Topher Cyll

I rediscovered the Towne Lounge last weekend, and I've started going to a lot of their. I have very little interest in going out of doors when its dark and cold, so it's pefectly situated a block and a half from my apartment. It's as seedy as ever, but shows range from $3-7 and the bands do a great job.

Wow and Flutter with The Invisible: The Invisible was good, but Wow and Flutter really made the show. I guess they recently lost a bunch of band members and found a new tighter sound as a trio. A definite recommend.

Mommy and Daddy with Bang Bang! and Crazy Horse: Mommy and Daddy and Bang Bang! both put on a really good show. I dig the indie rock with drum machine thing that Mommy and Daddy did. Bang Bang! didn't have a place to stay so they crashed at my apartment. I geeked out with their guitarist Jack about comic books in general, and Grant Morrison in specific. If I'm ever jealous of the rockstar life, just remind me how painful touring sounded.

Wednesday Show: The first band was very funny. The only thing that saved them was the chello. Troy thinks Emo is the new Country. If the joke is that Country music is singing about how your wife left you and ran over your dog, then Emo is singing about how your girlfriend left you and you can't find a good pair of pants. The second band was more interesting. Self described "Tundra rock", I didn't find their melodies very compelling, but their drummer was very good.

posted on: 12/07/2005 | path: /life

I was the Bus Project Volunteer Spotlight for this week, which was really nice of them. Here's the interview:

Rising Star Spotlight: Topher Cyll

Born on *Halloween* of all days, Topher is a 2004 graduate of Williams College, a software engineer at Intel and a newly anointed novelist. At the Bus, he's a regular anchor on the technology committee (Rebooting Democracy, if you will) and a stalwart on bus trips. We'd write something funny about him, but are well aware that we'd be overshadowed by his wit. So we won't.

Hometown: I'm from Buxton, Maine. You ever watched The Shawshank Redemption? The treasure was supposedly buried in Buxton, Maine. But for the novelty factor, at parties I tell people that I'm from Portland, Maine, which is only about 25 minutes away. "Oh, how nice it must be to still live in a Portland," they tell me.

The coolest thing about you: Well, I just finished a 50,115 word novel for National Novel Writing Month. I wrote it in 16 days, which may have been overkill, considering they give you a whole month. It's titled "How the United States of the West Was Won (On the Backs of the Dinosaur Army)," and in case the title didn't give it away, it's alternative historical fiction about Dinosaurs, Westward Expansion, and the Civil War.

First "political" moment? I came home from kindergarten one day before the '88 election. They'd handed out a little fake presidential ballot in class. "Mom," I asked, showing it to her, "Did I vote for the right one?" "Sweetie, there's no right or wrong answer." she told me. But I was pretty sure that couldn't be true, because I think I voted for George Bush by accident, and it felt terrible!

Your most unusual or impressive talent: I make a really good waffle.

What brought you to the Bus Project: I attended the Bus party of a family friend, just weeks after driving here from Portland, ME. See? I just lied about being from Portland, ME again.

The direction you'd like to see Oregon go over the next couple decades: I think there's a fantastic opportunity for Oregon to be the Open Source Software capital of the United States.

Quick! In 3 words - describe the Bus: "Not enough words!"

posted on: 11/22/2005 | path: /life

Dear Friends,

I did it! Tonight, November 16th, just minutes before 7pm, I completed my novel for National Novel Writing Month. This makes me the 391st person to do so, out of 58766 registered participants!

Weighing at 50,115 words, my novel is tentatively called How the United States of the West was Won on the Backs of the Dinosaur Army. It is an alternate history that supposes in 1821 explorers discover western America is still inhabited by dinosaurs, thus changing the fate of the United States forever. It goes without saying that it is a literary masterpiece. That said, I have no intention of every showing it to anyone. You're going to have to use your imaginations.

You can see some kind of bar chart here, proving I really did write all those words: http://www.nanowrimo.org/userinfo.php?uid=41002

I couldn't have made it without your encouragement! Not that I had much choice after I'd boasted to everyone about it. Thanks again, you're all the best!

I feel like a million bucks,
Topher

PS- It's true! They really do teach you a secret handshake after you write your first novel.

posted on: 11/16/2005 | path: /life

I'm four days into National Novel Writing Month, nine cups of tea, and just over 12,000 words. Also, I know everyone at the coffeeshop by first name.

posted on: 11/04/2005 | path: /life

(Picture from the 2005 SpaceProm)

Q:If this man was writing a novel, how long would it take him?

A:It would take him one month (30 days).

Q:If this man was writing a novel, how long would it be?

A:It would be 50,000 words long.

Q:If this man were writing a novel, what would it be about?

A: It would be an alternative history where Louis and Clark-esque explorers discover the center of the continent is still inhabited by dinosaurs, and it changes the destiny of the United States of America.

My name is Topher Cyll and I'm doing NANOWRIMO 2005 (National Novel Writing Month).

posted on: 11/01/2005 | path: /life

I rock the deep fryer.

posted on: 10/22/2005 | path: /life

Havoc tells it like it is. Who hasn't been there?

Sarah and John visited me this past weekend and we had a blast. I'll post pics in a day or two.

posted on: 10/17/2005 | path: /life

(14:50:37) Myself: there's a mysterious blood stain on my door
(14:50:43) Myself: should I be worried about that?
(14:50:50) Allison Sliter: How big?
(14:51:03) Myself: size of a quarter
(14:51:08) Myself: maybe I should start looking for bodies
(14:51:26) Allison Sliter: is it round like a quarter?
(14:51:33) Myself: no, pretty irregular
(14:51:41) Allison Sliter: drippy?
(14:51:46) Myself: smeared
(14:51:55) Allison Sliter: Hmm....
(14:51:57) Myself: it could be bbq sauce
(14:52:00) Myself: from the chicken tenders
(14:52:06) Myself: I don't really want to lick it though
(14:52:06) Allison Sliter: lol - can you smell it?
(14:52:15) Allison Sliter: a bit of wet paper towel, dab it, and smell it
(14:52:21) Allison Sliter: the water will desolve enough to smell
(14:53:03) Myself: can't tell
(14:53:07) Myself: wow, I feel like Science Cop
(14:53:11) Myself: I hope i don't have to arrest myself

posted on: 10/09/2005 | path: /life

I would like to point out that even after a night of partying, I have managed to not lose my umbrella. Happy birthday, Allison!

posted on: 09/30/2005 | path: /life

I decided to try biking to the Bus Project office today to see how bad it was.

First, I geared up. Understand, that I am a country boy, and I am scared shitless of biking in the city. I put on my shorts and a bright orange don't-hit-me t-shirt, double checked my helmet, grabbed my map of the "bike-friendly" streets in Portland, and headed out the door carrying Gwendolyn: The Destroyer.

First thing I noticed was that my butt was sore. Ouch. That'll teach me not to go all flabby. I stuck to the side walks for the first few blocks, trying to make it to the street my map said had a bike lane. Huh, wrong way. Okay, so I picked the next closest bike friendly street (headed the proper direction this time) and took off. One block down, I was ready to try this thing.

With no cars coming, I moved into the right most lane, and started peddling. I must have looked like I was tweaking out, eyes searching for suddenly opened car doors, frantic glances behind me, stutter pedalling as I tried to figure out how to shift the small gears on my new bike. But then I started to get the hang of it.

I got it. I was a car. In fact, I could even keep up with them. The only thing was, they could flatten me if they choose. Yikes. That will take some getting used to.

But downtown isn't so large here, and eventually I got to the Hawthorne bridge which has a great bike lane, that continues well into South East. I worked my way over the river and then up to right near the Bus Office. No problem. Coming back was just as easy. I even took the Jefferson street bike lane that was going the wrong way before.

Anyways, two days of bike riding has kicked my ass. My legs feel very wobbly. Which kind of indicates I wasn't getting a good enough work out on that stupid exercise bike. Not to mention, I'm eating tons again.

One thing that amazed me was how much more intimate it was passing through the city on a bike compared to a car. Everything was new. Crossing the bridge kind of blew my mind as the breeze swept over the water. I like this bike riding thing.

I did learn something from watching other bikers, though. There are apparently only two appropriate ways to dress for biking.

1. Enthusiast: The enthusiast wears spandex, googles, and very short shorts.
2. Casual: The causual dresser makes no comprimises. Dress to impress. Just cause you're biking doesn't mean you can't look good.

I shan't make the mistake of wearing shorts again! Sport coat, anyone?

Hey! Also check out: My Neighbor Can't Park.

posted on: 09/26/2005 | path: /life

Walking back to my apartment on Saturday night, I realized I was headed towards the door they lock at 10pm. I tried to cut across to 21st and promptly followed my ears through this small door labelled "Lounge" under a finance building. Black walls, stackable chairs, rickity tables, a bar stocked entirely by fridge, and two great bands. No cover, no crowds, and none of the trendsters that haunt this town. All right on my block. I always knew a place like this had to exist.

That's not all that was good this weekend. On Friday night I picked up a tire pump and a helmet, double checked the brakes, and took Glenda for a ride down to Fred Mayer. Biking felt great! Unfortunately, Glenda was not doing so good. Lack of shifting was a major pain, and the frame wasn't really my size.

So today, I drove out to Target and bought the $50 mountain bike special. Meet Gwendolyn: The Destroyer. She's great. Her gears shift and everything. And now that I've stripped off all the ridiculous stickers, she's actually a pretty good looking piece of bike. I went out for a ride up the West Hills (damn that's a steep ride up to Washington Park), and then steeled my gut to try a ride in NW. I didn't die, and I think I've got the basics of this city riding down. Of course, NW is quiet compared to downtown.

I also bought the final Invisibles collection by Grant Morrison and read it on Saturday and Sunday. If I ever get to be a comic book script writer, I want to be mini-Morrison.

And last but not least, I finally gave up trying to fix the timing problems in liblo and worked around them in my synth software. This means I'm making music! Stay tuned.

posted on: 09/25/2005 | path: /life

Despite being a bit lonely, I was dynamite this weekend:

• Poked around a bit with Perl 6 and wrote down some thoughts.
• Shopped for Mom's birthday.
• Picked up my newly matted print, and got this cool sharpie drawing down at the Saturday Market.
• Wrote a simple interpreter in Haskell.
• Wrote a really bad song. I play bass, organ, and sing. Heaven help us.
• Started reading No Plot, No Problem and I'm really excited about NaNoWriMo. I'm leaning towards Dinosaur Cowboys, but it's still early to commit to a plot.
• Checked out a bunch of books about experimental music and they way we think. I'm reading this great collection of interviews with composers called Talking Music.
• Spent a bunch of time at the coffee shop.

I came across two really interesting ideas today. The first was in the John Cage interview in Talking Music. He writes "Well, I would think quite a lot of people in India feel that music is continuous, it is only we who turn away. This is a cliche in Indian thinking and, surely, in Indian experience."

The other came from an interview with "net artist" Mark Napier that I re-read today. "The symbolic structure of language allows us to navigate in a map of the world rather than the world itself. We can't say what the world 'really' is because we would have to use words to say what it is and then we're back to the mapping and representing of things with symbols. To experience the world 'as it is' requires a direct experience without words. Nobody operates this way once they learn language, unless they engage in meditation, or take the right combination of drugs, or perhaps fall out of a building."

posted on: 09/18/2005 | path: /life

Terry Gross interviews Robert Moog analog synthesizer pioneer. If you like this sort of thing, I recommend Analog Days by Pinch and Trocco.

I read this really creepy story by China Mieville in Powells yesterday, about a kiddie Ball Pit. Nothing more to say about that, but reassuring to know someone else shares my love of those things.

posted on: 09/17/2005 | path: /life

Hunter Thompson says:

"Every now and then when your life gets complicated and the weasels start closing in, the only cure is to load up [your stuff] and then drive like a bastard from [Portland to Seattle] ... with the music at top volume and at least one [unicycle]."

Sarah and John had arrived last week. They were living in the narrowest house I'd ever seen, but three floors made it spacious. John's friend Robert and a physics student named Orin lived there too. John's best friend Kellin was already there visiting. The international man of mystery, Stephen Dobay would make an appearance the next night. But I still had one hell of a drive ahead of me.

It's probably should take just over three hours. Of course, that would be impossible for me to confirm. Rapidly approaching, I called Sarah, "I should be there in 20 minutes, okay?" only to watch traffic grind to a halt.

Some unit of time later, I fought my way free of the mess and decided instead to get lost. Google Maps helped me out by sending me off the highway and into this Hell-Suburb. I realized I was in trouble when I'd gone around the same damn circle twice one way, once the other, and still I couldn't get out. Through the miracle of cell phone technology, Sarah and John navigated me back to the highway and finally into the driveway of their skinny, skinny house.

We did what old friends do. Caught up, hung out, slept not enough. Things got blog-worthy again sometime Saturday night.

It was a good party.

And sooner or later the unicycle came out.

Now, what seperates a truly great friend from a merely good one, is that he brings you a unicycle as a house warming gift. I'm a totally awesome friend. I think Sarah was skeptical, but I believe these pictures speak for themselves. I managed my time on the unicycle admirably. Which is to say: desperately clinging to the nearest stationary object (with my tongue out for some damn fool reason).

Next time I won't forget my bag of fireworks.

[More Unicycle Pictures]

posted on: 09/12/2005 | path: /life

I had a blast seeing my parents. I was hoping to do a day by day blog, but we were just too busy. A boatcruise, books at Powells, lunch at the waterfalls, a day in the national park on the ocean, meals with friends. I miss having them around.

The good word is that Sarah and John have found their way to Seattle. My plan is to head up there after work on Friday, and spend two nights with old friends. I can't believe I've been in Portland for more than a year now and I've never wandered up to Seattle.

Some of you may know that I was recently summoned for Special Jury Duty. Estimate time of service if selected: 4-6 weeks. My impression is that Special Jury Duty is a lot like Regular Jury Duty, except more Special.

Unfortunately, it is my solemn duty to report that today I received a postcard in the mail, cancelling my summons. "We appeciate your willingness to serve and look forward to meeting you at some time in the future." Now, if there's one thing I don't like to hear our legal system say it is "We... look forward to meeting you sometime in the future." But its nice to be off the hook. I'd love to do jury duty sometime. Just maybe a little shorter, and a little less special.

posted on: 09/07/2005 | path: /life

Oh my god, it's almost September. How'd that happen? My parents arrive this Tuesday for a week long visit. It'll be great to see them. Because I ended up cancelling my trip to graduation, it's been a much longer strech then we planned. But I'm taking time off and we're just going to catch up.

For this reason, I have spent much of today doing laundry. The standard load of clothes, plus the periodic loads of laundry and towels, combined with the extra loads of guest sheets and towels threatened to near overwhelm me. I guess vacuuming is next. =)

I've been reading a lot of Aaron Cometbus lately. While Anna was here, I finished Jailbird, which means I think I've read ever book by Kurt Vonnegut (with the exception described in an earlier post). Imagine my stunned amazement, when I found a brand new hardcover in Powell's yesterday. That lying bastard wasn't done writing after all, and I love him for it. Against all odds, I decided not to buy it then and there. Hardcovers are just too luggable. I'll wait for the paperback and despite my earlier words, I'll delay gratification. Burning through the last Vonnegut book left is one thing, but doing it two times in one week would be crazy.

Also, this evening I discovered a way to break those annoying machines in the self-checkout line in the super market. First, insert two dimes on top of each other. Then continue to shovel change down the slot. Ooops.

Now I'm not suggesting you should go out and break these things on purpose... but it had occured to me. =) I resent the machines for making me check my own groceries out. Of course, in some ways, they're a great idea. I mean, I'm still grumpy that it's illegal for me to pump my own gas in Oregon. Why should I pay more for some clerk to do work I'm capable of? The problem is that I don't really believe I'm seeing the savings passed onto me the consumer. If Fred Mayer wanted to reassure me, what they should do is give an explicit discount for using the machines instead of a standard check out line. I bet people would flock, and in no time we'd all be checking out our own groceries.

Sometimes you have to grow into bands. You hear them first and for whatever reason maybe you don't hit it off right away. For example, I've had The Rapture for several years now, and even though I liked them from the beginning, I never really submerged myself in their work. Now I'm loving it.

posted on: 08/28/2005 | path: /life

Today I dragged Anna shopping with me. A typical shopping experience for me goes like this: Toph enters store, takes two steps insides, panics, runs back out. Having company helps supress the urge to flee.

The sole goal of the day was to find me a pair of pants that I actually liked. I don't know if I've ever had a pair of pants I was entirely satisfied with (excepting perhaps the pants that would not die). Anyways, it took most of the day, but I am pantsed, satisfied, and even feeling emboldened enough to go looking for shirts (on my own!) sometime next week.

posted on: 08/21/2005 | path: /life

Davy took us up to Timberline lodge for the view and lunch. Soon though, we had to set back out for Portland. That night we had dinner with Anna's super cool friend Lilias and her boyfriend.

posted on: 08/20/2005 | path: /life

Anna and I got a little bit of a late start driving out to Davy's house. But there we got to meet her new boy (Ryan) and her new dog (Loki). Loki is an gigantic great dane. He is adorable and very clumsy.

posted on: 08/19/2005 | path: /life

We woke up with a mission. Pick Anna up at the airport by 12:40. Only 15 minutes late, we stepped off the train. Uh oh. No Anna. Did we miss her? Did she strike out on her own? Head back to Boston? Or was she just late? Yeah, that's it.

With our combined forces, we had waffles again, held the first annual summer ice sledge competition (pictures pending), had dinner at Mama Mia's, beer at the Tugboat, and a baco-donut at Voodoo Doughnut. As we made our way home, we came across two girls and a guy stumbling home as well. These two delightful ladies, paragons of virtue to be sure, confided in us: "We just touched his boner."

posted on: 08/18/2005 | path: /life

Today started way too early when Evan and I got up at 4:45 to get him on his train to the airport. Thankfully I fell back asleep, made it to work on time, and actually had a casual day of meetings, email sifting, and bug fixes.

I decided to give Anna an up close and personal introduction to my friends by taking her to see Allison compete in Strip Jeopardy. The competition was furious, including diverse categories such as Religion, the Periodic Table of the Elements, Famous Jews, Sexy Jews, and Sexy Jude. The funny thing about Strip Jeopardy is that sometimes the clothes just keep coming off... but no one expects the Cock in the Sock.

posted on: 08/18/2005 | path: /life

We slipped into an easy routine. Spent the morning in the fabulous Goodwill Outlet store (sells stuff by the pound), a relaxing afternoon playing with legos and watching Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, an evening at Powell's Books, and a night at the Tugboat Brewery.

posted on: 08/17/2005 | path: /life

Adventure called our names today. We struck out eastward to Multnomeh falls. Six miles of hiking later, we'd seen every piece of falling water and natural wonder in the region. Staring down several hundred feet, I mused "God, wouldn't it just be perfect if there was a brew pub at the bottom of this bloody thing?" What a frickin coincidence. After beer and burgers, the last little walk along the highway back to the car just wasn't so bad.

posted on: 08/16/2005 | path: /life

The morning started with waffles. We puttered aimlessly with the clay for a few hours but when the dish washing machine repair man arrived, our stop time animation studio had to come down.

We finally found our calling for the day in taking it easy. First down to the coffee shop, then to Ground Kontrol for retro videogames. Next a lazy dinner, followed by disappointment that the Tugboat closes early on Monday. Last, reading at Powells, and finally sitting in the cool night air.

I bought Jailbird today, which I believe may be the last Vonnegut I have left to read (excepting God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian, which almost doesn't count because it is so short). I thought briefly about saving it, but that's never been my way with Vonnegut, and I don't see much point in starting now.

posted on: 08/15/2005 | path: /life

In order to escape the heat of the day, we drove to the beach. Imagine our surprise when we stepped out of the heavily air conditioned car into the even chiller ocean air. Determined, we huddled close to the ground, digging into the sand and trying not to shiver. We bought sandwiches from Cinderella, and gawked at Haystack Rock. One wildly icy dip later, we drove back to the heat of the city.

We met up with Ben later for dinner at Big Daddy's BBQ, followed by drinks at the Kennedy school.

posted on: 08/14/2005 | path: /life

Evan arrived last night. Today we saw the city. Also, Voodoo Doughnut nows sells donuts with bacon on top.

posted on: 08/13/2005 | path: /life

Oh my god. I can't seem to sleep in anymore. Up at 8:30am on a weekend! What's happening to me? I was up so early, that I had to have breakfast. If I told you what I ate (low fat granola in organic apple sauce with a glass of soy milk on the side) you might think I was some kind of dirty new age hippy, but I'm not. I promise to eat some kind of dead animal for lunch. Or maybe some freshly killed tofu...

Went with Mahesh to a BBQ last night. It was an astonishingly diverse crowd. Weirdly, I spent most of the night hanging with the French table. You see, Jennifer, whose party it was, is apparently a member of this French club and quite a number of french speakers, many of them even from France, turned out. It was like being in a foreign country, except with less lugging and trekking. And this is a stereotype, but they sure seemed to have very good taste in wine.

Tonight is Link (the Politicorp fundraiser). And today is cleaning day. One of the polticorp fellows is swinging by tomorrow to scout my apartment building as part of the Build Blocks, Building Votes program and I'm embarassed to have people over when my place is a mess.

I always used to think my parent were nuts when they make me help clean the house before company came over. I'm pretty sure I said a couple times, "When I have a place, I'm not going to clean it before I have people over." Gronk!

I also accidently tried to cut my head off yesterday morning with my razor. Ouch! My head is now being held on by a bandaid.

posted on: 07/16/2005 | path: /life

When I was little, I loved those ball pits. The ones with the multicolored plastic balls. I'd jump in and just thrash my arms around. And then one day the ball pit was closed. A kid peed in the balls and they were trying to clean up. And I have never gone in another ball pit.

I'm more than half way through Neal Stephenson's "The Confusion." It takes a pretty good writer to keep your interest through 800 pages. It's very funny that a man who got his start writing cyberpunk novels would find his calling writing historical fiction about science and economics.

They fixed my blinds! The damn cords had frayed so badly that I could neither raise them or lower them completely. It's nice to have some privacy again in my living room, but best of all, I can come home from work and just let all that light in. Three cheers for living in an apartment. If you're good though, I'll tell you about The Barn Plan someday.

posted on: 07/14/2005 | path: /life

Spent the day cleaning, decorating, and throwing things out. Still, my owl painting is hung.

posted on: 07/05/2005 | path: /life

I think I must be reaching critical mass. Tuesday in the Bus Office. Wednesday catching up with Matt (from study abroad in Scotland) over beers. Thursday at Last Thursday on Alberta with Mahesh, Marc, and Mike. Friday at Andy's house for Canada Day. Saturday for Sarah's going away/moving forward party (and later, Doug Fasching's birthday).

Honestly, though? I'm a little lost. Without direction. Still reeling from the whole Masha break up thing.

The guitar is treating me well. I can't say that I'm any good, but I managed to strum out the tab for Neutral Milk Hotel's "Aeroplane over the Sea." Four chords, baby. I spent some time in park today, just playing. In the shade, on the grass.

Today was the Fourth of July, for those who didn't notice. A holiday, by all rights. I even have a four day weekend. Still, I have a harder time figuring out what to do with myself these days. Lucy-on-the-roof pointed out to me that that's because I'm not on my home turf. True, I guess. At least Evan is visiting in August. That should be a blast.

I'm working on a project, which is nice. I'm building an experimental instrument based on this one I saw on Last Thursday (which was mind blowingly good, I must add, the event, not the instrument). Imagine strips of metal, bowed by a chello bow, amplified with a piezoelectric pickup. The fundamentals too low to hear, but the harmonics realized a unearthly wailing. I love accoustics too much. I'll let you know how the construction finishes.

I'm reading "Off the Map" which is only reminding me of Masha. No more than anything else, though, I guess. And it's very good. An ultimate liberation fantasy.

What am I going to do with my life? School? Teaching? A computer job? The Peace Corp? Something Completely Different? Bed time for Bonzo. This will teach me to blog late at night.

posted on: 07/04/2005 | path: /life

I had a great day at the coast yesterday. It's so much easier going door to door when you don't have to ask people to vote for someone. After all, who isn't pro education, pro healthcare, or pro minimum wage? At least one of those has to grab your attention. Add BBQ and beach football, and you've got a recipe for success. Also, the Politicorp Fellows all seem very intelligent.

Then Saturday night was a blast. Toto was the Bus Project contestent on Strip Jeopardy, so we all went down to support him. Thankfully, I can tell you Toto won. Seriously, I haven't laughed that hard in ages.

posted on: 06/26/2005 | path: /life