Below are the 17 most recent journal entries recorded in Ivan's LiveJournal:

Monday, May 1st, 2006
5:06 pm	My soul laughs hardily at me. Jason freakin Weiss of all people W the F stop laughing...really...stop (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, January 27th, 2006
9:48 pm	E's and P's and E's and G's and R's and B's and one more E I will be "volunteering" at a cognitive neuroscience lab at UNC Charlotte in trade for letters of recommendation and increased chances of grad school acceptance. The research we will be doing involves EEG's, so that means I will be attaching electrodes to peoples' heads and recording ERP's! I've always wanted to play with expensive neuroscience toys. The research is a nice continuation of the research I was doing at UNCA but with better technology. In fact we are going to be doing Stroupe Effect studies which is something that the professor I was working with at UNCA studied for most of his life. Dr. "Busy" Brown would be so proud (I say that as if he died or something once I left Asheville). Dr. Brown would, however, be very disappointed to find out that we are testing the theories of his academic archnemesis--Derek Besner. Derek Besner is a pretty renowned researcher that gears all of his research toward disproving popular paradigms. He tends not to do original work, only reactionary work to research that already exists. However, his role is important to the academic community because it helps to fine tune research findings and to keep the monopoly of ideas in check. Anyhow, Dr. Besner has consistently tried to disprove all of Dr. Brown's research, one after the other, throughout his career. They have had many jargony, academic disputes over the methodology of each other's research. It is really ironic that I would get a position in a lab that is testing Besner's theories after working with Dr. Brown for two years. My loyalties remain with you Dr. B (the ambiguity of that B is deliberate--you can make various judgements about my character based on different interpretations of the meaning of that B). (Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 21st, 2005
2:47 am	The call for lamictal Today I begin my dance with a new drug regiment. http://www.crazymeds.org/lamictal.html Get'n jiggy with it (more like get'n jittery from the nervousness of commiting). (Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 21st, 2005
8:19 pm	this happened moments ago here in this great nation I went to the third floor with my sketchbook so that I could draw in peace. When I arrived, there was a lady in her mid to late-thirties with dark-hair and a vaguely mid-western accent on the payphone with what seemed to be her ex-husband. I was automatically annoyed because I'm not used to distracting people being on the third floor after five. I resigned myself to sitting down on the couch near the noisy payphone before I realized the nature of the conversation that was unfolding only a few feet away. As I opened my sketchbook, the seemingly pleasant background phone conversation revealed its emotional weight when the woman asked the person on the phone to be more supportive. At this point I couldn't help but to be tuned in, but I realized how rude I was being by sitting so near her personal conversation. I walked to the other side of the lobby, but I strained my ears so that I could continue listening. From what was being said, I gathered that the lady was revealing her failed attempts at relationships to a person that she had been in a serious relationship with years ago. Her voice kept fluctuating as if she were swallowing her urges to cry out tears of her perceived failure at being desirable. She started talking about a forty-year-old that she met at the grocery store that seemed interested in her. The man apparently had given her his business card so that they could get together sometime. When the woman said this, the individual on the other end of the conversation told her that the man had given his business card to her in an attempt to form a business connection, not a love connection. This made the woman very upset. The woman defensively started saying, "it's hard to believe that someone would be interested in me, isn't it? You told me that nobody would be interested in me. You told me that I'm not beautiful enough. It's hard to believe that someone would think that I am beautiful, isn't it?" They argued over that for a bit before the woman slammed the phone and rushed to the elevator trying to hide her sadness and embarrassment from the rude eves-dropper on the other side of the lobby. I wanted to hug the woman and tell her that she is beautiful despite what the jerk on the phone said. I cried for half an hour. I'm sorry for being an unsupportive asshole. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, February 18th, 2005
9:20 am	Josh Wexler 2727 S Hills Dr Missoula, MT (406) 251-3783 (Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 14th, 2004
1:17 am	what is a three letter word for candy? there were three melt downs in one china syndrome but i'm not andy capp, i'm just lazy. perhaps i have something i can scald you with. let's blow this fascist popsicle stand and go find a capital city career. oppression and harassment are a small price to pay to live in the land of the free. if price matters to you, just call sue! and she will take care of all your problems no matter how big and small. the electronic group will reinstall you brain wires from waves to particles and back ot waves again. no more of you and your american tv! PEZ. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, March 5th, 2004
2:12 am	my artsy entry schools of contemporary art and music, with their origins in the 1960s, that have emphasized simplicity and objectivity. 1 Minimalism in the Visual Arts Reacting against the formal excesses of abstract expressionism, the practitioners of minimal art (also sometimes called ABC art) strove to focus attention on the object as an object, reducing its historical and expressive content to the bare minimum. Many minimalist artists were sculptors concerned with reducing form to its utmost simplicity. They used flat surface colors, factory finishes, and industrial materials. The use of serial repetitions contributed to their goal. Artists such as Carl Andre, Sol LeWitt, Robert Morris, and Richard Serra were associated with the movement. The exhibition “Primary Structures,” held in New York in 1966, spotlighted works of this school. Minimalism gave rise to process art, land art, performance art, and conceptual art. 2 Minimalism in Music In music, the minimalist movement was, like minimal art, a reaction against a then-current form, with composers rejecting many of the dry intellectual complexities and the emotional sterility of serial music and other modern forms. Generally, minimalist compositions tend to emphasize simplicity in melodic line and harmonic progression, to stress repetition and rhythmic patterns, and to reduce historical or expressive reference. The use of electronic instruments is common in minimalist music, as are influences from Asia and Africa. Among prominent minimalist composers are Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, La Monte Young, and John Adams. 3 (3 Comments |Comment on this)
2:09 am	my intellectual entry Material parameters Crystal Tb3Ga5O12 Orientation <111> within 5 degrees Index of Refraction, n 1.95 (at 1062 nm) Nonlinear Index, n2 8 x 10-13 esu Verdet Constant, V -40 radT-1m-1 (at 1064 nm) -134 radT-1m-1 (at 632 nm) Figure of Merit(1), V/a 27 Figure of Merit(2), Vn2 5 Standard specifications Dimensions upon request Flatness better than l /10 Parallelism better than 10 sec of arc (2 Comments |Comment on this)
2:05 am	Take a 5 gallon white plastic bucket. Take the housing off of a droplight. Cut a hole in the bucket lid and secure the light into it and put the lid back on. Then just hang from the bucket's handle. Lots of light and hardly any bugs. Clint Stagg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When you go to the shower and you prefer to use a bar of soap, just take a extra knee-hi panty hose with you and it will be just like having a soap-on-a-rope. Also make sure to take a clothes hanger and plastic bag with you to the shower, as most shower stalls have no place to hang your clothes. Just put the hanger on the shower bar and put your old clothes in the plastic bag while showering. HAPPY CAMPING! Pam Mcquay Baltimore, MD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When camping with a toddler, we use a booster seat that has a snap on tray. We then strap it to a folding lawn chair. This way the little one has his own table that is just his size. Kim Bozek Bridgeview, IL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- During our week of vacation and also on our weekend trips, I always prepare the menu ahead of time. That way I can prepare extra meals (spaghetti, chili, beef stews, etc.) and freeze them ahead and they are ready for the trips. The smaller size packages takes less room in the freezer or cooler and stay cold longer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We use bungee cords for a quick clothesline at the campsite. Just find 2 fairly close trees and loop a couple of cords around the trunks and hook together. Voila! Instant drying spot for wet swimsuits, towels, etc with no damage to the trees. We also use bungees to strap down our cooler to the picnic table. This became part of our routine after some night visitors managed to pry open our cooler and make off with bacon, a london broil and potato salad! Deep (about 15") tubs with snap-on lids make wonderful storage for just about anything: food, clothes, kitchen stuff, etc. They are waterproof, stackable and even seem to foil the critters! We bought ours at a local grocery store, but I've seen similar ones at all the big discount stores. Gail Brown Lafayette, LA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My husband and I camp in a tent so there is no place to put the groceries once you get to the site. I purchased several large plastic see-thru tote boxes. I put the non-perishable food in them. They stack easily under the end of the table and you can see what's in them right away. When we return after our trip I pack everything that we need in them. The tarps, stove, propane bottles etc. That way when we decide at the last moment to "run away," all I have to pack are our clothes and the van and off we go! Tim & Barb Forand Athol, Massachusetts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While there really isn't any wasted space in the recreational vehicles sometimes you still find you need more room. I found the shower stall area while not being used most of the time is a perfect place to store items in a plastic see/thru storage cart with drawers. I put our paper plates, napkins, cups and cultery, salt/pepper or whatever needed for meals in it. When set up at campsite we just take it out and set on picnic table and you don't have to go in and out of trailer when setting up for meals. Its water proof and very handy. Donna Duncan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We use a plastic bucket to carry cleaning items to the showers or vault toilet when camping. Filled with such items as disinfectant, rubber gloves, paper towels, disposable wipes, etc. as well as our soaps and shower items, with paper items in palstic ziplock bags. All these items remain in the bucket so it is always handy when we are visiting a new facility and are not sure of it's cleanliness. Bob & Ruth Michigan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My parents are retired and head out with the camper for months at a time. To stay in touch with us "kids" they purchased a pocketmail. We all have computers and email. This is a battery powered, portable email system. It can be used on any phone. My mother types messages while traveling and when they stop at a gas station, she heads for the pay phone and sends the message. It will also receive messages at the same time, so we can also let them know what's going on at home. They're not computer literate, but this device is very simple and they love it. Debbie Van Tassel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We have a travel trailer, and the clothes will not stay on the clothes rod when traveling. Do you have any hints on keeping this from happening? Bob Alfred -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When I tent camp I carry my kitchen utensils, hatchet, dish soap, wash clothes and dish towels, 1st aid kit, matches, a good knife, flashlight (extra batteries) radio, and what ever else you need in a small to medium sized Rubbermaid container. After each meal this serves as my "dish washing sink." When the camping trip is done everything goes right back in it. Under the lid I keep an inventory sheet and stock it when I get home before my next adventure. Camping is the best. Doug Kenney Batavia, IL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fill plastic pop/water bottles almost full with water and freeze (16oz - 2 liter, depends on your space). Put them in your cooler instead of bags of ice or gel paks. Bags of ice melt and leak, and sometimes so do gel packs (yuk). Also, you will have fresh, cold water. If it will be a long trip, consider containers with screw-tight lids that you can refill with ice during your trip. If you have kids, the freeze pops (the kind that come sealed in plastic sleeves) work well at keeping things cool. If they melt, kids still like to drink them. Just remember to have something to cut them open with. Soak a (unused!) baby diaper with water, put it in a Ziploc bag, then freeze. When the water melts, it's not going very far! Great for coolers and injuries too. Karen Ohio -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We have found a pair of two-way walkie-talkies to be invaluable when we camp; wonderful for guiding the driver of a 5th wheel back into a tight spot without shouting loud enough for the whole campground to hear, or keeping in touch while backpacking and out of sight of each other. Great for mall shopping with kids too, or anywhere you may get temporarily separated! Teri & Mark Beaverton, Oregon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've been a camper since I was a child and love it! I have 2 great tips to share: First: to save space in the cooler, when I make my KoolAid, instead of using jugs, I put it into Zip-Loc bags and freeze it flat. Then it fits nicely into the cooler and helps with the cooling. Second: those expensive fire starters - I recycle. Take the carboard egg crates and put it on your dryer as the lint comes out, lay it in the egg crate. After the crate is full, find some old candles and melt wax all over the crate. It makes such a great starter and doesn't cost a dime! Karen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In our extensive travels, Alaska 5 times, we have used every shower and bath house imaginable. Having a wet towel to dry out can get to be a pain. We have found that if you use your wash cloth first and get all the water off your body (having to wring it out several times) then finish up with your towel, that the towel stays almost dry. This is especially nice when you have limited space in your RV for hanging up wet things. Bernard & Shelley Abell LaGrande Oregon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I live in the Netherlands and am a proud camper. Usually I go on bicycle camping trips in Holland. In 1999 we rented a RV and camped in Canada and the United States of America. With a RV from London, Ontario to Niagara Falls, Washington, New York City, Newburgh, Ticonderoga, Ottawa, Midland and Toronto where we started and finished our tour. Now I'm back in Europe where I live and work. If there are people considering a bicycle vacation in Europe, I can help you with a packing list. All you have to do is send me your e-mail and I will send you the list completely free of charge. I hope to hear from you soon. Peter Gemmink -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We have a popup camper so when we go camping we always use showers at the campground. Once, while camping on a crowded weekend the showers acquired a small problem. They were the kind that automatically dispence the hot and cold water together and for some reason would only give hot water! We just happened to carry a large, 20 gal. bucket style tub we got a Wal-Mart. We put our 4 yr. old's toys in it. It was like a tub with two handles. They normally sell them for horse buckets. It came in very handy -- we used ti for a bath tub! Stacey -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ever light your campfire to find out that a breeze is blowing the smoke into your tent or back toward your picnic table? We tear a small piece off of a plastic trash bag and tie it to a tree brach with a piece of fishing line. The plastic will move with the direction of the breeze even if you can't feel air movement allowing you to spot your fire accordingly. Bob & Pat Caswell County N.C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi, my husband and I are avid campers -- lots of weekends in the summer and our vacations are spent camping. We are in the "thinking and talking" stage of taking a year long trip around the country. Do you know of anyone that we could chant with that has experienced this and could offer us some helpful suggestions, help us think of things we might be missing? We would greatly appreciate it. It certainly would be interesting to talk to someone who had done it. We look forward to hearing from you. Lora & Stephen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When we were tent camping, we used a large plastic tool box to hold our kitchen items in. We found a bright yellow one so it stands out. The top tray is great for holding grill utensil, knives, and other items. The main section held several bottles/jars of seasoning, plus small plastic containers with coffee, sugar, and other items. Cliff Maurand Get a 5 gal. bucket and fill it about half full with sackret cement mix. Install a piece of 1-1/4" PVC pipe 3-4' long, level it up, then pour sackret down the PVC pipe to make it sturdy. When you go camping, just install your satellite on the PVC. If it blows over, you'd best grab the kids and wife and go home - the weather is too bad for anything! Mustangs005@aol.com Port Neches,Texas My wife has asthma so we can not use ant granulars around the hitch, leveling jacks, or anywhere the critters might get in. So we learned a trick from the doctor for a natural ant repellent that won't affect her condition; cayenne (ground red) pepper around the tires, hitch, etc. really works. Johnny Thrasher Owner: UNIVERSITY RV PARK, TX I love to go camping as often as possible for the past 16 years so I have tried out a lot of tents. I have returned to the same place, Glen Lyon, for at least 4 times a year every year, without fail. It can get very windy, I would say a 30 mph was a slight breeze sometimes. The best tent I have found is a tent that is shaped as a tunnel. They are easier to put up when it is windy. They are steadier than other tents, plenty of room inside and lightweight. The worst tent I have ever erected has to be the dome tent. Good looking design, but totally useless against the wind. Ridge tents are by far one of the best (especially one-man tents), only problem, the big ones can get heavy. For an inexpensive pole for your satellite dish use 1 1/4 inch plastic PVC pipe with screw on type pipe connections to tune and disassemble. When our family goes tent camping, I take along a tarp and a clothesline. The tarp can be used either for covering the campfire wood or the tent in case of rain. The clothesline I string from two trees. I use it to hang wet towels, swim suits, coleman lantern, anything that you want up out of the way. It is much easier and nicer to have a dry bathing suit to put on. My dog doesn't always like the water where we camp, so I take along water from home in gallon jugs. She has her own water from home and feels much more at home wherever we are. I have a four and six year old that wanted to bring every toy in their room camping with them. To keep clutter down and everything in its place, I bought them each a clear, plastic shoe box with an attached, flip-up lid. Now they each know that they can only bring what they can fit in that box. It forces them to choose wisely and its easy to pick up and store. Make sure you go over the security issues before checking into a campground. Get their quiet times and make sure they abide by it or you could be left with a bad camping experience. If the quiet time is 11:00 pm, make sure the campground shuts the place down and not just says, "oh well, they're having fun...." We are a family of 5 and love to camp ... but the dirty clothes were getting out of hand. So I bought a trash can with the lid you use you foot to open you push it, it pops open. The 3 year old can even get his clothes in the "hamper". It is easy to get to the camp laundry area also. I set the trash can just out the door of the pop-up camper. Rain doesn't bother it and the animals haven't yet. Trish When camping or going on vacation, I have found that being prepared is crucial. I purchased an inexpensive tackle box ( one with a pop up tray) and filled it with basic and essential items. I included such things as: bandages, alcohol wipes, benadryl, antibiotic cream, tums, hand sanitizer, q-tips, tylenol (adult and childrens), nail clippers, tweezers etc. Things you need for those minor emergencies that crop up when you are away from home. Make sure to check expiration dates on items and replace things when you use them!! Tricia Shippenville, PA When camping we always take a couple of cases of bottled water with us. We always freeze one case before leaving. Works great for keeping the coolers cool and it's also wonderfully cold on some of our hot days. Nea137@aol.com Instead of buying ice for the cooler, add water to gallon or 2 gallon milk jugs and freeze ahead of time. Keeps the cooler cold and provides cold drinking water- I fill one jug with water and the other with kool-aid and freeze both! Mark and Shelly Luger Nebraska We have found it very handy to bring along postage stamps .. we have often wanted to send postcards along the way but could never get the stamps ..and when we did they were very expensive. Hope this note helps. Denis & Anne Picard A tip I have is to have some man-made fire logs like Duraflame logs for when it's hard to find dry logs or is good for starting your campfire when there is no kindling to get the fire going, and they last a few hours so you can use one or two logs of this type of log with regular log you have a campfire that uses less regular logs and strays burning well for hours. Don Knott Lindenhurst, IL With my kids I put each day's clothes in a zipper style plastic bag. I lay out a bag each night for them to wear the next day. Dirty clothes go into the laundry basket until time to wash. When the laundry is done the outfits go back in the ziplock until next wear. This saves time with mixing and matching clothes for the kids and their socks and underwear are right there, too. Also, saves room in camper drawers. Cindy Prior Anoka MN I print up journal pages on the computer that we fill out on the way home from each camping trip. It lists where we went (including site number), who went, what we did, what the weather was like, special memories and comments for each person, the best and worst things that happened and most important: "Did we forget anything?". We have great fun reading our journal and it's a great way to remember each trip. My only regret is we didn't start it years earlier. We replaced the tabletop in our popup. My husband cut out a piece of plywood to match the old table and used the old hardware on the new table. When done, I stenciled a checkerboard on the new table. It is really cute and useful for our kids! Make a common family list of things to pack one week ahead - keeping in mind your daily routines. Separate lists are easy to miss needed items. Medicines, dietary guidelines, emergency phone numbers etc. Re-check pack list daily. Photocopy all your travel arrangements and leave them with a friend or relative so that they can reach you at any point along your journey in case of an emergency. Take along a zip-closure bags in several sizes. They will be welcome for holding loose odds and ends that you accumulate, or wet items that haven't had a chance to dry before packing. Road trips are the perfect opportunity to use those special easy treats for children and adults too; juice in boxes, and easy-to-eat snacks, Don't forget wet wipes, napkins and trash bags. Keep a color picture of your child's face in your purse or wallet in case he or she gets lost in a crowded park or shopping area. Give each child a disposable camera and spiral notebook at the start of the trip to make notes and take pictures of special activities. Take along some rest stop toys: great items are a beach ball, frisbee, jump rope, and chalk for hopscotch. All encourage movement. When traveling with children and/or adults, my husband and I play the game of keeping a list of how many fifth wheels, travel trailer and Motor homes we see. Also keep a list of how many different states we see on the highway on cars and trucks and trailers. Also how many Ford, gmc/chevy, or dodge trucks we see pulling trailers or fifth wheels. Hope this helps on the long highways we travel on our way to campsites. Judy Baldoni Highway flares - those red colored sticks that look like a stick of dynamite? They can be carried behind the drivers seat and are good for: emergency stops on the hiway, day or night; starting camp fires when your wood is damp; warding off bears in the middle of the night - or any other intruder! Can be carried in a back pack to start fires and signal for help. When my wife and I go tent camping, we use a lot of plastic storage boxes, the type you find in WalMart and KMart or Big Lots. On a trip to Cape Hatteras we got rained on, and the clothes in suitcases got soaked and ruined when the colors ran. The stuff we had in plastic boxes stayed dry. We have different boxes for different categories of camping gear ... the light box, the kitchen box, the food box (we have a large box with a place for a padlock on it, and a bicycle chain for locking it to a solid object, essential for camping with the raccoons in Florida) and his and her clothes boxes (with toiletries and personal hygiene stuff in a separate case). We also have a boat box (for our rubber raft, life jackets and oars. We don't always take the boat box), a bed box, a mattress box, and a stove box (which also contains a folding oven and fuel for the stoves) We clean our gear a little bit at a time when we return from a trip, and then repack the boxes. Then we're ready to load the truck quickly and we're on our way. To hold everything in the bed of the truck so it won't blow out, we put an inexpensive nylon hammock over the entire bed and tie it down with bungee cords. At the campsite we sometimes use a small tent for storage of the boxes. It makes the campsite look much neater. To keep perishable foods cold longer, we freeze large blocks of ice in ziplock bags at home. It melts slower than crushed ice, and can be used for drinking or cooking because it does not contact food in the cooler. Dave & Suzie Elrod Maryville, TN Please share with us…include your name and home area so we may give you credit. traveltips@gocampingamerica.com (1 Comment |Comment on this)
2:03 am	my original thought So George Bush wants the Constitution to define marriage as a man and a woman. Georgie's Education Secretary has described the National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, as a "terrorist organization." An administration economist recently applauded the export of American jobs overseas. I would say this was a bang-up week for the Sick, Sad World. But then there's always Andy Rooney: On Sunday's "60 Minutes," Rooney commented on Rev. Pat Robertson's January statement that he believes God has told him that President Bush would be re-elected in a "blowout" in November. Rooney said God had spoken to him too, saying, "I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike me as wackos... They're crazy as bedbugs, another earthly expression. I created bedbugs. I tell you, they're no crazier than people." But then there's still always Pat Robertson: "Mel Gibson has, without a doubt, created the finest motion picture on the life of Christ of all time," he said. "I am very happy to be linked by Andy Rooney to a talented genius of the order of Mel Gibson." I'm sure Jesus feels the same way (2 Comments |Comment on this)
2:01 am	(Post a new comment) cheryllayne 2004-02-18 23:12 (link) You are a parenthetical, hypertechnical, astrological, left ventricle show-off, Will. Begin 7th grade school-bus style cut-down fight here: (Reply to this) (Thread) willomopar 2004-02-19 07:54 (link) Your ventricles are so convoluted that every time you think it makes your mom get fatter than she already is, which is to say, she was floating in the ocean and Spain claimed her as part of the New World (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread) Re: cheryllayne 2004-02-19 10:34 (link) oh no you DIDN'T just dis my MOMMA. I believe "convoluted" more accurately refers to your mental state, "ocean" to the puddle you leave when you wet your bed every night, and anything else coming from your general direction could ONLY stem from the stench of your unresolved and unremitting body odor - the very hint of which has curled many a conquistador's nose, shrivelled my momma's ventricles, and prompted the current presidential administration to reinvigorate the space program (in hopes that SOMEWHERE there is an atmosphere untainted by the hideous fumes of Will Moore). (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread) Re: willomopar 2004-02-19 17:45 (link) As far as odors are concerned, my pheremone laden musk is nothing short of enchanting when compared to the halitotic stench of your loosely lucid ravings and jabberings. Were I a street performer, I would compose ballads warning your fellow predestrians of the fecal onslaught unleashed whenever your lips part. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread) Re: cheryllayne 2004-02-19 19:48 (link) Were you a street performer, you'd be making a hefty living off of charitable citizens touched by your condition (the autism, the unprovoked and frightening shouts (memes! memes!)). Dammit Will I think you won this one. Until we spar again... by the way, pheremone laden musk...halitotic stench...very nice... (Comment on this)
Thursday, January 29th, 2004
4:13 am	in response to the much asked question--why live journal? I write this entry because I too ask the very same question—why live journal? At first I was convinced that live journal was going to be the eventual downfall of the social circle I affiliate myself with. The traditional structure of interaction was becoming endangered, and that meant trouble. Digital communication leaves people vulnerable to the inevitable take-over by computers. I felt a sense of obligation to figure out a way to save my friends. At first I tried boycotting live journal by not being a part of it, but that tactic proved to be ineffective. I realized that it would take an inside man to be able the figure the proper way to disable this time-bomb. When I first joined live journal I didn’t realize how susceptible I would be to its seductive grip. I tried hard to resist the temptations but eventually I caved. I really did like live journal and did not find anything wrong with it. I had trouble accepting this fact, so desperately searched the internet for some answers. Then finally I found it and came to terms with live journal and everything else. I found these stories of people whose lives were saved by live journal: “Live journal has really helped me find myself. I’ve always been the shy type, not because I didn’t like people or anything like that, but because I never had the confidence to talk to people. This always troubled me because I really wanted companionship, but felt hopeless about making friends. Depression almost caused me to take my own life until my 37th birthday when my sister gave me a live journal account as a birthday present. My life was changed. I started writing entries at first just to amuse myself, not really thinking about other people reading them or anything. I became more and more comfortable with myself, writing down more and more of my personal thoughts. Writing entries helped me to figure out problems about my life and work. What really helped the most was when people starting responding to my entries. For the first time ever I felt as if people found me interesting and I had no inhibitions holding me back from talking to them. After a year of posting my most private thoughts online I found my fiancé, George. George had the same sort of problem as me, but thanks to the help of live journal, he finally had the courage to propose. We have been happily in love since. We are currently planning our wedding for next year! I will be seeing him for the first time in person next week!! Thanks live journal, thanks for turning my life around.” -Samantha Barnett, live journal user, Shelbyville Kentucky “As a kid I was always getting in trouble with my folks. I’d always hafta do things my way and they didn’t like that too much. Finally they got sick of it and kicked me out. There wasn’t really much I could do. I decided to smoke crack just to help me deal, you know. My life started falling to pieces until one day this nice cracker in a suit decided to help me out. He told that I could for his as a security man for his office building. It was butter, I made enough to keep up the habit and afford a small apartment. I would sit in front of a computer all day getting to use the internet for free. I quickly got tired of porn after a year and a half or so, so I decided to check out other things. That’s when I found live journal. I started reading about other people’s lives and realized that there is life without crack. I entered rehab and eventually got off for good and it was all thanks to live journal. Thanks for keeping it real lj.” -Tyson Mcbenfield, live journal user Diamondbar, CA There you have it folks. Live journal is not evil and can do good for the world. If you have any more stories like these please send them my way. Current Mood: awake (12 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 24th, 2003
12:42 am	bahh humbug i just spent the last 45 minutes typing an extremely long journal entry expressing lots of things when a goddamn porno ad popped up and erased everything. fuck pakistani internet cafes. happy freakin surplus holiday. i feel a little to frustrated and sick (i have a mild fever of a hundred degrees) to do it all again so i may attempt to do it again tommorow. peace. oh, cherie/alex c. if you should call, call during the morning time 9 am here, i am not sure how that translates to gastonia time. i miss you all like crazy, again, especially you. (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, December 19th, 2003
3:00 am	my face is burning with desire for a new razor (really it is) my fondest memory/experience of pakistan is walking home from the mosque on friday to eat aknee. mmm. for the first time in my life i have a set schedule for doing things. i wake up between 6:30 and 9:00 (without the assistance of an alarm clock!!!) to do a light workout. then i eat breakfast, usually greasy eggs, followed by a couple of hours of reading and drawing. after noonish variety sets in. this is because nothing in pakistan opens until 11 or 12 (noon). something about this regiment is draining the creativity out of me. i cannot draw anything that looks of my style nor have i made any good photo opportunities out of my daily outings even though i am in a national-geographic-picture paradise. i learned today that no matter how far one goes it is impossible to run away from one's own head (at least for me). today the bad juju started to make an appearance again but i fought it off. you would think that it would be easy to leave everything behind and go on tour with a rock and roll band, or, in my case a south-asian country, but it snot. tissue please. my grandfather explained to me yesterday that religion is the standardization of humanity. i then proceeded to kick his ass in uno. it makes me feel real macho picking on someone more than three times my own age. just kidding of course. anyhow, my grandfather is awesome and so is my aunt famitha. she is the only one who thinks that i should not be getting married right now. the most commonly asked question: ap mungnee kurnay keh leah ahe ho? some useless info about pakistan: 1 us dollar= 58 rupees. what does that mean you ask. 1 drink-10 rupees 1 haircut-40 rupees 1 sandwich-50 rupees 10 grams of incredible hash-100 rupees if anybody has been trying to email me, i cannot read my emails for some pretty normal reason. please respond with anything that you may want from here because it is pretty damn cheap. and no i cannot bring back some hot asian girl will. sorry i am limited to two suit cases. much sand-flavored love yalls way. >mr. snaps (9 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 16th, 2003
8:27 pm	happy travels in wackyland the flying was good. us airways had a good dinner with alfredo sauce and rigotini. the 5 hour stop over in frankfurt was not so great. i met a girl from chicago who was wanting to do the same thing as me (drink plenty of gut bier) but after looking at the line to get a train ticket, i had to abandon her. i regretted it later. i opted to go to a shwanky airport bar. when i entered, everyone in the place turned around and stared at me for at least thirty seconds as i found myself a seat. hast du eine dunkel bier? ja (ich habe ein heffeweizen). lying deutsch-bag. all of my sitting partners were really nice. i read half of junky by william s. burroughs (thanks shelby) and a third of this book on cognitive neuroscience entitled left brain, right brain. arriving in pakistan was a relief because i could not get any proper rest and was waiting for the moment i could hit a real bed. *Saira my home number here is 4910-310 and the mobile number to my aunts phone is (0300)245-4394. please call me. i have to cut this session short because my aunt is sick and is trying to sleep. i will write further with some more social commentary. love you all. especially you (thats right you). as alex cummings would say buh-bye (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 11th, 2003
9:42 pm	hey me dear me, My friend ian told me last night that procrastination serves as a self-helping tactic for perfectionists. He was explaining all of this to me, of course, as we were finishing up our final photo projects at the very last possible minute. He explained further that waiting till the last minute makes it easier for a perfectionist to finish things because it sets limits. Otherwise, they would spend too much time trying to get everything just right and never finish anything. More importantly, he told me that limitations are needed for growth. *note to self (and since this is a live journal, and not a private/personal journal, note to reader): check out manatoba (the band), they played at the orange peel during cherie day (if i knew how to put a picture here, i would put a picture by egon schiele here) keep your bananas floozin me (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 10th, 2003
6:33 pm	hello world: 左のテキストエリアに翻訳したい文章を入力します。 翻訳の種類(英→日または日→英)を選択します。 「翻訳」ボタンを押してください。右のテキストエリアに訳文が表示されます。 я не могу полагать, что я делаю это. я надеюсь Вы, парни удовлетворены вами непосредственно أداة تـرجـم قم بتحميل أداة ترجم المجانية الآن. لن تحتاج إلى نسخ النص ولصقه بعد الآن، كل ما عليك عمله هو تحديد النص الذي ترغب في ترجمته من أي تطبيق على جهازك وبضغطة واحدة تحصل على الترجمة. انقر هنا لمزيد من المعلومات> הבטח לאיש צעיר שהמוות אינו הסוף והוא יגרום לאסון ברצון הטיל המונחה מתקן את מסלולו תוך כדי תעופתו, כשהוא מתביית, לדוגמא, על המפלט של מטוס סילון. זהו שיפור גדול על פני קליע באליסטי פשוט, אבל הוא עדיין אינו יכול להבחין בין מטרות מוגדרות. הוא אינו יכול להתביית על גורד-שחקים מסויים בניו-יורק אם מזניקים אותו ממקום מרוחק כמו בוסטון. (6 Comments |Comment on this)