This is on Ocean Street.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Main Library downtown
This is the Main Street side of the Main Library downtown. I thought this came out nice.
Tree on Main Street
So, I'm trying to learn how to take better pictures with my digital camera. I never took it seriously before, but I feel motivated to learn more lately! So, while still not awesome, I took some pictures after work tonight and I thought I might share them.
Thing #7
Hmm, this can be about anything technology related? Okay, let's start with a confession: I'm a Scrabble addict. Even more so, I am a word freak.
And I didn't realize this until 2001. That was the year Stefan Fatsis released "Word Freak", a tawdry tale of brilliant minds obsessed with anagrams, word stems, prefixes, suffixes, and all the ways a word can torn apart and reassembled to make new words. They travel the country from tournament to tournament, trying to make it to the National Scrabble Association Championship held each year in various venues across the country. Some become too enthralled, to the point of being unable to hold down a job, sustain personal relationships or even maintain their personal hygiene.
I have not gotten to that point. Yet. But after reading the book twice, I knew I was destined to become more than a casual player of the game Alfred Butts had invented so many years ago. Despite not being addicted to that extent, I do have the kind of brain that is constantly rearranging letters, trying to find anagrams I had not seen previously. Many a conversation on road trips with Sharon is with statements that begin "Did you know you can spell such-and-such word when you rearrange the letters in another such-and-such word?"
Which brings me to the point of this blog entry and how it relates to technology. I found a gaming site online that supported Scrabble addicts like myself, but it soon lost the rights. I was distraught, but one of my fellow Scrabblers informed me of a new site, with a much better, faster interface: the Internet Scrabble Club! It was a Scrabble lover's Mecca! You could set the games for however long you wanted, play against people at any skill level and chat with people from every corner of the world. You can play in several languages, under different countries' dictionaries and rules, including English, French, Romanian, Italian and Dutch. The varieties are many and varied, and the best thing is it's all for free. You can get more perks by being a contributory member, but so far, the free version has sated my Scrabble cravings.
If you're ever in the mood for a game, look me up! My handle is bjaskula, and you can download the interface at http://www.isc.ro/ .
And I didn't realize this until 2001. That was the year Stefan Fatsis released "Word Freak", a tawdry tale of brilliant minds obsessed with anagrams, word stems, prefixes, suffixes, and all the ways a word can torn apart and reassembled to make new words. They travel the country from tournament to tournament, trying to make it to the National Scrabble Association Championship held each year in various venues across the country. Some become too enthralled, to the point of being unable to hold down a job, sustain personal relationships or even maintain their personal hygiene.
I have not gotten to that point. Yet. But after reading the book twice, I knew I was destined to become more than a casual player of the game Alfred Butts had invented so many years ago. Despite not being addicted to that extent, I do have the kind of brain that is constantly rearranging letters, trying to find anagrams I had not seen previously. Many a conversation on road trips with Sharon is with statements that begin "Did you know you can spell such-and-such word when you rearrange the letters in another such-and-such word?"
Which brings me to the point of this blog entry and how it relates to technology. I found a gaming site online that supported Scrabble addicts like myself, but it soon lost the rights. I was distraught, but one of my fellow Scrabblers informed me of a new site, with a much better, faster interface: the Internet Scrabble Club! It was a Scrabble lover's Mecca! You could set the games for however long you wanted, play against people at any skill level and chat with people from every corner of the world. You can play in several languages, under different countries' dictionaries and rules, including English, French, Romanian, Italian and Dutch. The varieties are many and varied, and the best thing is it's all for free. You can get more perks by being a contributory member, but so far, the free version has sated my Scrabble cravings.
If you're ever in the mood for a game, look me up! My handle is bjaskula, and you can download the interface at http://www.isc.ro/ .
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Bailey
This is a picture I took of my cat Bailey from this evening. Sharon and I found her in front of Bailey's Gym on Dunn Avenue nearly 3 years ago. She's been quite an addition to our household... in that she is a spoiled brat most of the time. She tries to fight with me as I prepare to leave for work in the morning. She runs around the house at lightning speed whenever denied her own way. Or she takes it out on our poor older cat, Peanut.
But she can show a sweet side, and immediately melt away any misgivings I may have about rescuing her. Once in awhile, she'll curl up in my lap, or snuggle with us in the bed at night, and all her mischief and misbehavior are forgiven. Because I'm a sucker for a pretty girl.
But she can show a sweet side, and immediately melt away any misgivings I may have about rescuing her. Once in awhile, she'll curl up in my lap, or snuggle with us in the bed at night, and all her mischief and misbehavior are forgiven. Because I'm a sucker for a pretty girl.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Let's do the Time Warp again (for the first time)
Sharon and I went to the Florida Theatre last night for the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Neither of us had seen it on the big screen with the crowd participation and accompanying props, so it was a lot of fun to lose our... erm, to be there! We sat with a few other library folks (who may want to remain anonymous, so I won't tell!) They shared rice and toilet paper with us, we did the Time Warp and loved the costumes the audience wore. I wish I had better pictures to share!
We're both totally addicted now, and can never miss another showing of this cult classic. Of course, we are already planning on doing our own version featuring Darth Tater (who I should have had with me last night, a missed opportunity) and a cast of Potato Heads! Be on the look out!
We're both totally addicted now, and can never miss another showing of this cult classic. Of course, we are already planning on doing our own version featuring Darth Tater (who I should have had with me last night, a missed opportunity) and a cast of Potato Heads! Be on the look out!
Monday, October 20, 2008
7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners
Habit 7 1/2 is the easiest for me, because I'm of the mind that I can "play" with anything and eventually discover what makes it work. Habit 7 would probaby be most difficult for me, because I don't always feel that I have the knowledge necessary to teach others.
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