Draft targeted to resume in spring 2005

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There have been rumors about this for a while now, but it’s been looking more and more likely all the time, and now the first major steps have been set in motion.

There is pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills: S 89 and HR 163) which will time the program’s initiation so the draft can begin at early as Spring 2005 — just after the 2004 presidential election. The administration is quietly trying to get these bills passed now, while the public’s attention is on the elections, so our action on this is needed immediately.

\$28 million has been added to the 2004 Selective Service System (SSS) budget to prepare for a military draft that could start as early as June 15, 2005. Selective Service must report to Bush on March 31, 2005 that the system, which has lain dormant for decades, is ready for activation.

(via Phil)

iTunes: “I’m Too Sexy (Spanish)” by Right Said Fred from the album I’m Too Sexy (1991, 2:51).

Shrek 2

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We also saw Shrek 2, which was a far more enjoyable experience than Troy.

Not quite as strong as the first overall, but still very enjoyable, and quite funny. Eddie Murphy was actually funny (which only ever seems to happen in animated films anymore), and Antonio Banderas absolutely stole the show as Puss in Boots. The animation continues to get better and better, of course (some of the facial expressions are stunning to watch, especially Fiona’s as she faces the trial of introducing Shrek to her parents).

The real fun, though, was everything in the background. There is so much going on behind the actual action that it will easily take multiple viewings to catch it all, from references to other movies (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Mission Impossible, and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, among others) to the stores in Far Far Away (Abercrombie and Witch, Tower of London Records, Old Knavery, and — of course — multiple Farbucks coffee stores [one of my favorite gags, in fact, was panicked people running out of a Farbucks under attack from a giant Gingerbread Man — directly into another Farbucks just across the street]).

The humor felt to me like it was pushed a little further to the adult side of the spectrum than the first Shrek was, too. Not so far that parents should question taking their children to the film (though do keep in mind that it is rated PG, not G), but definitely a lot for the adults to laugh at.

This one’s definitely worth checking out.

iTunes: “A Question of Time (New Town/Live)” by Depeche Mode from the album A Question of Time (1986, 11:08).

Troy

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Prairie and I saw Troy this weekend.

That wasn’t supposed to be a comedy, was it?

So, so disappointing.

For the longest time, I didn’t think much of Brad Pitt. His acting didn’t impress me much in many of his earlier films, and he always struck me as little more than a pretty boy with long blonde hair for the ladies to drool over. Then came Fight Club, and suddenly it became clear that the man could act, and could do a damn good job of it, too. Unfortunately, with Troy, he seems to have gone back to the “pretty boy” routine. Strike a pose onscreen, look good, pout a lot, and try to let that carry the movie instead of actually acting.

I was, however, amused by the constant camera angles that highlighted a nearly naked Brad Pitt putting the very bottom of the shot just barely above where it would otherwise have been indecent. I’m not entirely sure what amused me more: that this shot was a recurring theme, or hearing Prairie beside me muttering, “Just a little bit lower….”

Also, during the big fight sequences, Achillies had one particular move that was featured in every major fight: a leap into the air, twist to the left, and stab downwards with his sword. My thought each time was that that’s got to be his hidden “power move” — left-right-left-down-A-A-B-A, and WHAM, Achilles wins again!

I think I’ve figured out why Helen was considered such a prize. Apparently — at least according to this film — she was the only blonde woman in Greece.

Other than that…bad dialogue, bad music, and overall, some pretty bad acting. A few pretty pictures, and only one halfway interesting fight (Achilles vs. Hector), but that was about the most it had going for it.

Honestly, I can’t even recommend it as a rental.

iTunes: “Ave., The” by Run-D.M.C. from the album Together Forever: Greatest Hits 1983-1991 (1990, 4:07).

Six of one, half dozen of another

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Consequences of participating in the brutal abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison: one year in prison, a reduction in rank, and a bad conduct discharge.

Consequences of failing to return from military leave after being disturbed by witnessing the brutal abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners: one year in prison, a 2/3 pay reduction, and a bad conduct discharge.

At least the military is consistent.

Attention Royce: New Thomas Covenant novels

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Stephen Donaldson’s website has a blurb up you might be interested in.

Coming Fall 2004!

The Runes of the Earth

the first of four books in …

The Last Chronicles of

Thomas Covenant

There’s also a .pdf of “chapter one of the prologue” up for download.

I still need to read the first Thomas Covenant novels. Yes, the ones you’ve been telling me to read since we met in 4th grade (or whenever you read them, I suppose). I’ll get around to it one of these days, I swear…

iTunes: “Desire” by Yello from the album Essential (1985, 3:43).

Seattle Central Library: Everybody’s talking about it

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Today on my lunch, I noticed that the Seattle PI had a special section on the new Seattle Central Library. I snagged a copy, and spent a very pleasant lunch reading about the new building.

Apparently, the new library has been getting a ton of press as of late. A mention on MetaFilter led me to quite a few different links:

  • The Seattle P-I: Special section on the new library.
  • The Seattle Times: Special section on the new library.
  • Slate: Koolhaas the Librarian – Critic’s won’t keep quiet about the Seattle Public Library. “Rem Koolhaas, the Stones to Frank Gehry’s Beatles, finally surpasses his rival in star-chitecture. The Californian’s MIT Center got mixed reviews recently, but the Dutchman’s new library earns florid, Bilbao-like superlatives, confirming that architecture criticism is still in its Baroque period.”
  • The New Yorker: High-Tech Bibliophilia. “The [building] is the most important new library to be built in a generation, and the most exhilarating.”
  • The New York Times: The Library That Puts on Fishnets and Hits the Disco. “In more than 30 years of writing about architecture, this is the most exciting new building it has been my honor to review. I could go on piling up superlatives like cars in a multiple collision, but take my word: there’s going to be a whole lot of rubbernecking going on.”
  • Pacific Northwest: Meet your New Central Library. “Somehow this glass box conveys not coldness but intimacy. The result is not just a library, but a community hub and global showplace that transcends its own city block between Madison and Spring streets. It reaches out and melds with the downtown towers around it.”

I am so there for the grand opening on Sunday.

iTunes: “Cabaret (from Cabaret)” by Haworth, Jill from the album Broadway: The Great Original Cast Recordings (1966, 4:31).

Troy in 15 Minutes

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Too, too funny: Troy in Fifteen Minutes.

Some Battlefield

AGAMEMNON: Look, there’s no reason for me to slaughter thousands of your men. You pick out your best soldier, and I pick out mine.

KING OF THESSALY: Deal. [turns to his army] SOME GUYYYYY!

THESSALIAN ARMY: SOME! GUY! SOME! GUY! SOME! GUY!

Some Guy breaks through the crowd. His neck resembles an Easter ham and his spear is the size of a telephone pole.

SOME GUY: RAAAAAAAAA!

AGAMEMNON [turning to his army]: ACHILLEEEEEES!

GREEK ARMY: . . .

AGAMEMNON: . . .

Hut of Wanton Nudity, Some Village

BOY: OMG Achilles you’re late you gotta get up Achilles OMG!

ACHILLES: Dude, I just nailed twins. Call me in the morning.

(via Boing Boing)

iTunes: “Dreamers” by Music Makers, The from the album Junior Vasquez, Vol. 2 (1998, 8:29).

If only I had a bit more under my belt

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Anil’s post about moving from New York to the Bay area for Six Apart prompted me to go take a curious look at the Six Apart jobs listings.

As much as I enjoy being something of a “jack-of-all-trades” in my computer experience — lots of experience across a wide range of fields — the downside is a lack of comprehensive knowledge in nearly any field. It’s a shame, too, because I think I’m about 80% qualified for a job at Six Apart.

Web Designer/Developer

Terms: Salaried Employee with benefits (Medical, Vision, Dental and Vacation)
Hours: Full Time
Onsite: Yes, required. (San Mateo, CA)
Reports to: Lead Designer

Description:
Six Apart (http://www.sixapart.com/), the company behind the Movable Type and TypePad weblogging systems/services, is growing and we’re looking for a Web Designer/Developer with a combination of strong HTML and CSS abilities and graphic design skills. You will be asked to design and implement elements into existing web applications and websites while maintaining existing UI branding.

The ideal candidate will be hardworking, with a willingness to learn and understands the importance of user experience and brand consistency.

An online portfolio of work is required for consideration.

Whoops, there’s one problem — I don’t exactly have an online portfolio. Only two of my current four stylesheets are mine (and one is really no stylesheet), and my only other “live” design work is the remnants of an old design on my DJ Wüdi propaganda page and a circa-1995 frames-based site for Gig’s Music Theatre left online as a memorial.

What You’ll Be Doing:

  • Design and implement elements into existing web applications and websites while maintaining existing UI branding
  • Work with other members of the Six Apart team to develop solutions to a variety of design-related projects
  • Work with the Six Apart team to help evolve Six Apart’s weblogging products based on user experience and market demands

I think I’m good on all of those. I don’t have any “official” design experience, really, but it’s something I’ve tinkered with from time to time in everything from my websites to a few custom FileMaker Pro databases at my old print shop in Anchorage to redesigning an internal Xerox/Microsoft website for the MSCopy printshop (which, unfortunately, had its plug pulled by the Powers That Be when they decided to move to a .NET based solution rather than a Java based solution), and I’ve generally received good remarks on how things end up being put together.

Requirements:

  • Strong knowledge of basic design principles: page layout, typography, color theory as it applies to the web

Two out of three I think I’m okay on: page layout (dating back to my days as Layout Editor for my High School yearbook) and typography (again, no real training, but I think I’ve got a decent feel for it — though at the same time, I’m sure I could learn a lot). Color theory, though…as is evidenced by my last few site designs, to paraphrase Henry Ford, I’ll do any color you like, so long as it’s grey. ;)

  • Expert-level experience in coding HTML and CSS is required

Hmm. I’d rate myself as extremely good, possibly even approaching expert with my HTML skills. CSS, though, I’m still very much learning, and it would be foolish for me to try to pass myself off as an expert.

  • Mastery and understanding of Web standards a requirement
  • Proven design skills for developing web interfaces with a focus on user experience

The first one, I can pretty confidently say I’m solid on. The design skills…as I mentioned above, I’m untrained, but have generally received compliments.

  • Thorough knowledge of Photoshop, Illustrator, Powerpoint

I’ve been dabbling in Photoshop for years, but that’s it. Illustrator I can muddle my way through simple stuff, but bezier curves have always confused me. PowerPoint I had to fight with when I was working at MSCopy, and was never very fond of it. With all three, though, I’m pretty confident that I could dramatically increase my skill level if I was using them on a regular basis — I just wouldn’t be coming in with the highest level of expertise.

  • Excellent organizational and communication skills, works well with a team
  • Independent problem solving skills; flexibility to meet tight deadlines
  • The ideal candidate will possess excellent attention to detail and a positive attitude and strong interpersonal skills

I have no doubts about my abilities here. Over a decade of customer service in high-volume, quick-turnaround print shops requires all of those points, and I’ve always gotten consistently good remarks during my personnel reviews. At least there’s something I can be confident about! ;)

Desired Skills:

  • Experience in JavaScript and DHTML a plus
  • Knowledge of Flash is a plus
  • Working knowledge of CVS a plus
  • Familiarity with weblogs a plus

Ouch. Of those four, the only one I can rightfully claim is the last one. The first three — sorry, but those are just not in my skill set. As with my comments above regarding Photoshop, Illustrator, and PowerPoint, I’m fairly confident that given the opportunity, I could come up to speed fairly quickly, but I’d definitely be coming in on the ground level, if that.

Contact Information:

Please apply with cover letter (plain text) and résumé to jobs@sixapart.com.

Please include a resume and link to online portfolio and/or recent work. If providing list of sites that you have worked on, you must include an explanation about your role on that project. Online portfolios are preferred.

Please also include salary requirements.

Much as I’d love to apply, I’m afraid that my limitations — which I try to be aware of and realistic about, without exaggerating them to the point of talking myself out of good opportunities — are enough of a hindrance that I’d easily fall by the wayside to other, more experienced applicants.

A shame, too. While I was also swept up in the recent licensing controversy, I’ve been using either MovableType or TypePad for two and a half years now (since Dec. 21st, 2003, in fact), have no intentions of leaving TypePad anytime soon, and have generally liked what I’ve seen of the folks at Six Apart. Heck, they even put up with me triggering TypePad’s first Slashdotting! From everything I’ve seen, the chance to work with the Six Apart crew could be quite enjoyable, certainly a lot more so than my current job, and quite possibly well worth uprooting myself and moving down the West Coast a bit to the Bay area.

Ah, well. For now, I suppose I’ll just keep tinkering around, and see if I can’t increase the sphere of my “jack-of-all-trades” knowledge to include some more of the skills listed above that I’m lacking. Maybe they’ll still be hiring in a year or so…

Bad code! No biscuit!

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Codepoet, while discussing ways to quickly edit and preview HTML and CSS code, pointed out a program called HyperEdit, which contains a “live preview” pane to show the rendered code as you type it out. It sounded interesting, so I went to check it out…and cringed.

One of the first things on the page is this screenshot:

HyperEdit screenshot

First — the <center> tag, which is deprecated in current HTML.

Next — the <font> tag — also deprecated.

Next — the use of <i>Fast.</i> rather than the more semantically correct <em>Fast.</em>.

Last — the two closing tags that are both missing their final > character.

Sorry, guys, but if I’m seeing four cringeworthy examples of bad HTML code within the first couple seconds of visiting your page, you could have a program that makes BBEdit look like Microsoft FrontPage and I wouldn’t be able to take it seriously.

But maybe that’s just me.

iTunes: “Tourniquet (Prosthetic Dance)” by Marilyn Manson from the album Remix and Repent (1997, 4:10).