This is a general sketch of my life. I hope to keep it as faithful to reality as possible, but please do not hold me to that. As much as I like reality, I like to indulge myself with fantasy from time to time. Of course, I think it should be allowed.
Christmas is passing, and I am still relaxing. All that will stop soon, but for the rest of the day (rest of the week) I will make the most of this little pause. When things get started again, I'll be like He-Man. I'll get off my a$s, and there will be no breaks until early May.
I wish everyone the best of luck when it comes to the goals they make for the new year. We should probably all remember that resolutions need to be feasible. At the same time, the things that we make possible in dire circumstances can seem quite surprising. Myself, I'll have a lot of writing and praying to do. What will you be up to?
For the next 2 days, I'll be mustering my strength. I'm taking my vitamins, getting exercise, and staying happy.
I won't bother saying much here, but I want to wish everyone the best for the holidays. Eat, drink, be merry. Just don't drive after the 2nd part. For some this has been a rough year. Hopefully the New Year brings changes for many of us who need it. If 2009 was great for you, I hope you continue to find good fortune in the next.
Wouldn't it be nice if the technology commonly used to lock people of color into cells were incompatible with blackness too? I wish the police couldn't tell if I were speeding. There has to be something that can make up for the fact that consumer electronics that recognize people have left me out. If only HP made security cameras too.
We are working with our partners to learn more. The technology we use is built on standard algorithms that measure the difference in intensity of contrast between the eyes and the upper cheek and nose. We believe that the camera might have difficulty 'seeing' contrast in conditions where there is insufficient foreground lighting.
It's unfortunate. Once you put something on the internet, expect it to become public information. I don't like the fact that this is how things work, but they do. Despite most people's discomfort with such a lack of privacy, I think that these conditions encourage us to behave nicely.
It works like this:
Regardless of my intentions/desires, I will be good. Why? I'm well behaved because I know that my actions are visible.
There is certainly nothing wrong with demanding ethical actions from corporations such as Netflix or Google. Really, we should continue to ask more of them. At the same time, Google reminds us daily that data and its traffic are responsible for making profits even if it makes individuals' lives transparent.
The sad thing is, this woman probably didn't even have facebook. If you have anything you're trying to hide, you know that Facebook is not the place for you. I guess watching too many movies in Netflix's Gay and Lesbian category will cause an uproar. I had no idea that my watching Brokeback Mountain would mean taking such a risk.
In-the-Closet Lesbian Sues Netflix for Releasing Her Movie Preferences [Lawsuits]: " A mother of two, who also happens to be gay (and not broadcasting it), is anonymously suing Netflix for releasing her movie preferences in that contest they held awhile back. Basically, she's Borking them.
In the course of releasing boatloads of data to contestants in its 'Beat Netflix's Recommendation Algorithm' contest, they may not have disguised where that data came from as well as they should. The plaintiff, known here as Jane Doe to preserve privacy, alleges that her identity could be divined from the data, and thus threatens her civil right to privacy. Apparently, two researchers compared Netflix reviews to IMDB reviews and figured out some identities that way.
The suit seeks a cash settlement for each of the 2 million Netflix customers involved, and also seeks to stop the upcoming sequel to the original Netflix contest. We'll keep you updated on the suit—it's a pretty interesting one, for sure. [Wired]
I recently got back from Philly where the American Anthropological Association had their annual meeting. Overall, the meeting went well. I enjoyed seeing some people I rarely have contact with, and I met some new people as well. It was more tiring than usual, since I volunteered as a photographer for Anthropology News. I ended up doing a lot more running around than I would have on my own. Still, I got to see some things that I would have probably missed otherwise.
But the work isn't done. There's much to do now that I am back. The conference was great for everyone needing a reason to get new ideas out into the public. Hopefully people got some decent feedback, and some encouragement for the work they'll be doing in the next year.
What did I do? I slept. I'm too concerned with my physical wellbeing to fight through a sea of shoppers. In a situation like that, I believe that nothing but a blessing from God almighty allows people to escape without a major loss of energy, blood, and/or money. In the last few years haven't there been people stampeded at Walmarts and Best Buys? I mean, pushing around in a crowded Walmart after waking from a turkey coma can't be a good idea. The crowd is strong, and most of us are a little weak after Thanksgiving.
Everybody who has been to the beach knows how hard it can be to fight against the waves. Just like those waves can toss you around, taking away any control you thought you had over yourself, an anxious crowd of shoppers can easily overtake you. You will no longer retain control over your body. I promise, your mental faculties will likely fail you as well. You will forget everything that a life of logic has taught you throughout the year. Lights, shiny objects, and anything associated with familiar names like Nike, Dell, and Sony prove irresistible for the vulnerable shopper under the spell of Black Friday.
The only reason why the Apple Store doesn't have to deal with the loss of life the day after Thanksgiving is that there are no discounts. You see, products that are available all year at $X only have to worry about the first day of release. That's why you see people lining up for new iPhones every so often. People will patiently wait for those things for days. On the other hand, Black Friday deals (I mean the good ones) make many of us feel like they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get their hands on a new TV, computer, or whatever else. Despite the fact that the products they'll fight for that day will be obsolete by January 1, you may never, never, never (that was supposed to be a dramatic echo) be able to get a price like this again.
The honest truth is that you will not want that product anymore if you wait for the every-day price to equal that of the Black Friday deal. Why? Simply because all the new stuff will make its way to the shelves of your local stores, and you'll pray to the gods of immediate gratification that you can play with the toys that haven't collected dust through the month of December. It's sad, but I can't make it stop being true.
Am I saying that I don't believe in Christmas? Of course not! I just won't go out in the last days of November because I value my life over cheaply made products that I will likely have no interest in within the next 60 days.
Just look. Were you or would you like to be part of this?
Welcome to my place. If you like capoeira, quesadillas from Chubby's, or just want another way to procrastinate, this is the place for you. Keep in mind that I'm doing this for you. I want you to know what I'm thinking and doing. That way you can't act surprised by what I say in person. Enjoy yourself!
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