Most Recent Stories & Articles for Other
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Professionalism
- Posted On: 9/20/2006
There's something wonderful about hitting that "Send" button after composing an important e-mail that you've strategically authored and carefully reviewed. How quickly the magic fades and often goes unnoticed by anyone other than the creator. Eventually the messages pile up and, before you know it, your fantastic product's short life has ended and it has been archived beneath the rubble of life's communications.
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Web fads
- Posted On: 9/19/2006
"The web is just a fad. You'll see..."
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BLAH
- Posted On: 8/14/2006
Blah, blah, blah... that's what I feel like.
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A General Update on Life
- Posted On: 5/25/2006
I don't have much time to post today, but I thought I'd at least give my reasons for disappearing over the past week or so...
- SECRET: Yes, I can't tell you one of the biggest reasons for being so busy yet, but I will... just you come back next week and see.
- Acting: The play, Lend Me a Tenor, was fantastic and the whole cast got rave reviews. Thank you all for coming to see me make a fool of myself!
- Acting: A 2nd installment for this topic, I tried out for Starlight Theatre's next production, Music Man. I hope to get the lead for Professor Harold Hill, but there are a lot of talented guys and gals and the casting of each character has proven difficult, even for the incredibly talented and experienced group of directors. I see the results coming down to questions like "Well, if we put Eric in this role, then where will we put so-and-so?" Realistically, I think I'll end up with Marcellus, the comedic relief and shadow of Prof. Hill. Why? 'Cause I think they'll have to, since I don't know who else they can really cast as that guy without leaving a hole somewhere. I should know my role next Wednesday, May 31st.
- Singing: The Anthem, AZ "Music in May" series is coming to an end. The choir I am in, ProMusica, will be performing tonight with the Phoenix Symphony once again for a spectacular concert in the park with TONS of fireworks! We'll be singing general Americana and you'll find me in our a cappella group singing some fun songs too.
- Pets: We are down to 1 bunny. The more aggresive of the 2 died overnight a couple of days ago. From some extensive research, I found Miami University's "H.A.R.E" website to be very helpful. We think the bunny died after quickly developing diarrhea due to complications during the delicate development of its intestinal bacteria balance (just like humans, but apparently more delicate).
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Well, I'm not signing up!
- Posted On: 5/16/2006
My wife has been subtly prodding me to sign-up for the National Guard to take advantage of their college benefits (since I never finished to get my degree). My first reaction was, "I don't want to go to Iraq!" The subject came up again yesterday and even my grandmother was in on the prodding. So, what's the headline news today? "Bush to order up to 6,000 in Guard to border" um... I don't think so, thanks. I'll search for a company to hire me and pay for my tuition.
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Real Estate: How much is your home worth?
- Posted On: 4/20/2006
The advertisement graphic says it all... I would only add "HELLA COOL!!!" Too bad they don't have an affiliate program where I could make some money for your clicks ;) 
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Quotes
- Posted On: 3/30/2006
Random quotes hit me in the noggin all the time, so I'm officially making a place to record them: (personally, I don't care if you like them or not)
All I ask is that you remember where the quote came from if you decide to use it. -
Real people...
- Posted On: 9/7/2005
I've been programming in seclusion for a couple of days and I was wondering if real people still existed outside... So, I went to the all-knowing Zork and asked:
> Do real people still exist outside?
Invalid Input
> real people
I don't understand that.
> neither do I
I don't understand that.
> man
I can't see one here
> hey! That wasn't nice!
I don't understand that.
> woman
I don't understand that.
> lol
I don't understand that.
> look
You are in an open field west of a big white house with a boarded front door.
There is a small mailbox here.
Sure enough... no people! -
A Personal Quote
- Posted On: 9/7/2005
"Many ideas are like dogs in the pound... they're gonna die unless you adopt one." --Eric S. 1978-... morbid, but true. -
Two for Tuesday
- Posted On: 8/30/2005
That's right 2 posts in one! Exciting stuff...
Post #1: Old People Suck
I am in the community choir here (laugh all you want) and the membership is comprised largely of older (laugh some more) and very experience singers. (ha! who's laughing now?!) Well, I ran into the "historian" on the board of directors today, who is an "elderly" woman. The conversation quickly turned to "I have to go work a 2nd shift... eck!" and "I'm enjoying my retirement." She's a very pleasant lady, but the whip cream on the conversation was when I mentioned not wanting to get to retirement too quickly (i.e. not growing old too fast), and she quipped, "Yeah, because I'll have spent it all." (referring to Social Security funding)
Damn you old people! I realize it's not your individual fault that Social Security worked out the way it did. But, we can't blame the government, because we vote on everything (or, rather you VOTED on everything that now affects me). So, yes I blame all you old people for indirectly setting yourselves up to live off of my paychecks, requiring all my peers and I to glare at the government with shaking fists of fury. Next time you see them, be sure to tip grandma's or grandpa's wheelchair on its edge for at least a couple of seconds and feel free to yell a profanity or two. Then, quickly apologize for your actions and respect your elders! Keep in mind that you might end up supporting your parents when they get too old as well. (Uncle Sam got us going both ways!!!)
Post #2: I forgot and don't really care...
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So... I !AM! a teenager!!!
- Posted On: 7/19/2005
Some program manager for MSN flipped me to this "RealAge" website, where some people have come up with an assessment test for determining your physical age rather than just your chronological age. Makes sense, considering all that we subject our bodies and minds to in this world... good and bad. So, what were the results?I must first preface my results with an interesting tidbit of info... At 26 years of age, people ALWAYS mistake me for a teenager! hmm... Well, I am a kid at heart and have been very active much of my life, which keeps me healthy. I was walking in a popular outdoor mall last year (25 years old), when rent-o-cop is standing there in the middle of the walkway and asks me, "Where are you headed?" I slowed my walk and thought nothing of it... "Barnes & Noble," I replied. "And, how old are you?" he inquired. (WTF?!) This guy's standing there so the little teenie-boppers don't break their curfue by waiting in a designated area until their parents pick them up. "25!" I exclaimed rather proudly and simply shrugged the guy off. My face is "young"... that's all. Or, so I thought...(play dramatic music here!)My chronological age at this time is 26.6. Okay... nothing new here. BUT! My "RealAge" is 17.7! AH HA!!!!! There's the proof! FINALLY!!! ALL IS ANSWERED IN THIS CRAZY WORLD! ...(Eric performs a relaxing exercise to return to lowercase...)So, I'm almost 8 years younger than my chronological age? Yup. Sounds about right actually. Oddly enough, if they had a mental / emotional age assessment they would recognize that I'm in my 30's and that balances it all out.The greatest part of taking the test was this statement: "Your RealAge is 17.7. But you could be younger--in as few as 90 days" by signing up for their "RealAge Reduction Plan". LOL!!! I can be younger than 8 years younger!!! Woo hoo! I can be 15 years old again!!!All I have to do is stop talking on the cell phone while driving, take my daily vitamins, exercise and floss my teeth more regularly, get accurate measurements of my blood pressure / HDL / total cholesterol levels, eat breakfast EVERY day, and to eat more vegetables, fruit, grains, and (surprisingly) unsaturated fat! That's all?! No wonder why I'm such an old fart...LMAOROF... -
MONSTEROUS!!!
- Posted On: 7/1/2005
Preposterous! Outrageous! Monsterous! ...What's with our fascination of monsters? Is it based on the American ideal of "livin' large"? Like the American industry icons of the past... the bigger the better. Are we still hooked on it?Or, is it something all too simple? Monster.com -
Anthem, Arizona USA
- Posted On: 6/14/2005
Anthem, Arizona USA
Yes, I live in Anthem, AZ USA and it rocks! I grew up in Arizona and have lived here all of my life. Outside of some trips to other countries and about 60% of the US, I enjoyed the little world I had etched out in the "Valley of the Sun". It's damn hot! That's for sure! Every summer. I hear people every week, "we moved here for the weather". Well, I haven't experienced a complete Minnesota winter and I hate the cold, but do they forget about the 4-6 months of devastating heat? They have a contest each year just north of the valley to see how quickly people can cook eggs on the sidewalk using simple tools (aluminum foil, etc. - no cheating with camping stoves)!
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Two Entries in 1 Day!!!
- Posted On: 6/8/2005
I posted this comment on Abbie's space and felt the need to share it further:
It's funny that you mention feeling better at the expense of the moronic behaviour of others. I encountered a young man (22 or so) in a Super Walmart who worked in the pet supply and fish departments. During our rather long wait in line he babbled on about how some of his customers that day were "so stupid, it makes even people in Missouri look bad" (where he was from). I couldn't help but judge him based on his own ability to communicate both verbally and through body language and come to my own conclusion that he too was lower on the intelligence chain. My step-son and I exchanged glances with one another throughout the conversation simply to affirm our internal reactions of "Whoa, this guy is an idiot." After making our purchase and exiting the store, I sensed the desire for both of us to begin nailing the poor guy with snide criticism, so I quickly took the opportunity to be a good example with a short and simple explanation. "There are a lot of people in this world. I don't know where that guy is coming from in life. He's definately 'different' from most people we encounter, but we shouldn't treat him any differently." Both of us paused in reflection. Recognizing that I had squashed what my son and his friends may have made into an entire week of humorous conversation, I added, "But, it's still funny." (and we both chuckled at the young man's inability to see himself in the same place he was putting others)
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Simply Poetic... HAH!
- Posted On: 6/8/2005
Dear Blog Reader,
Thank you for your visit here.
I hope you find the time to read and enjoy,
One of my stories, 'cause I’m no Shakespeare.
Work is rough, I’m coding all day,
For a new version of my product is on its way.
With global support for multiple languages
Time zones a-plenty and other advantages.My family and home are safe and sound.
Accepting the responsibilities of others abound.
Backyard landscaping is well on its way.
I finished the sprinklers just the other day.I bought this DigiMemo A-501
For only $100 and endless fun, fun.
I’m reading a book titled C# Design Patterns;
Thinking so hard that my brain burns.I’ll leave you with a thought for the day if I may…
Keep your head up, always having positive things to say.
It will only help your daily outlook on life
And give others the hope to defeat their own strife.Sincerely,
Eric Swanson -
All Apologies
- Posted On: 5/17/2005
OMG! I just listened to those singing posts I made back in April... gawd... I am SO SORRY! But, I'm not deleting them. They'll remain to teach everyone why crazy people shouldn't drink, even if it's once a month. LOL If you were unfortunate enough to hear those crazy sounds, listen to my lullaby to sooth your hurting head...
Life is still busy as ever for those of you who stumble across my site and find it amusing or interesting. I am king of the $10,000+ survey and my product is selling well, so I have to get back to coding...
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Flip It and Reverse It
- Posted On: 1/12/2005
I had to have extra fun with my 2nd sound byte, so I made a feeble attempt to record something backwards, so that when it was reversed it sounded correct (or close to correct). I really don't want to type much in the blog today, so... there you go.
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Sound Bytes
- Posted On: 1/11/2005
Here is my first sound byte to the world. Not much, but it's a start. I'll continue to play with this feature in the future. Try changing my voice, sing to the world, etc. We'll see what happens.
I'm using Macromedia Flash MX to compress the sound bytes. The original ".wav" file for this sound byte was 1.2Mb! But, Flash compressed it down to 107Kb. Not bad at all. I look forward to my next sound byte post! I'm too easily entertained...
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The 2004 Tsunami
- Posted On: 1/7/2005
I must make mention of the terrible, world disaster almost 2 weeks ago. The 2004 December Tsunami was one of the greatest disaster's the world has seen for some time. Spending time re-iterating what has already been said so many times over the news would be a waste of time, so I'll keep it personal.
My heart goes out to all of the victims and the families and friends of those victims as well as their communities. So much work is left to be done and will remain weeks and months after this tradgedy. I especially hope that the children affected by the event receive all the care, attention, and love they need.
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Alcohol Stoves
- Posted On: 1/5/2005
My buddy is totally into building these miniature alcohol stoves for camping, hiking, etc. You can actually buy them on eBay or build one yourself. He recommends Zen Alcohol Stoves for the best information. Here's his latest find:
http://www.csun.edu/~mjurey/penny.html
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A Year of Success
- Posted On: 1/3/2005
Happy New Year!
"The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind." --William James
I am very excited about this year. It has started off right and more importantly, I have started it with the right frame of mind. Renewed and refreshed. I look forward to the complete rebirth of Spring and continue to enjoy the relaxing "dormancy" of the winter. It's important to attempt to merge your life cycles each year with the seasons. It helps you feel a part of this world and gives you a healthy perspective.
The gym in my community has re-opened... FINALLY! After 2 weeks of no working out (my excuse, 'cause you don't need a gym to workout in. But, it helps in the winter), I am looking forward to getting in there and pumping some iron.
The quote above is referenced in a book I am reading, "Making a Habit of Success" by Mack R. Douglas, a specialist in purpose-driven, motivational consultation. The first few chapters have been an inspiring read. I encourage anyone reading this to go out and buy Og Mandino's "The Greatest Salesman in the World", even if you are not a "salesman".
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I represent 20% of all Eric Swanson's in the world!
- Posted On: 12/20/2004
I checked Google today and after some hard work, I have 2 of the top 10 entries for the term "Eric Swanson"! Damn you Eric Swanson the photographer!!! Linking you just gave you another boost too... Damn! Okay, so technically 20% isn't a valid statistic for all of the results, but it's certainly interesting that I am 8th and 9th out of 394,000 results. I could get some serious sponsorships if this was the NBA draft picks!
So what? It's not that difficult to get listed as "Eric Swanson". I'll bet I've even spurred some of you web-savvy people to take over the term "Eric Swanson" just so you can comment that you've pushed me out of the ranks. Get a life! If you need instructions, don't ask me, 'cause I'm still trying to get one.
So, here is a REALLY interesting experiment... Since I am listed in the top results of this phrase, I am going to use the indexing I get as a springboard for a new term... "beta fish". Why?! Well, I own two beta fish, "Casper" and "Current". Yes, I named my fish.
No, really... why am I trying to get indexed using beta fish as a term? You see... Microsoft's MSN Spaces has been up for a while now and is getting indexed like crazy for its content. What word is the first word at the top of every page? "Beta". So, I wonder if I can get "points" for referencing fish all over the place and "beta fish" all over the place? Enough points to move up the chain for a Google search:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=Beta+fish
That's right... one page, one site, one reference to fish and we'll see if the fact that "beta" plastered all over MSN spaces will help me get referenced in "beta fish". Do you know much about betas? Breeding beta fish may be difficult. Beta fish care is very important. Betas are cool. Well, we'll see how this goes... maybe I'll occasionally throw the term into my BLOG articles to see if there's any progress...
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Noon and mid-night are gone forever...
- Posted On: 12/20/2004
Here's my brain rambling about measurements of time...
I am going to remove the use of "in the A.M." as a replacement for "in the morning" from my vocabulary from now on. I finally looked up the fact that A.M. stands for "ante meridiem", or "before noon", and that P.M. stands for "post meridiem", or "after noon". I guess this is why people specify "noon" when referring to the mid-point of the day.
Of course, when someone is introduced to the concept of A.M. and P.M. to tell time, the first intelligent question is "So, what do you use for noon and midnight?" I suppose the answer would be that these 2 terms simply refer to the turn of the clock and refer to nothing in terms of A.M. and P.M. You see, when referring to "11:00 A.M." you know that the number before and the number after are also "A.M." numbers, but at noon A.M. must stop and P.M. must begin. So, noon simply exists between the two. So, A.M. must stop just before P.M. stops. But, how do you stop time long enough to name it? No matter what, time is always ticking by at some decimal level...
When does a new time interval begin is the underlying question. When you are counting, you use an interval. For example, 1-2-3-4-5, we are using whole numbers. Or, when counting 1.1-1.2-1.3, we are rounding to the nearest 10th.
So, when we count time what is the interval? Months, days, hours, minutes, seconds, milliseconds, microseconds? At what time do you stop counting decimal increments and round up to the next number? So, at what point do we stop counting A.M. and start counting P.M.? Do we change the reference when the milliseconds equal a new second and we go from "11:59.999 A.M." to "12:00.000", thus making it "12:000.000 P.M."? I mean what if we used microseconds? Technically you can't ever reference a point in time, because by the time you have a reference time has passed. So, you could calculate how long the reference would take to make and factor it in to the final reference, but how can you prove it? You can't measure it! You have to simply accept a certain level of measurement as "certain" and proceed. So, I think I will reference the change of of the meridiem as the point in time when the microseconds stop counting 11 A.M. and begin counting 12 P.M.
Hmm... gotta get back to work, but this will require additional research and philosophy... The question I am left with is at what point do you count to the next number and when you get there at what point are you at the beginning of the number? When counting from 1 to 2, at what point am I at 1? When I say 1? But, I am moving toward 2, so am I past 1? My relationship with philosophy is a "love/hate relationship".
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The definition of "ante meridiem"
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Revolution in architecture opens in Curitiba, Brazil
- Posted On: 12/17/2004
I'm buying one! What an incredible idea for such a great price! ... where your apartment takes up an entire floor and rotates 360 degrees! Sorry Dilbert, but this building blows your Ultimate House out of the water. (although to Dilbert's credit, they are great comics!)
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Yahoo! News - Revolution in architecture opens in Curitiba, Brazil
