Biz-scheme 1: "Sidewalk surveillance"...

In my various travels around Austin on bike, I tend to use the sidewalks as my primary travel lanes. Unfortunately, not all sidewalks are "bike friendly" - there's the occasional unramped curb, or the sidewalk breaking up due to underlying tree roots, or even too narrow of a space to navigate due to intervening poles, fences, and shrubberies... or, worst of all, there's no sidewalk at all to speak of.

Sooo... I have the following idea:

Why not create a company that cooperates with city governments and land owners to fix up the sidewalks to where they become "bike-friendly", and, as a side effect, "wheelchair-friendly"?

One way I envision this, is to have a surveying crew that will go out and navigate the sidewalks in different neighborhoods with GPS equipment. Should they come across a trouble spot, they forward that spot's GPS coordinates back to the main office for further investigation. The office can then get a couple of bids from concrete companies to repair the problem; and then present those bids to the paying authority -- I'm just not sure if that authority would be the city government, or the landowner, or a mixture of both...

...biz-scheme 2: "Share your I-pod!"...

This thought struck me last night, while I was drifting off to sleep -- inspired by the touchtune jukeboxes I've seen in bars, and the "I-pod random shuffle Q&A posts" I've seen in facebook...
Wouldn't it be neat if we could share our I-pods?

For example, a club could offer to showcase your I-pod for a nominal fee (say $5/hour), either in shuffle mode or using some of your pre-created playlists. You would just pay for the time that it'll play, and the club then plugs it into their stereo system to either entertain or torment everyone there. (Note: I'm notorious for picking horrific playlists while playing pool in the past)

Alternatively, maybe you could swap your I-pod with a friend, or even rent it out to those less fortunate friends who do not yet have them... Going one step further with this swapping path, each of you could add some songs to the loaned pod(s); perhaps not even telling the owner(s) what those songs are. (Heh! "Hide and Seek!")

another night at the saxon... (yahoo cross-post: 1/4/08)

So, originally, tonight I was supposed to work 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. at the old 7-Eleven. However, my co-worker calls me at 6 p.m. saying he had just woken up, was wide awake and willing to work, and wanted to know if I'd like to swap shifts. I was kind of cool with that, but wanted him to clear it through our manager first... and about 10 minutes later, he calls back, saying, "the swap's on." That left me with a wide open evening, also wide awake, although not so willing to work. I went down to Alligator Grill and had some crawfish quesadillas (sp?) and 2 dozen peel-'n-eat shrimp, and I thought, "well, might as well see what's up at the saxon and alamo..."

Take the bus up there, and I noticed I missed the 7ish showing of "Juno", and most everything else at 7ish is sold out at the Alamo. I make a note that the next showing of "Juno" is at 9:25, and head over to the Saxon to see who's playing. Eight hours later finds me at this computer, posting this post, with a brief intro to the 3 bands seen: Carolyn Wonderland, George Devore, and Ramsey Midwood.

For some reason, Carolyn reminded me of Janis Joplin, although I haven't ever seen footage of Janis. I'm not sure if it's her vocal styles or her head movements; but she did put on a really good show especially since she said she's fighting a 102 degree fever right now... Here's two clips I found on youtube - the first being "I'm the Man" (which she said she wrote after getting a call from a telemarketer) and the second being "Come Together" - posted on youtube by hoopinman and milkriverfilm, respectively.

Next, we have George Devore, who I actually know from many a happy hour at Alligator Grill and late night snack runs on his part at the 7-Eleven. This is a video from his tour in Europe, posted by youtube user dbarnes001.. I talked with George a little as the evening wound down, and he said he had gotten kind of complacent and content this last year, and had some management problems... so he's in the process of rebuilding, with a 5th CD due out in February, I think? That, and he's also singing/playing with Paula Nelson (Willie's daughter..).. anyway, here's the video:

Finally, we have one of the hardest to remember names of the night (I literally had to go to the Saxon's web page to remember it for the 6th time, when I couldn't look at the board in the pub), Ramsey Midwood. This is a band from South Austin (Manchaca area)... One of the comments from Catalina (the lady who sat next to me for a little while) was that his mouth wasn't moving, and I'd agree. Now, the youtube search came up with RamsAy Midwood, but the songs I heard sound real similar in style and timbre to who I heard last night, and the guy looks about the same... maybe the Saxon just screwed up the spelling of his name? Anyway, this is "Monster Truck" posted by youtube user imlegion:

another random listing.. this time - goals (from 2008, updated in 2009)

I wrote the following at the beginning of 2008, and I'm adding "progress updates" in italics, now at the beginning of 2009:

Over the next year, I plan to:

• change careers to one that better uses my B.S. in Mathematics from UT Austin,
  So, I'm doing "easy" tech support, at least for a couple of months, now - a little closer.. took 12 jobs to reach it...
  
• become more involved in community volunteering, starting with Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic and SXSW,
  I think I volunteered 4 hours with RFBD last year, 'cause I was derailed by job instability. I did earn a platinum badge at SXSW (80+ hours)
  
• develop a meditation/exercise practice, drawing on Zen Buddhism, yoga, and Tai Chi,
  Since this summer, I've been attending an un-ritualized Buddhist sitting group (Dharma Punx) on a fairly regular basis -- still, I'm only on a weekly sitting practice, and not yet up to a daily practice
  
• reconnect with my Catholic heritage,
  eh... I think I can count the number of masses I attended last year on one hand. I got to be the train conductor at the church's Fall Festival, though.. ;P
  
• expand my circle of friends in South Austin, (one reason for internet dating)
  I expanded my circle of friends, but mostly through my connection with AA
  
• look up some old friends who I've lost touch with,
  I have reconnected with some high school classmates, primarily through facebook... would still like to find former French House members...
  
• become a better player of Texas Hold'Em,
  I placed sixth in the city-wide tournament at the beginning of the year, but have not really played regularly since...
  
• and get out to see more movies, music, and plays.
  Here's where that unstable job situation blind-sided me again. ...that, and my dad moved to Houston, so I lost my primary "movie bud" **SIGH**
  

In five years, I would have liked to:

Errr... one year down, four to go...? (No significant progress made yet in any of the following...)

• spend at least one month in another country,
  
• found a fulfilling relationship with a lady I could grow old with,
  
• earned a master's or doctorate degree, most likely in the cognitive sciences.
  Well... I have been looking into furthering my education here and there...
  

Fifteen weeks...?

Another poem developed on a bus ride -

Tried to stick close to iambic pentameter,
a couple of rhyming schemes,
added a first letter vertical summary,
and attempted some engaging of all five senses...

Not too sure how successful I was in all that, but here it is:

-----------------------------

Let me describe for you, a lovely rose:
Its scent so sweet - it just tickles your nose.
Vibrant reds attack your eyes as it grows;
Each petal peels away with soft breath blows...

Velvet sheets crumble 'tween rough fingertips;
Impaling thorns stick out 'long the long stem.
Bedecked with drops of August morning dew
Rained upon it with this summer's dawn drips.
Ants line its lower leaves -- breakfast for them?
Not one sound stirs this scene 'tween I and you --
Taste these words, like honey along your lips.

Reclining now, under summer's bitter heat,
Our rose, she does bend, stoop, wilt, and wither.
Summer's gone, petals fallen -- lone stem remains;
Ethereal was that bloom, now long gone.

================================================================================================================ Year Separator ==============================================================================================================

--------------------- Below this line, posts have been revised, and are finished ------------------------

:)

hmm.. 5-variable relationship test

My Five Variable Love Profile:

Propensity for Monogamy:

Your propensity for monogamy is high.
You find it easy to be devoted and loyal to one person.
And in return, you expect the same from who you love.
Any sign of straying, and you'll end things.

Experience Level:

Your experience level is medium.
You probably have had a couple significant loves.
And you may have even had your heart broken.
But you haven't really dated a wide variety of people.

Dominance:

Your dominance is low.
This doesn't mean you're a doormat, just balanced.
You know a relationship is not about getting your way.
And you love to give your sweetie a lot of freedom.

Cynicism:

Your cynicism is medium.
You'd like to believe in true and everlasting love...
But you've definitely been burned enough to know better.
You're still an optimist, but you also are a realist.

Independence:

Your independence is medium.
In relationships, you need both "me time" and "we time."
You usually find it easy to be part of a couple.
But occasionally you start to feel a little smothered.

"'Alone!', he wails..." (P.o.t.D. 4/13//08)

Restrain tongue and pen, in work and play --
Emotions checked, yet obsession
Simmers, seeking say.
Public and private perspectives and perceptions
Entwined, interwoven, in a tangled skein.
Confusing courage with cries of caution,
Tangled again,
I am, in deontic ties that bind.
Now... is it time to cross antiquated fences,
Gaining insight, challenging fears, in my mind?

Before, I would "sit in solemn silence",
Overcome my feelings, yet... highstrung... tense.
Untold wreckage building upon my soul,
Never once did I feel complete and whole.
Dwelling in a pristine ivory tower,
And discontent... alone... each midnight hour.
Reason only took me farther - too far -
Inside self, loves buried in aching heart,
Encamped, enclosed, entrapped, entombed "in a
Steel cage" - a lean role sans sensual sin.

Inhibitions... to be respected? ...to be overcome?
Noble confidence separates the true fears from the sum.

Look... Listen... Love... and the world unfolds,
Infinite nuances will be revealed,
From which billions of stories can be told -
Experiences that can truly heal.

Everyone has a story to tell;
Stories so deep, they cause my heart to swell.
Pensive, I will miss these insights around
Even though, like armies, do they surround.
Circled by artisans, artists, arsons;
Igniting passion, felt by all senses.
Against that prison of independence
Lies the world's lie of self-sufficience;
Leading me to forget growth from "my mind,
Your mind, learning when they are intertwined".

Ignoring others, I suddenly find I do become
Narcistic, self-sadistic, pessimistic... my thoughts, numb.

Life is too short to live in a ship's hold;
Overcome, I must, these imagined seals!
Voyeuer, no more - engage others, be bold -
Enrich my life, sharing others' ordeals!

Dream (4/12/08): a tango..?

3 scenes from a dream this afternoon, and a pondering about who she is:

The lady is slender and tall, with shoulder length red hair, and some amount of fame and possible notoriety associates with her. Who she is, is up for interpretation, but I feel her fame needs to proceed her, as the events described attach themselves easily to the price of fame?

When I first encounter her, she is pouring her man into the back seat of a black luxury car, as he is so far gone from some active addiction that he has lost all faculty of movement. I pause in my walk along the street, puzzled by this scene, and ask her, "Why are you still with him?"

At which point, she turns, with a tear on her cheek, and recounts a story from ten or more years gone by, and the scene in the dream dissolves into scenes from that story.

The two are seen on a stage, he in a formal black tuxedo, and she in a flowing white dress; they are practicing dance movements haltingly and stutteringly. Then, all of a sudden, as their eyes meet, or perhaps as his hand provides a strong anchor of support, something clicks. She begins to move freely with him, falling into the tempo of a tango, letting go of all worries of the outside world and the audience filtering in.

Several hours later, I now see her backstage, wrapped in nothing but the black tuxedo coat, positively beaming. He is tending to her needs, still dressed in all but the coat, and soaked thru and thru. I want to say that there's blood on his lips, too.

I'm thinking the tango turned into a bit of burlesque, and I want to associate this with a pivotal moment of overcoming stage fright, where the lady surrendered to this man.

Now, this is a dream, so who the lady is, is still up for interpretation. My first association actually thought maybe this was Lucille Ball, and correspondingly Desi Arnez. Then, I thought maybe it could be Cher..? Most likely, though, thinking about her physique, I probably modeled her after a real-life burlesque performer (who was incredibly hot) I saw during the Texas Burlesque Review at South by SouthWest.

Separate Lives [Third draft]

Note - The following is a revision of one of my earlier posts at Yahoo 360:

So, I find myself in a quandary.
How can I unify my life better?

I can see that I wear different hats at work, at play, around adults, and around children - perhaps adapting to a situational behavior standard? What personality hats do I usually wear? I am, in no particular order:

• a scientist,
• an artist,
• a boy scout,
• a follower,
• a gentle leader,
• an empathizer,
• a listener,
• obsessive at times,
• manic too,
• hyper-critical,
• super-cooperative,
• a sampler,
• open-minded...

I could brainstorm tons of hats; but backing them up with actual experiences, though, could be a bit more difficult. "Is that one more periphereal or hardware, Mr. B?"

Suppose a man is seen as one personality at the job, but a totally different man comes out at home, a la Jekyll and Hyde, if you wish -- I DO NOT want to be that type of man! It's distressing that life gets so modular, what with my family interactions, work interactions, AA interactions, online interactions, school interactions (now gathering dust) - all of which don't seem to interact much with each other.

Spheres of acquaintances - that recalls another time... I was trying to graph out the groups of people I've interacted with, a la Venn diagrams, and trying to figure out what was in common, what was different between them... and wondering how on earth to get them more "concentric"? At the time, I was thinking about what is revealed to each circle too. Who am I in front of a stranger, an acquaintance, a close friend, a lover; and how can I behave so that the orbits are more well-defined?

What's really frustrating? Overcoming barriers between two or more groups.

Examples:
"Oh, she's sooo beautiful! How I want to.. wait a sec, I'm at work - can't go there..."
...or...
"Well, this friend has one set of interests, but that one is like the polar opposite - can I get them to see eye to eye? Moreover, what might happen when they realize I share in both interests?"
...or even...
"Gee, I can see that I can communicate fairly well in writing - why doesn't that transfer easily over easily into speech?"
(Thinking on this last one, there are different rules underlying each communication, e.g. it's far more acceptable to interrupt while chatting online then it is in person. ...and I think this "different settings, different rules" argument underlies why our lives separate in the first place.)

Thinking back to flirting in the store, suppose three lovely women come into the store over the course of a night, and I choose to comment on their beauty. It's quite possible that one gives me her phone number, another gives me a stern lecture on the spot, and the third walks away seeming to be interested but follows up with a sexual harassment complaint to the manager... Without having known more about their personal backgrounds, I could not have predicted these outcomes. That's why I suppress my flirt at work. That or there's these competing ideas - "sexual attraction", "respect for work's code of conduct", "desire for my privacy and respecting others' privacy" - an example that given scenarios use conflicting and/or cooperating social rules.

It could be worthwhile to explore that idea of "different settings, different rules". To be realistic, I think adapting to the situation is actually a strength, but it has to be tempered with sticking to core principles.

You know, on the Chinese zodiac, I'm a Rat; and we're not known for long-lasting friendships... Unfortunately, I HAVE let far too many close friendships of the past drift away with time and distance. It feels like I've briefly passed through all these lives and organizations that I highly valued at the time, but that I am no longer in touch with - and that annoys me! Hence, one thought that this page could be an attempt at reconnecting with people I've lost. One day, I plan to journal my life's chronology using a list of the groups I've interacted with; but even that might be broken down into pieces, focusing on one sphere at a time (work, friends, lovers)...

All that being said, here are the visions I have for my blogs:

• where I can find and share my core values and interests,
• where I can say something once, and everyone can see it,
• where I can explore others' lives,
• and, hopefully, where I can bring together many of the people I value in my past and present and possible futures.

It would be nice to be a trulyopen book. However, I must admit there are some experiences:

• not meant to be shared with children
• ...mostly because they might not understand
• or with the total stranger
• ...out of fear of how they will use that information
• or even in a public forum of close friends
• ...due to some of the possible fallouts resulting.. recall AA's 9th step: "..except when to do so would injure them or others"

So, I will exercise a little restraint and confidentiality, not revealing all; even though that could be construed as lying by omission. Such is the sacrifice of writing in public.
Oh, but wait...! I'm reminded a line from "Dreams with Sharp Teeth":

Don't be afraid to go there.