A Splintered Mind

Hear this article read to you: I have a variety of gadgets and widgets along the side of my blog that are nothing more than boondoggles. It's time to chuck out what is unnecessary. Since I've finished the Web Project of DOOM and have started moving on to new projects, I have cast a weary eye at my blog design. You may recall it didn't always look so bland, but six years of adding and adding onto it produced a monstrosity that apparently scared some older browsers into fits. So I deleted everything one day and went with a default Blogger template. So boring. I wouldn't allow myself to redesign the site while I had deadlines and more important projects to worry about, but now I'm a little embarrassed about the state of things around here. After all, I did used to be a web designer. ( See my latest design ) This blog entry may very well be an archive of sorts. I'll be moving most of the binary tchotchkes here. When I've figured out which gadgets I ...

Hear this article read to you: Non-working relic, but delightful find nonetheless Originally uploaded by Darkstream . Unlike when I took this photo a few weeks ago, I was unusually in bed by 3:30am last night. Four and a half hours later I’m up for the day at the unholy hour of 8am. What do you people do with yourselves when you wake at this hour? There’s that awful ball of light in the sky that hurts my eyes. I might actually be able to get to church for the first time since Jesus walked the Earth. I suppose I’m going to have to shave. Obviously, I kid, but Sleep and I haven’t been getting along for sometime. Take an insomniac and saddle him with more family drama than can be found on Melrose Place and you get a bleary eyed guy one donut shy of a full box. I won’t count those proverbial chicks, but usually epochs in sleep schedules change like this for me. One day I’m an insomniac; the next day I’m sleeping normally. If I can avoid napping today and remember to reti...

Hear this article read to you: Out of the blue last April someone from ADDitude Magazine read “The Quiet Riot” and thought it would be perfect for their magazine. So they asked me if I’d let them use it. They’d even pay me. All I had to do was provide a clever, creative photograph to accompany the article. Easy as pie, as they say. I’m assuming this expression is referring to scooping the filling out of a pudding cup into a pre-made pie crust. My pie experience was a bit more complicated. In fact, you’d have to make a homemade pie with a 200 strand, lattice crust with environmentally endangered Delta Smelt filling and an injunction with three dozen angry unshaven activists in your front lawn before you came close.

Hear this article read to you: It has come to my attention that those of you who are subscribed to my email feed have been receiving multiple announcements for the same blog post, namely the "Man Eating Bunny" article. No, I am not fishing for compliments, as has been teasingly suggested to me. I have been tweaking the blog features lately and apparently Blogger has treated each edit as a new publication. I apologize for the inconvenience. But now that we're on the subject…what DID you think of the…no, no, nevermind.

Hear this article read to you: The pretty girls of Uniqlo are back for their seasonal clothing line update. This time they traipse about gay Paree in turtlenecks, short shorts & leggings. What I love about distractions like this is that they can give me a giggle, but have a built-in timer. I can only watch so much of it before I need to move on. Do you have any silly distractions you use to pick up your spirits or fight boredom, but not lose yourself in? (Be sure to turn on the manic, upbeat music for the full effect) Like reading The Splintered Mind ? Share articles with your friends, link from your blog, or subscribe !

Hear this article read to you: Bunny Doll Study - Step Four Originally uploaded by Darkstream . As I type this it is 3:16am and I am sitting outside my front yard along the wall that divides our yard from our neighbor’s. The weather is a balmy 77°F and a warm breeze teases a wind chime somewhere out in the night. The occasional car drives by, but otherwise I sit here alone with no soundtrack other than the sound of crickets playing their syncopated symphony. I still have yet to begin a very difficult article, but I know I will manage it very soon. First, though, I wanted to declare victory over my ADHD. The blasted bunny doll drawing is done. I began it years ago when aliens where busy organizing tribes of men into pyramid building communities. Every once in a while, a drawing defies my will to succeed. Maybe this one was too cute, or I have something against rabbit’s feet, but when I put aside illustration to focus on being a full-time Dad and homeschool teacher, I l...

Hear this article read to you: August Beauties Originally uploaded by Darkstream . This has not been my most favorite summer. I’d have to say my 18th year was my most favorite. I had escaped my first year of college intact, I owned a super cool General moped, I met some cool girls, went on some cool dates, pulled some stupid pranks, and fooled around Hyannis’ Main Street. My friends were still my friends, the summer was beautiful, and I had zero responsibilities. This summer was like winter in the Bering Strait in comparison. In a barrel. With nothing but cold, salty halibut to eat. And super chapped lips. No, I will not miss this summer one bit. Well, maybe I’ll pull some happy memories out of it, but only after time helps me forget the taste of all that halibut. Update: I remembered incorrectly. The moped was lost in a swirl of legs and brother on black ice while I was away from home. By the arrival of summer I was resigned to my mopedless fate.