Utilitee, Serenitea
“Coffee is for utility, tea is for serenity.”
— Me, today .. um, yesterday
Begin the Beguine - Second First Day
After a time of freelancing and nothing fulltime, a time that went on for too long, I walked out the door last Monday, Aug. 11 to the strains of “Begin the Beguine” by Cole Porter, courtesy of iTunes shuffle.
Because the guy I was replacing had not left yet to return to graduate school I was only there for a few hours for a couple of days last week, scratching the surface of how the job, the interactions, the computer set-up, the rhythm works.
It was only mornings. So now I’ve had a few days off and it seems like months since I’ve been there, because I REALLy want to be there, working. However, I return tomorrow, starting my new coffee addiction - I’ve never ever drunk it daily on any sort of routine but I’m about to start because it seems to work for everyone else.
I return tomorrow for my second first day, and I’ll have my own desk space and I’ll get my hands on the keyboard and get it all going. And I’ll be on … much … bigger … monitors. Yeah, plural.
(Somewhere, soon I think I’ll have more fun if I have a “this has nothing to do with my employer” type disclaimer somewhere on my site(s). It’s never been a problem, before, period because I know better, but still, I think I’ll put one up for once, just for that “extra layer of comfort.”)
House of Cards - Radiohead
I’ve never liked Radiohead very much, but this is called “House of Cards.” Americans seem enthralled with once-earnest British Isles bands, long after they’ve gone stale (U2 anyone?)
Tarnished Quarter, Shiny Nickel
When you take away options, stranger things happen.
That’s the quote that came at the end and the takeaway from my dream earlier this morning that ended about two minutes ago. It involved several different scenes, this dream, but ultimately it seemed to be about making a person more deperate as he was hounded and accused and victimized by the people around him, the people closest to him; except for his parents. Though even them too as he could detect they expected absolutely nothing out of him anymore except survival. And at times, they thought perhaps that too was making his life worse.
It involved a grown man being late for school and classes; but miles upon miles to walk.
This man, this person constantly assailed, nevertheless walked by both a grimy, oiled quarter on the ground, then a shinier nickel a little farther up the hill, knowing kids who walked the same path would get more joy out of the discovery.
It involved me, or someone I thought for awhile was me, sitting in a car with my laptop, the one I currently own, the one I’m currently typing into. Someone else had carried it, walking away from the house, still typing away. And the WiFi had lasted an extraordinarily long time but at the corner, it ended and the guy carrying the laptop had to turn around. But, in the nature of dreams, with seamless yet also abrupt merge, it was me, suddenly in the car, in front of a strange house, with the plug cord snaking out across the sidewalk but only because it was snagged on something in the round-top cement wall. It seemed I was doing some kind of surveillance, discovery for someone else. It felt like it was on the right side of the law, or at least the right side of justice, trying to find the truth no one else was looking for.
Trying to return someone’s options.
It involved a hippy looking guy in a nice car, a Skylark or an Oldsmobile of some kind pulling into a parking spce in front of me, only then to imediately pull out again, or start to before seeing me walk behind him. I said something mildly uncomplimentary to him, but only mildly, after all he had stopped without me having to shout.
My brother walked out of jail, with two swollen bumps on his side, near his hips. He was shirtless. There was another bump on his forehead and a cut on his lower face. Except it was my face. Except I knew it was my brother. And I knew he wanted to tell me what had happened to my glasses, which were supposed to be on his face. No, my face.
He was about 10 people back in a very narrow corridor. I, he, was about a head taller than everyone else, as we often are, and people were being released. He’d only been there overnight, or maybe a couple of days. There was only doubt, I thought in my dream, because the cuts seemed to be fresh but healed as if they had happened a little while ago. But as he walked through it was my face and he walked past me with a small smile, ready to explain but knowing now wasn’t the best place. He stopped a little farther on as I let him walk past me and seemed to either insert or take something from a column in the wall.
There was tension in the city, though I don’t know where, and something was about to happen. But then I woke up, so it didn’t.
CD REVIEW: Flagstaff Foursome, Telescope, Has Melody, Meaning
(First published at Desicritics.org, Cross-posted also at ThePodcastBlog.com)
A lot of new music gets by on just being new - for about two or three listens. And then it fades away. The best thing about these guys, the band Telescope, compared to others, is their sincerity. Lead singer Seth Holland drives crackling sincerity through every word and the musicians emphasize the erupting emotions.
The 10-track album, For The Rest Of Us — download it free for the moment — is packed with self-described power pop. Think Candlebox, or a hugely more meaningful, less cheesy, Hootie & The Blowfish. Or a talented, cringeless Jonas Brothers.
Overall, Telescope's music is lighter melodic rock rather than the heavy side of things. I'm not sure if they amp it all up live, but if they do, the songs have the strength for different interpretations.
Their most popular tune, "Stormy Weather," brings to mind the mid-90s band, Live. The song is a very mellow, bare-boned production that naturally brings the lyrics and what's being said into focus.
Choosing Ideal Driving Music
Driving music to me has to be something catchy, sometihng that sounds good loud and, obviously in an enclosed space. It also has to be fast paced. You need to want to head bang or sing along or tap your fingers on dashboard, legs or steering wheel.
They also have to go well together; one song has to sound good leading into th enext. Sometimes this can just ruin things. It ca be a case of graduation, from one style of music into the next. Some - a lot, most - work well. Some just don’t.
Tears For Tears, No Doubt, Siouxsie And The Banshees, even most Fatboy Slim - none of it works for driving music.
I had all the above on the CD I’ve been recently listening to in the car and, though I didn’t at first, I started to fast forwarded over all of them. Out of 17 tracks that I put together, I ended up listening consistently to about five of them.
Until this year, I had been listening to a lot of sports talk and poli-talk radio, and hadn’t needed tunes, much. But the music will always catch you.
So last night, I shuffled and juggled and ripped CDs I own trying to find songs that would work together.
Megadeth, with its pounding guitars and drums is a sure winner, guaranteed along with old-school Metallica to make you discover you’ve accelerated 15 mph without noticing. A few Justin Timberlake songs - pretty much the four I can stand - are also surprisingly effective at making the journey cruise on by.
So for 0811008Drivemix I narrowed it down to the following:
Read the rest of this entry »
Exultation and Despair
There IS a difference between exulting despair and despairing exultation.
“Only a man who has felt ultimate despair is capable of feeling ultimate bliss.”
- Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Mont Cristo via Dirty_Snowfake, (via into) (via antoinetta)
Living Near Toxic Waste
This is what faced me when I looked out my back window.
photo by Temple A. Stark
Before I could grab the camera and snap, the sign that was up on the wagon, that would have made it a better photo fell. It says, “Toxic Waste.”
It appeared there overnight. I got close enough to see the fallen sign also said “Stay Away, Stay Away.” It’s written on the back of a box for a half rack of Natural Ice.
And if it wasn’t for my new neighbors I wouldn’t have been very freaked out at all. And I would have gone up and fixed the sign and taken another picture.
But our new neighbors have new cars coming in and out frequently. Yesterday morning two women I hadn’t seen before came out and drove away in a car with an obviously very flat front tire.
And at some point I’ll call the police on them, I have no doubt. But I didn’t want to deal with it all today. A little while later, I saw the wagon moved up behind a car that had been parked there, nearer the neighbor.
There was also a big splash of white powder I noticed when I took the first picture.
photo by Temple A. Stark
The Stacked Playing Card Test
I collect playing cards, and that’s a big reason i did the test. My selections were … Hearts most chosen … … King of Hearts … Ace of Clubs … Queen of Diamonds … Ace of Spades
Only element of the following has any basis in possible current or future reality.
|
What Your Playing Cards Tell About Your Future |
 Right now you are focused on your internal emotions, including a bit of pain and suffering. Your emotions are currently tied to an influential man in your life. Someone who has the power to change your life for the better. Your closest friends bring you high social status. You run with a popular, wealthy, attractive crowd. The near future will bring an outgoing, flirtatious woman into your life. She will be alluring and fun - but ultimately dangerous. Beware of some very bad news. This may mean the loss of someone close - or the loss of a close relationship. |
2008 Beijing Olympics Have Begun
When the Olympics are held in the United States or Canada, or London or Australia, the overridsing feeling an observer gets is one of desperate, depressing commercialism.
I don’t know, there’s a certain too-rigid structure in China - but there’s so much history, tradition and they treat things seriously - other than the military. It gives the Olympics more heft in my eyes.
So at this moment on the USA Network I am being introduced to women’s fencing and it’s the sabre competition. I won’t go into the usual complaint that coverage is to USA-centric, but I do wish there was a much more rounded approach to coverage. After all, this is a gobal event.
I fenced in college for one elective. I loved it becauxe of my reach. The riposte and perry and lunge, words we all know and use - bu tnot in there correct context.
In the padded suits they all look larger than they are.
I want to watch the womnen’s sccer USa vs. Japan but I’m pretty sure I’m going to fall asleep befor eit starts r soon after. i oly had about 90 minute sof sleep last night.
I didn’t bother watching the Opening Ceremonies. It’s seriously boring, and its one occassion where still photos rule over video.
I’ll post more on sources n how to follow the Olympics that come from different countries, as well as the best of the best. ….
UPDATE - Groan - they just showed three American victories in a row - and nothing else in fencing. Now it’s to women’s air rifle. .. And what’s with all the women’s events up first?
UPDATE2 - Ah, I forgot. Watching on DISH Network there’s an enhanced interactive element to the coverage, including athlete bios, medal counts - eventually and video highlights and more. I don’t have a phone line attached so I miss a lot of enhancements that are offered through that.
The University of Alaska-Fairbanks has one of the best rifle programs in the USA? Who knew.The G,S,B medals are about to be awarded from this air rifle competition. They’re shooting at a target about half an inch across from 33 feet away. Awesome.
An Image Interpretation
Anshul Sushil, who lives in New Delhi, India asked to and then went through my Flickrstream of photos, wanting to offer his own written interpretation of one photo. He chose:
He picked up on a few things different from those I was thinking of when I took the picture or even what I think of the photo now.
It’s pure unadulterated vivaciousness in the eyes of the girl - sheer excitement that makes you feel happy…
But the clear and obvious thing about the picture is the vibrant colors, which Anshul also picked out:
Colors - colors have always been so cheerful - they denote variation of things, elements in life - and break monotonicity of life…this is very well exemplified in the picture.
It’s always fun to see how other see what you see. The story behind the dressis that the girl was part of a Folklorico dance group. She was a part of the smaller group of dancers who were older than the rest, and therefore they and she danced toward the end of the day, in Eloy, AZ. This photo wads published in the Eloy Enterprise, where I was editor at the time. This photo, was also picked and I was paid for it to be used to represent Mexican heritsge in the Philadeplhia Chamber of Commerce visitor’s guide last year.
I feel compelled to mention for my own sanity, again, that there is a very poor ratio of good to OK, to up-there-for-no-reason photos at my Flickr. It’s not a pro account and for a long time I almost completely ignored it. It’s only this year as I became more engaged with social media outlets that I begin to edit and delete many.
WordPress Admin Error
No, not here. Everything is still swimming here.
Nope, at Polstate.com, I had just got up the verve to restart the blog, and I wanted to post a “hello I’m back” with a little bit about what the site was to become. Not political news in other words.
Anyone with a WordPress blog knows that “admin” is the default user.
Further anyone WP blogger knows that when you type in the wrong password it says:
ERROR: Incorrect password.
So I type in “admin” and password and get this instead, complete with capitalization differential:
Error: Wrong username.
Um, !@#$% and !@#$% again.
Since the site is currently dormant my urgency isn’t vast or near crisis mode. More vex mode because I have NO idea how to fix it.
I could get into the site with the GUEST username and password, but in that mode I can’t publish anything, so it gets me no further than the comforting knowledge that the entire site isn’t screwbled.
But this weekend, a big chunk of time will be devoted to figuring it out.
Ooh Child Things Are Gonna Get Easier
I always think it’s important to acknowledge important days on a personal blog.
So today is my birthday and up until about 14:45 I was trying to think of what to write here that would be suitable reflective without turning into being maudlin.
Being unemployed sucks ass. i’ve been slowly developing a freelance roster of graphics jobs but they haven’t been enough to take the edge off the worry factor of being unemployed. Yet, I know if a person - me in this case - allows themselves to dive in a the deep end of pity it can quickly turn into drowning.
I’ve believed in myself these last few months, but there have been long moments where you wonder, where you begin to wonder whether a complete makeover is necessary or some type of can’t-afford-it in-any-case career change.
Long moments. But ultimately at the end of every day I believed in myself and my abilities as I transition into graphic design. Transition for over a year but nevertheless, not as experienced, on paper, as I could be.
And on a birthday, when I at least and i know many others do, you tend to reflect on what’s gone on before, I really didn’t want to write here about “what could be and what will be and etc. etc.”
So, all that has been happily short-circuited by the fact that I was offered a job today, and, of course accepted.
It was an interview i’d been on earlier and in a few more days I’ll divulge the employer. But it was an interview I did a couple of months ago and I was “1 of 2″ And, happily the person who interviewed me was good to her word and called me up today, as a person who was working there is headed back to college.
So many things came together well today. “Well” is an understatement. Thank you to all those who wished me well and believed in me as the months passed.
Truly a time for celebration!!!!
McMurphy Couldn’t Sell Hydrogen Cars
More words for this later today, but two words for now: “Total Confirmation”
