July 14, 2006
Migrating to MT 3
So I finally got a newer version of MT installed - so I will be migrating my site over there soon. This will make it so much easier to do the things I want.
The test blog is up at http://www.nirak.net/writing. If I can ever get stupid Network Solutions to install Image Magick on my server, I'll probably migrate my gallery there as well, but I know that will probably not happen. :P
One of my favorite new features- search and replace! Wooooo!
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 14, 2006 9:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
I hope this works!
I sent an email to Network Solutions asking them again to install the Image Magick perl module on my server. If I ever get a new server again, I am going to 1) try and get one with shell access, though I'm afraid that's going to way of the dodo, and 2) make sure that they don't have policies that say they will not install modules to individual servers.
I didn't think it would be an issue, because all of my old servers have installed it without a problem.
Anyway, I wrote a nice letter explaining that I will need to get a new server if I can't it installed. This isn't just for this site, but another site I manage on Network Solutions I am planning on purchasing Movable Type for so that I don't have to do updates anymore- but if Image Magick isn't installed, it'll be pointless.
Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I really don't want to change servers. I've started with too many servers only to have their service degrade, and at the very least I can always get someone from Net Sol on the phone when I need them, and their uptime has been MUCH better than my last server.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 14, 2006 2:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
July 15, 2006
I hate being sick on my day off.
Ugh. I'm not SUPER sick, just enough to make me not want to do anything. My throat hurts, my head hurts, I'm sore, and sniffly. I think I got like this about this time last year, too- sinus stuff, I think. yuck.
I want to work on my site, but my head and eyes hurt, so I can't look at a computer screen much longer. I'm currently trying to get past entries to my journal tagged so I cam put a word cloud on my blog. I like the idea of navigating this way. I've been racking my brain trying to get categories to work, but in the end, I don't know that they will suit the purpose I want.
Network Solutions got back to me and said that they are working on getting ImageMagick installed, but can't give me a time line. Of course not. :P
I'm gonna go sleep. Blah.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 15, 2006 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
The Office
I just watched the last few episodes from "the Office" (American version) and I laughed and it didn't make me sad. It used to make make me laugh, but also, because I could relate, made me a little bit angry.
I don't feel like that anymore. I know part of it may be just the fact that getting a new job that you like is always good.... but the main differences are that I have a boss that I look up to, an environment that doesn't strive to make me feel like a worthless piece of shit (as all retail jobs have), and opportunity- I can see myself moving up, especially if I get another degree, which is more than possible.
The other night Geoff said something about how I "used to be happier" which just blew me away because I am so happy right now. I guess I don't show it well.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 15, 2006 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
July 17, 2006
GRE .... 123
I got a GRE study book from the library today. I may actually buy it, it seems useful and I believe it's more than I can get to in three weeks.
I took the sample test and got a 500 math and 680 verbal, which ain't too bad (though it's probably not that accurate). I've decided my goal is at least 600 in math and at least 700 in verbal, and then a 5 on the written part. I think this is entirely doable. So far, the GRE does not seem too much tougher than the SAT, which surprised me. I expected some higher level math on there, but it's basic algebra and geometry stuff. Admittedly, stuff I need to brush up on, but nothing I have not learned yet. In high school.
Besides the GRE, I need to start writing my entrance essays for grad school. There's a few schools I'm looking at, but if I can't get money to attend another school, I will go where it's cheapest- which is the University of Missouri, the one that offers a program out of Omaha. It may not be the most prestigious library degree, but it looks like I would have to spend upwards of $30,000 to get that. I don't know how much of a difference it makes. I know in art teaching, there's so many grads out there trying to get jobs that if you didn't graduate from one of the top schools you're pretty much out of luck. I don't think it's that way with a library degree, but I'm not 100% sure.
The most I can to is to apply to 3 or 4 (or 4 or 5) places and see how it goes. Right now I am paying $800 per month towards my student loans, and I don't want to do this ever again, nor do I want to pay thousands and thousands of dollars in interest.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 17, 2006 9:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Smart Car
I want a Smart Car. 60 MPG would sure put the joy back in road trips. Not much storage room, but I know how to pack light.
But. The thing that scares me is the prevalence of FRIGGIN' HUGE SUV's here might seriously endanger such small cars. Imagine a three car accident- a smart car sandwiched between to Escalades, hummers, or any other huge SUV. There is some information about safety features on the website, but I would have to see crash tests that say specifically how they stand up to such large vehicles.
It pisses me off that these behemoths are so prevalent that I fear for my life. It wouldn't be so bad if nearly everyone on the road didn't seem to be talking on their cell phone, yelling at their kids, smoking, fiddling with the CD player, eating, dancing, or leaning over so far into the next seat I can't even see them anymore. It's amazing how often I am driving behind someone and their head is turned away from the road at least 50% of the time.
I can't say I didn't used to be like that. When I was a kid, I would fiddle with the CD player a lot while I drove. I'm lucky I didn't get into a major accident. But you know what? I grew up. I decided that if I'm going to put myself in charge of a machine that has the potential to kill someone, I'm going to pay attention. So I get my music figured out before I leave, I make sure everything is situated, I make any calls I need to, and then I drive. It's really not that hard. So I can kinda forgive teenagers who are being stupid. OK, not really forgive, but at least understand. I really don't get the adults that engage in such stupid behavior in front of their kids. What the kids learn is that driving is no big deal, it;s easy, so easy you can do at least two or three other things while driving.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 17, 2006 9:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
July 18, 2006
Yum Yum
All I can think about right now is having steamed pork buns for dinner. The Oriental market behind our house sells some good ones.
........
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 18, 2006 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
July 21, 2006
Yum Yum thwarted
The Oriental market behind our house was out of steamed purk buns! the nerve.
Instead we got some potstickers, which were quite yummy. Pretty good price, too- $5 for about 50 of them.
I hope they get more pork buns in soon, though. They had a weird selection of steamed buns- vegetable, spinach, leek. ew.
I fell asleep last night around 8:30. I was trying to study for the GRE, but tiredness got the best of me. Ah well. At least I feel well rested today.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 21, 2006 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Roof leak
Our roof is leaking again. We need a new roof, to replace the three that are already there. In the meantime, we are going to throw some tar up there to try and keep the water out.
I called about one estimate today, I need to get a couple more, but I have no idea who to try.
If anyone has any ideas for estimates in Lincoln, please let me know!
We need many other estimates on the house- electrical, plumbing, basement construction.... I think I will feel better when I know how much these things will cost, instead of just imagining the worst possible circumstance.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 21, 2006 2:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
July 26, 2006
Sketchbook
I spent much of this evening photographing an entire sketchbook
see the result here: http://www.nirak.net/gallery/sketch0204/index.html
One of my favorite pages:
I'm pretty happy with the result, but not yet the web presentation. I think I need to make it bigger, and edit out the blank pages. I kept them in because sometimes the bleed through is interesting, but I don't know that I need to show all those blank pages. I'm also having problems with the batch processing to crop the images.
ah well, something to figure out another day.
I'm going to be adding many more sketchbooks.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 26, 2006 10:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
July 27, 2006
Handwriting
Connie left a comment that said:
You know what is interesting about this is seeing the handwriting of someone who you have only ever read online.
It's interesting to think about. I know people online that I've talked to for a decade and still don't know what they look like, sound like, or what their handwriting looks like. Actually, when I think about it, there's lots of people I know in real life that I don't know what their handwriting looks like, because no one ever writes anymore.
I've never liked my own handwriting. It's a little sloppy, but not that cool kind of sloppy, it's just sloppy. It's not elegant at all. I always wanted to be elegant - in handwriting, in looks, but it's not something I never was. I'm far too excitable and clumsy to ever be considered elegant.
Another thing that I think about sometimes is that I have very little concept of what people's days are like - even people I know very well. When I was a kid, I had no concept of what my dad actually did all day, I just knew he left, was gone a while, and then came back (usually in a bad mood). I don't know what he does even now- I know his title, but not what the actual day to day activities are like.
So I want everyone reading this to tell me (either in their own journals, or comment) what your day is like. just a snapshot. I will do so in the next entry.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 27, 2006 11:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Another Sketchbook Up
I photographed another sketchbook tonight.
http://www.nirak.net/gallery/sketch0404/index.html
This is kinda a pain in the butt, so I hope it's worth it. I think I will appreciate it- I will archive all these pics to disc and store them elsewhere. I really like a lot of what goes on in my sketchbooks, though looking back on hem can be somewhat painful (there's one pic that looks to me now like a woman taking a dump. She didn't look like that before!)
One thing that's struck me is how I waver- I'll do some good stuff for a while, and then I'll do crap. It's always been like that. When I'm in my not so good phase, it's oh so tempting to give up.
In this sketchbook, it seems like I did more crap the closer I got to my wedding - there's a lot of wedding planning stuff in there, and I'm sure I was distracted. Here's one I like:
I have not been working in sketchbooks much lately. I've been concentrating on getting older stuff online, and studying for the GRE. It's almost like I want to digitize everything and then just throw it all away - I want the record, but I don't necessarily want the actual object, because add up all this stuff and it's just too much. Plus, it's past. I want to wipe the slate clean, start fresh, all that stuff.
I honestly feel like everything up until now was practice. The monoliths were a very nice dress rehearsal.
I'm ready to start over.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 27, 2006 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
My Day
Today, I:
I woke up at 6:45, took a shower, fed the cats, and ate breakfast. Then I got my stuff togehter (gsthering items and remembering to put my lunch in my bag usually takes the longest, I always can't find at least one thing I need) and got dressed. I left for work at about 7:20.
It takes me about 25 minutes to walk to work. It was a bit muggy out today, but otherwise it was a plesant day, I listened to my MP3 player. I like walking to work- it's a time for me to just listen to music and think.
Got to work at about 7:45, and from 7:45 - 9 I prepared for the Interoperability of Metadata meeting. I made coffee, got the meeting room set up (put out food, etc) got my computer set up, made copies for the meeting, and tidied up the room before people got there. I took notes until 12:00.
I didn't understand much of what was said during the meeting - I have a vague idea what TEI, EAD, MODS and METS are now, but they refereer to so many individual tage by acronym or by ponouncing it, not to mention they threw acronyms for organizations in there as well. For example, for most of the meeting I thought they were saying "ferver" - as it turns out, they were referring to "FRBR" - "Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records." These are the kinds of things I'm having problems with.
Anyway, at 12 we broke for lunch. I went to visit Geoff at his work, they were having a food day so I got some snacks. I was back by 12:30, and I ate my lunch at the library - cantalope, cherries, honey toasted walnuts, chips and home made pico de gallo, and a wrap with honey, turkey, cucumber, and walnuts. yummy.
from 1-1:30 I checked email and replied to things that needed it.
at 1:30, it was back to the meeting, and more of the same. When the meeting ended at 4:30, I cleaned up the room, washed out the coffee pot, took everyhting up to the refrigerator that needed it, etc. I got a ride home with Geoff. It took us about 15 minutes just to get out of the garage, traffic was so backed up.
When I got home I started working on automating processes for putting my sketchbooks online - I found a nice little cropping utility that helps a lot. (JPEGcropper)
We made dinner - eggs, bacon and hash browns. We were feeling to lazy to make anything more complex.
I spend most of the rest of the evening working on photographing another sketchbook. I've got most of the processes figured out. I shot the last one in RAW format, but I think I will stick to JPEGS from now on - it took almost an hour to process the RAW images into JPEGS, for one thing, and I don't think it's really necessary to have RAW files. I wish my camera took TIFFS.
Photographing that 2nd sketchbook took about an hour. The rest was processing.
After all the processing, I put it up on the web. It would have been easier if I could have used Dreamweaver, but it was crashing for some reason. :P
After that, I made my lunch and watched a couple of anime shows before bed - an episode of Nauruto and an episode of Tokyo Mew Mew. Brainless stuff is good sometimes, especially at the end of the day when I'm tired. I was in bed by 11:45.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 27, 2006 11:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
July 28, 2006
New Sketchbook Up!
http://www.nirak.net/gallery/sketch0404/index.html
I worked on this sketchbook around the time I was getting married - so there's a point where it's obvious I am distracted. There are also some quite funny parts - things that didn't look silly to me at the time, but do now.
Of course, some parts always looked silly.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 28, 2006 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
This site
I have changed the home page so that it will be easier to make announcements about the site. I had been making these kinds of announcements on my journal, but I think it makes more sense here.
Nirak.net is changing quite a lot lately- my journal/ writing area is almost done, I just need to move it back into place. I am working on scanning sketchbooks for the gallery part of the site, and I will also be adding extensive commentary to the gallery section about the artwork. I have a few projects in the works - I will be revamping the state capitol section, making it more interactive and putting more of my research up. I'll be adding a part that archives my past website designs. I will be updating the "about me" section as well, and I have a slew of links to add.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 28, 2006 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
July 29, 2006
Bad Commercials
I heard two commercials from two different banks today advising people to take out a home equity loan to go on vacation.
WTF? That's about he stupidest idea I ever heard. What happened to "save money, then spend it?" Oh no, instead, you should take a vacation now, and pay it off over ten years. Great idea.
I also heard a commercial advising to take out a home equity loan to pay off credit cards. I agree with his in principal - lower interest is always better- but I'm afraid that what most people will take out this loan, pay off their credit cards, and then go right back to running up credit card debt again, and end up with twice as much to pay.
I think I'll stick to only taking out home equity loans to actually use on the house - not vacations, not furniture, only on the house itself. I don't even really like the idea of that, but it's the only way we'll be able to pay for a new roof.
It's really no wonder so many people are so far in debt, with all these commercials telling you that you deserve something right now, so just use credit. The "you deserve it" line is getting really old- what you really deserve is to use more of your money for yourself and to stop giving it away to credit companies.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 29, 2006 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
New Links
I have finally updated my links page:
http://www.nirak.net/about/links.html
There's a lot there now.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 29, 2006 2:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Chicken with Fruit Salsa
Marinate chicken in Olive oil, Vinegar, Water and some kind of sweet, fruity alcohol (I used a mango one) - then pan fry.
The fruit salsa I made had apple, peach, onion, tomato, lime juice and a tiny bit of olive oil. Pretty much just throw in whatever fruit you have.
Serve with rice.
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That's it. This turned out pretty good, so I wanted to remember it.
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Geoff's dad brought us some GREAT tomatoes. I love tomatoes.
Posted by Karin Dalziel on July 29, 2006 10:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)