2007 March archive at Spattering Neurons

Archive for March, 2007

Mar

Self #3

By Brian 0 Comments

Categories: State of the Brian

Self #3
Originally uploaded by cheerfulstoic.

Ever the procrastinator I didn’t take any pictures this week until today. I took a walk through my neighborhood to try to explore some things I hadn’t before. A couple of those pictures will likely make it up this week, though I’m not as happy with them as I was with last week’s shot so I hope to bring my camera along with me this week. It was wonderful out, though. It was a bit nippy, but quite confortable for an hour’s constitutional.

Still looking for work in Boston. There was one job I’m very excited about that I applied for Tuesday. I’m going to have to kick it into a higher gear so that I won’t be while I’m trying to prepare for Europe in May. Exciting times. I won’t bore you with all the details, so off to another week I go.

“I don’t care if they eat me alive, I’ve got better things to do then survive.” -Ani DiFranco

Mar

Oven

By Brian 0 Comments

Categories: Geekery

Oven
Originally uploaded by cheerfulstoic.

Bad Ruby jokes:

# The Enumerable Snowman
yeti.each { |y| y.growl }

Sorry… it’s late and I’ve been Rubying late into the night.

Mar

Lounging art

By Brian 0 Comments

Categories: 5ives

Lounging art
Originally uploaded by cheerfulstoic.

Some 5ives:

Five ideas for baby’s first exposure to a product:
1.) Baby’s First Chainsaw
2.) Baby’s First Weaponized Plutonium
3.) Baby’s First Plastic Bag
4.) Baby’s First Breath Mints
5.) Baby’s First Hit (free)

Mar

Unfocused High street progression

By Brian 0 Comments

Categories: Metablog Material

Unfocused High street progression
Originally uploaded by cheerfulstoic.

Blogging is hard.

I had a decent idea all laid out. I had in mind some interesting questions on the nature of “Can singing be taught?” It was inspired by American Idol Simon’s general dismissiveness to horrible singers and his frequent suggestion that they pursue another line of work. I wondered, “How bad does a singer need to be in order to not be able to achieve a decent singing voice with sufficient patience and training?” and “Does the natural appeal of a good voice make teaching a horrible voice so repulsive that only the heartiest ears could train them?”

Then I realized that this question had to have been asked before. I thought that as a responsible blogger (or at least one that doesn’t want to look like a fool) I would research the topic and maybe provide some references. Of course it doesn’t seem to even be much of a question. Upon reading just a couple of sources I now believe that singing can be effectively taught (with enough patience on both sides) and that my questions are not very interesting anymore.

See: similar research from my colleague, Matthew Baldwin.

Mar

Even bent art can be appreciated

By Brian 0 Comments

Categories: Poetry?

Even bent art can be appreciated
Originally uploaded by cheerfulstoic.

Despite having the evening suddenly freed, I find myself with only the time for some more haikus. Sorry, I’ll try to be better.

bend to the left side
a sudden crack and she screems
damn chiropractor

they say beauty is
in eye of the beerholder
whoops, don’t fall over

Mar

Mooned

By Brian 0 Comments

Categories: Poetry?

Mooned
Originally uploaded by cheerfulstoic.

the moon is so full
of itself like a pearl in
the dark sea of sky

gallery hopping
A distant light above me
I snap and catch up

Mar

Self #2

By Brian 0 Comments

Categories: State of the Brian

Self #2
Originally uploaded by cheerfulstoic.

G (my ex) moved out on Thursday. It’s nice being able to have more space to put my stuff, though now there’s actually a bit too much space. So I’m now by myself in the apartment. Though I do have Tom (the cat I inherited from G) to keep me company. All in all, it’s nice to have the space all to myself, though I don’t plan on doing much with it since I’ll be moving in a few months anyway.

Speaking of moving, I’m still working on being able to support myself after I move. I had a phone interview on Tuesday which went pretty well. It was reasonably technical, but that’s to be expected for a software developer job. They should be getting back to me soon either way on if they’re interested in pursuing me further.

Everything seems to be chugging away pretty happily (including this blog, which surprises me just a bit). Until next week, enjoy the randomness.

Mar

Overly saturated records of popular culture

By Brian 3 Comments

Categories: Advertainment and Made up shit

Overly saturated records of popular culture
Originally uploaded by cheerfulstoic.

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Mar

Sheathed

By Brian 0 Comments

Categories: Made up shit and Short Story

Sheathed
Originally uploaded by cheerfulstoic.

With all the adrenaline rushing through me I couldn’t even remember how I got into this situation. All I could think of as we walked up the increasingly steep path was the man pointing the gun at me and his partner pointing a gun at Amanda back at the cabin. Soon enough we got to the base of the rock wall.

“They’re up there?” I asked incredulously.

“Why do you think you’re here? You can climb the wall and get the diamonds and if you don’t, the girl dies.”

“What about a rope? I’ve never even climbed this route before!”

“We haven’t got time for that, now move it!”

“Can I at least go around to the other side? There’s a route I’ve done a number of times that would be much better.”

“I’m sorry, maybe you haven’t had a gun pointed at you before. Do you need me to explain how this works? I tell you to do something and you do it, or one of the bullets comes out of here and into your head”. I stared silently at him for a moment. Realizing I had no choice I turned to look at the task at hand.

The base of the wall looked pretty good, lots of grips. Pushing the doubt out of my mind I got to it, foot up, grab a hold, foot up, grab a hold, and so on. After about a minute, the sound of a scream and the gun going off distracted me and almost made me lose my grip. Then I heard Amanda’s voice, “It’s OK, come on down”. I chanced a look down and saw her standing over the man with the gun in her hand. Slowly I climbed back down.

“How did you do that?” I asked.

“Didn’t you know I’m a ninja?” she said with a grin.

“Oh, yeah, I forgot. Want to get some frosty chocolate milkshakes?”

“Yeah, totally!” she said, walking with me back to the cabin.