Inspiration
thoughts, ideas, rants, praise
This is an archive of older stuff. For my current ramblings, check out my blog.
31 October 2006 — Not Much to Say Here
I haven't posted much here lately, but have been participating on Bad at Sports and Sharkforum, instead. At some point, I'll move this to an actual blog page and track back the blogs that I've commented at. In the meantime, please feel free to jump in the discussions.
05 June 2006 — Chicago Has a Downtown Casino
I went to the Harold Washington Library last week and noticed that about half of the people using the internet terminals were involved in online gaming. With many of the screens displaying poker, roulette, blackjack and slot machines, I felt like I was in a casino.
07 May 2006 — I Could Go for One of Them NY Style Italian Sausages Right About Now
It’s a cool sunny spring day in Chicago with a nice breeze blowing off of the lake. For some reason my thoughts have turned to Manhattan, where, this time of year, the crappy little street fairs seem to crop up all over the place. They all follow the same formula; arts and crafts booths, tube sock vendors and italian sausage stands. The sausage vendors have large coils of italian sausage cooking on the grill along with mounds of onions and green peppers.
For a few bucks, you get about a foot-long + length of sausage hanging out of a seven inch hunk of italian bread, heaping with grilled onions and peppers. It’s an awesome taste treat.
Maybe I’ll head down to one of the Polish Sausage stands on the South Side later and get the Chicago cousin to the New York Italian Sausage, the Maxwell Street* Polish.
18 April 2006 — I Hear L Trains
I live a little over a mile from the L line. Many times, especially when the wind is blowing off of the lake, I hear the trains roll by. It seems as though I can catch the distant sound of wheels against rails, from the Loyola stop to Bryn Mawr. It makes them appear to be 200 cars long. It is a comforting urban sound, much like a rushing stream in the woods.
23 December 2005 — Blah Hum...
I’m tired of Christmas. Well, one part of it anyway. The whole gift-giving thing is old. I understand that it is one’s duty to buy as many gifts as possible for as many people. Now I’m not against gift-giving in general. It’s a really great feeling to give something nice to somebody when you can, but this whole annual pilgrammage to the stores is silly, stressful and unnecessary.
Every year you’re supposed to search for that ultimate gift for every person in your life that tells them how much they mean to you. However the closer that person is, can how you feel be summed up in that expensive gift? More likely, it falls short. Also as the years add up, it’s easy to run out of ideas. Will that fifth piece of beautiful piece of diamond jewlery be as exciting to give as the first time? Can it be topped? Eventually it gets really boring and shows little thought and effort. After a while it’s easy to forget what anyone got anyone, except when the Visa bills arive.
So in the end, you’ve spent a lot of money on presents that are soon forgoten and mean less over the years. You’ve also probably put on hold something that you’ve wanted or needed to afford the presents that others mildly appreciate, leaving so much emptiness.
However, I have a plan to make Christmas exciting again. Instead of buying stuff for each other and agonizing about what to get, we all should just buy stuff for ourselves. Now, I’m not talking about mundane stuff, but the things that we’ve been holding back on for whatever reason. It could be one big thing or many small things. Let’s treat ourselves. Then, on Christmas, we all get together to show off what we got ourselves.
This way we keep our responsibility to retailers and we don’t disappoint anybody. Sure we can still go to parties, have dinners, visit. That part of Christmas never gets old. Think I’m crazy? Then why have gift cards become so popular? They are impersonal and take very little thought. It just shows how gift-giving is a duty, that people are trying to make as painless as possible.
Now for kids, keep things the way it is. Go nuts. But do grownups need to give each other tokens of affection on demand every year?
20 October 2005
I needed a picture of a Chicago fire hydrant as a reference for a drawing that I'm working on. Rather than walking outside and taking a picture of one, I sat on my lazy ass and googled "Chicago Fire Hydrant." The first link that popped up was for a site dedicated to fire hydrants.
There are actually fire hydrant enthusiasts.
9 October 2005
I don't have anything interesting to talk about, so I'll just make a note that I finished a painting and started a new one. The finished painting has been added to the painting page and the new one is discussed on the latest page.
16 September 2005 -- I Need Some King Cake
I’m not going to get into a review of the rescue efforts or encourage anyone reading this to donate. I think it’s all been hashed over and over and it’s very easy to find ways to help. I think everyone is aware of what is going on, has an opinion and hopefully found a way to help those in need.
I am going to say that I can’t wait to go to New Orleans again. A few years ago, I had a blast during Carnival and have wanted to go back since. The city’s month-long party is something that is largely missing in American culture. You have to travel to distant lands to find the celebration of life to that extreme. This makes the Crescent City very special.
The Chiefs that dance through the streets, the music, it’s all a huge part of America’s soul; so much of which is being strained, predigested and diluted. A 32 ounce hurricane in a styrofoam cup and a sunny afternoon on Bourbon Street is what I need right now.
1 March 2005 -- The Silence is Broken
After a year of hashing it over and messing around, I finally ended the schizophrenic existence mentioned below. It's really impossible pursuing a dream and working another full-time career.
Anyway, a major design and illustration project is going to keep me really busy for a while. Also, the sites that I am responsible for including this one are in desperate need of overhauling. So within the next couple months I'll be improving these sites so they''ll be something I can be proud. I'll also be painting like mad.
It's going to be a big year.
4 December 2003 -- I'm a Grammy® Nominated Artist!
The packaging for Cathy Richardson Band's "The Road to Bliss" was finished in August; in time to enter the album in the Grammys for Best Recording Package. Well it got nominated. A collaboration with Cathy Richardson, it is a revival of album art before the jewel case. It's meant to be something you explore while listening to the music and part of a larger experience that has all but disappeared since CDs replaced LPs.
Doing an album cover is a longtime dream of mine. Getting nominated for a Grammy for the efforts is just indescribable. This is my Sistine Chapel. Needless to say, I've been extremely busy with the album plus other graphic design work, so oil paint hasn't been my medium of choice this year. However, the album cover is art just like any painting and a lifetime of working at creating art has paid off in a big way.
Anyway, this means big changes for me which will allow me to focus completely on art and end this schizophrenic existence of the last 20 years.
I'll have more on this site in the next couple of months (especially the woefully outdated graphics section), but in the meantime visit Cathy's site for more information at CRBand.com and buy the Grammy nominated album at Merchandise Betty's.
19 October 2003
I'm back. After several months of working on the most important project to date, I'm on to the next creations. Cathy Richardson's disc, "The Road to Bliss" is now available at Merchandise Betty's. It's not that the album packaging took up most of my time, it's that working for my medical insurance eats up too much of my life. It's unfortunate that in this society, so much emphasis is placed on just plain existing. It's OK if you have dreams, talent and a passion for something. Just don't let it get in the way of paying your bills. You could get sick, therefore you need medical insurance. What about when you retire? You should be saving for the last couple of decades in your life when you are useless and can't have an income, not wasting your time doing something productive. It's amazing how a fear of life can turn it into a living death.
The advice I received when I questioned the existence of God, was that it takes a leap of faith. When talking about striking out on my own the same person that gave me that advice, questioned my belief in myself. What makes me think I won't fail? Well, it takes a leap of faith.
Anyway, I have some stuff to do. It's back to work. This site will see some changes, including an updated graphics section (FINALLY)! I have some things to do, then it's on my own. Pretty fucking scary, but necessary. If this decade ends like the last, then there is no point in sticking around any more. It will be time to get out of the way. So with that, it's time to take that Leap and hit The Road to Bliss.
A couple of people have sent me E-mails that I have not replied to. Unfortunately, since they needed a timely response, it seems too late to respond. If you happen to stop back, you can be assured of a reply this time. I apologize for being inconsiderate.
22 June 2003
It's good to be a Mac user. After an evening of working on art, I usually find my self too drunk to continue and too wired to go to bed. That is when I log onto Apple's iMusic store. It's an online juke box that you swipe your credit card once and can listen to as much music as your credit line can handle. Recently, I got all nostalgic and bought a bunch of stuff from the early and mid 70s. Now I can burn that to a disc and have a nice little time machine (a sign of middle age, perhaps). It's addicting and can get to be expensive. The beauty of this is that since you can buy singles. This allows you to get those songs that you have on vinyl and cassette that you miss, without coughing up $20 for the disc.
You can buy albums and I've bought a few. They come with a JPEG of the cover art so you can print it out when you burn it to a disc. The record then feels like a bootleg, but it's not, because it was a legitimate purchase.
Now some people have said that this new way of buying music means the death of album art. I disagree. Actually, it will make things interesting again. One could create a whole multi-media experience with interviews and all that can be downloaded along with the tracks. There could be links to special areas of an artist's web site with more goodies for the album buyer. Besides, there has to be some place to put the credits and lyrics. No, this opens up the possibilities and creates a new type of album art; something that has all but disappeared since the LPs.
Another good thing about being a Mac user is the Apple store. One is opening up on Michigan Avenue in Chicago that will have an Internet cafe and bands. Cheap Trick will perform on July 1. The Apple store is a very low-pressure place where you can play and discover the whole Mac experience. Yes, it's good to be a Mac user.
2 March 2003
I wish I were on Bourbon Street right now.
23 February 2003
Recently I noticed a lot of trash strays from my local Mc Donald's. Bags full of wrappers and unfinished food to cups are scattered throughout the few blocks around the restaurant. Unfortunately, most of this stuff is ugly. Graphic design at Mc Donald's is garish. I guess an obnoxious wrapper makes a mediocre cheeseburger more appealing or a really loud cup makes the 10¢ worth of soft drink splashed over ice, special.
The problem is that when the packaging outlives its usefulness, it winds up on the ground. and it really stands out. Maybe that's the plan. They serve as advertising in addition to being a food container. The empty cup becomes a billboard for Mc Donald's shakes.
I'd like to propose an alternative strategy. Design the packaging to blend in with the landscape so it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb. Use earthtone colors. Make inspiring designs instead of loud and annoying junk. Mc Donald's would become a trend setter, a leader and a good citizen. Others will follow. Eventually litter will become part of the natural landscape and not the eyesore it is today.
31 December 2002/01 January 2003
As Jim Anchower would say, "it's been a long time since I rapped at ya."
Well, it's a New Year and while it is usually appropriate to reflect on everything and treat it as a new beginning, it's not. Another trip around the sun is supposed to be a big deal, but it's small. The big deal is really, one's life, which is a continuum from birth, conception, father's gleam, etc. to death and sometimes, slightly beyond. The New Year mearly marks a new cycle in minor events. Holidays, tax time, seasons and vacations start over.
But as Mr. Van der Roe said, "God is in the details." The New Year does give us a chance to look at the details of our lives and where we are drifting off course. Are we in a shitty employment situation? Are we getting fat? What about the DREAM? Have we floated away from it in a sea of duty and obligation? All these are the details of our lives that must be dealt with as they affect the more important stretch of time, One's Life.
So with the New Year, we shouldn't make big goals for ourselves. The big goal or dream should already be there. Just look at the shit that is causing problems, fix them and get back on course because the real journey is not around the sun, but through life.
14 October 2002
I finished one and started one.
Starting a new one is sometimes easy, sometimes hard. If I've been concentrating on the rest of life rather than art, creating a new painting can be difficult. In this case, I'm creating just to get it done. The work can wind up being a lame copy of a previous piece or at least feel like it is. It's OK for this to happen once in a while, but when this happens regularly, mediocrity is sure to follow.
Ideally, I have an idea long before I start. In fact this should happen while painting the preceding canvas. As I'm anxious to start the next piece, I'm driven to finish the current.
This one is somewhere in between. I didn't have much of an idea before starting, but once I got underway, it all came together. Since I had such a strong sense of the theme, the painting named itself. That's a very good sign when it all comes together like that. It's evidence that this will be a very solid painting.
11 September 2002
It seems that everyone has a story to tell about what 9/11 means to them, but all I feel is emptiness.
6 September 2002
The other day I named a painting. Usually, the title comes to me as I start the piece. Often, I will have a name in mind before I start, but sometimes I don't. These are usually the toughest. In the case of the latest work, it took me a couple of weeks. I'm not sure why this is. I think it's because I approach some paintings purely from a scenic level with no story or concept in mind.
There's a building by the tracks with a car in front. I thought I could call it "By the Tracks." No, I already have one of those. Maybe it's part of a series--"By the Tracks II." That doesn't work either as every other piece takes place "by the tracks." Well, I had to think about it a little more.
Finally it hit me. In the interior of the building I painted a painting of a Rothko painting. "Painting by the Tracks." No. "Hanging by the Tracks." No. "Hung by the Tracks." That's it!
I don't know why I'm talking about this, but it's been a while since I've said anything. Titles are important though, and this gives you insight as to how a name is picked. It's serious business, like naming a child. I'd rather leave it untitled than give it a wrong name. There you have it--just some miscellanious ramblings.
Speeking of ramblings...er Ramblers, I will create a photojournalist-type site of the recent Rambler anniversary car show in Kenosha, Wisconsin and will publish my thoughts about an orphan car company and the importance of this event in keeping American Motors alive. It's a noble effort in the preservation of a piece of automotive history and I'm proud to be a part of it.
Look for the launch announcement on this page in a month or so.
14 July 2002
I finished another one. Check it out.
4 July 2002
5 May 2002
Got a digital camera, so there is a picture of the new one and I will update the page with new shots regularly, so you can track the progress. I've been busy lately, so I haven't been able to write anything of value here, but hope to really soon.
23 April 2002
Finished one and started one. Since my camera is analog, I have No photos yet.
22 March 2002
Finished one and started one. Check them out.
03 March 2002
Much has been said about the beauty and wonder of train travel. Many have lamented over its demise as the primary means of transportation across this Great Land. I agree that it is a wonderful way to see the country. It is slow enough to take in the landscape and cityscapes. Rails cut through mountains, forests, fields, old industrial areas of cities and backyards, allowing the rider to take in the country on an intimate level that flying and traveling the Interstate system doesn't allow. The stations in major cities are beautiful and elegant with an architectural status close to that of cathedrals, elevating travel to a level close to God.
But I live in the home of the two-week vacation and one of the largest countries on earth. Though, I love trains and love many aspects of what was, I must say that air travel is a beautiful thing. How else can one go to a city 800 miles away and have enough time to actually enjoy what that place has to offer? A train ride places the journey above the destination. The plane ride places the destination above the journey.
There are those that discount flying since one looses touch with the landscape, but my God, flying at 600 miles per hour, 32, 000 feet above the earth is simply breathtaking. This country and planet are beautiful from that height. It can be a very spiritual moment looking at the sun, clouds and earth that can't be achieved from anywhere else.
Because of airlines, I have been to places that I never could have visited without being wealthy or with a hell of a lot of time on my hands. So on the dawn of the 100th anniversary of flying, hop on a plane and go somewhere. Sit in the window seat, look out and thank God for being there.
03 February 2002
In an effort to bring the site up to date, I added the latest two paintings.
02.02.02
Added the photo of the current work in progress.
26 January 2002
Two months since I've said anything and I still don't have anything to say. At least I've done something though. I have added a recent painting and the guitar to the Paintings page, including details of the guitar. Be sure to click on the thumbnail to open the pop-up window. I've also updated the Latest page by getting rid of the old stuff and adding a blurb about the current painting I'm working on. Picture to come.
25 November 2001
I strung Christmas lights today. Not because I am in a Christmassy mood, nor want to be. In fact I feel less interested in the season than any other time, and it has nothing to do with September 11. This year, more than ever, I feel a need to disconnect with the past. Christmas is all about the past. Reliving childhood Christmasses. Building new traditions with your new family while connecting with the old. I get bogged down thinking about it. It's time to move on. If you look backward too much, you'll certainly crash into something. More than likely, it'll be a faceless dude with a scythe. No, I strung the lights to give a more tavern-like atmosphere to this place. Where else would one might find an extensive display of Christmas lights any other time of the year? In Chicago, it is really dark in December and a warmly-lit bar is very inviting.
I think I'll decorate this place for Mardi Gras after the holidays. Those purple, gold and green beads would certainly brighten things up in the lingering dark days of January and February.
Yes, some beads and a slushy rum drink in a 32 ounce styrofoam cup. The only thing missing is Bourbon Street.
11 November 2001
Today is a very special Veterans Day as we are at war. Throughout most of the twentieth century, the Military has been called upon to protect United States' interests abroad. Often times it could be debated whether the country's interests were those of its citizens or its corporations. Other times, the Armed Forces were called upon to defend our allies. An attack on them was an attack on us.
This time it's different. This time our soldiers are directly defending the people of the United States. The basic function of the Military is to protect the citizens and their property from harm caused by foreign aggressors. Innocent people were killed this year on American Soil because a group of sick motherfuckers are offended by our lifestyle. For the first time in a very long time, the United States of America was attacked.
My feelings about Veterans Day remain unchanged from last year. This year we are producing Combat Veterans. I pray that we honor these brave souls in the future on this day, Veterans Day, rather than Memorial Day.
PEACE
21 October 2001
I stopped by the Chicago Art Open this afternoon. I didn't stay long as it was all families with kids and I had been there the two previous nights anyway. Besides it was a good day to wander around and finish off the role of film that I started in New York exactly a week ago.
Anyway, I took some shots around the West Loop and Greektown and dropped it off at a Walgreens for some one hour service. In the meantime I stopped in Dugans, an Irish bar across the street.
The window of the bar framed the Sears Tower beautifully. The building looked simply majestic, lit by the setting sun against a bright blue autumn sky. It stood proud, head and shoulders above the Chicago skyline.
Usually, this would be a very beautiful sight, but I just kept seeing an airliner, full of people, crashing into it. No matter how hard I tried, this image of horror kept superimposing itself on this serene picture. I felt Ill.
In order to rid myself of this, I thought I should go to the observation deck. Images of the World Trade Center observation deck went through my mind. I was there on an evening much like tonight, only it was spring. The view from the roof was breathtaking. I had to go.
The base of the tower is sorounded by temporary concrete barriers. There is no parking around it. I think they'll crush your car into a cube if you try. Well, I wasn't sure the Skydeck was open. "The Hancock's deck is open", I thought. I started to feel better about things.
Rounding the corner on Jackson, I saw the signs, "SKYDECK CLOSED."
29 September 2001
I had planned on writing about how the events of September 11 affected me. My emotions have run the gamut from sadness to pride to guilt to anger. Sad for what had happened to a city I had grown to love. Sad for my plans for a trip to NYC on September 13 being destroyed. Sad for friends in New York; it was supposed to be a huge week for them. Sad for the countless lives that were ended and ruined. Angry toward those that could do such a thing. Angry toward the kind of evil that is at the heart of all of this and whatever can breed this kind of hatred. Proud of this country and its people. Proud of those that put the safety of others ahead of their own. But then I feel guilty. Most of what I feel seems to be self-serving. I feel guilty as things appear to be returning to normal. Then I read something like this and realize that everything is far from normal. I know I can't ever comprehend the kind of hurt that those who have lost a loved one feel. I just don't know what to say. I feel sick.
3 September 2001 — Be Good or Be Gone.
Except for cities themselves, there aren't many places in the world that can trace their histories back a century and a half without being rebuilt, remodeled, made anew. McSorley's Old Ale House on 7th st., between 3rd and 2nd, in New York is one such place. Opened in 1854 ("before you were born"), this place hasn't changed since. It has never been remodeled, rehabbed or re -- anything.
Anything new in this this pub is because it was needed, such as electric lights and television. The bathroom door has been worn paper-thin around the handle from the wear of patrons in need of relief spanning three centuries. When I open that door, I am opening a portal that guys from my Great-Great Grandfather's generation passed through while looking for relief. The connection with the past is so strong that one has a feeling of reverence.
The walls are covered with the history of the bar and its patrons. This place was a favorite haunt of John Sloan and the subject of some of his art! In the pictures on the wall, some dating back to the early days of photography, you will see that nothing has changed. The Franklin stove that must date back to the opening night is still in use. The very worn ice box still stands, retrofitted out of necessity with refrigeration (or maybe not), the original huge tappers for drawing the beer from deep within the bowels of the building are in place, though no longer in use. Kennedys and other political heavies have visited here. Other than government buildings, Wrigley Field is the only place that has this type of continuous connection with the past. It is all recorded on the walls in photos, documents, newspaper clippings and momentos. They all have meaning and importance.
The most significant historical piece in McSorley's is a lamp from the turn of the last century hanging above the modern tap. Beginning in World War I, soldiers heading off to war would eat Thanksgiving dinner here. For good luck, they would hang the wishbone from the turkey on the lamp. Out of respect, this lamp has never been cleaned or dusted. It is dripping with three quarters of a century of dust. There are two clean bones, that I would imagine were put there by Gulf War veterans. Of all those that participated in this ritual, only three never made it back.
This is my bar. For good or bad it is 700 miles away. No trip to New York is possible without a stop here. In fact it is reason enough to book a flight. There is sawdust on the floor and they serve up some excellent corned beef hash along with light or dark ale. Served in two 10 ounce mugs (adding up to a true pint), it has the McSorley's name on it and is available in taverns all over Manhattan. However, every minute I spend in another bar in New York, I feel should spent at McSorley's. I wish I were there right now. The sign out front says it was there before I was born. I hope it is there long after I am gone.
Be Good or Be Gone.
8 August 2001
The guitar was finished this past weekend. It's awesome and here are some pix of it.
13 July 2001
Added information about a couple of upcoming shows. I've also been working on a couple of other websites and will need to add them to the graphics page at some point.
7 June 2001
I signed one tonight.
I finished the front and sides of the guitar. Therefore I signed it, even though I still have to paint the back. The front and sides work together as a diptych, forming one complete work. I figured that I could consider this one complete, and sign it.
Signing a piece is always a big deal for a painter. It is not much different than the christening of a ship. The painting has been completed. The artist's work is done. It is now time to start the next one.
Thomas Hart Benton told his wife that he was going to the studio to "sign another one". He sat in front of his latest painting. Took it all in. Signed it. Slumped over and left this world.
Finishing a work is an awesome thing. Not only has the artist completed their task, but they have beaten the world. Since fine art does not fit in modern middle class American culture, it is very difficult to work on one's art. When an artist signs their work, they have done so in spite of every single distraction that is "more important."
So, I signed one tonight and it kicks ass.
2 June 2001
Fear is the great motivator.
Fear of dying and not existing anymore causes us to find religion.
Fear of not having medical insurance and rent money forces us to find a company to take care of us before we really know who we are or what purpose we serve.
Fear of loosing a job keeps us from ever enjoying ourselves.
Fear of silence is why there is Musak
Fear of being alone for the rest of our lives causes us to find someone to marry.
Fear of finding out who we really are forces us to find someone to marry.
Fear of not having children makes us find someone to marry.
Fear of messing up our relationships forces us to be the person that others want us to be.
Fear of dealing with another day is why there are snooze buttons.
Fear of being different makes us adopt the opinions of others as our own.
I am so afraid.
5 May 2001
Nothing new to report. Just updated the latest page, that's all.
15 April 2001
Shit, I forgot to do my taxes.
25 March 2001
I installed Mac OS X yesterday. Want to kill a weekend? Install a new operating system on your computer.
It' s supposed to be the future. It runs better than anything that preceded it or that its competitors make. Even though OS 9 works fine and I was able to do all of my work, OS X is the answer to all of my computing problems. I had to get it.
I decided to go to a small shop whose core business is Apple products. I'm tired of giant faceless retail outlets that never live up to the image of a small town, neighborly ma & pa store staffed with experts that were put on this earth to please me that is portrayed in the advertising.
The people in the small shop were all excited to be selling Mac OS X. They were wearing OS X shirts and temporary tattoos. There were cookies and demonstrations and posters. They only had three copies left. Everyone was in a jovial mood. The girl that I purchased my copy from was all smiles and seemed genuinely happy to be there and happy to take care of every customer in the store. It made me feel guilty for every time that I stepped inside a large chain store and for every time that I will go to one in the future.
Most of the afternoon was spent backing up my hard drive on CDs in case something really went wrong. Installing the software went off without a hitch. An entire day -- gone.
Evening rolled around. Everything was done. Time to boot up. OS X looks cool. Everything is animated and fun to look at. Almost too fun. It's a distraction at some point. I'm afraid that I'll spend more time looking at windows open and jelly bean buttons light up than doing actual work.
All of the old applications will not work in the new Mac operating system. They work in a part of the new system called Classic which boots up the old inside of the new OS. While loading from within the new, the old, venerable operating system crashed over and over. Thank God for Conflict Catcher. It made a six hour job of finding the new extension conflicts a 1 hour task. The Apple speech extensions were the culprits. They probably did not work with the new speech applications in OS X and were disabled. It finally booted up.
Finally, I can do something. Everything seemed to work until I opened my CD burning software. It no longer was able to recognize the burner. After an hour I found out that CD burners do not yet work in OS X. I also learned that although the old Mac apps are supposed to work fine in Classic, there are certain system-level functions that have to work through X. Great! Now I have to wait until Apple releases a patch before I can use my brand new CD burner. Well, I also learned that you can reboot in OS 9 without any trace of OS X. My burning software found the burner.
I had to do something productive in the real world. It was time to paint, and paint, I did.
The next day involved installing OS X developer tools. I'm not a programmer and will probably never use these, but under the hood, OS X is UNIX. I had to install it. After finishing, the installer crashed. A bunch of lines of code broke through the graphical interface much like the way the holodeck grid peeks through a holodeck program that has gone awry on Star Trek. The last line asked for my input. Do you want to continue? C Do you want to reboot? R I typed in C. Nothing happened. I typed in R. Some more lines of code broke through the rendered background and pretty OS X windows. The machine stopped. I had to hit the reset button and reboot the old fashioned way. Twice.
All of this and I can only use the new OS for two applications, Microsoft (?) Internet Explorer and Fetch. Everything else is in 9. So why bother? It's going to cost thousands of dollars to replace all of the old software that works fine and take a couple of years.
Because it looks cool. Because it's UNIX and I can mess around with command lines on my computer, even if it is moving from directory to directory, checking disk space and creating calendars. (This is like the first time you play " Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" on a musical instrument and realize that you can make it play a song.) Because it's the future, but for now it's mostly a novelty.
11 March 2001
Nothing to report, except for a couple of updates on the site. Check out The Latest and Paintings pages.
17 February 2001
I support the Browser Upgrade campaign at The Web Standards Project (WaSP). The internet is a collection of old and new technologies that is hindering its advancement, thereby slowing the flow of information across it. Therefore, I encourage everyone to upgrade to the latest standards-complient browser of their choice. This will ensure that the web will be accessable to all of those connected and developers can devote their energy to building a better internet. Version 5 of this site will be built to the standards set by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and may not work in older browsers.
At this time I would also like to persuade web users to upgrade their connections to the internet. Although cable and DSL internet access is twice the price of dial-up, there are no additional phone charges. Faster connections are actually cheaper in the long run and allow for a richer experience with expanded multimedia content and better visual presentation.
The WASP's effort is not unlike the effort of the auto industry to upgrade in the 1920s by paving roads and getting rid of outdated automobiles. [Unfortunatly this led to the destruction of many beautiful brass-era automobiles, but I don't think that version 4 browsers will ever become collectable.] So let's move into the 21st century and upgrade!
8 January 2001
I just want to say how honored and flattered I am to be recognized in the liner notes of Joel Hoekstra's release "Undefined" . There are sample cuts at Merchandise Betty's website at www.merchandisebetty.com. Check it out. You won't regret it.
24 December 2000
Will someone please help me get that stupid Paul McCartney Christmas song out of my head?
17 December 2000
Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I haven't. Although the paper, magazines, TV, radio, internet, etc. know exactly what I should get for the people I care about, I find it hard to find just the right gifts.
I think that instead of trying to figure out what to get others, we should buy stuff for ourselves, stuff that we have been putting off for whatever reason. We could then get together with friends and family and show each other what we've bought. That way everyone gets what they want and can devote more time to important things without shirking our responsibilities as consumers.
Have a prosperous holiday!
12 November 2000
Yesterday, a major holiday passed by and was ignored by much of the popular media due to the continued search for a leader of this Great Nation.
Veterans' Day in the United States of America is November 11. It is supposed to be a day in which we honor those who have risked their lives and health to defend the Ideals and Principles that the United States was founded on. These principles are based in basic human decency. Somehow we are more concerned with which guy is the most popular and therefore, should be our president.
Recently, I saw a documentary on PBS that told the stories of helicopter pilots in Vietnam. One particular pilot told the story of a mission in which his crew aided ground troops. They took on heavy fire while doing this. He was hit in the arm and was no longer able to control the aircraft. His copilot also claimed to be hit and couldn't fly the machine. Upon further evaluation the copilot was OK and could take over. The pilot looked at his arm and saw daylight through it. He had a gaping hole in his forearm. What the copilot thought was a round was actually a chunk of bone from the pilot's arm that had hit him.
I am not worthy to breath the same air that these men breathe.
Now for most people, living through this once would be enough. Having a horrible story and living through it like this would not be something that one would want to repeat, but these brave souls went back and did it again and again. I can't even imagine the horror that they had to deal with.
It is my opinion that Combat Veterans should have to carry a special ID card that allows them access to the front of any line, free food, cars and houses. Special lanes on expressways should not be for those that are carpooling, but for Combat Vets. They are the true VIPs. Most of all, anyone that has put their life on the line for this Country should not pay one cent of any kind of tax. They have paid a price that we could never pay back. Those that have given their lives, well, that debt is hopeless to recover. All we can do is cry and pray for them and their families.
The Combat Veteran not only has to live his/her life, but has the burden of continuing on for fallen comrades. So, if you meet a Combat Veteran, buy them a drink, tank of gas, pay a mortgage bill, SOMETHING! If you know one, give them a hug for me.
It is my greatest hope that the leader we choose to lead this Nation into the 3rd millennium and all to follow consider this when they send fellow human beings to battle. The red in the stripes of Old Glory is not for the red in the Union Jack, but for the red of the blood of the Soldier that has risked or given their life or has been maimed for the United States of America.
Peace.
02 November 2000
Well, the new version of DolanArt.com is done. I don't have much to say right now as I am in the middle of the redesign while writing this. When I have something to say, I'll say it here. It won't all be related to art and some of it may be kind of stupid, but you'll find it on this page. If you want to contact me, my E-mail address is at the bottom of each page or here. I'll probably have some kind of guestbook in the future.