|
Thursday, July 31
|
| |
|
4:15 PM:
|
|
|
| |
Here is where my place is. Its location is it’s best feature. A good running jump off the roof deck might put me in the inner harbor, but more likely in the pavement. The view from the roof is amazing and is supposed to be even better at night. I’m a half block away from one of few parks in Baltimore. I can walk to either stadium. I can walk to the Inner harbor and take the water taxi. I can walk downtown. I can walk to the Cross Street Market. My neighborhood is like a slightly cheaper and smaller Lincoln Park Chicago. I’m a 10-15 minute drive from work.
The place itself is a "garden apartment" meaning it’s partially underground. It has plenty of space, but the kitchen is not as big or nice as I would like. My land lady lives above me; she knew Einstein and just got out of doing four years in South Africa in the Peace Corps, if I tell you any more I’ll start to look really dull. Exciting stuff.
Hurray for me.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1:27 AM:
|
|
|
| |
Back! I’ve found a cool place and signed a lease. I’m leaving Chicago on the 4th or 5th, visiting Rory and moving into my apartment the 7th or 8th. More to come soon!
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Sunday, July 27
|
| |
|
2:01 AM:
|
|
|
| |
off to find a place to live in baltimore (well, in 12 hours). be back wednesday.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Saturday, July 26
|
| |
|
1:24 AM:
|
|
|
| |
Right now I SHOULD be out having drinks with those girls from the AI. Instead I’m sitting here folding my laundry and wishing my foot didn’t hurt like a motherfucker.
Not that I am bitter.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Friday, July 25
|
| |
|
12:02 AM:
|
|
|
| |
"no dad, I don’t need any money, thanks though"
"whatever happened to guns'n'roses?"
"saddle up! we're going to Texas!"
"you know who was cool? Sinbad, you know, that comedian – he was hilarious!"
"if her hair was just a little more green, she’d be soooo hott"
"hey mom! I sure do want to talk about my personal life, let's go get dad too!"
"I wish Mr T did birthday parties and weddings, what else is he doing? seriously"
"i think the time is ripe to write a 'midwestern' cook book, that's what we need in this crazy time"
"i think i would like to hear about The Book of Mormon, come on in!"
"that department of homeland security color coded warning system is ingenious, easily the most scientific color related indicator since the mood ring!"
"Long John Silver's? Seafood Country™ here we come!"
"DO NOT DELETE THIS - IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!? Hmmm... mom! hold my calls, i mean all of them!"
"obviously there's no better way to bolster our relationship than to do a long road trip."
"a Jerry Bruckheimer film? this friday? i'm going to wait in line right now!"
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Sunday, July 20
|
| |
|
5:15 AM:
|
|
|
| |
Notes from the field: M* and N*, White, Asian, respectively. Girls from AI. RAs. Juniors going on senior year. M* just turned 21. Call them next weekend.
While we’re on the subject, Dave throws really good parties.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Thursday, July 17
|
| |
|
4:24 AM:
|
|
|
| |
Blogroll talk.
Have a seat, hear about my friends.
I think Tom now boasts the most sophisticated blogging system I know of (though he seems to know of others), his swanky moveable type upgrade, competitive blog sorting and blogroll updating bot. While he told me about these technological marvels, the only question on my mind was, would this make him post more content? So far, it seems to have, we'll see how long he stays interested.
Dave's been busy with other stuff it seems. I would like his perspective on the recent goals and principals discussion, as his manifesto is another set of principals I would challenge as a bit too vague to be a real aid in decision making.
Brian's been a bit busy with the ladies. (Which is good as I will be seeing him soon...)
Keacher and Rory have both been posting frequently and it's good to be able to keep up with them easily.
Ques continues to live the exciting life of a jet-set dot-com'er. San Fransisco was his most recent adventure – it seems to share a lot in common with his other wacky misadventures.
Eva seems to be in a similar holding pattern to me, just waiting to go to Boston. And I can't wait to visit... Seriously, I'm going to be in the "least cool" east coast city visiting all of you...
Ed's journey is making for some interesting reading. I think right now he's in northern Michigan camping out so I can understand him not posting as regularly. I am looking forward to hearing more.
Elliot completed his European tour (I think) and seems to be working on actually having a full time blog, which I would be interested in seeing. It promises to be "A site of unending uselessness and irrelevance - even for those who know me!" As I like to say – "coming soon to an internet near you"™
I found that Minufo has started a blog. This reminds me of when Eva threw down on her blog (her archives don't work right now?) and challenged Minufo to have a blog. Well, there it is (what's up now Eva?)
I hope you're all doing well and am glad to be able to keep in touch with you all this way.
Anyways. I discovered at the beginning of summer that after about two weeks at home I start to get kinda nuts. It's holding true right now (two weeks after my arrival from Prague). My foot hasn't gotten noticeably better, so it looks like I'll be off it for a while yet. Admittedly, I haven't really gotten my productivity on. Projects have been started and then fizzle out. Epic blogs on the meaning of paper clips have been started and tossed in the garbage. Code for cool blog/photoblog interaction is waiting to get some more attention. My room is only halfway cleared out of old junk. You get the picture. Tomorrow I am going to try something different. I am not going to turn on my computer. I'll see what happens.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Tuesday, July 15
|
| |
|
4:45 AM:
|
|
|
| |
Did I forget to mention Keacher dropped by on Friday night? Nut case was on his way to Terre Haute from Minneapolis to work on his room. We showed him a pretty good time on the way. I think.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Monday, July 14
|
| |
|
11:00 PM:
|
|
|
| |
Website's been seeing alot of action the past few months. Looks like lots of people I don't know are coming here, and pretty regularly. Even from other countries. Sure, I expect traffic from Australia, Czech Republic, Italy, Canada, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Japan and France as I know people who are in those areas right now. But Finland, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, Poland, United Arab Emirates, Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand and the Netherlands? Who are you?
Why have I gotten 60 hits from people looking for "hair cut pictures"? (#12 on Google)
Why did someone at Columbia download every last scrap of my material (11 MB)? Do I know someone at the University of Chicago? Ohio State? Univeristy of Wisconsin-Madison? Microshaft? IBM? (the prestigious Almaden research location, no less) Disney? The Hartford Financial Services Group? The Navy?
The list goes on. Anyways, I'm sounding hostile – I'm just interested in knowing who comes here. If you're searching for haircut pictures, why are you here for them? Are you a friend of mine who I haven't spoken to in a while? Are you here for the photos?
If you read this, please leave a comment. Leave your name and where you're from (and a URL). If you're not comfy with this, why not drop me an email? It would mean a lot to me right now. Thanks in advanced.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
4:45 AM:
|
|
|
| |
alexlo.net unceremoniously turned two years old on 7/9/03.
I would welcome any ideas for improvements as I have quite a bit of time for that sort of thing right now.
Photoblog has been updated. Look for more updates in the next few days.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Sunday, July 13
|
| |
|
5:39 AM:
|
|
|
| |
Comments are up and running now, fairly quickly and easily thanks to BlogKomm.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
12:46 AM:
|
|
|
| |
Alex’s Best Pike Party Lines "You smell like rice-krispy treats"
"Here, jump like a fish with me!"
"Let’s make snow angels!" (in t-shirts (that was stupid (and fun)))
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Saturday, July 12
|
| |
|
6:43 PM:
|
|
|
| |
My sister drove me to the podiatrist yesterday because my driving foot is injured. It was nice that I didn’t have to get directions, cause I can never remember exactly how to get there.
“Adrienne, you’re good at practical stuff, like getting around the city”
“That’s because I grew up driving in the city Alex. You grew up driving in Terre Haute... when you were twenty.”
Score one Adge.
schtuff:Screen shots of the 900 defunct Web projects that became Ghost Sites between 1998 and 2003. It is hoped that this exhibit provides some insight into the years 1998-2003, an era characterized by experimentation, optimism, colossal financial folly, and the same free, freakishly reckless Zeitgeist that is present at the dawn of any New Medium.
ghostsites
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Friday, July 11
|
| |
|
6:34 PM:
|
|
|
| |
Yesterday I met with Ed on his way out of Chicago and had a productive discussion with him. During lunch I brought up goals, his recent entry on his principals (not goals) and the goals I set for myself a while back.
Ed contends that goals are not helpful for him, and before setting goals one should have something similar to his principals. I personally don’t feel like having "principals", my reasons are this:
I feel they would "limit" me, as in those bands who say "we don’t want to say we’re rock or metal or punk, we just do music, why do you gotta label us man?".
My feeling is a principal can’t be violated – and setting one of those may limit my future evolution, or be too general to be very useful.
I feel like my goals all are formed with some "principal"-like ideas in my mind... as in I know and act in a certain manner from which axiomatic principals could be extrapolated, and for the most part I would say I’m acting in accordance with any principals I’d write.
Good quote from my argument: "I’m more flexible without principals!"
Ed’s strongest argument, I felt, was that he needed some sort of way to be "honest" in his direction/goal setting (he doesn’t set goals, per se). While someone might suggest something, he might get caught up with it (yeah, that’d be cool!) but with his principals, he would be able to overcome the excitement/emotion of the moment and decide that it was perhaps not for him.
Anyways, I just saw Ed put up a good summary of the argument, and his eventual readjustment of his definition and a better presentation of his argument.
One thing I would say is that I think Ed’s guiding principals are a bit too general to really affect decision making. What goals will be tossed out by his principals? I mean, "This year, I resolve to start smoking" isn’t even eliminated. How about "I would like to try x". This will not be eliminated by his principals; unless x is "trip old ladies in the street", when principal two kicks in. I would challenge Ed to come up with a goal or suggested course of action, which he may be attracted to, but would not fit in with his principals.
A separate point Ed makes is that my goal setting process is tainted by the fact that I may give myself a list of goals that are easily achievable, and thus do not push me. While I admit this may be possible, I notice nothing in his guiding principals that ensure any sort of push. If anything my goals at least ensure that I have some measurable level of my efforts. I expect Ed would say as long as he’s not violating his principals than all of his time must be spent on worthwhile things, but I’m not sure that’s the case.
Back to the point about not fulfilling your potential with easily achieved goals. I agree that easily achieved goals, if that is all you’re content to complete, would be not necessarily push you to reaching your maximum potential. I don’t think that most of us who are ambitious enough to set goals, and who, for the most part, try to push themselves would be satisfied with that.
Setting aside how goals are made, here is my strategy for dealing with goals, once I have them. My approach is that I don’t expect I will complete all my goals. I will try, but my guess, and hope, is that other things will come up and take my interest. That’s even part of my goals, "do one thing you’ve never done before per month". I am hoping to complete most of them (80%) but would be disappointed if I didn’t have anything else on my "accomplishments list". I find having reasonable goals, where it is possible I would complete all of them is not problematic, as it allows me free time for interesting things to happen. Assuming I don’t take any actions which are outside of my "principals" (even if they’re unstated), I feel like I am progressing towards a better person (however you define that).
Another approach I would consider is to have more goals than you can possibly handle. While you go, you’ll discover what’s really important and cross some things off, even if it is painful. When thinking about this I was reminded of my senior project’s requirements list and am yanking an idea from software requirements: loosely prioritizing goals. For example "A" goals which must be completed, "B" goals which are good to have completed, and "C" for those which would be nice but are a step down from "B". One danger here is, for me, feeling a bit overwhelmed with the list and perhaps getting a bit down about it. Also, crossing off a goal is tough (for me, anyways). Finally, I think that one might be so busy that you may not have time scheduled to let things happen.
I’m interested to see what other people think. This is the first time I’ve really had a good question for the old debate debacle... too bad it bit the dust.
Also, Ed got me a copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, most of my friends are crazy about this book. I guess I have to see what all the hoopla is about.
Good times. Good luck to Ed in his fantastic voyage. I look forward to hearing more about his trip.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1:48 AM:
|
|
|
| |
Driving back from suburbs, we see "Ron of Japan" sign. My dad mentions that one of my sister’s friends mentioned liking that place. "What’s it like a Japanese steakhouse?" I ask. "Yes, steak and shrimp grilling in front of you and all that shit" says my dad. Yuk. "Those things are... stupid." My eloquence reigns supreme. My mom chimes in, "They’re just entertainment... for suburbanites."
Score one mom.
Elliot, if you’re reading this, why are you going home already?
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Thursday, July 10
|
| |
|
5:20 AM:
|
|
|
| |
Well. This week has been a bit of a wash so far. Still looking forward to having other visitors (stop on by).
Looking to do some radical changes to the site by implementing Moveable Type, the main reason I am looking to do this is to perhaps create a blog/photoblog similar to the A Life Uncommon (which is on summer hiatus, don’t bother looking). Plus it will have locally hosted comments and schtuff. I was thinking about going all out and having it make nothing but XML files and using some sort of style sheets to glue them together in neat ways too. Anyone know how to do that sort of thing?
My one accomplishment is that I’ve become an intermediate level backgammon player. I beat Jellyfish (a world class AI) today in a match to 9, quite an accomplishment... (not without some luck...)
Elliot is having a good time in Europe - he helped me remember the name of the colorful town, Kirkcudbright, which is now featured in the photoblog.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Sunday, July 6
|
| |
|
4:22 PM:
|
|
|
| |
Some left over trip notes...
For my trip I brought my CD-MP3 player for my trip since Tom and Dave seemed to think it was handy on the trains. I didn’t end up listening to much. One album I brought did get a few listens Freezepop’s "Forever" - I got from a friend of mine a while back and hadn’t listened to it yet. It’s “synth-pop” – cheesy synthesizer tracks with often light themed lyrics - as of now I’m captivated by it due to some personality flaw. But how can you not like lyrics like this?go-go, cairo let's hop on a bus
bulletproof windows, dont put up a fuss.
go-go, tokyo let's hop on a plane
it's all so cute, it's so insane
sun is fun but the rain is fine, too
we could get it on in our hotel room
dance in france and eat baguettes
don't you know that's as good as it gets
...
okay, let's play roll the dice
at the casino, they treat you nice
let's flee to the sea take a trip
a fancy cruise on a swanky ship
...
-"Vacation" – Freezepop
Also, two pence pieces are stupid. Big and stupid.
On the 25th (my last full day in Scotland) I went wind-surfing on Loch Ken and visited a multi-colored town with some really difficult name to pronounce.
words that require no translation:
"Toilet"
"Chicago"
"Discotek"
"Holiday" (not "vacation")
"Absolut Vodka"
The day of my exit flight from Prague was crazy. Well, the hour from when I was able to pay for my ticket - at 6am at agency open to 7am when my flight left – was crazy. Checking in and getting through security and passport control in 50 minutes was a tall order. I learned an important lesson that day: when you’re rushing to your gate to catch your flight in 20 minutes, when picking a passport control line, don’t pick the one with the guy with the Ivory Coast passport (what the fuck?).
Also, I thought I was full of shit when it came not being devastatingly depressed about this whole thing – going much better than expected. Yesterday a visit from Tom, Allison and Ed was great. If you can make it let me know...
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Thursday, July 3
|
| |
|
7:10 PM:
|
|
|
| |
Back at home in Chicago. Let me know if you want to stop by. I could use the company. I can’t do all that much that involves moving though. Perhaps a game of Backgammon (I just learned how to play) or Go, or we can talk about the weather.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Wednesday, July 2
|
| |
|
4:49 PM:
|
|
|
| |
...
shortly after my entry yesterday i walked around for a few hours. then while catching my tram to my hostel, i jogged across the street, midway across i felt a searing pain in the heel of my right foot. hobbling to my tram, i then found a phonebooth and called my podiatrist at home. the symptoms almost certainly mean a partial tear of a mussle in the bottom of my foot.
while i could continue, the risk of more damage just is not worth the reward - i have to return home.
i walked to a near by hotel to ask if they could give me a room. i then walked the block to my hostel. i saw an american i recognized on the way and asked him if he could help me move my bag back. i explained "i have to go home" and i realized my trip was over, the trip i've been looking forward to for over two years, and i couldnt complete my sentence.
21 days of planned travel gone. no vienna, no berlin, no switzerland, no paris, no crazy times on the train... i havent even started to read the book i brought.
i checked into my hotel and then spent 17 hours in my bed.
so many times my body has failed me. my adult life has been shaped by the inability of my body to continue with reasonable activities. i typically get extreemly depressed about this. initially this was no exception.
i am getting sick of feeling sorry for myself though. the time i've had here has been great, i'm still extreemly lucky to have been able to do this, and i look forward to my eventual return - though it will not be soon.
let's hear it from the alex with new and improved optimism, avalible july 2003.
...
if all goes according to the new plan, i will be back in chicago on july 3th, 2pm central time. physical rehab shortly after.
some good memories from prague:
the view from the west tower of the charles bridge.
walking across the charles bridge on a beautiful night (30th) with mike
a: "so mike, the question on everyone's mind: what's up with the czech women?"
m: "yes, that is the question on lots of minds"
walking down a rainy curved street in prague with mike
m: "this is where we were marching and the police lined up here [during the velvet revolution], i was smashed into one of these windows [points], there's a KFC there now."
priceless.
elliot has started his own european adventure, so you can check out his blog for your travel adventure fix.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Tuesday, July 1
|
| |
|
8:37 AM:
|
|
|
| |
yesterday things did not go according to plan. after making it to prague i could not get the phone number to contact mike to work correctly, i figured i was working the phone wrong. not knowing what to do any not making headway with the tourist info, i headed downtown. after wondering around there for a while with all my shit on my back in the 30+ C weather (ie 90 F) i was so pissed and upset and flusted. i stumbled into the main square and saw the famous clock that mike had shown us in class, i looked over to the cathedral on the other side of the square. and everything was worth it.
eventually i found a very helpful tourist information center. there they found me a hostel near to mike's address and booked me a room (though they were not supposed to). after checking in to the hostel, i went on a mission to find this place and with a bit of luck and alot of walking, found it and spoke to mikes friend - it turns out the phone was deactivated (i was lucky to find him, he said). i planned to meet them later. so i took a walk to get oriented and saw a fair bit of stuff, to the northwest there is a hill with a nice park. since i hadnt walked up any hills since scotland (though there i thought we did too many) i hiked up the hill. on the hill there is this odd wall (i later found out it is called the "hunger wall" because its purpose was to give people jobs so they wouldnt starve) which i followed a bit. through one of the small passages in the wall there is a beautiful garden. i dont think too many people find it or go to it. at the top of the hill is a spectacular view of prague, and a small tower which you can walk up to get an even better view, and an observatory and a church. from there i took the tram down and met with mike and andy (his czech friend) and we had an excellent pub dinner in a brewery, where i ate duck and drank the best beer i've ever had (they take it right out of the casks) for 10$. a stark contrast to expensive copenhagen. afterwords mike took me on an informative walk of the charles bridge.
peace.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
1:46 AM:
|
|
|
| |
in prague, things going well so far, found mike kukral against all odds. things are affordable here. gotta run.
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
copyright (c) 2001-2003 Alex Lo
|
|
