Google Chrome OS and Writing and Me

Like most netizens, I primarily use my computer for three primary purposes:

 

1. Browsing the web to watch online videos, read news/feature articles, learn something new.
2. Communicating via email, Twitter, and chat (rarely).
3. Storage and organization of digital media: music and photos.

Other activities that we all use our desktops/laptops/netbooks for to a lesser extent are:

 

1. Word processing
2. Personal finance accounting
3. Watching movies

So with the announcement of the forthcoming Google Chrome OS (Operating System), I wonder if it will be an option that can fit into my digital lifestyle. I'm fine with the whole "cloud computing" aspect of Google Chrome OS. Cloud computing is essentially a 21st century dumb terminal. I'm fairly comfortable with storing my data in the cloud, to a certain extent. I have lots of reservations about the use, intentional or unintentional, of my personal data that is stored in the cloud. But I also am skeptical that Google Chrome OS will offer alternatives to current programs that I use heavily. Mainly, screenwriting applications that I rely on:

 

• Dramatica Pro (Mac OS X & Windows)
• Movie Magic Screenwriter (Mac OS X & Windows)
• StoryView (Windows only)

There's no current option to use either of these programs other than on Windows or MacOS X, so while I find Google Chrome OS very interesting. I'll probably not be using it. Watch me eat my words when it is released a year from now. A reason that doesn't compel me to use Google Chrome OS is the targeted platform: Netbooks. I've tried a friend's netbook, and the keyboard is simply too small for me. Even though the price of netbooks is attractive, I can use an older laptop with Ubuntu installed and get everything done that I can on a netbook. So for now, I'll pass on Google Chrome OS because I do lots of writing with tools that are not optimized for netbooks, nor are they able to run on Google Chrome OS.

 

I do wonder though about Google Chrome OS and integration with Google Android integration...

 

 

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Check out this blog comment I received

Here's a comment that I received on multiple blog postings:

"さあ、今夏も新たな出会いを経験してみませんか？当サイトは円助交際の逆、つまり女性が男性を円助する『逆円助交際』を提供します。逆円交際を未経験の方でも気軽に遊べる大人のマッチングシステムです。年齢上限・容姿・経験一切問いません。男性の方は無料で登録して頂けます。貴方も新たな出会いを経験してみませんか "

I don't read Japanese, so translated using "Yahoo! Babelfish" it says:

"The [a], this summer it doesn't try experiencing the new encounter? This site opposite of circular help association, in other words the woman 'offers opposite circular help it does the man circular help association'. Opposite circular association it is the matching system of the adult who can play with ease even with method of not yet experiencing. Age upper limit figure experience you do not question altogether. Being free, you can register the man. Don't you try experiencing the new encounter?"

The results that one gets via "Babelfish" are just as funny as when it was Altavista's (Digital Equipment Corporation's) property. Anyone remember that? You've been around the Internet for a while if you recall the time with Altavista was king of the search engines and they had this quirky translation utility named after a tool in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy milieu.

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Legowood Pictures

Here's some pictures from our trip to Legoland, San Diego earlier this year.

The Legowood Bowl.

Another of the Legowood Bowl

Opening night at Grauman's Chinese Theater with Legowood Sign in the background

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3-D Street Paintings

先用粉筆打底稿 測量一下比例是否正確 給路人講解 立體畫草稿 開始繪畫 用手涂抹 初見雛形 調顏色   他作畫的工具都很簡單的 刷涂大面積的顏色 畫的是felix貓 畫面的另一半 細節需要精心刻畫 主要形象已經完成，看出來是什麼了麼？ 開始完善畫面 累了，坐下來畫 中國舞獅和felix貓，呼之欲出　　 換個角 即將完成 大功告成　　 圍觀的人群 成品 與作品合影 這個作者令人欽佩 其他作品 記本電腦 真假難辨呀 你能看出哪個是真人嗎 這張畫是倒立看的 真是厲害呀　　 被殺蟲劑殺死的蒼蠅 太逼真了　　 蜘蛛俠 街頭陷阱 被撬開的地板 看上去和真的一樣路過的人不由自主的要避開   發現金礦開始挖掘呵呵是不是和真的一樣 繼續探測發現大金礦了 挖出大金礦了 發達了 　　作者已經和他的作品融為一體了真是厲害 一盒畫筆 看起來真以為他在高樓上呢

See and download the full gallery on posterous

See and download the full gallery on posterous

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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New Story on Tor.com: The City Quiet as Death by Steven Utley and Michael Bishop

A new Michael Bishop short story! Michael is a native Georgian who I met nearly ten years ago. He signed a couple books, one of which was the excellent novel "Philip K. Dick Is Dead, Alas."

I'm glad he is still writing as he is an immense talent with the written word.

New Story: "The City Quiet as Death" by Steven Utley and Michael Bishop This week Tor.com is proud to present "The City Quiet as Death," a short story by American science fiction authors Steven Utley and Michael Bishop. In the 1970s, Steven Utley was part of the Turkey City Writers' Workshop, a group of writers in and near Austin, Texas that also included Howard Waldrop, Bruce Sterling, and Lisa Tuttle. Among Utley's best-known works from this period was a collaboration with Waldrop, "Custer's Last Jump." His "Silurian Tales" sequence of time-travel stories began to appear in 1993. Michael Bishop has published sixteen novels and several story collections, producing one of the most distinguished bodies of work in modern SF. His work has won the Nebula Award twice, for "The Quickening" in 1981 and for the novel No Enemy But Time in 1982; he has also received the Locus Award four times and has been a frequent finalist for the Hugo. His fantasy novel Unicorn Mountain (1988) won the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Among his most acclaimed works are the novels Transfigurations (1979), Ancient of Days (1985), Philip K. Dick Is Dead, Alas (1987, originally published as The Secret Ascension), and 1994's Brittle Innings. "The City Quiet as Death" is stunningly illustrated by Jon Foster. Jon began his career working for TSR, Wizards of the Coast, DC Comics and Dark Horse. His work can be seen in multiple magazines, including the National Geographic Magazine, on covers for every major book publisher, and in the Society of Illustrators and Spectrum annuals.  Jon's skills as a painter and his broad range of conceptual ideas have garnered multiple Spectrum awards and the Greenwich Workshop award. New Comic: "The Dreaded Question" A simple question, innocent enough: "Where do you get your ideas?" Kurt Huggins and Zelda Devon create a haunting, twisted answer in "The Dreaded Question." Don't forget to take notes... Free Wallpapers from Hugo-nominated Artists! Tor.com is delighted to be able to present free downloadable wallpapers in a whole host of formats for your viewing pleasure. Each day features one of the artists up for this year's best artist Hugo Award: Monday's wallpaper, from Donato; Tuesday's, from Dan Dos Santos; Wednesday's, from John Picacio; and today's from Shaun Tan. The final wallpaper will appear tomorrow featuring Bob Eggleton. As always, these freebies are only available to our registered users, and you'll have to be logged in to be able to download them. The Zen of Professor Nimbus: The Ubiquity of Chinese Takeout Our weekly Professor Nimbus offerings continue, this time with a meditation on our most beloved takeout cuisine. Don't forget to check out any previous installments you've missed at the Professor Nimbus collection page! Interviews galore: China Miéville, Kevin J. Anderson, and Paul S. Kemp China Miéville, author of Perdido Street Station, Un Lun Dun, and The Scar, discusses politics, gaming, and his most recent work, The City & The City; Kevin J. Anderson, author of Nebula-award nominated Assemblers of Infinity, discusses his work on the Dune sequels as well as his new epic fantasy series Terra Incognita; and Paul S. Kemp, the creator of the Erevis Cale and Twilight War trilogies, discusses his third trio of books featuring the Erevis Cale character and his upcoming Star Wars novel. Lord of the Rings and Wheel of Time Re-reads continue! Kate Nepveu's Lord of the Rings re-read just concluded The Fellowship of the Ring. She re-watched the film in light of the re-read and offers her thoughts on the changes made. Leigh Butler's Wheel of Time re-read just got through chapters 14-15 of The Fires of Heaven. Catch up on any installments you missed at the Lord of the Rings and Wheel of Time index pages. Sponsor Links: Voyager Books It's your last chance to win hundreds of science fiction, fantasy, and horror titles from one of our sponsors, Voyager Books. Visit the site, take the quiz to test your knowledge of classic sci-fi and fantasy, and you're automatically entered to win a copy of every book on the site.  The site is based in the U.K., but anyone from any country can enter.  And while you're on the site, check out the limited edition of Cory Doctorow's Little Brother.  Only 500 copies are available and it comes with original illustrations and endpapers by Richard Wilkinson.

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Total Eclipse of the Heart Deconstructed

 

 

 

 

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The Creature From the Black Lagoon in 3D! Tomorrow! @ The Plaza Theatre ATL

This Week at the Plaza Theatre 22 May 2009 Upcoming Events Fri May 22nd THE SOLOIST & LYMELIFE Sat May 23rd - Silver Scream Spook Show presents CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON IN 3D Tue May 26th - Tommy Wiseau Films presents THE ROOM Thu May 28th - Sun May 31st OUT ON FILM FESTIVAL June 2nd & June 5th MIL MASCARAS VS THE AZTEC MUMMY Tue June 9th - Splatter Cinema presents CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST   Happy Friday Friends of the Plaza! We have so many great events lined up for you this month!   CLICK HERE FOR SHOWTIMES THROUGH NEXT THURSDAY! We've got two great movies right now:  STATE OF PLAY and SUNSHINE CLEANING !  Starting Friday is THE SOLOIST and LYMELIFE.  Take the time to see one of these great films this weekend! Tomorrow don't miss: Sat May 23rd, THE SILVER SCREAM SPOOK SHOW is pleased to present our favorite, CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON IN 3D.  TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT BROWN PAPER TICKETS.COM Don't miss it!  TICKETS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE BOX OFFICE! Coming Soon:  Tue May 26th, THE ROOM returns!  You have to see this movie! Dressing as the characters is highly encouraged. Thu May 28th through Sun May 31st, OUT ON FILM FESTIVAL!  See the entire schedule here! Tue June 2nd & Fri June 5th, MIL MASCARAS VS. THE AZTEC MUMMY with special appearance by Amy Dumas, formerly Lita of the WWE. Tue June 9th, Splatter Cinema presents CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. We sure hope to see you at the theatre very soon!
SILVER SCREAM SPOOK SHOW presents Saturday May 23rd 1:00 kids matinee 10:00 night show CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON IN 3D!   Audiences of all ages are getting the "yell" scared out of them at Professor Morte's SILVER SCREAM SPOOK SHOW, a unique brand of eerie entertainment. With a cast of creepy, colorful characters, the SILVER SCREAM SPOOK SHOW mixes classic spook show scares, comedy and horrifically hip hijinks. Morte --the ghost host with the most-- presides over this twisted variety show featuring magic tricks, dance numbers and fun-filled frights! Think "Pee-wee's Playhouse" meets "The Munsters." Watch the episode of PBS' THIS IS ATLANTA featuring the Spook Show! A classic horror film follows each show. From "Frankenstein" to "The Creature From the Black Lagoon," the SILVER SCREAM SPOOKSHOW shares its love of scary cinema with a new generation. And this monstrous double bill and interactive movie-going experience gives guests more boo for the buck! Watch the original CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON trailer on You Tube! Creature from the Black Lagoon is a 1954 monster film directed by Jack Arnold, and starring Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, and Whit Bissell. The eponymous creature was played by Ben Chapman on land and Ricou Browning in underwater scenes. A scientific expedition searching for fossils along the Amazon River discover a prehistoric Gill-Man in the legendary Black Lagoon. The explorers capture the mysterious creature, but it breaks free. The Gill-Man returns to kidnap the lovely Kay, fiancée of one of the expedition, with whom it has fallen in love. There are many strange legends in the Amazon. Even I, Lucas, have heard the legend of a man-fish. TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT BROWN PAPER TICKETS - CLICK HERE! A limited number of tickets are also available at the box office!  This will sell out!  BUY YOURS TODAY! Thursday May 28th - Sunday May 31st OUT ON FILM FESTIVAL Tickets for the weekend pass are just $30! Fagbug with special guest Erin Davies - Thu at 7:30pm. On the 11th annual National Day of Silence (April 18, 2007), Erin Davies was victim to a hate crime in Albany, NY. Because of sporting a rainbow sticker on her VW Beetle, Erin's car was vandalized, left with the words "fAg" and "u r gay" placed on the hood and driver side of her car. Despite initial shock and embarrassment, Erin decided to embrace what happened and film a documentary about her 58-day cross country tour around the US and Canada in her car known worldwide as the fagbug. Watch the trailer on YOU TUBE! Thu - 7:30 FAGBUG with special guest, Erin Davies Fri - 7:30 A NEW WORLD, 9:30 FINDING ME Sat - 3:30 THE UNIVERSE OF KEITH HARING, 5:30 TRAINING RULES, 7:30 MULLIGANS with special guest, Charlie David Sun - 3:30 A collection of shorts, 5:30 SHE'S A BOY I KNEW, 7:30 STANDUP 360: INSIDE OUT Go to OUT ON FILM's website to see the entire schedule, trailers for many of the films and to buy tickets! Official website of OUT ON FILM Tues June 2nd & Fri June 5th at 9:30 pm MIL MASCARAS VS THE AZTEC MUMMY After 15 years, Mexican wrestler superstar Mil Mascaras returns to the big screen, reestablishing the real legacy of the Luchador, in MIL MASCARAS VS THE AZTEC MUMMY and the Plaza is bringing it to Atlanta! The JUNE 2ND screening will be hosted by Amy Dumas, formerly known as LITA of the WWE. Four time women's champion and arguably the most famous female wrestler in the company's history, Lita's wrestling style was very influenced by the Luchadors and much of her training took place in Mexico. Mil Mascaras is a renaissance man of international repute. He is a connoisseur of the arts, a scholar of science and humanity, and a masked wrestler. Like his fellow luchadores, El Santo and Blue Demon, Mil Mascaras is often called upon to assist the authorities in combating threats to mankind, whether they are seductive vampire women, lycanthropic madmen, or invaders from other worlds. However, no threat has ever been greater than that posed by the Aztec mummy. In this story, the Aztec mummy is resurrected by the power of the gem of Tonauac. Using its power, the Aztec mummy is able to control the minds of men, even those of strong pedigree and erudition. Determined to lead the ascendancy of the Aztec nation over the descendants of its past conquerors, the Aztec mummy conspires to manipulate men of power for his own ends. Whether Mil Mascaras can be corrupted by the influence of his undead adversary is not clear, but the answer hinges upon the secret of his mask -- a mask which has been passed down to him from his ancestors since time in memoriam. WHO IS MIL MASCARAS? FIND OUT ON YOU TUBE NOW! Mil Mascaras vs. the Aztec Mummy (aka Mil Mascaras: Resurrection) is the most spectacular and colorful lucha film ever made, with appearances by El Hijo del Santo, Blue Demon Jr, Huracan Ramirez Jr, Neutron, Dos Caras, Argozan, La Torcha, and even the legendary American wrestler, Harley Race. It is the first genuine lucha film to be originally produced in English, and it is the first to include major Hollywood co-stars since John Carradine starred with Mil Mascaras in the classic 1970 film Las Vampiras. VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE! Starting Friday May 22, 2009 - Thursday May 28, 2009 Click on the links below to visit the official website for each film!  PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR A DAILY SCHEDULE. SUNSHINE CLEANING FRI-SAT, MON-WED 7:30 SUN (3:15) 7:30 THE SOLOIST FRI, SUN-MON, WED (5:15) 9:45 SAT & TUE (5:15) THU 9:45 STATE OF PLAY FRI-THU 9:30 LYMELIFE FRI, MON-THU (5:30) 7:45 SAT-SUN (3:30, 5:30) 7:45 THE ROOM TUE 9:30 THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON SAT (1:00) 10:00 OUT ON FILM FESTIVAL MAY 28TH - MAY 31ST THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW Fri 12:00 Admission: (Shows before 6:00 pm) - Only $6.50 Shows 6:00 pm and after- $8.00 Seniors - $6.50 Students - $6.50 with valid ID Mon-Thu only SPECIAL EVENTS ARE PRICED INDIVIDUALLY Our box office opens 15 minutes before the first film of the day. Call 404-876-8048 with any questions.

Thanks so much for visiting the Plaza Theatre!  We are the oldest theater in Atlanta and the only independently owned non-profit movie theatre in Atlanta!  As one of the little guys, we truly appreciate your support!  We understand times are tough, so we also have the lowest priced tickets and concessions in town!  Come see us at 1049 Ponce de Leon Ave at the corner of N. Highland Ave! Please forward this email to anyone you think might be interested!   Jonathan and Gayle                                                             (photo by Frank Mullen) Plaza Theatre Visit our Website

Save on Snacks	RECESSION SPECIAL Small Popcorn & Small Drink ONLY $5 EVERY THURSDAY!  Come in any Thursday for a special deal!  Your small combo will ONLY BE $5.00!  $6.50 Regular Price
	NO NEED TO CLIP OR PRINT A COUPON, JUST ASK FOR THE PLAZA RECESSION SPECIAL!

Plaza Theatre | 404-873-1939 | 1049 Ponce de Leon Avenue | Atlanta | GA | 30306

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I Found My Birthdate In Pi

I was entering some calculations and other things in Wolfram|Alpha such as:

 

• E G# Bb (which is the first three notes in an E Raga Nigamagamini scale in Indian music)
• Taylor series e^y y=1
• (pi)^2

 

when I came across the link for more information. I clicked it following the pi calculation and was presented with a list of links to resources on the Web for pi.

 

Here's an interesting site that determines if your birthdate in the form mmddyy occurs in the first 1254543 digits of pi.

 

Am I in Pi?

 

It determined at which location in pi my birthdate begins.

 

 

Cool!

 

Postscript: I also found this site that searches for numeric strings in pi too:

 

The Pi-Search Page

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Don't Waste Your Time With Unwanted Screenplay Elements

I just read a great blog post by producer Gary W Goldstein where he mentions his 10 Basic Rules of Successful Screenwriting.

All of the points are excellent. Read them and apply them.

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Writer's Block Is A Myth

There's no such thing as writer's block.

It's all a myth. I very often read on blogs and discussed on occasion the idea of writer's block, and to me, it's not even a reality, not worth my consideration or attention. I've got a finite time on this earth and I've made a commitment that I will do what I can to get the swirling myriad of ideas trapped in my head onto paper. Here's a summary of what I usually hear:

• "I don't know what to write."
• "I'm not inspired."
• "I have a lot of ideas but don't know how to get them on paper."

These or similar statements have come from well-know authors, celebrities and your average Joe/Jane. If I've heard it from various types of folks, then it must be pervasive, right? Wrong! I say.

It really didn't take me long to realize that the whole condition of writer's block is a myth. Why do I say that?

Well, if one enjoys writing, simply for the sake of writing, for the enjoyment of getting abstract ideas out of the cauldron of our minds, then it should be quite simple to write. So what if what you write is not great. All writers create stuff that is not good. Hell, 90% of what I write goes into the scrap heap, or actually the recycle bin. Perhaps is expectations or ambition that get in the way of effective writing. And if that's that case, then let go of those expectations, let go of the presumptions you have about writing. Whatever you do, just get pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, voice to voice recognition software. It doesn't matter how you write, just write.

Now, the next question is more than likely, "what do I write?"

I know you have aspirations to create the next great American novel, poetry to surpass Frost, a killer screenplay, a fabulous memoir. You wouldn't be writing if you didn't have goals of recognition in some form or fashion. I have those same aspirations, but the fact is that sometimes I can't tune into the muse. We're just not on the same frequency. But I don't let that prevent me from writing. I just start writing, and I suggest the same of you.

• Write about anything.
• Write about not being inspired.
• Write about not having anything to write about.
• Write about a blog post by an idiot who is telling you that writer's block is a myth!

The point is, writing is as much a process as it is inspiration. Make a commitment to write a everyday. I'm serious. It could be 30 minutes, one hour, two hours, whatever. If you are serious about writing, then making a commitment to yourself, to you the writer, is quite simple. It worked for Asimov and his prolific work covers science fiction, mystery fiction, critical studies of Shakespeare, and also commentary on the books of the Bible.

Now get writing!

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