"Fortnight Photos" written by Carolinian on estrip.org

Category: photos

12/05/06 11:51 - 27ºF - ID#21102

Fortnight Photos

Out with the old plate:

In with the new plate:

"We're on the road to nowhere..."

Permalink: Fortnight_Photos.html
Words: 22
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: work

12/05/06 12:58 - 24ºF - ID#21101

Lime Betty

Today (or I should say yesterday) at work, everyone all of a sudden couldn't get their e-mail. And who's the IT guy who gets called in to fix stuff (but doesn't get to make a single IT purchase decision): me.

So I look at what's acting as our e-mail server, which I shall now dub "Lime Betty"*. Lime Betty is a green 233 mhz iMac, circa 1998 or something like that. She has 256MB of RAM and a 5GB hard drive that's storing messages for the entire company, and it's doing no more good cause its all full. And Lime Betty's running OS X 10.3.9, just one step away from the current release of Tiger (the latest version), and it gets even freakier that the only way that the guys before me could get a computer that old to even be able to run such an advanced operating system at all is by the user having to type cryptic commands at the blank gray Open Firmware (equivalent to the PC BIOS) screen upon booting up. And the whole time, the hard drive inside Lime Betty is chattering endlessly, desperately trying to make up for her lack of available RAM. Lime Betty's only saving grace is that she's a very becoming shade of lime jello green and was joy to look at.

And the thing is, my superiors are wondering why this machine all of a sudden stopped working. All these years they've been using this thing, and have never gotten something more reliable and new because of a pervasive "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude.

Some times, I feel like I'm not working at an IT job, but at a fucking lemonade stand. At least they agreed to replace Lime Betty with a more modern but less visually attractive machine tomorrow.

Lime Betty is a reference to a mysterious old 70's mainframe computer named "Black Betty" featured in a Dilbert TV episode that ran the whole company and that needed to be saved to keep the company afloat.

Permalink: Lime_Betty.html
Words: 337
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: games

12/03/06 12:15 - ID#21100

Second Life

Long ago, I predicted that there was an untapped marked for virtual worlds where people could create their own stuff. More than a handful of geeks scoffed at mybelief, dissing stuff like VRML "it's not anything lie doom" "why would you want to build anything and not kill stuff", etc.

But I believed. And after all these years, I've finally found Second Life [link]http://www.secondlife.com[/link] I'm happy that reality is finally catching up to my ideas about the world. About damn time.

Building stuff out of legos kicks ass, and I really want to learn how to program cool stuff, because it sounds interesting and because you can actually make money at it.

My craziest idea would be recreating a Elmwood Strip/Village/whatever, but that would require a ton of $$$ to buy land with. Maybe I should settle for my slightly less crazy idea of creating a small (e:strip) area.

Permalink: Second_Life.html
Words: 154
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: movies

11/30/06 07:41 - ID#21099

All-Star Ogre

I will have to re-watch my Shrek DVD tonight; I keep having that Smash-mouth song running through my head, and I fear it won't stop till I see the movie.

Permalink: All_Star_Ogre.html
Words: 30
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

11/17/06 04:46 - 47ºF - ID#21098

Adding another ring to the tree

On this day, I turn 31.

And thus I face the disturbing reality that I'm now closer to 40 than 20, and that I'm not allowed to have any more late nights out, fun, or sex until I divorce my first wife, buy an expensive sports car, and pick up the second trophy wife.

Of course, I've never been married, have never owned a minivan, and I'm generally the type of guy that trophy wives tend to avoid. I'm totally failing society's expectations of near-middle age mediocrity. And that's even more disturbing, because it puts me in a kind of limbo where I don't have any well-treaded paths to follow and no herd mentality to safely cling to and use to disavow any accusation of stagnation or complacency by saying "I was doing what everyone else was doing."

I've somehow ended up driving the bumper car out of the theme park. So now what?

jenks writes at 12:32:04 11/19/06 - Comment #12985: as I just learned from nip/tuck- 62 is the new 26, so you (we) are all good. ;)

ladycroft writes at 08:16:20 11/18/06 - Comment #12976: happy belated birthday! you're only as old as you feel, and fuck old society rules. it's 2006...things are way different now.

uncutsaniflush writes at 09:13:36 11/17/06 - Comment #12934: happy birthday.

for what's worth when you live outside the box, you have freedom. The sucky thing about freedom is that you get to do what you want. You actually have to think about your life. Your life isn't pre=programmed for you.

That's also that great thing about freedom.

I'm going to be 48 in a couple of weeks and I still don't have any idea what I want to do with my life.

I've tried multiple "career" paths and so far none have fit me.

Good luck. I know it's not the Jewish New Year but may the best of your 30th year be the worst of your 31 year. I've loved that sentiment ever since I heard it living in NYC in the 80s working for Orthodox Jews. For some reason, I was their Goy Boy.

metalpeter writes at 06:46:02 11/17/06 - Comment #12928: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the eve of Christmas Eve I will be 34 so I would say I'm worse of then you, but that most likely dosn't help you much. Just make sure You go out and do something fun for your birthday. It dosn't have to be to get trashed and crawling home from the local pub it can be anything fun that you usaly don't get a chance to do. Or you can allways go out to a bar and find a nice young thing to have sex with, or maybe try one of those Asain Accupressure places. As long as you do something you like. Try not to think about what you are supposed to do acording to society, if you do that to much you will wind up in a hospital.

museumchick writes at 11:33:04 11/17/06 - Comment #12913: I do hope you'll go out and have a great day, irregardless. Happy Birthday!

enknot writes at 10:39:39 11/17/06 - Comment #12911: I feel you buddy. Not freaking out never happens when someone gafauws your dismay and sugesst it. Actually typically the exact opposite occurs and you, well, you freak out.

I have a lot of really young friends (by young I mean early 20's) and sometimes I look around and say to my self. What the hell am I doing here? I guess the only two things that keep me going is them looking back with expressions that imply 'enjoying good friends who really love you stupid', and this other little thing that keeps me inches above an age crisis every other day. I'll tell you what it is.

Every day I work on something that will have a positive long term real world effect (so video games are right out, but I do enjoy them from time to time). Until I left school this was really easy, since school was the thing I worked on. Now it's a little tougher but as long as I keep it up I end up just happy enough with my self to keep going on with my wrists zipped shut, and I have something to show for my years of wonton oxygen consumption on this planet

In defense of those I call friend, not all of them are younger than me, and all of them are awesome, special, and amazing. I like to think that they are border line geniuses, and since most of them graduated city honors there is some proof in that statement. still the 'that love you' part is really the only thing that matters since one day we'll all be older than me, or you.

leetee writes at 10:05:23 11/17/06 - Comment #12910: Happy Birthday, (e:Carolinian) !!!

Trophy wives only marry for money... so if that is what you're looking for, get working! lol

I understand how you feel. I've felt the same kinda things you do, just my own version. Particularly around my birthday.

I end up feeling like i am, well, since i am 37, let's use that year... 37 and everyone else my age has already figured out the career issues in life and got educated and degrees and here i am freaked out about a GED.

But life doesn't work on this neat and tidy lil schedule. Imagine how boring life would be if it was! Everyone at a certain age would be doing exactly the same thing!

Find the beat of your own drummer... and enjoy getting there!

mrmike writes at 08:59:38 11/17/06 - Comment #12909: What Jason said. As somebody who's 40ish (shaddup) Society's expectations are worth worrying about. Make yourself happy on your schedule. Nobody else's merits consideration

jason writes at 08:19:27 11/17/06 - Comment #12908: Oh hell, it's your birthday, stop sulking! Go have fun! Happy birthday!

Permalink: Adding_another_ring_to_the_tree.html
Words: 151
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

11/12/06 03:52 - 38ºF - ID#21097

20/20

In hindsight, I reallly should have talked to the blond girl in horn-rimmed glasses. I am such a wuss. The worst fate I can meet is, after all, the current situation I find myself in.

Upon being sober, I'm sure that none of this will make sense.

Permalink: 20_20.html
Words: 47
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: music

11/06/06 06:04 - 56ºF - ID#21096

They Call Me Hollow Fellow

(to the tune of Donovan's 'There Is A Mountain')

First there is a concert, then there is no concert, then there is
First there is a concert, then there is no concert, then there is

Donovan at Kleinahan's--I missed it cause I did not plan
Donovan at Kleinahan's--I missed it cause I did not plan

First there is a concert, then there is no concert, then there is
First there is a concert, then there is no concert, then there is

Reefer Madness ends next week, my ADD I've got to beat
Reefer Madness ends next week, my ADD I've got to beat

First there is a concert, then there is no concert, then there is
First there is a concert, then there is no concert, then there is

Permalink: They_Call_Me_Hollow_Fellow.html
Words: 129
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: potpourri

11/03/06 12:12 - 32ºF - ID#21095

Random musings

Random subjects

Cuteness: (e:lizabeth) sent me a

to a cute shirt (at the very bottom of the linked page) that will put on threadless. I find it both completely stupid and completely profound at the same time, kind of like a William Carlos Williams poem

. I want one.

On the PHP meeting: went well. The sponsors sprung for pizza at Casa di Pizza, which was cool. While it's more of a recruitment gimmick for a local tech company than anything else, it does somewhat fill the gap of the technology/programming clubs I left back in NC. I got to go bowling with the group afterwards, which is pretty cool.

On discovering honeycrisp apples: They are like crack that grows on trees. They are just that good. They are THE platonic form of what a good apple should sound, feel, and taste like. Wow.

Permalink: Random_musings.html
Words: 157
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: party

10/30/06 07:44 - 55ºF - ID#21092

Halloween Reflections

I have come to two conclusions about this weekend.

1) I had a pretty activity-packed halloween; it certainly made up for all the weekends I spent inside doing nothing particularly useful.

2) There is nothing hotter than a hot librarian with a hollowed-out book dancing to techno.

Permalink: Halloween_Reflections.html
Words: 47
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: party

10/28/06 05:16 - 43ºF - ID#21091

Parties Past and Future

Future parties:

First off, someone in Amherst is having a halloween techno party, and me and (e:ladycroft) have thought about going for about an hour (it's being hosted by the bald guy who was handing out fliers at the party last night). I've got 2-3 more slots in my car if anyone's interested (I'll be DD'ing). message/email/whatever me if you want to come along. Space in my car is limited, first come first serve. Here's a link to the party if you want to drive/go yourself.

Past parties:

I went to (e:ladycroft) 's party last night, in spite of me being absent-minded enough to think the party was happening the 31st (I know, I know, who the hell has a drinking party on a tuesday). Around 9:00PM last night, I realized my mistake and scrambled to get a costume. Everywhere else was closed, but Tops was open. They didn't have anything that would really fit a person older than 12....except in the Christmas section. So I did the only thing I could do, and bought an green "elf" stocking cap with ears on the side. My story would be that santa was now letting
Jews work into his factory as part of an expanded diversity program. I don't have any pictures but I'm guessing that I might appear in one or two posted by another peep.

Aftermath: I ended up have a lot of fun, but I did take a fall on the steps going out and I woke up with a butt-ache this morning. And to answer (e:lizabeth) 's phone texted question from last night, a great many cute chicas were spotted, a decent number talked to, but that's about the extent of it.

Permalink: Parties_Past_and_Future.html
Words: 316
Location: Buffalo, NY