Category Archives: Personal Life

Copyright Wake-up Call

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I just had an interesting conversation with some folks on IRC. (I know, shocking, eh?) While reaffirming that it IS in fact a vast wasteland, it was interesting to see what sort of misconceptions are out there about copyright law.

First off, everyone hates the RIAA, myself included. Their behavior is reminiscient of the Gestapo of Nazi Germany, and they need to be stopped. Their reactionary behavior simply feeds the fire, and exacerbates the problem.

Next, many of these “pirates” believe themselves to be safe by being in another country. To quote some, “Thats why I love living in Canada. Downloading music here is legal … see in canada we pay a tax on all music anyway … and the RIAA has no jurasdiction here” and “[copyright] can be international only if the country accepts it, and very few do. Thats why they can’t do shit to people in canada denmark finland and the like.”

Let’s not forget this concept that the RIAA is snooping everyone’s computers, so if you don’t keep pirated music on it, they can’t see it. “If I burn my mp3s to a cd, they can’t trace it!”
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General Foo Strikes Again

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Today was much less zombie-like than yesterday, and I can’t explain why. It just was. I came downstairs, put on some jazz, and checked my email, where I finally received 1) more than 2 pieces of email, and 2) a response from Jody, the head of the EXCEL program at Union Institute and University, reviewing my EXCEL essay thus far. I got a very favorable response, though there was an overwhelming request for more personal examples of what I was talking about. This is difficult for me, as I find it hard to write both personally and what I deem “professionally”. I’ll just have to do what I can, though. It’s due the 22nd, which means it needs to be in the mail by the 19th, which means I need to be done by the 18th. 17 days from now, essentially. This shouldn’t be too hard, though. I don’t have that much more to do.

In other news, I had a meeting with some folks from PA today, concerning working with them to bring UberCon to the Seattle area. This went over VERY favorably, and I’m back to being excited about the prospect of organizing the convention again. I need to send them some information, but that’s mostly information I need to confirm with Kevin, first (such as any changes made to the sponsorship forms, et cetera). I can’t talk too much about it yet, but it’s definitely a “Yay” situation.

I’m a little frustrated with my content right now. Nothing wrong with blogging, I suppose, but I just feel like I should have more content that is relevant to more than just people who know me. More essays, reviews, and art. That said, I just picked up criticalgames.com, which will be a site dedicated to discussion of games as a serious medium for creative expression.
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“Dimujin and Family”

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Just got back from dinner. The waiter was pretty cool, gave us a flyer to the music gig he does down in Belltown. It’s “Hip Hop Infusion” by DJs Dimujin and Family, down at this Japanese restaurant called En. The name of their music style can’t help but remind me of Dakah, the hip hop orchestra that I was introduced to by my friend Aleksasha.

Yeah, I think Seattle will be alright.

In other news, I got a LiveJournal account thanks to my wife. I’m not using it, though (I’ll likely just post a link to here whenever I update). It’s mostly so I can have ownership over my comments when I post in livejournal pages. Not a big fan of the “anonymous” thing (hence why I have anonymous posting turned off here… and am considering making user accounts for my site as well).

Just a quick post, I’ll talk more tomorrow, I’m sure.

Long Day’s Night

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It is currently 11:30 (or so) in the evening and I’m bushed, so I don’t think I’ll be posting my next travel installment today… hopefully tomorrow though.

Just a quick post to say that Mickey said it would be okay to link her livejournal account… so I am. Be sure to give her all sorts of grief… err, I mean, comments. Yeah, that’s it. Comments.

We bought a TV today, and did some swimming, and hung out with Eli and Megan (on their great cross-country sojourn): more on everything later. For now, sleep. Mmmmm, sleep.

Chapter 2 is Up

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Some general updates real quick before I go eat:

I just finished the draft of chapter 2. I’d appreciate feedback (please leave your comments on this entry), to see if my reasoning is sound. Grammar and continuity issues are already covered by my fantabulous wife.

The movers are arriving tomorrow. Yes, we are happy about this. Yes, we also wish things had actually gone according to schedule. Yes, I know we could have had it a LOT worse.

I’ll be at Squam for the coming week (the 2nd through the 9th of August). If you know me and want to come, email me. If you don’t know my email, you obviously don’t know me well enough to come. Sorry.

Neil Gaiman is doing a new Sandman mini-series. It comes out in September, and I’m eagerly anticipating it.

Both Eli and Uri have been slackers about posting of late. Be sure to go give them shit in their comments section, maybe it’ll goad them into posting. It’ll also show them that I actually have readers other than them. Well, that and also their sites are worth reading, because they are good people and write about life in (sometimes) interesting ways.

That’s all. Hopefully I’ll try to post again tomorrow night (though it may be the last time for a few weeks… sorry! Such is the way of moving :( ).

UPDATE: 9:45pm, 7/31/2003:
Yeah, about an hour after I wrote and posted this blog, my brother posted a new entry. Go check it out.

Eli’s still too busy planning his upcoming roadtrip to post though.

Weird Air

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Things have been really weird lately. I don’t know if it’s the cycle of the moon (new moon was a day or two ago), or what, but things have been just not working right for the past few days.

A few things to ponder: the moving company we are working with was on the ball and professional for the entire time we were working with them… until this week. We were supposed to be moved out either today or tomorrow… and now it’s looking like it won’t be until the 1st. They failed to call us, and we ended up having to call several times in order to finally get any word at all (and it still isn’t confirmed at all).

I tried selling one of our computers over eBay. We got one (1) bid. I sent the invoice within half an hour of when the auction closed. I made it quite clear that this needed to be dealt with as soon as possible, as we were under the gun because we needed to move. We got no response for two days… I emailed again, explained that we only had a day left, he responds… the next day. I send him another email, he doesn’t respond, I finally email him and tell him that I’m out of time and have to rescind the offer. Frustrating!

We were in Everything But Anchovie’s (EBA’s) tonight, and had the slowest service we’ve ever had. The food did not come for fully an hour, which we then scarfed down and ate in 5 minutes. This is pretty damn unacceptable, and not what normally happens there.

It just feels weird right now, like we’ve been told to hurry up and wait, in unacceptable ways. There are other things that are causing this feeling, but I won’t get into that.
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70th Posting

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According to the blogging software, this is my 70th entry in the main blog. It won’t be a large posting, but still some things to note:

First off, Happy Birthday Sabrina! Enjoy the very first anniversary of your birth. I know you’re too young to read (we’ll have you blogging in no time!), but I hope you have a great day anyway.

In other news, the movers arrive in two days. I’m nervous, uneasy, and not very productive at the moment. That said, I really am hard at work on this essay, and will hopefully have more to post by the end of tonight. (FYI: these are draft copies… I haven’t checked them for grammar yet. I know there are a few mix ups.)

I’m sitting in Hanover, sipping iced chai, trying to relax and write, and finally it seems to be working. The past few days have been kind of stressing instead of relaxing… it was Parent’s Weekend, and Hanover was SWARMING with loud, obnoxious yuppies, making it very hard to concentrate on much of anything. One day later, and the place is quiet and back to normal, not TOO much worse for wear. (“But ‘Bil, why not write at home, in the comfort of the giant purple chair or something?” Because my apartment is full of boxes right now, and I can’t seem to concentrate there.)

Ah well, the weather is nice. Feels more like a late August day than a late July day, but whatever. That’s FINE by me.

Seattle, Explained

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We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately from people who are wondering “Why Seattle?” Which is also sometimes followed up by “Why not <some other place>?”

Well, a few reasons, really. The big one is that both Mickey and I like the Seattle area. Then comes the issue of work: Mickey is a scenic artist, and as such needs a city that actually has regular professional theatrical work. I’m a student at a school that is off campus for all but two weeks out of the year, so I can live anywhere. I’m also looking for an internship with a game company (or possibly even a real job, though I’m not thinking my qualifications are there yet), and there is certainly a large quantity of that in the Seattle area.

Then there is the geography issue: Mickey grew up just outside of Chicago, and has done the city thing for her whole life (with the exception of these past two months in Vermont). She wants the accessibility and activities that cities provide. I, on the other hand, want nothing to do with most cities. I find them stressful, rushed, and irritating to a point that FAR outweighs the activities that reside therein. That said, the relaxed mood of Seattle and relatively happy coexistence with nature that exists there leaves me with a happy medium.

So to sum up, it’s a matter of work, combined with shared personal preference. Seattle really is the ultimate compromise location by the criteria I listed.

I hope this answers any questions any of you might have.

Sorry for the sporadic posting lately, as you can understand, things have been pretty busy.

I’m posting because I CAN

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Some days, you don’t really want to talk, or write, or communicate in any way. This would be one of those days. I’m a little bitter about how my involvement in certain things turned out, and feel a little daunted about the next year or two, wondering how and where I fit into things anymore.

Mickey is currently picking apart my essay to date, her editorial nature getting the better of her. It’s helpful, and I do appreciate it, I’m just not up for getting my picks nitted right now.

I listed a computer on eBay today, first time I’ve ever listed something. I hope it sells, as we could use the money.

We did much running around today, and frankly I’m bushed. Time to hit the sack.. hopefully tomorrow I’ll finish chapter two of the essay.