking an addiction is admitting you have one. I guess I'm not ready to break this one yet. I'm handling it. I haven't started neglecting my hygine - nevermind the afternoon showers, I'm on summer vacation. I don't have too many plates of half eaten food and half drank containers piled up around me - mine are all eaten and all drank thank you very much. But, the truth of the matter is, my friends have to check my facebook status to know what I'm up to, and my family only gets to see us through our facebook photo albums.

Maybe I'll start blogging again. Heaven knows, my wife and kids give me enough reason to. Until then, the summer of change is underway! Organize. Prioritize. Clean. Garage. Bonus Room. Yard. Weight. Doctor Appointments. Dentist Appointments. New Classroom. Budget. Taxes. Family. Friends. Trips.

And there's not much time left!

.

Did you know?

I promise, more original content coming soon - untill then, here's an interesting presentation...

Participate

I've set up a sister site to my blog for the purpose of adding a little interactivity. Blogger recently rolled out a voting feature, among others, and I thought I'd give it a try. Now it's your turn, give it a try.

For future reference, there's also a link to the right that'll take you there.
.

Hold on to your hats

I consider myself somewhat of a tech guy - I can talk tech with most folks, even translate when needed. I can act as tech support for my Dad, even when I have no idea what he thinks the problem is. I can even program a VCR when called upon to do so.

I've been part of the information superhighway since hooking up my $100 1200BPs modem to my $3500 Mac LC back in 1990 or so. I've seen nearly every step in Moore's Law and the coresponding price/size/speed difference since then, and when I could, I've taken advantage of them... all the while, being on dial-up internet connections like Rip Van Winkle.

That ends today. After finding the non-descript box on our porch yesterday, and a prance around the front yard like I just found the Holy Grail, I went to work today setting up the connection and just like that, we've officially jumped on the broadband wagon!

I doubt it'll make my blog any more up-to-date, but you never know.
.

Pigeon Holes

As part of the switch to Blogger's latest effort, I've included 'Labels' as a navigational tool - it also helps me to generalize and pigeon hole my posts into neat (or not so neat) little boxes.

I'm using a simple (I hope) work around to include them (I hope) in the navigation box to the right, and you can also click on the labels at the bottom of a post to get a page with posts that share that label. More to come, I'm sure.

I'm glad Blogger has finally caught on to something that other Blog publishing applications have been doing for a while.

Switch-a-roo

Alright already, I've switched to the new, non beta, not old, Blogger. As it's early on in the metamorphosis, I see only a few new things (which I like, thank you - kinda like an old pair of sneakers with new shoe laces). It's not, what you'd call, a speed demon, but neither is my connection.

I'm not too keen on the idea that it's attached to my Google account, attached to my GMail account. Sorry Blogger boys and Google girls - it's just not an account I use much. Sure, I have my personalized Google search page, and I'm enjoying the Google Calendar from time to time, but I've just never jumped on the GMail band wagon.

So, enough said for now - I'll pass judgement later. For now, it's back to trying to get everyone in our house well at the same time, finish Christmas shopping before New Years and scratch items off the old Honey-Do list before heading back to school. I'm nothing if not ambitious.

ps - ohhh... I do like the new spell checker... ;-)

The Little Technology Room

Is it just me, or is anyone else struck with the notion that there is just way too much technology in the bathroom these days.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of useful technology, but it just feels like it might be too much - especially when: the toilet flushes between the laying down of the seat cover and the acutal opportunity to sit; the faucet won't turn on despite your best effort, then, just before you give up it manages to spray all over the front of your pants and; repeated waves in front of the towel dispenser results in not nearly enough paper towel and repeated repeated waves.

Most of my trips to the bathroom lately have left me looking for the hidden camera and the feeling that people are laughing at me. The least the creators of toilet-tech could do is manage a little beta testing before releasing this stuff on the public.

Google Vandalism

I really do like Google. I even like the idea of them coming to Oregon. As many these days, it's probably the first place I search from (although I think anyone would be remis if they relied on only it for serious searching - I also like; The Open Directory Project, AskJeeves, Dogpile, MetaCrawler, and the beautiful KartOO.

However, the folks at Google have developed an interesting technology that shouldn't be implemented - at least in the way it seems they intend to. The latest version of the Google toolbar would allow a user to 'super-impose' links on a given webpage - links that Google has (initial or final) control over. True, it'd be handy not to have to copy and paste when doing a search on information from a webpage (a business address for example) but placing links over the top of someone's webpage when the link wasn't created by the owner - even if it'd be a good idea - is going too far in my opinion, and it shouldn't go without all of us just accepting it without a stink.

This article in Time Magazine paints it in the correct light.

Tech that's worth using...

I've discovered some really interesting, entertaining and/or useful websites over the last several years; here are just a few from the last week:

I was looking for a way to save some files online so that I can access them easily. I usually use my email, but it takes space. Enter the Yahoo! Breifcase - a free online storage solution for your files.

While I was there, I discovered how much Yahoo! Launch has improved since I last stumbled upon it. Sitting in the corner of my screen, It's been an extremely helpful diversion at work.

The Oregonian recently ran an article about the creator of the humanclock.com and of course, I had to check it out. Makes me wish I had the idea!

As a response to a discussion at work, about human clock, I rediscovered Look At Me. Really makes me wish I had the idea.

Photo Blogging

Just installed Bloggers partner application Hello for instant photo additions to the my blog. Really a nice, easy to use application - and it's free. Don't expect to see a ton here necessarily, as I'm already pushing limits on my space allotment - but once I improve that situation, you might be seeing more of the world through my eyes.

Fresh Face

In an attempt to breathe a bit of fresh air into my blog, I've changed its look. I went with one of bloggers new templates rather than tweak my old look to the degree I was looking to tweak it. Once I backed up my old blog, I chose which template I could live with for now and then set the blogger wheels in motion. Right now, half of my blog is showing up in the new style, a quarter is showing up in the old style and another quarter is MIA. I'm wishing now I had the time to tweak the old style because this is more work than I'd hoped for. Thank you blogger.

I have, however, managed to get my lovely wife to set-up her very own blog. She's one of the funniest people I know, and most who know her wouldn't believe me. I hope even some of her humor comes through her postings. Here-to-fore, she hasn't really gotten the whole blogging thing but recently began reading my blog and it didn't take much of a push to get her to sign-up.

It'll be her chance to get out some of those thoughts that ravage through her brain. I know I'll be reading...

The More Things Change...

It seems like Blogger has been striving to make changes to its service lately... some for the good, and some for the, well, less elegant.

Case in point, the newest interface is clunky, in my opinion (maybe I just need to get used to it) - yet they've added comments. I was just able to find my way around everything added last time, and now I've got to do it all over again.

Hey, if you ask me, it wasn't broke. No need to reinvent the wheel just to add features - which I can only hope work. For example, I really liked having everything (posts, edit area, calendar, etc.) all under one window. I know, how about a 'blogger classic' interface option with the new features installed..

Blogger, if you're listening... you may be loosing me to greener pastures.

Bloggy Blogs

I've been perusing other blogs lately, proving all the more that my time is precious. I've noticed a lot more randomness, sometimes a good deal of meaningfulness, but for the most part just disjointed thoughts pieced together like a patchwork quilt of incompatible parts.

Sometimes, I enjoy the well written, meaty content full of meaningfullness and 'ah ha!'.

Sometimes, all I need is that seemingly random line from that spot in someone's brain that lies between subconscious and conscious.

Which reminds me, is the elephant really the only land mammal unable to as much as hop?

That little tiny thing...

As I was poking around blogger yesterday, I read up a bit on the ATOM feature of blogs, and it turns out I have one. It'll allow you to read my blog along with others through a 'site feed'.

The link you'll want to cut and paste into your ATOM feeder is: http://home.teleport.com/~graphex/existimationis/atom.xml

You can read more about this feature yourself here.

Note to Self...

Self, just because a company has a website, doesn't mean you have to visit it.


Second Note to Self...

Check mail for the kit I just ordered from the above site.

And now a word from... you!

Just added... comments. Added, free of charge mind you, through my new friends at HaloScan.com.

I have little idea as to how it works right now, but I was quick to add it as I've wanted to for some time. Why you would want to comment, I'm not sure - but I'll try to give you "Something to talk about" (can't you just hear Bonnie Raitt?)

Dare I say, a little new life has just been breathed into my blog?

Trust me...

OK, you're going to have to trust me here. I had a nice little tirade going about my agreement with John Stossel's commentary from tonight's 20/20 about idiots and their greedy lawyers suing fast food restaurants for making them fat. 'Nuff said.

And about that famous and foolish Kobe Bryant who has too much fame and money and too little brains and self-control. Imbecile. 'Nuff said.

And about my shopping experience at Lowes, where a 70+ year old man started things out wonderfully but his 99 co-workers couldn't bother themselves to show me where a couple of things were rather than just tell me. Basically, the first gentleman could run the place by himself and it'd be a better store.

Finally, I should hurry up and out grow this curmudgeon stage - and blogger should get their publishing engine working so my posts make it up. Then we'd all be happy!

Angst...

I'm blogging from outside a coffee shop in my hometown, sipping on a hot chocolate and enjoying the internet without wires. I'll probably only be able to do this for a little while longer since I have to turn this laptop in soon. Maybe I can convince my wife to let me get one for our family... ;-) The coffee shop is just down from a Blockbuster Video - they must make money hand over fist, because there has been a constant stream of people in and out of there just in the few minutes I've been sitting here.

I'm also in a suit and tie. On summer break, in 75 degree weather, but all duded up following an interview this morning. I'm in angst because I really have no idea how I did. Usually, I have a good idea - even though most of the time I'm wrong. I'd think I did great, blew their socks off, but they end up going with someone else... or I go in not caring one way or another, give the answer that I really want to give rather than the one I think they want to hear, and boom, I've got the job. Today, I couldn't tell you one way or the other. They made me wait for a half hour, but I was pleasant none-the-less. I answered their questions with sincerity, honesty, and enthusiasm. I tried not to talk too much, but give complete answers. I looked them in the eye, but not so much as to give them that uncomfortable feeling. But... I really don't know. Maybe that's a good sign, maybe it's not. I think my really wanting the position is contributing to my confusion. Maybe I really am just a dolt.

Those I told, I told not to get too worked up over it. Not to hang too much in the balance. But here I am, worked up and 'overly hopeful'. I have to remember that God will take care of me and my family, as He always has, and always will. I just don't want to make the job any harder than it is.

Bag O Blogs

Megan Marrone's Jumping Monkeys
A Day In The Life
SunCandy
Alternate Voice

More when I find them...

"Kermit the Frog here, reporting to you from..."

Technology is great. I'm blogging from the bathroom! WiFi style.

Does that make me cool, or extremely sad. Maybe just sick. You decide. I'm going to finish business and get home, it's way too nice of a day to be inside, even if I can blog while going to the little boys room.