Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Love with an incurable condition
Here's a story about a woman with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and how it changed her life.
MSNBC is re-publishing this from CondeNast, the publisher behind Wired Magazine. I admire this woman's ability to talk about how being diagnosed -- being told face to face that the clock is ticking and time is running out -- filled her with a hunger for life. And a hunger for love.
I'm going to end with this quote, because it just feels relevant to how i'm feeling these days:
MSNBC is re-publishing this from CondeNast, the publisher behind Wired Magazine. I admire this woman's ability to talk about how being diagnosed -- being told face to face that the clock is ticking and time is running out -- filled her with a hunger for life. And a hunger for love.
I'm going to end with this quote, because it just feels relevant to how i'm feeling these days:
"You can wake up pissed off or you can focus on everything you’re grateful for."Tomorrow I could die in a fiery car wreck. Or earn myself a Darwin Award (we all know how I love four wheelers and ramps). No point in stressing over System.OutOfMemory exceptions and bills that are a day late, or dinner plans undone. Sometimes just reading/hearing a quote like this, I can literally feel a mountain of stress just melt off my back, and whatever black tendrils of angst coiled around my heart relax just a little bit. So I thought I'd share.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Links From Today's Lunch Break.
Since I posted a small rant last night and have yet to get any comments, I figure I'll dazzle everyone with a small list of links that I stumbled on today while taking a break from the research I'm doing for one of my software projects.
Rhapsody Music is selling 114 songs in DRM free 256kpbs MP3 format from the smashing pumpkins. That's $.18/song. Its all rarities or B-sides. This won't last long, so if you're got the $20 to spend on the album, go for it.
This post on the consumerist gives the skinny about the "non-mechanics" at a Jiffy Lube intentionally wrecking a new Pontiac G6's oil plug when the owner requests that they leave it a little loose now that "her husband will be changing her oil from now on". It goes without saying that places like Jiffy Lube and Grease Monkey employ people willing to work on cars all day for $6/hour and have no vocational school training (at least, none is required) or any certifications. That's why its always a good idea to either do it yourself (if you're capable) or take it to a trained, skilled, and (hopefully bonded) mechanic. Consider any difference in price "piece of mind".
If you are in the market for a new car, say because you've found out that Mazda, Honda, and Mitsubishi are all offering 0% APR for 60 months (that's a long time) for qualified buyers, or because you're getting married and need to lay the old clunker to rest before its wheels fall off, Consumer Reports has published a list of the top 10 most fuel efficient cars in price per mpg. That means getting the most fuel bang for you buck. The Honda Fit Sport leads the pack, with the Mazda 3 and Toyota Prius following close behind it. Not seen on the list: Any American made economy cars. Let's hope GM's still around to release the Chevy Volt in 2010.
Speaking of the Chevy Volt, if the idea of a plug in series hybrid car that's almost as aerodynamic as the Honda Insight that can get nearly 40 miles range on its electric motor, there's an "Unofficial Wait List" to indicate interest to GM. They also want to know what you think the Volt is worth (as in your ideal MSRP) and what you'd put down on one as a down payment/deposit.
Even though the Volt is planning on being released in 2010, don't expect to see too many of them. GM is having them built by hand just like the EV1. That means production is going to be limited to 10,000 vehicles the first year. And it means its very easy to shut down production because the labor is costly (making the car more expensive) and the factory doesn't have to be re-tooled. Expect GM to bet that the price of oil will drop, gas will level out at $3.50/gallon for a year or two, and people will feel comfortable with a V6 Chevy Tahoe "CrossOver". The American auto industry's tombstone will read "They just didn't get it".
On a lighter note, here's a post titled "10 Things You Should Know About Asian Girls...Revised". If you're well adjusted, this is going to read as "common sense". Things like "Don't assume I speak bad english. I could be faking it to get away from the creepy old guy." and "Don't assume I get turned on by you knowing Kung Fu." and "My family will want to see if you're interested in just me, or also interested and accepting of my culture."
So it may not be an interesting read for you. Its the tone that I like. Its written like its talking down to the kind of D.C. douchebag that bemoans that "dating is sooooo hard" and that from now on, he's only dating Latina or Asian women exclusively, because white women figure out his passive-aggressive bullshit before he could even mention that he "used to be a millionaire on paper". Old soapbox postings like that get me all choked up, if just because the level of pathetic and stupid mixed in such a douchey way.
Lastly, after that rant, I'm going out on a classy note. Here's an article talking about the easiest income source for hot chicks: Internet Money. You don't even have to get naked or be a cam-whore. These days, so many people are online, that a video of you playing Wii Fit in your boyfriend's t-shirt and a bikini bottom might be enough to earn you some crazy AdSense cash. Didn't really watch any of the videos since YouTube is kinda "not acceptable use" but I'm sure someone, somewhere is offended at the idea of "hinting about showing your boobies == money".
Rhapsody Music is selling 114 songs in DRM free 256kpbs MP3 format from the smashing pumpkins. That's $.18/song. Its all rarities or B-sides. This won't last long, so if you're got the $20 to spend on the album, go for it.
This post on the consumerist gives the skinny about the "non-mechanics" at a Jiffy Lube intentionally wrecking a new Pontiac G6's oil plug when the owner requests that they leave it a little loose now that "her husband will be changing her oil from now on". It goes without saying that places like Jiffy Lube and Grease Monkey employ people willing to work on cars all day for $6/hour and have no vocational school training (at least, none is required) or any certifications. That's why its always a good idea to either do it yourself (if you're capable) or take it to a trained, skilled, and (hopefully bonded) mechanic. Consider any difference in price "piece of mind".
If you are in the market for a new car, say because you've found out that Mazda, Honda, and Mitsubishi are all offering 0% APR for 60 months (that's a long time) for qualified buyers, or because you're getting married and need to lay the old clunker to rest before its wheels fall off, Consumer Reports has published a list of the top 10 most fuel efficient cars in price per mpg. That means getting the most fuel bang for you buck. The Honda Fit Sport leads the pack, with the Mazda 3 and Toyota Prius following close behind it. Not seen on the list: Any American made economy cars. Let's hope GM's still around to release the Chevy Volt in 2010.
Speaking of the Chevy Volt, if the idea of a plug in series hybrid car that's almost as aerodynamic as the Honda Insight that can get nearly 40 miles range on its electric motor, there's an "Unofficial Wait List" to indicate interest to GM. They also want to know what you think the Volt is worth (as in your ideal MSRP) and what you'd put down on one as a down payment/deposit.
Even though the Volt is planning on being released in 2010, don't expect to see too many of them. GM is having them built by hand just like the EV1. That means production is going to be limited to 10,000 vehicles the first year. And it means its very easy to shut down production because the labor is costly (making the car more expensive) and the factory doesn't have to be re-tooled. Expect GM to bet that the price of oil will drop, gas will level out at $3.50/gallon for a year or two, and people will feel comfortable with a V6 Chevy Tahoe "CrossOver". The American auto industry's tombstone will read "They just didn't get it".
On a lighter note, here's a post titled "10 Things You Should Know About Asian Girls...Revised". If you're well adjusted, this is going to read as "common sense". Things like "Don't assume I speak bad english. I could be faking it to get away from the creepy old guy." and "Don't assume I get turned on by you knowing Kung Fu." and "My family will want to see if you're interested in just me, or also interested and accepting of my culture."
So it may not be an interesting read for you. Its the tone that I like. Its written like its talking down to the kind of D.C. douchebag that bemoans that "dating is sooooo hard" and that from now on, he's only dating Latina or Asian women exclusively, because white women figure out his passive-aggressive bullshit before he could even mention that he "used to be a millionaire on paper". Old soapbox postings like that get me all choked up, if just because the level of pathetic and stupid mixed in such a douchey way.
Lastly, after that rant, I'm going out on a classy note. Here's an article talking about the easiest income source for hot chicks: Internet Money. You don't even have to get naked or be a cam-whore. These days, so many people are online, that a video of you playing Wii Fit in your boyfriend's t-shirt and a bikini bottom might be enough to earn you some crazy AdSense cash. Didn't really watch any of the videos since YouTube is kinda "not acceptable use" but I'm sure someone, somewhere is offended at the idea of "hinting about showing your boobies == money".
Labels: blogging, cars, gas prices, links, music, Reddit, soapbox, video, youtube
Monday, August 11, 2008
Forbes' Top 15 Hardest-Drinking Cities
Here's a link to cities, ranked by percentage of population, that answered "Yes" to questions like "I have more than 2 drinks a day" or "I have five or more drinks on a special occasion.".
My old stomping ground of Pittsburgh is #11. Detroit is at the bottom of the list, but that's because I'm guessing the average person in Detroit is so fucked right now they've either upgraded to Crystal Meth or they're too broke to even buy beer. #10 is Cincinnati, which is a slightly shittier city than Pittsburgh, but at the same time, well off enough people can afford to get tanked. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati fit into that "prosperous enough to keep on drinking" economic index.
And the number one city: Austin, TX. Congrats, Austin.
My old stomping ground of Pittsburgh is #11. Detroit is at the bottom of the list, but that's because I'm guessing the average person in Detroit is so fucked right now they've either upgraded to Crystal Meth or they're too broke to even buy beer. #10 is Cincinnati, which is a slightly shittier city than Pittsburgh, but at the same time, well off enough people can afford to get tanked. Pittsburgh and Cincinnati fit into that "prosperous enough to keep on drinking" economic index.
And the number one city: Austin, TX. Congrats, Austin.
Labels: links, ramblings, today's generation
Where is Bob? Tales of an Absentee Manager
Here's a site that's worth checking out.
Its basically a small-university IT employee cataloging the absenteeism of her incompetent boss, Bob.
I'm sure the names are changed to protect the innocent, but again, its an entertaining read. It reminds me of the combined stupidity of the managers of my old, old workplace. We called it it "Rob and Paul Show". The downside was they weren't nearly absent enough for anyone to get any real work done.
Kudos to the saint of all chucks for the find.
Its basically a small-university IT employee cataloging the absenteeism of her incompetent boss, Bob.
I'm sure the names are changed to protect the innocent, but again, its an entertaining read. It reminds me of the combined stupidity of the managers of my old, old workplace. We called it it "Rob and Paul Show". The downside was they weren't nearly absent enough for anyone to get any real work done.
Kudos to the saint of all chucks for the find.
Labels: corporate culture, links, Reddit, thoughts
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Everything you need to know about Tucker Max in a nutshell.
Tucker Max is trying to make his "I hope they serve Beer in Hell" book into a movie. The script is laughable. Piss poor laughable.
Here's pretty much all I have to say about it:
Yeah. So, um, let's hope this Tucker Max walks out in front of someone's 3-series, brah.
Here's pretty much all I have to say about it:
9:33:29 AM) redrobotXXXX: because trying to play 1 upsmanship with a bunch of douchebags is like trying to go somewhere with a blind driver.
Yeah. So, um, let's hope this Tucker Max walks out in front of someone's 3-series, brah.
Labels: blogging, books, crazy people, IM conversations, links, me trying to be funny, today's generation
Monday, August 04, 2008
Monday Morning Distractions until I get a real post up
Here's a link that shows a list of images found doing a google image search for the word "Oops". Safe for work.
You know that guy at the office that you really want to prank? Sign him up for a Hannah Montana wake up call.
An internet blog post titled "how to hire an idiot".
Enjoy. More later.
You know that guy at the office that you really want to prank? Sign him up for a Hannah Montana wake up call.
An internet blog post titled "how to hire an idiot".
Enjoy. More later.
Labels: links, ramblings, Reddit
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Informative Information
Here's some links to entertain you. This is what I was reading today that made me laugh.
There's a new search engine on the block trying to take down "The Google". Its called Cuil.com. Its supposed to be pronounced as "Cool". It also apparently sucks (but I haven't tried it). But here's a story about how Cuil.com has supposedly blown through 33 million in venture capital by doing things like paying for lunch and breakfast for every employee, having a personal trainer on staff for all employees, every employee having a gym membership, a doctor making the rounds after the company wide Friday BBQ, and a sports car for every executive.
Carl's Jr. has come out with a new breakfast sandwhich that can only be described as "Nothing I’d rather shut my heart down with more than bacon, egg, cheese, and sausage. I just hope it’s not too big. I would hate to not be able to eat one of these while I cram a second one straight up my asshole."
Finally, here's a documentary if you've got an hour to kill: Its called "The Future of Food". It takes about genetically engineered food and the risks involved in contaminating the food supply, and organic food. Its really, really interesting and I recommend it.
There's a new search engine on the block trying to take down "The Google". Its called Cuil.com. Its supposed to be pronounced as "Cool". It also apparently sucks (but I haven't tried it). But here's a story about how Cuil.com has supposedly blown through 33 million in venture capital by doing things like paying for lunch and breakfast for every employee, having a personal trainer on staff for all employees, every employee having a gym membership, a doctor making the rounds after the company wide Friday BBQ, and a sports car for every executive.
Carl's Jr. has come out with a new breakfast sandwhich that can only be described as "Nothing I’d rather shut my heart down with more than bacon, egg, cheese, and sausage. I just hope it’s not too big. I would hate to not be able to eat one of these while I cram a second one straight up my asshole."
Finally, here's a documentary if you've got an hour to kill: Its called "The Future of Food". It takes about genetically engineered food and the risks involved in contaminating the food supply, and organic food. Its really, really interesting and I recommend it.
Labels: links, movies, Reddit, software, video, web 2.0
Britian's View of "Most Fabulous Body"
Sunday, June 01, 2008
The New Dark Night Trailer, synced up Side By Side with the original Batman trailer. Also known as the coolest thing ever.
This is like the coolest thing I've seen on youTube in a while.
Friday, May 30, 2008
From the "I forgot to post this" department.
I helped make this video. Mostly, I just let someone use iMovie 08 on my Mac Book Pro, but hey, that's why I'm pimping this video. It is totally awesome, right?
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Links for you
I found three articles I really felt like sharing from my usual social news site, Reddit.com
- Why I'm (Probably) Leaving The Mac Platform: A Bucknell Student (disclaimer: I'm a sort-of alumni) whining about how its wrong that Apple updates their OS platform, strives to make it more unix-compatible than Linux, how it has a separate window manager, blah blah blah. I'll probably do a post later really smacking the shit out of this poor, know-nothing kid, but right now the entire blogosphere is calling this guy a waaahmbulance.
- Truth or Consequences NYTimes Op-Ed Column: I really like this article for the same reason it will piss off most people in the US. It makes sense. At $4/gallon for gas, people actually start to cut back on driving. This didn't happen at $3/gallon gas, even though economists predicted it would. So, this columnist is calling for a price minimum of $4/gallon. That means if gas prices drop down to $2/gallon again (unlikely) the government would impose a $2/gallon gas tax, which would be used to fund public transportation, alternate, green energy, and buying back people's gas guzzling SUVs so they can be crushed.
- The New Homeless of America: Rent is so high in Santa Barbra that people laid off because of the housing crash are finding themselves sleeping in their car, in special parking lots where its legal (sleeping in your car in a public street is illegal). This article, which I found to be slightly heart breaking, details one Santa Barbra resident whose been laid off and is living in her car with her two dogs. Sadly, the number of people using these parking lots are likely to grow.
Labels: gas prices, links, politics, pop culture, ramblings, Reddit
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Dollar Dollar Bill Y'All
This guy should realize that you don't post a photo on the internet unless you're comfortable with people everyone re-posting it, using it in every way imaginable.
Labels: blogging, crazy people, links, pictures, Reddit
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
This is not an april fool's joke
http://dfranke.us/pfs.html
This is the most brilliant thing I've read all week. I really hope they deploy it against 419ers.
This is the most brilliant thing I've read all week. I really hope they deploy it against 419ers.
Labels: links, ramblings, thoughts
Friday, January 04, 2008
Code Rage (Soft)
I'm glad class isn't in session because I've been scaling bits and pieces of the learning curve that is JEE5.0+Spring 2.5+Hibernate3+Hibernate Annotations.
Its the first time I've really felt you needed to 'smart' to do my job. I'm not trying to talk out my ass -- I don't feel smart attempting to get things done in Eclipse (the IDE du jour for Java development) -- but this isn't something that one master's easily. It feels like I'm pushing around furniture when what I'm really trying to do is toss around a frisbee.
So I was naturally a little pre-occupied when the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl came around. Since I decided not to make an insane road trip out of it (saving what little vacation I have for a planned for snowboarding trip with Greg over spring break) I figured I should at least watch it with someone.
Three different people asked me to hang out with them and watch the game that night. Rather than take DFR's advice from over Christmas break -- say "Yes" to any social invite -- if just to get you out of the house and meet more people -- I sat around, read, and lightly thought upon my problem. It took until halftime for me to shake off my funk and go over to Vanessa's, because she nagged me the most, and it was a good time.
The reason I'm writing this is because I feel like I've defined by problem: Java has traded idiomatic-ness (if that's a word) for its ability to have a gazillion interoperable frameworks. And that's great if you're mr. blub, trying to build a blub tower for the people of blubville. You've got a one-size-fits-all catch all language.
But there's no room for metis. Even where there might be definite beauty or craft, I'm at a point where it still feels I'm a woodworker trying to appreciate the work of a stonecutter. That's nice and all, but did you have to pick such a cold and heavy medium?
Hopefully I'll get to a java-happy-place. In time. It just feels like my experience with Ruby, Cocoa, and Python has a me always hearing a voice telling me in that faux-austrialian infomerical accent "There's got to be a better way! Call now!"
Anyway, I wanted to post two links I found that fellow programmers like CoyoteTechnica will find interesting. The first is titled "Java is an Evolutionary Dead End" and it sort of touches upon what I'm getting at: Code is meant to be read more times than it is to be written, so a concise language that's easily readable will be better than the overly-syntaxic world of java.
And the second, also by Bruce Eckel, is called "The Mythical 5%" and its a commencement speech that he gave to a bunch of Computer Science kiddies. I like it because its actually good advice and somewhat inspiring. I tried giving similar advice ("This is a field that involves constantly learning and re-learning to keep up") but came off as condescending and cruel. So forget what I would say and read the artcle. Its a good read.
Its the first time I've really felt you needed to 'smart' to do my job. I'm not trying to talk out my ass -- I don't feel smart attempting to get things done in Eclipse (the IDE du jour for Java development) -- but this isn't something that one master's easily. It feels like I'm pushing around furniture when what I'm really trying to do is toss around a frisbee.
So I was naturally a little pre-occupied when the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl came around. Since I decided not to make an insane road trip out of it (saving what little vacation I have for a planned for snowboarding trip with Greg over spring break) I figured I should at least watch it with someone.
Three different people asked me to hang out with them and watch the game that night. Rather than take DFR's advice from over Christmas break -- say "Yes" to any social invite -- if just to get you out of the house and meet more people -- I sat around, read, and lightly thought upon my problem. It took until halftime for me to shake off my funk and go over to Vanessa's, because she nagged me the most, and it was a good time.
The reason I'm writing this is because I feel like I've defined by problem: Java has traded idiomatic-ness (if that's a word) for its ability to have a gazillion interoperable frameworks. And that's great if you're mr. blub, trying to build a blub tower for the people of blubville. You've got a one-size-fits-all catch all language.
But there's no room for metis. Even where there might be definite beauty or craft, I'm at a point where it still feels I'm a woodworker trying to appreciate the work of a stonecutter. That's nice and all, but did you have to pick such a cold and heavy medium?
Hopefully I'll get to a java-happy-place. In time. It just feels like my experience with Ruby, Cocoa, and Python has a me always hearing a voice telling me in that faux-austrialian infomerical accent "There's got to be a better way! Call now!"
Anyway, I wanted to post two links I found that fellow programmers like CoyoteTechnica will find interesting. The first is titled "Java is an Evolutionary Dead End" and it sort of touches upon what I'm getting at: Code is meant to be read more times than it is to be written, so a concise language that's easily readable will be better than the overly-syntaxic world of java.
And the second, also by Bruce Eckel, is called "The Mythical 5%" and its a commencement speech that he gave to a bunch of Computer Science kiddies. I like it because its actually good advice and somewhat inspiring. I tried giving similar advice ("This is a field that involves constantly learning and re-learning to keep up") but came off as condescending and cruel. So forget what I would say and read the artcle. Its a good read.
Labels: links, personal, software, thoughts
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Lost In Translation Last Scene
The final whisper in the movie "Lost In Translation" -- people have been debating what Bill Murry says when he whispers in her ear.
Watch the video to find out.
Watch the video to find out.
Labels: links, movies, Reddit, youtube
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
This looks like my new future favorite movie
The new "Dark Knight" trailer is available on YouTube. Its awesome.
Just click "Why So Serious?"
Just click "Why So Serious?"
Labels: links, movies, youtube
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Bash.org: Best Drinking Story ever
<> so I was with my friend bryan the other night in a bar
<> well he got really drunk and said he was gonna puke
<> so i helped him walk to the toilet
<> all the stalls were occupied
<> lol
<> bryan is a rugby player... so a big guy
<> so he fucking KICKS one of the stall doors open
<> and there's this guy in there taking a shit
<> hahahahahaha
<> and bryan throws up ALL OVER HIM
<> then (this is genius) bryan thinks 'oh shit... if i were taking a shit and someone came in and was sick all over me, i'd want to fuck him up... so i'd better hit him first'
<> so he fucking SMACKS this guy in the face
<> and runs away
<> imagine being that guy... WORST NIGHT OUT EVER
<> well he got really drunk and said he was gonna puke
<> so i helped him walk to the toilet
<> all the stalls were occupied
<> lol
<> bryan is a rugby player... so a big guy
<> so he fucking KICKS one of the stall doors open
<> and there's this guy in there taking a shit
<> hahahahahaha
<> and bryan throws up ALL OVER HIM
<> then (this is genius) bryan thinks 'oh shit... if i were taking a shit and someone came in and was sick all over me, i'd want to fuck him up... so i'd better hit him first'
<> so he fucking SMACKS this guy in the face
<> and runs away
<> imagine being that guy... WORST NIGHT OUT EVER
Labels: IM conversations, links, me trying to be funny, Reddit
Monday, November 12, 2007
If you need a win today
2 Middle school brothers rescued a pair of abandoned, starving kittens trapped in a sewer. They pried open a manhole to rescue the poor things. Its a touching and brief story. If you need a win today, it'll pick you right up.
Labels: kittens, links, Reddit
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Seek Help
Perhaps the best campaign to raise awareness in a mental illness since "Support the Rabid".
Labels: links, pictures, Reddit
Monday, September 17, 2007
30 free windows apps that are open source and usable
Here's a link (via reddit) to 30 apps that are open source for the windows (and sometimes mac os x / linux) platform that serve as competitors to proprietary software that's out there.
Labels: links, open source, Reddit, software
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
My sentiments exactly
This open letter over at iLounge is addressed to NBC, the makers of Heros, Battlestar Galactica, and The Office, who're pulling out from Apple's iTunes Store. Granted, he's a little fanboyish -- urging other people to stop supporting NBC -- but his point -- that people are actually paying good money for downloadable content that is broadcast everyday, for free, into the airwaves unprotected, was a pretty lucrative thing. And that people have an alternative: PVR/DVRs.
I was already considering some kind of PVR/DVR set up but I knew for most of my shows I could always snag the iTunes version of it if I missed an episode and that was a lot less mess and hassle. Now, it seems I'll have to Do-it-myself.
I was already considering some kind of PVR/DVR set up but I knew for most of my shows I could always snag the iTunes version of it if I missed an episode and that was a lot less mess and hassle. Now, it seems I'll have to Do-it-myself.
Labels: apple, iTunes, links, NBC, TV, video
Friday, August 31, 2007
The 7 Critical Rules For Understanding People
Read This.
Monday, July 23, 2007
The Loser Decision
This article by Scott Adams over on his Dilbert Blog talks about decisions that threaten your ego -- risk vs. a safe choice like the status quo.
It reminds me of the Scrubs episode where J.D. wants to ask out a social worker that is trapped in the MRI machine (season one, her name is Alex). And he sums it up with, "Every time you take a big risk, even if it bites you in the ass, you're proud you took it."
Either way -- being able to make a choice satisfies your ego. Risk or Safety.
When's the last time you've jumped without a net?
It reminds me of the Scrubs episode where J.D. wants to ask out a social worker that is trapped in the MRI machine (season one, her name is Alex). And he sums it up with, "Every time you take a big risk, even if it bites you in the ass, you're proud you took it."
Either way -- being able to make a choice satisfies your ego. Risk or Safety.
When's the last time you've jumped without a net?
Labels: life is short, links, thoughts
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Post 445
Tomorrow I get to participate in the largest meeting of my career. It's the first time I've been asked to wear a full business suit to work. Usually the witty t-shirt and ripped jeans will play. I've been meaning to go to bed, but a nap has spoiled me, and I've been up thinking and ironing shirts.
I take the GREs on Thursday. I'm prepared and I know what to expect, but I still a little jittery about it. Anyone who wants to wish me luck is more than welcome.
I'm also sorry to my two best friends that left Fairmont but are in town this weekend. I'd love to spend time with both of you, but there's some pressing stuff going on right now, otherwise I'd be out with you right now.
- Some minor updates
- Transformers is of course, awesome. Loved it.
- Harry Potter wasn't half bad. I saw it with the girlfriend over the weekend.
- I went hiking at Cooper's Rock and it wasn't half bad. That's a nice way to start off your saturday.
- Erin and I attended an above ground pool party with her co-workers in the mental health profession. It was one of those times in my life where I'm reminded that when it comes to binge drinking, I'm still in the little leagues. I can't drink too much shitty beer because it makes me feel full and it tastes worse when chugged. I can't do crazy "expresso sized" shots of jager. Those make me puke (especially when warm). On the other hand, my baby plays a mean game of flip cup.
- Here's the Family Guy 300 trailer. This will leave you in stiches.
- I added the honesty box on Facebook -- it's a "mini-app" that lets people basically write you anonymous messages. Here's the only message I've received:
"i have had a crush on you forever. You are so cute and funny and smart. but alas nothing will ever happen. good luck in life i know you will go far."
In my group of friends, there's no telling who wrote that. Or if they were serious. Its one of those things that will drive you mad if you think about it. But its pretty easy to let go. - I want to see I am Legend so bad. It looks awesome.
I take the GREs on Thursday. I'm prepared and I know what to expect, but I still a little jittery about it. Anyone who wants to wish me luck is more than welcome.
I'm also sorry to my two best friends that left Fairmont but are in town this weekend. I'd love to spend time with both of you, but there's some pressing stuff going on right now, otherwise I'd be out with you right now.
Labels: late night, links, personal, Reddit, video, youtube
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Where Ubuntu Wins
This article could alternately be known as "I refuse to blame Microsoft for locking out people from media with propritary file formats" and "I don't know what to download to use a mac". Hint: Its a piece of free software called "VLC".
We're all Addicts About to Face Cold Turkey
This article by Kurt Vonnegut is a great summation of what's going on in the world today. In terms of the fight for oil, the military contracting, etc.
Like anyone sane, he doesn't have anything nice to say about the Bush administration. Its quite a good read, like most of his stuff.
Like anyone sane, he doesn't have anything nice to say about the Bush administration. Its quite a good read, like most of his stuff.
Labels: links, politics, pop culture, today's generation
Sunday, June 10, 2007
What I'd share from Reddit.com
This is another post where I put up links from Reddit.com.
Here's some favorite quotes from Chuck Palahniuk -- the author of Fight Club, Survivor, Invisible Monsters, and Rant (and many more!)
Learning By Example: How Bad Code Proprogates. This talks about how some tech books have incredibly poorly written code samples (and even worse when it comes to editing, formatting, etc) and while a good/great programmer might be able to grasp what the author was hinting at and build a top notch implementation, the average or poor programmer will re-use the bad example code without understanding.
The Republicans are on the wrong side of history. This is a commentary article on the GOP Primary "debates", and how not a single candidate would support gays in the military. The commentator goes on to compare "seperate but equal" the phrase of segregation to "don't ask, don't tell", which is our current policy. Its well worth a read. If anything, you'll find yourself agreeing that there's a huge lack of leadership and vision on both camps.
Reactance is the psychological principal where one does the opposite of what one is persuading them to do. Such as teens drinking because alcohol is prohibited. Or kids rebelling because of the rules being too strict.
Pictures of Iraq, as seen through soldiers' eyes. I found this to be pretty moving. Some people took pictures of spots where comrades had fallen. Others just declared their love for their girlfriend Kelly on the side of their tank.
Crod Porn: A photographer on flickr.com took pictures of people's faces in a mosh pit waiting for the Red Hot Chili Peppers to come on stage. Everyone was stripped down to minimal clothing, hot, sweaty, and with a look of anguish on their face. It looks like an orgy (but isn't) -- and not the good kind. (Links are safe for work).
Here's some favorite quotes from Chuck Palahniuk -- the author of Fight Club, Survivor, Invisible Monsters, and Rant (and many more!)
Learning By Example: How Bad Code Proprogates. This talks about how some tech books have incredibly poorly written code samples (and even worse when it comes to editing, formatting, etc) and while a good/great programmer might be able to grasp what the author was hinting at and build a top notch implementation, the average or poor programmer will re-use the bad example code without understanding.
The Republicans are on the wrong side of history. This is a commentary article on the GOP Primary "debates", and how not a single candidate would support gays in the military. The commentator goes on to compare "seperate but equal" the phrase of segregation to "don't ask, don't tell", which is our current policy. Its well worth a read. If anything, you'll find yourself agreeing that there's a huge lack of leadership and vision on both camps.
Reactance is the psychological principal where one does the opposite of what one is persuading them to do. Such as teens drinking because alcohol is prohibited. Or kids rebelling because of the rules being too strict.
Pictures of Iraq, as seen through soldiers' eyes. I found this to be pretty moving. Some people took pictures of spots where comrades had fallen. Others just declared their love for their girlfriend Kelly on the side of their tank.
Crod Porn: A photographer on flickr.com took pictures of people's faces in a mosh pit waiting for the Red Hot Chili Peppers to come on stage. Everyone was stripped down to minimal clothing, hot, sweaty, and with a look of anguish on their face. It looks like an orgy (but isn't) -- and not the good kind. (Links are safe for work).
Labels: AJAX, links, pictures, politics, pop culture, quotables, ramblings, Reddit, thoughts
Friday, June 08, 2007
On Mullets
Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net
This is exactly what I think of Mullets.
Labels: links, me trying to be funny, web comics
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Brittany Spears has cellulose
Brittany Spears shows that she herself is not immune to cottage cheese. Wake up call to all the guys out there that crave the air brushed, plastic, manufactured beauty: Nobody's that beautiful.
Labels: links, pictures, pop culture
Gas Prices Around The World
This article on Wired.com shows you gas prices all around the world. Iran is very cheap because of subsidy. Oslo, Norway is very expensive because its implemented carbon taxes. And everything in between.
Labels: gas prices, links, Reddit, Wired.com
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Probably The Best Page Ever
http://www.randomkittengenerator.com/
All kinds of cute kitten pics -- randomly selected.
All kinds of cute kitten pics -- randomly selected.
Labels: kitten war, kittens, links, Reddit
