The New Floodgates of the Mind

Forgive me for “geeking” a moment here, but I have thoughts I want to put out.

I just finished a “Proficient User” course on Microsoft FrontPage 2000 with an overall mark of 94%. Applications like this just make me shake my head. See, I’m a DOS man from way back. I always hated how Microsoft created products which basically do everything for a user. I never liked Windows telling me what defaults MY computer should have and how MY system should be configured. With Dos, I was able to control every aspect I wanted. Up until even Windows 98 I still tweak my system with external tools the way I want it to be. These are the same reasons I prefer WordPerfect to Word. Show me the code so I can tinker with it. It’s like Visual Basic. I can’t believe how Microsoft hired programmers to basically CREATE a new Programming Language which, in effect, made Programmers OBSOLETE. Anyone can build programs with it. You don’t even have to understand things like Logic or Program Flow. What’s my problem with this? Mainly that it feels like part of the “dumbing down” of the next generation. We (programmers and computer folks specifically) understood the tools we had to work with. We knew what our code did; how and why. Nowadays, many programmers don’t really understand the reasonings behind things, they just know which buttons they have to click in order to get a screen they want. How soon will comptuers control US instead of the other way around?

Anyhow, I’m getting a little off-track here. Back to Web Designing.

When HTML came around, I worked directly with the code using either Notepad or Arachnophilia. I labored over things like frames and tables, attempting to UNDERSTAND what I was coding. Then comes FrontPage. This bloody thing lets just anyone build a web site with tons of bells and whistles. Upon starting the course, I immediately realized how some folks were able to put together certain pages and why it was so difficult for them to understand concepts like Layout and Design. You don’t have to visually think about your pages when you’re using Themes. At least now I realize where my gut instincts on pages I didn’t like came from. I also, now, realize that to make things easier for myself in terms of keeping a handle on my own pages, I have no choice but to turn to this product or something similar. I’m glad, however, that I, at least, have a clear understanding of the tools I’m working with and what they do. I much prefer that to simple blind faith (or ignorance).

Am I too stubborn? Not at all. I embrace technology and all it brings us. I’m simply saying that we should not lose sight of what we’re working with. The more we let computers do our thinking for us, the more complacent our brains (and eventually our bodies) will become. Humankind should use the tools it creates, not let the creations control us. There’s too much of that going around already…

Hey! I spoke with my manager today who filled me in on what he thinks of the work I’ve been doing the last couple of months. For those who don’t remember, I’ve been filling in as Interim Team Leader while my Supervisor was on a leave of absence. Well, my boss let me know how very happy he is with what I’ve been doing and is very happy to see how well I’ve taken to being in charge and how the Team is doing great. I’ve had praise before but more in a general way. Today’s was the first time I got to hear how my boss sees me in a new/different role. It was quite satisfying to realize that he does indeed see me in the role of Team Leader which is quite different from Systems Analyst. Basically, he now has tangible proof of my past management experience and it agrees with him. This, of course, bodes well for the future 🙂

Good Evening…

For anyone interested, I finally uploaded the last few articles missing from my web site. This includes all the news/ information in regards to the Standard Life television commercial I took part in. Yes, all Comicopians already saw/ read this within the pages of Comicopia, but for anyone else, you can now read it online. Includes pictures! 🙂 The URL to the articles site is http://www.savageland.com/articles/writer.html

It’s late and I’m not feeling 100% at the moment so I bid you good night as I head off into slumberland…

How tired am I? So tired that I actually seem to have posted twice instead of the one. Oh well. It’s not like I can’t switch my brain into ga-ga mode and go completely type-free. After all, with the numerous years of BBSing under my belt, it really doesn’t take much for me to go into ramble mode and just type away whatever nonsense that comes into my head. And, of course, being tired only means that it’s triply-easy to just go on a ramble-log. Ramble-log… and now and now and now and now… sing my song…. ok, apologies to Led Zeppelin for that one.

All right, enough. Mikey’s brain is mush. But at least my arm doesn’t seem to hurt any more. Wish I could say the same thing for some other parts of my body. Feel like I’ve been kicked in the stomache. Blah. Sometimes food is just blah.

See ya tomorrow.

While driving to the gym last night, I was once again struck by how extreme my taste in music runs. I mean, I spend more than enough time enjoying bands like Gene Loves Jezebel, The Specimen, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Suzi & The Banshees, Echo & The Bunnymen, etc. By the same token, you’ll often find me grooving along to The Clash, The Alarm, Generation X, The Ramones, etc. And, of course, my old stalwarts; The U.K. Subs, The Exploited, The Sex Pistols, The Dead Kennedys, and so much more! Yet, I hold early bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys and so on and so on in my heart as well. You can add in early rock tunes from , Aerosmith, Styx, Supertramp, etc. I went through my Gangsta Rap phase when Francisco introduced me to Tupac Shakur, NWA, and the rest of the Doggs. And when Chantale entered my life back 4 or more years ago, she introduced me to many female artists I hadn’t heard of before (since I gave up radio in preference to my own station: CSAV Radio). Thus, in comes Sheryl Crow, Sarah Maclaughlin, Chantal Kreviazuk, Natalie Imbruglia, Natalie Merchant, Faith Hill, and more including Country Music! What a wild mix! And when you throw in the fact that I like to work on my writing and Comicopia while listening to classical music, it gets even weirder!!

All this was going through my head as I was driving, remembering how ecclectic my CSAV Radio broadcasts got at times. Heck, the CDs I had in the car during the drive to the gym were further proof of it: Punk Lives (a 2-cd collection of live Punk bands), Bryan Adams, The Pretenders, Moist, Blue Rodeo, The Clash. I even have a Sesame Street CD of Cookie Monster’s Greatest Hits! 🙂 In the meantime, what was actually in the CD Player? A Celtic Christmas. Soothing, beautiful celtic music.

At the gym, I was lucky enough to be alone. So, I took out the Grrlish Tracks broadcast Chantale put together for an early January 1999 broadcast and let the gym rock to great female vocals.

I guess I can honestly say that I’ve got a song for every mood, occassion, or event. The magic of music always reminds me of how important it’s been in my life. Which, of course, explains my brief stint in Dirty Feet, my creation of Why Bother, and my settling into CSAV Radio (which almost made it to the Internet Airwaves!). I just can’t deny it: Once a performer, always a performer 🙂

Well, today’s Loma class was cut short but I did register for my exam day: December 10th at 1:30pm. It’s a 3-hour online exam but at least I’ll know right away if I pass or not 🙂 It also happens to fall on Chantale’s last day of exams and, basically, her very last day of school! After SO many years, her status of full-time student gets revoked as she joins the workforce full-time in February! (Smart woman that she is, she’s taking almost 2 months off to relax and unwind 🙂 ) From that point on, any further schooling will be completely up to her. And that’s a wonderful position to be in! 🙂

As for me… I’ll be aiming for the next Loma class (#2 of 10) which begins in January 🙂

But for now, it’s time to bundle up and walk over to Standard Life’s Head Office and get my flu shot!

Heard a couple of guys strumming their guitars at Guy metro today. I’ve heard them before and always thought how they pick great songs to sing, but don’t really sing them in the manner I prefer. Sure, they do good harmony, but just not the right justice to the songs. After hearing them again today, the conclusion still stands. But, what made me take notice was the fact that the songs I’ve heard them sing so far all seem to almost be coming out of Zonker’s SongFest SongBook!! 🙂 This, of course, made me wonder what Gary’s up to these days and that I should give him a call since he never replied to the last 2-3 emails I sent him.

Of course, it made me nostalgic for our SongFests… It’s been YEARS since we’ve had one… *sigh*

“Jai Guru Deva… Ohmmmmmm”

Something unbelievable happened yesterday.

Chantale and I went to Ikea for some things around the house. It was the usual, enjoyable, tour of the store we can never get enough of. And then I saw something I never in my weirdest dreams believed anyone could ever do. In the stemware section, some guy was looking for glasses. He was quite in a rush, going from wine glass to brandy glass to wine glass. Because his son (probably around 5 or 6 years old) had to pee. Finally, he took a big water glass and bent down while his son unzipped his fly.

I had to walk away quickly, shaking my head. I could not believe what I was witnessing and decided I just would NOT witness it. Every time I think people can’t shock me any more, something like this happens to remind me that there’s no such thing as a limit to what some folks will do…

Got out of Guy metro today and snow was falling. Nothing big, but white enough to know it wasn’t rain. And everyone around me is sniffling. And my nose is having trouble deciding whether to run or clog. And I suddenly get the massive feeling this winter is going to be NASTY.

Don’t laugh, but I’m feeling downright cranky this morning. And I’m not sure why. Even after sending out 3 Jokes over my joke-list (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jokers_r_us/) Then again, I was giggly at that time so I guess it was just the ride into work which knocked me down a little. Gah.

Coffee. Maybe coffee can help.

Well, there’s one thing to be said about celebrating Halloween at work. Lots. And Lots. Of Candy. Chocolate. Candy Bars. Chocolate Bars. Lots.

Desk to desk we ramble, candies and chocolate we consume. Consume. Consume. Sugar Hiiiieee! 🙂

And yet, the work gets done, and the day progresses. Incredible, no? 🙂

Oh Henry? Mars? Snickers? Skittles? Catch the rainbow! :>