Bad scene, everyone's fault

The need for a personal Web site

2009-07-07T10:55:00.002-04:00

Does one still exist? What are the purposes of a personal site?

Typically, personal sites include the following types of content: blog, resume, media, personal interests (art, music, reviews, poetry, etc.), file hosting, some outlet to connect to other individuals (chats, forums, etc.)

Each of these needs can now be handled by a number of different services now, though. Blogger, WordPress, or Tumblr can manage your blog. LinkedIn provides a variet of professional services. Your videos, pictures, or songs can be posted on sites such as YouTube, Flickr, iLike. DeviantART, Yelp, MySpace, Facebook, etc. do a good job at letting you share your interests. There are countless sites that let you anonymously share files. Social media sites like Facebook, Orkut, and MySpace have eradicated the need for built-in chats and forums.

Web 2.0 and so on spells the death of the personal Web site and makes personal domains such as this one no better than a vanity license plate. This is the end, my only friend, the end.

How to put the iPhone out of business

2009-05-28T20:53:00.002-04:00

In short: Flash support and universal integration.

First up, Flash support.

YouTube is so yesterday. It's nice to have on an iPhone but you should want more. Imagine being able to go onto Hulu and watch TV shows and movies, or going onto sites like Jay Is Games to play Flash games, or checking out the buzz clips of the day from Funny or Die. Wouldn't that be nice? Flash could be made to work on the iPhone but Apple has no motivation to allow that to happen. They'd lose too many sales on iTunes, and their app store, as well as the loss of developers.

Competing smartphone makers could easily take a big chunk out of Apple's business by working out a deal to get Flash to work with their software.

Next up, universal integration.

I love my iPhone. I really do. I also love that my new car has built-in bluetooth and an aux jack so that my phone automatically connects to the Bluetooth and I can easily play audio through my stereo system. Aside from the fact that I can't navigate iPhone media from the stereo, it's pretty seamless.

However, when I use my wife's car, I run into problems. She has a Pioneer stereo that has iPod integration. It also has Bluetooth. The stereo, though it works great with an iPod, does not work with an iPhone. To get the phone to connect to the Bluetooth is tedious.

So, if other companies want to take down the iPhone, I think they need to agree to universally use the same wire to output from the phone. Also, they should create a standard interface that will allow car stereo users to navigate the media on their device easily.

The same is also true for the home. Why can't there be a universal dock for smartphones that will allow me to do multiple things: charge my phone, connect and sync it with my computer, hook it up to my home theater and play or stream media to my TV?

Resolutions: Nearly 4 Month Check-in

2009-04-23T23:10:00.004-04:00

To say no to freelance (unless it pays incredibly well)

I said maybe to one project recently and a few former clients have returned looking for help. I feel obliged to help where I can but that's about it.

To move

We close on the sale of our home in a week. We're under contract for the purchase of a new home but don't settle on that place for quite a while.

To cook a minimum of six days a week

No change here, since I'm living at my dad's and much of the cooking is done for me.

To start my MA/MBA program

No change here either.

To get back into the habit of reading

I've purchased two new books at Zach's recommendation. I am about to begin reading one tonight.

To learn Ruby and Java

No change here, although Chris will probably come over to help me with Java as soon as we can schedule something.

To exercise at least three times per week

I've reevaluated this plan. Now that I'm on Weight Watchers, I am waiting until I've hit a certain target before bringing regular exercise into the mix. To date, I've lost about 16 lbs. so far. I still have much more to go, though.

To take Lily out more often and get her involved in play groups

No change here either. Life is too hectic. Hopefully this will happen once we move into our new home.

To start writing again

I've written some small things but my next focused effort will be for the GS writing group meeting next month.

To develop an application for a popular medium (ie. Facebook or the iPhone)

I'm developing an Adobe Air application for work. It's officially part of my yearly work goals. Right now, though, it's on the back burner until I finish some more pressing work projects.

To be more patient and stop complaining as much

I relapse sometime but, for the most part, I'm doing pretty well.

Housing by the numbers

2009-04-16T14:39:00.005-04:00

Here are some stats that will be fully accurate as of July 31, when we make our supposed last move.
15 Different places I've called home during my life
6 Times I've moved in the last five years
6 Cities I've called home
3 States I've called home
4 Places I've rented
3 Places I've owned
3 Homes that have hosted band practice
2 Homes that have hosted concerts
1 Home that hosted art shows
1 Place that contains the fondest memories of my youth, a WW Crest shore house
15 Girls I've lived with (not including relatives)
5 Guys I've lived with
79% Highest percentage of my monthly pay that was alloted for a mortgage
4 Places I lived at during college
1 Office I slept in three nights a week for a year (not counted as a play I called home)
1 All girls dormitory I called home
0 Legitimate on campus housing situations

Oh what fun

2009-04-11T21:35:00.002-04:00

I'm in the process of migrating my site to Wordpress. I've accomplished a lot so far but I still have a daunting task in front of me, especially since the built-in migration tool isn't working. Among other things, I still need to migrate:

259 articles
125 blog entries
113 comments
96 short stories and poems

Then I need to write/find a better sidebar menu and clean up some validation errors. I'm hoping to go live at some point this week. Not surprisingly, though, as soon a I started working on this, three former freelance clients reemerged in need of some help.

The past decade summarized by significant events

2009-04-09T11:16:00.004-04:00

I'm hoping this catches on because I would certainly like to read this stuff about other people.

1999
I turn from a life of debauchery to three years of community service.
Best Buy won't give me the phone I paid for. I attempt to take one and end up in Shoplifters Anonymous.

2000
Asked to be a leader of the Project Appalachia group and help organize an independent summer trip

2001
I graduate college and teach as a year of Americorps service.
I visit Colorado and fall in love with it.

2002
I turn down a full-time position to teach where I did Americorps because I am guaranteed a job at my alma mater.
I setup a living situation with a friend and a friend-of-a-friend.
My girlfriend of the time hooks up with the friend-of-a-friend while I'm in the hospital. We breakup and I lose my housing situation.
My guaranteed job falls through.
Apparently, I assume I've done enough community service and never do any again.
I rush to record an EP that I clearly should've taken more time to write. Also, I should've assumed the singer I had lined up would bail.
I have a major surgery that puts me out of commission for a month (I get really thin in the process.)
I pay a surprise visit to my mom who is at a cancer clinic in the Bahamas.
I move to Colorado.
I end up living with dirty potheads. We don't get along.
I get a job at a newspaper and compensate for the lack of a decent living wage with free music and concert tickets.
I begin dating my wife.

2003
I need a year to recuperate from 2002.
I have a hard time finding a job and run out of money 1,800 miles from home.
I live off of one small bottle of OJ and breakfast sandwich from 7-11 for months.
I can't take Boulder anymore and decide it's time to move to Denver. Life vastly improves.
Jon moves to Colorado and helps me make friends via the internet for the first time in my life.

2004
My mom dies while I'm sitting in an airport bar. I don't know that I'll ever feel more remorseful, helpless, and isolated in my life.
I sob like a baby the whole flight home. People stare. They point too.
I get engaged.
Carrie graduates from nursing school and we move back to Philly.

2005
I begin working for a mentally unstable distant relative.
We buy our first house.
I quit my job.
We get married.
We go to San Fran and Napa for our honeymoon and both begin eating meat (I only ate chicken and turkey for 11 years. Carrie was a vegetarian.)
As we step off the plane from the honeymoon, I receive a voicemail about a potential job after many months of unemployment.

2006
Brown Bag Club FTW!
We go to the Finger Lakes.
The suburbs start slowly eating away at me.
Meanwhile, I'm eating every piece of food I can find in the suburbs.
I try playing ice hockey and realize I need to get in much better shape to compete. Whoops.
I put together a band with a bunch of friends. Once again, I rush to record an EP, thinking it's just the beginning of things. Once again, I make a wrong assumption.

2007
We go to Italy, Nonna tells me I got fat.
Our house sells.
We move to the city.
Immediately, we find out that we're having a baby.
Buster dies.

2008
Liliana is born and our lives are forever changed for the better.
R.I.P. Hangover Hockey League.
Our place goes up for sale. We think it's going to sell quickly and we'll make a ton of money off of it. We couldn't be more wrong.
We take our place off the market and decide to live in the city a few more years.
To prove to ourselves that this is our plan, we sink our savings into a second car.
We find out that we're having another baby.
A crackhead jumps in the backseat of our car. Merry Christmas!

2009
We put our place back up for sale and enter extreme penny pinching mode. So much for our plan.
We move into my dad's basement.
Lily begins walking and talking.
Our house finally sells and we lose every penny we pinched just to sell it.
We buy a house.
Pending the inspections, the last two things may actually happen.

Ten groups I miss

2009-03-24T23:30:00.010-04:00

10. Softball
It was short-lived, seemingly popular, and a great activity for the spring and summer.

9. Project Appalachia [link]
These trips helped me get my life on track and, in the process, I got to help other people too. Why they ever picked me to be a leader, I have no idea.

8. Monday Night Football
I certainly don't miss some of the things that happened at Monday Night Football but I miss the sense of camaraderie and the open door policy.

7. Supper Club
It began as an excuse to cook dinner for some friends back in college. Then it blew up into a series of private dinner parties with specially created drink menus. Then it ended abruptly when I realized how much money it was costing me.

6. This Radiant Boy [link]
TRB was one of those things in life that you don't know how much you'll miss until it's gone. There's nothing quite like a van ride to DC or NY for a show while rocking out to James Brown or Sam & Dave.

5. Wednesday night at The Hawk office [link]
The Hawk office was literally my home away from home. Once again, I have no idea why anyone put me in charge, though.

4. Elian [link]
Of the bands I've been in, Elian was my favorite. Tony, Rob, and I just clicked and, if we could've convinced Jess to stick around and play guitar and sing, I really think we would've done very well. Unfortunately, we never got any further than recording five instrumental demo songs. I felt so comfortable playing bass in this band.

3. The Brown Bag Club [link]
Good Wine, good food, good friends: three things I always enjoy.

2. Golden Showers Writing Group [link]
I was so excited to do this and it was the first opportunity I had to be socially creative in a long time.

1. The Hangover Hockey League [link]
Playing hockey on a regular basis was one of the things I most looked forward to when I moved back to Philly. It's such a shame it dissolved so quickly. Honestly, why is it so hard to find 8-12 people willing to play sports on a Saturday afternoon nowadays?

Take cover! You're Sophia

2009-03-22T12:06:00.004-04:00

Celeb Tweeters (Twitterers?)

2009-03-16T16:33:00.002-04:00

Real
1. Michael Ian Black
2. Rainn Wilson
3. Shaquille O'Neal
4. Louis C.K.
5. Snoop Dogg

Fake
1. Christopher Walken
2. Tina Fey
3. Dr. Tobias Funke
4. 80s Eddie Murphy

Sated, finally

2009-03-10T00:24:00.004-04:00

In 2007, the father of a good friend asked me to do a Web site for him. I happily obliged.

He had already hired someone to do his logo. It was a white oval with a blue border and was red and blue on the inside. The colors were fairly patriotic, which I think was perfect for his company. The designer did a nice job and I believe he was happy with it.

However, I really struggled to build a site around these colors. I love using very earthy tones and this was simply out of my comfort zone. So, over the past two years, I probably redesigned his site for him about five or six times. He always seemed content with the site but it never clicked for me.

I decided it was time to just isolate the logo in an element to the side of the site and build the rest of the page around colors and patterns that I thought best reflected his business and looked best online. Finally, I feel very happy with the way the new site looks and I hope he does too. I sent him an email to check out the site but I think he's away. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for now.

The site isn't live but, if you so desire, you can view a screen capture by scrolling through here. I hope you like it. I think it's tied for my favorite site I've done and I'm happy to finally be able to provide the client with the product I've been trying to make for him for what seems like forever now.

A question about economics

2009-02-10T14:46:00.002-05:00

If the whole world is in a recession, how come things don't just even out? Isn't it still a level playing field in this instance? Why can't the value of currencies/the cost of items just be adjusted? I hate economics. I hate money. I hate fat cats who complain about $500k salary caps while the rest of us would be content making 1/10 of that. Bastards.

We can't afford to be generous

2009-02-09T21:06:00.002-05:00

We've all heard a lot in the past few years about the prices of homes and how they've inflated exponentially and now how people are foreclosing left and right because they can't afford their mortgages anymore. I'd like to offer up a reason for this.

Let's say you buy a starter house that costs $249k. Chances are, the value of that home is somewhere around $235k. However, realtor fees are typically 6% (3% for each realtor) and that accounts for $15k. On top of that, you have to pay a transfer tax and lots of other miscellaneous closing costs. The transfer tax in some areas is 1%. In the city of Philadelphia, it is 2%. While different fees are paid by the buyer and seller, you're still talking about a minimum of 7-8% of inflated costs. So, a home that's valued for $235k could easily cost about $255k.

Now, let's assume you are trying to climb the property ladder. You might live in your home for 3-5 years. If you have a 30 year mortgage, you may only have paid off $5k-$10k in that time and you'll probably want to recover most of that money to use for a down payment on your next home. So, maybe you'll use the original asking price of $249k as a starting point. Then, you'd probably factor in the realtor fees at a minimum. Suddenly, your home could be selling for about $264k.

In another 3-5 years, the next owner could flip the place for about $280k. So, within a range of 6-10 years, this starter home could've jumped $45k in price -- and this is just accounting for realtor fees. If you wanted to recover the aforementioned transfer tax, any other transfer costs, the price of any upgrades you made, etc., the price could grow even higher.

Draw your own conclusions. However, it's at this point that I'd like to mention that, while we will be lucky to break even on the sale of our home, the realtor's I know drive the following autos: Mercedes, BMW, Acura, Lexus SUV, Jaguar...

Resolutions: 1 month check-in

2009-02-04T00:19:00.005-05:00

To say no to freelance (unless it pays incredibly well)

So far, so good.

To move

We just finished packing Carrie's stuff, the house went back on the market yesterday, and we'll be at my dad's on Thursday.

To cook a minimum of six days a week

I have failed at this so far but with good reason. We decided not to grocery shop and just clear out the food we had at the house. We started ordering out when the food selection thinned out.

To start my MA/MBA program

No progress yet but I expected that.

To get back into the habit of reading

I have been reading more online content but not so much in print just yet.

To learn Ruby and Java

I am currently planning on starting Java/Java EE training soon

To exercise at least three times per week

Once we're moved into my dad's, I'll be able to follow through on this. I anticipate Angela will force me to do so. Also, I am starting Weight Watchers in a few weeks. This should help motivate me to get to the gym.

To take Lily out more often and get her involved in play groups

No change here yet.

To start writing again

I've been trying to write more but have yet to produce anything worth reading.

To develop an application for a popular medium (ie. Facebook or the iPhone)

I've been working on an application for wine collections. It's currently web based but I plan on converting it to another medium when it's complete.

To be more patient and stop complaining as much

I think I'm doing pretty well with this so far.

I need a drummer

2009-01-26T22:39:00.003-05:00

These things that I create,
these sounds, these moments, these emotions
obtain no semblance of cohesion
They speed up and slow down
redundant but rarely repeating
Recorded on laptops and four tracks
only to fade into inaudible oblivion
They need glue and tape
and a track to ride upon
They need to be nurtured
and given reasons to develop
before they are silenced forever

Conversed: Signs you've lost touch with the adult world

2009-01-21T17:54:00.003-05:00

Parent: "Oh my God, doesn't Suzie Kabloozie remind you of so-and-so???"
Non-parent: "Suzie who?"

As it turns out, our car was not getting jacked

2009-01-10T22:54:00.002-05:00

Anne: Dude
Anne: Steve and I just went to the foodery and saw a "wanted" poster for some robbeer dude, and were wondering outloud if it was the same guy that messed with you
Anne: And the guy behind the counter remarked that the poster was really old, and we were like, oh well this happened to our friend just like two weeks ago or something
Anne: And he was like oh my god, I was here! I know the guy that did it!
Anne: So of course we're like uh, what the fuck
Anne: And he was like yeah, the guy's a crackhead and his dealer had the same car and he saw it driving around so when it stopped, he tried to get in, but quickly realized it was the wrong car
Anne: CRAZY
Me: for real?
Anne: Yes. Just like ten minutes ago. Erics drove us up to get beer.
Me: holy shit. that's nuts.
Me: carrie kept saying he looked like he was high.
Me: well, good to know he was just a case of crackhead mistaken identity
Anne: So weird. And we can't decide what's crazier, that that actually happened, or that the town is so small or what.
Anne: Still, a crackhead jumped in your car.
Anne: Fucking.
Anne: Scary.

Postdictions

2009-01-04T21:27:00.007-05:00

I've been informed that I must "go blog" because my comments about Superstars of Dance are no longer welcome. (Carrie informed me that I shouldn't have written that.) So, now I must think of a topic. Hmm. How about I write some things I should've predicted for 2008?

After a 25 year drought, Philadelphians finally realize that all they need to do to win a championship is to elevate a Billy Penn statue to the top of the Comcast Center
After 7 years of Bush raping the economy, devastating the Middle East, committing numerous crimes against humanity, and destroying the environment, the people of America will finally be so desperate for change that even race can't get in the way of a Democratic victory
At a loss for new ideas, the networks decide to film anyone they can dancing and call it reality TV
Apple will develop products that capture the attention of the American public. Interest will be divided between fanboys and haters
Numerous celebrities will die, including one up-and-coming star from a drug overdose
Everyone but Gary Bettman and the NHL's marketing firm will realize that Sidney Crosby is not the savior of the NHL
The housing market will flatline -- right around the time we put our place on the market
Many great things will happen to Philly sports teams but the media elects to only cover the Eagles in depth
I will run out of free time to do anything while simultaneously feeling like I do nothing, which will ultimately culminate in a midlife crisis and an unprecedented desire to own a Lexus ES 350
A variety of has-been musical acts will reunite in an attempt to make a quick buck and relive youth. Interest will wax and wane but mostly wane.

So this is the new year

2009-01-01T10:08:00.004-05:00

...And I have no resolutions.

I have plans. Here they are:

To say no to freelance (unless it pays incredibly well)
To move
To cook a minimum of six days a week
To start my MA/MBA program
To get back into the habit of reading
To learn Ruby and Java
To exercise at least three times per week
To take Lily out more often and get her involved in play groups
To start writing again
To develop an application for a popular medium (ie. Facebook or the iPhone)
To be more patient and stop complaining as much

OK, I guess some of those are resolutions.

Updates

2008-12-19T11:02:00.005-05:00

Health

The past month and a half has been pretty draining. I've had surgery, two endoscopies, a colonoscopy, and a virus. I've been out of work almost all week with this bug and spent yesterday in the ER. They hydrated me, gave me something for nausea, and told me to go on the BRAT diet. Before last night, I hadn't slept more than two hours a night all week. I was overly tired and I think the dehydration didn't help.

Today, I'm still sick but I'm hydrated and I actually slept a full eight hours last night. I would've liked to get to work today. Getting out of the house would've been nice but I'm not so sure I'm ready to do that yet and I certainly don't want to get any of my coworkers sick right before the holidays.

My Awesome Wife's Day off

Here is how Carrie's day went yesterday. It's a typical example of how her rare days off go. She got home from work around 8:00 a.m., bathed Lily and drover her to my dad's. Then, she rushed home to meet the roofer who was supposed to come first thing in the morning. She stayed up and waited. He didn't come an didn't call. After finally giving up on them, she rushed over to the ER to take care of me. After I was settled at home, she rushed to Jersey to pick up Lily, but only after stopping at Pasta Pomodoro to pick me up chicken soup and Acme to pick up bread. When she came home, she took care of Lily and put her to bed. Then, she cleaned up the house, took care of the bills, and let me talk to her about the things that were stressing me out.

This is my selfless wife and this is only a small example of what she does on a daily basis.

Miscellaneous

I learned yesterday that it is not a wise idea to make tea in a fancy pants coffee maker, especially if you've never made coffee before and have no idea how to use the machine.

Game over

2008-11-30T14:03:00.003-05:00

After a few years of hard work and finally getting my site around where I want it to be, I think I am hanging up my, umm, laptop. After I am finished working on two current projects, I am going to stop doing freelance. It's just gotten to a point where it's not worth my time and effort.

It's nice to make some extra cash but I always end up agreeing to big discounts and working tons of unpaid extra hours and I don't have the free time to dedicate to endless changes and people changing their mind or wanting something different at the last minute. That probably sounds bitter but it's not. It's natural for people to change their minds and want the most for their money. They should be happy with the product they get and I respect that fact. I'm just not capable of doing it anymore. I'm too burnt out and there are too many other things going on in my life that need my attention... unless, of course, the money is too hard to turn away. You can never say never.

I am incredibly thankful for the clients I've had and for the wonderful people who have recommended them to me. In the last 3 years, I've done over 20 freelance projects. I've learned a ton from them and each one was really unique and really exciting in its own ways. It's strange. Every project becomes your child and you become attached to it. This is why it is easy to work many extra hours.

Now, I only wish that Lily was tired so I could celebrate this decision with a nap.

Giving thanks in 2008

2008-11-28T20:09:00.012-05:00

No need for much of an intro. This entry should be pretty self-explanatory.

Carrie and Liliana
Our families
My job and coworkers
Jeff Carter, Simon Gagne, Luca Sbisa
Christian, Bob, Nicky
Yos, Anne, Christine, Scott, and the rest of my iFriends
World. Fucking. Champions.
My new baby, an '08 Altima 3.5 SL
Bill Meltzer and Tim Panaccio
Septoplasty and prescription percocet
Facebook and how it's reconnected me with friends and family
NHL 09
Moore Brothers and collecting wine
30 Rock
Dexter
PHP.net, David Walsh and Antonio Lupetti
The Mars Rovers
Banana Republic
Outlet Stores
Dr. Anil Rustgi
Hangover Hockey League
iPhone 3G and bluetooth connectivity
The Baders, Deislers, and other friends with kids
The Schulz, Richards, Baders and other families who have hooked us up a ton with baby stuff
Sarah Palin and the economic crisis for ensuring an Obama victory
Twitter
Aaron Byles and all the wonderful work he's put into trying to sell our place

NHL All-Star voting

2008-11-23T19:20:00.004-05:00

Vote for the NHL All Stars Here are my votes:

Things I can be happy about

2008-11-17T12:01:00.003-05:00

Blake Schwarzenbach has a new band
Lily is sitting up, standing while leaning, and I'm pretty sure she's crawling every time I turn away
The Flyers have actually gotten their season on track (3-0-1 in their last 4 games, 7-3-3 in their last 13)
I'm nearing the end of a tedious freelance project, have another project waiting in the wings, and the prospect of two more not far off
We went to the Marabella's reunion and had an absolute blast
We went to the cemetery this weekend. It's been way too long but it was incredibly nice to get to spend some time there and just think about my mom
I'm nearing the end of an incredibly long project at work. It'll be nice to start the next project
It may be the middle of November but the Phillies are still World. Fucking. Champions.
I just got a free cupcake
Lily has started sleeping until about 7:45
Carrie has a light schedule this week and I'll actually get to hang out with her
Finally, I think my Xbox will be back from repair

From the arms of babes

2008-11-13T13:21:00.002-05:00

Saddest Tweets of the Day

2008-11-10T16:22:00.001-05:00

From @MarsPhoenix
[From Phoenix mission ops: Phoenix is no longer communicating with Earth. We'll continue to listen, but it's likely its mission has ended.]

...
[Phoenix mission ops: We bid our good friend a fond farewell. Phoenix did us proud: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm ]