Komejo

So. I don't think I did any kind of recap of 2007, except this fairly optimistic and forward-looking post. Since then, it came to light that 2007 was the year of very bad decisions on my part. This resulted in the loss of many dear friendships in early 2008, which is understandable, though painful.

However! I've managed to make mostly good decisions in 2008, first and foremost proposing to the lovely and talented crowhen. In addition, I sold my house in the nick of time, and became a full-time web developer again. Living with my sweetie in Carrborro is quite lovely.

So to all my friends, I want to thank you for your patience, forbearance, kindness, and (when needed) your forgiveness. I am truly grateful to have you all in my life.

A special thank you to the_zeitzev for his assistance, sage counsel, and general joie de vive.

I voted! Woo! So should you!

Are you still undecided about the upcoming presidential election? If so, I urge you to watch this video and then check out the related deeply moving picture.

Just sayin'.

Thanks to Rafe.

I made the L.A. Times this week: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/valley/la-fo-dishwash15-2008oct15,0,1837474.story

Josef Komenda, a Web developer in Carrboro, N.C., has an essay titled "The Dishwasher Incident" on his website, Komejo.com. Loading the dishwasher, he writes, was "the first episode in my marriage that caused dissent between my wife and myself."

"She had finished loading, and there were some dishes left over," Komenda said in a phone interview from his home. So he analyzed the contents of the dishwasher and figured out how to get the extra dishes in. "She saw what I had done, and I got busted." For what it's worth, Komenda is no longer married, but he said that the dishwasher incident had nothing to do with his divorce.

Here's the original essay: http://komejo.com/writings/dw1.php

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-troopergate11-2008oct11,0,6863069.story

ANCHORAGE -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin violated ethics laws and abused her power as governor in pressing to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, an independent legislative investigation concluded today.

Emphasis mine.

Five-Year Dow Jones chart:

Just came back from the closing on the house in Garner and unloaded the last of the stuff. So, we are officially moved!

It was quite exhausting. For various and sundry reasons, nobody was available to help with packing on Saturday. Many thanks to organic_cookie for coming out to lend a hand Sunday afternoon.

Very special thanks go out to Mr. Benjamin Kay (the_zeitzev). Upon returning home from his extended honeymoon and reading his email, he immediately rushed to my aid on Monday. Indeed, he further insisted on assisting me this very morning, Hoovering the house and lifting heavy things whilst sweating profusely. A scholar and a gentleman, truly.

Housewarming party in Carrboro in a few weeks.

I sleep now!

Nobody was able/available to help Rachel and me load the truck yesterday. It was pretty rough, and she's come down with a cold besides. We got most of it, but I still have some heavy tools and stuff in my workshop. It doesn't look like anyone is coming today either, and I have a flight of stairs to negotiate.

If anyone can help this afternoon/evening, or tomorrow, I'll gladly pay. $20/hour sound good?

Call for directions. I'll be checking comments as well.

Such a balmy night
I think of times good and bad
and wish for Autumn.

Warm September night
I sit and sip a cold beer
Thinking about friends

I have ordered my copy of Playing for Keeps. Have you? It is worthy. More than that, it is truly a good book--the characters stay with you long after reading. Order now!

Pay no heed to the "Temporarily out of stock" nonsense... Amazon does not parse her publisher's supply infrastructure properly. Buy it!

In other news, I found the Amazon recommendations... interesting.

Chapter three--The Snake Charmer is live over at The Feral Podcast. Feel free to sign up at http://www.rsspect.com/rss/komekast.xml.

You can also subscribe via iTunes:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=286629669

In my opinion, this is the best yet in terms of recording quality and reading performance. Go me!

Chapter two - The Feral Chicken of Clayton is live over at The Feral Podcast. Feel free to sign up at http://www.rsspect.com/rss/komekast.xml.

You can also subscribe via iTunes:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=286629669

My reading was better for this one (I think), but the recording quality is worse--too much echo. I need to find a more acoustically dead place to record. Next week will be better!

The Feral Podcast is live! I'm using Ryan North's excellent RSSPECT as the all-purpose podcast link, so feel free to subscribe at http://www.rsspect.com/rss/komekast.xml. I did not get a chance to re-record the first chapter, but meh.

You can also subscribe via iTunes:
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=286629669

Woo!

I woke up to find a review of Flight of the Blue Heron over at IndyComicReview.com:

"These characters, again, have an effortless fluidity to them. They work, play, and get along and we don't question why. There is an undercurrent of camaraderie, in spite of arguments and differences in perspective. They are cute, they are kind to one another, and instead of feeling that this wouldn't work out in the "real world" (if the real world included talking animals anyway), we smile, we nod, and we enjoy ourselves.

Overall: 5 stars."

Many thinks to the enthused fan who sent them a copy to review!

I've made my first effort at recording myself, in anticipation of beginning a weekly podcast. I'll likely re-record this, as I still need to play with levels so that I don't clip.

However! I'm happy with The Dishwasher Incident as a first effort. Feedback welcome.

I'll start the actual podcast on Friday, August 1st, with a new chapter of The Feral Chicken of Clayton every Friday thereafter.

Again, comments and feedback welcome!
Music provided by Musopen.

You've seen the New Yorker cover? This thing.

It's upset a lot of folks, and rightly so. The New Yorker claims "satire" and hides behind free speech, but the plain fact is, Barry Blitt did a shitty illustration. How so?

Barak and Michelle are smiling. Imagine the same illustration with a sad and confused couple, a pained "WTF?" on their faces. That's the story the New Yorker is saying they wanted to convey. I don't know what Mr. Blitt was told to illustrate, but a satire of the right-wing lies and whispers this ain't. It's fanfic. Fuel.

Little things go a long way in art. Shame on him for doing it, shame on the New Yorker for not admitting it.

You are in a mall when zombies attack. You have:
1. One weapon
2. One song blasting on the speakers
3. One famous person to fight along side you.

1. A Katana
2. Back in Black
3. Juliet Draper

Once upon a time, I was in a metal band. Every now and then, little bits of it resurface...

Which of course, is really cool. :-)