Geoffrey Alexander

Death Cab for Cutie

2009-06-30T15:37:33Z

I’m quickly becoming enamored of this band; I’m probably late to the party as usual but it was the song “Little Bribes” that caught my attention and I’ve since delved deeper. In fact I’m working up some words on that song itself — I think its a great exemplar of the kind of Pop that works right now — I’ll be posting soon. Check them out in the meantime.

I may change my mind.

2009-06-18T16:31:24Z

Samples of photos taken with the new iPhone camera have me drooling. The quality of the camera in my current 2G version has been my only disappointment, my the sharpness, clarity, and overall utility of the new camera has me thinking about shelling out sooner than I had planned for an upgrade. That new dishwasher is going to have to wait I guess….

Paging Mr. Crosby....

2009-06-15T19:55:03Z

I just Bing’d myself (as in, the new Microsoft search engine). OK results, but none of the photographs are me. None. And it seems there’s this little wanker from Texas who’s pretending to be a poet, and that’s not me either (first of all, I’m fifty years old. Second, I can actually write.)

Hmmf.

The iPhone 3G S

2009-06-09T14:47:39Z

It’s tempting, and I put off upgrading from my original 2G phone waiting for something like the current feature set. But, in truth, I really don’t have a pressing need for GPS or a compass, as I never travel more than 10 or 12 blocks from my home (well, actually I travel a little further for some shopping trips, sometimes all of 3 miles away) but serious trekking ain’t my thing. Likewise, I live in a constant soup of strong Wi-Fi signals here in downtown DSM, so for all networking purposes I have the speed covered.

I may relent for my birthday this August. It’s that, or a new dishwasher. And I’m serious about my appliances.

Getting back to speed

2009-04-28T14:47:51Z

Starting next week on some Diamond updates; distracted a bit by a Dashboard project someone is paying for :). Thanks for the feedback and continued interest. Settled into the new digs with full net access 24/7 now so dev work should pick up a bit.

I'm Comfortable Again

2009-04-02T04:20:48Z

The move is almost complete, I have Samuel the Cat installed in the condo, and now waiting on suitable furnishments (hope to have the heavey stuff here in a couple of weeks). I'll snap some views to share when the sun comes out later next week.

A home, at last

2009-03-08T21:17:55Z

Preparing for the move to my new condo the first week in April. Thanks to one of my new contractors, I'll have broadband DSL provided, so I'll begin again with Diamond and Sapphire dev as well as some new Dashboard and iPhone things. I hate the stress of moving but, considering from whence I come to where I'm going....

And finally, getting caught up on my writing. It's been more than a year since I've published anything, or had the leisure to do more than minor rev's on any of my current projects. Illness and (near) homelessness are no fun. I feel sincerely for those facing such prospects, and don't recommend them.

at Last...

2009-03-01T03:06:00Z

...after three years of limbo, I return to Earth, and am allowed to occupy a domicile wit' amenities (incl. a kitchen & toilet, among other things.

Ironic, since so many are now denied these decencies..

I have always been ahead of the curve. Even the downwards one. And now the upwards...)

Pardon the Interruption....

2008-12-29T20:49:33Z

Sorry for the long (virtual) absence; I’ve been taken away from development and from web-work for far too long by a combination of factors. But, I’m slowly returning to full virtual stature, and have (among other things) reactivated my Facebook account and will returning to twitter soon (follow me if you wish as geoffalexander). Watch for the previously promised Diamond updates soon after the New Year. Thanks again for your patience!

Some work completed, finally.

2008-11-14T19:02:03Z

I’ll be rolling out an incremental upgrade for Diamond by Sunday PM, I hope.

Sorry for the delay but a recent prolonged (but not major) illness has had me distracted. Also, watch for more content on the content of this weblog soon. I’ll be posting some of my archived essays before I install them in the general catalog so stay tuned. First up is an infamous essay I wrote on Kubrick’s version of “The Shining” vs. King’s own TV remake (“Stephen King’s Diminishing Return”) which managed to launch a one year flame-war between the Stephen King Fan Club and alt.movies.kubrick on Usenet. Much fun.

Diamond 3.4 Released

2008-09-21T23:09:11Z

More info in the Development Area.

Sapphire Beta is available

2008-09-09T16:26:52Z

…sorry it took longer than I thought. And hopefully this week I’ll have some additional content up in the Essays area. This is not the time of year I enjoy being swamped with work….

Survivability

2008-08-05T13:12:34Z

As something of a follow-up to my last posting I should mention that I enjoyed my birthday, and remember all of it, but Saturday was different; I last recall having a Ham and Cheese sandwich at The High Life Lounge (for those of you not in Des Moines, yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like) watching the Cubs game, and the next thing I remember clearly is waking up (in bed, fortunately) Sunday morning at about 5am with disconcerting aches and pains — but with everything else complete and intact. Well, I was told later that day that the previous (Saturday) evening I was was discovered by the household staff in the phone closet across from my apartment, wrestling on the floor with the equipment; earlier, I was seen outside the building, talking to a tree.

I’m lucky I even survived middle age, really.

Absinthe Minded

2008-07-28T16:33:01Z

This Friday is my birthday; I turn 49. As would have usually been my habit, I’d have started celebrating last Friday (and if you count my involuntary participation in in the 515 Festival, held outside my doors and window this weekend perhaps I did; thank dog the Techno outweighed the Urban beats at this year’s event) but the need to get some content on the website (at last) and the need to complete the Diamond Release package (at last) has kept me from going whole hog, as they say. In addition, unlike some previous years, I’m not taking vacation during or following the week of it (I’ve already had my deserved time off) so there’s the paying gig to contend with. But I’m keeping the schedule light for Thursday, as I know’ll I’ll be edging into something recreational by then.

I have made some plans to look forward to. There’re at least two of my favorite venues that now have full and proper absinthe service. Under pedestrian circumstances I visit the Green Fairie but rarely, as waking up with the taste of aniseed on my lips and only written notes as to how it got there makes for bad mornings, most times. But as I plan a complete tour of my favorite meals around the district this year (we’ve been very lucky of late in the quality of kitchens opening) a couple of relaxed aperitifs may be just the thing, as I begin the year-long contemplation of the Big Fifty.

It may take tequila as well. I’ll let you know how that works out.

Diamond 3 is available.

2008-07-28T15:45:07Z

The Diamond 3 Package is now available. Since the Automated Update feature has been disabled, all Diamond users should download and install this release. Please go to the Development/Downloads area to obtain this package.