There is a phrase floating around the web called a “lifestream”, and several sites are capitalizing on this new term. You too can have a lifestream! But remember Shakespeare and his line: “A rose by any other name…” still smells nice. Or my favorite, “same shit different pile”.

First, you need to know, that like anything else, when a new term is coined, everyone is “it”. It’s no different then any industry phrase. I remember this conversation

Friend: “I’m ISO-9000 compliant.”

Me: “Oh, that’s nice. what is it”.

Friend: “It’s a framework for my company to effectively creat a QMS”

Me: “Yes, but what is it”

Friend: “Well it’s a binder with specific details about my products and organizational work flows”

Me: “Didn’t you have that before?”

Friend: “Yes, but it’s in a new template!”

This isn’t any different then let’s say web 2.0

Friend: “My site is web 2.0.”

Me: “Oh, that’s nice. what is it”.

Friend: “It’s a conceptual framework for combining web technologies for user interaction.”

Me: “Yes, but what is it”

Friend: “Well I’m using RSS, AJAX, and various other scripts to add more dynamic content”

Me: “Didn’t you have that before?”

Friend: “Yes, but it’s got gradients!”

Now, you probably have the question I asked my friends “Yes, but what is it?” It’s another log / blog / news feed, of things you’ve been touching and updating on the web. It’s supposed to be a one stop shop. “Look, Nick has a new bookmark.”, “What’s that, Nick? You’ve put a new poem up on pownce?”, “Nick, you’re blogging again?”.

You may have seen this kind of stuff before, only it wasn’t called a “lifestream”. You know on facebook, how you have a list of friends activities? Things they’ve done on facebook? Well…that’s a lifestream. Take a look at friendfeed.com and they are by far the best I’ve come across. Simple and to the point. I guess that’s becuase they don’t even use the phrase “lifestream” at all.

My round the bend and over the stream ( get it! ) point

Regardless of what it’s called, if you are an active user on several sites, consider finding a place to tie them in a pretty bow. First of all, it will let your friends see your presence on the web ( not for everyone I know, but for those marketers, it’s extremely powerful ). And second, I find it puts in my mind, which sites I use, and reminds me why I use them.

Pownce is for poetry
Twitter is for what I’m doing
Tumblr is for shitz and giggles blogging
Friendfeed is my lifestream ( well I have a copy here too )

(update: I guess the services I use have changed a bit since 2008. Maybe it’s time for a new list?)

Wind and willow, wisps of white,
whirling wistfully into the night.
Round through bark and timbers quake
from heavy feet your sprits do make.

But I, unliken kin, hath differed slightly.
You see, I tumble easy and sway so lightly
My Splints do crack and shed their skin
When set against your stance and spin

Am I infallible? Nay!

When plucked to marrow my amber drips
and stains like any other in this plain.
But, rather pop my join and let way my stem,
I gently dace and dissuade your strength.
It’s a gift bestowed from seed of spring
A duckling blossom blooms on tips of twig

A timbered night we stand awake,
with sounds and sights of fallen ache.
Cracked mid bow and bones at feet
I weep and morn my families grief
Wind and willow, wisps of white,
I curse and bless my natures right.

What dreams must come to Mothers minds
when hand of God shall crack the sky,
and rage away the troubled times
for perfect moments relief,
and breath.

Fresh weathered air
after tumbled trees and shaken nest.
When children hide and peak in wonderment,
knowing beauty in such natured strength.
The shutters flap and quake
about smacking harshly against the house.
And with a whack,
a clouded broom wipes all away
the greys, replaced by light and breeze
relief,
a breath

All the while she sleeps.
The storm her mind like R.E.M.
with visions of ages that call upon her depth.
When once that swam took first step
along rocken’d tip of skin,
or muffled crunch of those she loved striving to survive
while she entwined in cold lament.
Perhaps, she visions like we –
of happy days or strange desires.
Perhaps, she dreams of elemental fires.

No Matter

Like flesh and blood
to mount and mud.
Dreams do come to our dearest Mom.
After streak of sky and turbulence,
a peaceful time,
she takes
a breath.

^{Source: https://www.youtube.com/}

I have a new place to lay my head at night. It’s very close to my new nephew. Which is a plus.

Almost everything is in disarray with boxes scattered. The kitchen is unpacked for necessity, but I know that where I put the dishes and spices, isn’t the right place. In the living room, My relaxing chair is accessibly, but has a bit of a gauntlet to get to it, which I do twice a day.

However, what isn’t unfinished is my office. I’ve never had an office in my home. I’ve never had a place so close to go to work. My home office used to be the relaxing chair. You can picture how difficult it was to actually get things done, when the same chair you fall asleep in when watching movies, is the same chair you need to be alert and productive in.

I knew this, but what else was I to do? The place I did my work, was the same room as my living room, was the same place as my dinning room.

I have now untapped something I didn’t think possible. I’m productive, and very focused! When they ( don’t know who…google only shows radiohead ) said “everything in it’s right place”, was this what they were talking about?

Do you have a corner of the world were you work? Where you call your office? If not, and you are in a pinch, learn from my mistake, do not make it the same place you do leisurely activities. The urge to relax always wins. Maybe call your office Starbucks or a nice local coffee/pie shop. Maybe your office could be a park bench or even consider renting a workspace. It’s worth it!

today i weaved a tethered line
from foot to mind.
with bait and hook, i wrenched it back.
an awesome sight.

scaled appendage, in air to breath,
writhing and shining in the sun.
it fought for comfort of a biding sea,
whose tide have made it home to me

how frightened and scared?
the pain from hook inside
pulling and raging, so odd.
with resilient strife

i heaved some more. in time,
the bound creature lay
peaceful in my craft
and thankful for the path

Vulgar, crass, but so far Californication is entertaining. I think David Duchovny, is good at self deprecating, sad-man roles.

^{Source: https://www.youtube.com/}

What’s up with facebook?

Astrology is a mixed bag of entertainment and advise. There are those that make these statements that pretty much apply to almost anyone: “You will find something you thought was lost.” So, when you think you’ve lost your key’s and find them again, WOW!

So, why do I even read them?

Sometimes I just need a laugh and a moment of escape. It’s like reading the bus signs on the way to school — you know they won’t be any good, but at least it’s something to do.

Other times, I need something that let’s me know I’m not completely loosing it. But for these times, I don’t just flip open 24 or The Metro.

Introduce, Rob Brezsny. Not only are his horoscopes entertaining buy they’ve got a rare insight and perspective I don’t see anywhere else. Take this week for example:

Sagittarius

Here’s the first thing you need to know about the current state of your destiny: “Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night.” That message comes to you from poet Rainer Maria Rilke. Here’s the second piece of wisdom you should take with you everywhere you go. It’s from Vladimir Nabokov: “For aren’t you and I gods? Let all of life be an unfettered howl. Release life’s rapture. Everything is blooming. Everything is flying. Everything is screaming. Laughter. Running.”

Is this right? Well, I’ll leave that for my own craziness. But, just to let you know, I think it is.

Take a look at his site, freewillastrology.com/horoscopes. If he doesn’t get it right, at least you’ll have a good moment of escape.