Thursday, December 14, 2006
Pay it forward
Today's horrorscope sez:
Hahaha.
Well, this paycheck catches me up on the last of my back bills. With a little chaching left over.
Nothing extravagant, just a few gifts for my nearest and dearests and a few for me. A Pantone Huey, a Nikon flash and a 28mm f/2 lens. Nuttin outrageous, right?
But its true - I dont actually need all that, so better to transfer the surplus to the savings.
*sigh* Aright, aright.
I'll be spending next year.
Today's horrorscope sez:
If your wallet is fat right now, that doesn't mean you have to put it on a diet! Avoid big expenses today, especially anything you don't need. Impulse buying is a big no-no right now. You are going to need more money in the coming weeks, and it would be very wise for you to stay as cash-rich as possible. If necessary, get a friend to distract you and keep you from heading out to the mall. Make cookies, watch TV or read a book -- just stay away from the stores.
Hahaha.
Well, this paycheck catches me up on the last of my back bills. With a little chaching left over.
Nothing extravagant, just a few gifts for my nearest and dearests and a few for me. A Pantone Huey, a Nikon flash and a 28mm f/2 lens. Nuttin outrageous, right?
But its true - I dont actually need all that, so better to transfer the surplus to the savings.
*sigh* Aright, aright.
I'll be spending next year.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Friday, December 08, 2006
Today's horrorscope sed:
The other day, i started feeling the need...
"If i had more money, things would be better... if i won the lottery.."
Things would be better? Whoa. Stop.
Those thoughts started popping up after 2 weeks of staying late at work. Thoughts of not feeling at peace. Some anger. Tired.
Man, i think im working too hard.
McClint: Remind yourself to have a life.
JPennant: Yeah.
Remember to have a life, man.
--------------
The building I work in was described as "grungy" by the recent Business Week article, and the top floors are rented by some up and coming "Web 2.0" organisations.
Naturally, the buzz being generated about these "Web 2.0" orgs is the Dot Com boom 2.0 as Venture Capitalists and Wall Street salivate to shake the money tree again and get rich from some more dotcom madness.
The other night, leaving at around 9pm, the front door was being held open by an employee of one of those organisations to let in a smartly dressed waiter from a high end restaurant delivering hot food.
Brought back memories, as I chatted with the young guy, of my own Dot Com experiences, working at places gripped in pre-IPO madness. Crazy. Killing themselves for supposed riches. The web 2.0 version of the money payoff madness this is to be bought out and absorbed by a bigger organisation.
I came into work the next day, and again I saw a gaggle of tuxedoe'd restaurant folk delivering boxes of food. The lightbulb went off, and I felt a twinge of jealousy. These food deliveries were being paid for by VC's trying to woo the oprganisation to get in on the action, the business week article valuing them at several hundreds of millions, ripe for being bought in this version of the Web 2.0 money madness.
These young folk are having dreams of being millionaires.
Dammit, these guys were coming down to our offices snarfing pizza from us, and now theyre being fed finer food at all hours of the day.
And theyre not sharing. :)
Try not to get so bogged down in your work that partners and loves ones get the impression that you no longer have any time for them. Your work is important, of course, but what will it mean to you 50 years from now? Put your family first today and every day. Make room in your life for love.
The other day, i started feeling the need...
"If i had more money, things would be better... if i won the lottery.."
Things would be better? Whoa. Stop.
Those thoughts started popping up after 2 weeks of staying late at work. Thoughts of not feeling at peace. Some anger. Tired.
Man, i think im working too hard.
McClint: Remind yourself to have a life.
JPennant: Yeah.
Remember to have a life, man.
--------------
The building I work in was described as "grungy" by the recent Business Week article, and the top floors are rented by some up and coming "Web 2.0" organisations.
Naturally, the buzz being generated about these "Web 2.0" orgs is the Dot Com boom 2.0 as Venture Capitalists and Wall Street salivate to shake the money tree again and get rich from some more dotcom madness.
The other night, leaving at around 9pm, the front door was being held open by an employee of one of those organisations to let in a smartly dressed waiter from a high end restaurant delivering hot food.
Brought back memories, as I chatted with the young guy, of my own Dot Com experiences, working at places gripped in pre-IPO madness. Crazy. Killing themselves for supposed riches. The web 2.0 version of the money payoff madness this is to be bought out and absorbed by a bigger organisation.
I came into work the next day, and again I saw a gaggle of tuxedoe'd restaurant folk delivering boxes of food. The lightbulb went off, and I felt a twinge of jealousy. These food deliveries were being paid for by VC's trying to woo the oprganisation to get in on the action, the business week article valuing them at several hundreds of millions, ripe for being bought in this version of the Web 2.0 money madness.
These young folk are having dreams of being millionaires.
Dammit, these guys were coming down to our offices snarfing pizza from us, and now theyre being fed finer food at all hours of the day.
And theyre not sharing. :)
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
Size matters
Ok Santa, it's that time of year again. I want more camera equipment. Yes, I know - Ive bought 4 cameras since December of 2004.
Still, this is what I want:
For sure, these...
- Nikon 18-200mm VR
- Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8
- Nikon 70-200mm VR f/2.8
- Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8
I'd be happy with 3 out of 4.
Yes Nick, i know. Except for the last one, each of them are more expensive than a dSLR camera. Ive come to accept this fact and rationalised the expense of the investment. I want no-excuses pictures from now on.
Speaking of cameras, I want either - or both - of these:
Fuji s3 Pro and the not yet released Fuji s5 Pro. Simply put - bigger is better.
Now, these aren't a must-have, but if they appear in my stocking, you wont hear me complain:
- Nikon D200
- Nikkor 12-24mm VR f/4
- Nikon 80-400mm VR
I'll pick up the flashes, tripods and filters. Deal?
Oh yeah, and throw in some extra batteries for me.
--------
Complicating my budget are the Macs i want.
For sure, Im getting at least one in 2007, as I need one for work and as a production hub.
I'd love a 17" G4 iMac, as I think the design is timeless and compact. But it is already close to being obsolete and not powerful enough to run the Photo software I am going to run.
I'd like a Powerbook Aluminum because - well, just to say I owned one, to tell the truth. So pretty, but again, not as powerful as im going to need. But the cheapest Ive seen them on Craigslist is 800 bux, running for as much as 1500 bux.
Jeez, for THAT kind of cheddar, I may as well step up and buy a new MacBook. Yes, each of those nikon lenses are more expensive than a MacBook, but the lenses will last at least 10 years, the computers wont.
Being in IT, I consider computers disposable and dont like buying new ones.
So.
What i think will happen is that I'll find a good deal on a powerbook, get a used Toshiba and pick up a G4 desktop for home - all the for the price of a new MacBook.
Yeah.
Now I'll have to budget for food.
Ok Santa, it's that time of year again. I want more camera equipment. Yes, I know - Ive bought 4 cameras since December of 2004.
Still, this is what I want:
For sure, these...
- Nikon 18-200mm VR
- Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8
- Nikon 70-200mm VR f/2.8
- Micro-Nikkor 60mm f/2.8
I'd be happy with 3 out of 4.
Yes Nick, i know. Except for the last one, each of them are more expensive than a dSLR camera. Ive come to accept this fact and rationalised the expense of the investment. I want no-excuses pictures from now on.
Speaking of cameras, I want either - or both - of these:
Fuji s3 Pro and the not yet released Fuji s5 Pro. Simply put - bigger is better.
Now, these aren't a must-have, but if they appear in my stocking, you wont hear me complain:
- Nikon D200
- Nikkor 12-24mm VR f/4
- Nikon 80-400mm VR
I'll pick up the flashes, tripods and filters. Deal?
Oh yeah, and throw in some extra batteries for me.
--------
Complicating my budget are the Macs i want.
For sure, Im getting at least one in 2007, as I need one for work and as a production hub.
I'd love a 17" G4 iMac, as I think the design is timeless and compact. But it is already close to being obsolete and not powerful enough to run the Photo software I am going to run.
I'd like a Powerbook Aluminum because - well, just to say I owned one, to tell the truth. So pretty, but again, not as powerful as im going to need. But the cheapest Ive seen them on Craigslist is 800 bux, running for as much as 1500 bux.
Jeez, for THAT kind of cheddar, I may as well step up and buy a new MacBook. Yes, each of those nikon lenses are more expensive than a MacBook, but the lenses will last at least 10 years, the computers wont.
Being in IT, I consider computers disposable and dont like buying new ones.
So.
What i think will happen is that I'll find a good deal on a powerbook, get a used Toshiba and pick up a G4 desktop for home - all the for the price of a new MacBook.
Yeah.
Now I'll have to budget for food.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
my dream car
Ever since Magnum PI, Ive lusted after a 308 Spyder. The 328 GTS was the last of the line, and the one I want.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Today's horrorscope sez:
Quickie: Stop searching for a sense of purpose. It will find you when the time is right.
Overview: Your abilities are almost superhuman. The only problem is that some parasitic types think that means they can lean on you to clean up their messes. Show them the way, but don't perform their tasks for them.
If you've been looking high and low for a true sense of purpose, stop the search. You are not going to receive some sort of mystical sign from beyond as to what you should be doing with your life. Instead, pull your focus in and examine the things you enjoy -- because enjoying life is as good a purpose as any. Spend your time exploring whatever gives you the biggest sense of accomplishment. This is where you will find what you've been seeking.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
On rotation:
---------
They say talking to yourself is a sign of being crazy. I dunno. Ive got feeling it is necessary, particularly as one gets older.
For, unlike when youre younger - you have to remind yourself to do the things you know you need to do. You often need that good talking to. You have to TELL yourself...
... that everything is ok.
----------
"I'm blessed."
To a man, to a woman - that's what they all said. "I'm blessed."
People who have been through horrific things you only knew about by what they didnt say or talk about.
People i know things got bad again.
People who say 'I'm blessed' to "How are you doing?" because theyre alive. Blessed.
For when i start to grumble about aching knees, ailment, some crappy day, or people wasting my time or some deprivation, I start talking to myself... and remind myself...
That things arent bad at all. In fact..
More more more - Andrea True
Sweet Love - Anita Baker
I Turn my Camera On - Spoon
Ive Seen Better Days - Everclear
AM Radio - Everclear
First Love - Gaopele
I Get So Lonely - Janet Jackson
Simply Beautiful - Queen Latifah
Bounce - Subliminal
Lights Camera Action - Mr Cheeks
---------
They say talking to yourself is a sign of being crazy. I dunno. Ive got feeling it is necessary, particularly as one gets older.
For, unlike when youre younger - you have to remind yourself to do the things you know you need to do. You often need that good talking to. You have to TELL yourself...
... that everything is ok.
----------
"I'm blessed."
To a man, to a woman - that's what they all said. "I'm blessed."
People who have been through horrific things you only knew about by what they didnt say or talk about.
People i know things got bad again.
People who say 'I'm blessed' to "How are you doing?" because theyre alive. Blessed.
For when i start to grumble about aching knees, ailment, some crappy day, or people wasting my time or some deprivation, I start talking to myself... and remind myself...
That things arent bad at all. In fact..
sf street at night
You dont have to see the bus coming, the overhead wires will start humming and vibrating from blocks away.
Like the rumbles of Broadway in Manhattan, it's one of the sounds of San Francisco.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Not too old for Games
I'm not really into video games. As a kid, i did the arcades, but never got much beyond space invaders, centipede and pacman. I later got an atari collection, but soon gave it away to a marine just home from the first Gulf War.
Consoles, i just cant see the appeal.
However, my viewpoint changed when I worked at AT&T and my cohorts introduced me to two seminal games - Doom and Descent. That's when i geeked out, building my machines to handle games, playing those games enough to rewire my brain. At AOL i was introduced to MechWarrior, but I soon stopped trying new games - because the vast majority of the games bored me after i figured them out. And that is the same to this day.
But the last Great Game i was introduced to, has the corniest name, but my god - I havent played another since then. Regular readers will know what I wax rhapsodic about - Total Annihilation. For those who havent yet been bored senseless by my adulation, here is a synopsis of the appeal:
Heee.
So, to my great joy, the other day my junior tech said "Hey, i just saw a trailer for the sequel to Total Annihilation. Jesus, that game looks SICK!"
Oooh?
Here's the trailer:
Ooooh.
Normally, sequels tend to be underwhelming - but Supreme Commander looks sick indeed.
Total Annihilation - bigger, better and badder.
Oooh.
That's a good thing.
Hmm, I may have to build a Plentium to handle this...
4 Dual Core CPU's and 16 gigs of RAM? Hmmm, youre right - EIGHT Dual Core CPU's and a power supply big enough to dim the lights west of the Rockies when i turn it on. :)
Yeah, baby.
I'm not really into video games. As a kid, i did the arcades, but never got much beyond space invaders, centipede and pacman. I later got an atari collection, but soon gave it away to a marine just home from the first Gulf War.
Consoles, i just cant see the appeal.
However, my viewpoint changed when I worked at AT&T and my cohorts introduced me to two seminal games - Doom and Descent. That's when i geeked out, building my machines to handle games, playing those games enough to rewire my brain. At AOL i was introduced to MechWarrior, but I soon stopped trying new games - because the vast majority of the games bored me after i figured them out. And that is the same to this day.
But the last Great Game i was introduced to, has the corniest name, but my god - I havent played another since then. Regular readers will know what I wax rhapsodic about - Total Annihilation. For those who havent yet been bored senseless by my adulation, here is a synopsis of the appeal:
Pure Style: Total Annihilation is the perfect name for the game. It was TOTAL. Nothing about this game is half-ass: it's like a videogame apocalypse. You don't just order an attack -- you send in a WAVE of hundreds of units, a wall of steel death that will fill the screen with awesome-looking explosions for minutes on end. You can build a nuclear missile capable of destroying a screen full of units, but it's worthless to build just one: Typically, you send them over in batches of a dozen or more. Obscene? YES. That's Total Annihilation! Every game was non-stop action, carnage, and brutality at a level never seen before or since.
Heee.
So, to my great joy, the other day my junior tech said "Hey, i just saw a trailer for the sequel to Total Annihilation. Jesus, that game looks SICK!"
Oooh?
Here's the trailer:
Ooooh.
Normally, sequels tend to be underwhelming - but Supreme Commander looks sick indeed.
Total Annihilation - bigger, better and badder.
Oooh.
That's a good thing.
Hmm, I may have to build a Plentium to handle this...
4 Dual Core CPU's and 16 gigs of RAM? Hmmm, youre right - EIGHT Dual Core CPU's and a power supply big enough to dim the lights west of the Rockies when i turn it on. :)
Yeah, baby.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
