Monthly Archives

October 2007

Leopard is a go…

ARoB, Technology by
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…I’ve installed Leopard today. It’s such a strange beast of an Apple OS. I described it to Alex as 40% OS X as we knew it, 40% Windows Vista, and 20% NeXT-ish. Basically, if you’ve seen iTunes recently, you have a general idea of what Leopard is going for. It’s really interesting to see Apple trying to blend several different interface paradigms into one product. We have a smattering of iPhone references (System Preferences icon, rounded menus,) iPod references (CoverFlow, flat Menu Bar) and other various design elements from across the board. I’m glad to see the incorporation – and consolidation – of numerous design languages, but the overall feel for me is a bit jarring. I am starting to like it, though, much the same as I eventually grew to like the newest iTunes. It’s a novelty and breathes some excitement into my nearly 2 year old MacBook Pro. That and a few well-placed caffeine stickers from Kate. 😛

In other geek news, Google has finally deemed my Gmail account worthy of IMAP. So, I’ll be done with multiple inboxes on my iPhone and computer. Hoorah! I hope there are no major hiccups in this transition.

Now, off to get Time Machine working on the lovely Desmond. Ciao!

Sometimes when Clyde eats…

ARoB, General Entertainment by

…he gets so excited to have food in his dish that he chokes himself. It’s one of his more endearing quirks. That, and standing directly on my nuts at 6 am. I love you, Clyde.

So, it’s 11 and I’m at home rather unexpectedly. Well, if I could remember what has been planned, it wouldn’t be quite so unexpected. Kate is at the Lit. House Halloween party thing (or somesuch) and I’m hanging out here until it’s over. So, blog, I thought I’d give you another new post.

*chomp, cough, cough, gulp, mmmmreow*

Flora sent me the oddest letter today. The envelope was addressed to Mr. Nick “Kate” Smerker and inside was a birthday card and a letter written on half an additional envelope. Apparently she had run out of paper and sent a birthday card for Kate to my address. It was adorable and totally eccentric…100% Flora, in other words. One very solid memory of her that I will always have from growing up in her house is seeing her nearly incomprehensible handwriting scrawled on every writable surface. She never did let one scrap of paper go to waste. Cookie recipes mixed in with Trading Post listings for bassinets and always – ALWAYS – coupons, coupons, coupons. They had writing on them, too.

Anyway, yes. I think I’m going to go smoke and enjoy a lovely fall night. Also, I’m bleeding on my wrist rest. Thanks, Bella.

A New Look for ARoB

ARoB, General Entertainment by

Well, ARoB has been through a tumultuous last two weeks, eh, readers? From the great server fuck up of 2007 to a badly-themed (though harrowing) resurrection, the site has definitely weathered more than its share of troubles. So, to reward it for hanging in there – and to add some novelty to things – we’ve made some changes!

For starters, Hoovah is back as a blogger. Hooray for that! I’m hoping we can all fill in the dead air between posts a little easier since there are more of us and more content to feed off of.

Dusty and I have put in a great new theme for ARoB, too. Things look dramatically different, but don’t fret…it’s all still there, just slightly reorganized. I know I’ve been hoping for a fresher, simpler look and I think you’ll really enjoy it.

So, what do you think?

I really don’t know what to write about…

ARoB, Books by

I’ve been going over and over in my head this morning several different topics for posts here on ARoB. I haven’t posted anything of substance in awhile and I really want something good. “Think, Nick, think…a list? A link? A video?” What can I say that I haven’t said before? That isn’t boring as all hell? I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just ramble at you.

I’m reading House of Leaves because I “borrowed” Kate’s copy on my way out the door the other day. So far, I’m five chapters in and scared out of my mind. Like, to the point where I don’t even really want the book on my nightstand tonight. Is that odd of me? I certainly know that I’ve never felt so off because of a book. Perhaps it’s that the book is so very like my own head…especially the feeling of disconnected observation? More alarmingly, I am accustomed to feeling as though a great, dark thing is always in the periphery of my world. Could that be a Roman Catholic upbringing of pessimism brought into the form of arms and legs? Maybe I’m just the house on Ash Tree Lane…more things on the inside than could ever be expected from the outside?

Or maybe it’s just really close to Halloween and I’ve not been getting enough sleep?

In any case, I tossed and turned last night, not really petrified of anything of substance, just uncomfortable in my thoughts of the uncanny. Remarkably like our narrator in The House of Leaves.

I think I miss Philadelphia. I certainly miss feeling like I am somewhere even when I’m not doing anything. I don’t however, miss living out of a suitcase and I’m greatly looking forward to a weekend of sleeping in and not having to be anywhere at all. Just wake up next to my girlfriend, realize it’s Saturday and go back to sleep…that’s my goal. Maybe we can get a walk in since it’s FINALLY going to be true fall weather here? I shall not dream too big, of course.

Things I need to do to feel at ease:

  • get groceries

  • do my laundry
  • clean my car
  • clean my apartment
  • call home
  • pay my credit card

They are all doable, right? Well, maybe not so much the last one, but I’m going to try at all the rest.

One last thing: Hoover Baiting