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September 30, 2005

It's a Small World in the Land of Squip

From my backlog of topics I've meant to write about but never got around to, one of them is the email I received from a guy by the name of Ned Vizzini. He wrote:

Funny coincidence: I wrote this book called Be More Chill about a kid in high school who gets a pill that makes him cool called a "squip." I wanted to know if you'd ever Google'd "squip" and seen the "squipiverse" that we set up. I'm interested in how you came up with the name and what it means to you. I assume that we both just pulled "squip" out of the collective ether...

My initial reaction after reading Ned's email was to laugh out loud. I had indeed Googled the term "squip" based on the searches that showed up in my stats back in the day when I was using the squipper.com domain. Though I didn't do all that much research on it, I did come across Ned's world of squip web sites and never made the connection that a book was involved. I responded to Ned's email and explained to him the origin of my use of the name "squip." Squipper was a nickname given to me in 1995 that eventually was shortened to squip. I'm sure Ned was surprised to learn that someone out in the webiverse actually had that as a nickname.

Now about the book of squip, aka Ned's book titled "Be More Chill" ...
On October 21, 2004 the New York Times wrote:

IMAGINE a pill that could make you cool. Ned Vizzini did, and the squip -- a tiny ingestible supercomputer that gives you social advice on the spot (''Be jaded and profane'' or ''Keep looking her in the face'') -- became the centerpiece of his novel for teenagers, ''Be More Chill'' (Miramax, 2004).

To market the book, Mr. Vizzini, 23, asked a friend who is a Web designer, Adam Collett, to help him build a tongue-in-cheek Web site promoting squips as if they were real. ''Adam said, 'One Web site?! Why not create a world of Web sites?'' Mr. Vizzini recalls. So with $13,500 from Miramax -- along with contributions by a growing number of online followers -- Mr. Vizzini and Mr. Collett built the Squipiverse (iwanttobecool.org), a constellation of 14 Web sites devoted to all fictional things squip: squip news, squip viruses, even squip detractors. And while the teenagers involved control their computers -- as opposed to vice versa -- there's a sense in which the creativity and community of the Squipiverse makes them, well, cool.

"... as if they were real." hehehe. They are indeed, only not in pill form. A tiny ingestible supercomputer called a squip and recollection of my own high school cool/not cool status was enough to get me to buy Ned's book. I really enjoyed the read. And hey, they have SQUiP? stickers. Me? I want a SQUiP? t-shirt. Only mine shouldn't have a question mark at the end simply because I am, and always will be, the original "Squip." :-)

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September 29, 2005

World Toilet Summit

Reuters: Delegates to the annual World Toilet Summit in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast could be forgiven for feeling flushed this week after sitting down for a three-day debate on the finer points of public sanitation. Some 350 experts at the summit discussed such pressing subjects as anti-social behavior in rest-rooms, portable toilets, and facilities for the blind. "A lot was achieved, including the finalization of a protocol setting out global standards for the provision and hygiene of public toilets," Raymond Martin, director of the Irish Toilet Association, told Reuters.

Other highlights of the summit included the launch of a "Bog Standard Campaign" to push for better toilets in UK schools, and the unveiling of Belfast's first public UriLift toilet, a stainless steel urinal that rises hydraulically out of the ground at night to facilitate male revelers. In terms of public toilet excellence, it was generally agreed that Singapore was a model for the rest of the world, with the UK somewhere around the middle of the league table. Martin said that with hundreds of toilet experts gathered in one place lavatorial humor was unavoidable. "But what you actually find is that when the punning and joking is over people actually take toilets very seriously. It's a subject that's close to everyone's heart." I'm sure they meant to say it's a subject that's close to everyone's buttocks... or something. :-)

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26 Things

I completed the 26 Things Photographic Scavenger Hunt for July and forgot to mention it. Here's the link: 26 Things July.

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September 28, 2005

List of Banished Words

A newspaper clipping I saved back in February just resurfaced on my desk, having spent many months tucked into a notebook I forgot about.

The clipping notes Lake Superior State University's annual "List of Words Banished From the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness." This year's retirees include:

blog
blue states/red states
you're fired
wardrobe malfunction
erectile dysfunction

And more...! (also on the list.) By the way, LSSU accepts nominations for the List of Banished Words throughout the year. To submit your nomination for the 2006 list, go to www.lssu.edu/banished.

Words and combos I hope not to use in 2006 include anyway, anyways, the combos but anyway, I digress and others I can't think of right now. What about you? What words should you banish from your own vocabulary due to over-use, mis-use, etc.?

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September 27, 2005

Today's Quote

"When I woke up this morning my girlfriend asked me, 'Did you sleep good?' I said 'No, I made a few mistakes.'" - Steven Wright

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September 26, 2005

Idio Cin

Piggy and Tazzy have been doing this fun thing and they asked other bloggers to take part. I suppose I smell.... *sniff!* or something. They didn't ask me. After expressing the utter anguish of hurt feelers to them, they asked me to participate. Shameful, aren't I. Now I can say I am part of their motley crew. Whoopie! I have to list 5 idiosyncrasies of my very own and then tap 5 others out there to do the same. Here are mine.

Idiosyncrasy
- from The American Heritage College Dictionary:
1. A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.
2. A physiological or temperamental peculiarity.
3. An unusual individual reaction to food or a drug.

- from The Oxford Dictionary:
1. Mental constitution, opinion, or mode of behavior peculiar to a person
2. Anything highly individualized.

Note: I've no idea if these are idios or not and don't care at this point. :-)
1. I have this thing about ziploc bags. I use them for everything -- from storing food in the fridge to using them for toiletries/makeup, etc. and my personal fave, I use them when I pack for a trip. Pretty much everything I'm packing is tucked into a ziploc. Clothing, underalls, shoes, etc. Where there's me, there's a ziploc. :-)

2. There are two things I say frequently that I'd like banished forever from my personal vocabulary. The first is "but anyway" and the second is "you HAVE to understand!" Each time either of them slips out of my mouth I want to go have my jaw wired shut so I don't have to hear it again.

3. I become shy when least expected. I don't do it purposely. It's just one of those things that happens to me, and usually occurs when one would expect the opposite -- an introvert appears when an extrovert is called for. Go figure. Friends have told me that I become shy at the weirdest times. *shrug*

4. I've been known to stand with my hands on my hips while speaking to a business associate. This managed to drive some former bosses of mine absolutely nuts, and they told me as much ("Cindy, you know I really hate it when you stand there with your hands on your hips.") Having done a bit of investigation on this body language, I found that it is actually non-threatening -- that it means the person adopting the stance is ready for action. Since I was in sales, I'd say that's not too terrible, is it. However, I've tried to break that habit so as not to inadvertently intimidate, though I am my own boss these days. :-)

5. I blush. There's absolutely nothing I can do about it. It is a dead giveaway of something I'm reacting to, erupting across my face like a neon light shining brightly in the night. I hate that it's so obvious and I can't control it. *blush* ;-)

Hmm... let's see who my 5 victims will be...

Susan at Spinning...
Oz at G'day Mate...
Joost!...
Blue at Partial to Grey
Loup at because I said so

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September 23, 2005

Love Note to Al

Dear Al:
Last year, this month you wrote:
I'm informed it's our bloggiversary -- did I just say that out loud? I'm going to go hang myself now. But before that, go say, "Hey," to Squip.

Uh oh. I missed our 'versary September 7. My bad. We've both been very busy. Double sheesh. As is my custom now, here's a special sentimental link in honor of our 'versary, since I can't find the photo of the black bear you used to have on your site. :-(

For those of you who don't know who Al is, he is someone who has been a terrific friend to me these last few years. Our paths first crossed when I spotted a photograph of a bear on his site and asked if I could link to it (that's link, not HOTlink.) Since then we have come to know each other and he has helped me numerous times with many, many blog/tech/disaster thingies, for which I am eternally grateful. Al's a bud, and we still haven't met in person. :-) He's 'the shit.' He's the man. I love Al. His site/blog/whatever he refers to it as these days can be found here.

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Fourth Annual Blogger Boobie-Thon

Ladies and gents, get your boobies ready! The fourth annual Blogger Boobie-Thon for breast cancer research and (this year) Hurricane Katrina victim relief returns October 1. Founded by Florida blogger Robyn Pollman (http://www.shutterblog.com) in 2002, the Blogger Boobie-Thon has since grown into something much bigger... as boobies often do when they mature. Female and male bloggers alike submit photographs of their breasts, both bare and covered, for the cause. The covered (yet sexy) breasts are featured on a free, public, possibly-not-work-safe area of the site. However, if viewers would like to see the BARE breasts, they must first donate at least $50 to the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, then submit a copy of their e-receipt (with sensitive information taken out, of course) to the coordinators of the Boobie-Thon. They will then be sent a secret URL with a login and password to the "pay-per-boob" site.

The charities for this year are the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the American Red Cross. The event begins at midnight on Saturday, October 1, 2005 up to 11:59 p.m. EDT on Saturday, October 8, 2005. More information forthcoming at shutterblog.com Information from last year's event can be found here. Visit the Boobie-Thon submissions page for information about submitting your photos.

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iGiveUp

Regardless of the number of times I've requested that my blog be removed from the iTunes Music Store podcast listing, it's still there -- since July. It's NOT a podcast, it's a BLOG.

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September 22, 2005

Hiding Behind My Fame

Bet you didn't know I'm famous. Thing is, neither did I. The title of this post is simply the opinion of someone who sent me a lovely card from across the pond and wrote on the back of the envelope: Talk about hiding behind fame! It made me laugh.

The card sender didn't know my last name or perhaps just forgot what it is, or something. (I'm pulling possibilities out of thin air here because I dare not accept fault for this, uh, issue.) Resourceful person that he is, his remarks didn't begin and end with the fame comment but continued, accusing me (in what I readily assume was a playful way) of deliberately challenging him and the "postwoman or mailman" followed by yet another exclamation ! point. Next, he then inquired as to why my non de famille could not be found in certain places online. In ending his evident frustration (or playfulness, which is how I prefer to view it) he then tacked on a last bit about my information in the phone book, which one and... ? something else that I couldn't read.

SO... I'll now flip the envelope over to its face and share with you how it is addressed. It reads (and I'm not making this up) as follows:

Cindy C. aka Cynthia C. aka Squip, aka Squipper (may this find her!)
my address
USA
(Etats-Unis)

Kudos to the local NYC post office employees who obviously had their clever hats on when the envelope arrived here from Europe. One can imagine a group of U.S. Postal workers gathered 'round this one envelope, noting the exotic postmark from 'overseas' and the desire to resolve the mystery. " Why, it's from Paris!" worker A blurted out. "We MUST figure this out! It could be a LOVE LETTER FROM PARIS, and WHAT IS MORE ROMANTIC THAN THAT!!!!?????" *clears throat* Sorry (but not really.) I couldn't resist that digression. Meanwhile, back at the post office in NYC, the clues were spelled out: a correct street address but no apartment number made this tricky. When it came to matching the name of the recipient with the address, since there were a few names to choose from, I'll guess that it was process of elimination. Below the address are two question marks (like so: ? ? perhaps representing, well, which name is it?!?) and finally, my apartment number was written in with a circle drawn around it.

*BINGO!*

With the completion of my envelope reading, I almost didn't want to open the envelope to discover what was inside. I was laughing so hard and wasn't quite ready to let go of the funnies in order to relieve that poor weary envelope of its fate accompli. Of course in typical 'me' fashion, I felt a bit guilty that the sender, though it's purely implied here, made numerous attempts to find my last name. Hmm... email someone who knows me well? Ah, but that would ruin the surprise, wouldn't it. My other solution would have been the obvious one: just ask me. The main thing is that it's the thought that counts, right? Right. :-)

p.s. the notecard was indeed as amusing and delightful as the envelope... and that's all I'm going to say without carrying on about the racy content. You know, on the topic of blogging. ;-) As far as my fame is concerned, well... uh, right. Whatever! :-)

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I've Been MIBA

MIBA = missing in blog action.

Did ya maybe notice I've not had much to say here? Me too. I think I'll hit you with a flurry of mindnumbing, awe-inspiring posts just to make up for empty space. Yeah, sounds good to me. Back in a bit. Here's something for you to ponder while you're waiting...

Most white men can't dance. Discuss.

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September 16, 2005

U.S. State Dept; NYPD Podcasts

Information Week: U.S. State Dept; NYPD Join Podcasting Bandwagon -- the two are the latest government entities to broadcast safety tips, speeches, and other information to the public.

NYPD Podcast info
Free Government Information

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September 15, 2005

Apple files for iPodcast Trademark

On Sept. 4th the iPod maker made two filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the iPodcast trademark, both of which are awaiting the assignment of an examining attorney. The first filing seeks a trademark on the term iPodcast. A second filing requests that the iPodcast trademark cover services. More at AppleInsider: Apple files for Podcasting trademark

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September 13, 2005

Today's Quote

Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.
- Mark Twain

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September 11, 2005

A Solemn Day

In solemn remembrance of:
the fathers ... the mothers ... the sons and daughters ...
the families ... the children ... the husbands ...
the wives ... the girlfriends ... the boyfriends ...
the citizens ... the colleagues ... the clients ...
the friends ... the neighbors near and far ...
the bravest ... the finest ... the heroes ...
all who perished.

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September 6, 2005

When Your Own Words are Hopelessly Inadequate

Nicholas Barrett of taliesin's log, one of the most superb writers I've been fortunate enough to come across, has recently moved the focus of his blogging from a personal nature to his musical finds. He made this move a month or so ago, and though I've not stopped reading his blog, found that I truly missed his more personal entries. As such, I was surprised to find that he'd written a post about New Orleans. He eloquently wrote all that I thought about yet struggled to write myself. An excerpt:

Those who are elected to lead others have a public responsibility at all times to do so without question or balking. In life, as in any musical performance worthy of the name, the immediate reaction if something goes so terribly wrong should be to take steps to remedy it at once.
Nobody can expect flawless performance from anyone else, but a failure to be a responsive and responsible part of the act when you are and have been entrusted by others with such duties strikes me as an unwise, cold and ultimately inhuman way to behave. It's a pity.

For New Orleans ... and the future -- I highly recommend that you read it.

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A Doer

Dale Keiger at scribble, scribble, scribble has set aside his electronic pen in favor of actively helping in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. He's on his way to Meridian, Mississippi for two weeks duty with an emergency medical response team from Johns Hopkins.

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The Rebuild

I had a conversation with friend Marcus last week about the relief efforts down South. I told him he was the only one of my friends who I felt would drop everything to assist in helping the victims of the hurricane. He responded that his own contribution would be better utilized during the rebuild, where he could actively put his carpentry talents to work. Good point.

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New Yorkers are so Nice

So said a couple of tourists from the UK when they asked me to take a photograph of them standing in front of the Trump International Hotel at Columbus Circle last night. Nice to know our reputation is improving...

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September Birthdays

For those of you who are celebrating birthdays this month... happy birthday!

9/3 - Adam
9/6 - LeAnn
9/8 - Tine
9/8 - Ted
9/9 - Blue
9/19 - Wendy

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