So, I've been away for a long time.
Lots has happened: dropped out of varsity, became a shroom-munching coke-head stoner hippy, grew some dreads, had those cut off in rehab, nearly 2 years clean and sober now...
Phew! I needed to just get that out of the way.
Nowadays I'm back to living with Mom and Dad, cuz it keeps me safe, and I do websites for an advertising agency. Which is stressful, so far (hasn't been very long at this job yet).
But in reality I want to be a freelance web developer/designer. However my skills need brushing up. So much is happening in web design that I need to catch up on. I'm making web sites the way we did it 5 years ago. I want to be making websites like the guys on thinkvitamin, A List Apart, Smashing Magazine, et al; with all the responsive fluid mobile first standards compliant jQuery PHP MySQL HTML5 and CSS3 goodness I can get my grubby paws on. In addition to which, I need to learn about Graphic Design and running my own business while managing my life, saving up money, and not relapsing on drugs.
The first thing I need to do then, is make a custom template for this blog. And go from there.
zeorin
Musings of a daydreamer
Monday, September 05, 2011
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Bye
Haven't posted here for ages. Nothing much to say anymore really. No one who's listening anymore really. I signed up for MySpace if you care: clicky.
Other than that, a while back I was sent this e-mail. I was gonna put it up but then left the whole blog thing alone. Better late than never:
Hi. My name is Eugene Gershin. Perhaps we have met online, but more probably you don't know me from Adam. I monitor blogs for SamsonBlinded, and came across your post.
I'd like to welcome you to look at Obadiah Shoher's blog. Obadiah - an anonymous Israeli politician - writes extremely controversial articles about Israel, the Middle East politics, and terrorism. Shoher is equally critical of Jewish and Muslim myths, and advocates political rationalism instead of moralizing. Google banned our site from the AdWords, Yahoo blocked most pages, and Amazon deleted all reviews of Obadiah's book, Samson Blinded: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict. Nevertheless, 170,000 people from 78 countries read the book.
Various Internet providers ban us periodically, but you can look up the site on search engines. The mirror www.terrorismisrael.net/blog currently works.
Please help us spread Obadiah's message, and mention the blog in one of your posts, or link to us from zeorin.blogspot.com. I would greatly appreciate your comments.
Best wishes,
Eugene Gershin
And with that, I end the 100th, and last post.
Other than that, a while back I was sent this e-mail. I was gonna put it up but then left the whole blog thing alone. Better late than never:
Hi. My name is Eugene Gershin. Perhaps we have met online, but more probably you don't know me from Adam. I monitor blogs for SamsonBlinded, and came across your post.
I'd like to welcome you to look at Obadiah Shoher's blog. Obadiah - an anonymous Israeli politician - writes extremely controversial articles about Israel, the Middle East politics, and terrorism. Shoher is equally critical of Jewish and Muslim myths, and advocates political rationalism instead of moralizing. Google banned our site from the AdWords, Yahoo blocked most pages, and Amazon deleted all reviews of Obadiah's book, Samson Blinded: A Machiavellian Perspective on the Middle East Conflict. Nevertheless, 170,000 people from 78 countries read the book.
Various Internet providers ban us periodically, but you can look up the site on search engines. The mirror www.terrorismisrael.net/blog currently works.
Please help us spread Obadiah's message, and mention the blog in one of your posts, or link to us from zeorin.blogspot.com. I would greatly appreciate your comments.
Best wishes,
Eugene Gershin
And with that, I end the 100th, and last post.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Spam spam spam spam
Happy new year everyone!
I just got an email from a Yahoo! address. It finishes with an auto-inserted note mentioning that they have one of the best spam protection systems. Guess what the email was about? Spam!
Here we have something called a safe cab. Which is just like a normal taxi except, presumably, safer. While were taking down the safe cab number, we notice that its driver is driving on his cellphone without a hands-free device. Safe cab!
Normal Pac-Man got boring
It's real
I just got an email from a Yahoo! address. It finishes with an auto-inserted note mentioning that they have one of the best spam protection systems. Guess what the email was about? Spam!
Here we have something called a safe cab. Which is just like a normal taxi except, presumably, safer. While were taking down the safe cab number, we notice that its driver is driving on his cellphone without a hands-free device. Safe cab!
Normal Pac-Man got boring
It's real
Sunday, October 22, 2006
The beginning of the end
It's all over. The baddest nation in the world just went AWOL. President Bush singed a law which revokes habeas corpus.
This means that he can imprison anyone he wants, for as long as he wants, no matter what anyone else wants. Without any trial. Can you say despotism?
Go here to read more about it. I advise you to watch the video. A professor of constitutional law at Washington university discusses the impact and significance of this law.
The US government is also investigating trade in online games. Apparently some people are exploiting quirks in the game systems to create vast virtual fortunes - which are then sold to other players for real money. There is a concern about the possibility of taxing trade in online games.
On a lighter note, Charles Darwin enters the digital age as his works are now available on-line. And Joe told me about a really cool keyboard.
Habeas corpus is a basic individual right against arbitrary arrest and imprisonment.
This means that he can imprison anyone he wants, for as long as he wants, no matter what anyone else wants. Without any trial. Can you say despotism?
Go here to read more about it. I advise you to watch the video. A professor of constitutional law at Washington university discusses the impact and significance of this law.
The US government is also investigating trade in online games. Apparently some people are exploiting quirks in the game systems to create vast virtual fortunes - which are then sold to other players for real money. There is a concern about the possibility of taxing trade in online games.
On a lighter note, Charles Darwin enters the digital age as his works are now available on-line. And Joe told me about a really cool keyboard.
Friday, October 13, 2006
More of the same
It seems that torture is still happening in Abu Ghraib. But now the torturing is not being done by soldiers. It's being done by private contractors obtained from US companies. Oh, and 14-year old girls are being raped there in the 'rape room'. Terrorists? Methinks the US are the terrorists.
Oh, and the Tibetan genocide continues.
Oh, and the Tibetan genocide continues.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Internet stuff
Do you use Google? I bet you do! I bet you use more than one Google service regularly. I do. I use blogger (duh), Gmail, the search engine, their calendar, etc. etc. etc.
Haven't you ever wondered what they could do with that information? I have, but I figured that Google would probably keep a secret. That was until I read this article.
Google has also launched it's own 'mini-office': Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Give up more of your information!
There are also concerns about the way hackers will be able to exploit not only Google's information, but also the code which Google has made available and it's numerous APIs. Read more.
I've recently been thinking more and more about web design as a career direction. As a result, I've been brushing up on my skills and trying to expand them, as well as trying to keep up with new industry developments.
The main focus lately in web design (apart from Web 2.0) has been on web standards. Why? Well, there's a very good reason for that. It makes sure that your website is usable by the greatest number of people. It means that your information can be accessed by absolutely everyone, no matter what system they are using, or even if they are disabled.
Now, the ultimate purpose of design is to communicate. Thus, in general, that which comminucates more effectively would be considered better design. This would make me think that web standards are good design. Yet there are many web designers that simply don't give a shit. This is very bad, mainly because the bad design on the code side will usually not be seen by the client. He sees a nice polished page. But along comes Sally, who is blind and uses a screen reader. Maybe the designer used layout tables and the order of the page makes no sense to her. Maybe he didn't provide alternate text for images. She'll care.
One area in which I know I lack most skills in terms of web design is the visual aspect. I'm pretty comfortable with the code, if a bit rusty at times. But I never took Art, or learned any of that visual stuff.
So I picked up a set of books at the bookstore, called The Non-Designer's Collection, which included a basic design book, a basic typography book, and a basic web design book. They are fucking crap. The design book and the type book, are OK, I guess, but I've seen better books on both subjects which were cheaper. The web design book advocates many web design mistakes when it comes to standards. Waaay too many. It seems like she didn't know about the web standards or their importance at all. Which tells me that someone didn't do an ounce of research. The author's name is Robin Williams (no, not the comedian). Never. Buy. Anything. Written. By. Her. Or peach-pit press, the publisher. I can say this because of the shameless synergetic marketing they applied in their books. This fucking annoys the crap out of me. And she calls herself a professional. Supposed to be a multi-award-winning author. What in god's oft-mis-used name were all those judges smokin'?
Oh, and just for good measure: here is a nice article on the Patriot Act, and how it's being applied in America. I think it's a bit on the wrong side of bat-shit insane, but that's me...
Also, Bush is apparently refusing talks with North Korea. Oh, wait sorry, direct talks with North Korea. He thinks the impact would be stonger if more countries confront Kimmy together. The Bully needs his Gang. Those that are still left anyway. "Tony?"
It's OK for America to have nukes, they used the first one. They were there first dammit! Guess who'll get the moon in the end? But not North Korea. I wonder if Bush thinks they'll really give a shit about him if they are willing to defy China, who are waaay more likely to give them a proper roughing-up.
Bush is the one who seems (in the west) to have the biggest problem with nukes in North Korea (he should be more worried about Iran, if you ask me), yet he won't jave talks with them and wants someone else to do it for him. He's a fucking hypocrite. He says he believes that the commander-in-chief should have exhausted all regular diplomatic avenues or someshit, before committing their troops. I think Mr. Bush is going to jump the gun unless they sedate the guy. When will presidents stop taking amphetamines? Don't they ever learn?
Haven't you ever wondered what they could do with that information? I have, but I figured that Google would probably keep a secret. That was until I read this article.
Google has also launched it's own 'mini-office': Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Give up more of your information!
There are also concerns about the way hackers will be able to exploit not only Google's information, but also the code which Google has made available and it's numerous APIs. Read more.
I've recently been thinking more and more about web design as a career direction. As a result, I've been brushing up on my skills and trying to expand them, as well as trying to keep up with new industry developments.
The main focus lately in web design (apart from Web 2.0) has been on web standards. Why? Well, there's a very good reason for that. It makes sure that your website is usable by the greatest number of people. It means that your information can be accessed by absolutely everyone, no matter what system they are using, or even if they are disabled.
Now, the ultimate purpose of design is to communicate. Thus, in general, that which comminucates more effectively would be considered better design. This would make me think that web standards are good design. Yet there are many web designers that simply don't give a shit. This is very bad, mainly because the bad design on the code side will usually not be seen by the client. He sees a nice polished page. But along comes Sally, who is blind and uses a screen reader. Maybe the designer used layout tables and the order of the page makes no sense to her. Maybe he didn't provide alternate text for images. She'll care.
One area in which I know I lack most skills in terms of web design is the visual aspect. I'm pretty comfortable with the code, if a bit rusty at times. But I never took Art, or learned any of that visual stuff.
So I picked up a set of books at the bookstore, called The Non-Designer's Collection, which included a basic design book, a basic typography book, and a basic web design book. They are fucking crap. The design book and the type book, are OK, I guess, but I've seen better books on both subjects which were cheaper. The web design book advocates many web design mistakes when it comes to standards. Waaay too many. It seems like she didn't know about the web standards or their importance at all. Which tells me that someone didn't do an ounce of research. The author's name is Robin Williams (no, not the comedian). Never. Buy. Anything. Written. By. Her. Or peach-pit press, the publisher. I can say this because of the shameless synergetic marketing they applied in their books. This fucking annoys the crap out of me. And she calls herself a professional. Supposed to be a multi-award-winning author. What in god's oft-mis-used name were all those judges smokin'?
Oh, and just for good measure: here is a nice article on the Patriot Act, and how it's being applied in America. I think it's a bit on the wrong side of bat-shit insane, but that's me...
Also, Bush is apparently refusing talks with North Korea. Oh, wait sorry, direct talks with North Korea. He thinks the impact would be stonger if more countries confront Kimmy together. The Bully needs his Gang. Those that are still left anyway. "Tony?"
It's OK for America to have nukes, they used the first one. They were there first dammit! Guess who'll get the moon in the end? But not North Korea. I wonder if Bush thinks they'll really give a shit about him if they are willing to defy China, who are waaay more likely to give them a proper roughing-up.
Bush is the one who seems (in the west) to have the biggest problem with nukes in North Korea (he should be more worried about Iran, if you ask me), yet he won't jave talks with them and wants someone else to do it for him. He's a fucking hypocrite. He says he believes that the commander-in-chief should have exhausted all regular diplomatic avenues or someshit, before committing their troops. I think Mr. Bush is going to jump the gun unless they sedate the guy. When will presidents stop taking amphetamines? Don't they ever learn?
Monday, October 09, 2006
We've got a lot of work to do
This world is so fucked up. North Korea has done their nuke test, and before you know it Bush will feel the need to prove that only one country can have nukes (just so the others won't make any) and that country will be America, because they have the most already, and if you don't like it we'll nuke you. Kinda sounds like the war to end all wars. Remember that? Didn't work.
Oh, and on a much more local level, even our schools are no longer safe from suspiciously gang-like activity. Of course we all knew that anyway (most rich schools have several active drug dealers in attendance), but now kids are dying.
Oh, and on a much more local level, even our schools are no longer safe from suspiciously gang-like activity. Of course we all knew that anyway (most rich schools have several active drug dealers in attendance), but now kids are dying.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Book search
It seems that Google's book search feature (which I was actually hitherto unaware of) is not having an adverse effect on book sales, but rather is increasing sales as a result of referrals from the Google book search. Probably has something to do with the fact that reading a book on a screen SUCKS. Clicky here-y for more info.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Pondering...
Here's something that got me thinking:
This is with reference to an upcoming election in Texas.
There is a film coming up that I'm quite excited to see when it comes out. It's by (wait for it) Al Gore, and it's about climate change. It's called An Inconvenient Truth. Go check it out.
This might also be handy for some of us. It's a legal guide for bloggers. Dan, I think this is right up your alley. A closely related topic would be Internet censorship. Drop by there to see if you can help.
And lastly here are some random things:
It's likely that we're so conditioned to hearing the same conditioned claptrap from politicians that when we listen to someone who speaks transparently, we don't know how to actually listen to what's said.
This is with reference to an upcoming election in Texas.
There is a film coming up that I'm quite excited to see when it comes out. It's by (wait for it) Al Gore, and it's about climate change. It's called An Inconvenient Truth. Go check it out.
This might also be handy for some of us. It's a legal guide for bloggers. Dan, I think this is right up your alley. A closely related topic would be Internet censorship. Drop by there to see if you can help.
And lastly here are some random things:
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