computer | Robert's Blog

March 24, 2005

i can see right through you

if you read the flickr blog you’ve already seen these “transparent” computer screens. if you haven’t let me introduce you to the concept of a “transparent” computer screen. basically people take pictures of what is behind their computer and then place those images on their computer desktop and then take a picture of the environment containing the computer. when it is done correctly is makes it appear as though the computer screen is transparent – thus allowing you to see right through the computer screen. in my opinion it’s a pretty cool illusion. if you would like to see more of the images click here.

SIDE NOTE – the incredibles is an amazing movie. i love it when kids movies have such great themes (being who you are supposed to be, the struggles of the family, discrimination, working together, etc). “the incredibles” approach these themes in a very entertaining manner.

March 22, 2005

i have email

i feel the need to point out two things:

first, i have an email address that people can actually communicate with me through. the reason i feel the need to point this out is because recently some unnamed individuals have decided that the best way to communicate with me is by leaving comments on the blog that have nothing to do with the actual original post. now don’t get me wrong i love people posting comments on the blog entries i place up. while i have moved past the “comment mongering” stage of the blogging experience i still enjoy seeing what other people are thinking concerning the things i post about. i especially like it when an entry turns into a conversation and people comment and then reply to other comments. it’s just that recently i’ve gone to look at the comments on the blog only only to find out that someone (cough *hannah* cough *shelley*) has decided to use the comment section as a way to get in touch with me. this always seems to throw me off. it confuses me and throws off my whole day.
secondly, the blog has apparently become the world search haven for pictures of the elephant man. i made a post awhile back that contained a picture of the elephant man. apparently every other person that exists on this planet is looking for pictures of the elephant man. therefore, the blog now receives 10 hits or so a day from people looking for that picture. it would appear that if you want to increase traffic to your blog you really need to write regularly about the elephant man. who knew?

on a side note today i discovered google alerts and the photography of diane arbus. alerts as amazing and i really like them. alerts give you the ability to set up a filter on google to forward news articles and websites on a particular subject as they are created. for example i lovetony campolo so i created an alert to send me any news articles that are posted concerning campolo. it’s a cool thing.

arbus’s photography is like wise amazing though some of it is disturbing (amazing nonetheless). diane arbus took startling pictures of carnival sideshow “freaks,” and people who were at the time consider “odd” or culturally different. that’s why the photos of hers that i’ve seen are sometimes disturbing. the photos i have seen have made me want to see more because they remind me that to some extent we are all pretty much “freaks.”

March 12, 2005

say it ain’t so

it’s 2:03 a.m. and i’ve just gotten home from the first night of our discipleNOW. overall it was quite a good night. i’ve loved spending time with the guys from ten shekel shirt, they have a real passion for social justice and it was been encouraging to hear what they are involved in. andy neely said some powerful things this evening. i was only able to visit two of the homes this evening – the boilings/ tenth grade girls and the fletcher / 12 grade co-ed. the 10th grade girls were really loud. i can’t believe they haven’t woke up the entire neighborhood. i’m so thankful i have boys for kids. 🙂

now i have to report the impossible … my linux computer has CRASHED. it’s crashed bad. the thing locked up and i had to do a cold boot up (unplug the thing and restart. now the machine locks up every time it starts loading “x” (the graphic interface). i don’t really have time to look into this right now so i can’t give any more details. i thought this wasn’t supposed to be possible. linux is supposed to be the stable platform. the one that all the others look to. why do i apparently have the only bad linux machine in the world?

anyways, have a good night or morning.

March 6, 2005

oh yeah

for some of you this will be meaningless for others you’ll simply think “it’s about time.” anyway, today is a great day. i have finally entered the world of those who are using linux. i’ve moved one of the “windows” machines at our house from being a “windows” machine and instead being a “linux” machine. i just finished loading the “fedora” distrobution of linux on the kids’ computer and i can already tell that there will be certain things that i like allot about lunx. the number one thing i like about it is that micro$oft doesn’t own any of it. to my knowledge there is zero micro$oft software on the computer and i feel like a better person because of it.

now i have to go through the process of leanring the differences and teaching them to my kids. it should be fun.

February 9, 2005

flickr

if you enjoy photography i want to make sure that you know about flickr. flickr is a photo sharing community that several of the people who are involved within the student minsitry are a part of. the beauty of flickr is that we can all view each other photos and then comment on each of them. of course, you can also use it as a way to post photos on your blog. anyhow, i was just wanting to make sure y’all knew about it and to encourage you to get involved in it if you were into taking pictures. here are the people from the student ministry that are involved in flickr right now:

we also have a former member (he moved to north carolina 3 1/2 years ago) on it – brad. if you’re in flickr and i don’t know about it please comment or email because i love seeing the pictures that others have taken.

this ends our non-solicited commercial for flickr.

February 7, 2005

i just finished taking a test

i just finished taking a test on my “nerd rating” and figured i would paste it for y’all to be able to see. nothing really surprising personally. you can take the test for yourself by clicking the image below.

February 2, 2005

interactive surgery

i believe i’m almost over this cold or flu or whatever it has been. i’m able to stay awake much longer and i feel pretty decent most of the time that i am awake. the main problem is that i’m very weak. i’ve only eaten two bowls of soup since lunch sunday and therefore i just don’t have much energy.

anyhow, i was reading a couple of blogs that i like and CHRISTian hedonist posted a link to virtual knee replacement surgery. you too can enter the world of orthopedic surgery. who needs medical school? after this interactive web site you should be able to bust into the operating room and take over a surgery. just remember to maintain a sterile environment.

January 24, 2005

happy birthday mac

kottke reminded me and a large part of the world that today was the birthday of the apple macintosh. today the computer with a logo meant to entice and tempt you (think of the garden of eden and the forbidden fruit that was bitten) turns 21. here’s part of the original two hour video of steve jobs introducing the mac for the very first time in 1984 (the segment is only about 3 minutes long). while it doesn’t look like much today the things that the mac was able to do on this video were consider revolutionary at the time. CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO.

and to think that a british psychologist called january 24th the most depressing day of the year. how could the birthday of the mac be considered depressing? it’s simply too jolly of a moment to be depressing.

if the above link doesn’t work go to mac essentials and use one of the other mirror sites instead.

January 24, 2005

real chinese food

if you don’t read eric landy’s blog you should start. if nothing else at least read this post. in it eric learns a lesson on how to tell real mall chinese food from fake chinese food. an important lesson.

January 20, 2005

i want one

pure and simple – i want one of these puppies. the macmini is just dang cool. i don’t usually go for buying something just because it is cool – but this is cool and cheap and that makes up for allot (costs $499). i’ve fallen in love with my powerbook and i would love to have one or two of these “minis” hooked up around the house. if i ever get around to buying another computer before they come out with something better than the mini then i will purchase one of these little buggers.