The Original Journal

A Rare LJ Post from Me

2003-12-12T19:03:33Z

Culture and Sociological Experiments: LiveJournal
Note: This is from my current active journal, which is here. I decided to post it to my old LJ, since it's actually about LJ. I hope I cut-tagged this correctly, it's been a while since I used this thing.

It's interesting to me that LiveJournal is about to move to an open membership base. I am very curious about how the great sociological experiment that is LiveJournal is going to change because of this decision.

For several years now, the site has used a population control mechanism known as the "invite code" to keep their servers from overloading. The idea was simple: accounts are free, but you had to be invited by an existing user, who would give you a unique 12-charachter alphanumeric code. Each free LJ account generated one and only one code after a week of use. Paid accounts got more, and there were several other ways to earn the right to invite people to LJ. No new accounts could be made without an invite code. It kept the then-overloaded servers from crashing, and was a good compromise at the time.

The existence of the invite code led to a fascinating culture within the world of LJ users - invite codes became a commodity. Folks hoarded them. Folks bought paid accounts just to get the codes (you got one code/month with a paid account). Folks accumulated them by volunteering on the support boards. Codes were traded for favors, icons, journal customizations etc., given as prizes in contests, and although I have never heard of such a thing, it wouldn't surprise me to find out that some codes were bought and sold with real-world money. Entire LiveJournal communities sprang up around the hoarding and distributing of invite codes. To many people, LiveJournal became a giant fraternity - a "by invitation only" site that allowed them to control acess to only the "cool" people. Again, people fastened on the invite code as the means to allow them to create their perfect, exclusive world. These people somehow failed to realize that, with all the invite codes floating around, getting one was actually fairly easy and LiveJournal wasn't as exclusive as they thought.

Even people who didn't care so much about being "rich" in that fashion peculiar to LiveJournal (and possibly DeadJournal - I'm told they've moved to the invite code now) found themselves happily hoarding codes. There was a time when I had 20 invite codes and sat in front of my computer giggling happily and wondering what I would do with them all. I don't use LiveJournal anymore except to read my friend's list, but my account is still open, as are the communitites I created, and I still have 7 codes. Some people on LJ have literally hundreds, hoarded over the last several years.

The codes have been gone for less than 24 hours, and the backlash is already visible. LJ users who only bought an account "for the codes" are demanding their money back. Users are crying "bullshit" and I've even seen the beginnings of a conspiracy theory in which Brad Fitzpatrick, the original developer, has deep and evil designs of actually making money off of his creation. The site administrators, in a fit of insight unusual for businessmen, have decided to allow people to exchange their remaining invite codes - for what is, as yet, undecided. The possibility of paid LJ time has been kicked around. Personally, I find this more than fair, especially considering that those strings of 12 alphanumeric charachters have exactly zero real-world value to the owners of LiveJournal. But those "wealthy" users who just lost everything in the Great Invite Code Crash of 2003 may not see it that way, I'm afraid.

For the last several years, the world of LiveJournal users has been a fascinating world unto itself, with a thriving economy and it's own peculiar currency. Now the currency has just been removed, and the entire culture is about to change. I'll be interested to see how.

A Rare Update:

2003-05-04T02:16:39Z

Just to let people know - if you notice that I have dropped you from my friends list, please do not be offended. I have very little time these days for reading at the computer, and very few journals which I actually read frequently. The ones I read the most have remained. Most of my original friends list has been cleared out for this reason - this is no reflection on any one or for any particular reason other than my own time and convenience. Thanks, guys.

BTW - still posting frantically over here. More than I should be, considering the aforementioned lack of time. It's an addiction, whatcha gonna do?

ctartchick @ 2002-12-19T11:28:00

2002-12-19T17:32:09Z

haven't been around for a while, I know, and for those who have been reading my private journal, here's the scoop: our domain name got hijacked! Stolen right out from under our noses with 11 months left on the registration we paid for. After much wrangling, arguing and swearing, we managed to get a new domain FREE from the company that sold us the last one. We're not real comfortable with this, since apparantly they are completely unable to do a damn thing about it if someone steals this one, too. *sigh*

THEN, after still more wrangling, I finally got my journal back online yesterday. So, if you have been reading my "not-livejournal" journal it is now at http://www.negative-g.com/mental_rose , NOT http://www.negative-g.net. Paul's journal, for those who've been reading that, is now at http://www.negative-g.com/Paul/Blog/blogger.html .

Just a note to those folks on my friends list: I do still read my friends list on a fairly regular basis. Things here have been nuts, and I just don't make comments much anymore, as my brain is full of Christmas and a husband who is now having some minor (we hope) heart trouble and a toddler and a business and unmedicated panic attacks and idiot jerk insurance people and so on. But I do read, and enjoy reading what you've written, so I hope folks don't take me off their friends lists anytime soon!

ctartchick @ 2002-11-11T22:43:00

2002-11-12T04:51:40Z

Well, I finally found a journalling software that I can use with our provider. I couldn't use MoveableType (although I really wanted to) because our server doesn't have the correct version of SQL available. I can, however, use Greymatter. Turned out to be not too-terribly hard to install on the server, and I'm having pretty good luck with the whole "design your own template" thing, which I haven't tried before - I've always modified existing LJ templates. This one is pure me, which explains why it looks like it needs some polishing yet. It does. But it's a good start.

SO, the upshot of that is that I'll be moving my main journal over to the new site, which is at http://www.negative-g.net/mental_rose . I'll still be checking in on LJ, there's too many people here that I really don't want to lose track of, but for anyone who's got a link to me or a bookmark, it's time to update 'em, because most of my stuff will be at this new site from now on!

playing

2002-11-11T05:00:48Z

working with my styles again. Helps me to focus myself, get back into a good frame of mind and ready to move back into the world. My graphics are getting better; a combination of brand-new, up-to-date killer software and tons of practice with the cards and the site.

We went into Owensboro today and had chinese at House of Canton. Bond is an eggroll junkie. We even got him to try a California roll, but the kelp around the outside turned him off, I think. We were going to go to Hobby Lobby - this is Paul-style romance, he HATES craft stuff. I was going to get to browse the sewing gear and look for trim for the gown I've had to put off - I have to get back in gear on it, or it will NEVER get done in time for Twelfth Night. Also, I was going to get another opportunity to drool over the Uber-Easel, a fabulous box easel with drawers and compartments for everything and the cat, and which costs over $100, so I'll never never get it.

But, Hobby Lobby was closed, so instead we went to the bookstore, and I drooled over the 5-inch-thick book on how to use my new software. The one that cost $50, which means I can't buy it, either. Along with several hundred dollars worth of books on HTML, Java and Flash how-to's and a stack of fantasy novels and manga.

Does anyone notice a pattern in the things I want lately??

ctartchick @ 2002-11-10T00:23:00

2002-11-10T06:25:07Z

Thanks, it's November and I don't appreciate having to worry about tornadoes at this time of the year. Whoever's working the storm switch this evening needs to stop drinking and get back on the job right now.

Questions, questions

2002-11-10T05:10:02Z

I have a dilemma. I like LiveJournal - I really, really do. I tried all kinds of journaling sites before I stumbled onto this one, and I hated them, they were a large pain in the ass. I really like my friends lists, and the communities.

On the other hand, LJ has its limitations, and those limitations are starting to feel like a too-tight, itchy skin. There are things I'd like to try that just DO NOT WORK on LiveJournal for one reason or another; it may be that at my level of programming ability (really, really really low), they won't work for me anywhere, I don't know.

In any case, I'm thinking of moving my main blog off of LJ and onto Paul's web space. Not like a secondary blog - those that I start, and I start plenty, believe me, all flop for lack of time. I think I just like making them. I am outgrowing this space somehow, I think. Anyway, I'm curious - how many of my friend's list would continue to read, were I not on LJ? Would I need to continue to back up entries here, as some others do, to keep others up-to-date?

So, just because I like playing with the poll creator:

View Poll: Quick survey

just a quick one

2002-11-10T00:59:34Z

to let folks know that I'm still around. Every so often I just need to disappear, when things are really bad for me. I promise i'm healthy and fine; I just needed to be away from people in general. I did read, and appreciate, the offers of help and friendly ears from everyone that offered on and off LJ, and I hope no one was hurt when I didn't take them up on it - I just needed alone-ness on this one.

ctartchick @ 2002-11-07T14:12:00

2002-11-07T20:29:41Z

There's a lot in my head today, and none of it is coming out very well. I feel like my brain is running around in tight little circles today - frantic. Not to worry anyone, but I think I'm approaching my saturation point lately. I feel ready to run.

The funny thing is, nothing is bad. Oh, we're pretty tight here, moneywise. There's not a lot to be had, and large bills to pay all the time. A couple of fairly forceful requests for payments. It never seems to end. But, there is also enough money coming in to pay them, and everyone gets something. So, that's not bad. S&D is taking up lots of my time, which is a good thing, if stressful. Bond is . . .well, he's two, and all the good and bad things that come along with being two. Paul is being so supportive of this business venture, and so loving about helping me with ideas, it's amazing. I have friends, too. Real friends, who can listen to me bitch and watch me lose my temper with them and then forgive me and come back for more.

My life is good. Why am I so afraid? Why do I feel like crying so much lately? I don't understand, and I'm tired. I just want it to stop. It's these times that disappearing seems like a viable option to me. I can't, I won't . . .but I want to.

New music, and other fun things

2002-11-07T05:18:47Z

Paul fixed the soundcard and the video card on my machine this evening. This is a Good Thing; I can now listen to Shoutcast on my machine, and can play Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 when I have a spare second. Which isn't often.

I am pleasantly relaxed this evening for the first time in days and weeks. While I don't expect it to last long, I am going to revel in it while it's here. And to go along with that, I'd just like to say that Parmesian Cheese Popcorn is fantastic.

I HAVE. . .

2002-11-06T04:15:23Z

from a conversation with a friend: "This client is driving me nuts today!"
"I'm sorry. I'd send you some chocolate to make you feel better, but I don't have any. I guess I'll just send you mental chocolate instead."

[edit] Nope. Not a test. Not a quiz. It's an inside joke, and I drawed it meself!! [end childish, badly spelled edit]

Things that crack me up, Election Day Edition

2002-11-06T01:10:31Z

Seen in the local Holiday Foods this afternoon:

ctartchick @ 2002-11-04T22:49:00

2002-11-05T05:00:19Z

there is
frost in
the crispy air
and on the
silver ground.
It's beautiful,
and i'd write
a better poem
if the words
would just unstick themselves
from the corners of my brain
and
get
onto
that
damn
paper.

Whee!!

2002-11-04T06:35:37Z

Finally, I got time to sit down and write more on my novel!!
The thing about this novel is, when I signed up for it, the whole big deal with the cards hadn't broken - I honestly didn't think we'd be able to sell them this year yet. So I figured I'd have time to write 2,000 words a day. Ha - HA, I say! But I'm going to do what I can with this - the story I am currently pulling out of my butt (ow!) is shaping up as well as a 1200 word shred of story can at the moment, and while I honestly doubt I'll make the 50,000 words, I'll have the satisfction of knowing that I tried my best and wrote the longest (fiction) piece I've ever done.

In other news, I have been working pretty much all day again. So much for weekends, huh? The site is up to over 4,000 hits now, and not a week old yet. If even just 1% of those hits translate into one box of cards sold, we'll have done so much better than we expected to this season it'll be amazing.

Bond has been ill the last couple of days, but he seems to be feeling better today. He's still pretty stuffed up in the evenings. I ordered him a new coat via e-bay ($8 total cost!) - well, okay, it's not new. But warm and in good shape, and Bond's size is all we need. We're not picky. ;-) Should get here in a few days. Also 2 new pairs of footie pajamas and a warm hat. He was thrilled with his new pajamas, and asked for the yellow pair this evening for bedtime.

Said bedtime was difficult, though. He was very VERY fussy and inclined to throw fits, hit and kick this evening. Along with assorted stresses from work (and the lack of a break from same), I lost my temper with him and gave a spaking that was harder than it needed to be. After this, I felt dreadful and gave so many cuddles to the boy that the original point of discipline was probably lost completely. *sigh* So, I took the car and went out for a drive to get myself together. Felt much better after this, and finished off the rest of my work.

Tomorrow it's back to the grind (as opposed to what?). Bond and I have many errands to run. 'Twill be busy.

Some trick-or-treat pictures

2002-11-03T04:48:17Z

I haven't had a chance to upload these yet; anyone who read's Paul's journal will have seen some of these already, but oh well.

Bond in his costume - even for something thrown together at the absolute last second, it didn't turn out half bad!

We just did a few houses in the subdivision here. Bond was shy about saying "Trick or Treat", but good about saying "please", "Thank you" or at least "You're welcome" afterwards.

The library held a trick or treat for the kids, so we went there, too.

Wrapping up the night with a bedtime story in a vain attempt to settle him down to sleep after the amazing sugar buzz!!

Opening paragraph

2002-11-02T02:49:14Z

SO - we all can acknowledge the fact that I am a sucky writer, I think. With that in mind, I'm writing for NaNoWriMo anyway. And in the spirit of "I like you all . . .no, really . . .why would you think I'm lying to you?", I have chosen to ~~inflict upon~~ share with you my opening paragraph. The rest of the novel (currently only about 535 words long) is hiding on another journal somewhere on LJ. If you find it, you win the fabulous prize of a blow to the 'ead and a kick to the teeth.

So, without further ado: the opening paragraph to the Novel
With No Discernable Plot!!

"It was altogether too cold. And, while no one could say that at this time of the morning it was too dark, there was something amiss that the dark seemed to make more obvious. Beside Rose in the bed, her husband slumbered on, blissfully unaware of his wife's wakeful fidgeting. Rose threw back the covers and stepped onto the hardwood floor; it felt like ice beneath her feet, and most of body cramped and shivered in sympathy for her abused toes. Swearing under her breath in a manner that would have shocked most of her ladies into swoons, she made her way around the bed and into the solar, where she stood, listening for some clue as to what had awakened her so early."

HA!!

2002-10-31T21:22:01Z

Well a Scotsman clad in kilt left a bar one evening fair
And one could tell by how we walked that he drunk more than his share
He fumbled round until he could no longer keep his feet
Then he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street

About that time two young and lovely girls just happend by
And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye
See yon sleeping Scotsman so strong and handsome built
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt

They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman quiet as could be
Lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see
And there behold, for them to see, beneath his Scottish skirt
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth

They marveled for a moment, then one said we must be gone
Let's leave a present for our friend, before we move along
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon, tied into a bow
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show

Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled towards a tree
Behind a bush, he lift his kilt and gawks at what he sees
And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes.
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize

Dang, Halloween is starting out full force already!

2002-10-31T14:32:26Z

The electricity went out this morning. I don't know what time - I woke up to the sound of Bond crying because he was wet and cold, around 5:30 this morning.

It's interesting the habits you find you have in some situations. My immediate reaction to the lack of electricity was to run around the house lighting candles. Never mind that at 5:30 in the morning, it's supposed to be dark. And not that a candle would give any heat, had we needed it badly. My next reaction (just gotta laugh at this one) was to turn on the computer to check the electric company's website for information. Internet dependant? Oh, maybe just a little.

The power is back on, now, and Bond is watching a coaster movie. Sign that you let your child watch too much television: when telling him "no, the TV is broken right now" brings on a flurry of "I sorry"'s and a need to cuddle, because the only reason he can think of for not being able to watch television is that Mommy is angry with him about something. After this coaster movie, put on to convince him once and for all that I'm not angry, I think we'll go for a little music this morning.

Making some adjustments to Bond's costume- he went to PPP as Mini-Me, but that costume only really works if Paul dresses as Dr. Evil along with us. He doesn't want to dress this evening, but I had been assuming he would. SO - I bought some grey felt, and will make a headband with ears later on - Bond will be a mouse for Halloween. Simple.

Purty

2002-10-31T03:35:49Z

These are my flowers, which showed up unexpectedly on my doorstep this afternoon. Aren't they pretty? I love flowers. They were a thank-you from Moosh for pushing so hard to get the site up and running so soon.

Playing with syndication, and other fun things

2002-10-30T18:12:20Z

bifurcated - brand new syndicated lj for the Bifurcated Rivets weblog. A fountain of fantastic links. For an explanation of how syndication works, go here.

And in honor of it being (almost) Halloween and all, I present: The Pumpkin House of Horror. I can see my pumpkin carving skills have a long way to go.

This one is NOT in my CafePress store. May I present: Ghastly's Happy-Time Blow-Job Bib! (no nasty pictures or anything, but I'd still make sure my boss wasn't looking over my shoulder or anything, if I were you!)

Elvis is alive, and Lisa-Marie isn't really his daughter. The REAL Lisa Marie Presly has been living as Lisa Johansen in Scandanavia.

*wild, celebratory dancing (well, as wild as I can do with the flu, anyway!)

2002-10-30T03:58:15Z

This Year Santa is Leaving His Reindeer Behind
Amusement Park Christmas Cards Debut for the Holiday Season

LOS ANGELES - Forget Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph and even Santa's elves, this holiday season send cards with a little thrill in them. S & D Greetings, specializing in roller coaster and amusement park greeting cards and products, announces the 2002 Holiday Collection. The collection, priced at $20.00, includes 16 greetings featuring four distinct black and white photographs touched with a splash of holiday color: a snow-bound wooden coaster, a carousel horse, a Ferris wheel and the famous Coney Island Cyclone.

S & D's 2002 Holiday Collection is available at http://www.negative-g.net/sdgreetings/.

Customers can find S & D's product line of holiday ornaments, clothing, gift ideas and stocking stuffers available for purchase at www.CafePress.com/sdgreetings/.

Founded by roller coaster enthusiasts Matthew Sullivan and Carrie Drabek in September 2001, S & D Greetings was launched due to the overwhelming response the two received after creating Christmas cards for their own personal use.

Coming in 2003, S & D Greetings will begin producing general use cards in black and white and also in four-color, as well as additional products and clothing. Check their website for updated information.

# # #

Information and Corporate Sales:

S & D Greetings

Matthew Sullivan & Carrie Drabek

Ph: 310-387-1957

Email: sdgreetings@negative-g.net

http://www.negative-g.net/sdgreetings/

quiet and music

2002-10-29T22:10:37Z

both are good balm for flu-ridden adulthood.

My fantastic husband has taken Bond away for a little bit - they've gone to the library. Bond needed a walk badly, but not only do I feel too completely ill to walk with him, but it's also fairly cold outside, and we haven't gotten Bond's winter coat yet for the year. Guess I need to take this a a sign that it's time to go coat shopping.

I enjoy Shoutcast - I'm listening to it now. I find that, when no one is around to complain about my choice of music, it's a fantastic way to discover new music. Today I am listning to Scottish folk music (according to the station description) and Irish christian music. Very pretty, with harmonies that I am unaccustomed to from heaven-only-knows how long in the middle of "Country Music and Top 40 station Land". That's one of the very few downsides to living in the rural midwest. Shitty music selection. I am not a "one genre" type person. I do enjoy a lot of the currently popular music, which I persist in thinking of as "pseudo-alternative", but on a song-by-song basis. I may find a song or 2 by Blink182, for example, but be completely unable to stomach the rest of their work. Same goes for artists from just about every other genre. This makes buying albums exceedingly difficult. When I listen to shoutcast, though, I write down the names of the groups I encounter, and take the time to check out some of their other stuff. Yes, this does sometimes involve Kazaa. Since I'm specifically looking for music to buy later, I don't feel too bad about it.

Anyway, now that I've wandered off my topic, I have no idea what I was saying before. Still don't feel good, so the time to relax is much appreciated. Tonight will be a work night, regardless of illness. Perhaps Paul will let me pick the music this evening.

It's late

2002-10-29T04:52:46Z

and I am tired. The site is close to going live - Wednesday or Thursday for sure.

I'm watching the weather, and hoping it will snow soon. It's what's on my mind - I am ready for it. I find the snow to be a very sensual thing, even when one is inside and warm. There is an indescribeable non-sound to falling snow that sounds the way silk feels as it's run through your fingers.

A warm dark room, a snowy night, a candle and a lover. I need to make time for these images more often.

Beeeg Punkins!

2002-10-28T18:34:59Z

We promised Bond we'd do pumpkins this weekend. When we went to get the pumpkins, he was alternately delighted by them, and terrified of them. We're not entirely sure why - these were uncarved pumpkins, and he decided they scared him. "Scares you, scares you", he kept saying. Huh.

So, when the time came to carve the pumpkins, we got him all decked out in a painting smock that used to be one of Paul's work shirts, got out paints, with the idea that he could paint one of the pumpkins, and Paul or I would carve the other one. And Bond refused to have anything to do with them. In fact, he refused to sit in the same room with them. We tried for quite a while. Paul drew and painted a face on Bond's pumpkin, all the while telling Bond that he could come and paint the pumpkin too, if he wanted.

"No! AAAAHH"

Then, we started getting the carving pumpkin ready.

After a while, I started singing some nonesense song about "scooping with spoons". This caught Bond's interest, and finally, finally, he came in to the kitchen to help soop the pumpkins.

Since Bond still wasn't going to paint his pumpkin, and didn't really want to watch me carve, I decided to try my hand at carving a more detailed pumpkin.

It took forever, and it still isn't finished. I'll have to do the last third or so this evening. Doesn't look too bad, though - better than I expected it too. I always knew those surgical scalpals would come in handy some day!! ;-)

Today, Bond keeps walking up to the jack-o-lanterns and saying "Beeg, BEEG punkings! I nuggle them . . .I kiss . . .it's BEEG!" I wish I knew what it was about the blank pumpkins that terrified him, where glowing pumpkins with eyes are something to be cuddled. Sometimes i don't get my kid.

ctartchick @ 2002-10-26T23:08:00

2002-10-27T04:08:25Z

"It's Hate Mail!!"

"Only pop music can save us now . . ."