May 3, 2003

Things have been rather mellow the last week or so. I'm in the last month of the acting class that I've been teaching and I have an interview for another play in a week--Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead. I had originally said, when I started doing all of this again, that there were a couple of things that I didn't want to do; one of them was Shakespeare. The reason being that I felt more drawn to current American drama. But, this is a very cool play-within-a-play piece and, so, it's interesting. Must stay flexible, neh?

I was able to figure out what the problem with my system was. It's this damn video card. It seems that when you install new hardware, Mandrake's version of Linux gets very confused. Go figure. Ended up installing a different flavor of Linux a couple of days ago. I've also been playing with a couple of new proggys that I d/l off of the 'net and I've been putting more time into building up the website.

I've been reading a few different things and I'm very excited about a couple of them that seem to have fallen well below the industry's radar. I wish that I could mention them here but, I don't think that it's the time for that yet. I've also been working on a second short story for the art section, about a time I went hunting with an old roommate, and it should be up sometime soon. I've already been working on it for a few months. But, damn...it's hard to write.

The newest additions here are:

A new gallery of images entitled day.time.

I've changed the sizes and colorings of the fonts in a lot of the places across the site.

updates

05/06/03: I've put up a new index page. It's the bio-hazard page that you saw on your way in. What's that you say? You want to see it again? Click here, then!

05/08/03: I've added my pgp pub key to the "Who is responsible for this crap?" link. Want it? Click here, already.

April 19, 2003

Gosh, it sure has been a long time since I've updated this site. A lot has happened in the last few months. I'm not really sure where to begin.

I've been futzing around a bit with the computer still. I haven't written any new tutorials but, I'm planning on writing one in the next few days and it should be up soon. I haven't been idle though. I was able to install a second hard drive, a video card, and a new burner. I was also able to install Linux on the second drive and was running a dual-boot system up until the video card install. I'm not really sure what happened there but, I'm working on figuring it out right now. I was able to play around with Linux for a few months and feel that I am gaining in competency although, I realize that I still have quite a bit to learn and digest.

I was asked to teach an acting class and I've been very busy with that. Reading acting theory books, putting together the different types of analysis that I feel an actor should be acquainted with, plays, etc. I have a great set of students all in their early to late twenties; all very dedicated. Doing all of these things made me decide that I wanted to see what would happen if I started to try and act again, myself. Long story, short--I got new pictures taken, ran off some resumes, and have been submitting to talent agencies, plays, and films for the last two weeks. I went on my first interview this last week for Ionesco's Rhinoceros. I did well on the preliminary interview and was called back that afternoon but, I didn't get a part. It was kind of disappointing because, it was a really great piece. I'm just sitting tight now hoping for something to kick in. It would be really great to get an agent. That would go a long way towards helping me get some work.

I've been working out, and meditating. Making the rounds at the library and the bookstores, drinking lots of coffee and hanging with friends; a couple of raves, and parties. Got a chance to finally read William Gibson's "Neuromancer"; a great book that every netizen should read. Just life, I suppose. I am still not allowed to see my daughter and that bothers me a great deal. I guess I just don't know what to say about this last part other then that I suppose I just have to accept the situation until I am able to actually do something about it. I really wish the ex wasn't so damn hard to deal with.

I'm still living in the same place. There has been talk recently of looking for somewhere else to live; but it's all still very much up in the air.

The newest additions here are:

A completed image gallery of images that I shot entitled night.time.

A whole new section on my take on Buddhism. I call it Non-buddhistic Buddhism.

Update April 28,2003: Finished a new tutorial in the computer area that covers the upper layers of the OSI model. Click here to view it.

I haven't really done much of anything to the site here. I've been going through a lot in my personal life. Mostly, having to do with what's going on with my abilities to earn money, dealing with the ex about how often I get to see my daughter, learning more and more about how my computer works, "How do I really feel about love?", and the usual, "What am I going to eat today?" and, "I wonder if I should do laundry."

I suppose that I've been spending a lot of time trying to figure out what exactly I want to do with the rest of my life or, at least, the next twenty years of it or so. I've been wanting to start acting again for the longest time. But, it's very hard for me to save up the money that I need for a car when I keep getting fired/laid off from jobs that are of a dead end nature to begin with. I've been forced to really take a look at myself as a person and my worth as an employee and I've come up with a couple of different things. First off, I'm not really worth much as a drone or common worker. I do know that my personality is too strong for this and the type of people that end up above me in jobs like this don't like that. I've also noticed that I tend to sabotoge myself on these kinds of jobs and that would be because I don't really (as my latest boss said to me), "...want and need this job." Finally, I don't think I should take any of it too personally, this final conclusion for a two reasons; 1) When I've been let go it's been at the same time as several other people. So, it's not just me. 2)Rather, it would seem to be a combination of our countries high unemployment rate and the desire on the part of all these tin god, company man types trying to emulate their boss that is, in his turn, trying to emulate his boss that, in his turn, is trying to be like George Bush. It's all a vicious cycle.

I haven't been able to see my daughter as much as I would like to. I've payed for the last couple of sessions that the ex and I had to work out a visitation schedule. But, the ex seems dead set against me seeing or talking to my daughter. She uses every single excuse that she can come up with to keep us apart. It bothers me a great deal. To get an idea of what she's complaining about...she says that me telling my daughter (in response to my daughter telling me that she signed on to the 'net) that AOL sucks is inappropriate because what I should really be worried about is encouraging my daughter in all that she does. Of course, I think that it's a question of being authentic and honest with my daughter about who I am and what I think. Besides, I asked my daughter if there was something that she wanted to talk to me about and she shook her head and told me that there wasn't. Really, it's just the ex getting pissed that I would tell my daughter that something she decided on wasn't that smart. Because of this I don't get to see my daughter.

The brightest spot in all of this has been learning more and more about the way computers work. I've been able to install a second hard drive and am now running a dual-boot install with Windows xp Pro and Mandrake Linux. I've really learned a great deal about both of those things. I've just finished a twenty chapter book on Linux and I've also been able to take a look at the way that Perl works and it's starting to, in a small way, come together. I've also meet a new friend that shares an intense intrest in computers. He's the one that was able to give me both of the new OSs and we were able to go to the local computer convention that was really more of a bazzar both in its style and its level of value. It would seem that not really great deals are to be gotten at these things. Rather, it would seem a question of the conventions setting the bar, so to speak. The big guys match their prices, (because their able to buy in such large quantities) and the little mom and pop operators buy a few of them and are able to make their weekly trips to the convention worth it for those that would like to, in turn, save themselves the trip.

The whole love life thing. I only include it here because, its been so long since i've made an entry here and I feel like I should be somewhat all inclusive just, in the name of wholeness and fairness. A couple of women have seemed somewhat interested, but, let's be honest. If anything was going to happen it just would. I suppose that's that.

Finally, I've been able to read a lot of different things recently. A bit of Plato's Socratic Dialogues--Phadreo, The Apology, Crito, and Euthephryo. Another one called "The Enlightened Heart" by Stephen Mitchell. One of my favorite books in the entire world was another Stephen Mitchell offering entitled "The Enlightened Mind". I had been looking for "The Enlightened Heart" for many years and knew that it would some day come to me. (No pun intended.)

After writing all of this it would seem that the question isn't whether or not I should do my laundry or what it is that I am going to eat but, rather...Am I sleepy enough to go to sleep, now?

The most recent changes here have been:

1. A new section in the networking tutorials of the computer area that covers the Transport Layer of the OSI model. You can read it by clicking here.

It's been over a month since my last entry here and a lot has happened.

The most recent changes here have been:

1. As of this moment, absolutely none.

November 10, 2002

1. Added another networking section to the Computer area covering the Networking Addressing Formats.
2. A partially completed images page in the art area.
3. I've run out of things that I think make for good downloads. I am planning to make a single document, with all of the downloads that I've found helpful, in the near future.

It's been a couple of weeks since I've updated the site. I've been kind of busy.

First off; my job has been going much better. I've been able to learn a great deal as well as making friends with a couple of people. So, that's going well.

I've been able to raise all the money for my rent and I'm going to buy some new contact lenses and shoes. I'm connected to the net, I can read good books, eat out every once in awhile and, even, watch the occasional movie. Life is good.

I've been studying very hard with the computers. A couple more sections of Dreamweaver and the networking book. Some more playing around with this and that and the incidental reading--always the incidental reading. There's a new section in the computer area concerning the network layer. Click here to see it.

I've been trying to track down the rights to this one project and it's going well but, there's a difference in time zones that's making it hard for me to communicate with who I need to because, of having to be at work during the day. Also, I've been staying in touch with my friend with the camera and checked out a book that's dedicated to the documentary film process. So, I'm hoping to get the bus documentary started soon.

I went to a couple of raves over the last two weeks. One was downtown and was great. Two levels in three areas made it feel like you were club hopping without leaving the building. The second one was just a few days ago. It was in the mountains and lasted from early Friday evening until late Saturday morning. It was very strange and fun.

I also went and read some of my poetry out loud again. It was a great experience. It was well received by the audience and it lead to getting to know the guy that ran it a little better. He's pretty cool and wants to try and get another reading going and wonders if I would like to help him with it. Very cool.

The most recent changes here have been:

1. Added another networking section to the Computer area covering the Network Layer.

Some cool things have happened this week. I'm getting more and more acclimated to my new job and I've been able to pick up extra shifts. So, that's going well or rather it was. It seems that in my attempt to keep myself as invisible as possible I've made some people feel as though I'm antisocial. Oh man, sometimes I feel like I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't. It really sucks. I was singled out, among the people that are being trained, for a special test on my knowledge. I didn't do to well on it and have to take it again on Monday in order to prove myself.

My roomate's dog has a bad injury to her spine and she drags herself around the house. It's very sad to look at and my room mate is trying very hard to raise the thousands of dollars she needs for the operation. One of the ways she came up with to do this was to have a fundraiser here at the house. So, there was a "jump for joy", as she calls them on our front lawn this past weekend. People were all over the house eating, learning to swing, talking, and listening to music. One person in particular is very cool. He actually was able to give me a clean copy of Win2k. Great, another thing to learn. We seem to get along really well and will probably be spending a bit of time together in the near future.

I also ran into an old actor friend. It was kind of strange cause we hadn't seen each other in about twenty years and she hadn't seemed to have changed a bit. Her mother was with her and her husband. She's doing well and I am going to have to set up a time to hang out with her. Just one of those odd, odd things that happens in life that seems to come from nowhere.

I finished reading Aztec Autumn it was a really good. I tried calling the publisher to see what the status was on the rights for the first two books in the series but, they haven't called back yet. I'm thinking the rights must not be available but I'm planning on calling again on Monday.

I saw two movies this week. One was RED DRAGON which was well acted but, it's hard to get scared by a potbellied Anthony Hopkins playing Hannibal Lecter. The second thing I saw was more of a documentary really. Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. This is a great great documentary that makes a strong case for gun control. He has a great way of making you laugh and, then, a moment later, cringing when you realize that what you are seeing is real.

I was able to pay the majority of my rent off. So, it doesn't look as though I will have to move. Yay.

Of course, I've been keeping busy with the whole Dreamweaver thing. I've even been able to figure out animations but, I haven't worked any of them in because, I want to get a bit better at it.

Lastly, I finished Return to Castle Wolfenstein. What a fun time that was.

The most recent changes here have been:

1. Added another networking section to the Computer area covering the IEEE 802 Networking Standards.
2. A cool rollover effect on the "Who Is Responsible For This Crap?" page. You can view it by clicking here.

My second week at the new job and I seem to be doing okay. There's been a lot to keep straight in my head but that's the way it always is I suppose. I better start making some more money soon. My room mate is kinda bummed out that I'm late with the rent and told me that I need to come up with the remainder of the rent or else. Yikes. I should be okay. He asked for it by the 15th and I told him that I would have most of it. He said that as long as that was the case it would be alright.

I was also able to contact my friend with the camera. He's in New York right now working on a commercial but, after a brief conversation on the phone he seems to be commited to the making of this documentary. This should be lots of fun.

What else? I've been working a bunch on this website. Actually, put it in a bit of time this week and am quite proud of myself. I'm still reading those books and am almost finished with Aztec Autumn.

The most recent changes here have been:

1. A new layout for the home page. The main links have been moved into the rectangle to the left of this text.
2. Redid all of the font colors in the computer tutorials section to make them web-safe.
3. Added an Art Area and moved the Pomes section so that it is under it.
4. Added a short story section and a short story entitled "The River People".
5. Added another networking section to the Computer area covering The Data Link Layer of the OSI Model.
6. A cool rollover effect on the Who Is Responsible For This Crap page. You can view it by clicking here.

I suppose the biggest thing that's happened to affect my life recently is starting at this new job. I've been there for six days now. I finished my training last night and am going to be working tomorrow. It would seem that there is quite a bit of work available there so I'm happy. Maybe, this will help me get out of the financial mess that my life has become due to the last couple of months of unemployment.

I've continued studying the Dreamweaver help files and am about halfway through. I've also been reading a couple of really good books. One is called "Aztec Autumn" by Gary Jennings and the other is entitled "The New Buddhism" and is written by James William Coleman. Both very good books.

I also ran into a friend of mine tonight at a local outdoor cafe. I trained him a few years back on how to be an assistant cameraman and he's still doing it. As a matter of fact he told me that he had just bought an entire new camera package and would be willing to come and help me on anything that I might need help on. The possibilities are truly endless.

I've been continuing to take random images with the new digital camera that I was able to get my hands on but, I think I've burned out my local area and will have to head out farther afield in order to get more.

My daughter also finally returned from her month long vacation with her mother out of state. I'm very happy about this.

The most recent changes here have been:

1. I've moved the entire site onto a local folder that is being maintained using Dreamweaver 3.
2. Because I added a short story to the website I created a new section called the Art Area. This is where I plan to put up samples of my art. The pomes section has now been moved under the umbrella of this new area.

The last week has been fruitful. I've been very busy writing up a new section and I'm hoping to be done with the first part in the next week or so.

In my personal life, I figured that it was about time I tried going out again to read my stuff. But, I wasn't able to get on stage because, they ran out of time and I didn't fight my way to the front of the group that would jump up as each reader finished. I did meet a lot of new people and plan on going back in a couple of weeks.

I guess that's about it.

The most recent changes here have been:

1. JavaScript fade effect on this page and each of the section pages.
2. Another bit of JavaScript that calls a quote to be randomly displayed, at the top of this page each time it loads.
3. A fourth networking section that discusses the Open Systems Interconnect model that can be found by clicking here.
4. Revisions to "The Busboys" in the Pomes Area.
5. Discovered and utilized spell check in my html editor (polite golf clap).
6. Updated Home page.

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