marc's Xanga

What brought you to Xanga? What made you stay?

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:30:35 GMT

In 1998, a good friend asked me to help out with some crazy internet idea of his (it was the same friend who came storming into my dorm room in 1996 to show me this amazing new thing called Netscape Navigator - I remember being decidedly underwhelmed at the time, but his enthusiasm proved catchy).

I stayed because of all of you

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What is your favorite vacation getaway spot?

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:13:55 GMT

I like to go to carolina in my mind

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What is a funny caption you would put on your t-shirt?

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:13:00 GMT

Someone gave me a t-shirt that says:

"Jesus is coming... Look busy!"

I wear it at home a lot - it's awesomely low-quality (so it's thin and super soft), but I'm reluctant to wear it in public because it seems offensive. I'm actually not very religious (i'm spiritual, but not religious), so can anyone help me out - is this t-shirt funny or just insanely offensive?

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If you won $100 million (tax free), how would you spend it?

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:39:46 GMT

Hahah, I just like how this question specifies "tax free"... I guess I'd buy that $100mm yacht instead of the puny $60mm yacht I'd have to settle for if they took taxes - those bastards!

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If you had a magic key, what would it open?

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:26:45 GMT

I actually had a magic key, but it turned invisible and I dropped it somewhere...

If anyone finds an invisible magic key, please mail it to marc at Xanga - thanks!

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What do cigarettes, fairies and a talking unicorn have in common?

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:21:17 GMT

* they all use the letter "I", and there's no I in TEAM!
* they all have three syllables.... except fairies and talking unicorn
* each one can be smokin hot, especially unicorns (not that I'm into that sorta thing... i've just been told)

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If you could choose a sentence to be inscribed on your tombstone, what would they be and why?

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:37:44 GMT

I am currently away from the computer.

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Happy Holidays!

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:15:52 GMT

I can't stop watching this video!

(via Natethehunter, and also featured on the frontpage at the moment)

I love that "five golden rings" falsetto toward the end... (and mad props to the guy who represents for hanukkah - that's not an easy gig!)

Enjoy

Top Five Songs of Summer

Mon, 28 May 2007 15:53:02 GMT

Wow - when I started this post, I didn't expect it to be so difficult to choose! I have so many good memories of summer, and most of them, apparently, are associated with one particular song or album.

It took a lot of discipline to whittle the list down to just five (actually, I shamelessly cheated by adding an "honorable mentions" category). But after much reminiscing with the ol' ipod, I have my list...

My Top Five Songs of Summer:

"Natural Mystic" - Bob Marley
There are so many options, but if I had to pick one top summer song from Bob and his clan, it'd have to be Natural Mystic. Listening to this song after a long day at the beach, it's difficult not to feel at one with summer.
"Contigo en el Desierto" - Mala Maña
The name of the band means "Bad Habit". A friend of mine introduced me to them about six months ago (i.e. I haven't spent a single summer with them yet!), but I'm already totally hooked. This particular song is just a carefree, upbeat jam about wanting to spend a night under the stars with a special someone.
"Cissy Strut" - The Meters
I've apologized before, but I don't think I can apologize enough for this one: bro, I'm sorry I didn't call you sooner to let you know The Meters were playing an open concert across the street! I had never even heard of them! After the concert, I could see why you were so upset that you missed it .
"If You Have To Ask" - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Actually this one is really just representing the *entire* Blood Sugar Sex Magik album - that was a good summer (oh, and props to the aforementioned bro for introducing me to this group)
"The Summer Wind" - Ol' Blue Eyes
Cheesy? I don't think so. Cliched? Perhaps. Classic Summer Song? Definitely.

Honorable Mentions:

"The Girl from Impanema" - Stan Getz
"Get Up (Sex Machine)" - James Brown
"Classic Girl" - Jane's Addiction
"Sugar Magnolia" - Grateful Dead
"Hypnotize" - The Notorious B.I.G.

Haha - I'm laughing at the summer stories behind some of those Honorable Mentions... If you were there, you know why. For everyone else... perhaps a future post

What's in your top five?

1999 Web Design {in memoriam}

Wed, 23 May 2007 20:43:10 GMT

At the end of the last century, we set out with an old copy of Claris HomePage, a limited knowledge of HTML (we knew how to spell it), and a dream in our hearts... and we built Xanga.

Some 8 years later (holy cow), I'd like to say that we look back on that naive HTML with fondness, but the truth is we can still look at it today. It's the same basic HTML that powers the main "weblog" and comments pages on almost every Xanga site! And over the last few years, the limitations of that HTML have grown pretty stark.

Enter Xanga Themes (official site - help forum)...

With the old HTML, some of the most requested design controls were virtually impossible to support (like changing the number of columns on your site, adding modules - some folks call them "widgets" - and ordering them however you like). But with the new Xanga Themes system... well, see for yourself.

We're excited about the new Xanga Themes system. And with today's wider launch of the Xanga Themes Directory you can really get a sense for its potential.

But I have to admit I'm already feeling a bit nostalgic about the old 1999 HTML... good luck in Boca ol' buddy - we hope you enjoy your well-deserved retirement