The previous theme that I had recently christened my blog with ended up being trashed, in favor of a larger, more detailed layout that better allowed for expansion. By expansion, I mean the ease of adding items to the right sidebar (a position I’ve avoided with navigation menus for ages) as well as the fact that the main post columns have expanded. This is most important for the posting of YouTube and Animoto videos, the latter of which is still non-functional in a standard post; but, as one will see just by checking out the right-hand side of the page, it can indeed be added to the sidebar, as can my collection of userbars.

It’s almost time to head to bed; tomorrow I hope to accomplish a lot. Two more things before I go: a pair of interesting make-your-own-site links in my del.icio.us RSS feed today. The first was for JottIt, the second for Pagii. The former is excellent in its simplicity; it’s basically the easiest blog that you will ever use, and is able to take HTML in nearly every form that I’ve tested thus far. My own sample page can be found here.

However, Pagii is the most revolting thing I’ve ever seen — it looks like a bastard child of MySpace and a 5-year-old’s generic $5 clipart-and-graphic software that you find in the clearance bin at computer shows. I made a page, but I’m certainly not proud of it; furthermore, I’m worried that the interweb mutants that seem to serve no purpose besides perverting the internet with their violently epileptic MySpace page designs will find this page, and capitalize on it. Eventually everything might look like the world of Idiocracy, and, for the sake of humanity, let us NOT let that happen.
Time to finish things up and head to bed.

I know there aren’t a lot of readers on my blog, but I just wanted to update it for those who do. This is the new template that I will be using, and it will undergo some changes in the next few days (hopefully). For now, you can see my Twitter feed, up on the side; pretty soon I’ll change the coloration of things and also add a Flickr badge or two. I also hope to upgrade to a new version of WordPress soon, and also create a blog for my photography and concert experiences.

Chiefly, the title has changed. Originally it was lexicon, which, in Greek, is closest to vocabulary; now it is more appropriately titled diarium, which is the Latin word that “diary” is derived from (diarium literally translates to “daily allowance”; the word journal comes from the same root — diurnalis, “daily”). I’m trying to keep a theme with all of the NAK’TURN sites, which are all being incorporated under the header of nocturnum instead.

Anyway, I’m babbling now and need sleep. You’ll see updates to this, I am sure.

This is in response to a thread I recently put up on ETS. Hopefully this is the last time i will need to do this in my blog.

First of all, if you don’t know what this is about, go to this thread: http://www.echoingthesound.org/phpbbx/viewtopic.php?t=23199

If you do know about it, here’s some detail as to what is going on with this thread here: After waiting for 2 months for people to respond to their order emails — including having sent private messages on ETS — I have eliminated the orders that did not respond. There are now FIFTEEN SPACES for orders remaining. These cases will all be offered to the MEETUP CREW.

There are FIFTEEN SPOTS for MEETUP CREW members; if you would like to join, please reply to this post in the comments. MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS and that it is an email you check regularly. DO NOT PM ME, I WILL NOT RESPOND TO MEETUP REQUESTS VIA PM until I have all 15 people. You CAN of course discuss in this thread whether or not you can make it, or any other circumstances!

If you would like to be part of the MEETUP CREW, you MUST abide by the following rules:

1. Anyone in the meetup MUST be local to the San Francisco Bay Area, or be able to transport yourself to it with no inconvenience. That’s where this is happening. I plan on having the meetup at my house or as close to it as possible, and my house is an hour from SF or Sacramento.

2. So that I know you are you, everyone who is officially recognized as a meetup crewmember will be given an order number and emailed a code word. These codes are unique to each person and they will be distributed via email. PLEASE DO NOT ASK TO SIGNUP IF YOU DO NOT PLAN ON CHECKING YOUR EMAIL REGULARLY FOR THIS! At the day of the meetup, you will need to present your ETS screenname and code word to me, along with your order number.

3. Communication will happen primarily via this thread. PMs are OK but emails are really the best way to contact me if you need to work out a pressing issue.

4. If you are able to provide your own packing or painting materials, your respective case will be either discounted or free, depending on what you are able to supply. A list of what I am needing is located here: http://www.echoingthesound.org/phpbbx/viewtopic.php?p=1024930#1024930
Please disregard the corrugated cardboard box, we will be using USPS flat rate shipping boxes.

5. Meetup crew members will receive the following items with their cases, as to differentiate from the regular orders:
- 1 cardstock stencil, used to put stencils on the cases
- 1 bandana

6. IF YOU CANNOT MAKE IT TO THE MEETUP: I don’t mind if you want to post in this thread, but I’m trying to streamline this to make it clear and simple for everyone participating. If you do want to talk about the cases, please go to the other thread (linked at the top of this post) to discuss.

Thank you everyone who is helping out. I apologize if I am sounding a little short tempered but I am in a very stressful time in my life, and this process has been taking a very long time. Once we get this rolling, we’ll be on our way to completing the process!

Long time since I updated this blog, and things are looking up. But I am cutting to the chase with this post: it’s in reference to the recent project I am working on. For more information, go to Echoing The Sound and read about the NIN ammo boxes given away at the LA meetup, and then read this thread to see the project I am working on.

As a recap:

1. These boxes are made from .30-caliber ammunition boxes that I will purchase from army surplus stores. Each box will have a custom-painted Art Is Resistance (AIR) flag design on them. Each person can decide on the color of his or her box, flag, and star.
2. There are current plans, due to availability of the items inside, to make a starting run of 100 boxes. If there is enough demand I will create & sell more.
3. Pricing, at this point, stands to be about $15 per case, not including shipping. Shipping will cost (in the states) up to about $13/box, and internationally it’s almost double that (except for Canada). I will calculate this as exactly and honestly as I can because ALL OF THESE WILL BE SOLD “AT COST” — I AM NOT TRYING TO MAKE ANY PROFIT WHATSOEVER.
4. Info about the contents is as follows, as well as the contributors:
1. An AIR flag patch, embroidered. Color choices are olive, red, and black, with black borders for each chosen design. Ishtmail is contributing these.
2. 10 AIR flyers, handbill size (5″ x 7″), the design of which is located here. If we are able to make additional flyers, based on the other design seen in the “official” AIR kit, there will be 20 flyers in each box. transmitting end is creating these.
3. 5 stickers with the AIR flag, choice of black or red.
4. 5 buttons with an AIR flag, or a custom-made Photoshop design (which the ETS forumgoers can create). defiant_trespass will be providing these.
5. A black marker for doodling stencils with, as was included in the official kit. Baron_Von_Kickass is researching the price for this.
6. A 2-layer stencil with the AIR flag and star. It will be the same size as used to make the flag design on the case. Each stencil will be used to make the appropriate flag, to give it that used look so that it seems like a tool of the trade.
7. Stamps with the AIR flag, 2 or 3 inches in size. This is tentative due to price and how fast they could be created, and Alrohir is making them.
5. The contributors’ boxes also will contain special blue AIR patches as designed by ViolenceInHD, but only for the contributors as there are less than 10 to go around. This means that if you want to take care of purchasing and sending over the stickers, or the stencils, contact me or post in the forum about what you can do. Currently, 8 of the patches are accounted for, between the current contributors, myself, and my best friend who will be primarily building these with me.
6. Anyone in the Bay Area can help me make these, once I have all the materials together. By help I mean spraypainting, packing the items, and packaging them once they are ready to go. Contact me via instant messenger, email, or the ETS forum — please do not use this blog, and see #6 for the reason why.
7. Please use this blog post to request a box. Post a comment specifying: (1) how many boxes you want, (2) for each box, I need the box color (or none if you don’t want it painted), the flag color, and the star color, and (3) what kind of patch (olive, red, or black) you want in each box.

That’s all to report on that. Keep an eye on the ETS forum for more information. Again, use this blog to request your orders.

This is the extent of human compassion in the place I live:

1. Because of about a total sum of 5, maybe more, overtime hours accrued over a 4 month period, I am limited to 77 hours per pay period instead of 80. Despite requests for more work and other shifts to cover, I have been met with no avail. To add to this, every time I speak to my manager, it becomes another fight. Even when I went in neutral, something is brought up that could be the most insignificant issue. Thus, every day I desire to leave the one job that I’ve been able to do the best for the longest time.

2. The policies of financial aid essentially state that the amount of financial aid I can get — if any — is determined partially by the income and/or assets of my parents. Despite the fact that they will not assist me in paying for anything academic, or anything else for that manner, they have enough in savings to disqualify me from financial aid. I am being denied the ability to move back home, as well. So I have no idea how I will pay for college next semester.

3. My roommates — the best example of asshole college frat idiots, except without the frat, with less beer, and (if possible) more closemindedness — have decided to move out of the current apartment complex, because one had their new car broken into and his new stereo stolen. (Pause here, while we contemplate his stupidity for having that combination of new items in an apartment complex known for how much it sucks balls.) They have insisted that I not come with them, without giving me any significant reason and without willing to discuss the manner either. So now I will have the incredibly fun task of trying to find a place to live.

I know, this is repetitive, I’ve posted it many times before.

But it’s all I can focus on right now.

And I can’t stand it.

More posts will come later once I get my head on straight.