Category: intro.spectacle
Friday, 6 October 2006
Things Change
in.site, intro.spectacleI don’t have an exact timetable, but at some point in the foreseeable future, equinoxx.net will be undergoing a major overhaul, and right now, it’s a strong possibility that among the changes will be an end to The Asylum as it now exists. The original Asylum was a stream-of-consciousness column I did for a little ‘zine I was associated with back in the late ‘80s, and over the years, I kept the title kicking around in my head. When I got my own domain and started my blog, naturally, it became the most recent Asylum. So far, however, this has turned out to be pretty much a basic, general-purpose blog, and for good or ill, much of my general-purpose blogging has gravitated to LiveJournal. As a result, The Asylum has mostly lain fallow. Thus, I think it’s about time to officially retire it for a while, and the coming revamp seems as good an occasion as any.
There are a couple of ideas floating around the old cabeza for something to replace The Asylum, but nebulous as they are, I’m loath to disclose them at this point. SimStories will continue on in much the same vein as it is now, with a few tweaks, and there may eventually be future sub-sites for some of my other creative pursuits.
Anyway, that’s a brief update on my headspace. Changes are coming. I can’t predict exactly when, but they’re coming.
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Wednesday, 10 May 2006
32 Years and Counting…
intro.spectacleI visited my mother’s grave today, as I try to do every May 10. Despite the past couple days’ worth of rain, the maintenance crew had obviously recently mowed the lawn, as the headstone was covered with wet grass clippings, which I cleared away, as best I was able with my bare hands.
There are times, like today, when I think about my mother, and I feel guilty, because I’m certain to about fifteen decimal places that I’m not the person I think she hoped I would be. In fact, I don’t even know what I’d have to say to that person if I ever met him. I just don’t think we’d have very much in common.
After my mother died, I found myself thinking — a lot — about my own mortality. By the time I reached high school, I was fairly convinced that I wouldn’t live to see the year 2000. I’d be 36 by then… surely my time would be up long before that. Then, from the time I hit 25, I started looking at those five-year milestones. By the time 30 rolled around, not only was I unsure I would make it to the next milestone… I wasn’t sure I wanted to. On final approach to 40, I was pretty certain that I didn’t want to survive to that marker.
Which brings us to today… May 10, 2006. 32 years since my mother’s passing, and just about midway between the 40 and 45 milestones. My aunt (father’s youngest sister) called today, to tell me that my grandmother has some old coins that she wants to give to me, and during the conversation, my aunt said that she and my grandmother were just looking at some old pictures of my mother yesterday, and that there’s a lot of my mother in me. I’m sure it was meant to be comforting, but in actuality, it just made me feel about ten times more hollow than I already did.
So… what do I do with that? All I know right now is that 45’s on the way, and I have no particular desire to get there.
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Wednesday, 5 April 2006
It’s April, It’s Snowing, and I Haven’t Updated In A Dog’s Age
generalities, in.site, intro.spectacle, techno.babbleYes, yes. All of the above is true. So… here’s a quick update.
Just been plugging along, trying to keep out of trouble, with varying degrees of success. The love affair with my ThinkPad T40p continues. In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
My brother’s new house in Houston is coming ever-closer to completion, judging from the pictures he sends every couple of weeks or so.
And… believe it or don’t, there’s a little something in the works for hereabouts; the site. Initial stages are well underway and everything seems to be shaping up nicely. The big unveiling… well, no firm ETA, but hopefully soon. Then… we’ll see just how long I stick with it.
More to come. Just… don’t get too antsy as to when.
08:59 AM | Comments (0) | Email this entry
Thursday, 16 February 2006
It’s a ThinkPad!
generalities, intro.spectacle, techno.babbleI’d pass out cigars, but I don’t smoke, and I’m not all that keen on enabling that particular habit in others…
I took delivery at 12:50PM Eastern Standard Time, becoming the über-proud and utterly stoked new owner of a ThinkPad T40p. Have a look:
Geek and notebook are doing fine.
Incidentally, the “p” indicates that this is a WORKSTATION-class machine (hence its being fitted with the FireGL GPU, essentially a RADEON 9000 optimized for OpenGL).
I’ve further come to learn that my old i Series machine was actually manufactured by Acer under license from IBM… so apparently, I’ve now graduated to a “true” ThinkPad from what was essentially an Aspire with a great keyboard. Can’t wait to get better acquainted with the new baby. Heh.
11:57 AM | Comments (0) | Email this entry
Tuesday, 14 February 2006
Ship, Ship, Hooray!
generalities, intro.spectacle, techno.babbleMy tax refund came in on Friday, as promised (but not guaranteed), and by 2:05AM Eastern, I’d placed my order. At 10:07PM Eastern on Monday, I received confirmation that my order has shipped, and is due to arrive on Thursday. So… with my new rig en route, I THINK it’s just about safe to go into a little detail.
By the end of the week, I should be in possession of a Certified Used IBM ThinkPad T40p (Type 2373, Model G1U), specs as follows:
- Pentium-M 735 (Banias) 1.6 GHz
- 512MB RAM, expandable to 2GB
- 14.1” SXGA+ (1400 x 1050)
- ATI Mobility FireGL 9000 64MB GPU
- 40GB HD (5400 RPM)
- CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo
- 56K V.90/92 modem
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 802.11a/b WiFi
- Bluetooth
- Magnesium composite upper/Titanium-reinforced carbon fiber-reinforced lower housing
- 4.9lbs (w/optical drive and battery)
..."slightly imperfect” (minor cosmetic blemishes) for $799 and change (plus tax), standard shipping (UPS Ground) included.
So, while my old i Series ThinkPad has served me well over the past 5-plus years, frankly, it can barely get out of its own way to boot into Windows… and that was before the “fall from grace.” On the way is a machine that, on paper, anyway, should allow me to pass the time with a little Sims 2 or The Movies, if the mood strikes.
Think I’m just a little excited about this development?
01:37 AM | Comments (1) | Email this entry
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