Show us what makes you unique.
I think it would be easier to show you how I am not unique. This goes for everyone I know. I've never found myself confused by the people I've come to know. I've come to know everyone I know as unique. So there.
This was issue was escalated to me.
If you could perform alongside any artist (actor, dancer, musician, etc.), who would it be, and what would you perform?
Submitted by Kristin.
I heard stories from all around that Professor Zakin was tough. I heard people say they'd never want to take anothe class with him. I don't know what these peoples problems were really. I think part of it is that artists often ask "what do you think of my work" and I don't think they were expecting his honest answer. Quite frankly, I admired him for his honesty. If what I was doing didn't interest him or challenge us in one way or another, I didn't feel like I was doing what I do right. He didn't expect one particular process or style from everyone, but he expected effort and really wanted people to work outside of their own comfort zones. Can you imagine art if no one expressed themselves outside of a comfort zone? Would we have the treasures we cherish today? Would we find anything provocative? Probably not. When I took independent studies with Zakin, I felt 'free' to take chances. People who considered themselves more advanced that myself would often tell me "that's not going to work!" and I'd just shrug and passively dismiss it. If you feel free to take chances, you know that with it comes the freedom to make mistakes. If you don't feel that freedom and you prohibit mistakes, what is there to learn from? No two batches of clay are exactly the same and they all have characteristics that someone working with the medium has to learn in order to learn how to bend it to their will -- sometimes even defying the physics of the medium itself; the only way to learn how to "push it" is to welcome the possibility of failure. I also learned that you can still make are from failure. The proof is in my fish tank!
I'd like to work with Zakin again. I'd like to make something, put it through it's first firing process and allow him to show me how he'd finish it before the final firing. Not a suggestion of what glaze, but how he would complete it, where he'd take it from there. I always thought he had a lot to teach. I just wish I had the extra time to learn it.
If your Vox Neighborhood had a potluck dinner tonight, what dish, drink or dessert would you bring?
Some dessert and some fine, dry champagne. Maybe some sparkling juice for the yutes and those who don't want any.
I went and saw my doctor. I'm not in as horrible shape as I thought. They are tension headaches. They collected some blood and will get back to me someday.
I hate those headaches that span the day. Ache, ache, aching away. It seems to be a Monday thing.
Today though... The pain seems a hell of a lot worse than I've felt. Beyond the regular tension headaches I've felt.
It seemingly laughed off a pretty heavy duty pain pill I resort to in circumstances like this and that bothers me.
My mom told me I should see a doctor. The only thing stopping me is my lack of insurance. It shouldn't stop me. This could get worse. It might be worse than I think it is.
Add this to the list of 'everything I hate'. Wish me well. I need all I can get.
Have you ever recycled an old computer or laptop? Where did you take it, and what steps did you take to protect your personal information?
I haven't thought of it that much. The previous equipment I have here, is here. If I did let go of a drive, it would take Olympian geek efforts to salvage it. Along the lines of transferring platters from one drive to an identical -- which at times is impossible seeing as technology replaces and obsoletes old models within years. Still... What to do? Get a high grade degausser, a hammer, a disk shredder, and a sharp ended nail.
Plug in the degausser well and far away from any other equipment you cherish. Place your defunct hard drives on on them and zap the shit out of it. Then take them, place them on a hard surface and hammer the crap out of them. You could also unscrew the casing and destroy the platters, but seeing as some of these drives are composed to harmful elements, I advise against it unless you protect yourself.
CDs, DVDs. you can nuke them in your microwave. It's fast and kind of fun to watch. I'm not sure however if it is safe, the electricity may find a way to arch. Why chance it? There are decent paper shredders available these days that can also shred discs. If you rather not but one, take a nail to the element side (the top with the writing) and scratch away... really really well. The element will flake off. You can also crack them by bending them. Wear goggles though, they tend to splinter and the element tends to fly and flake off. The main concern, of course, is the element.
Flash devices? I'm not sure, I haven't had to despose of these... Use brute force?
There are some components you can bring from system to system, so long as they're not broken. Save your cd/dvd drives because when you usually purchase a new name brand computer, it only comes with one. You can install the other and use that as well or have it installed. Game cards, if they work and you've switched from an AGP to a PCI type system, and you have an electrostatic bag, you might be able to auction it on e-bay. RAM? If there was no problems with that (which sometimes comes in the form of BSODs, complete with memory address information), can also be sold. (you may be able to cannibalize any working part and sell it all piece by piece on ebay) If you're replacing a perfectly good system that just ran a bit slow, why not use it as backup? Swap out whatever part you think might be on the brink of failure, set it aside.
If you have the spare money and want to do some goodwill, replace the drive(s) install a brand of linux on it and donate it to a college student who's stuck in a campus computing lab typing out massive papers or donate it to good will. Just make certain you protect your personal information first.
What are some ways you save money?
Submitted by Pixiemom.
If some store has a card or club, I sign up for it. If there's a sale, I'm there. I wait until "hot" items fall in price. I go to second hand cd/dvd shops. I check the bargain areas of shoe and clothing stores. Sometimes I shop at the salvation army. I look for get "two for" deals. I save change. I weigh the benefits and negatives of wanting what I 'want' and not need. I read labels. Tons of things.
