No kidding!

WWJD?

Wub Wou Woo

While trying to figure out a better approach to getting users with screen readers options for trying Linux I found Wubi (http://wubi-installer.org/latest.php).

Wubi allows MS Windows users to install and uninstall Ubuntu as any other Windows application. And the "how to get it" seem simple enough. It asks for a username (uses your current MS Windows login name as default) and password for the Ubuntu account, then begins a download of the latest Ubuntu version (default Ubuntu, optionally Kbuntu, Mythbuntu, or Xbuntu. This would confuse some users as there is no explanations of the difference in distributions):



I'm going to test it out with some novice users, but the execution seem slick.

More later...

Been on a walk-about

Been taking some pictures of activity around my apartment in Dupont Circle.

This is raw unedited and the hi-res aren't online - ask if you need a hi-res version.

Finally Someone Gets It

Or at least, finally someone in the Whitehouse gets it; Obama is doing "fire side chats".

Whether this is of his own making or from those around him, bravo!

We can also hope this marks a tone and supports the long-gone tradition of transparently open government.

Creative Commons: Share it!

Friday Night chillin'

Music I bookmarked a long time ago.

Usability and Visuals

An interesting application of visuals to convey auditory emotional inflection:


ohh! More!

Awesome Post Note

You (Damned US) Terrorist!

Content before Style

I'm adding some ways to contact me,
for my friends and family,
although it may not be pretty,
I hope it works,
I'll wait and see.

Call Me!

I've got a new number - hopefully I'll never have to get a new one!

Vote!

Who Needs Government For Private Life?

"WHY do people — gay or straight — need the state’s permission to marry? For most of Western history, they didn’t, because marriage was a private contract between two families. The parents’ agreement to the match, not the approval of church or state, was what confirmed its validity."

Death By PowerPoint

| View | Upload your own

This is an excellent presentation on bad presentation. :p

Unfortunately it doesn't speak for itself and doesn't seem to be usable with assistive technology. :(

$hamele$$ly A$king For Your $upport

I am participating in the 2007 Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger to help raise awareness about hunger and homelessness and to raise funds for programs that provide meals, medical care and other supportive services for the poor and homeless in our community.

Please join me in supporting this important cause by making a tax-deductible contribution in my name or by registering to participate in this year's Trot for Hunger. Your support makes a world of difference in the life of a child or adult in need. Thank you!

One Laptop Per Child

Well, I've considered both sides of the good and the bad in a program like the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program.

Thinking that the negatives are really an issue of how this won't work or will distract from the basics is a failure to consider that any involvement leaves people with potential. Potential failure, perhaps. Potential success? We will see. I'm willing to support such an experiment. To see if such an effort makes things possible.

On a personal note, I'm also anxious to see how accessible these things are from an end-user perspective. Perhaps also be able to contribute to the ability for children with disabilities to use the same technologies, in the same places as other children.

Hexstatic ZenTV Video mash up pt1

Where, where, where did the time go?

Oh The Horror!

I had a good time with my daughters carvin' pumpkins for Halloween...

Agoria Spinachgirl

Oh Gods..I like French Techno. Do you know how much imports cost? Drat!

Happy Friends'o'lanterns

Thanks to the Shotts for having pumpkin carving, food, movies, and fun! :)

Jeff Dunham-Achmed The Dead Terrorist

Hahahahah

Newlaunches.com - Tachikoma Robot

OMG! I've never seen money willing to fly out of my pocket so fast! SQUEE!!

This is the song that never ends...

It goes on and on my friends,
some people started singing it not knowing what it was,
and they'll continue singing it forever just because,
this is the song that never ends...

Oh Sweet Future Hopes..

I can only hope this would be as equally as good as previous Newtons

1. Corrupt Banking System - Cartels Robbing the Public

What they NEVER taught us in school.

Ron Paul Freedom Fighter

HAhahahahaha! OMG! This made me laugh out loud while I was eating! Brilliant!

Oh yeah..go Ron Paul!

Like a suppository, only...

Thanks to Gary for pointing this out to me: The Dissident Frogman. I had a weird day, and this made it all better!

...and the music to this rocks too!

Pennsic!

Just got back from a weekend at Pennsic! No fighting or anything outwardly studious this year, as I needed a break. It was good to simply go to sleep when tired and wake up whenever. I was able to do some meditation (seeing progress) and yoga (my 'leet yoga skills suck) by the lake, including exercise in the early morning.

I didn't have much interest in drinking this year beyond the taste of it. Or perhaps more aptly I had no interest in drinking to excess as is the normal want of many Pennsic denizens.

Still, camping with my friends who could make it, meeting old friends, and making new friends was great fun! I only wish I could have stayed longer.

Toccata and Fugue in D minor

Visually tracks with wandering mind on the audio!

Time can change me...

...but I can't change time.

On the road with your laptop and forgot your alarm? Do you need more than one alarm some mornings? Want to wake to music or videos from your computer? Need an in-your-face at work reminder for that appointment?



Take a look at ALARMD Internet Alarm Clock. You can save the webpage locally if you prefer.

Weekend Things

I was in Chicago for the weekend. I went to a real record store (Gramaphone) and bought some CDs.

Had the opportunity to see someone give a meal to a homeless man. You should have seen the look of disbelief and then happiness on the man's face. It was so good to see. And I got to buy the man who gave him the food a meal in return. Good fortune and karma all around.

I walked a great deal exploring and didn't get to everywhere. I went to Boystown - how unremarkable it is the gay section of town - and had a coffee, people watched, and then went to 'gaymart' a store full of superhero figures and a few gay-themed items. Definitely a geek store though; I resisted the urge to buy a 13" Dalek. :| I did buy gifts for the girls. I also found a shop with silver fidget rings and
bought a few on a whim.



Asking the shop girl where she would take a friend visiting from out of town, I took off across the street for a whiskey at a local dive. Went to a weird leather clothing store and listened to a couple trying to return an open boxed dildo - you can't make these things up.

Dancing About Architecture

This was my view from my room this time in Chicago:

I tried the Hotwire reservation thing for the first time. The only bitch I have is that the highspeed Internet was anything but speedy and cost another $9 a day! So I only bought one day since I was walking about the city so much I didn't really notice. But I probably would have like to play online games at night - my Wow-time is wowsy.

I did get down to Millenium Park and listened to an outdoor concert; strings and a Spanish guitar. It was really wonderful, although damp and getting colder.

Chicago Work

Hey, hey, I'm on a plane,
and then a train,
In Chicago again,
Not the same,
as last time.

Have a Nice Day!

Attitude and your outlook on life is everything. If you are having a bad day, stop looking for why things suck and think about the things you can be thankful for. It is as simple as starting with "Have a nice day".

Now we know the purpose of the Internet

To answer lifes' unanswered questions: World Of Warcraft: Dancing

Amazing

Dmitriev - Bach - Fuga in d-moll BWV565

Classic RPG: Fallout

I tried to load it and it didn't work under XP. I spend way to many hours at this game - it was great! This intro is haunting...

Starcraft 2: Oh Gods No

I bow down before our gaming slavelords. I was pasty white enough before I heard this...

I haf no idear...

I was trying to figure out why people were getting blog updates that linked to nowhere. Sorry if you received a few posts; I've deleted my friendster blog. It sucked. Hopefully you won't now get notices from the ether that lead back to nowhere. If you do, forward them on to my email so I can hunt them down and bind the pesky spirits to my will...

Aspri-rations

Robert Asprin's that is; I found "Myth Adventures: Volume I" on the shelf. Six of his first books in this series. There is a Volume Two too!

I couldn't resist, as the cover art was by Phil Foglio. Reminded me of Wormy and Phil & Dixie.

So I've completely avoided anything productive while reading this book all day. If you don't see me online, it is because I'm offline :D

Looking for Group...

If you haven't seen the web comic, and especially if you play WoW, then you should get over to Looking For Group...

Wireless ACKsess

I'm posting from my phone today.

I was in meetings last week and most of this week with no Internet connectivity. I honestly don't know how business intends on being a business if they don't provide wireless access openly, or at least with easy authentication. It isn't productive for the participants. It isn't a fair expectation that we must be 100% focused on their presentation and review. Some of us multitask well, and could stay longer and participate more fully if we could simply work on our laptop or pda.

Added to that, the number of users who have crackberries that walk away to come back after a period of time, certainly aren't any better than someone on a computer with split attention. This is one reason I think the iPhone will be incredibly successful. The premise is wireless without thinking about usage charges or how to connect. I get to experience some of that with my Sidekick, but they are still limited by their need to nickel and dime you; they are the phone provider, not the hardware or os and application provider. They have a vested interest in getting you to purchase a network plan to make them money or to restrict you application usage to not cost them money. That is a different mindset than enabling full use of your hardware and software and creation of new things for fun or function.

Here is to hoping I can get a new iPhone when they come out!

Going Down To Cowtown....

Well, no. I'm actually going home to NC. But somehow going south and the beach always reminds me of the They Might Be Giants song.

See ya online or back here later.

Let's Blow...

No windy city here - seems I brought all the good weather and it fell out when I opened my suitcase on Thursday. It has been a great day or two wandering about.

I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked, as I saw more than I can show later, but I did learn the subway and transportation. Learning how to get around should make it easier when I come back to visit again.

The city is nice. Old and new. It is hard to be lonely with so many different people running about (but evidently I still tried hiding behind a camera). I'll update and post my pictures ASAP.

I'm on my way home and hope to see you all soon.

ChiCaGo-go-go

I'm in Chicago! Had work out here and now that I'm done I'm going to look around. I'd fly back but no flights until early Sunday a.m.

So hopefully I'll be able to stop worrying about old friends back home and take some pictures. Maybe I can make it to the Sear's Tower and "The Bean".

Beers aren't queer

I was lucky enough to go to the Black Cat with a friend. Evidently, we weren't photogenic enough to be photographed...but it was fun to get out.

300

I saw 300 on the opening night with two of my friends - I love midnight shows.

I found the Penny Arcade comic and it reminded me to mention it. I thought it was a good movie, with a mythic style. You could also see the SinCity-like graphic violence; not real but dreamlike.

Johny Cash

I've heard the David Bowie and NIN version; this has to be the best one - his last song recorded I believe.

Exactly why I don't enjoy "the signal"

This is a web comic that embodies exactly why I don't like watching, don't have cable, and with the exception of a few shows, why television sucks: http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/02/09

Wine, Wine, Wine

Anyone interested in some wine this Saturday? http://www.washingtonwineacademy.org/public-events.htm#feb24 WWA's "Drafthouse" Wine Bus Trip to Virginia Wineries (VA) $49

I'll Be Your Server This Evening...

Which means I'm unavailable - SysAdmin jokes are teh sux!

I looked a little bit and figured I'm simply setup a home server to serve some pictures and nonsense. So I'll test and configure normans.homeunix.org until I'm ready to put up permanent links from personaldaemon.com running. If you are brave you should be able to visit ftp://normans.homeunix.org and get something...

I've got a few images I'm taking with my camera that are fairly large in file size so I'll probably setup a front-end. The images aren't cropped or modified yet, so I may have composed the pictures different than I would choose to make final, but that shouldn't prevent you from see how much I lack photography skills!

Beatboxing flute inspector gadget remix

OK, I don't know why, but I find this really entertaining.

Happy Valentine's Day

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's.

Looking For Looking-glass

I'm looking for a place to place my photos. I've been taking some pictures, trying to learn my new camera or trying to learn how I see things and I wanted to put them up so I could get some feedback. I don't know if I want to put up my own web server and deal with the you-cant-run-web-servers-if-we-catch-you nature of my current home ISP.

So I've got non-professional, nobody wants to see them pictures to share - suggestions?

One month off

Well, I haven't been here. Haven't been feeling much like expressing myself and have had a few reasons not to I guess.

Been trying to support my friends and taking some satisfaction in just being 'here' for them. Been trying to think of what being 'there' is for me. Nothing specific, not complaining, just things would be enjoyable if I spent more time living than I did working.

I hope everyone is well, if I haven't heard from you in thirty days I miss you but I won't tell you. I probably have a picture somewhere and have seen you more than you've seen me ;)

Cool new books!

I just received new books I ordered in the mail "Thoughtless acts?" by Jane Fulton Suri and "Geometry of Design" by Kimberly Elam. They seem a nice edition to my other favorite "Universal Principles of Design" by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden, and Jill Butler.

I know I'm a geek. I was looking for online education for Universal Design degrees and couldn't find them! The ones that exist have dates from 2 years ago, or are add-on courses to Industrial Design degrees. Guess I may have to get an industrial design degree, but I'm really more interested in the universal accessibility as it relates to disability.

Go Team!

This makes me chuckle...

Happy, Happy, Joy, Oh Fu...

Well, dear reader, I'm glad I got that bit about my geeky happiness out before I updated you with my downer.

Actually, it isn't a downer as much as a larger challenge. I just today, a week and a half after classes started, received my college textbooks. English Creative Writing and World History before 1650. Now I can begin to catch up on classwork. Unfortunately, beyond posting 'hello' in to the online discussion boards there was squat I could do in advance. So now I'll be really busy with college, trying to catch up.

So apologies in advance if you don't see me for awhile. I'll be trying hard to be a good student and pass my courses with good grades.

I hope I'll get a chance to goof off, play games, drink, and kiss & hug the cute ones, soon. I suppose if there is enough drinking involved I might kiss & hug the ugly ones too...

Christmas Squee!

The stork is on the way...

a new baby for me! Squee! I love me!

BLACK With the following configuration:
* Processor 065-6699 2.00GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* Memory 065-6726 2GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM-2x1GB
* Hard Drive 065-6768 200GB Serial ATA @ 4200 rpm
* Optical Drive 065-6704 Superdrive 6x

Ships by: Dec 14 - Dec 16
Delivers by: Dec 18 - Dec 21

I already mentioned I purchased the developer kit for OS X. I'm hopeful to make some comparisons of it versus accessibility on other platforms. I'm just filled with geek joy to learn yet another operating system! Am I sick or what?

Well, that and I don't always like hauling my mobile gaming monster (Inspiron 9100) about all the time. I'm into weightlifting but the power brick is large enough to replace exercising with dumbells.

Wood You Could You?

On the floor?




I just finished installing Gaby's wooden floor. What a p^h^h^hleasure it was to have it finished. Well mostly - we still need to put down the edging and finish it all off with a fresh prime and paint.

The cutting was a pain - I'm no carpenter - but actually the vacuum was the hardest part; lots of dust. Still, not bad for my first install of a floating wood floor. :)

El Oper

Well, I've been wanting to play with OS X for awhile now (for it's unixy goodness & when friends asked me for help) as it has some interesting accessibility features. So I haven't decided what hardware to purchase, but I did just register to be an Apple Student Developer (note I just started back to school) and get an Apple discount for one selection of hardware. So, I'm waiting for the developer package to arrive sometime next week, have to fax in my school registration info. for verification, then I'll be even geekier ever! (Linux, Windows and now OS X!)

Actually, I hope to use it for some comparative analysis of modern operating systems implementations. Primarily in the usability and accessibility arena.

Yesterday I couldn't Speal Edumakated...

Today I paid for two classed for college at AMU. So I'm back to school, taking two classes. Work was supposedly paying for it but I went ahead and did so as they still haven't approved it - I started it a month ago!

A good friend asked when I would be done. I don't really know. I don't think in those terms - it doesn't work well for me. What does work is taking the classes, inching to the goal. Progress in the immediate sense lets me better deal with when I judge myself too harshly that I should have completed it long ago. I won't give up, so I won't inspect my progress in too much detail.

Consumer Hoar...

Well, I did it. I finally broke down and purchased a television! 32" of LCD flatness!

Not that I expect much to change in the entertainment section of my life; no cable, just DVDs and now I can watch them with someone else in the room (before I used the computer and the screen and setup wasn't conducive to more than watching from the computer chair).

"I am a consumer hoar", "boy and how!" (thanks Don)

Pen On Paper

Gotta save this one too - awesome.

Draws like I think

This guy draws like many of my dreams go - how I think and movement evolves in my dreams.

A position on my staff...

...or is that how to comment on my post?

A friend mentioned not being able to make a comment on my blog without logging in first. Just wanted to mention, since I was encouraging you to write comments, that you only have to log in you want to be recognized, otherwise you have the options under "Choose and Identity" of Google/Blogger (log in), Other (enter your name, web link optional), or Anonymous.

I don't know what it was in the past, but that was one reason I left Friendster - I didn't want people to have to create an Friendster account just to post.

Arco Voltaico

I believe that last word heard on this video rhymes with "duck"

So this guy walks into a grocery store...

So I'm in the grocery store looking at the microwavable dinners and it hits me like a sack of bricks. I start tearing up realizing I'm 37 years old, alone, looking at instant dinners.

Thoughts of being undesirable single; thoughts I have no one to cook for; thoughts I have no one that wants to cook for me; no one who loves me in that way.

No amount of thinking about how great it is to have friends, or that I have wonderful daughters, or that most of my past relationships created some unique happiness can undo the feeling - I'm about to loose it right there in the frozen food isle.

I zoned out and checked out. I'm glad no one stopped and asked if I was OK, because I would have lost it. I was too sensitive and vunerable at the time to do anything else.

Thoughts of non-attachment; thoughts that we are all alone, even when we think we have someone; thoughts if the person I loved died, what would I do, thoughts that I delude myself thinking someone has the same feelings I do.

I miss the illusion that someone loves me for me. I'm unsure of myself to trust I can do it since I thought someone loved me and I was wrong. The shared illusion - that I was loved and loved someone - was in fact a delusion; only I felt that way. Makes me feel like I'm unskilled and unable to figure it out through clarity of thought, it must be blind luck - and I don't feel lucky.

Being present in the moment helps me live through these times, but it is very unpleasant. I'd much rather intellectualize the fact that life is a gift and we are alone while smothered in the glorious shared illusion of being loved.

World of Whatever

Yeah, this is what I spend my time on...whatever!

V visits the US government to file petitions

A long video, but watch these asshats. The government is made of people and they forget they serve first. If you are in public office, especially police, you should be subject to video while on duty.

I need to get my V suit ready...

Where for art thou, blog?

I don't like friendster's blog for a few reasons and I do like blogger's blog (did I just say that?) for a few reasons, so I've moved all my stuff over to my new blogs: http://gggildas.blogspot.com/ will be where my poetry (dare I say art? It may be a self performance only, which makes me feel like I've been masterbating in public. I hope you enjoy the show!) will be. My regular blog nonsense will be on here (http://gildas.blogspot.com/), where it always has been.

Now this is a good thing for you who bother to visit and watch me drool, you can use Atom or RSS feeds to track my postings. No longer waiting on Freindster's lackluster abilities, it seems to come home late and drunk more often than not, and I'm tired of waiting up for it. (Imagine me with curlers in my hair)..wait for it...wait for it..Bingo! [It helps to know I shave my head].

Now for those of you who don't know what the hell I'm talking about, I offer you a free geek card, redeemable by visiting Wikipedia's article about Atom feeds and perhaps Wikipedia's article about RSS. I personally use the Firefox Web Browser for just about everything so I installed The Sage feed reader but as I mentioned, you can use whatever tool you choose.

I've deleted my old postings and moved them into the new blogs. Sorry for the auto-feed update nonsense - I'm still learning.

Oh, one more thing. I've heard directly some of you like my postings. Please do feel free to post a comment in the blogs. I use these things like diary entries and nothing would please me more to capture something from you to cherish and remember sometime in the future. I hope that pleases you as well.

Previous Posts

Previous Posts

• Our Song?
• Wanting
• Pains me
• Realizing
• Unrecognized Longing
• Matched set
• The Way
• Do. You.
• Empty picture frame
• Who did you give your time to?

If you care

You'll post a reply,
you'll perhaps,
venture a comment,
venture a word,
something better than nothing,
somethings written,
better than not,
better than that,
one word,
one can consider.

Before there were threat levels...

There were alert levels. Darn; we're still green...

I am a banana

One of my favorite cartoonist/artist.

Boob of death!

I didn't get to Dragoncon this year, but now I feel my 'con needs are sated...

Yeah, I'm goth

Creamy cheezy cheezy, yeah. I'm cream AND cheezy!

Need a new place

Not really happy with Friendster's formatting. Been thinking about moving my blogs together on my own server. Their formatting sucks and (although I block with Firefox's adblock so I don't see them) I don't like their advertising placements either.

Why Time Travel Won't Work...

Thanks Gary!
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0zFtBuFNiw&NR

Brokeback Djs

Couldn't quit you - damn guitar rifts - so I modified you - now I can move..on and on..

And people

...who talk at the theater

And now for not so fuzzy

but still cute!

I want a new baby

I wish I had the place and support needed for a new child.

Love Sucks

Yeah. Like that.

A Special Present...

For those of you who actually read my blog!

Cabarat

FREE TICKET! FREE TICKET! FREE TICKET!

I have for 2 tickets for the 2 p.m. Saturday, October 28th performance of Cabaret. Would you like to be my guest? People who miss me encouraged to apply!

All you have to do is send me an email or call.

Arena Stage Theatre is located at 1101 Sixth Street, SW, Washington, DC 20024. The play will be held in the Fichandler Theatre. The Running time is approximately 2 hours with one 15 minute intermission. You may log onto http://www.arenastage.org for more information.

More than one guest applying means we may decide the winner based on games of skill. You know, something like tequila shots or something of equally dangerous consequences. Presents and persuasive gifts (did you see my post on roses? Red isn't required! ;) or shameless self-promotion is allowed to persuade the judge.

Brokeback Galactica

After many spoofs of this I find this one really good. It is amazing because the emotional portrayals in BSG work so well in this. I'm going to go cry now. :p

I'm here and there

Sometime people forget or don't know that I am here and there.

Perception is Reality

...and reality does not exist.

I've been asked by more than one person about my poetry. What does it mean? Please explain it.

I can't. I won't.

I think poetry, posts, are art (With apologize to Ash: good, bad, I'm the guy with a keyboard) and my attempt to explain it to you will fall short of your own interpretations.

I also caution you that I myself might interpret my own work differently that what you think is obvious, logical, or most likely. I.e., If you think the post is about you, it might be, or it might be as a dream with symbolism only I can recognize. Or, I can't recognize it either but it is the imprint of emotions and memories that key to something more than just reading some words.

That said, if you want to get to know me in person, you might gain some insight into my personality. No profile can define me. Attributes are isolations and about as useful as one chemical in my makeup to a scientist - "Yes. Carbon - but is it intelligent life?". If you are lucky, we might share ideas that make us happy.

I hope someone, somewhere, enjoys my posts.

Here and there

Sometimes I'm here and sometimes I'm there posting blogs in other places. Reminds me that information is only relevant to the purpose for which it is organized.

At any rate, if you don't find me here you might know where else to look. Of course if you are looking you might try my yahoo photos - among other places ;)

Long life?

...is a chinese curse. Or at least "Brevis ipsa vita est sed malis fit longior" seems to indicate that life is half empty as it is full.

A FYI for all of you who don't know; "A" and I are no longer "an item" as they say. I wonder what a non-item would be?

N.

Monday mourning

I mourn the loss of my weekend ( typing /mourn into my chat window ).

How sad is it that when I came to work I automatically placed my fingers on the A, W, D combonation as if I was driving my World Of Warcraft (WoW) character about?

The really weird part is how I think the WoW interface could be used in a desktop setting. Not in it's current incarnation, but close. I've experimented with other 3D interfaces on Linux (shh, don't ask, don't tell) but couldn't find one that really performed anything other than eye candy. There are a few useful demonstrations, but lack of any full system with applications designed for 3D use and designed for that type of user interaction.

I tell you another thing; sound rocks. I've turned down all the special effects and turned up the ambience in WoW. I've observed the game becomes much more emmersive, which if you've played WoW is scary. I can also tell what zone I am in without looking. I find it cues me in to expect certain animals and non-player characters. Sound is a subtle but easy to ignore attribute that really does enhance playability and enjoyment of the game.

Not that I played all weekend. I finished my college work for the week, read my Heavy Metal magazine, installed and connected to my Kuro Box (still trying to determine what firmware I wish to run).

Back to School!

Well, I'm back to school!

As part of my attempt to focus on learning, I'm going to keep a diary. Hopefully this will help increase my desire to write and eliminate some of the writing blocks I have in my personal and professional work.

This makes me happy

He can't play the drums nor can he play piano;
http://www.zappinternet.com/?video=fodCyoDmiV

That rocks.

Ah...time

Well, it seems I haven't been here for quite some time. I want to start posting some items related to my professional work (or line of work to be more specific) but I don't know if that is professionally sound.

Alkalol...don't drink it.

The Alkalol company makes this wonderful product. You don't drink it, but you can gargle and do a saline nose wash with it. Gross huh? :)

Well it isn't nearly as gross as the sinus infections I'm prone to up here in metro DC. Ick. This alkalol *dissolves* mucus. I know - fun for the whole family. Next time you have a cold that is lodged in your head and things are too thick try this stuff. I haven't seen it in the big drug stores, but it has been around for awhile. At least now it seems you can find it online at places like Amazon (Alkalol Mucus Solvent Topical Liquid - 16-oz. Bottle)

Where I've bean?

I've been busy living life and not updating my blog. Which is more important?

I sometimes wonder about the usefulness of the blog. My friend Mike expressed the same concerns that I have, that is a blog is full of useless information that seems awefully contrived and self-centered. I enjoy it because I can look back upon the writings and remember where I was and what I was feeling. It helps me remember and makes me happy. Sometimes people mention to me things I've written and it gives me reason to speak to friends or strangers about a common experience. Sometimes it gives me reason to reflect upon my buddhist studies and cultivate inner peace and avoid anger and attachment.

Happiness is what it is all about, isn't it?

I'm back?

Well, got a little bit of Pennsic this past weekend. It was fun for a two day event, but I think just one more day would have worked better. I didn't get to see enough of my friend Crystal and also would have liked to browse the merchants some more. I wish the drive wasn't so long.

Camping wasn't bad - although a bit cold. I had a double air bed blowup matress that as basically two layers of air matress on one. I would have liked to have had a real firepit but didn't get the wood and settled on a small grill with charcoal. It was hot enough thanks the the fire priestess (thanks Crystal!)

And we might have a new clan: Clan Noshame is born!

I'm still on vacation.

Whew! Just heading back from Seattle, WA. Sitting in the airport now - wishing I was home already. The mountains were beautiful - wish I could hole up in isolation for a week, but a day was good enough. Enjoying a new book "Meditations on the Path to Enlightenment" which I'm hopful will help me further along the right path.

I look forward to seeing my children and friends back home.

Ack. Ick. Phbbttt. Hack.

Squeemish readers please avoid!

I wanna die - my sinuses are killing me. Woke up not wanting to move or wake up, then coughing and puking up all sorts of sinus evil. It is the blood that scares you most! Auggh! Auggh! And the blood vessels in my eyeballs seem to have ruptured from all the puking. Ouch - feels like thumbs on my eyeballs. Fever anyone?

Did I mention I was supposed to be working on a major presenetation of the status of our program with my co-workers today? It took me ten minutes to type this entry. I can hardly focus. I'm gonna set the clock for an hour and have a lie-down. I *HATE* being sick.

What I do

I'm going against the grain. Up to now, I've been testing web pages with JAWS for Windows and determining where the Section 508 guidelines require certain techniques. I've started trying to prioritize and build statistics on how likely web content is to be inaccessibile. Things like Frames top the list and depreciated HTML are towards the bottom of the list. I hope this statistical approach (maybe just 'data driven' or 'metrics' approach is better?) will also become a *process* that can be used by non-technical staff to help determine which EIT is most likely to be at risk and target manual assessments on these high-risk items.

I started this because I had to review a 1500+ web page site - try that with JAWS! Eeek. I also want to use publicly available (freely available open source) tools and create publicly available tools and an open process that can be used by other agencies or groups at no direct costs. It will either be a complete failure or a new way of doing assessments!