Fairweather Zealot

Well, I tried to upgrade to WordPress 1.2, and it killed the blog, so I’m back to the old version for now. I might consider loading the newest version directly from WordPress instead of through my ISP, or I might try out MT – which seems to be a bit more versatile. Anyone out there have a preference?

Links »

• Axis and Allies for PC … I hope it’s better than the last version, where the AI was about as scary as the Canadian Army.
• A great new usability site that I found
• JavaScripts for Designers - add some flair to you CSS.
• Make your own evil clown.
• If movies names matched their posters…
• 100 facts and 1 opinion - a fairly even look at why Bush needs to go.
• Do you ever get frustrated that you will just NEVER be as good a designer as some people. I think Ryan Hicks’ throwaway designs are better than most of my finished efforts. *sigh*
• See, freeipods.com is for real. Now if I can get these people to help me out…
• Bush for Emperor
• Attack of the Clones - Bush campaign strikes again
• Dave Shea of Mezzoblue gives his take on sIFR.

Well, it’s the beginning of the week and it was a good, long weekend. Got some stuff done around the house, finally got some work done on a new homepage (debut in 1-12 weeks, depending on the rest of my time), got our puppy a little more healthy, and watched the Red Sox beat the Yankees (not that I like the Sox, but I HATE the Yankees). Unfortunately, Penn State’s offense was exceptionally flacid this weekend, and the Cowboys got crushed, but you can’t have everything (or any hockey, it appears).

Over the weekend, I came up with a couple of quick bumper stickers I would like to have out there – you can download them here and here. At this point, I’m sick of the hype, sick of the commercials, sick of the accusations and labels and other crap. Just give me the darn election. Is that so hard to do? Okay, end of election diatribe.

New Pictures »
Did some scanning this weekend to organize my recent work. Here are some of the best:

Links »

• Firefox poised to strike
• Great new posters and more on CafePress.
• Bush Relatives for Kerry
• great article on accessibility from the WE04 conference.
• Splorp answers his Spam.
• How much chocolate syrup DOES it take to cover the kitchen floor?
• georgewbush.com blocks foreign visitors

One of my best friends is a Navy SEAL, and I haven’t heard from him in months since he deployed “somewhere with some sand”. I’ve tried corresponding with him, but haven’t heard back. But it appears that a picture of him has surfaced – I got this from my sister, although it might be on my home email, too. It appears that Chris is in Iraq (in Najaf, of all places), although it is nice to see a picture of him helping kids out. Word is that he will be home in two weeks. Godspeed, Chris. I’ll have a cold beer waiting for you.

Update »
It seems that the picture was two weeks old – and Chris is back with his family in the States. Great news – now I have to get the stories and figure out where we are going diving.

Well, debate #3 was a joke. Not only did they only answer questions when they felt like it, but they used the same rhetoric and party line that they have for the first two. When new topics were brought up, the same staid answers were given. I could have made a movie of this debate by using clips of the first two. Even when they departed from the ‘script’, the answers were more often than not ridiculous (Kerry’s reference to Cheney’s daughter, his Soprano’s line and Bush’s complete rewriting of the Roe v. Wade question). I would have LOVED to hear them speak to the environment, but other than Bush’s ridiculous “I think I’m a pretty good steward of the environment” comment in debate 2, there was nearly NOTHING about it.

• links o’ the day •

• The Daily Show looks at undecided voters (click on Bee – the undecided link at bottom right)
• Only psychics need apply

The final debate is tonight, and I’m trying to not get as worked up as I usually do. So in that vein, I’m taking a different tact – I have a bottle if Kwak beer to hold me through the debate, while the wife will be having a vodka tonic. And to make our viewing pleasure that much better, we’re going to play a drinking game (it should be noted that Kwak’s ABV is 8.0%, so it’s isn’t as unfair as it sounds). The rules:

wonkette

**Other Links**

• Oh, so THAT’S how they are going to win THIS year… (at least we won’t have hanging chads.)
• Great Prank (thanks, Van)
• This is some cool art … stipple, huh?
• I want this shirt. Honey, can you get it for me … or just make me not need it? (from overcaffeinated.net)

Man, I haven’t seen this much name-calling since that fight between Bryant Hampton and Bee Gee Chudnofsky in 4th grade. You’d think that two guys vying to be the leader of the free world would have a little more class than this … but who are we kidding. They’re politicians which are about as low a class of people as you can go (plus or minus lawyers, of course). And yet, there are people who are still undecided at this point on who to vote for. I mean, I can understand not wanting to vote for EITHER, but to be undecided seems a bit ridiculous. It’s kind of like deciding whether you would want to breath air or toxic gas (which candidate is which would be your decision) – it’s pretty clear cut depending on your view. It’s the evil-doer or the flip-flopper, the war monger or the purple heart flaunter, the environmental terrorist or the tax executor, the Botox Candidate or the Go Toxic Candidate.

Links »

• Never underestimate the power of Google.
• Still one of the best fan-films I have ever seen.
• Yet another reason while Google is going to take over the Internet - regardless of how you access it.
• Was Bush getting help in the debates? His tailor says it is a weird pucker, but since when does a pucker form the shape of a box with a wire?
• A 60GB Color iPod?

I’m going to be beta testing the new StyleMaster software from WestCiv, and I’m psyched to be able to finally make an impact on some of the products that I use. Sure, I’ve posted comments to the Mozilla boards about things, but this will be my first opportunity to really get into the nitty-gritty of a good program to see if I can help make it a little better. I liked Style Master 3.5, but there were some quirks that it had that made it a little less useful (see my review). Already it looks as though they have thought through a lot of the redesign of the product. I don’t know how much I can tell at this point (need to read the beta testing documents again), but if anyone out there wants to put out some suggestions, feel free. If anyone is even reading this, that is…

In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I would dredge up this image from my past. It’s me and 3 college buddies enjoying the chance to relive some of our youth. I haven’t seen most of these guys in years, but I know for a fact that ‘Paul Stanley’ has this same picture up in his house. And now to come up with something for this year…

Links »

• The guys over at WebLinc redesign their site, and get a nod from CSSVault.
• Who is that with Jeremy? Lucky kid – he’ll have quite a photo album when he’s older. He’ll have to open up a deli somewhere…
• Excellent review of the changes in the The Empire Strikes Back DVD.

Well, it’s Friday and I can’t wait for the weekend. I spent all day yesterday and will spend all day today working on a 14-part presentation for a client we are trying to get to sign, and although it’s been fun, it’s a lot of work. Hopefully, I’ll be able to put up some of the creative later and get some feedback.It has been a good process – taking some initial ideas and working with a copywriter (new to our organization) and a project manager to develop themes and catch-phrases, concepts and designs. I have to say that I’m not used to having to spend as much time working my ideas through with other people – I usually develop a bunch, and go with the ones that the ‘client’ likes. Having two other people involved has been a growing experience – and a blow to my ego (can I help it if I still think I’m right on one or two of the designs they don’t like?). Then the client comes back with a completely different view than ANY of us expected. Of course, she’s nuts, but she IS the client. We’ll win her over, I’m sure…

Links»

• A new creative from the folks at Jib Jab (the guys who brought us This Land) – It’s Good to Be in D.C.
• Thank God they didn’t ask her to baby-sit (and there was a machete lying out in the yard? Who the hell IS this family?)

Twas an interesting weekend – two pets provided for a host of laughs. First, the dog, who discovered that bringing us things makes us happy – so we spent most of Sunday getting slippers, clothes, remotes and anything else that wasn’t tied down brought to us by a very happy puppy. He also discovered the joys of doing tricks outside. We want to eventually enter him into rallies (dog competitions which highlight skills and agility rather than plain looks), so we started giving him some easy tasks. The guy loves running through the ladder, crawling through the tube and jumping over the poles we set out. I can’t wait until he’s really ready to compete – or at least run through a true AKC course.Friday night, the cat provided the entertainment.

Miko, our tabby, is known for zany stunts: she’ll chase you for Whiskas treats, and has gotten her head stuck in a glass while trying to get to the beer. But Friday night was her coup de grace. When I’m washing up for bed, she’s been known to jump up to the sin to watch, usually via the toilet. This time, when she leapt up, she discovered that someone (namely, me) had accidentally left the seat up. With a startled look, she jumped up as normal, and into the bowl she went.

***SPLASH***

In an instant, she leapt straight up, a la Luke Skywalker jumping out of the carbon freezing chamber, shrieking in horror at this change in plans. As my wife looked on, she tore out of the bathroom, horrified by her little swim. Watching a small cat fall into the toilet was something that you never think you’ll see, but my wife and I were literally staggering with laughter (don’t worry, it was clean). The cat was not amused. Despite her “I’ll kill you while you sleep” look, we had to laugh. In retaliation, she did leave toilet water paw prints all over the comforter cover.

**Other Fun Stuff**
While out on the town in Philly the other night, we made a stop at New Delhi for some dinner (umm, Tikka Masala), then went out to The Artful Dodger for some drinks. We haven’t been there in quite a while, so it was fun to go back to an old haunt. While there, I discovered a wonderful invention.

Now, what I want to know is … where can I get one of these for the remote control?

I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised by the debate last night (despite falling asleep toward the end). Kerry sounded strong, Bush sounded like a moron half of the time (how many times did he say “Wrong war, wrong place, wrong time” and “I know how hard this war is”?). I think Kerry actually made great strides, although I do wonder how he is going to pay for his grand schemes in Iraq. Maybe if we get back some of the millions of dollars that Halliburton has Enroned the government for.

The next debate involves the vice-presidential candidates. Why the heck do we let them speak (although you could make the argument that Dick Cheney is really running the country, so we might learn something? I, for one, would LOVE to see Bush try to defend his environmental policies – but watching Cheney trying to do the same could be good fun. Sierra Club, get your guns out…

Links of the Day »

• White House May Have Written Allawi’s Speech to Congress - Well, at least we aren’t controlling the elections, right?
• Faux News Channel – thanks, Van
• Debate Fact Check - slightly slanted, but remarkably even for Fox News…
• Coalition of the willing? Here are the numbers of troops other than the 135,000 U.S. soldiers.
• God, she always make me laugh…