CoolB*log

Upgraded WordPress today and something I’ve done along the way seems to have broken the permalinks. So for the time being I’ve changed the permalink structure from what I had to the default. This means that you can get to the pages from the wordpress created links but any internal links I have set up (or any outside links) will result in a 404. I’m not however going to go through and change the internal links since I hope to have the problem figured out and fixed sometime and would then just have to change everything back.

I apologize for any inconvenience this causes any of my readers or anyone who might actually link to a post of mine.

Carefully traveling across the stream,
Moving ever so carefully as if in a dream.
One wrong step could spell my doom,
Causing me to have to resume.
Many are trying to keep me away,
From reaching my final goal today.
But like the determined jogger,
I will not give up, I will beat Frogger.

Just got back from Motor City Comic Con not too long ago. Had a blast as usual.

Once we arrived we decided to get in line to see Avery Brooks first since he had the longest line of the people I wanted to see. It was about a 20 minute wait but was worth it, he was very friendly.

Next got in line to see Joe Pantoliano and then Margot Kidder, both of which were also nice.

The next few had almost no line so went rather quickly. Saw Anthony Montgomery and Walter Koenig, I know I keep saying this but its almost amazing how friendly they are, you always hear stories of famous people being rude and aloof, none of these people were like that.

Next person I saw was Chase Masterson, who even after what I said about everyone else, is still I’d say in the top three for nicest, sweetest person I’ve met at these conventions. An absolute sweetheart.

After her autograph we went to where they were doing a screening of the first two parts of Star Trek: Of Gods and Men, after a slight detour getting lost. I really enjoyed it, it’s an underground fan film with a relatively small budget but I think they did a good job with what they had. It even stars a lot of actors from the actual Star Trek series. I’m definitely looking forward to part 3 sometime in June and good chance I’ll pick up the DVD in July

Also met up with some friends at the screening so showed them the pictures and autographs I’d gotten so far.

Afterwards went and got a print signed by Al Feldstein as well as a photograph with him. And yet another person who was extremely friendly.

After that did some walking around the dealer’s area and did buy a HeroClix single and then left and went to Mongolian Barbecue for lunch and then headed home.

And in a new personal record, I have photos posted within 24 hours! Huzzah!

Walking along the trails,
Heading no where in particular.
Every step I take,
Gives me another story to tell.
The wind whispering in my ear,
Sharing so many secrets.
And as I listen silently,
It seems to make things so clear.
But alas it cannot last forever,
Soon I’ll have to head back.
But part of me wishes to stay,
So heading back could be an endeavour.
But I know that I’ll return with ease,
Another day not to far from now.
When the weather is nice,
And the wind blows it’s soft breeze.

I picked up the new hardcover deluxe edition of the Batman story The Killing Joke this weekend. I have to say I was disappointed by it. For one thing every time I heard or read about the story it was usually getting lots of praise. I’m not saying it was bad, but I was expecting more with the way everyone talked about it. Just didn’t live up to the hype.

Warning: The rest of this post contains spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.
Read the rest of this entry »

Well, I upgraded to WordPress 2.5 over the weekend and after playing with it for a couple of days here are my initial thoughts.

I really like the new link/blogroll functionality, much improved over previous versions.

I like the concept of tags, however I don’t care for the tag cloud widget which is as far as I can tell the only way to give them a function out of the box. I think they should make it possible to allow the search widget to search through the tags as well as the actual words in a post or page.

Speaking of tags, I also think there should be someway to tag photos in the new gallery/media library. I know you can add descriptions but sometimes tagging the photo is easier and/or less cluttering on the page. This would also be another good reason to allow the search widget to search the tags as well.

And last of all, the new gallery function. This is by far the feature I was most looking forward to in 2.5. I do have another gallery site that is based on WordPress, but I was looking forward to moving the albums there so that I would only have to use one log in and everything would be better integrated. I was even more excited after seeing Photo Matt’s galleries using the new software. However, out of the box the gallery function doesn’t seem to work as nice as Matt has it. The options for the gallery and media library need to be more fleshed out in my opinion.

Those aren’t the only new changes of course, just the ones that caught my attention. And I also know that the issues I mentioned above could be fixed by either manually tweaking the code and/or with plugins, but if the issues aren’t brought up how will people who know how to do that know people are interested?

Overall I really do like this latest version of WordPress, I just think a few tweaks would make it even better.

Don’t know what’s going on,
Reality seems skewed.
Every thing’s not quite right,
And no one else seems clued.
My mind keeps slipping past,
So many things that might help me see.
Cluing me into the fact I’m in,
An altered reality.
Perhaps I’m just paranoid,
Every time I wake up that reality becomes void.

The clock moves slowly forward,
While I wait for your response.
One, two, three seconds seem like years,
So hard to act with nonchalance.
The waiting is killing me,
Every second an eon.
Perspective has a way of changing,
So soon after telling her she’s the one.
But in reality it’s only a moment,
And is over in a snap.
Course I took one step forward,
Kicking myself as I take one step back.

I remember ripping off the paper,
And seeing the box within.
Pulling out the contents,
But I can’t remember what it was or when.
I think it was during winter,
Perhaps Christmas or even Hanukkah.
But it just doesn’t jog my memory,
I wish something would help me go ‘aha!’
I’m sure it was lovely,
and brightened my day.
But I just can’t recall,
Some present received on some holiday.

As they run into the room,
Faces full of hope.
Asking mother if it’s time,
Her answer is still ‘nope’.
Not yet time to open gifts,
Santa hasn’t yet stopped by.
But if they go back to bed,
The time will surely fly.
So off to bed they again go,
But they’re sure they cannot sleep.
Even if they just close their eyes,
And try to count some sheep.
But start to slumber they do,
Dreaming of Christmas day.
When they’ll see family,
And have new toys form Santa’s sleigh.
But they’ll have to wait,
Until the morning chimes.
Because it’s still Christmas eve,
And not yet time.

Nobody’s around,
And I have nothing to do,
It’s a lonely night.

Close your eyes,
Don’t say your goodbyes.
Tomorrows a new surprise,
Close your eyes.

Don’t worry or fret,
There’ll be no regrets.
No problems or threats,
Don’t worry or fret.

Just dream of me,
Just rest and be.
Soon you’ll see,
Just dream of me.

My love for you is like the seasons,
Having no rhyme nor reasons.
Like the spring it appears fresh and new,
With every smile I see on you.
Like the summer it is nice and warm,
Able to fight off any storm.
Like autumn it is lovely to behold,
Much more precious than any gold.
But like winter snow upon the ground,
I keep it hidden and unfound.
Perhaps one day I’ll let it free,
But right now, I know it is not meant to be.

The blood boils within me,
Eyes yearning to glare.
My tongue wants to say something,
Perhaps I should dare?
Every time I think that though,
Reality sets in.
The downsides flow through my mind,
And I know it wouldn’t solve a thing.
Nor would it help later on,
The repercussions could be the pits.
Really not good at all,
Under the circumstances..
My best bet is to reign it in.

I wonder how it would be,
Solitude all around me.
Letting the trials of life slip away,
And just relaxing from day to day.
No worries, no cares, no stress at all,
Doing naught, except maybe the swimmers crawl.
Oh how grand it seems,
For shame it’s only in my dreams.
My mind can be so cruel at times,
Yet further in it I explore and climb.
Daring to go off on tangents,
Rarely hindered by the suspense.
Every turn is someplace new,
And though I know I must soon say adieu.
My day will be just a little better,
Soon as I share the dream in this letter.

Darting back and forth,
Running for all I’m worth.
Every where I turn,
Another reality discerned.
My mind is so confused,
Somehow I’m not amused.
Course when all is said and done,
And the story has been spun.
Perhaps it’s not some scheme,
Ending up instead to be a dream.

So confused,
The days seem to be getting harder.
Running to and fro,
Every turn I make seems to be wrong.
No matter what happens tho,
Go on I must.
Til I reach the end of the journey.
Home with you.

Ship was docked in Malaga, Spain today. I didn’t go on any excursions this port however since the one that I wanted to do was sold out. That one was a tour of some castles and then a stop at a Picasso museum. Although someone who did go said that the Picasso museum, which is the main thing that caught my attention for that tour, wasn’t that impressive.

Instead I went with a couple of people form the group I was with and we took a shuttle into town and then rode an open air tour bus and just took a ride around the city. I got a couple decent photos, although it was hard to keep the safety rail out of the shots, and a slow shutter lag isn’t the best for shooting from a moving vehicle.

The show this evening was awesome, It was a tribute to Bobby Darin & The Rat Pack with Vocalist Jamie Frasier. While he didn’t sing any of the songs I really knew I still found it more enjoyable than the show last night. That one was a Broadway type show called “The Big Easy”. That one was a tribute to New Orleans, and while there were a few songs I knew, wasn’t that interesting to me.

After the show I went up to the panorama deck and watched for a few minutes as the ship passed through the Strait of Gibraltar. Unfortunately we’re passing through at night so didn’t see too much, but at least there were lots of lights so I could tell where shore was.

Just got back from watching tonight’s show on board the ship, a juggler/comedian by the name of Goronwy Thom. Was very funny, and have to give props to someone who not only juggles on a moving ship, but does it while riding a unicycle that’s at least 6 feet tall. Although not as many props as the sword swallower from the last cruise.

Went on the Pisa by Trolley excursion today. Wasn’t bad, although the trolley was kind of cramped. The tour guide said he’s gotten 56 people in there before, but we had trouble with just 46, so I’m wondering if those 56 people were grade schoolers.

Other than that it was a good tour, the trolley drove us around the city of Pisa and the guide pointed out various buildings to us before we stopped and were allowed to wander around where the Leaning Tower is, along with a couple other historical buildings.

I have a few good pictures, although not as many as I’d hoped for. Since it was raining I had my camera in a waterproof case, and unfortunately later on the lens got foggy so some of the pictures turned out looking rather dreary. Although, the effect is kind of neat, so I may post a few anyways, I’ll have to think about it.