Something That Happened.

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Thursday, September 11, 2003

Regrets...
I've had a few.
But then again,
Too few to mention!
--"My Way",
written by Paul Anka
When I hear that song, I think of Frank Sinatra, and sometimes Elvis or Sid Vicious -- all of whom have been known to perform, in their own unique manner, that wonderful song. Wonderful because -- though I don't always enjoy hearing it, I've heard it so much -- the song is a wonderful personal anthem. That's something we all need: a personal anthem. A song that praises our individuality; a mark of devotion to oneself. After all, they say you're going to have a helluva time loving anyone else unless you've first learned to love yourself, right?

This is not to replace your love for your God, or your spouse, or your family. I'm simply saying that we all need to give ourselves a bit more self-love at this time of year. (No, not that type of self-love !) Too many of us beat up on ourselves throughout the year, and then nearly destroy ourselves at year's end. No wonder there are so many suicides during the Holidays; the messages bombarding us are to Buy Buy Buy and to Give Give Give -- but what if you have nothing to give but love? If you have a dearth of that good stuff, then you'll have a bitch of a time spreading it around to your neighbors.

So be good to yourself, whether you're Christian, Pagan, Wiccan, Athiest, Hindu, Islamic, Mormon, Podcastin, or otherwise. Don't take the pills, they won't do you or anyone else any good; you'll simply miss out on the Next Big Thing (which may turn out to be Your Next Big Thing). Just do things your own way, singing that little hymn as you do so:
For what is a man,
What has he got?
If not himself,
Then he has naught.
To say the things,
He truly feels,
And not the words,
Of one who kneels.
The record shows,
I took the blows
And did it my way!

Tuesday, March 23, 2004

Ever dreamed of owning your own Internet radio station? You can buy one on eBay today. Tombstone Radio plays wrestling theme music 24 hours a day, boasting 700 wrestling themes, "from WWE, WCW, ECW, Indies, NWATNA, Japan, Classic NWA, and others". The starting bid is just $50.00.
posted by Harold  3/23/2004 10:09:00 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Monday, March 22, 2004

Did you know that an asteroid nearly smashed into Earth in January? I just finished reading a book fictionalizing an event such as this, The Hammer of God, by Arthur C. Clarke. You're probably familiar with the premise, especially after Hollywood's attention to the matter a few years ago in the films Armageddon and Deep Impact: A large object is discovered hurtling toward Earth at a velocity that will assuredly destroy the planet. In Mr. Clarke's narrative, which is set in the future, a group of space explorers attempts to deviate the object's path of destruction through a simple mechanical process: by pushing it. They use a very powerful spacecraft to accomplish this task.

Yet we don't have the powerful spacecraft described in Arthur C.'s book. Not yet, anyway. So what would we do if just such an object were to careen toward our home? NASA's Spaceguard Survey, named after one of Mr. Clarke's concepts, keeps an eye on our solar system, watching for any large object that could be a threat to our planet. Spaceguard, however, simply reports sightings; it doesn't include a plan to actually do anything should we ever find an object on a collision course with our little blue home. In fact, the folks who spotted January's asteroid didn't even know who to contact, which is why those concerned are once again bringing up the issue of what to do when we spot an object hurtling toward Earth. Read more about this issue here, and take a look at an animated image of another asteroid that just missed us last week here. [Thanks to Benefitsblog for telling us about the image.]
posted by Harold  3/22/2004 06:04:00 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Friday, March 19, 2004

I just received word that VoyagerRadio has been nominated as Best New Station in the Best of Live365 Awards! Finally our little Internet radio station can win some hard-earned recognition--and get the publicity we so desperately need (and can't afford). So if you're a Live365 Preferred Member or a Broadcaster, please consider voting for VoyagerRadio. If you're not a Live365 member yet, free trials are available for both Preferred and Broadcaster memberships. A Preferred Member receives certain benefits that enhance the Live365 listening experience, such as the ability to listen to streaming mp3PRO Internet radio stations with mp3PRO-decoding software. A Broadcaster membership allows you to webcast your very own Internet radio station. Now how about that for a good time?

Try these services today so you'll be able to vote for VoyagerRadio as Best New Station!
posted by Harold  3/19/2004 01:45:00 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Wednesday, March 10, 2004

Why Not Web Standards?
posted by Harold  3/10/2004 10:34:00 AM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Tuesday, March 09, 2004

It's as if summer arrived overnight. About a week ago it was raining as hard as I've ever seen, and now the sun is beckoning--or rather, forcing--me outside. Forcing because it's simply too damn hot to stay indoors.

I've been away from the digital landscape these past few days. I still check in from time to time--I have to, I've got a webcast to monitor, CDs selling on Amazon, and of course the email--but my blogging/browsing/webbing has been minimal. I've felt burnout, and needed a break.

Been reading a good deal, though. I've had a rendezvous with Rendezvous With Rama by Arthur C. Clarke these past few days, and now I'm onto another of Mr. C's famous works, The Hammer of God. I've been on a sci-fi kick ever since I picked up that cheesy space exploration paperback I spotted at the library (which obviously intrigued me enough to continue on my sci-fi trek).

I've also been working on my new website, though not nearly as much as I'd like. Taking what I needed from that guru of web standards, Jeffrey Zeldman, I believe I have the preparation I need to build the next generation of VoyagerRadio.com. I could use all the help I can get, though, especially in the area of Quality Assurance, so as I'm constructing the new site I'll probably make a plea from time to time asking you to visit the work in progress to try it out for size. I'm looking for any usability issues; when you find some, please let me know about them so I can make them go away.

Enjoy the day!
posted by Harold  3/09/2004 11:50:00 AM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Wednesday, March 03, 2004

The President of the United States just drove past me.

Now this may be an everyday occurrence for you Washingtonians, but for someone who's lived his entire life in Los Angeles, an event like this raises the pulse for a moment. Especially when it happens unexpectedly.

I was walking home and noticed several California Highway Patrol motorcycles parked at regular intervals every half-block or so. Soon enough, I heard the familiar sound of a siren chirp as an officer pulled to a stop at a nearby intersection, soon followed by a rapid procession of LAPD patrol cars, CHP motorcycles, and Hummer-like vehicles--and, of course, a few limos waving flags.

I don't know which vehicle the Prez was in, but I couldn't help but smile a goofy grin as I watched the motorcade zoom by. It's not every day that the President joins you on your journey home.
posted by Harold  3/03/2004 11:27:00 PM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Tuesday, March 02, 2004

Twelve linked urban tribes constructing accessible web sites. These are my current consumptions, preventing me from writing anything useful here, except for the links to these books.
posted by Harold  3/02/2004 10:50:00 AM | 0 Comments | Links to this post

Businesses in Huntsville, Alabama

*

I once posted, in this space (this right column), the following:

If I had friends they would be listed here

That particular bit o' text, that silly and idiotic phrase, was repeated a dozen or two dozen or so times and was intended to be temporary. I had been working on a project -- a new layout for this blog -- and had intended for that text to be placeholder content. That is, the text was supposed to temporarily replace the content that had previously occupied this column (which was a list of links to friends -- that is, other blogs and web sites I linked to). I didn't know what content I was going to place into that (this) space, so I placed a bunch of duplicate phrases here as a placeholder so that I would remember to fill in this space again later.

At the same time, I thought I was being cute with the heading:

NEW & IMPROVED FRIENDS!

The fact remains: I still don't know what content to put here, in this column. Links again? Pictures? Video? Audio? Ads? Oh, hell no! It hasn't come to me yet, but I'm sure it will eventually, and when it does it'll come quick and (as usual) with consequences.