Website of Titus

ALX '07

Titus — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0000

The 8th annual Austin Lindy Exchange was intended to be a throwback to 'the good old days' of Austin dancing and partying. This resulted in a different feel for the event than what I'm used to here, or from most exchanges for that matter. Like last year, the overall dancing was good, but not great, and only a few dances really stood out, and I'm sad that not very many of my traveling friends were in town this year. Regardless, the weekend was thoroughly enjoyable, just not as close to amazing as I would liked.

Read on for full review of the weekend...

WCLX 9

Titus — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 23:00:00 +0000

The 9th Windy City Lindy Exchange started strong and had a weaker finish, but included incredible dances and experiences with great dancers and friends. An overall excellent weekend of dancing.

This year's Chicago Exchange was my 32nd Lindy Exchange. By Saturday night I was preparing to call it one of my all-time favorites. Very unfortunately, Sunday didn't go very well (mostly the music). Still this was a very inspiring and motivating weekend for me. After several years of feeling like my dancing has stagnated, I can finally evaluate my dancing as �the best it has ever been.� Part of this is invariably the exchange �magic,� where the surrounding vibe amplifies your enjoyment of the dancing. I also attribute some of my improved dance ability to a private I took with Bill Borgida a few months back. I love the confidence that comes with feeling yourself dancing well.

Read on for full review of the weekend...

DLX 8

Titus — Mon, 21 May 2007 23:00:00 +0000

My third Denver Exchange in six years was as thoroughly enjoyable as always. A weekend of solid good fun, and exactly the event I needed...

This was a relaxing, fun weekend with great friends and a lot of dancing, without it being too much. I've had more fun at exchanges (dance dance dance, everything a whirlwind of fun and excitement). This weekend was about perfect for where I am now. I got to dance enough, I got to hang out enough, some drinking without overdoing it. Great music, great venues, great friends and great dances.

Read on for full review of weekend...

Taming of the Shrew

Titus — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 22:34:28 +0000

I took Kira to see this ballet performed by Ballet Austin at the Bass Concert Hall at The University of Texas

Southwest Lindyfest '07

Titus — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 17:54:45 +0000

This is an event that I wouldn't have gone to if it wasn't only a couple hours away. I'd have saved my money and flown somewhere for an entire weekend of just Steven & Virginie. In spite of this, there were many things that happened this weekend that made it a very worthwhile event for me to attend. Lots of self-evaluation and instruction and enjoyable social interactions.

The Color Orange

Titus — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 01:29:27 +0000

I found out some interesting things about my color of choice today...

Science and Distributed Computing

Titus — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 21:48:49 +0000

So, a recent article on the "God Particle " got me thinking about distributed computing again.

Web Host Problems

Titus — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:23:05 +0000

I'm frustrated with my current web host - Hostroute.com Over the past month my site has been inaccessible for about 36 hours, but they are insisting that nothing is wrong. It would be easier if they were just having a bunch of problems that they were working to try to fix. At this point it seems like I have to put up with it or go elsewhere. My questions to them aren't being answered very quickly or helpfully. I guess I'm just one small fish not worth adequately addressing...

Content Management Systems

Titus — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 16:26:37 +0000

When I made the decision to create a website using a CMS in April 2004, I did my research to evaluate my options. I've not been completely satisfied with my choice in PostNuke, so I've continued looking for better alternatives...

Personality, Dating and eChemistry.com

Titus — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 13:20:32 +0000

I've always been fascinated by personality profiles. Easily the most detailed and accurate is the one I received from eChemistry.com. eChemistry seeks to provide a service that goes beyond simple personality profiling, and well beyond similar attempts by other companies to find and match people that will truly have romantic chemistry with each other. You can get your free & frighteningly accurate personality profile from this site now, and the matching part is expected to begin soon...

Types of Retirement Investment Accounts

Titus — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:14:47 +0000

I've been recently thinking about whether or not I should put more money into my 401K, or keep funding taxable accounts. Since many of my friends don't know the difference between various investment vehicles, I figured I'd give a brief overview as well. Financially speaking, here is the basic order of importance...

Dance Motivations

Titus — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:35:04 +0000

For what I want to do with my dancing, I'm mostly good enough. I haven't attended a workshop or camp for about a year and a half. In spite of all this, I've decided to go to South West Lindy Fest...

Diamonds are for Suckers

Titus — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 21:37:24 +0000

I have a friend who works at a jewelry store. I mentioned to her recently that I don't believe in diamonds. She asked why, and I rattled off the standard handful of reasons I'd read about. She had rapid answers to my concerns. Some of these were obvious marketing tripe, but others were interesting items that I hadn't read anywhere. After a little research, it does in fact seem like there is quite a bit of old information still being thrown around, but the principal objections are still not addressed....

Choosing Good Passwords

Titus — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 18:51:11 +0000

I love reading Bruce Schneier, one of the foremost experts on computer encryption and security. This article that he wrote on how to choose good passwords should be required reading for everyone who uses a password to keep anything they care about protected...

Making Posts Public

Titus — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0000

I originally planned to only make public those things that I thought people I didn't know would be interested in (finances, internet, computer stuff, etc). I've decided to make everything that doesn't include personal information public...

SOFLEX '07

Titus — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0000

After all the buzz about how great this exchange is, I finally managed to go. The experience certainly didn't disappoint...

Orange Tuxedo

Titus — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 00:00:00 +0000

I was told I should wear a tuxedo to the formal night of SOFLEX. On a lark, I searched for and managed to find a tuxedo online that is entirely bright orange. There wasn't much of a choice, I had to get it...

Blues Dances & Parties (Updated)

Titus — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:00:00 +0000

So over the holidays I made it to 2 evening blues dances in Portland, one after hours blues event at SONW, and one house party in Seattle. Each of these things had a distinctly different flavor, and I ended up being a little surprised at my attitudes towards each afterwards.

Why I don't Teach or DJ

Titus — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 18:54:41 +0000

I've been dancing lindy hop for seven years now. I've never DJ'd or really taught any actual lessons. There are a number of reasons that I don't, and maybe I will overcome all of these eventually, but for now, I'm content to just dance...

I am not a Blues Dancer (Updated)

Titus — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 16:31:59 +0000

I'm a lindy hopper who sometimes does blues. I've done more than my fair share of blues dancing and traveling and party throwing, and for now, I'm done with it all. I have no intention of traveling to blues-only events for the foreseeable future.

My approach to dancing and music in general isn't very academic (more on this in a follow-on post). That being said, I have two main issues with what is currently popular in the "blues scene." Most of the music that is played isn't what I want to dance to. Secondly, I have no interest in dancing the way most people dance at blues events...