Friday, January 30, 2009

Pretty Procristanation



I had every intention to be productive, but that went to the wayside when I found Wordle.

Take any block of text and make pretty word clouds. Mine is of the lyrics to Springsteen's "Thunder Road".

Monday, January 26, 2009

Where I draw the line

I saw this Momversation video on Dooce's blog about where the line is drawn about what she would blog about.

So I posed the question to the Twitterverse: Bloggers, where do you draw the line on what you post?

I guess I have to answer that now, huh?

First, I won't post anything that matches a person's full name with something that will get them arrested, fired or completely embarrassed. Like herpes and tattoos, digital is forever.

I will generalize to my heart's content, and I will complain about work, stupid drivers, Republicans and bad hair-dos as much as I want. But I won't personalize it. If you think you see yourself when I bitch about the mullet-wearing dumbass, talking on the cell phone while driving that Hummer with the Bush/Cheney bumper sticker, well that's your problem. Not mine.

Finally, now that my blog is accessible from places that use my real name, I have to be more thoughtful about what I post. Some things just aren't meant for the digital public: personal rants, intimate details, etc. So I save those for my journal 1.0, my trusty Moleskin. I've gotten called out before on something I had posted and that wasn't fun.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

My interview

My call to meme was answered. Essentially Me sent me the following questions:

  1. What types of photos do you find yourself snapping a lot of?
    I've always enjoyed photojournalist style shots. Freezing a moment of daily life in time. When I go on my photo safaris, I like to find mundane stuff and shoot it from a different angle from what the typical person would see it at. The close-up details of architecture, art, nature... it all resonates with me.

  2. If your life was a crazy soap opera, what crazy plot line do you think you'd be tangled up in?
    I'd be the coma patient, stuck in a miserable situation. Everyone around me thinks that I'm unconscious, but I can hear everything going on around me. I'm just waiting for that dramatic moment when I regain consciousness and restart my life better than before.

  3. You recently went on a roadtrip in Canada. What was your favourite city to visit and why?
    In Canada, Quebec City was absolutely lovely. I would definitely go back and do more exploring, but when its Summer. Overall there are a few. In the U.S., New York City is my favorite, hands down. New Orleans is also magical. In Europe, I fell in love with Florence's architecture and food.

  4. What is one thing you hope to accomplish without a second thought in 2009?
    First, I want to finish my masters degree. I'm taking my last class now, so if all goes well, I'll be all done in March. Then the student loan repayments start up. A second accomplishment would be to change my career from project management into instructional design. Now that I'll have a shiny new degree, I might as well use it.

  5. If you had to get rid of watching television or reading books, which would you gladly cut out of your life and why?
    Without question, I'd toss the tv out the window. I've already gotten rid of the cable expanded package and now the only tv I watch regularly is the news when I get home from work and The Office. Anything else I can catch online. I am always reading and have a book on my bedside table at all times. Right before I go to bed is usually the time I reserve for reading. I'm catching up on some classics now. I'm loving Jane Austen and I'm currently reading 'Hard Times' by Charles Dickens.
That was cool. Anyone else?

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

A new day


Inauguration, 2009
Originally uploaded by michaeldeangelis
On every news station, from every reporter, it is said that today marks a moment in history that will never be forgotten. It marks a turning point in our nation's history where people are seen as who they are, rather than what they are.

I along with hundreds of millions of people around the world watched the face of American politics change. I sat in my office cube watching the live video stream of the Inaugural ceremony. And when the network got bogged down and the video stalled, I streamed the radio station who was broadcasting the swearing in and Obama's inaugural address.

What was amazing to me was not that Obama is the first black president, but the outpouring of emotion his new position has made in the people of America and around the world. There are tons of cliches that will be used: a new dawn, a new hope, (which sounds like a Star Wars movie) there is a truth to it. I feel like a deep cleansing breath has been taken by my country.

I make no claims to have any great insight as to how his administration should fix our problems, or naive enough to think that progress will come overnight or without any setbacks. But like so many, I am optimistic today. Even though one man can't change the world on his own, he can inspire each person to stand up and do his or her part to better the world around them -- from a few blocks, to a few miles, to a few countries away.

I listened to his speech, waiting to hear the words that will serve as the prologue to his term as president. There were fantastic lines, but the one which most resonated with me was this:
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
The world has been waiting, now it's time to shine.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Friday, January 16, 2009

Just photos

The title of this blog is 'as seen through the lens'. I think it's time to post some more random, daily photos.
Winter day

Winter day
These were taken as I was driving to work the other day. The start of the bitter cold snap that has taken most of the country by storm.

Have a seat, Barry
Barry patiently sits like a little man on my chair, waiting for me to take his coat off.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

I propose a meme...

I saw this idea on Essentially Me's blog where the blogger gets to interview her readers by asking them 5 questions.

I like it. And, I'm out of any new ideas for posting. None that I want to make public right now, anyway.

So here are the rules:
  1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
  2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
  3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
  4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
  5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Do it!

Monday, January 12, 2009

Meeting Notes

Meeting Notes
Captain Obvious made an appearance at the meeting I was in again. His hero ability is to restate what is glaring obvious in attempt to look like he something valuable to contribute.

Monday, January 05, 2009

I'm Superman

I'm Superman
Just got back from my Canada road trip yesterday. I was glad I went. Quebec was beautiful, but f'n COLD!

The best part... jumping on the hotel beds and taking pictures in mid-leap.

You can see the rest of the pics here.

Friday, January 02, 2009

p.s. more to come...

I do want to write a recap on 2008, just like Chelc and Viv did, but I need some time to really think about it and form those thoughts into words. And I certainly can't do that while in a hotel in Canada while my cousin sleeps in the next room. Right now I'm focusing on how to squeeze in the sights of Montreal in 4.5 hours before we start the drive up to Quebec City.

So know that they're coming. Soon.

Thursday, January 01, 2009