RyanHarne.com

The latest Mac mini, the first with an Intel processor, is the media Mac people have been waiting for. And when I say “people”, I mean “me”. The greater population wouldn’t consider this a true media machine because it lacks that ridiculous coaxial cable connection; however, my anti-cable/satellite television approach to living knows no such boundaries, and I see the Mac mini in a different light.

One feature I am excited with is the new wireless streaming capabilities. This is multi-advantageous; I won’t delve in great detail on the topic, but I can see my entire solo apartment-living habits being transformed by a future diminutive apartment mate.

At just 6.5 inches wide, 6.5 inches long, and 2.9 inches tall, I will be proud to cohabitate with this fellow minimalist. Even more! my apartment mate will only consume 110 Joules of electricity per second (in other words, 110 Watts). This is good news, because I think my espresso machine, alone, hogs about 37 MegaWatts of wall juice when operating. But that is the last time you will ever hear me speak a sour word about my espresso maker, bless its soul. Anyways, hopefully, the future has in store many wonderful moments with my future roommate. And because I am a nice guy, I’ll pay its rent… forever.

I’m envisioning dream sequences of me spinning in circles, hand &… USB port?, with my apartment mate in large, green meadows of daffodils and tulips. Maybe there are jolly little peoples dancing around, encircling our cheery spirits. I’m not sure, exactly. We’ll see.

It’s a wonderful life.

later endnote: Please excuse the delirium. I am coming down with a multi-faceted sickness that slows my motion, incapacitates my mind, and shortens my breath, among others. I’m hoping this will clear up prior to Saturday.

During my wandering about campus this evening, I strolled through Cowgill to see what fellow restless minds were at work. The place was bustling (naturally, architecture students here seem to work 5 days per week straight, and then take a weekend-long break) but I found no one that I knew personally.

I walked to the 3rd floor just out of curiosity and, even more curiously, walked into the Art & Architecture Library. Anyone knowing me well enough would understand what a drastic maneuver that was; not that I am anti-libraries, but for some unexplained reason I simply rarely make use of them. Apart from the 4 times I went into the main library, Newman, for research within a class last semester, my previous library visits were as scarce as albino moose. One of my most recent library memories was actually in high school, when I was in the library for part of the afterprom celebration because they had inflatable games set up in the vicinity.

Since I learned how to use a computer and access both relevant and irrelevant information from the internet, I’ve given an unintended slight to libraries. So, my random visit this evening was unprecedented. But it was worth it. And very much so.

Did you know… Did you know… that libraries have magazines? Even better. They have current magazines! My early childhood memories involve going to a library with my mother to hunt out Sports Illustrated for Kids editions, none of them newer than many months outdated. But, the library here has magazines. And, being an Art & Architecture library, has magazines specifically related to areas within those fields. And. Yes. That includes ID. This makes me very happy. I spent quite some time browsing, being inspired, and wanting to leave so I could do something with that inspiration.

No longer will I have to pay dues to B&N to scan their magazine racks and scoff at the per issue prices. Perhaps it is time to put my library ignorance to rest. Now, I will put on the cloak of being that guy who hangs out in the library just to read the magazines and who, apparently, has nothing better to do. That’s the good life.

As a part of my plan for Friday, I napped. Upon returning from my last early afternoon class, my body lost all resistance to become one with my bed. Yet, I slept too well. My sleep was so deep that I was out for a few hours. Normally, that’s ok; but today that meant I slept straight through the GLC lecture (and free Bollo’s refreshments).

And I was really looking forward to attending, since there doesn’t seem to be any further intellectual stimulation offered by the university until after spring break. When my eyes first opened following my nap, I quickly turned to check the time since the daylight was still bright enough to obscure any immediate discernment of the hour. Yeah, the lecture was already over. Nearly as loud as I could, the first words to escape my mouth were, “DANG IT!” A bittersweet reality, I say.

I am planning on watching Seneca’s play Monday night. You’re welcome to join.

Twice today I physically jumped or jerked when I was caught off-guard. The first was during my evening class when someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind to pass along some object that was making its rounds. I was sitting there with a blank mind and BAM a light rap-rap-rapping on my shoulder. The second time was when I was leaving my dorm and I was about to open the door when it was opened for me. I was leaving at a time when I could only see my reflection as I walked towards the door, and, upon running into this person, the unexpected rendezvous make me jump.

I have a possible cause for these unusual symptoms. Sleep deprivation. I’m almost positive that is the case. I’m running on 7 hours for the past two days, since I have become entangled in a flesh-eating set of homework assignments (only metaphorically flesh-eating, mind you). Without the usual sleep, my perceptions diminish and my awareness of surroundings plummets at an accelerating rate. Thus, it was possible that this sleep deprivation has temporarily put me into a screen saver and these run-ins have become unanticipated jerks of the mouse to get me back into the big picture.

The Big Picture. Whatever that is. A work in progress, probably.

Anyways, sleep deprivation is awesome. It has, only naturally, turned me into a nocturnal. I can stay up to 4am without knowing the difference. Then I wake up at 7am and get to it. Get crackin’.

And, quite possibly, I believe this sleep deprivation has rekindled my love for sweets and pastries. And by “rekindled” I, of course, mean to say that my appetite for sweets is encompassing my total being.

Maybe I’ll get some sleep tonight. That would be smashing.

At our secret society meeting tonight, we all clustered around an Intel iMac while drool slowly found its way towards the low spots in the carpet. The new iMac is quite fast, yes. I am envious, admittedly, but am also content with my current PowerBook. It’s certainly a trooper. (But a trooper could always be well-complemented by a commander, or mothership).

And, yes, I have my finger on the ready for these final hundred thousand-song marks on the iTunes Billion Song Giveaways. Since I’ve been sending in those free entries from day-one, I can’t recall a time when the counter has had such momentum. They are moving a thousand songs in about 13 or 14 seconds right now (@ 999,528,7xx). This is phenominal. I get the impression that this rate (Mach 3, perhaps?) will certainly lock down the iTMS a few thousand before the billionth song purchase, ala the 100,000,000 contest and the 500,000,000 contest. But I’ll be all the more ready.

I’ll also make sure my song purchase attempt for the 1B song is something cool and exciting, just in case I win and my purchase gets front page headlines the world over. I’ll steer clear of Ashlee Simpson music urges and shoot for something more exciting and engaging. Maybe I’ll buy “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred or, even better, “I’m So Proud” by Arnold Schwarzenegger. You know, the types of tracks that would make people think, “Yeah, that Ryan Harne… he’s one fine dude.” Etc. Etc.

And the ticker is at 999,570,6xx.

With a few minutes to spare this afternoon, I stared into my monitor while mindlessly deleting old emails that I failed to dispose of at my earliest occasion. Most of them were comment spam from nameless Russians or online casinos that I care not visit. There was a large period late last year when I just ignored all of those emails as they replicated themselves in my inbox, so to speak. Each and every one received a swift retribution today. Huttah!

Came across Four Eyed Monsters today. I actually watched all of their video podcasts prior to viewing the actual movie trailer. Anyways, I’d hate to spoil the fun, so check them out if you have the time.

The campus recruiting for summer internships began full force today with the opening of the CareerFest thing-a-ma-bob. I spoke briefly with a few people, but my main interest lies elsewhere. The next few weeks will be gut-wrenching as I wait for word and contact. And again, I’m hopeful, really.