Brain Nibbles

Daily Flash Fiction August 22

2011-08-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

The brown, crushed grass was a memory as I gazed through the oblong portal some four feet distant. The twin mountains of flesh between me and the window obstructed my view of the perfect expanse of sky. Slices of sand and city were briefly visible as the plane circled the airport. I couldn’t wait to land, I wanted to fit in as much of Hawaii as I possibly could before I to leave next week. Despite the interminable plane ride I had high hopes. The gargantuan couple beside me had been to Hawaii before, evidently it was an annual thing for them. The entire flight, not only was I crammed against the aisle armrest, I had to endure an argument that had clearly been going on for years. They had each uselessly tried to recruit me: thankfully I hadn’t been before so I couldn’t offer my opinion on which year had the sweetest pineapple: ’97 – his – or ’92 – hers. Despite my lack of knowledge, they continued to bombard me with facts, questions, and places, “I just had to see.” I did my best to tune out the voices, they didn’t seem to care much about my part of the conversation anyway. They were those overly friendly types, made “new” friends every trip they took. I’m a solo traveler and I like it that way, I listen to music, watch the bad movie, read, and sleep. But, apparently, not this year. Eventually they turned away from me and as their nasally voices had whined on I took one last longing look at the bright blue sky and a deep cleansing breath as I closed my eyes.

The Secret

2010-08-05T21:33:00.001-07:00

It was a day that started much like any other day: woke up, laid in bed for awhile, Mum got me up. We had pancakes for breakfast, not sure why, but it doesn't matter, we had pancakes! Mum had some errands, I hate errand day! She drags me all over in a smelly, hot car.

We finally got home, hours later. Soon my friend would be coming over. Krystal and I had been friends practically our whole lives. But first, Mum made me help her in the kitchen. I mostly played with the cat, but it seemed to fool her, I got a big hug and thank you when she was done. Mums are so silly sometimes.

When Krystal finally got to our house we immediately ran out into the backyard giggling like crazy. I was so jealous, she had a new Dora the Explorer backpack. I wish my mum would get me one of those, they are so cool. We decided we needed to go on an adventure, we had the backpack after all. We bravely pushed into the hedge. We got a few scratches, but we didn’t care, we were adventurers. The hedge was dark and pokey inside, but we trekked on ducking under and around branches.

We could see light up ahead, finally, pushing out into the sunlight we stopped dead in our tracks.

“Ew, gross, gross, gross,” we squealed as we blindly pushed our way back into the hedge.

We looked at each other in horror, and maybe just a little awe. The big girl from next door was kissing a boy. So gross!

She turned to me and said very gravely, “don’t ever tell anyone about this.” I agreed with all of my four year old heart. “We could get in trouble.”

The Terror of Confinement

2010-08-02T20:36:00.001-07:00

The massive beasts anxiously paws the ground beneath his powerful hooves. The unknown weight on his back shifts, lightens, and abruptly pounds down on his spine. The distant rustling swells to a roar, interspersed with high pitch sounds adding to his agitation. The rising wave of sound sparks his imagination and sets off panic.

The confinement is making him crazy, he can’t move enough to defend himself. Suddenly, the barrier beside him is gone. He’s free. Lowering his massive head he begins to dance and spin, bucking his hind legs high in the air. Finally, he is free to fight the predator. His deadly horns weaving side to side, seeking a target. But he is unable to reach the creature clinging to his back. Eyes darting from side to side he spies a solution. Moving ever closer to his goal he nervously eyes the whirling devils around him. They keep just out of reach, but they’re not his main concern right now anyway, it’s the one on his back to he needs to concentrate on. And he’s almost there, a little farther and he’ll be able to scrape it off.

Just when he’s almost there, exhausted sides heaving, the thing is gone. He is left feeling blissfully light and now he can turn his attention to the dancing devils. Lowering his horns to charge he spies an opening leading to a nice grassy field. He takes that instead, leaving his enemies in the dust.

After running for many minutes he feels safe to stop. As he munches the lush green grass his dread slowly fades.

Nothing Ever Happens in Blingston

2010-08-01T20:34:00.000-07:00

It had started as a normal, boring day. Again. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and everyone greeting everyone else with a smile. Yup, just a nice, normal day in Blingston, population 1200 nice, normal people.

I was sick of this town! Nothing new ever happened, it didn’t have to be big, anything. Bill doesn’t say hi to Jim or he trips on the sidewalk. But, once again, Bill said hi to Jim and Jim said hi to Bill, so I trudged off to school. Down the block, around the corner, up the driveway, past the fountain, through the doors, and into my classroom: where, unsurprisingly, Ms. Blissy cheerfully greeted me.

“Good morning, Joey! How are we this morning?!”

Blech!

“Morning,” I mumbled. But she had already turned to greet the next “cheerful” child.

I dozed through my morning lessons, ignoring the drivel shooting from Ms. Blissy’s mouth. Most of it was annoyingly perky encouragement, not informative. I remember thinking to myself, if I stay in this town my brain will rot, slowly and surely, it will turn into goo: but, I guess I don’t really need it here anyway.

It wasn’t until after lunch that I felt a hint of something in the air, nothing obvious, just a slight charge in the atmosphere. Ms. Blissy had just started to talk, again, about how special everyone was. So I started day dreaming again. My wandering attention led me to the window. Just a glance. Then again.

In the fountain. A bear! A full grown brown bear! Just dancing and splashing through the falling water. I looked wildly around, no one seemed to notice. I put up my hand to tell Ms. Blissy, but she didn’t believe me, no one did.

After all, nothing new ever happens in Blingston.

Privacy

2008-03-23T15:11:00.000-07:00

The need to hide away is strong in some people Some become cranky and try to keep others from getting close: protecting heart and mind. But, in protecting themselves they are denying themselves of life's riches. Love and friendship are what makes life worth living. Even with close relationships it is still possible to have privacy. For some it could be as simple as grabbing a notebook and jotting down a few thoughts. Some plug themselves into their music or computers: losing themselves in other worlds. Privacy is never far away, even in today's busy and over connected world we reside in today.

Snakes

2008-03-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

Slinky and long
Responding to song

Deadly and fast
With it's dark cast

Causing terror and fear
All know to steer clear

A snake's grace
Would cause a ballerina disgrace

Poetry of the morning

2008-03-21T13:57:00.000-07:00

Red and gleaming
White glimmers

Tall and icy
Dripping condensation

Quick snap
Crisp pop

Ah, first Coke of the day.

A blank page

2008-03-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

A blank page is filled with all the possibilities. With your pen poised over the pristine page: you could do anything. Yet, reluctance courses through your veins. To make a mark, any mark, would spoil the beauty of the moment. Your thoughts flowing freely, gathering at the tip of your pen. You watch in horror and anticipation as a drop gathers and falls to the page. Suddenly, the torrent is unleashed. Filling each meandering blue path: until... You have reached the end of the last line. Slowly, you turn the page. And so, it begins anew.

2008-03-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

She loved her flower pots. They were a gift from her newly found Nana. It was funny, they had just met a month ago and Nana Shirley knew her so well already. It had been her birthday shortly after they met: Nana Shirley bough her three small, vibrantly red flower pots. "To add colour and life to your tiny apartment." Nana Shirley stated as if it were a given that she would like them. So, there they sat lined up on her kitchen window sill. Each had a different spice in them, the scents were heavenly. The pots never failed to fill her with a sense of well-being and peace.

Sewing

2008-03-18T13:46:00.000-07:00

Sewing today is very different than it was even sixty years ago. Today the majority of the skill seems to be in controlling the machine: sewing in straight lines. While in the past, when things were done by hand it was straight, even, strong stitches. It was a much more social activity back then, there was not buzzing of a machine to isolate you from your neightbours. Sewing and quilting bees seem to be a thing of the past in much of North America: partly, I think because these hand crafts are no longer "cool". Excellence in sewing and quilting used to be a great source of pride. Young men would bring a quilt to their new brides as a gift and to show off the skills of his family. Show me a young man who would even be aware of how hard someone worked on a quilt now, that's if he's even seen a hand made quilt.

Storms: 2

2008-03-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

The power of storms can do incredible things. Many of these things are harmful to our civilization and way of life: hurricanes and tropical storms can ravage whole towns. Even regular seasonal storms can take down trees causing damage and power outages. but, if not for that lightning storm we would not have electricity and thus many of our other modern conveniences. Although I think a return to the simpler times could only be good for us as individuals and a society alike. One of the first things about storms that seems to come to mind is the "Wizard of Oz". Where would those poor creatures be today without Dorothy's help: stuck for all time. It was a "good" storm that brought her there to help.

Storms: 1

2008-03-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Storms are a fact of life, but depending on your location they may or may not factor in significantly. Well, they factor in, in a big way here. The bringers of power outage season. Every year the storms come and people dig out their candles and flashlights. They have even spawned a new fashion trend: headlamps. But locals have become so used to these seasonal disturbances that life continues in stride. They are much like a mischeivious child: you sigh, clean up the mess and go on with things. You know the harm was not intentional. This attitude does come with a price. We are at the bottom of the list for repairs. Those who yell loudest get noticed first. Perhaps we are too forgiving and should become unprepared and whiny and those in the city will just have to wait their turn, like we have for so long.

Clowns

2008-03-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

A cause for fear and a cause for laughter. Never has one thing inspired such opposing emotions. It makes sense: the more innocent and happy a thing the worse it is when it goes wrong. It is this writer's opinion that Stephen King's "It" has ruined these happy go lucky characters for many people, both young and old. Speaking as someone who has never rad "It": I enjoy clowns, they're mildly amusing. This being the case I can never quite understand it hwne people are afraid. First impressions are so incredibly important. One glimpse and people's opinions are forming. Thus the poor conflicting clown.

There was an old woman who lived in a shoe...or was there

2008-03-14T14:58:00.001-07:00

"There was an old woman who lived in a show. She had so many children she didn't know what to do." Blah, blah, blah. First of all, I was ONLY twenty-eight! Since when is that old? So any way, the "so many children" part; I had four, yeah that's right, four. Since when is four such a big number? I'll admit it's a couple more than the norm, but jeez give me a break. And I ALWAYS knew what to do. We had a schedule and we stuck more or less to it. Come to think about it, I did NOT live in a shoe either. I'll confess, I had a lot of shoes, and hwne I say alot, I mean A LOT.

It's amazing how much people exaggerate. Children grew up thinking I was a scattered brained slut who lived in a very strange house. I want the people responsible for this blatant character defamation. I will have justice!

Ode from Afar

2008-03-13T14:50:00.000-07:00

I see you from across the street
Your beauty sets my heart pounding

You sit there untouchable in your elegance

I long to posses you
Each day I strive to get closer
but the barrier is always there

I summon the courage and cross the street
I am inches away, but it seems like miles

Finally I summon the courage and walk inside

Heaven. Your red patent leather is mine

You fit perfectly.

Shoe Haiku

2008-03-12T10:00:00.001-07:00

Bought brand new for school
Shiny and clean in the box
Soon they will be muddy

Cumquats

2008-03-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

Cumquats all around
Perfectly round and orange
Splat, smoosh there they go

Peace

2008-03-10T22:49:00.000-07:00

She loved her flower pots. They were a gift from her newly found Nana. It was funny, they had just met a month ago and Nana Shirly knew her so well already. It had been her birthday shortly after they met: Nana Shirly bought her three small, vibrantly red flower pots. "To add colour and life to your tiny apartment." Nana Shirly stated as if it were a given that she would like them. So, there they sat: lined up on her kitchen windowsill. Each had a different spice in them, the scents were heavenly. The pots never failed to fill her with a sense of well being and peace.

Awakening

2008-03-09T17:45:00.001-07:00

With rattles and soft clicks they tumbled out, one by one into a small heap. As they lay there stunned by the brightness all around them, something came from the sky. They began to move. The thing would poke them one at a time. Nothing much seemed to happen, they just moved around a little. After this had been going on for a few minutes, they realized there was a method to the seemingly random piles they were being placed in. Each pile contained ones that were similar: it just hadn’t been noticed before because of the darkness. All were of a similar size and shape, they knew that, but now they came to see that there were many different colours too. And that was how they were being sorted. They puzzled over this, but decided it didn’t really matter. They reveled in this new discovery and looked about with eager eyes. Something seemed wrong. They thought there were less of them now, but sight was still new so they weren’t sure. But before too long it became apparent that some were indeed missing. There was only one of the dark ones left. They all began to panic, but it was to late, the last one disappeared into the dark cave and with a crunch none were left...Or so it seemed, but a little to the left there were more, just being awakened.

Shake, Whizz, Click. One disappeared. None noticed. Again; shake, whizz, click, another gone. This time it’s neighbours saw. Again and again, faster now. Quickly all were afraid. These alarming disappearances on top of the frightening light from one side. One by one they all disappeared, faster and faster, until only the pale one in the corner was left. It lay in the bottom wondered of it’s fate, when it realized... It was the only one left. And then, shake, whizz, click. The last thing it heard was a puzzling noise as the light sucked it up. “The last Smartie is always the best.”

Mr. Sun

2008-03-08T14:39:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I hate the sun and I wish it would just go away
It makes me too hot
It shines in my eyes
It glares on my screen
It reflects off my glasses

But most of the time I love the sun
It makes everything better
I even wake up happy

Lament of the Country Girl

2008-03-08T12:31:00.000-08:00

Ah, my poor shoes. This is not the first time I’ve contemplated my shoes lined up in their boxes not getting used: for I am a Country Girl who loves shoes. Why did I have to be cursed with conflicting loves: shoes and country life? The two do not mix. Beautiful shoes are meant to be worn, not reside in boxes awaiting that special dinner a few times a year, even then they’re impractical and all take note.

I see all the hideous shoes of my loved ones and neighbours and they have the audacity to remark on MY footwear? At least I am not running around in shoes made of recycled six pack rings, but where I’m from recycling and sustainability are revered. To be honest that is the only thing I like about Crocs. Something needs to be using up all that plastic crap, unfortunately the shoes look like just that. Plastic crap.

I wear my poor beautiful shoes as often as I can, but it just isn’t enough, things of beauty should be shared: I don’t even have clear shoe boxes. Through my distinct lack of space I cannot even admire my wonderful collection easily. My heart aches for the unworn works of art while I run around in my sneakers.

Practical, practical, practical. That’s all I ever hear, my parents, my boyfriend, everyone. That’s all well and good, but why does practical have to be ugly. Besides, I have practical, I have two pairs of boots that don’t have heels, although I must admit, they’re both suede. I wear them when I can, but again, even my practical shoes can’t really be worn all that often, for fear of water damage.

So, I am a sneaker girl, dreaming of her stilettos, pumps and mules.

The Lament of the Country Girl's Shoe

2008-03-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

Here I sit in my cardboard prison: awaiting that glimmer of daylight that sparks hope. If you’re a sandal you stand a good chance of many outings in the summer, but what of us poor dress shoes. Alas, the Country Girl doesn’t have anywhere worthy to wear us, and if she does attempt she is ridiculed and we are once again locked away.

Our sisters of the City Girls, their only fear is too much use...and a little water, if they reside on the West Coast. They are loved and admired where ever they go, they almost never look out of place. Not like the poor Country Girl’s shoes, they languish and forget what the outside world looks like. I believe the stilettos one row over have developed agoraphobia from lack of use. You can hear her whimpers when she senses someone nearby.

The plight of the Country Girl shoe is not the Country Girls’ fault, we understand the dangers of beautiful shoe use on a country road, physical ones aside, no one understands the super fantastic Country Girl, least of all her neighbours and friends.

And, when we do get to go out we are side by side with the likes of Crocs and Gum-boots. Even as I write I cannot repress a small shudder at these rubber monstrosities. “But they’re practical” is the battle cry heard everywhere, and I know My Country Girl would never darken the hallowed halls of her closet with such a thing, for she is indeed most super fantastic.

(The phrase super fantastic comes from the Manolo www.shoeblogs.com)

Unconscious Harm

2008-03-06T09:50:00.001-08:00

The sonic boom shook from one end of the market to the other and across the road. As humans and merchandise alike were flung to the floor brains were racing: what happened, is it an earthquake, has the gas bar finally blown. Some hit close to the mark, but no one got it quite right. Who, in their right mind, would even consider something like that.

Slowly as the debris settled people began to look around: checking in with those around them. The fear and tension in the air was tactile and alive. In a small community everyone is a friend, neighbour, or family. Even if you didn’t like them, you knew them. The whispered questions quickly grew in volume: growing from the soft rustling of wind in the grass to the crash of waves on the shore.

A clearly shaken voice boomed from the PA: “Will everyone please exit to the rear of the store.” As people made their way to the back exits, questions floated above the crowd. “What happened?” was the most heard, but “I wonder if anyone got hurt?” was a close second.

The heart-wrenching cry of sirens pierced the air. The sirens brought the seriousness of the situation home. Before the quiet was shattered none of it had felt real, but if the trucks had been called in then it was real; and it was big.

•••

It would be hours before people got even a hint of what had happened: and days before everyone knew the whole story. Rumours flew, but it wasn’t until official reports were released to the local paper that everyone knew. It turned out to be pure Darwin Awards material. As if locals didn’t already resent the intrusion from the tourists.

The officials reports were all dry clinical language, but the reporter sensationalized to the best of his ability.

"It was a beautiful summer afternoon: children playing under the trees, families buying ice cream, and youthful laughter as friends wandered down to the beach. Little did they know, their happy holidays were shortly going to erupt in mayhem. A blast of heat swept across the carefree vacationers before they felt the rumbles beneath their feet. After a minute of stunned silence screams and cries ripped the peaceful air. Children lying with their faces pressed to the sharp gravel, held there by terrified parents.
As soon as the restless earth had calmed it’s terrifying twitching, people panicked. Racing for exits and shrieking for their babies. Chaos reined and then nothing. The eerie calm in the eye of the storm. The flare of excessive heat ripped across the market again. And once more. Luckily this time the people were sorting themselves out across the road. Petrified children crying with desperate parents trying to find everyone in their families.
Emotional trauma wasn’t the only result on that day. Historic buildings in ruin. The heart of the community was injured almost beyond repair. These buildings were built by residents in a time of need. Over 70 years ago it was decided that a general meeting, shopping, and gathering area was needed for community growth. And now all this loving work has been undone in a single whoosh. Ancient trees singed, the end of visible life in our heart.
All of this could have been avoided so easily. Two empty-headed young ladies caused the devastation of our soul. They had been biking around our beautiful island for the afternoon, but one of them got a soft tire. So, they stopped off at the market to get some air...or so they thought. They saw what they thought was an air hose in front of the gas station so they stopped. Bored while waiting for her friend to fill up, Beth* lit a cigarette. It was not an air hose. She was trying to fill up with propane. Tragedy has ravaged our lives. Every year this small neck of the woods is inundated with outsiders. Unconsciously straining our parks and woods. Residents can shrug off these small problems, the winter months take care of all visible signs, but tolerance can only go so far. How can we protect ourselves in the future? Is the money worth the harming of our beautiful land each year?"
*Name changed to protect identity.

Puzzling Presentations

2007-12-04T21:54:00.000-08:00

This one has thrown me a little: it is totally awesome, but I am not quite sure what it is. I know it is not just a game, it seems like it could a mathematical model of some sort, but there’s no explanation. I went back a couple of pages and found out that there are two versions, the regular and the advanced.

Regardless of purpose, this thing is amazing. It enables the user to create intricate looking line art objects with just a few clicks of the mouse. When you end up at the page without trying to get there it is a little confusing and almost looks boring, but if you follow the instructions and push the buttons it becomes slightly clearer.

Kudos to Ze Frank on making it simple to use even if you have no idea what the heck is going on. Instructions are so important, especially with the internet enabling so many to find things randomly. If you happen on a site, say for a game that does not include the instructions, you will most likely just leave the site.

The internet is all about grabbing the attention of viewers immediately. Attention spans seem to be getting shorter, I know mine is, and the internet is where people expect the speediest and best all the time. The faster the internet becomes the faster people want and expect it to be.

When I was younger we could only get dial up where I live and we just put up with the slow times and waited. My friends did not get it, they all had cable. Once faster and better is common it becomes the norm and people forget what they had been content with just years before.

Appreciate what you have, but remember what you had.

Today's inspiration

Informational Images

2007-12-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

Many people are visual learners, so reading through a tutorial on the internet might not help them much, but an image will be just right. The way this is laid out it’s the best of both worlds. It’s a little more text than usual if you’re trying to learn visually, but it’s a good start.

A labeled image is a good way to go, in my experience it works for the widest range of viewers and it gets the information across simply. The way this is set up it not only shows you the good example, it also tells you why. The why is key. Anyone can view source code for a web page, but most won’t understand it, good or bad.

It is much the same for other things people learn, if you can learn the why then you’ll understand it far better than if you’re just told to do something. My previous boss was great for that, anything she told you to do she explained the reason at the same time. It was one of the thing I appreciated about her.

Some things though, are inexplicable: two plus two is four. It only is because someone came up with the words two and four to represent an idea and that’s the way it is. Fruitcake, that is another inexplicable one.

Why do people insist on giving us fruitcake every year? I know few people that actually enjoy the stuff, but every year right around now it’s delivered in a nice tin or all wrapped up with a bow, how cute...bleck! Did you know that “fruitcake can be “enjoyed” up to twenty five years” after it has been made? I got that little tidbit from the newspaper, Science World had a Christmas add including that.

Yet another guide.

Today’s inspiration

Terrific Timewasters

2007-10-01T14:27:00.000-07:00

I’ve written about these before, online games that suck out your soul. Well, kill serious amounts of time anyway: both on the players part and the developers part. These people are incredibly talented, I wish I had the skills to do what they do.

Many of these games come with themes, especially around the holidays. Today’s implies Christmas, although it is instead merely a winter theme. The other most popular themes seem to be Halloween, followed closely by Valentine’s, Easter, and St. Patrick’s.

The addition of music or different characters than normal can really make or break these games. This one is a great example, the music is peaceful, leading you to want to continue playing, while the use of bunny as the character adds a different spin to an otherwise not terribly exciting game.

My chief complaint about these online games is that most places you can’t save your high score. While you’re playing many will update you on whether or not you’ve beaten your previous high score and what it is, but once you’re gone all you have left are empty bragging rights. “Whoa, dude. I got like the highest score ever on that bunny game.” “Oh, yeah. Prove it!” And you simply can’t.

Unlike some games I’ve seen online the graphics in this one are expertly done. A lot of people seem to think that because it’s a free game online they can skimp on efforts graphics wise if the game has a decent idea for play. This just isn’t true. The graphics need to encourage play: they have to be something the player wants to look at. If the graphics are bad many people will just leave. Who wants to spend time looking at something ugly.

Play the games. Lots of effort was put into them.

Today's inspiration

Classic Comics

2007-09-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

As far as I can tell, I'm not big on comic books and such, there are two types of comics: comic books and the comics like the ones in the newspaper. I stumbled on one of the latter today. It's actually quite funny, definitely check it out.

If you look a little deeper into many comics they reflect life today, well the good ones do. This one is a prime example of attitudes and major companies today. It all comes down to money, it doesn't seem to matter whether or not it will help society in any way.

Much of what comics present is an exaggerated view of attitudes and actions, but it is all still based in reality. Take Cathy, she and her husband are well known stereotypes, the exaggerations are what make it funny, but it still hits home for many. I find it to be a reality of my world: I’m obsessed with shoes and my boyfriend is totally into computers and gadgets. That’s not to say that I don’t like computers or technology, but the comics often seem to be correct.

Even comics that at first glance don’t appear to have much to do with reality usually do on closer inspections. Spiderman, for example. It’s totally illogical to be bitten by a spider and develop spider-like qualities. The struggles he has with his feelings for Mary-Jane are very real though and that appeals to people.

Extreme comics that appear to be just for fun, such as the Simpsons are still reflections of life. Instead of the typical representation of the “perfect” family they are a representation of the imperfect and more common family. They show the darker side of humanity in a humourous way, making it easier to take.

Comics are like modern fables.

Today's inspiration

Trippy Text-art

2007-09-29T20:32:00.000-07:00

This one is pretty amazing. Kudos to the builders. Text art is quite difficult as it is, but to create a program that analyzes a picture, any picture you upload, and renders it using characters or squares and in black and white or colour is incredible.

One could spend hours sitting there trying to make the simplest pictures out of text or use the ones everyone knows. : ) Classic smiley. Or unclassic smiley :o) (I always think he needs a nose. Look how much cuter he is.)

These brilliant people have devised a program to do this for you, well, sort of. It is slightly limited: you have to have a picture of what you want, to upload for them. But I bet a program that you can type an idea in and get it in text is not far off.

Computers have evolved art beyond the wildest dreams of its forefathers. Computers started off with basic drawing programs, like Paintbrush and Paint and they are now invaluable tools for creating movies even. Many of the things computers do now can be done a different way, without computers, but it takes many, many times longer.

One has to wonder if maybe these older skills will be lost as technology continues to grow. Many people now depend on Photoshop to touch up their photos. The ability to retouch photos is an art and a valid skill set in and of itself, but it has strayed from photography’s roots.

I have chosen not to touch any of my photos, except for correcting red-eye in some snapshots of friends. I have decided that I want to take my chances just like the original photographers. Computer assisted photography is a very different art than straight photography. Photography used to be skill with the camera.

Today’s inspiration

Major Monopolies

2007-09-28T20:15:00.000-07:00

I found yet another guide, this one was one Google: specifically advertising on google. Apparently “There are two types of companies advertising on Google at the moment, those who hire the services of an agency to manage their campaigns, and those that do it themselves.” Google has released, free of charge, the insider secrets to promoting yourself through Google.

It used to be that to get good service you had to spend a fortune and pay some company to get your name out there. It seems to me that Google just seriously harmed a lot of people with it’s innocent guide. It’s great that they are trying to be helpful, but how helpful is this really going to be?

Google is enabling millions of people to promote anything They deem worthwhile. I’m willing to bet that many of these companies (for lack of a better word) aren’t worth the time it takes to scan past their link at the top of Google. So on top of creating more crap for the end user to wade through Google is also taking money away from the people with the real skills. Although you do not usually interact with these people aside from on your computer they are real: they have lives, families, and expenses just like you.

Google is taking over everywhere: they started as a small little known search engine and now they are putting out their own software and they’ve even made it into common language. “Oh, yeah, just google...” I’m guilty of it too. It’s scary how fast they have infiltrated our lives without anyone noticing. Google has hooked up with the major browsers and added it’s own search bar as default in the top right corner of your menu bar.

Watch out for companies taking over the world.

Today’s inspiration

Educating eBooks

2007-09-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, today I stumbled upon a whole list of programming ebooks. Sweet. This one is totally useful. The ebook phenomenon is changing the face of communication and knowledge.

Ebooks are a environmentally friendly way to gain knowledge. Ebooks enable those that might be able to afford to buy books to purchase a similar equivalent for less because not as much needs to be spent on publishing and paper costs. They also take up much less physical space than books made of dead tree stuff.

Ebooks do allow people who have no idea what they are talking about to publish and spread sometimes erroneous information as fact. Ebooks can be very hard on the eyes. Long hours staring at computer screens is very detrimental to the long term health of your eyes.

I think they’re a good thing in the long run. This is the way the of the future. With the major efforts being made to preserve our environment ebooks will sweep their paperback counterparts out of the water. The more knowledge that can be spread, the better: especially if it can be spread cheaply to the masses.

More knowledge will make the world a better place. Educated people are happier and better able to contribute to society in a productive manner. Sounds totally fancy doesn’t it? It’s absolutely true if you think about it though. Many of the world’s problems can be blamed on ignorance: particularly those that are harming the environment.

If people had, had more knowledge about the harmful effects of our actions on the world 50 years ago things might not be as dire today as they are. With more knowledge about problems around people are taking action to shrink their “environmental footprint”. We all know about “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”.

Weird train of though, huh?

Today’s inspiration

Great Games

2007-09-26T10:31:00.000-07:00

I’m not quite sure what to say about this one. All I could do was shake my head. I don’t understand where these things come from. I mean, a can of beans that...well I won’t spoil it for you. This one definitely needs to checked out for yourself.

You can do amazing and stupid things with Flash. This stuff takes so much time though, I can’t imagine what these people aren’t doing that they should be. I know what it's like to get sucked into a project. The rest of the world disappears, you occasionally leave your computer to use the washroom and maybe eat a little.

The biggest difference seems to be that mine were for school, but these are just because. Don’t get me wrong, I admired the skill that went into this game and all the others out there. The average end user doesn’t see all the work that goes into a Flash movie, which is rather discouraging for the builder. You put so much work into something and all the person sees is a forty five second clip that’s rather amusing.

In my limited experience all programming seems to be like that. I was in a programming class and for one of my assignments I spent about ten hours coding and debugging. All the end user saw was a few lines of text asking you to guess the number. There wasn’t even any graphics, just text. Sigh.

The people who spend hours of their lives creating these games and movies for others’ enjoyment should be admired. This is a totally selfless act. These skills are shared with all in the world. One of the biggest examples of this I’ve seen is the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny. Remember, don’t waste too much time watching these.

Today’s inspiration

Awesome Avatars

2007-09-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

Online persona have been prevalent on the internet since the advent of chatting. In the early days of chatting some of the sites allowed users to choose a small picture called an avatar to represent them to the world at large. With the growth of internet speeds and graphics these have progressed to online worlds with full characters that interact, basically advanced chat lines. The draw of many of the MMORPG is the ability to become anyone you want to be through your avatar.

Things have stepped up one more level now. There are numerous sites that one can browse to enabling the user to create a character. Some are cartoon like while some are rather realistic looking. The one I stumbled upon today is one of the more primitive ones, with just a few options for customization.

One of the ones I’ve enjoyed over the past few months is Hero Machine. My boyfriend turned me on to this a few months ago. It takes a little bit to load all of the options, but it is definitely worth the wait. You can make the super hero or villain you’ve always wanted to see. I ended up finding one through Facebook, TizMe. This one is totally cartoony, but really fun. You can create girls or guys, in lots of really great styles, not all are PG either. ;o)

One that was tons of fun was Dollwar. You earn money to buy outfits and then challenge other dolls to a war. Other users then vote on whom has the nicest outfit. There are tons of different clothes and accessories to choose from. I ended up doing fairly well, but unfortunately school interfered in my free time and I stopped some months ago.

The internet can let you be whomever you wish.

Today’s inspiration

Goofy (?) Guides

2007-09-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

How to be a Programmer: A Short, Comprehensive, and Personal Summary. The name of the latest guide I’ve found. The internet is packed full of guides for, one would assume, everything under the sun.

Reading and Writing these guides provide hours of entertainment and learning for all. I have bookmarked hundreds of these. I’ll come across one and think, well that looks interesting. I never seem to have time to read them, so they’re all sitting there waiting patiently for me.

Something I’ve noticed through the years is length makes all the difference to readership. If things come in short, manageable sections, people are much more likely to read them. At school that is what all my teachers said. I’ve seen it in myself: I get to something that’s more than say ten lines I will often not bother starting it.

Some guides are totally useful, like today’s inspiration, but some are just a waste of time...although very entertaining. The most entertaining ones I have found were through Yahoo Picks. Pimp that Snack. http://www.pimpthatsnack.com/ People will spend an amazing amount of time on the craziest ideas...and then post them online.

It is quite the phenomenon: At least half the world must assume other people will actually find their opinions and thoughts relevant. I too, am guilty of this vanity...well not really. I enjoy doing this, but I’m not convinced that everyone should be reading my blog, or would want to.

The internet has opened the world of information up to the masses, unfortunately those masses have taken an incredible learning tool and ignored the educational side to share their thoughts, feels, and the fruits of utter wastes of time.

Guides can be useful, but the reader must be careful that their information is accurate.

Today’s inspiration

Phenomenal Photography

2007-09-23T13:06:00.000-07:00

Today I stumbled upon a gorgeous shot of Hong Kong. I am particularly pleased to have reached such a destination as I am a photographer myself and just starting to become inspired by man-made subject matter.

My history as a photographer, such as it is, has been focused on nature, mostly landscapes. Living on a small island this is natural, but alas, I spent some time living in a big city and became inspired by the magnificent architecture I saw there...and then moved back to said small island. Consequently I have not shot as much as I would like in the last year. It’s hard to be continually inspired by that which you have photographed and seen for years on end. Although, all hope is not lost: nature still inspires me.

I was recently in Vancouver and went to Stanley Park. The original intention was to visit the aquarium, but the price has gone way up and it wasn’t quite worth it to kill a few hours, so my boyfriend and I walked around the park for an hour or so. It was amazing. I filled my card, deleted some photos, and filled it again. I have since bought a new, larger card.

I’m back in the groove. My muse has come back. It is still possible to lose one’s drive, even when passionate about something. Outside factions can get in the way. I think that the drive will always come back though. If you love something enough, things will change and cause re-inspiration.

I have been reading fashion magazines like crazy the last little while and have, yet again, changed what I want to do with my life. Currently I want to be a fashion photographer, and or, fashion designer with a photography job on the side.

Today's inspiration

Confounding Code

2007-09-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

Free code bits. They pose quite a dilemma for designers and coders. On one hand they are a very useful tool for those that don’t have the skill to accomplish everything they need or want to. But, on the other hand, perhaps you should learn more about what you are attempting to do. If you aren’t able to do what you want then maybe you shouldn’t be doing it.

If you are a performing surgery you wouldn’t find someone different to do each part of it. These websites that have free bits of code are enabling people to do without knowledge. “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” ~ Lao Tzu I think the same principle applies to web coding as well. These sites are crippling the progress of up and coming coders.

But, if you’re a designer, your job isn’t to know the inner workings of websites: this is why programs like Dreamweaver are such a hit. These sites enable those with the artistic vision to share their ideas with the world in the way they devised them.

I have, myself, made use of such sites. Mostly I used them for menus. I can create the same thing using Flash, but it is definitely easier to stick a chunk of code into my HTML. I would like to know how to build these things on my own, but often didn’t feel that I had to time to devote. If these sites were not around it is likely I would have put the effort into learning these skills.

I leave you with these opinions dear readers. You can make up your own minds, think for yourself and you will be happier and stronger.

Today’s inspiration

Gruelling Games

2007-09-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

The number of online flash games these days is astronomical. People spend so much time designing these games so other people can waste time.

At first glance they don’t really look like much, some poor animations moving on a less than interesting background. The average joe doesn’t realize how much time it takes to make something like this. I can’t claim to have a true idea, but I have done my fair share of programming in Flash and it takes a lot of work to do the simplest things. I had some flash based animations and programs in an art show once, I was so proud of myself, until I realized that no one got how much effort I had put in. I was pretty bummed.

The worst thing about these games is how addictive they are. Someone shows you one and you think sure, whatever, but five minutes later you’re hooked. It happened to me last week. We’re hanging out and my friend goes “oh, you have to see this video.” It was an animation of this game. We looked at the game and the amount of time this guy had to spend to create this video was insane! I was immediately hooked and it definitely doesn’t look very fun when you’re just watching.

If you have a tendency to waste large amounts of valuable time playing online games don’t go to this website. I repeat DO NOT go to this website. (http://www.official-linerider.com/play.html) The game is called Line Rider. I highly recommend that you check some of the videos on YouTube...even if you find watching movies on YouTube rather boring like I do. “Line-Rider-Jagged Peak Adventure” is absolutely amazing, this guy has incredible patience.

Check it out, you’ll be hooked.

Todays inspiration

Fetching Felines

2007-09-20T14:44:00.000-07:00

Cats have been around for thousands of years. We like to think we have domesticated them, but really, I'm sure, they've consented to live with us. Cats are very independent, ours come and go as they please.

We leave a big bowl of food and water outside for them and a window left open for them somewhere, or in summer there is a door open on our porch. As a long time cat person I may be a bit prejudiced, but I just feel that cats are the ideal pet, if they’re indoor/outdoor cats: they require little to no work, but have the maximum cuddling potential. Although, not all cats are cuddlers, their personalities are as varied as humans’.

But with a lot of love and caring when they’re growing; you too can have a cuddly cat. Cats seem to sense when their owners are upset and they will come over for a cuddle, as if they’re trying to comfort you.

I believe cats express love and impatience and happiness, just as people do. If I’ve been away from home for a few days my cat, Missy, won’t even look at me. Whenever I come in the room, or call him, he deliberately turns his back on me. He’ll consent to be pet, but only once or twice before he’ll stalk about ten feet off and ignore me. But after about a week of this he comes back to me. This happens every time I go away. You cat tell me that cats don’t have a personality, mine does and he gets mad at me.

You can’t help, but love ‘em. If cats are that independent they can’t have let themselves be domesticated, they have too much personality to be tamed. They are companions, not possessions to be owned.