Does the KoolAid Ever Wear Off?

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Additions to Wikipedia

I am technology support and artist, a combination which can either prove deadly to my own work time, or contribute handily to my abilities as a successful artist. I want to contribute to Wikipedia's entry Digital Art as either a stub entry, or as commentary about the problems encountered with getting software to work properly as an artist. I posted a new discussion topic for review, and hope it is met "warmly".:)

The frustration level found in tracking down glitches that pop up because of incompatibilities between vendor software and the operating systems users interact with are agonizing, and in my opinion, ultimately unnecessary.

An example is the way in which Macromedia updates are not supported by Apple's OSX upgrades.

After installing and doing exactly what the vendor Macromedia said to do, launching "Dreamweaver" usually ends up in a temporary bouncing icon which then fails to load the software.

This not only stops the creative or re-discovery process in its tracks, or at the very least, discourages the artist from pursuing digital art as a medium because of its inherent bugginess.

Some of the topics I browsed were from the What Links Here feature of the Digital Art topic: Demoscene, Postdigital, and HardForum. These proved to be the most positive palces in which I think I could post my new topic. Ars Electronica also hosts an innovative R&D facility, and I will be returning to that site as it might also work as a place to post my research.

I also just found a new link that may prove helpful as an addendum to troubleshooting software compatibility. It is an online metadatabase of software tutorials, in almost exactly the format I would like to see available for digital artists needing to have solutions to all their problems in one place.

As the technical director for a large university's college of visual and performing arts, this entry into Wikipedia seemed most appropriate. It is a work in progress, so please keep checking back for updates.

Monday, September 05, 2005

Welcome to the discussion board!

If there was ever a time for new approaches of post-modern polemic about the neo-conservative ideology, this is it. I appreciate your commentary and ideas on how to bring humanity back to a conservative-ravaged America. This blog allows you to be heard over the Rush Limbaughs, Sean Hannitys, Dickhead Cheneys, and Karl Roves who have successfully taken away an alternative voice and image. This blog assumes your inherent inalienable rights as an American not included by the officious right:

1) If you have liberal ideas, you are still patriotic.
2) If you do not agree with George Bush, you are still patriotic.
3) If you believe in alternative energy sources, you are still patriotic.
4) If you are against organized religion, you are still patriotic.

The list goes on. Any others, folks?