Ever since reading Bellwether, I find myself noticing more when I do stuff just because everyone else around me is. Which, as Dr. Sandra points out, is not always bad. minnaleigh, laurenhat, and others are doing the 100 push ups program: lunacow was the last straw. I'm in. Baaa. This is day 2, which means I just did 35 pushups. Broken up into 5 sets over a period of 7 minutes. Still. Yow.


I've also (drumroll please) started running again! Go me! Mr. E and I went running on Sunday, which was great. Between his softball injury and my tendon issues, last time we went running we lived in a different city. Starting slow, but it's still been 4.3 miles since Sunday. Hope I'm on my way again!

Hey, does anyone know of a good tool to track running times/distances? I used to use Cool Running, but it got bought by active.com and is now completely broken. Like every time I try to log in it gives me a "A general exception occurred while trying to access CAS. Please notify your system administrator." Stupid online tools, not giving me exactly what I want all the time for free. This is not very new economy!

Tags: exercise
Current Music: quieres gritar y gritar y gritar y no encuentras palabras

Today a black squirrel broke into my kitchen and wreaked havoc on my spice rack.

Tags: new york city

This really makes me want to tackle reading the book.

The number of humble-bees in any district depends in a great degree on the number of field-mice, which destroy their combs and nests; and Mr. H. Newman, who has long attended to the habits of humble-bees, believes that “more than two thirds of them are thus destroyed all over England.” Now the number of mice is largely dependent, as every one knows, on the number of cats; and Mr. Newman says, “Near villages and small towns I have found the nests of humble-bees more numerous than elsewhere, which I attribute to the number of cats that destroy the mice.” Hence it is quite credible that the presence of a feline animal in large numbers in a district might determine, through the intervention first of mice and then of bees, the frequency of certain flowers in that district!

Tags: science

I do not post in my LiveJournal anymore! This is a problem! I like staying in touch. Here's a bit of an update.

I have been very busy! I have been making the arts... getting lots done. I'm actually really proud of how much art I've been producing lately. You can expect to see some new illustration posts from me very soon. And a new Greeting Card!

Russell has taken on a lot of business-related duties the past month or so and it's been a big help. He's been assisting with inquiries, inventory, researching retail opportunities...arg! All the stuff that gets in the way of me actually making art. Thank you, Russell!

We're starting to find a system that works here, but...you out there! People who run art-related businesses! I'd like to hear how you make it work? How do you function and actually produce artwork when half of it seems to be paperwork and e-mailing? I'd love to hear your thoughts!



What else is going on? I chopped most of my hair off... and I love it so much. I ran away with Russell for a bit of a mini-vacation with our stylish friend, Manning Krull. We spent some time by the ocean and took a ridiculous old timey pirate photo on the Boardwalk and it was great. And Dexcon, a gaming con in Jersey that I like to vend at, is coming up way too quickly! Ahhhh!!!!!! I have to prepare!

So that's how I'm doing and what I'm up to. How are you?


PS: I still hate my website, but haven't had the time to figure out what to do about that just yet. Thank you, everyone who replied! I'll deal with that as soon as I can and I'll be in touch.

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/07/09/stopped-courthouse-door-jack-thompson-says-he-will-sue-us-marshal

 

Embattled Miami attorney Jack Thompson filed yet another federal lawsuit against the Florida Bar yesterday.

The far more interesting development, however, is Thompson's allegation that he was denied entry to the federal court building in Miami by U.S. Marshals. In an e-mail this morning, Thompson says that he intends to file a federal civil rights action against Chief Judge Federico Moreno and U.S. Marshal Christina Pharo of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Here is Thompson's version, which also includes additional information on the cautionary visit paid to his residence by a pair of U.S. Marshals last month (a story broken by GamePolitics):

The basis of my claim is that [the US Marshal and the Chief Judge] have undertaken to surveil me and then harass me because of my whistle-blowing...  

 

The two Deputy Marshals who came to my home on June 17... told me that they have been monitoring me for quite sometime because “we have been told you are at the end of your rope and might be a danger to the physical safety of others.” 

 

...When I showed up at the federal courthouse yesterday... the harassment intensified.  When I presented my [ID] I was immediately (not after checking any list) informed that “You have been disbarred.”  I pointed out to the Deputy Marshal that that was news to me...  It is absolutely patently clear that these people were waiting for me.

 

The Deputy Marshall, Willie Bell, then proceeded to berate me when I asked why I was not allowed to enter a public place, the Clerk’s Office, after passing through all of the security scanners, etc.  He told me, “You just want an audience Mr. Thompson.”  I informed him, “No, I simply want to file a civil complaint in the Clerk’s Office.”

 

Mr. Bell, who apparently was instructed to harass me rather than just accompany me... continued to berate me personally, and he trapped me in the elevator to further harass me, which detention constituted a false imprisonment. 

Additional details of the incident (from Thompson's perspective) are to be found in a document filed with the U.S. District Court by Thompson yesterday:

When plaintiff showed up at the federal courthouse today... he was met by federal Deputy Marshals who... informed him that he could not enter the building alone because “Mr. Thompson, you have been disbarred.”

 

...Deputy Marshal (or whatever his title might be) Mr. Willie Bell told Thompson that he would be escorted to the clerk’s office for security reasons...

 

Mr. Bell then proceeded to berate Thompson... but in doing so Mr. Bell made it clear that his job was not just to escort Thompson... His job was to harass Thompson and make the filing of this complaint just about as difficult as it could be... 

 

...the incredible rudeness and extra-legal assigned duties of the US Marshal’s Mr. Bell makes it clear that some communications of some kind have emanated downward from the Chief Judge to the US Marshal... which has “poisoned the well” of this entire federal district court. It is not paranoia to assert such a thing... somebody who is in charge of this federal district court wants to mess with Jack Thompson...

Thompson writes that he is seeking $10 million dollars for the new claim.

GP: Thompson is playing a dangerous hand. While he claims that a conspiracy against him is afoot, it now seems clear that his behavior has some officials concerned that he is a potential security risk. In this regard we note Thompson's own version of a comment he claims was made by U.S. Marshals who paid him a visit last month: We have been told you are at the end of your rope and might be a danger to the physical safety of others.

Funniest Line: Since Mr. Bell apparently had to share an elevator with Thompson while escorting him to the 8th floor, Thompson claims this is "false imprisonment."
 

...to be heading out to Conorado in a few hours?

No. No, I am not.

Had a nice 4th of July weekend with C and R, who came in from England on Wednesday, stayed through Sunday and then went on to visit C's parents in Florida. For the holiday itself, most of phragmites' family came here for a cookout and to watch the parade (comprising three fire trucks, every kid in town with a bicycle, and every political candidate appearing on the July 15 primary ballot) and fireworks.

The landlady had a new fridge delivered for us on Thursday, just in time to cool itself down enough to be useful for the cookout. In moving the old one out, I managed to crimp and rupture the water-supply line to the ice maker, so I was on the hook for getting that repaired; fortunately the landlady's handyman was able to do it for $40. The new fridge is, I think, not as good as the old one (when it was in working order): it's incredibly noisy and the energy-efficiency rating is the pits. I'm glad we'll be leaving it behind soon.

House-buying stuff continues apace. After our loan officer's failing to return our calls over the holiday week and weekend, we're finally in contact and getting things in order. An inspection is scheduled while I'm at Con, but Phragmites may be able to show up for it. Stuff is happening.

And did I mention I'm about to go to Con? Yay!

pinecone_4 and I arrived in Denver yesterday and have been having a fantastic time. Con proper hasn’t yet started, but I want to try to get down some of what we’ve done so far before it all gets muddled in my head by the end of the week. This is more for my own reminiscences, so feel free to skip it. Unless you’re dwarven_brewer in which case you should read it religiously just to see what you’re missing. ( Saving your fpage cuz I love you all so very much )

Current Location: Inverness Hotel
Current Mood: energetic

I am going to kill my devil kitten, I swear to God.

Ok, not really, but seriously I have the cat of Satan. Three days in a row now he has decided that the litter box is not the place to relieve himself, the best option is clearly my bed. This is immediately after I had done several loads of laundry, including all the sheets. Which I now have to re-wash. For fucks sake. And I literally just changed the litter last night! I don't get it. I think he's pissed at me and this is how he's showing it. Gah! Anyhow, he has been shut out of the bedroom and will continue to be for the next few days. Cause I'll be damned if I have to wash sheets every day until he grows out of this.

Oh, and what else? Oh yeah, he broke my glass chess board. Right in half. Awesome. Now, that was partly my fault, I should have made sure it wasn't where he could easily get to it. But seriously, who knew that he would stand on the inch of board that wasn't firmly on the counter? One inch! But stand on that part he did, and fall off the counter it did.

If having a kitten is like having a kid, I am never reproducing.

On to better things! All the recycling is out of my house! Glorious! I have unpacked and washed the first set of new dishes, and packed up one of the old sets, as well as the red plates. All I have left to pack up are the red bowls. Awesome! That reminds me- anyone in the DC area need dishes? Otherwise they're going to Salvation Army.

I have been totally slacking in guitar practice this week, mostly due, I believe, to the long weekend and spending time with various people. I need to learn to just get home, sit down, and practice, THEN do whatever I want.

I had my annual eval yesterday. It went pretty well. There was alot of concrit, stuff that I could improve on, but they did give me a decent raise and said that I was a pleasure to have around the office. So, yay!

I am attempting again to eat more healthily, so all this week I have Lean Cuisine lunches. For dinner tonight I have some leftover chicken caesar salad. And I guess I'll try to continue in this manner. We'll see how it goes!

I think thats about it, possibly more later. Ciao!

Tags: i can has cat?, project massive clean
Current Location: work
Current Music: Panic at the Disco- Pas de Cheval

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/07/09/wapo-activision-blizzard-now-official

Mike Musgrove of the Washington Post reports that the Activision-Vivendi merger is now official, following a vote by 92% of Activision shareholders to approve the deal.

The new company will be known as Activision Blizzard. We hope to see a new logo unveiled, as opposed to mock-ups, like the one at left, which can found around the web.

Referring to EA's now-former status as the biggest kid on the game industry block, Wedbush-Morgan analyst Michael Pachter told Musgrove:

It's good to have a duopoly instead of a monopoly. This just makes the industry that much more interesting.

 

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/07/09/massachusetts-legislature-mulls-tax-breaks-video-game-biz

The Boston Globe reports that the Massachusetts legislature is considering tax breaks for video game developers - but the proposal is far from a sure thing.

With more than a thousand people employed in the game biz, Massachusetts ranks fifth in the nation (behind California, Washington, Texas and New York). Turbine and Harmonix are among the state's best-known video game companies.

The Globe describes the proposal, which also includes incentives for filmmakers:

The bill would have allowed companies to claim a tax credit for up to 20 percent of the cost of building, converting, or equipping a facility related to "video gaming," as the company invests at least $500,000.

 

It is unclear, though... whether the video game industry incentives will remain part of it. The bill, sponsored by Representative Ronald Mariano, Democrat of Quincy, was approved by the Legislature's Joint Committee on Revenue last month on a 5-to-4 vote...

 

And even if the bill is approved, the video game provision could be missing from the final version.
 

 

http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/07/09/uk-minister-keep-kids-mind-during-bbfc-pegi-rating-tussle

According to a report on MCVUK, UK Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism Margaret Hodge (left) has urged the video game industry and British Board of Film Classification to act in a "grownup way" as the government sorts out the future roles of the BBFC and PEGI rating systems.

The process has become contentious of late, with the industry voicing a strong preference for PEGI and the BBFC lobbying for an expanded role in rating video game content.

Of the dust-up, Minister Hodge said:

Please avoid this become a battle between two regulatory bodies. Let’s have a shared solution that everyone can buy into... Child safety is very, very important – I get more letters as a minister about this issue than I do about anything else. So your customers – my voters – are demanding we act...

 

Both BBFC and PEGI have their merit, and I’m not going to come down on one side or the other. We do need a system that can reassure parents and teachers that the content is safe. You must accept that most people in the UK know and trust the BBFC ratings. But I do understand that PEGI is much newer and was designed specifically for video games.

 

What we’ve got to make sure, at the end of the day, is that we meet the essential criteria that Tanya Byron set out in her comprehensive review. My challenge to you, the industry, is to respond to that consultation appropriately, but approach it not in a way that it is a battle to be won against government, but a problem we ought to be able to resolve in a grown up way to meet the requirements of all our stakeholders.

 

Answers to questions I've been asked at least five times in the past couple of days:

1. At the jewelry shop, being sized. It's too big for my finger right now.
2. No, we haven't. For the most part I am crossing out months on the calendar that do NOT work, and seeing what's left.
3. Manhattan, Queens, or Brooklyn, if we can afford it. Hudson Valley, or maybe Philadelphia, if we can't.

Got it, everybody? :P