the singularity of being and nothingness
General
Cool Ways to Extend Twitter
May 5th
Okay, so I've been getting into Twitter quite a bit lately. I like being able to just post random stuff for people to read that does not require the length of a blog nor the time investment of an IM.
During my experience with Twitter, I've come across some pretty cool ways to extend it that make it easier and a lot more interesting to use.
The first, and most important, is Snitter. Snitter is a desktop client for Twitter that allows you to do pretty much everything you'd do in Twitter, but from the convenience of your desktop. Currently, it has a cap of a certain number of actions per day, but I think that will change as they upgrade their servers and web services. Definitely worth checking out.
The second is Twitty Tunes. This plugin for Firefox and FoxyTunes (you are using Firefox, right???) lets you post any song that is being played straight to Twitter. Additionally, you can use it to post web pages that you are browsing.
Finally, a new site has launched–twistori–which is a pretty interesting experiment with Twitter keywords. This application simply scrapes Twitter for all posts that contain certain keywords (like 'love, hate, believe, etc.') and displays More >
Yet Another Way to Waste My Time…!
May 4th
A while back (probably 3 months, or so), I ran across moshimonsters.com through an online design gallery. At that time, the site was nothing but a landing page, so I paid little attention–other than appreciating the shiny-ness of the design.
Today, this site popped up again on another design gallery, but this time the full application was live. Needless to say, I neglected other responsibilities and dove right in.
Moshi Monsters is an online "monster pet" game. Each person gets to create their own monster, name it, decorate the monster's house, etc. Pretty standard stuff. Oh, and there's the obligatory "games" that help you earn points towards buying food, furniture, and booze for your Moshi Monster.
I've done a million of these before, and have quickly lost interest. What is unique about MM, however, is that it has brought the "digital pet" genre into the Web 2.0 world. Not only can you network with your friends that have their own Moshi's, but the game also integrates nicely with Facebook (and other social networking applications) to extend the experience beyond the confines of the moshimonsters.com site. Plus, the site itself is very enjoyable as it is very professionally animated, and contains alot of fun easter-eggish More >
Quick Post: blogactionday.org Reminder
Oct 9th
Just a quick reminder: blogactionday (October 15) is approaching rapidly–next Monday! This is a day where bloggers are encouraged to devote a posting to the environment, regardless of their views of the multifarious issues surrounding this topic.
existdissolve.com is signed up for it, and I would encourage fellow bloggers to do the same. It only takes a second, and you can do it at blogactionday.org .
Finally, as a bit of mild entertainment, blogactionday.org has released a "What Kind of Blogger are You?" test. I took the test and am apparently an "undiscovered young upstart purist." Hmmm…Anyway, if it sounds interesting, take the test here . If you do, let me know in the comments how you fared…
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blogactionday.org
Aug 17th
Today, I ran across an interesting site: blogactionday.org . The concept is very simple–this website is organizing as many blogs as possible to join together on October 15, 2007 to talk about the environment. The orginators of this idea believe that a mass, one day conversation about the environment from the myriad perspectives in the blogging world will raise consciousness about the environmental issues and challenges that face our planet.
As of today, blogactionday.org suggests that a quarter of a million people are currently represented by the 500+ blogs that are registered.
existdissolve.com is now a registered participant, and I am already brainstorming ideas for the specific post that I will make on October 15th. I would encourage others to do the same by clicking here . (I will also be linking to it in the bottom section of this site). Even you feel that environmental activism is bunk, register and blog about that. The point of blogactionday.org is not to promote a specific hegemony of environmental thinking, but more generally to get people talking and thinking about the environment.
Share this: Where No Man Has Gone Before
Jul 20th
Okay, I have some theological bits coming soon, but I can't resist this.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION – SEASON 1 !!!!
There are a lot of reasons, of course, so here we go:
1.) Terrifically cheesy. Okay, so we have to give some grace to the first season. After all, the producers were trying something very new (for the time) with state of the art technology. There is apparent tension between trying to keep the spirit of Kirk's enterprise (notice the "wheeeereee" noice of the computer from the OLLLLDDD Star Trek…and the mini-skirts…and the many LED display computers) and move forward into a more inspired (and, let's be honest, better looking) future. Also, the acting is quite suspect, as each of the main actors (with the exception of Patrick Stewart) is clearly struggling to find the pathos of their particular characters.
2.) Overtly political. Whether it is a commentary on the evils of rampant capitalism, the rarified cuteness of religious belief, or the villifying of basically the entire 20th century on Earth, the first season never pulls punches nor wastes an opportunity to weigh in on (what was then) pertinent and contemporary political/social issues.
3.) Respect for literature. Okay, I love More >
A Revelation of Online Proportions
Jul 9th
Those not involved in website design and development may not know where I am coming from (and therefore not care), but I found something incredibly interesting today. During my lunch break, I was making some updates to my blog, specifically adding links and images of the various browsers that are friendly to the design of my site (pretty much everything worked except the devil [IE 6], thank you very much). Of course, I went first of all to the ol' standard browsers–Firefox, Internet Explorer 7, Opera. No problems. Then, I decided to see how Safari and Camino–both Mac browsers–handled it. No problems either. Woot.
Feeling pretty good about myself, I went off in search of some good-looking logos that I could use to provide links to said browsers that no one will actually ever use. After finding all of the ones I wanted, I finished by searching for a great image of Safari's logo on Apple's site (not hard, since it is Mac and, therefore, necessarily wonderful). To my surprise, I learned that Safari 3 is now in beta…for Windows! Finally, a great Mac browser is coming to the devil's computer…it's about time.
Intrigued by my new discovery, I decided to see More >
Sweet, Sweet Irony
Jun 17th
Yesterday, I ruminated about a new-found respect and value to which I have comitted myself in regards to creation. I suggested that as the creation is itself the object of the redemption, restoration and recreation to be realized in the divine rule of God in the eschaton, so we should highly value the creation, rather than abusing and destroying it simply to sate our consumeristic desires and contrived "needs." As part of this reflection, I noted that I have committed myself to avoid deliberately harming spiders, a creature of which I am particularly afraid (and mildly disgusted…I mean, do they really need that many legs?).
However, my suspicions about the ultimately capricious orientation of the universe were confirmed this morning. I woke up from troubled slumber, a terrible migraine dulling my senses. As I showered, I noticed that my right arm was a little sore. As I more closely inspected the troublesome area, I recognized the tell-tale signs of my nemesis.
Yes, a spider bite.
Delicious irony.
Share this: No. 1 Pagan Representin'
Jun 17th
As regular readers of this blog are aware, I am no stranger to controversy. Many of the theological stances that I take are, shall we say, out of the mainstream of evangelical thought (although it must be noted that I have been heavily commented elsewhere by those committed to Catholic and Orthodox theology).
The consequence of these stances has been severe criticism from some of my detractors. While most are civil enough to disagree with me strongly, there are others who are quick to call into question my orthodoxy (which, interestingly enough, they do not ever actually show where my theology is astray of ecumenical orthodoxy…), my intentions, and even my salvation.
I have been called a heretic, an apostate, a gnostic, a "sophist," a Romanist, an existentialist, a post-modernist, etc. However, the other day I received probably the biggest "compliment"–a particularly fiery blogger labeled me "No. 1 Pagan."
Most would avoid this label, but I have decided to wear it with pride. To reinforce this, I was recently privileged to be award Deviant Monk's "Notable Pagan" award. DM describes the purpose of the award as follows:
The "Notable Pagan" award is given to those bloggers who are labeled "pagan", "heretic", or "blasphemer" by More >
