This Monday, I spent the day in or about my car.

I took a friend to Logan to fly to Florida. From there it was an immediate jump to Peabody to get my Cooper its first oil change.

First off... it was awesome. I handed him my key, and he put it on this thing and said, "You have 13433 miles on your car." I was unaware that my KEY carried that information around. GLEE!

Anyway, so it was two hours of waiting in the comfy chairs with the 60" plasma screen and the free coffee, soda, and wi-fi. :) Long wait because I had some light brake noise and needed an alignment.

So, they tell me the brake noise is probably a bit of rust on the rotors, nothing to worry about, and to clear it up I should so some high-speed ABS stops. Yes. That's right. Just lock the brakes at fifty.

Who couldn't love that? :)

--
EVAR.

Anyway, on the way home, I came up behind an ambulance that seemed to be weaving a bit. Keeping it in the lane, but not on a tight course. No one in the back, so not like the driver was fending off massive squirts of blood, or something.

As I passed, I glanced over to see the driver.
WATCHING.
A.
MOVIE.
On a flip-down 7" widescreen LCD.
WHILE.
DRIVING.

OMG.
WTF.
BBQ.

This is an emergency services vehicle. Presumably the driver was a trained EMT or paramedic. If I had been thinking clearly after witnessing this event, I would have grabbed the plate number, time, and company of the ambulance, and reported it.

Now, I answer the phone while driving. I have occasionally sent text messages while driving. I sometimes take pictures while driving. These are admittedly actions that take my attention from my driving. None of them, however, were performed in anything like highway traffic. Nor are any of them designed to require my full visual attention.

Gah!

Dear friends,

I haven't been around much. I lurk and try and keep updated on the goings-on, but I know I'm slacking in that respect. I've tossed up a couple of quick writings, but nothing much about me. So, here goes.

Last time I really talked about like, I had been fired and got a new job. I'm enjoying the job a great deal. My coworkers are good people and reasonable. I think I'm doing pretty well there.

Before the job change, my ex-gf and I split, and I kept the apartment, which put me living pretty close to my means. A friend of mine moved in for a few months after returning from Houston, but got An Offer He Couldn't Refuse (tm) in Arizona, so I was back on my own.

When I lost my job, I couldn't knew I couldn't maintain my apartment, car, and food, and I moved in with a friend and his wife and daughter -- I got two rooms in the upstairs... my own little "apartment". It was nice being closer to my friends, and work was just a few minutes down the road. I knew going in it wouldn't be everything I wanted; it's hard moving into someone else's house when you've had your own, but it was going OK.

Their financial situation was in a state of decay, and they're losing the house. That added stress seems to have cemented the failure of the marriage, so it's over, too. It's going to be an exciting few months.

I'll be moving, soon In the mean time, I'm trying to convince myself to start spring cleaning. I have developed a mild pack-rat nature, but I'm trying to fight it. I figure I can toss nearly half of what I own. I have training manuals from dead contracts at dead call centers at dead companies. I have phone cords and spare USB cables and most of a dismantled, dysfunctional iBook. I have the original box for my 32" TV -- actually handy, as I've been moving with it...

Most of all, I've been letting myself wallow. I know that I shouldn't and I'm pushing myself to do something about it. This is one of the first steps. I'm taking the wheel. Now what have I done with my keys...

My to-do list:

1. Clean Up. Clean up my rooms, my stuff, my self, my affairs.
2. Eat Right. Get back on my diet. I'm 235#. Need to lose 40+.
3. Get it Back. Start reading real books again. Start listening to my podcasts and following the news.
4. Go Forward. Make a website for myself. Dig into my DB & Web-app interests. Make something.

Whatcha think?
--
Samuel

That as seen through one eye glance
Corner, board gap, peered askance
Holds more intrigue, danger, thrill
Than any other looking chance.

I am thankful for the time we have with those we love.
For friends and family, close and distant.
For memories and stories and pictures of those we have lost.

I am thankful for child-like awe and wonder.
For warm sunshine on my face and cold air in my nose.
For golden sunsets and pouring rains.

I am thankful for the work of those who have sworn to help and protect us.
For those we would die for, and those who would die for us.
For doctors and soldiers and parents.

I am thankful for the tools to learn and teach.
For patience and perserverance.
For contemplation and understanding.

I am thankful for this day and for each that follows.

warm.

Neythan rolled over and threw back the comforter. The first blue glints of morning were peeking in through the frosted window. Snow had been falling steadily through the night, and sharp crystal lines streaked the window panes. The room was cold, and wisps of foggy breath hung in the air above him as he stared at the ceiling.

can't stay this way for long. i'll freeze.

With a final huff sending a rolling cloud across the room, Neythan swiveled his feet off the bed and winced in preparation for the harsh shock of the pine floor.

This is all off the top of my head. Your opinion and/or facts would be appreciated.

I think movies and politics are opposites. I don't think we see as many "Blockbuster" films these days as we did ten years ago. I think it's becoming easier to put out a new and interesting "good" film and achieve success rather than the fewer, more expensive films completely dominating. More variety without much sacrifice.

Meanwhile, I think politics is becoming much more polarized. There isn't as much variety apparent. You hear only the extremist and the fundamental and almost nothing of the spectrum. No one seems to settle for a "good" law... it must be a blockbuster for one side or the other.

Whaddaya think?

Sanctified motherfuckers
drink the lake dry
eat all the cake
leave us parched
scratching for crumbs

Bless me father
for I have sinned
it has been three months since my last depression

white cloth swears at black cloth
They're unclean
You cannot save them
Why bother trying?

Let them run down the drain
swirl around
til the soup of retribution is ready
salt and pepper to taste.

Don't let them in
heathens
patriots
sinners
can't you smell the innocence on them?
-----

God smells like a forest after the rain.
Deep autumn smells like Holiday,
tastes like spice
Pumpkin pie just out of sight
with cartoon vapors pulling you
down the hill
across the river.
-----

Two days after I drank it, she died.

Not that the two are at all connected.
At least, I don't think so.
-----

I was so mad, I didn't drink coffee for a week.
-----
As I applied it, I realized my elbows would never be the same.

It's four past midnight when the train rolls through at Mach 2, only disturbing those of us already awake. My God, you should feel the world shudder when two thousand tons of steel and product rolls by at fifty-five.

I haven't been sleeping, most nights. Torn between the horror that is the life into which I have placed myself and the fear of not being there for those whose lives I value, I doom myself to these fitful dreams and restless hours. I suppose I should start at the beginning, otherwise you'll get much more lost than you already are.

So, here it is. We've come down to it. AFC Syndrome, and it may be terminal. I speak of the United States, and AFC is short for American-Fucking-Citizen.

If you aren't familiar with it, count yourself lucky. My first exposure to this syndrome was actually in a campy horror/comedy called Modern Vampires. It wasn't until some years later that I actually witnessed someone use the term seriously.

I can't describe exactly how I felt -- or how I still feel -- about it. It's an eye-opener to suddenly experience the stereotype that you were sure didn't exist. Above all, it's sad. Sad, because when you experience those moments, it's as if a little flame of hope is extinguished inside you.

Hope no longer springs eternal. Not even for an American-Fucking-Citizen. If you happen to be one, you won't notice it though. You'll be too busy enjoying the privileges of your "station" in life without accepting any of the responsibilities. When I see people like that, I don't know if I should be angry or not.

I want to be angry at them. They should know better. I know better, so clearly the knowledge is out there to be attained. But, maybe it isn't their fault. Maybe they weren't taught well. That's probably it. Somewhere along the way, they didn't learn the vital lessons of cause and effect, of privilege and responsibility.

Maybe both of their parents had to work full-time to support them, and they didn't have an adequate role model. I know I'm unique in some respects because my mother was home to take care of the kids. Indeed, she ran a daycare, and was a teacher before that. It probably gave me a better start and a better foundation than many people get today.

But that thought puts out another little flame inside me. It smacks of easy answers and stereotypes, and I work very hard not to be caught up in the latter. Maybe too hard. Maybe my desire to not see the stereotypes blinds me to their reality. I hope not.

Anyway, I know that AFC Syndrome isn't the root cause. It goes back to a massive shift in the country.
A shift in education -- we can't teach morals anymore, it might not be inclusive enough or it might offend someone.
A shift in parenting -- we don't spend time with our kids anymore. There is a television station designed for children under two. That upsets me. And, my God, the content. I never saw lions on pogo sticks as a child. I didn't need to. I wish I hadn't as an adult. Bah, I'm off topic.
A shift in community -- we no longer know and trust our neighbors. We can't be certain that when Timmy goes over to Bobby's house that Bobby's parents don't allow R-rated movies. Or X-rated movies. Or anything these days.

Do parents exchange surveys or Official Rules, carefully crafted by high-paid family-practice law firms? Do you, somewhere deep down inside, think it might be a good idea? Does that concern you? As much as the fact that you don't have a copy of the survey?

Five days ago, I bought armyofnone.com. Today, I've got the start of a site. It's a bit of a throw-together -- just a few hours work, and a bit broken -- but I am interested in your thoughts on it. Hoping for emphasis on the design & usability likes & dislikes. Be brutal.

Much appreciated.

Your party is the enemy of the free.
It is an excuse to never compromise.

I do not want your excuses.
I would rather have a reason with which I disagree than any excuse.

You say I might not like it.
I don't have to like it.

I do not want your friendship; I want your respect.
You should want the same.

You hide behind your freedoms, yelling like an angry teenager.
"I'm an American fucking citizen, and I can do what I want!"

Just because you don't have to respect me doesn't mean you shouldn't.
Sometimes, you can be the bigger person.

Your party is a domestic enemy.
I am an army of none.

I have a 19" widescreen at work.

Right now, it is upended, and balanced on a pair of stacking file trays and a pad of random prescription-medication sticky-notes. Widescreen no longer. I give you tallscreen.

Man, reading CSS has never been easier. Now, if I had another in landscape, it'd be awesome. 900 pixels is a bit narrow for viewing many web pages. Sad, really, because I like to not browse full-screen on my 1024x768 PowerBook.

If you don't know him, you must find him on iTunes and/or visit his site. I have his first five albums. His new album, Silent Night Club, is coming out on the 26th. It's Christmas-themed.

That's all I have to say about that.

So, the cats are moved. They're taking it well...better than I, because this means I no longer have a cat-free bedroom.

[Back Story]
So, my parents always had several cats, as they are the only animal to which my mother isn't allergic. I, however, am. Not terribly, mind you, just enough to keep my nose running and my eyes itchy. My bedroom has always been closed off from the rest of the house to reduce my allergen issues -- I was also terribly allergic to dust and mold and who know what else... had an air purifier in my room as a child. So, when ex-g/f and I moved in together and she obtained cats without consulting me, I said no cats in the bedroom. This worked out pretty well, until I moved into my friends house. [We now return you to your regularly scheduled journal.]

I obtained a pair of rooms in this domicile, and only the bedroom has hardwood flooring. Because we aren't ready to let the cats out into the entire house, their food and water must be in my room. And their litter box. Really, I could put down a chair mat in a corner of the other room, but: 1) there is no convenient location to do that with all my stuff and 2) there is no convenient location to do that with all my stuff.

Anyway, this means my room is now a cat haven. It's a good thing for them, really.

All that remains at the old apartment ("This is wheeeere we used to live") is the cleaning supplies. I need to go back and do a once-over and then it's gone. Oh, and take pictures. I anticipate getting much of my deposit back, but it's insurance.

My PC is up and running. While I loves my Mac, it's a 400Mhz PowerBook G3... The laptop, she is not the workhorse she once was, no?

So, I've finally pulled the last week's worth of pictures off my camera -- (My God, it's full of leaves) and hopped on DeviantArt -- lots of deviations & messages to go through. It'll probably be a bit, there.

I've got to clean off my PC. I tossed seven gigs of crap last night, and I estimate I have another seven floating. I have sixteen gigs of shows I'm thinking about tossing, and over ten gigs of "backups" -- migrations from previous computers & drives.

That leaves 50 gigs of music -- 18 of which don't have track/album information, so they aren't in my library -- and 45 gigs of pictures -- need to pare that down a bit, really.

Anyway - back online, enjoying iTunes 7 -- I know... damn otaku -- and having my data . Got to get ready for work, now.

Take care.