JenUpdate

Breaking the long silence to report that it may remain that way for at least a little while ... I'm going through some pretty bad financial times lately because of some unexpected expenses plus unexpected work hour reductions. I'm currently putting finishing school plans on hold while I look for a full-time job and some semblance of stability. So if anyone knows of a tech-type job in the general NE Ohio area, or any type of job for that matter, feel free to pass it along.

For this reason I've also added that little tip jar on the left to help defray hosting costs. If you love me, or have ever loved me, or ever plan to love me in the future, please consider dropping at least a few cents in it. Hopefully, within another month it won't be necessary any more.

I'm still working on pulling together the new design, so please bear with me as I reorganize things. I am also going to be putting more effort into the blog, to somewhat justify the donation request. I'm not sure if I can ever completely justify receiving rewards for my rambling, but I'll give it a shot.

It's Coming ...

Preparations for 6/6/06 are already underway:

Slayer, one of America's most popular heavy metal rock groups, will start its Unholy Alliance tour, subtitled Preaching to the Perverted.

AND

Crown Forum, a US publishing giant, has seized on 666 as the perfect date for the launch of Godless, a new anti-liberal political polemic by Ann Coulter, a prominent right-wing columnist.

How appropriate.

Technorati tags: Slayer, Ann Coulter

Scientific Art

The most beautiful periodic table displays in the world, including element samples and computer interactivity. See, kids, science can be pretty - and pretty can be science.

Technorati tags: science education, art and science

Female Gamers Are Nothing New

Is it necessary to keep talking about female gamers? This post says no - we're here, we've always been here, and it's time to stop making such a big deal about it.

And that is the truth. But the problem is that the truth and the sterotype seem to exist on different planes of thought. It's essentially the same issue for women and many areas of technology - whether or not women are as deeply involved in the industry as men are (and, generally speaking, they are), the facts haven't impacted the prevailing impressions and ideas of who represents that industry. What we have to fight is not the truth, but perception.

If it were a simple matter of the media not recognizing us, I'd say forget perception and just get on with what we've always been doing. But it's more complicated. The other people receiving those inaccurate impressions are girls and young women who are still searching for their paths. I once mentored an extremely bright girl who loved computers and video games, and thought about becoming a video game designer. "But," she told me once, "it's too hard for a girl."

Maybe it is hard. But if we don't keep discussing and making a big deal about that fact, it may very well become impossible - in young women's minds, where it matters the most.

Technorati tags: video games, gaming, girl gamers