I haven’t had as much time as I’d like to play them (of course) but I have been dipping my toe in the water. In Spore I have graduated from the primordial ooze on up to “creature stage,” and in LBP I have been exploring The Savannah and unlocked the tools to make my own “level” in the game.

Being the social network junkie that I am, one of the features I tend to check out first are the profiles and friends. But sadly, I don’t have any friends on either network! If you play one of these games, would you friend me up? Of course I’m rubyji in both My Spore and the the PlayStation network.

Also, what are your favorite sources of information about these games and communities of game players? I ask especially because I have also been tasked with reaching out to LBP and Spore players around the competition to let them know they can submit content they make (or plan to make) in these games for awards of up to $50,000! Please pass on the web site DMLcompetition.net to people who might be interested, and/or tell me where to follow up.

Izzy seems to have taken a great leap forward in understanding the world around him, and in developing a sense of his own self as well. More and more he can play independently (for a little while). He is also developing some interest in “solid” food, which is a bittersweet milestone for me. It’s the first time since his conception that Izzy’s life isn’t being fully sustained by my body. I look forward to the independence this will bring me, but it’s also the beginning of the separation of us into two truly separate organisms. Yes I know that sounds weird.

The older Izzy gets, the more fun he is to be with. I never thought I would like infancy with its crying and its diapers, and I still don’t enjoy those aspects of it. But I can honestly say that the past month with Izzy has been a lot of FUN.

This year is full of races in which my choice is either quite obvious or not at all clear. For those who want it, here is the official Ruby Sinreich Voting Guide ™ for 2009. I’ll link to the OP profile for those who have accounts, but note that all the candiates’ web sites are available on the OP election page.

I’ll start with the easiest ones: Mark Kleinschmidt for Mayor of Chapel Hill, and Mark Chilton for Mayor of Carrboro. Both are people I have known for nearly 20 years, so I can say with a lot of confidence that they are smart, ethical, brave, and skilled leaders. But don’t take my word for it – they have extensive records as both elected officials and as activists for social, economic, and environmental justice. Mark Chilton’s record as Mayor and his participation here on OP speak well for him. Mark Kleinschmidt has rightly been called "the conscience of the Council" but he is also a practical policymaker and consensus-builder who knows how to get things done.

I have a hard choice to make for Chapel Hill Town Council because I have concerns about every candidate in the race, including incumbents. With some hesitation, I will be voting for Penny Rich, Ed Harrison, Laurin Easthom, and Gene Pease. In spite of my concerns, I believe they are all knowledgeable about town government and are reasonable people who will work together with their colleagues to find the best solutions to our collective problems.

If I lived in Carrboro, I would have an easy choice and vote for Jacquie Gist, Randee Haven-O’Donnell, and Sammy Slade. Carrboro is doing a pretty good job (although I don’t get the hysteria over 5-story buildings) and these three are well-equipped to continue this work. Sammy is an example of one of those activists who is frequently rabble-rousing and you wish they would put their money where their mouth is and do the hard work. Well that’s exactly what he’s doing by running for Board of Aldermen and I’m glad to see him doing it.

The hardest of all this year is the School Board. I like what I know of nearly all the candidates, and from what I know about School Board issues, I have trouble distinguishing many of them! Joe Green has the strong support of the local NAACP (via the Breakfast Club), which is a voice I trust on school issues especially. I was impressed with him when he applied for Town Council last year, and I’m glad to see he’s remained involved. I honestly don’t know which two will get my other votes, so I will refrain from commenting until I figure it out.

If I lived in Hillsborough, I would vote for the incumbents because the lone challenger hasn’t offered any reason not to, and his solitude in that race seems like a statement of satisfaction from Hillsborough voters.

For more suggestions form other voters, visit www.orangepolitics.org/2009/10/the-most-important-endorsement

____, this does not work at all. For example, on the link you sent, the RSS icon links the ENTIRE SITE’S BLOG feed instead of the feed for THAT POST, and if you go to that blogger’s archive, there are two feed icons (one next to each blog entry) linking to the feed for the ENTIRE SITE’S FORUMS, when that page should have ONE icon at the bottom with a link to THAT BLOGGER’s feed.

All I want it to do is the default Drupal behavior!

Sometimes I’m amazed that I even have words to explain that I want X to function as X. How am I even explaining this to someone who gets paid to make web sites?

Congrats to @neilhimself for winning yet another award (@thehugoawards). And handled with such articulate aplomb as usual. #

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@steveburnett Aw. Best of luck with yr plumbing. You will be missed at #BarCampRDU. in reply to steveburnett #

Save some for the rest of us. RT @lazyphiphi: Mmmm…this JQuery koolaid is tasty. #barcamprdu #

@BillHiggins I’m watching you type. #barcamprdu #googlewave #

@spader I’m a person, not the language. Stick with the #ruby hashtag. #wrongruby in reply to spader #

Ten Ten Chinese Buffet in Raleigh FTL. It was my own bad idea, but I hope I never eat there again. #

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@SteveDear Hey, welcome to Twitter! in reply to SteveDear #

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Rtwt @zdislaw: http://whentwitterisdown.com/ #

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