Update

It's been a while since I wrote anything here. Although I was feeling unemployed, single, bored, and unloved, I didn't want to brag about it to everyone, but now I guess it's time for an update.

And there's a lot of stuff to cover.

Here's what's up with me in the next few weeks:

• Tomorrow I have two nibbles about potential jobs, both seemingly pretty cool ones. I won't jinx it by giving details until I'm offered and take one or other. However, one has the hugely fascinating potential to be 100% remote, meaning I could work from Kenya if I wanted to, where the dollar doesn't yet suck completely.
  
• And speaking of Kenya, forget Norway! Seriously, forget all about it (you'll understand when you click on the link below), because on the 3rd, I'm going to Kenya! My good friend Farah is going there to look in on a school she started for street children while she was working in Machakos as a journalist (because she's frankly superhuman). I'll be there seeing the motherland for the first time and looking out for lions and malaria. In case you want to sing along with me for the next week and a bit, click here: "I'm going to Kenya" (note: there are no tigers in Kenya)
  
• I'm thinking about starting a consultancy up with my friend Eric. I identified an unmet need in the online community world that he and I are particularly suited to work on. If everyone on the Internet would sign an NDA, I'd talk about it more, but some of you have been dragging your feet. You know who you are. Working for myself has become a dream ever since I started working for the investors who last "downsized" me.
• I'm a writer! Look Ma, no talent! What I do have is a close friend at MSNBC who's helping me to get a first article published there. Helen is the genius snark behind their Netiquette column. I've helped her with a few articles there by hashing out ideas with her and now she's returning the favor and editing my writing to suck less. She's well suited to editing me, since she's super kind-hearted and effervescently, scintillatingly, and hilariously mean.
  

Yay for Santa Fe

I'm in Santa Fe this week for an online community conference.

I flew into Albuquerque and got a rental car. I brought my Garmin along, so I wouldn't have to think for myself very much at all. One of the benefits of having a GPS system in this part of the world is that you know, in real-time, and so can exclaim loudly if you're inclined, that you must have just taken a wrong turn in Albuquerque. Simple pleasures.

I thought Reston looked manufactured. Albuquerque doesn't seem to suffer from a great deal of authenticity. I could be wrong. Perhaps all these adobe buildings were manufactured by real live Southwest Amerindians. Apparently though, most of the boutiques selling authentic Southwest art are owned by Iranians (and let's all welcome the SigInt folks from the NSA to the blog for the first time. Welcome!)

In other news, you ever have that nagging feeling that you've forgotten something. I often have it, but now it's like the boy who cried wolf, because usually I'm good. This time however, I have to go to Target tomorrow to buy underwear. Good grief.

Pictures later, if I get to take any. There's a good Georgia O'Keefe museum here, so I can see the original pictures of flowers (genitals) and skulls (also genitals?) tomorrow if I'm lucky. I'm psyched to see the mysterious stairs built by St. Francis (or some such nonsense). As I say, pics to follow - as well as explanation I hope.

Sad phone

I came across this on BoingBoing.net.

If you read the comments, you'll notice a theme.

It is interesting how hearing the voice of a dead loved one can have such an effect. I'll hazard a guess though that it's not just the voice, but the context too. After all, the recording is one half of a conversation that was recorded entirely without reference to the sad facts. It's hopeful and bittersweet.

If you ask me, it's also a little indulgent and self-tormenting.

Beard experiment

Like most guys who get laid off, I took the opportunity to grow a beard. It was a failure. After working out that it was growing in like I had a pre-existing case of chemo-therapy, I decided to try some new looks as I shaved it off. Most were hampered by the mange look - although I really like the biker look. Maybe one day after I finish the whole cremaster cycle.

beard
I cannot grow a beard. I look mangy.

Tidied
Amazing what a tiny bit of shaving will do.
Engage Number One!

Goatee
Like the mullet, you can't wear this ironically any longer, so I just looked like a dick.

Biker /Handlebar
Nickel mustache rides anyone? Wow this is awesome (in my head!).

Stepdad?
Not sure why I think of this as a "stepdad" look, but I do. It conjures earnestness with a twist of dickiness.

Interestingly, my actual stepdad is a lovely fellow, but then he's grown a simply fantastic beard and mustache.

Awesome
Back to normal. Best, I find, not to wear your shortfallings on your face in full display. I can't grow a beard, and now only the Internet knows.

It's hard to believe someone so commandingly attractive can be both single and unemployed! Oh, wait.