OK... now that I have this shiny Droid phone (which has a nice keyboard on it, both physically and on-screen, when needed), I no longer have an excuse for avoiding text-message-based things. Gods know I was sending enough texts using the old phone, though doing so grudgingly.

Now you can find me on that Twitter thing: http://twitter.com/kierduros

I've started to go through and add people, but feel free to beat me to the punch. :)Read more

Churches can look really creepy with the right lighting and background. :)
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On Thursday, I came home to an empty couch and a lot more floor space than I've had in a while. My buddy Josh, who's been staying with me for more than a year now, finally had enough going in his favor to continue his long-paused trip.

When he first rolled into town, the weather was awful and it took him a week or so to dry out. Such is the challenge of a cross-country motorcycle trip. Aiming to not leave under similar circumstances, his exit was postponed about a week from what he had planned. In that time, another mechanical issue or two came up with the bike and he found some good deals on a few other things he had been look for.

He left me with a new wireless router and a set of movies I'd been putting off buying for years.

Josh has done this stint of couch-surfing infinitely better than I did back in 2003.Read more

After what somehow turned into a moderately stressful day at work, I trudged across town in the cold, misty, rain to pop in to the apartment warming party my co-worker was throwing.

Even leaving work later than I planned and getting stuck behind people who were walking way to slow for my tastes (especially for what the weather was doing), I ended up being the first person there. But only for a few minutes... others were close behind.

Before long, the modest (and well decorated--she is a graphic designer and stuff) apartment was full. Mostly of people I didn't know.Read more

For a moment, let's think about organizations.

We've all been part of one (or a few) over the years. I know my name has shown up on the roster of at least a dozen clubs and things going all the way back to when I wasn't quite in the double-digit ages.

Every one works a little differently, gets its "kick" and forward momentum in different ways. Some are driven firmly by membership, others by leadership and some by outside forces. Those different prime movers make for very different dynamics within the group.Read more

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Ever since work on Browncoats: Redemption wrapped, the cast, crew, and friends have tried to get together at least once a month to keep the fun going.

This time around, it was the MD Renaissance Faire.

For some, it was their first time being at faire. Others more or less grew up there. Everyone had a fantastic time.

How can you not? Elephant rides, bodices and corsets, pirates, armor, mead, beer, wine, food on a stick... what's not to like?Read more

P9120038

Originally uploaded by KierDuros

Friday night was the normal game night scheduled at Casa de Tall People.Read more

Wednesdays seem to be popular nights for people with common interests to get together.

This time around it was DC Media Makers.

DCMM is a neat group that I was introduced to when the producers of Browncoats: Redemption made an appearance there a few months ago to talk about the film. I've been going back ever since.Read more

Last week I hit up my second DC Bloggers Meetup.

While it wasn't quite as crowded as last month's, it was just as enjoyable.

Writing can be a solitary thing. The Internet started to change that with the advent of BBSs. The Web kicked the public side of writing into overdrive.

No more was a writer limited by geography or access to a print shop (and time/money to distribute that printed material). Once the mid-90s hit, anyone could set up a website. I've been online since 1994.Read more

For a few weeks now, we've been having numerous phone calls come in from a couple of different numbers that only come up on our caller ID as "800 Service".

They never leave messages.

Of course, that means they're telemarketers of some sort.

Today I got fed up and actually answered the phone.

Me: [company name], this is Chris.
TM: ...
Me: Hello.
TM: ...
Me: HELLO!
TM: ...
Me: HELLO?
TM: Hello.
Me: Yes?
TM: I'm calling from the US Do Not Call Registry...
Me: You're calling from the US Do Not Call Registry?
TM: Yes.Read more