If it’s not one thing…

• February 21st, 2006 • 0 Comments • computers •

…it’s another. Neptune, my faithful Mac G4 of five(?) years is trying to die. After acting slow and squirrely for a few weeks, I decide to wipe her clean. Despite having a complete lobotomy, she still acts not-quite-right and makes horrible beeping noises when she unsuccessfully boots. This afternoon she goes to the local Mac hospital for a diagnosis: here’s hopin’. I’m kinda torn up about what I want the prognosis to be. On one hand, a new G5 would be freakin’ sweet. On the other hand, a new G5 would be freakin’ expensive. Arrgh!

Right before Neptune decided to suffer from a major malfunction, I managed to get my new daily blog up and running: Epicycloid-A-Day! Hooray! In this fantastic new creation, I will post one blue ball-point pen drawing of an epicycloid per day. Following closely on the blog’s heels is a massive gallery on the website of all my epicycloid-makers, more commonly known as Spirographs. I’m very excited about this project: the idea of all that cataloging and classifying! Oooo! It’s already started! Can’t wait to post the galleries! Oh boy oh boy!

Re: Your Website!

• February 7th, 2006 • 1 Comments • computers •

I just received a strange phone call regarding my site’s status in search engines:

CELL PHONE: *ring!* 809 area code not from around here!
ME: Hmm. *answer* Hello?
WOMAN: [in strange accent with the "boiler room" in the back] YOU WANT WEBSITE?
ME: [puzzled] Excuse me?
WOMAN: WEBSITE YOU WANT LISTED YES?
ME: Er, this is a private line, thank you.
WOMAN: Oh. Ok.
ME: *hang up*

Less than a minute later:

CELL PHONE: *ring* 213 area code! Close enough to 214 at first glance to answer!
ME: Hello?
WOMAN: YOU WANT WEBSITE?
ME: [at this point thinking it's a potential client] Can I help you?
WOMAN: WE LIST WEBSITE.
ME: [still confused] You need a website?
WOMAN: LIST WEBSITE [unintelligible]
ME: Er…how did you get my card? [thinking someone passed a business card to her]
WOMAN: WE CAN LIST YOU WEBSITE IN TOP TEN FOR TOP TEN SEARCH ENGINES!
ME: [highly confused] Excuse me?
WOMAN: YOUR WEBSITE, WE LIST IN SEARCH ENGINES FOR–
ME: [cutting her off] I’m sorry, I’m already in the top ten for my name in Google.
WOMAN: OH WE DON’T JUST LIST IN GOOGLE, WE ALSO LIST IN–
ME: [cutting her off again] I’m also top in MSN and Yahoo.
WOMAN: WE USE OUR SPECIAL SERVICE TO –
ME: [annoyed] Look, lady, I’ve been online for 15 years. I know how to list MYSELF in search engines. It isn’t hard!
WOMAN: [silence]
ME: *hang up phone* Hmph.

Ok, so maybe I fibbed a bit; but if you type certain code combinations, my site does come up in the top ten! One of the three area codes where I live is 214, so by momentarily glancing at 213, I thought the second call was a local person calling for a potential website. It also helped the woman to have a strange accent; currently I’m working with two women from Hungary, so I thought this one was a friend. Sure fooled me! Grr! Intelius tells me it’s some company in Vermont (the 802) or Los Angeles (the 213). Either way, I’m highly confused and annoyed, considering I put my number on the no-call list. Something didn’t smell right, hopefully I won’t get bothered again.

Ambidextriousity has its Advantages

• February 1st, 2006 • 1 Comments • type •

Previously, my attempt at calligraphy was foiled by the fact that I am mostly left-handed.

However! While doodling around with my calligraphic markers, I started doodling with my right hand, which I sometimes do. Making smooth strokes was quite simple for me to do! Excitedly I pulled out my calligraphy book and started practicing: my letters turned out pretty darned good-lookin’! We’ll see how this turns out with some more practice! In the meantime I’m just plain tickled that all I had to do was switch hands in order to make purty-looking letters.