Andrei's Universe

A long day.. but-

2008-05-09T02:41:54Z

I must be having a good transit between communication and family.

In the past week I've been contacted by 3 old Order members from L.A. that I don't chat with very often. I also got to emails that made me very happy.

First - The relative the ex-actress. Many friends know that I have a somewhat distant relative who was a fairly famous child actress for about 15 years. I'd been emailing her about my genealogical research. Her letters have been pleasant... but reserved. In my last email to her I gave her a lot of research information and mentioned my great Aunt. "Aunt Fanny". Yes, I think every Jew has (or should have) one.

Fan was my paternal grandmother's sister. "Great Aunt". Fan was also the first cousin to my relative's father. So she also considered her an "Aunt". Even though technically... blah blah blah... It was Aunt Fanny. Well, Aunt Fanny opened the dam. The letter I got this morning was warm... It was open. I think I learned more about my cousin in this one letter than I have over the years as a 'fan-relative' studying the public material. I felt like I got to sit with a relative and have a family chat. I'm working on my response.

Then there was email number two. My first year of college was very difficult. I was fairly socially inept. (Was?)... I became friends with a girl. CP. I adored her. I crushed on her. But I also respected the hell out of her. She became a very close friend without me even realizing it. Sadly... right out of college she married a guy she knew and vanished. I lost contact with her entirely. I got the impression shortly out of college that she wanted to put it and everyone behind her. So I never followed-up. Also back then... keeping touch.. not as easy.

About a week ago, I literally stumbled across her online. Now... you have to understand... Me... College... We're talking 1987. Do the math. I saw pictures... and to be honest... Age hasn't done her any harm. She looks as radiant as the day I remember her. So... I dropped her a message. (New name and all). I was brief and direct. But did say that she was a very fond part of my college days and I did miss keeping in touch.

Today, I got a mail from her (thru the web service we were both on) saying that she would have responded sooner but that she doesn't check the web site. She gave me her email and wanted to catch up. Saying also that she had fond memories.

So... interaction wise... The day has been good. Good emails and IMs with loves as well. Good work done. And Daycare will start next week. :$)

More soon-

Fly-by IM Conversation...

2008-05-07T00:02:11Z

I haven't posted one of these in a while... But this one was fun:

lordandrei: Leaving campus
shimmeringjemmy:LwwlllllwmnpaA0pa00
shimmeringjemmy:E
shimmeringjemmy:e
lordandrei: Hi Aiden
shimmeringjemmy:A©
shimmeringjemmy:Q©
lordandrei: Does mommy know you're typing to me?
(pause)
shimmeringjemmy:she does now
lordandrei: heh

My politically incorrect statement of the evening.

2008-05-06T05:46:12Z

If the last three episodes of "How I Met Your Mother" are any indication of episodic writing after a writer's strike...

Can we please organize writers strikes more often.

This and last week's "House" have been some amazingly well written shows.

Banners you can use for LJ Advisory Board...

2008-05-05T23:55:24Z

LiveJournal Advisory Board Elections

I support lordandrei to be my representative on the Advisory Board.

Show your support at lj_election_en.

<div style="background-color:#fff; color:#213368; padding:10px; border:1px solid #213368; width:23.31em; height:7.88em; font-size:16px;clear:both;"><img style="float:left; width:6.25em; height:6.25em;"src="http://p-userpic.livejournal.com/74327005/15133486" alt="" /><div style="margin-left:6.88em;"><p style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.88em;">LiveJournal Advisory Board Elections</p><p style="font-size:0.75em;">I support <lj user="

lordandrei

"> to be my representative on the Advisory Board.</p><p style="font-size:0.75em;">Show your support at <lj user="lj_election_en">.</p></div></div>

LiveJournal Advisory Board Elections

I support lordandrei to be my representative on the Advisory Board.

Show your support at lj_election_en.

<div style="background-color:#000; color:#fff; padding:10px; border:1px solid #fff; width:23.31em; height:7.88em; font-size:16px;clear:both;"><img style="float:left; width:6.25em; height:6.25em;"src="http://p-userpic.livejournal.com/74330601/15133486" alt="" /><div style="margin-left:6.88em;"><p style="font-weight:bold; font-size:0.88em;">LiveJournal Advisory Board Elections</p><p style="font-size:0.75em;">I support <lj user="

lordandrei

"> to be my representative on the Advisory Board.</p><p style="font-size:0.75em;">Show your support at <lj user="lj_election_en">.</p></div></div>

LiveJournal Advisory Board... Official candidacy approved.

2008-05-05T19:25:21Z

I want to thank everyone who has commented so far at the LiveJournal Advisory Board Nomination link.

Within nearly 2 hrs. I received over the necessary 100 comments to officially put me on the ballot in 2 weeks.

I do invite you to read the following posts on the Advisory Board:
    The purpose of the Advisory Board: http://community.livejournal.com/lj_2008/2303.html
    The appointed members and the mandate: http://community.livejournal.com/lj_2008/3384.html
but especially-
    The process of the election to the board: http://community.livejournal.com/lj_2008/4233.html

While I will be making web banners to help people spread the word when elections come... I really want this to be an election where you vote for the candidate that will best represent your views on the board to LiveJournal.

In as much, I want to strongly also congratulate rm who was also approved today. I invite you to read her platform for running.

Because to me this isn't a popularity contest. This is giving the right voice of the users the power to speak to the company that runs, maintains, and develops a tool that a lot of us have grown very attached to using.

In the meantime, please continue to spread the good word. Post in your journals, invite others to post. Educate them about the board, the process, and what we're trying to do.

I will open this post to anyone who has any questions.

Thank you!

Edit: Additional candidates that have been approved and their platforms:
mrflagg - Nomination link

LiveJournal Advisory Board... The time is now. Andrei for representative

2008-05-05T17:04:57Z

Hello all,

I've been posting about this for quite some time. The nominations for the Advisory Board are posted.

I am looking for the support of you, my readers, the readers of your journal and as many people we can link to from there. But of course, only if you think I'm the candidate to do the job.

My platform and your chance to support me can be found here:
http://community.livejournal.com/lj_election_en/2641.html?mode=reply

I ask that you take a moment, read my post, and post a comment (at the link, not here) of support:
Preferably, "I support this nomination"

And more importantly, I ask you to re-post the link above and a similar message in your journals and encourage your readers to do the same. Regardless of the overlap that you think our readership may have.

Thank you very much for any and all support.

-Andrei

and one last thing...

2008-05-05T07:22:46Z

Hiking with the family today. Managed to make my knee painfully unhappy with me.

Pointless post made to EA Games

2008-05-05T06:20:02Z

I'm a regular user of EA's online game site. Pogo

This evening I received an error message. So I wrote a VERY long post to their support division. And internally... I really don't think I'm going to let this one lie... especially if I get crapped on by some outsourced tech support pre-fashioned script.

My letter to EA:

I'd like to preface this mail and request that the tech that reads is please read it carefully and pass it up the line to a supervisor rather than handing back the stock answer.

One of your games crashed on me while loading. I received the following error message:
------
Not Enough Memory Available

Explanation:
Your browser does not have enough free memory to run the game.

The game applet requires approximately 3MB of free memory to run, in addition to your browser's normal memory requirements.

How to Fix the Problem (Macintosh):
If you are using Navigator 4.0, don't increase the memory size, as it actually takes away from the amount of memory allocated to Java.

One thing to check is to make sure you do not have any other applications running. Click on the application menu (the icon at the right end of the menu bar), and see if there is anything other than your browser and the Finder listed. If there is, quit the other applications by selecting them from the application menu, and then choosing Quit from the File menu. Then quit and restart your browser.

If you still can't play after quitting the other applications, you may need to remove plug-ins from your browser. Some large plug-ins, such as Shockwave, use up a lot of memory. Remove all the plug-ins, except for the Default plug-in, from your browser's plug-in folder. Then quit and restart your browser.

Internet Explorer may require less memory than Netscape Navigator. You may want to try using Internet Explorer instead.

If none of these suggestions fix the problem, you may need to turn on Virtual Memory in the Memory control panel. You could also install Ram Doubler, or purchase more RAM for your computer.
-----

I'll start with the short unprofessional sounding question and then try to elabourate in a clear and detailed manner.

Are you serious?

The error message above is referring to Macintosh OS 9. Mac OS. To put this in perspective, OS 9 was released in October 1998 and Apple announced an end of support for the OS in May 2002 in deference to their new OS, Mac OS X. That was 6 years ago.

To explain why I perceive this I point out:
1) Mac OS 9 had application memory settings, Mac OS X does not
2) Mac OS 9 had an application menu in the top right corner, Mac OS X does not.
3) Selecting Quit from the File menu: OS 9, not OS X
4) The suggestion of using the memory control panel (there are no control panels in OS X only OS 9, and there is no memory preference in OS X, only OS 9.
5) The use of Ram Doubler is recommended. Software created by Connectix (a company dissolved in 2003, 5 years ago) that was specifically aimed for Mac OS 9.

But on top of that are the browsers you suggest:
1) (Netscape) Navigator 4.0 is listed. Netscape 4.0 was released in 1997 (11 years ago) it was replaced within a year with Netscape 6.0 (10 years ago)... Netscape no longer exists as a company and all support for any Netscape browsers were terminated as of March 1st this year.
2) Internet explorer: was the default browser on the Macintosh in 1997 (11 years ago) It was not updated after March of 2000 (8 years ago) and as of January 2006 (2 years ago) the software is not available and Microsoft recommends the use of Safari (the native browser)

With all due respect. The Macintosh community is growing steadily. Apple stock has seen some of it's highest values over the last 2 years and continutes to dominate in earnings quarter after quarter.

How many users will you put this frankly outdated message to before they start looking to your competition? Do you really want to answer a Vista error by telling your users how to diagnose Windows 98? Because if you look at the dates I've cited above... this is what you are doing.

Your software "mostly" works on the modern Macintosh platform. I know this because I have been a paying Club Pogo user since September 2003. I would like to point out that that is nearly 5 years and afer a date that all the software you reference was not in primary use. I am one of many users who use Mac OS X. The Modern Macintosh Operating sytem. Just like many of your users use Vista the modern Microsoft Operating system.

I ask that you examine your code, your error messages, and your support and treat all your customers with a level of respect and support that they deserve. Because to be honest... in the industry of game software. If you won't support your users... Someone else eventually will.

Respectfully,
Andrei Freeman
Macintosh Club Pogo User

A reminder: LiveJournal Advisory Board (TOMORROW)

2008-05-05T01:15:43Z

Hello readers.

Tomorrow is the nominations for the LiveJournal Advisory Board. I ask that you keep an eye on my journal tomorrow and be willing to post to your journals and ask your readers to do the same.

I think I have a very strong background to represent users well on the board and your support is really what is needed.

As always... (relevant) questions are welcomed.

I'll get to it first: Happy 20th month Aiden

2008-05-03T16:24:43Z

So, Aiden is 20 months old today. That's 1 2/3 yrs. Wow..

19 months was very difficult. It's causing a bit of a shakeup in my world and the cleanup is underway.

This month Aiden spent the good portion of a day in daycare. (6 hrs) This was very difficult on me even though I don't spend that time with him anyway due to work. The upside is that it worked out very well for all concerned. shimmeringjemmy had a day of personal work, recuperation, and gardening. (Oh, happy Cancer)

Aiden is undeniably a toddler. An independent and "WILLFUL" personality has emerged. He is more and more amazingly interactive. Yesterday, when we got home after work I retrieved the garbage pails from the curb while H & a unloaded from the car. About halfway down the driveway I bent down and opened my arms for a hug. Aiden tore into a (toddler) sprint and jumped up into my arms. It was beyond adorable.

The word, "Hi" is his mainstay. I'm pretty sure he knows what it means. Though everything is a greeting to him. Even getting attention. I think he equates it to also mean, "Excuse me." With "Hi" has also come waving. He definitely has different hand motions for "hi" and "bye"... And whenever we say, "Say 'bye-bye'" he does is farewell wave.

Eating turned a huge corner this month. He's still just as finicky as his mother about food. But I think most of his resistance in the early part of the month was his desire to feed himself. In the past week he has ... well I don't want to say 'mastered' but definitely gotten well under way with a spoon. He managed to get most of the contents of a jar of babyfood into his mouth with a surprisingly small percentage winding up on his bib or face. He's also gotten into the habit of trying to scoop food that's gotten onto his face back into his mouth. He will also grab at a napkin and wipe it around his face.

Mid week we had some roasted turkey loaf. (Yeah, yeah... I know...) I gave Aiden a plate of two small slices that had been cut up. We also gave him a toddler fork to use. He was able to take to it very quickly and entirely fed himself. This past week has also seen us ordering off the kid's menu at restaurants. We're beginning to see a lot of success there.

Beyond food there's also the new toy in Aiden's life. H & I are both habitual laptop users. (Welcome to the 3rd millenium) Aiden tends to want to jump up and start using our laptops. This can be difficult because they are fragile machines and his fingers seem to have a magnetic-like attraction to things like the disk-eject button and the power button. So, we've gotten a toy laptop for him. This serves two purposes. First, it teaches him letters. Aiden has already shown a great aptitude for pattern matching and is beginning to recognize letter forms. The second benefit is that it's helping to teach manners. We try not to take his laptop or push buttons on it while he's playing. This models behaviour on encroaching on other people's property. At the same time we get a social lesson by watching when he becomes too glued to the toy. We learn that we are modeling that behaviour as well and temper usage.

Click for larger picture
Another note on technology. A few months ago to distract Aiden at a restaurant, I showed him pictures on my iTouch. He figured out how to scroll through the pictures by swiping his finger on it. Since then, Aiden has a habit of trying to push the pictures of buttons on my laptop screen. Today I thought to myself, "No, Aiden. Not every computer has touch screen technology." Then I realized... I have a toddler who will have had touch screen technology his entire life and has a rudimentary understanding of using it before he can talk or go to the bathroom on his own. In reflection, when I was his age there were computers. One computer would fit into a small class room and required a Ph.D. to breathe on it.

I wonder what Aiden will realize about his toddler.

Heather was backseat writing this post and had reminded me to mention sleep. I put this comment in a strange sense of tense because this is the second time I'm typing this paragraph as the computer accidentally deleted the last 3 paragraphs.

Sleep has been the major hell of the past month. 3 months ago we were at the point were napping and sleep time were at the point that we were considering leaving him in bed overnight. Then came sleep regression. The process of putting him down became a living hell for us. Napping and sleep became impossible unless we put him in the car or drugged him. (The latter of which we never, EVER did) Somewhere in the past week that has begun to also turn a corner. We're getting him down in his bed without as much trauma. H has also purchased "A BOOK" that is theoretically going to help with this. In the opening chapter is a letter from a mother who was in an almost exact state as we are in who boasts that the method worked beyond her imagination. So... we'll give it a shot.

So... now we are looking into Daycare for Aiden. This is a frighteningly expensive process costing about $900 / month. I spoke to some colleagues at work and they all blanched at the price. And when software engineers react to something being pricey... you know you're not insane. And I feel so stuffed shirt, conservative.. when I look at the price tag and think ROI.

One last note... people have been noting that Aiden hasn't been posting in his journal. I don't know if it's been a factor of being too busy on our parts or maybe some subconscious desire to make it more his place than the place we wave his arms for him like a puppet... but maybe I will at least put in back dated references to our posts so that he can look back on them one day. Maybe I'll log him in and let him bang on the keyboard a bit. We'll see.

So much ahead for him and for all of us.

Click for larger picture

ALL PLEASE READ: LiveJournal issues.

2008-05-02T14:30:58Z

I'm going to keep this one short:

I'm intending to run for the LiveJournal Advisory Board. Nominations open May 5th (Monday)

I'd like your support. If you'd like to support me; here's what you can do.

1) Post in your journal that I'm going to run and request your readers do the same. (Link back here)

2) Read:
-- the post about what this actually means
-- My original statement of intent

3) On May 5th, I will post the link to my nomination; I need at lest 100 different user comments that say, "I support this nomination"

4) Question me, question the process: If you have any questions, concerns, advise, etc... Please feel free to comment here.

I think I am qualfied, motivated, and passionate enough to have a positive effect on LiveJournal and be a fair representative of the different types of users that LJ has.

Thanks

By the way: If anyone would like to help me with graphics or badges for this endeavor.... I would be very appreciative.

From engineering training today... No kidding

2008-04-29T19:48:09Z

I have been in Software Engineering Training this week.

This is not teaching me how to code. It teaches me the tools I need to be effective to get to the point where I code.

Working with requirements, proper planning, interacting with test and project managers.

One of the main responsibilities of an engineer is making an estimate. In the ST:TNG episode "Relics" we learn the truth about Scotty and how every estimate he made was always overly padded to always come off like he was a miracle worker.

As an example exercise we were shown a photo of a jelly-bean jar. We were asked to estimate how many were in the jar. The jar front was shaped like a hexagon. The side view was rectangular.

I looked at the screen. I counted the number of beans across and down the front rectangle (discounting the side triangles) I counted the beans along the depth of the jar. I also counted the beans across the with of the side triangle.

I multiplied out and got an estimate of just shy of 3000. People started yelling answers. A couple yelled 3000, some yelled 4,000. I knew it was short of 3000 and I also knew this was just a pointless exercise. But my general character kicked in and I had a smart-ass moment. On the "Price is Right" you always try to undercut the guesses.

I said, "2850"... The room laughed at the detail I put into such a trivial exercise. I was asked to explain. Someone shouted out, "Price is Right" and I agreed that went into it. We discussed the different methods people used to get their numbers.

Afterward the teacher looked up and said... By the way. the correct answer was, "2845"

There was much laughter and applause.

During the break, I asked if I won the Prize winning pig.

MEMETime: I suppose my friends list has gotten long

2008-04-29T18:44:58Z

This would be far more impressive if I reduced it to some of my filters.

Also, I guess if I went to FoL at OLO.

Your LJ Slut Stats!
Out of your 368 friends, percentages you have:
met		80.16%
hugged		50.81%
dated		7.6%
kissed		15.21%
seen shirtless		15.48%
seen naked		14.4%
had net sex		4.34%
made out with		10.05%
had oral sex		4.34%
fucked		7.33%
Get your LJ Slut Stats!

My son is in daycare for the first time

2008-04-29T18:11:00Z

and I'm being a normal parent...

I'm staring at the cell phone prepared to try to teleport to my boy's side in time of need.

I'm wondering if there's video of the daycare center so I can see if my boy is treated well.

I'm picturing some bully wrestling his lunch money away (though at this age, he can still barely feed himself)

He's sitting in my mind, waving with a smile on his face that says, "It's okay daddy."

And the thought of him actually doing this is making me misty.

Damn I miss my scrotum.

No really, I'm not hung over...

2008-04-27T16:04:16Z

I haven't had any alcohol in a few days. I think I last had it at dinner Thursday.

I woke up fairly congested again. Haven't really exercised the congestion completely from my system since it started in February. Some days are better... some like this morning.. not so good.

But the interesting thing to post about was remembering good portions of my dreams.

The interesting part can best be described as being along the lines of "Spirited Away"

I was lost in a complex maze of a building (Standard Andrei Dream imagery) It was a very urban building. Very similar to the Crystal Mall in Vancouver. A large box of shopping had gone missing. I went to one of the lower floors and remember twisting a knob sort of like the one at the bottom of a stair way handrail. The bottom floor started to open down like a hidden basement was being exposed.

The hidden basement, however was a beautiful Japanese style countryside with a huge stone castle/building. In the distance I could see a train on a track but it felt like it should be connected to the highway that was just outside the building I'd just been in.

There were a series of priestesses/angels/creatures that I had to interact with to get my treasure returned. One flew down and danced with me. I remember the feel of my hand on her back.

I tend to post about dreams when I have tactile memories. It think I tend to remember those because I'd been told at one time, it's supposed to be impossible to have actual tactile feedback in a dream-state.

Time passed differently in this world than back in the store where people were waiting for me. A relative (I think my father) came looking for me. By the time I got back, for some reason I was Captain Kirk trying to report on the away mission. I found myself annoyed that I'd been pulled away before I could complete the mission. At the same time, I had a wistful feeling that I wouldn't be able to get back there.

This was cemented with the requisite roundhouse to the face by a small toddler foot at 6am.

Dreams can be nifty

While I'm not actually trying to incite drama...

2008-04-25T19:43:17Z

I find that unspoken question I have wanted to ask the most over the last three years of some people around me is:

"How stupid do you really think I am?"

But I am for the most part a "Nice" person (tm) and therefore.. have not asked this question when it has been so blatantly needed.

The prompt for this post is not really in relation to much of anything going on around me at the moment.

Though, if you feel that you have to ask, "Do you mean me?" It's probably not you.

3 weeks ago a woman made me cry.

2008-04-24T15:58:11Z

Oh, make no mistake... This is nothing new.

She has an incredible way with words that will get me every time. She has been rude to me. She has been brusque with me. She's trying to intervene in my life and my relationships. She's dragged me out of the house in the middle of the night with obscenely inappropriate demands. It's impressive that she hasn't gotten me arrested by now.

And over 20 years... I'd let her do it all again and even moreso. Because everything in my life she has done with me, for me, or even to me... has enriched my life.

I am a better person than I would ever be if it weren't for you.

My life, my gratitude, and some of the deepest love I can have for a person goes out to you this day.

And as per my promise... I have that view, and two rocking chairs. And we're both sufficiently on our way to those grandchildren.

Happiest of Birthdays, fiannaharpar

Counting the years that pass in our lives is so much more blessed because counting them means you've been in my life that much more.

Jenn's birthday wish to me 3 weeks ago:
There is no one else on the planet that I would rather sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" with

Apr. 3rd, 2008 at 1:47 PM

I've known you for just over half of my life. We've entered that state where we've been friends longer than we weren't friends. We've been through dating, marriages, Diane, divorce, children, a cross-country move, a cross-coastal move, the SCA, my early 20's, your father's death, a micronation, the RHPS floor show, and WEYQ. We will be through much more together as the years continue to pass. Good and bad. I like the idea of this rather a lot.

There are very few things that I can say when another turn around the sun means you've been my friend another year.

I love you unconditionally, Andrei.

Happy Birthday.

Single best quote of the day

2008-04-24T02:41:15Z

And oh.. there is such a longer post coming....

Quote of the day:

There is a difference between gynocentric and androphobic - tzaddi_93

MEMETime: Utterly unable to sleep.

2008-04-19T08:39:19Z

Been working on this one most of the day. This is the first of several. Also.. if you post this meme or have posted it... please comment with a link to your post so I can jump on yours.

and now...

Comment on this post and say Pardon me, sir. Do you have any Grey Poupon or something like that. I will choose seven interests from your profile and you will explain what they mean and why you are interested in them. Post this along with your answers in your own journal so that others can play along.

Here are the first set(s) that I was asked about:

From princekermit:

קבּלה - I use the Hebrew spelling because this word is most usually spelled wrong as Kaballah. No really, to see what I mean, check out this post.

Anyway, I loved codes as a kid. I've actually invented one or two cyphers that I think 'intelligence organizations' might be interested in. That being said... Kaballah is my cypher into mysticism. It blends esoterica with coded treasure finding. Quite fun.

cocoa development - I have been a professional (meanin' gettin' paid fer it) software engineer for about 15 years. But the thing is that I have maybe four formal college classes in the field. Everything else was learned outside college. I was a Theatre and Radio/TV production major. One of the major things that is 'expected' of an SE is good knowledge of "basic libraries". Effecitively, knowing not just how to use the card catalogue, but where the common reference books are, and about 25-50% of the contents of those reference books. When I joined the industry... I was a bit behind. Ask my coworkers about my C++ knowledge. They'll agree. Cocoa... was a new library that appeared while I was in the industry. (Those of you who are NeXTies can just hush up now)... So.. I got the same jump as others. I like the language of Objective -C and I love the Cocoa Libraries. (Very intuitive)... So I have a high interest in Cocoa Development.

esoteric trivia - When I was a kid, my dad had a Trivia encyclopaedia. And let me tell you this was obscure stuff. It was alphabetical and included alpha-numerics. It was like reading wikipedia in places. Entries like: 1313 - The Mockingbird Lane street address of the Munsters. Since then, I have grown to be a fount of (perceived to be) useless information. I love it. Sometimes people actually get an "Oh? Really?!?!" moment out of it and take it with them. To me... that makes it worth it.

ethical hedonism - Hedonism is the absolute pursuit of pleasure. Or more essentially that good and bad can be equated with pleasure and pain. Now... I've never been a fan of such vague terms as "Good", "Evil", "Pain", etc. Personally, I view the process of ethical hedonism, as using the feelings of pleasure to drive an understanding of True Will. Rather than simply add 'and vice versa' I want to describe that the process works backwards as well. As I learn more about myself as a person, it steers what does and doesn't feel good. And if you really want to know what drove this description... ask shimmeringjemmy about the first time she kissed me.

These last three are tricky. I read them and thought, "Are they in my interest list?" Nope.. They are in my dislike list. But you listed them.

my self image - I honestly don't dislike who I am. But I have a very difficult time being fair to myself about my image. I am hypercritical and often convinced I'm not as good, pretty, thin, etc as I really should be.

scientology - This one is simple. Short and sweet. The first contact potential members have with this organization is thinly veiled brainwashing. After you join the brain washing becomes more severe. And I can not respect or like or support any organization that attracts its members through coersion.

sun saturn conjunction - This is just something i have to deal with. What this means is that in my birthchart, the planet Saturn was in the sky in a similar place to the sun. From an astrological point of view it represents limits placed on self. Don't like it.

Sent to a downloadable game site

2008-04-19T04:11:54Z

A site I used to like sends me weekly email about the new downloadable games. Over the last few months it's dwindled from 3 games (2 mac) to 4 games (1 mac) to.. another version of Bejeweled every 2 months.

Today's email listed 2 games "Available for PC" and one other game "Not available for Mac"...

So I wrote them...

I have decided to terminate my subscription to (Your Company). I have removed my email from the automatic newsletter mailings. I'm writing this to explain why.

When I first discovered GameHouse you were releasing some very enjoyable games on both the Mac as well as the PC. I am (possibly obvious by my ordering) a Mac user.

Over the last year the selections on the site have become grimmer and frankly insulting to a Mac user. For a while you had to dig through the list to find the "Mac Game"... Now they are pretty much entirely eliminated. I use the term insulting because your feature games now list, "Available for the PC" several times and then often add one that is specifically, "Not available for the Mac."

In short terms. It's obvious to an end user you're no longer giving serious support to the platform, but have not taken the time to admit it. And to an educated end user... this is not going to be taken well.

I'm writing in the (perceivably vain) attempt to say that I feel badly. Because I did like the games that (you) sold. I bought them regularly.

Even as the Mac platform grows in market share, it is obvious that some companies no longer desire to invest in the platform. I will issue the same warning that I do to all companies in this situation. This is a bad business decision.

When a company turns its back on Mac users. They leave and they don't come back. Even when the company shows interest again.

I welcome a response to this email. But sadly, having worked in the computer industry for over 20 years... I sadly do not expect a response.

Regards,
Andrei Freeman
-Former (your company) Customer.
P.S. My attempts to format this email are thwarted by your web posting page.

The post script is because all attempts to use the spacing above failed. It sent looking like one large run on paragraph.

Still accessing my pictures... but... Snow

2008-04-19T03:34:06Z

All of my pictures are on my cell phone which makes it a pain to get them off quickly or conveniently.

I have a tonne of pictures showing the snow.

Until I get this posted, I am permitted to show a picture that jackal_child took at her place. She lives about 1/2 a mile up the road from me.

You can see her picture on her space at deviantart.com

The picture can be made larger by clicking on it.

I'm not kidding when I say, "After April 15th in Washington. And about an inch and a half of snow."

Whee

Voice Post: A look at the weather

2008-04-19T02:38:59Z

So, what else do you do when sick and on the couch

2008-04-17T18:55:07Z

You play with your hair.

Boys and girls... let this be a lesson:

Comb overs are bad!

Hair gone wrong!
Click for a larger version

lordandrei @ 2008-04-17T10:26:00

2008-04-17T17:27:15Z

Well, the April Sniffles seem to have hit the social circle.

This past weekend, walking around GreenLake...um lake I had Aiden on my shoulders. He would routinely sneeze into my hair.

Of course all around me the dominoes were beginning to fall: 1_wolfsong had it Friday on... shimmeringjemmy started showing it Sunday. faerievixen2 and I started showing on Tuesday.

And here I am... down for the count.

On the upside... my brain has had it's moments of functionality. I made a great stride in a personal project at about 2am this morning (while neither sleeping nor TMI'ing in the bathroom)

I can now (mostly) convert ANSEL files to UTF-8. Mostly because I need to add the last 24 combining marks to the hash table. But the code works.

Amusingly, Unless you've heard me talk about this in person... it's damned unlikely you have any idea what I'm talking about or why I'd want to do that. Granted... if you're curious you could always lookup ANSEL.

A post for 1_wolfsong

2008-04-16T16:31:57Z

Came across this video this morning while laid up on the couch.

It's really not what you think. And you will want audio. It's utterly safe for work.