james nunn | blog

Since taking ownership of a netbook and have a little more portability in my life now, I try to catch up with blog postings and email just before I doze off each night. I know that many people (scientists included) suggest that it is not good to watch television or look at a computer screen before bed, as it affects your sleep patterns, but I just find the convenience of having a little over 3 pounds on my lap before bed with a small screen too tempting. Any hoo, I have been reading some blog posts recently with a common theme: twitter.

Each site offers a different perspective or viewpoint on the benefits and pitfalls of twitter, but one that I’ve just started reading (“TwiTip“) had a post that talked about how to get unfollowed on twitter. As I was reading this, I realized that at least three of these actions would cause me to unfollow someone on twitter. Then I had that realization that perhaps I would be a victim of being unfollowed. It sent a shudder through my body.

On the other side of the coin, Zen Habits recently posted on how to use twitter to help manage your day and get things done. Many of the ideas suggested by Leo provide ways to use twitter to add appointments to your calendar or task list, or help set reminders for actions you need to do during the day. One of them reminded me of the now defunct tool Sandy, which aimed to provide you personal reminders based on what you needed to get done. Of course, if I implemented all that was suggested, I would increase my chances of being unfollowed. Perhaps it’s all about balance.

I got some news about my visa today, and it was positive (at least that is how I took it). Still playing the waiting game, but at least I know that it’s in the queue.

Today is the official start of my spring break! Yay!!

So how does one start their spring break? By catching up on blogs, of course!

To start of with, you have to read this post by danah over at apophenia.

The article mainly covers the topic of narcissism, and touches on issues covering the search for fame, the value we place on fame (“I am worried that Paris Hilton is a more meaningful role model to most American girls than Mother Theresa ever was”), and how all this affects society. danah writes about how narcissism drives adolescent’s (in particular) use of social network sites, like MySpace. She also discusses religiosity (which many of my friends will confirm, always gets me to perk up a little). Nothing like a good dose of religiosity in the morning to get the blood pumping. I will say that I was surprised by the comment that “[w]hen i started seeing how people in rural America recovered from meth, i found one common solution: born-again Christianity.” That says a lot!

From a sociological perspective, I was interested in danah’s view on the role of Christian Industrial Complex and how it endorses the continued stratisfication of society. I actually agree with her statement that the “Christian Industrial Complex has risen into power in both politics and corporate life, but their underlying mission is the same: justify poor people’s industrial slavery so that the rich and powerful can become more rich and powerful.”

Read the article. As with most of danah’s posts, this is extremely thought provoking.

James Watkins also discusses the Christian Industrial Complex more over here. Watkins gives a brief overview of the issue over “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” and what may have been driving that. He also mentions some interesting insights into Christmas, in particular that in many New England towns, Christmas was prohibited by law. Watkins refers to this as the “forgotten history of Christmas.”

Woke up this morning to find white stuff on the ground … outside. Woo hoo we have a snow day! Unlike our friends in the north that deal with this on a daily basis, when this happens in DFW area, everything closes down — so a great day to be at home! It’s amusing to watch the news right now. You would think that nothing else has happened in the entire world, as we’ve only had news on the snow and traffic since we got up (about 30 minutes).

This weekend, it seemed I was meant to watch things. As Peter Sellers said, “I like to watch.”

After a failed attempt at going to a movie on Friday evening, I got to watch a Netflix acquired movie, Third Man Out (a gay detective story). It was okay, a little disappointing, and not really appreciated by the others being subjected to it (namely Paul, Layton and Chris).

After recovering from that, Saturday evening Chris encouraged me to come outside and watch a speck of light travel the sky. It was the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Discovery.

We then headed out to watch the new James Bond movie, Casino Royale. Wow! Chris and I were floored with the spectacular scenery throughout the movie, not to mention the phenomenal story line. I also can’t object to the gratuitous (and incredibly sexy) scenes with Daniel Craig’s body.

After getting home and enjoying a dirty martini (I was somehow “in the mood”), I watched Wedding Wars, the A&E original movie shown last week sometime. It was just what the brain needed at 1:30 in the morning with a dirty martini in me. Actually, apart from a few cheesy moments, I actually liked the storyline and the movie. Definately worth a watch, especially given the name power within the movie.

Finally, we watch a much slower and brighter (it seemed) ISS/Shuttle move across the evening sky this evening. We were down at Willow Bend mall and had just got out to head to Maggiano’s Little Italy (where we were meeting my boss for dinner). As we stood in the car park looking up, this woman came out and inquired what we were watching, and when we pointed the ISS/Shuttle out to her, she was very pleased with her new discovery.

Melbourne is looking mighty nice right now! After a mid-November burst of warm weather (it was over 70F during Thanksgiving), it seems that the cold weather has finally found its way to Frisco.

I skipped class today, as did most (from what I read on the class Facebook site), and also decided to skip driving to Denton (where it was much colder this morning than Frisco, but as you can see, able equal). UNT closed its doors at 3 PM anyway, so I was kind of thankful that I didn’t go north, only to have to drive back home on icier roads.

Today was also meant to be the World AIDS Day event that I had been involved with, and due to Collin College closing their doors (at 3PM), this event was cancelled. This is actually a real shame, as so much work had been planned by so many people. The sad fact that the AIDS Memorial Quilt had been set up and was ready for its display was crushing to many. I’m hopeful that we will be able to hold something in the next couple of months to dedicate the new quilt panels that were made for the ceremony tonight.

Chris is in Chicago today, and hopefully he will be departing there in about one hour, and will be home before midnight. As I type this, small white flakes are falling from the sky, and landing on the growing piles of ice/snow mixture already on the ground. From all weather reports, it appears that tomorrow will be warmer.

We are currently driving back to Frisco after visiting Gilmer for Thansgiving. The boys are exhausted – a common result after a visit to see Grandma & Grandpa, and Uncle Jake. We are both a little tired as well, but more relaxed than when we heading there on Wednesday.

Our entire visit involved eating, resting (including naps), walking and relaxing. When we arrived Wednesday night, we were treated to ham, sweet potato casserole, and a multitude of other delicacies. The casserole was unbelievably good!

Turkey day was busy for Chris’s mom as she worked on the Thanksgiving creations that was to become main meal for the day. The rest of us try to help, but I always feel that my contribution is best provided after the meal in the cleaning up. Of course the pooches LOVE to visit at these times of the year due to the yummy leftovers they enjoy.

Did I mention desserts? No? Well Chris’s mom is singly responsible for destroying whatever little health we have, by making the most incredible desserts (they are addictive, so one can’t avoid eaten them).

I am thankful that on this trip home we do not have leftovers. Leftovers from Gilmer MUST be consumed – it would be a sin otherwise.

It’s always nice to visit, but equally nice to head home.

I sitting here watching “The Girls Next Door.” It’s like a road accident, and my finger occasionally twitches over the remote, and then something happens – like the bunny hunt for the new Playboy club that is the opening in Las Vegas. I guess this is one of the dangers of just sitting in front of the television. It’s not something that I do that often, but when I do, it seems that hours can fly by. I wonder where my bon bons are?

Weekend Recap

On Friday evening, Chris and I caught up with Bobby, Ian, and Layton for dinner at Ritzy’s Fresh American Diner – a new(ish) eatery in Frisco. The music was awesome (80′s style), and I ordered this great salad where you choose the ingredients and they mix it for you. It was good!

After, we went to see “Man of the Year” starring Robin Williams, and Lewis Black (from The Daily Show fame). It was really good, and very funny. It had a few not funny parts in the movie, but these were short in number (a good thing for a wimp like me).

Saturday was a kind of blur. I spent a lot of time trying to catch up on blogs, and found some fantastic new ones. Blog hopping can be such fun! One of the new sites on the frequent visit rotation is “Outside the Box” – a blog by “another boy from Oz,” also called Craig. He and his boyfriend have just recently relocated to Seattle, Washington. Not sure why, but the Aussie count has increased by two!

We did do dinner with Jeff and his new beau, Frankie at Blue Mesa. As usual the food was great (do I talk about food too much?), and the waiter was easy on the eye (always a good thing).

Today (Sunday) we took the boys to Arbor Hills for some ‘out of the house’ time, with Jonas and Dawson. The pooches were exhausted when we got home, so the purpose of the trip was a huge success. Chris made his Chicken stuffed with goat cheese and walnuts (more food!) which tantalized the taste buds.

And that is how I got to watch Girls Next Door, and am more fulfilled than I have been in a long time.