So I was totally going to do a little more pre-blogging for today, despite the fact that I had a little counting error last night, but instead I wrote this response for TealArt. It need to happen so it’s a good thing that I wrote that. You do read TealArt, don’t you?
For your tychoish does I’ll point you to read what I wrote and also the essay that I responded to. “Viewing American class divisions through Facebook and MySpace.” It’s worth your time.
I think this probably requires more treatment that I can give it now, but here’s a paragraph from an email I wrote last night, but here it is anyway.
While I wouldn’t turn down the option of a book deal that would let me take a year of school/work to write a couple of novels, I don’t think I’m as keen on “becoming a published writer” as I used to be. I just want people to read my stuff, and at the moment, the best way for that to happen, as I figure it, is to be a blogger, someday, I might look back to books as a way of doing that, but for right now…
I’ve always been somewhat distraught by the fact that I’m, well down right terrible at working in a wiki mode. Every so often I try and use some wiki-based solution, often VoodooPad, and it works really well, until I realize that what I’m really doing is using it as an inefficient file-system like binder. I just dump things in, one or two layers deep and it often means that I just have a slightly more complicated way of looking at my files. With some help from DevonTHINK, I have a system that works pretty well for me.1
For Station Keeping I’m trying to keep some sort of documentation, which contains a lot of unreleased and brainstorming material that’s helpful (and necessary) to maintain for the group of writers. Problem is that I don’t think in a wiki sort of way. Which means that this document is a pain in the rear to navigate, and given the way I want the software to work: a pain in the rear to code. I’ve tried PMWiki, and most recently Plain Text Wiki, and really neither of these solutions really work for what I’m doing.
Ultimately this returns to a theme that I’ve been struggling from the very beginning of TealArt, back in 2002, where I talked about my struggle for good notebooks. With Moleskine’s these days, I’ve basically found the analog solution, but I need something that will work digitally, particularly for the Station Keeping documentation, but for my day to day purposes as well.
I suppose to get the conclusion that I’ve come to you need to first know how my paper notebooks are laid out and my method of finding things. Basically I start a new page for each new chunk: each list, outline, note, and set of directions and so forth. I usually write some sort of identifying title at the top for what’s contained inside, which I underline. Because it’s paper, and it’s all bound together, and I have a pretty good contextual memory for the associations between what I write and when I write it, so the chronological aspect helps a lot.
What does this sound like? Yeah, I know: a weblog2. Why didn’t someone pass me this memo earlier, it would have been helpful. What does this mean? Time to set up additional blogs to take care of these needs, because clearly thats what by brain seems to need/want. Maybe some of it will be interesting to you, but somehow I doubt this.
I must admit that I haven’t been using DThink as much recently as I might like to, because I have a slight organizational crisis now that I’m (seasonally) not in school any more. My database is perhaps not laid out optimally, but I still really like it. If EagleFiler were just a little bit better, I think that I could have a mash-up that would be ideal, while I wait for DT 2.0, which is perhaps the real reason that I’m not reorganizing my database. There’s a reason that I have these footnotes. To talk to myself. Sigh ↩︎
Is it true that academics are the only ones that call them “weblogs” any more? Is it a sign of my not getting it or a sign of my old-timmer cred? I don’t really want to know. ↩︎
in conclusion, today was a good day.
the new job, is pretty cool. my inspiration holds steady. projects are looking up. we need, even more time in the day though….
as always, though.
because I can’t come up with my own witty conversations all day, I bring you other folks’…
Have you paid the parking yet?:
Her: Have you paid the parking yet? Him: You have my glasses. Her: You can’t pay without your glasses? Him: I can’t see without my glasses.
(from The Northwest Passage.)
too true!
Or, Yet another reason I’m glad I didn’t go to Antioch:
Antioch College faculty members have noted these patterns with some dismay, and their allies fear that the university%u2019s board is intentionally trying to remove tenure. Officially, Antioch College could be reborn in some new form in 2012, after shutting down in 2008, and that four-year gap has people speculating about an underlying opposition to tenure. Under AAUP guidelines, an institution that eliminates tenured positions after declaring financial exigency has an obligation to offer any new jobs back to tenured professors who lost positions %u2014 but that obligation lasts for only three years.
(from IHE.)
I can hear the trustee’s/admins now “i’m in your antoches scruwin' over your faculties, you hippie student luzzors”
Okay so my whole desk is glass and metal, but the point is that the top is glass. Even in you have a wooden desk you can get a glass or Plexi-glass covering. Why? Because a glass desk makes for one large dry erase surface. Forget needing to write things on pieces of paper that get lost everywhere, just write straight onto the desk. This is great for taking quick notes and I find it helps me to keep my desk clear so that I can see my writing surface. Somebody walked in my office the other day, thought I had defaced my desk. No, I explained, its just the ultimate note taking surface. (I keep multiple color pens handy as well, I find visualization is often helped by changing colors.)
(from academhack.)
I actually really like this idea. Particularly if the desk has a keyboard drawer that can be used to hold the laptop, otherwise I can see it getting a bit messy in terms of of putting the laptop on top of a surface… etc..
New information about the ipod is just coming out from apple. While I’m (clearly) not going to get one, and I’m sort of passe about the whole deal I want to talk about the plans/possibilities of this device. First, the relevant press release from apple.
Basically, 60 bucks for 450 minutes (5000 rather than unlimited off peak mins) and 200 text messages, 80 bucks for twice as many peak minutes and unlimited night times.
For unlimited data that you’d presumably be able to share with your laptop via bluetooth that’s not a bad idea. I wonder a few things: why would people use SMS if you have email included for free? Also, why are they hoping to make on the 5000 vs. unlimited weekend minutes.
I think I’m firmly in the “wait for rev 2,” which will presumably have faster internet. But frankly if they make an ipod tablet (ie. iphone without the phone,) I’m so there…
tycho chris and I worked something out regarding networking and information transfer today which felt really good to get done.
`dave <http://www.soliloqueer.com>`_ networking and information transfer? is that code for something dirty?
tycho no like the internet only in 10,000 years
Hmm, this intro looks a lot like the one from last week. I hope you don’t mind, everything remains relevant: Welcome to episode #4 of Station Keeping. I hope you enjoy, and can welcome a few more characters to the station keeping family. As always, this project is a collaborative one, and I look forward to hearing from you for any reason, but particularly if you would like to contribute in any capacity. But please do enjoy! -- ty
Nan Gee really wanted a drink. The bar wasn’t quite open yet, but she thought that maybe she’d be able to talk someone there out of one of those beers sitting on the counter. She would pay, it wasn’t like there was anything else to spend her diplomatic-salary on.
David nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw her standing in side the bar. He could have sworn that he had locked the door. “Hello there, we’re not actually open yet, as you can see,” he said, point to the exposed wiring on the wall opposite of the bar. Someday there would be a nice light fixture there. If the designer ever got back to him, that is.
“That’s alright, I just really want one of those,” Nan said pointing at the cases of beers stacked on the bar. It was a local brand that had just been shipped up from Hanm. “I can pay.” She appended, trying to look hopeful.
David paused, unsure of exactly what to do in this situation, he had work to do, and he didn’t want the entire station getting the idea that he was open for business. “What the hell,” he thought. “You like them room temp?” he asked, relenting.
“That’s the way we do it ‘round here.” She looked a bit relieved.
“Ok, well we really aren’t open, but I have something to work on in the back, why don’t you join me with your beer and we can talk” David suggested, as he turned. “Oh, whats your name, by the way,” he asked as he walked.
Nan followed the barkeep, without quite knowing why. It seemed better than any of the alternatives that came to mind. “Right, I’m Nan, Nan Gee: the diplomatic liaison to the station.”
“Oh, right, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” David said, he turned at an open door way and pointed to a chair in an office. “I’m David Conrad, I’m just the bar owner around here, but I suspect that the Navy will probably start begging once the communications lines are more open, but they won’t get me.” He chuckled
“Oh, you’re Navy?”
“Used to be. I got to the top of the game, and found there wasn’t much see. Time to move on, you know. They want me back, but know better than to force it. It’s better this way.” David said looking at Nan. The tension between the Navy and the people of Hanm was very present on the station, even now, and almost entirely understandable. “So why the rush to get a beer,” it’s still a bit early and all." David hoped to deflect the conversation away from his past, he also turned in his chair and brought up the display on his workstation.
“It’s been a long day, not that bad, I just don’t know what to make of it, but I’m pretty sure that I have no power, and it’s not like there’s anything else to do on the station yet.” Nan was surprised at her verbosity in front of this stranger. This stranger with a navy past, even! But the beer tasted like home, and the decorations on the walls were different, even if the walls themselves looked suspiciously familiar.
“Well, I’ve been working like a dog to lodge all the appropriate complaints with the new commander, about the Navy’s presence here, and so forth. Our space, ‘much as anyone’s, and all they do is give us notice and expect our help when they need it, because of course this station was built with our sweat and blood!” Nan’s speed increased with her furry, but she sipped the drink to slow her self down.
“What did Eli say?” David asked.
“Eli?”
“The new commander?”
“Oh, do you know him or something?”
“You could say that, but you already got me to talk this is your story.” David hoped that she would ignore the fact that he hadn’t really told her very much.
“Ok. Um.” Nan had a bit more of the drink before she continued. “So after sending him a series of reports and requests, he called me in for a meeting, and he just talked to me.”
“He talked? Amazing. He never used to.” David was talking over his shoulder as he worked on something on the workstation screen. “What did he say?”
“Really?” Nan stared at a box on the wall.
David realized she wasn’t really paying attention. “No, of course not. Continue.”
She did: “Well he didn’t seem to have a clue what was going on between the Hanmists and the Navy, and agreed to work with me on station policy and governance. I didn’t have anything to say. I feel like I made an ass of myself.”
“That’s Eli for you, I guess.”
“Being clueless? Or for making an ass of your self in front of.”
David chucked: she was pretty sharp and quick after all, admirable qualities indeed. “So you’re upset, because he’s a reasonable guy…”
“I suppose I am. Its hard when the bad guys turn out to be pretty nice. Makes my job plenty hard. I wasn’t ready for this wrench in the gears.” Nan’s earlier anger returned, but this time it wasn’t shrouded in historical interplanetary relations.
“Well there are plenty of bad guys to go around, and lots of work to be done.”
“Aye.” Nan took another quick swig. The bottle wasn’t finished, but she was. “Thanks for this, I’d like to pick your brain at some point, but maybe at the beginning of the day rather than the end.”
David’s simple response of “Indeed” was both non-committal and positive. He walked her to the door way of his half finished bar, “This is sure going to be interesting,” he though as he watched Nan Gee walk amongst the light crowd toward the residential section of the station.
“Diplomacy Maneuvers” was written by, `tycho <http://tychoish.com/tycho>`_, the creator of `TealArt <http://tychoish.com>`_ and `Station Keeping <http://tychoish.com/hanm>`_. He is a student and knitter by day and a science fiction writer by night, you can read his work elsewhere on `TealArt <http://tychoish.com>`_ and at `~/tychoish <http://tychoish.com>`_.