Ephilei's Xanga

Converting

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 01:01:54 GMT

Well - I'm converting. Sorry, Blogger is plain just better. Go here from now on.

Too smart

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 19:50:44 GMT

So I haven't used MySpace because whenever I log in the "add to friends" link is invisible. Missing that one link makes the whole site worthless. Today I set on trying to fix the problem. After months of searching through foreign lands, warding off magical foes, and rescuing 3 and half princesses, I found the culprit:

a:link[href*=".ad"] img,

It's actually a well meaning piece of code in Firefox that eliminates any links that take you to any ad(vertisement). The problem was "ad" is too close to "add." Because it's code I put into my own Firefox profile a couple years ago, it only affected me. And, I'm so tech savvy that I've been using the same profile for those couple years on every computer I ever tried myspace on (which is about 8 computers). Thus, I'm too smart for my own good. If you'd to harnass the power of blocking ads (without killing myspace), try these links

addons.mozilla.org/firefox/10 (easy)
floppymoose.com (techy)

You can also now find me on myspace here: myspace.com/ephilei but I don't intend to use it for anything besides finding people.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Tue, 22 Aug 2006 23:27:39 GMT

I finished Walden today - an absolute joy. Here was one unexpected passage I particularly enjoyed.

I have found repeatedly, of late years, that I cannot fish without falling a little in self-respect. I have tried it again and again. I have skill at it, and, like many of my fellows, a certain instinct for it, which revives from time to time, but always when I have done I feel that it would have been better if I had not fished. I think that I do not mistake. It is a faint intimation, yet so are the first streaks of morning. There is unquestionably this instinct in me which belongs to the lower orders of creation; yet with every year I am less a fisherman, though without more humanity or even wisdom; at present I am no fisherman at all. . . . Beside, there is something essentially unclean about this diet and all flesh, and I began to see where housework commences, and whence the endeavor, which costs so much, to wear a tidy and respectable appearance each day, to keep the house sweet and free from all ill odors and sights. Having been my own butcher and scullion and cook, as well as the gentleman for whom the dishes were served up, I can speak from an unusually complete experience. The practical objection to animal food in my case was its uncleanness; and besides, when I had caught and cleaned and cooked and eaten my fish, they seemed not to have fed me essentially. It was insignificant and unnecessary, and cost more than it came to. A little bread or a few potatoes would have done as well, with less trouble and filth. Like many of my contemporaries, I had rarely for many years used animal food, or tea, or coffee, etc.; not so much because of any ill effects which I had traced to them, as because they were not agreeable to my imagination. The repugnance to animal food is not the effect of experience, but is an instinct. It appeared more beautiful to live low and fare hard in many respects; and though I never did so, I went far enough to please my imagination. I believe that every man who has ever been earnest to preserve his higher or poetic faculties in the best condition has been particularly inclined to abstain from animal food, and from much food of any kind. . . .

If one listens to the faintest but constant suggestions of his genius, which are certainly true, he sees not to what extremes, or even insanity, it may lead him; and yet that way, as he grows more resolute and faithful, his road lies. The faintest assured objection which one healthy man feels will at length prevail over the arguments and customs of mankind. No man ever followed his genius till it misled him.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 03:54:12 GMT

Of all things, I got inspired today cleaning the pool at work and did some amateur photography in the pool and shower. It kept me well entertained for a good two hours until my batteries died. And most conviently, I had no work to do except make some strides in Walden. There were also no people to get in my way or ask me why I was so strange. (It's hard to imagine anyone at work having any appreciate for art, especially on a construction site.)

I've started posting the photos at my gallery: picasaweb.google.com/masheach

I was initially most fascinated the decrepidation that contrasts with the typically euphoric ambience that pools inspire. I tried to get some capture images that would conjure thoughts and memories of classic "pool time fun" but that was much harder than I thought: Apparently the main imagery of a pool is water. Mostly I contented myself with the cool fish on the walls. The reflection of the flash on the dust is unworldly! though sometimes so strong that it blocks the rest of the shot. The lifeguard office contained a majestic area to play with lighting that I'm still exploring. I'd appreciate anyone's opinions on my work thus far.

Google's free Picasa software is great for basic editing, but for the first time in a long time I wanted to get hardcore. I pulled out my never before used copy of Photoshop. It's actually older (version 7) than what I had gotten spoiled with (Elements 3). I got frustrated with the missing features, mostly "little" things like cropping options and the selection brush. I don't mind learning new software, but learning outdated software? That's silly. If I keep up passionately editing photos, I may justify buying Photoshop. Or it's another reason to buy a Mac because iPhoto is supposed to be fabulous.

Nice sermon

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 18:44:01 GMT

I heard a great homily at the Episcopal church I've been attending this summer. The first reason it was so good was that it was only 15 minutes! But mostly because he renewed my sense of the importance and magnitude of God's actions. This is by far the greatest goal of a preacher. He reflected the mighty act where Christ gives a piece of his flesh at every Eucharist, where Christians feed on it starvingly because failure to receive the elements would kill them. We should come crawling on our hands and knees to receive such a mighty gift!

God bless those trans and consubstantiation-ists!

Nice sermon

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 18:43:25 GMT

Heat wave

Wed, 02 Aug 2006 21:27:57 GMT

So here's a little tip for Firefox users to blog on xanga quick - bookmark the "new entry" page, under the Bookmarks menu, right click the new bookmark, and set "keyword" to "x" or whatever. Now type "x" or whatever in the address bar and magic! Maybe I'll update more often now.

I was wondering today - seeing as I hate the heat - how is I think I can survive in Egypt where the upper 90s are common. Well, I'm guessing they are. Wait, I looked it up at the summer highs are only 30! (That's the mid 80s to you, Americans.)

De-hyphenating a name

Mon, 10 Jul 2006 18:39:10 GMT

My last name is a pretty significiant part of my identity, just as much as my first name or nickname. Yesterday Heather, my sister, announced she's engaged to her long-time boyfriend Tim Albano. We all saw it coming, so there wasn't a big reaction. She casually mentioned that she would take his last name. The two ardent feminists voiced our opinion briefly but there wasn't much discussion. The justifications of hyphenating names (if I have ranted to you in person yet) are

Keeping the name of the mother's family alive,
Showing that the family is a dual product of two converging families. Whereas taking the husband's name historically signified that the wife was leaving her family and joining her husband's,
Reaction against the wife sacrificing her identity for her husband's and being "branded" as his property,

and some minor reasons. But since the single name is mostly just a fossil of anbandoned sexism, it's not a huge deal. Then something hit me at work today. Our name not only reflects our family past, but also identifies, defines, and especially labels our family in this generation as a distinct entity! There are lots of Johnson familes and quite a few Bakers, but we are uniquely the Baker-Johnsons - the BJs. I don't care about the survival of our name; if five generations from now there are no Baker-Johnsons or etymological descendant, I'm fine. If the name disappeared now, however, I'd be absolutely tramatized. If Heather abandons "Baker-Johnson," she, in my perspective, abandons our family. She chooses to kill or forget that part of her and the Baker-Johnsons exist fundamentally different and deprived from then on.

The Kingdom of Heaven is like a

Mon, 03 Jul 2006 14:09:05 GMT

No, I never wonder what heaven is like. I guess until I get there, I don't care. To be arrogant, I've got better things to do. I do wonder a lot about what the Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven is about (which are equivalent, thank you Greek 101). Honestly, sometimes that consumes my life. Jesus seemed to care a lot about the Kingdom of Heaven, and very little of this Heaven itself, if he even thinks it exists. "The Kingdom of God is within you." Or, Thomas records the same dialogue as, "The Kingdom of God is spread upon the earth, and people don't see it."

But I suppose I don't think it will be that magnificient. I don't think we'll all have super powers or sit around having picnics and petting lions all day. I'm not even sure it will be 'perfect' in the way we think of. God speaks of transforming hearts and actions, not situations so much. I suspect we'll still have to deal with global warming and relatives we're not thrilled about - we'll just be better at it.

But I'm soure a lot of conservatives would just say I'm falling down the slippery slope because I'm modeling what I can't see after what I can see. Then some day I will stop beleiving in an afterlife altogether. Maybe. Time will tell.

But mostly I think heaven's a crock belief to make Christians feel better. "Don't worry, Grandma's with Jesus now." What bull. That's far from Jesus' "Do not mourn the dead. Let the dead bury the dead." And heaven's a crock to make non-Christians feel worse. "Do you know where you're going after you die?" Compare with Jesus' style of 'take it or leave it.' Jesus spoke as if choosing to follow him was the hardest thing you'll ever do. We speak as if it's the easiest thing we can do. Well, I'd better stop before I rant.