Erik Amzallag’s “column for intersecting ribs” on Lugnet.

A lot of times, I’m fascinated by the invididual building techniques, even if they don’t have a structure to go with. It’s amazing to have a look into someone else’s building techniques, particularly when you imagine it as part of a whole, or even how it might fit into other themes — an castle arch as intended here, sure, but supports for the roof of a shuttlebay on a star ship … ?

For the semester, anyway.

In the “this has something of interest for bloggers” catagory:

From the BBC:

The analysts said that during the middle of next year the number of blogs will level out at about 100 million.

The firm has said that 200 million people have already stopped writing their blogs.

Gartner analyst Daryl Plummer said the reason for the levelling off in blogging was due to the fact that most people who would ever start a web blog had already done so.

He said those who loved blogging were committed to keeping it up, while others had become bored and moved on.

“A lot of people have been in and out of this thing,” Mr Plummer said.

“Everyone thinks they have something to say, until they’re put on stage and asked to say it.”

Last month blog tracking firm Technorati reported that 100,000 new blogs were being created every day, and 1.3 million blog posts were written.

Technorati is tracking more than 57 million blogs, of which it believes around 55% are “active” and updated at least every three months.

Here’s hoping I’ll have things to say for years to come.

My final final of finals week is today at 10:15am– as soon as I’m out? University bookstore for spring semester’s books, then a Christmas shopping spree up and down York Road, ending at Game Stop because I’m going to need some video game violence to recuperate from the violence-inspiring crowds. I’m thinking Hitman 2.

Several years ago, I lived in a studio apartment in Cockeysville. It was very small, and I had a lot of stuff I put in there, but I still have fond memories of living there. I moved out into an apartment twice as large, but I think there’s something in me that enjoys being very “cozy”, and equates “cozy” with compact spaces and lots of stuff. For example, in an apartment roughly 350 square feet, I managed to fit a couch, a cozy chair, a futon, seven bookshelves, two coffee tables, an entertainment center and television, a desk, wall-mounted shelves, lamps … and all of this, with only one actual full wall. The others were taken up by the kitchen, the closet, and a large sliding-glass door.

I think my enjoyment of the most efficient use of tiny spaces comes from a Garfield comic I read many years ago. Garfield is sitting in a recliner right in front of the tv with all of Jon’s appliances and furniture arranged closely around him.

Maybe it is because in a few months I’ll be graduating college, and for some reason — probably my addiction with “How I Met Your Mother” — I’ve been thinking of moving to New York City when I graduate. I’m not saying I’d actually do that — I’ve been to NYC like four times, and three of those have just been passing through, and the fourth I don’t think I got out of the car — but the thought of moving away has been in my mind lately. Idly bored with my laptop on my lap and the television on (watching “How I Met Your Mother”) I began doing Google Image searches: “studio apartment floor plan” and variations thereof.

I will admit that I picked out a few plans I liked and sketched out furniture arrangements on what few blank sheets remain in my Folklore notebook. The goal is to fit as much stuff in as small a space as possible while still keeping the apartment useable. This was one of my favorite apartment layouts (although not in New York), although I don’t think I could actually say why that is — probably because of the slightly separated sleeping area space. I really really like this one … although it doesn’t seem to have a bathroom.

Maybe it’s weird that I’m a guy who enjoys planning out floorplans like this, and, no, I didn’t want to be an interior designer when I grew up (and I still don’t). I’m also trying to figure out my recent thoughts on New York City — as a resident of the greater Baltimore region, I sort of feel I have to hate New York. At the same time, there’s this magical element of the city that seems to be a draw. Maybe it’s one of those “nice places to visit, but I don’t think I’d want to live there” things.

I’ve got a final tomorrow morning, so I’m going to polish off this cider and hit the sack. I’ll probably dream of studio apartment floorplans.