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To formally introduce myself, I'm your host,
Conceited Jerk. I've been on the 'net (and its immediate predecessors) in one
disguise or another since 1993, and in early 2002 I decided to take
unfair advantage of the Internet as a publishing medium... hence this webpage.
It's survived for eight years so far, and I intend to keep it going until I get
bored of it. The site exists primarily for my own amusement, but it
serves a dual purpose by letting my family, neighbours, and hangers-on know
what I've been up to lately. I have a nasty habit of dropping off the face of
the earth for weeks at a time. And before you ask, yes, my site is SUPPOSED to
look like this... think of it as an anti-webpage. Web 2.0 can wither and die
for all I care, poorly coded HTML is where it's at!
The Death of Real Social Interaction?
Update 152, written January 2nd, 2012
I was a little bored this morning due to chronic insomnia, so I fired up the Linux box and started surfing. After checking the news, my email, updates on the Retrochallenge, and social networking sites Twitter and Facebook, I started getting bored again. So I went underground to do a little exploring.
I came across this post on a Czech(?) gopher site, which struck a chord with me (You'll likely need the Overbite plugin in order to browse Gopher sites). The author of the post is absolutely right, I have found myself getting together with friends less and less... and I attribute this largely to our use of Facebook. If I want to know what's going on in my friends' lives, I have only to click my mouse. I can interact with them by leaving a comment on their posts, or if I need a private option, I can send them a private message. I can see their new haircut/wardrobe/cosmetic surgical enhancements via their "wall" and profile pictures, and if they post a video I can hear their voice.
But it's not the same as physically having that person in front of you. As the author of the post so rightly says, "The status page on social network can literally become more of your friend that the person updating it."
On a personal level, I also found both Facebook and Twitter ate away at my creativity, and as such I found myself spending less time writing or blogging. I'd come up with an idea, feeling, or concept, then would immediately tweet it, before it had a chance to really germinate. It would be rare for me to explore the idea after that, thus killing off what could have been a spectacular blog post or magazine article.
At any rate, one of my New Year's Resolutions was to spend more face time with people and less time Tweeting and Facebook-ing. It's been a while since I'd met anyone for a coffee or a drink, and truth told I rather miss it. Time to revive the tradition, methinks.
Update 151, written December 26th, 2011
I have finally begun work on the podcast. After five or more years of planning, I have recorded the prelude to my new 'cast entitled Public Disservice Announcement. While nothing spectacular (it's a 15 second holiday greeting and commercial), it represents a milestone for me... ie finally getting off my ass and following through with my plans.
The podcasts are hosted here on the main site, on a subdomain with a sparse but functional index page. However, in the interest of automation and limited user interaction, PDA will also be available via RSS enclosure through my blog and announced via social media. If things take off, I may start a separate Facebook page for PDA.
Look for the first episode in February.
Speaking of my blog...
I gave up on Tripod's blogging engine once and for all. Conceit and Sociopathy has moved back to its original home on Blogger. All the posts from the Tripod era have been migrated to Blogger, and thus no continuity has been lost. My creative works will continue to be hosted here... once I've uploaded 'em all again.
Apart from that, all is well. Wedding plans are humming along, domestic life is bliss, and things are alright at work. Can't ask for much more than that.
All the best to my friends, family, and readers the world over. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
-CJ
The Easter Bunny Would Be Proud!
Update 150, written June 22nd, 2011
Hey! First update this year on this part of the site!
I know, I've largely been concentrating on other portions of the site. I've also been concentrating on the site's Tenth Anniversary next year, working my magic (such as it is) behind the scenes. I have a lot of things planned (some of which you may have discovered already), with a few spontaneous things thrown in for good measure.
It's these spontaneous things that are slowing me down... well, past spontaneity has slowed down the process somewhat. Part of the plan for the site's anniversary celebrations was to re-upload all the old content from days gone by. While a difficult task (the original work was spread out over several dozen old computers), it's not an impossible one. The problem lay in all the hidden stuff, the Easter Eggs I had strewn throughout the many pages... hidden pages accessed through tiny image-maps, having each letter of a word lead to a separate link, hiding things via palette changes, et cetera. You see, I used to have the layout memorized, and I never bothered to write it (or a comprehensive directory structure) down for future reference. Suffice it to say, it's been an interesting experience akin to unravelling a 20ft diameter knot of yarn...
It's been fun, though, especially when I find something I completely forgot I'd done.
Once I have everything back in one place, I'll need to pore over the HTML source code to figure this mess out. Hopefully then, I'll have something to show y'all.
Update 149, written October 17th, 2010
In response to requests from a couple of faithful readers (and Cherenkov), I have added a Web 2.0 section to my site, in the form of a newly reanimated Conceit and Sociopathy! It can be accessed by clicking on the OK button in the "Click here if you do everything you're told" graphic.
Never let it be said that I don't listen. Sure, more often than not I'll ignore you (and probably laugh at you once you've left), but I do listen. This time, I decided to grant a few concessions that will benefit my readers as well as myself. I thought briefly about posting back at the old blog, but that would defeat the purpose of having resurrected THIS site... having everything on one site, under my complete control! To that end, I ended up using Tripod's Blog Builder to create the new blog. I've used it in the past on two or three "other" blogs, and it has all the basic functionality I need to fulfill your requests. It ain't pretty, but at least readers will be able to leave (moderated) comments, link to specific posts (apparently anchors don't work or something), and be notified of new posts via the RSS feed instead of having to follow me on Facebook or Twitter or manually checking the site periodically. I'll also be able to post more dynamic content (embedded videos, etc) .
Now, I'm not sure how "permanent" this newly reanimated blog will be, but considering the amount of time it takes me to do anything (hey, I'm a busy guy!), expect the new C&S to be around for at least a couple of years.
Update 148, written October 15th, 2010
Today is Blog Action Day, and as promised, my entry can be found here. Please give it a read, and if you'd like, you still have a few hours to add your own entry!
I'd also like to say hello to my friends at New Winnipeg. I rather enjoyed last night's get-together (wish I could have stayed longer) and hope to see you all at the next one!
Update 147, written October 1st, 2010
I've just finished 2008...
Over the last few months, I've slooooowly been
archiving the content of my erstwhile blog Conceit and Sociopathy. My goal is
to move the contents over to this site, where it will reside in my Commentary
section. It's been an experience, and I've had a lot of fun re-reading things I
wrote years ago... and laughing because my attitudes haven't gotten any better
with time. I'm sure my ol' pal Livio Mr. Nobody would STILL fire me
over things I've pulled on customers (if, of course, he were my boss). Not sure
if I'll migrate any reader comments yet, though...
One thing that shocked me, though, were the sheer amount of projects I've either abandoned or have forgotten. An offhand comment of mine on Cherenkov's blog Anybody Want a Peanut reminded me that I still had most of the work I'd done on my old "SLP Heaven" project... trouble is, I don't remember which computer I had it on. I know I also have scripts written for at least five episodes of the podcast I'd planned to record, problem is they were quite topical and therefore woefully out of date (early 2008). I also lost some material when my 1986-vintage Amiga 2000 finally died, thankfully I was able to salvage 80% of it... all I really lost were textual outlines and a few graphics. Maybe a few HTML pages...
At any rate, I've been going over some of these, my bastard children, and seeing which of them are still somewhat viable given my busy schedule... and which ones to either lock forever in the basement or give up for adoption. If any of you are stuck for ideas, let me know as I have quite the clearinghouse of half-baked or half-started projects I'll likely never get to.
Anyhow, back to the migration. I'm trying to get 2009 done before I go golfing tomorrow...
* EDIT * In other breaking news, New Winnipeg stalwart Cancelbot now has his own blog entitled One Man Committee. Be sure to give it a look!
Announcing Blog Action Day 2010
Update 146, written September 29th, 2010
It's that time of year again, where bloggers of all stripes from around the world band together to call attention to their cause celèbre. Yes, it's almost time for Blog Action Day 2010! Blog Action Day is the one day of the year I'll (openly) admit to caring about things other than myself... and this year's topic is one I've been meaning for some time to explore: water.
Truth told, I've been doing research for a water-related article for over a month. As per the norm, one of my off-the-cuff smartass remarks gave me pause to think about the most serious issue facing the world today, so I started looking at the issue from different angles. When the Blog Action Day team asked us past participants which issues we would like to see as this year's topic, I was torn between "Womens' Rights" and "Water". Remembering I had already started writing about the issue, I voted for "Water" and held off from writing more. Today, when we received word that this year's topic would indeed be "Water", planning again began in earnest. I'd also begun research for an article on Womens' Rights, which has evolved into my previously mentioned tribute to stay-at-home moms. That article will be the first feature in the upcoming reboot of my old Commentary section, which I hope to have available soon.
I've set up a placeholder page for Blog Action Day here, check back on October 15th for my own tribute to the essence of life.
As an aside, I also managed to pick up a replacement AC/Sound board for Nadia. I'm hoping it arrives by the end of next week, so I can have my Girl Friday back together in time for the long weekend!
Update # 145, written September 26th, 2010
It's 7PM Sunday as I write this. Ordinarily, the time of day doesn't cause me undue stress. Today, however, it signifies the end of my week-long vacation from work.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed (and sorely needed) the time off work. I did a number of things I'd been meaning to do, but I'm still left with the feeling that I didn't do enough. Did my yardwork, but didn't clean out the basement... had breakfast with a couple of friends, but had to put a few others off... did a lot of the household shopping but did none of the cleaning. Too much for one man, I guess.
I DID manage to write and submit a couple of magazine articles (one of which has been accepted!), but I've sadly neglected this site. Ah well, Autumn is upon us, and being an Autumn-person I don't foresee regular updates throughout the coming weeks. I'll try to update at least once a week, however, until winter is upon us.
"So, how were your holidays apart from all that?" you may ask.
Well, I hear you ask. They were fantastic, just what the doctor ordered. I tried the new (to me) Cinnamon Bun French Toast at Salisbury House, which is great. I met up with a few friends, spent an inordinate amount of time travelling on buses, blew $300 updating my wardrobe and about $100 on iTunes, met the woman of my dreams (only to find out she's happily married), spent quality time with my cats, and on one occasion lazed around in my underwear and did absolutely nothing... because, hey, sometimes ya gotta! Taking that same sentiment to heart, I also relaxed on the patio (fully clothed, mind you) with a few of my secret recipe Martinis!
On a sad note, I'm without laptop again. Yup, for the fourth time since I bought her, Nadia (my Powerbook G3 "Lombard") is dead. I tripped over her power cable, which pulled out of the laptop and took the internal power port with it. Not being one to let the departed rest in peace, I'm looking to buy another replacement AC/Sound card. The good news is they're available rather inexpensively ($20 on eBay) and are easy to install. The bad news is I'm without my beloved Nadia for a few weeks. I'll either resort to TRS-80 Model 100 or Palm Pilot for the time being for writing on the go.
At any rate, despite my absence this is only a short update. As usual, I have a number articles and projects in the works and little time to devote to them. Check in this time next week for CJ's tribute to the Stay-at-home Mom.
Update # 144, written August 5th, 2010
Do you know what really annoys me? If you answered "Everything", you'd be correct. Hey, I'm an irritable guy!
However, some things annoy me more than others, and nothing, NOTHING annoys me more than the expression "plain vanilla". Vanilla is NOT "plain" or lacking in flavour, but is a rather complex flavour unto itself. I absolutely looooove vanilla, and would drink straight Mexican vanilla extract if it weren't for the subsequent brain damage I'd suffer (and my poor ol' grey matter can't take much more!). My favourite ice cream flavour is vanilla (especially French Vanilla), and I was devastated when The Coca-Cola Group discontinued Vanilla Coke on these shores. I did manage to stockpile a dozen cases or so, but it inevitably ran out...
I have been searching for a European exporter that'd ship me a few cases of Vanilla Coke, but in the meantime, I concocted something to satisfy my craving. Now, if you've read my website (or former blog) for any period of time, you'll know I enjoy a good drink... and am especially fond of devising my own recipes. With that in mind, I give you:
CJ's Vanilla Cola
Pour 1oz Galliano Vanilla liquer over ice in a glass, fill glass with the cola of your choice. Adjust the amount of Galliano to taste.
It's not bad, but it's no Vanilla Coke. Mind you after a few of these, you won't care that it's no Vanilla Coke. Try it anyway, your curiosity will be rewarded.
I was going to use Meukow Vanilla Cognac liquer, but that somehow seems like sacrilege... Cola and Cognac don't belong in the same sentence, let alone the same glass!
Anyhow, I'm going to tweak the recipe a bit.
Au reservoir!
Priscilla "Priss" Wheeler, 1996 - 2010 (RIP)
Update # 143, written August 3rd, 2010
I remember the day we first brought you home.
"No bad luck, just love" read the sign at Petland. How true they were - I knew the minute I held you that I was the luckiest guy in the world.
You were always the sweetest little thing, with that little black face, white whiskers, and those big soulful eyes.
You kept me company, you knew when I was down and comforted me. You knew when I was up, and were always ready to play.
You were always up for an "airplane ride", with your paw hanging out of the box as I carried you throughout the house.
And you were always so affectionate.
When it came time for me to leave home, you kept Mom, Dad, Brad, and your litter-sister Nene company as only you could.
Sitting with Mom while she watched TV, demanding Dad's attention while he was watching the game, cuddling with Brad and fighting with Nene... and giving me your special "nuzzle" whenever I visited the house, purring like mad the whole time.
You brought so much love and joy into our lives, and we will miss you so much.
--
Today was a sad occasion for us. Our kitty, Priss, has passed on.
Priss had been sick for a while. She was diagnosed with diabetes over a year ago, had problems with a swollen anal sac, and only just recently developed a tumor in her liver. Over the last month or so, she'd stopped eating and lost a lot of weight. I saw her for the first time in two weeks yesterday... there was nothing left but skin and bones. The vets attributed her lack of appetite to a colon blockage caused by severe constipation.
Priss was very lethargic and listless this morning, so my parents took her to the vet to have her bloodwork redone. Her ketones were through the roof and she was severely dehydrated... which the vet attibuted to a tumor in her liver.
When my Dad phoned just as I was leaving work for the day, I knew it couldn't be good news. I could hear it in his voice.
He picked me up from work, and gave me her prognosis.
It was time to say goodbye.
We were there for her when she went. The four of us crowded around her, not wanting to let her go. We hugged her, petted her, told her how much we loved her, and in the end, did the most loving thing we could. We held her as she drifted off to sleep.
The five of us (Nene included) sit here, heartbroken and missing you terribly, but we're happy your suffering is over.
Thank you, my baby, my little black pussycat, for fourteen years of unconditional love.
I love you, my little anglerfish.
Rest in Peace.
Update # 142, written July 20th, 2010
The other day, a friend of mine asked me a question. She posed this to me, "CJ, if you could have any sort of superpower, what would it be?"
I had to think about it for a few minutes... train of thought being derailed every couple of seconds by her suggestions... "Flight?", "Strength?", "Speed?", "Breathe underwater or in space?", "Teleport?".
Teleporting sounds cool, but ultimately, if I had any say in the matter, there could be only one correct choice...
I smiled and said "The ability to physically reach out (through computer monitor or telephone) to all the poor spellers in the world in order to beat them to death with the Oxford English Dictionary."
Dead silence.
"Or Merriam-Webster, depending on the degree of offense," I added.
Dead silence and stunned look.
"Well," I chided, "You know better than to ask me questions if you're not prepared for the answers."
"That really bothers you, doesn't it?" she asked, "The poor spelling, I mean."
"Yes," I replied, "to no end."
"Well, I don't have all day for the explanation," she said, flustered, "so, next question."
"Ok, shoot," I laughed.
"It's about women", she said in a dry voice, "When it comes to choosing a potential mate, what is your biggest turn-off?"
"That's easy," I laughed, "Tattoos!"
"Really?!" she said incredulously, "Tattoos?!"
"Yup," I said, "Can't stand 'em"
"Really?" she asked again, "Why?"
"I'm a firm believer in the saying The Body is a Temple," I explained, "If that's the case, why cover it in grafitti?"
"Uhhhh..." she stammered.
"Some might argue that it's a form of self-expression," I clarified, "but unless you're tattooing yourself, or have personally designed the tattoo that someone else is drawing on you, you're a prisoner of someone else's idea of creative expression."
Dead silence.
"If you want to express yourself," I ranted, "pick up a paintbrush, a microphone, a pen, a camera, or a computer. Don't blow a ton of money on 'art' that's going to fade to blue-green in a few years' time, and that you'll probably regret in twenty years."
Dead, uncomfortable silence.
"Any further questions?" I asked.
She sighed. "Just one," she said in an abrupt tone, "Do you ever wonder why you're still single?"
"Nope," I laughed, "Not at all."
To be continued...
Update #141, written June 5th, 2010
I've discovered a new passion... or perhaps rediscovered an old one?
About two years ago, my parents found my old ten-speed mountain bike while cleaning out their shed. The bike was given to me when I was twelve, a gift for getting good grades in school. They bought a man's bike (instead of a "youth" bike) so I could "grow into it"... it was WAAAAAY too big for me, but I didn't let that stop me. I rode at every given opportunity, my friend Karl teaching me how (and when) to shift gears, and led me on some wild rides through the fields and undergrowth along Leila Avenue (well before the trendy subdivision/condo cavalcade went up). I rode that bike almost daily, until I turned sixteen, got my drivers' license, and started driving everywhere. After four years of faithful service, my old bike was relegated to the basement... then shuffled about from place to place after I moved out, ending up in my parent's shed at their new place several years later, forgotten.
They asked me if I wanted the bike, and me being unwilling to watch serviceable equipment being thrown out, I said "Absofuckinglutely!" I figured I'd give it a good tuneup and get me some exercise! I picked up a tire pump, new brake pads, and checked the tires out, and started taking her for spins around the neighbourhood. Of course, that lasted all of a week, after which the bike was thrown into the garage, seeing only sporadic use.
Fast forward to January 2010.
I'd made a New Years' resolution to lose weight and start eating healthier. By the time March rolled around, I was seeing results: I was down to 210 lbs from 225! With warmer weather approaching, I thought "Hey, I'm doing pretty well, let's keep going!", and made a vow to start exercising... cycling, to be specific. Once the snow had melted and the ground was dry, I dug my bike out of the garage.
I started off slow, taking her for spins around the block,
then around the neighbourhood, then to Kildonan Park, and eventually started
running small errands. Remembering that I live in an area with a "moderate"
crime rate, I decided to buy myself a proper bike lock... and after a little
mishap involving a North End pothole street crater, vowed to
buy myself a helmet as well.
After a few weeks of recreational cycling, I started thinking, "You know, CJ, you could ride this thing to work! Do the ol' bicycle commuter thing, eh?"
"That's true," I thought, "but it would require a whole 'nother level of commitment on our part."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Well, this thing needs a lot of work before we can call her 'reliable',"I answered, "We'll have to perform regular inspections and routine maintenance. Are we really willing to make that kind of commitment?"
"If we were, we'd be married," I joked.
"Touché," I winced.
Eventually, I agreed that I could indeed commit. I started reading up on bicycle maintenance, and started to develop a routine. The bike's drivetrain wasn't in the best of shape - chipped teeth on both the rear cassette and the chainwheel, rusty chain, and worst of all, the left gear shifter was broken. I felt a bit leery as to whether she'd survive the daily commute from West Kildonan to St. James and back, and started having second thoughts about the whole thing. After much hemming and hawing, I decided that I would do it... but I'd take the trip on a weekend first, a trial run just in case something happened. That way, I wouldn't be late for work (since it's our busiest time of the year).
Of course, a couple of weekends went by, and I never seemed to make the trip... until two weeks later, when fate forced my hand.
Owing to a budgetary miscalculation, I left myself a bit short of funds and was unable to buy a bus pass. Sure, I could buy a weekly bus pass instead of my usual monthly one, but I took this as a sign from above: to get off my ass and finally ride my bike to work. There'd be no practice run, it'd be DO OR DIE! If anything failed or broke, I'd be dead at worst, or facing a long walk at best.
"What the Hell," I told myself, "This is why we fixed the bike in the first place!"
The first trip had me follow the same route I took when I was driving my boss' car. It took me roughly fifty minutes to ride from my place in West Kildonan to work in St. James... and saw me come much closer to a moving tractor-trailer than I'd like! Apart from that (and running out of steam a couple of blocks from work), the ride was markedly uneventful. Both bike and rider survived the trip. Not bad for a bike that's stuck permanently in fifth gear! This gave me the confidence to try it again the next day.
When I got home that evening, I decided I'd try a different route the next day... McGregor to Jarvis, Jarvis to McPhillips, McPhillips to Pacific, Pacific to Weston, then zig-zag through the residential neighbourhood until I hit St. James. Tuesday morning, I left five minutes later than I had the previous day, followed my planned route, and arrived five minutes earlier than I had the day before. It was a nice, quiet ride - traffic was lighter along this route, an I didn't have to deal with any tractor-trailers!
I took this route for the remainder of the week... and loved it. So much so, I decided to ride my bike to work for the balance of the year. (I took last week off though - I don't have rain gear yet!)
I mentioned my cycling exploits to my ol' man, who was both amazed and concerned that I rode my old, beat up, 1985-vintage mountain bike in rush hour traffic... the next day, he and my mom offered me (free of charge) a still-in-the-box Raleigh mountain bike my mom had won in a contest a few years back. I jumped at the chance, figuring I could use it as my daily commuter bike, and use my old bike as my "workhorse" for running errands.
Since I'm becoming a bona fide cyclist, I figured I'd join MEC. Joined up on Tuesday of last week, and picked up a few things for my old bike (a Pannier rack, and fenders made from recycled pop bottles) I figured she'd need in her workhorse role.
Juggernaut (as she's now known) certainly fits the bill as a workhorse. Her heavy steel frame will allow her to carry a bigger load than some of the more modern bikes out there. The next step will be to pick up a decent set of Pannier bags (with waterproof covers) and a set of rain gear tailored for cyclists... including a rain cover for my helmet. A new pair of shoes will be in order as well, as my dress shoes are going to get chewed up pretty quickly. I also just bought a camera mount for the handlebars, so I can take pics or shoot a short video clip while riding.
After that, I'm planning to replace Juggernaut's entire drive train... derailleur, shifters, chainwheel, cassette, and chain.
Likely the tires, too... they've seen better days in the twenty-one years they've been on the bike.
A couple of shots of Juggernaut
My new, as-yet-unnamed bike!
Yes, I know the front forks are on backwards.
They've since been fixed.
As for next week, I'm planning to give my new bike her first trial run on Tuesday. I just put her together this evening, guess I'll find out if I put her together properly. Until then...
Airport Screener Goes Off Half-Cocked
Update #140, written May 7th, 2010
This one was too good to pass up...
Lesson for the day: Never insult a coworker's manhood. He might be a giant prick about it, and (for a change) the dick might end up beating you.
Full story here.
Welcome Back, Welcome Back, Welcome Baaack...
Update #139, written May 6th, 2010
I've finally done it.
Conceit and Sociopathy is no more. I've pulled the plug on my blog, one of my most fruitful projects of the last four years.
Perhaps not fruitful in terms of fame, notoriety, or monetary gain, but in terms of personal growth and the forging of relationships with fellow bloggers and netizens... which is vastly more important to me than money and fame.
So, now that I've abandoned Web 2.0, I'm back at square one as far as layout is concerned. Apart from my entries in the last few Retrochallenges, I haven't been keeping my HTML skills sharp. Thanks to my exclusive usage of Blogger's point-and-click-and-type-and-click-some-more interface, I've pretty much forgotten everything I learned about HTML.
That's probably a good thing, as I really didn't know what the Hell I was doing anyway ;)
Aaaaanyhow, I'll be migrating all of the content on C&S over to this site, concentrating on content first, then layout. I'll likely spend the better part of the weekend doing so, taking time out for the final matchday in the Bundesliga, and spending time with my mom on Mothers' Day.
Take care, folks!
If I'm as Sick as a Dog, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie!
Update #138, written February 20th, 2010
I'm sick again.
I've been batting this cold (or flu?) for the last eight days or so, and just when I thought I was getting better... WHAM! It hits me a bit harder.
It first hit me on the Thursday before the Louis Riel Day long weekend. Knowing full well that four-day work weeks are Hell at work when the holiday falls on a Monday, I opted to stay home all long weekend (apart from a trip to The Bay downtown), to rest up for what was sure to be a hectic week ahead.
Sure enough, this week was Hell on Wheels... probably the most hectic week in recent memory. I thought I'd gotten enough rest over the course of the long weekend, but as the week wore on, it was clear that I was in poor shape. By the time Friday came, I was ready to drop. I felt like I was going to throw up all day, but I managed to keep it down... at least until I got home. The moment I got in the door, I had to sprint to the bathroom as my stomach unloaded its contents all over the toilet and part of the bathtub... scared the shit out of my poor kitty Tootie, who was sleeping in the bathroom at the time. She avoided any residual splatter, which was good.
After cleaning up the mess in the bathroom, I threw my work clothes in the hamper, made a couple of pieces of toast, and sat down on the couch at 7pm... where I've remained (groggily) ever since. Spent ten hours watching soccer on TV today, and playing FIFA Soccer '95 on my Sega Genesis between matches. Been drinking plenty of fruit juice, ginger ale, and tea but not eating much... not sure if I can stomach much in the way of food.
The phone's been ringing off the hook today, but I'm not up for much in the way of witty banter, so I've unplugged the phone from the wall. If you've been trying to reach me, leave a message and I'll call back when I'm well. This weekend, it'd be best to let sleeping dogs lie.
Update #137, written February 7th, 2010
I spent much of the day playing with the cats. Ethin seemed especially affectionate today, so we spent some quality time on the couch, cuddling and playing with the laser pointer.
But, he got tired of that, so I turned my attention to the other two cats... Morrigan was more interested in sleeping, and Tootie was content to lay on her blanket and roll around, so I opted instead to go out.
I'd been meaning to get out to Chapters to pick up my magazines for a while now... so I hopped the bus to Polo Park around noon. Spent the next hour listening to the CBC on my radio (mostly because I couldn't pick up any shortwave stations due to the snow). It was either that, or listen to the teenage chatter coming at me from all angles.
I arrived at Chapters around 1pm. Turns out, they no longer carry my magazines, but would order 'em in for me... I passed, vowing as I have for years to subscribe to said publications. With no magazines to be had, and money burning a hole through my pocket, I walked over to their Foreign Languages section. I've been meaning to learn a couple of languages for a while now, and figured I could do with a few books on the subject.
I ended up buying "30 Days to Great Spanish" and "Arabic for Dummies", both of which included audio CDs so I could follow along with the lesson plan, and to check my pronunciation. I also picked up a hardcover copy of "The Best of 2600 Magazine", but that's largely irrelevant to this story.
I think I'll start Spanish tomorrow, then move onto Arabic in the spring. I figured I'd try Spanish first, as I know a lovely lady who speaks Spanish quite well, and could probably teach me a thing or two (language-wise, DriveGoddess, language-wise!). I can also practice my listening skills by listening to the plethora of spanish language stations on shortwave.
I've always been language-mad. It started with French in school, then German when I started dating a German girl (and wanted to know when I was being insulted, and how to counter), and finally Japanese when I started taking my import video game hobby seriously. While I'm not fluent (or even literate) in any of these languages, I know enough to get the gist of webpages, newspapers, etc... and can understand part of what's being said while listening to foreign shortwave broadcasts.
Just don't expect me to carry on a conversation... yet.
Hopefully one day I'll be able to present a multilingual version of Conceited Jerk Dot Com (and associated projects). Until then, I'll continue to struggle along in my native language.
Hangovers: A Thing of the Past?
Update #136, written February 6th, 2010
My birthday was on Thursday. Thursday being a worknight, the lads took me out last night to celebrate. I don't remember much of the evening... I was told I was quite the ladies' man, and have six or so phone numbers to show for it. Not bad for a 37-year old lunatic.
Needless to say, I'm feeling a little rough today. I was still drinking at 6am this morning, which made my 9am breakfast plans with another set of friends a bit less spirited than would be normal.
I'd recovered enough to make my usual Saturday morning rounds after that, and still made my lunch date with yet another set of friends. When I got home at 2pm, I went straight to bed, where I stayed until an hour ago (9:30pm). I've had a few aspirins, plenty of water, and a couple pieces of toast, and am feeling just a tad rough. I doubt I'll be able to stomach any alcohol for at least another day or so...
But, I'll enjoy it while I can. Hangovers, you see, are soon to be a thing of the past.
Now, I can picture you sitting behind your screen, scratching your head in disbelief, but hear me out.
The reason is: I'm buying a car, which means I'll have to severely limit my alcohol consumption.
Yes, after fifteen years of walking and taking the bus (apart from the three months I drove my dad's minivan, and about 6 months of having my '86 Daytona back on the road), I decided it was time. My life has gotten far too busy to have to rely on the bus and its associated travel time... and as I've been socializing a lot more, I find I've been relying on taxicabs to get me home as buses had stopped running.
Yes, at this point in my life, a car is more than an unnecessary luxury, it's an absolute necessity.
$500 is buying me my boss' '92 Spirit, which is equipped with an Immobilizer and is in phenomenal shape (but not safetied). I figure another $500 to get it safetied, and I'm good. All I'd really need is an iPod dock and/or CD player... perhaps a satellite radio?
I'll be able to sleep later, as I won't have to get up early to catch my bus. I'll have more time to myself, as I'll have less running around to do after work. I'll even be able to go to bed earlier, actually getting eight hours of sleep!
I'll also be able to hit some of the antique stores on the edge of the city without taking up an entire day, and would be able to pick up bigger items without worrying about how I'll get them home!
I can also leave the city whenever I want to get away for
awhile... funny the things I've taken for granted all these years.
Update #135, written January 29th, 2010
I'm back.
After three years and a few weeks, I have decided to resurrect my webpage.
I'm feeling more creative than I have in years, with several projects on the go (some new, some rediscovered). So how is this different from my previous post? Easy. I have a good friend (a fellow writer) who won't let me rest on my laurels, and will likely give me the requisite boot to the ass if I start slacking. In fact, when we meet for coffee tomorrow, I'll specifically ask her to do it for me.
As for the whys and wherefores, I resurrected "conceitedjerk dot com" so I could have all my works amalgamated on one site, instead of having everything spread across Blogger, Flickr, Youtube, etc. I also did it because I want complete control over my site... and I want to go back to my old Web 1.0 ways.
You'll notice a number of 404 errors during the reconstruction. I'll be working on the site constantly for the next year or so, relearning all the HTML stuff I forgot, and hopefully learning a few new tricks in the process. I'll also be phasing out my blog Conceit and Sociopathy slowly over the course of the year, and possibly bringing one or more of my other aliases into the fold as well. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
So be sure to check back once a week to see what I've been up to.
Update #134, written December 11th, 2006
I'm not going to proclaim newfound inspiration. Not this time, anyway.
I've been in a sort of creative slump for a while now, and I just can't seem to get motivated. Even after coming up with some great ideas and the plans & means with which to implement these great ideas, I can't seem to make it to the next step... which is actually doing them!
It's not like I don't have the tools... I have every piece of equipment and software I need to finish everything I have planned. Scanners, video editing/production equipment, audio editing equipment, graphic design programs, printers, monitors, several dozen computers, and plenty of time.
It's not that I have no talent or ability, either. I've done some pretty interesting things (some on the page, some off the page) that have garnered me critical acclaim and praise (my old index page, some of my old writing, graphics I've done for other people), so I know people other than myself like my work or at least find it interesting.
It's not like I don't have the desire, either. I wouldn't keep updating my page, drawing, planning, or going through the trouble of acquiring the tools and stuff I need if I didn't actually enjoy doing what I'm doing.
Guess I simply need to find the catalyst... there's got to be something I'm missing...
Anyhow, moving on...
I installed OS X on Nadia (my Powerbook G3 "Lombard") on Friday/Saturday and am loving it. It runs fairly well, although video clips tend to be a little choppy at times (and they ran smoothly under OS 9.2)... ah well, that'll happen with greater system bloat, I guess. It's certainly rekindled my interest in portable computing again. For the first time in months, I've wanted to take my Powerbook with me wherever I go! Under OS X, I can run more recent apps that I couldn't run under 9.2...such as a recent version of iTunes, Mozilla/Seamonkey, etc. It's definitely cool, and I like the OS X interface. Hell, I can even use my digital camera, wifi card, and firewire card natively under OS X too. Can't wait to use Nadia at the coffee shop...
Oh, and I've availed myself a copy of Solaris 10 for my Sun Ultra 5, and I can't wait to give that a whirl! As soon as the rest of the parts I ordered arrive, the Ultra 5 is getting maxxed out!
So, that's it for another installment of my marginally interesting life. I intend to make a few minor changes to the site on Wednesday, nothing major, just amalgamating a couple of pages and maybe adding a pic or two to my artwork section... possibly adding another random and incomprehensible picture to my already incongruous "Postcards from Winnipeg" section. I like incongruity. Incongruity rocks.
Big Brother and the Retail-Industrial Complex
Update #133, written November 20th, 2006
Big Brother ain't just watching. He's participating.
I've been reading a book called Spychips. It is, to put it politely, thoroughly fucking scary. Reader's Digest Condensed/ADHD Version: RFID is a reality and is IN USE. Within the next five to ten years, everything you buy, rent, borrow, or steal will be giving out information for retail, usage, and tracking purposes. Everywhere you go will be logged. All via tiny Radio Frequency IDentification chips no bigger than a grain of sand. With it, they'll be able to tell what brand and colour of underwear you're wearing (if any), and also where you bought 'em, how long you've owned 'em, and even how often you wear 'em. No word yet on if they can tell if the aforementioned underwear is clean or not.
That's just one example (and an absurd one at that). There are far more nefarious and sinister implications and applications. I'll be writing a detailed article in the commentary section once I've finished the book. It'll be a companion piece to the CJ vs. Mass Marketing pieces I did a few years ago...
Some days, I think ol' Ted Kaczynski had the right idea...
Anyhow, I'm gonna go finish reading the book, then figure out what I'm gonna do about it.
