The Robot's Thoughts

This is the short six minute film the director Neill Blomkamp did to sell people on the idea of District 9. This was all I saw going into District 9, and I came out feeling amazed.

Labels: links, movies, video, youtube

Someone over at pinkraygun.com put together a mash up Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Edward. Or, as they title it, "Buffy Vs. Edward".

Much more watchable than the original Twilight. Not that I'm saying much there.

Enjoy.

Labels: links, soapbox, video

This article by Aral Balkan pretty much lays it out on the line. Sys-Con steals and re-publishes content from authors, without permission. My (no longer) famous article decrying new college grads to ditch a company if they're going to be working in a cubical was republished by Sys-Con.com. Granted, because my host at the time was getting crushed under the collective loads of Digg, Slashdot, and Reddit, I was happy to have someone mirror the article and gave permission after the fact.

It now seems they've taken a turn for the shady. So please, if you're a tech worker, read the article and follow the author's recommendations of boycotting Sys-Con publications and industry conferences.

Labels: crazy people, links, Sys-Con.com

You may find the following Reddit.com comment interesting. You may hear it being spoken in your head with the voice of Tyler Durden or Morpheus.

You could be suffering from early 21st century syndrome. Don't bother googling it, I just made it up. But the symtoms you describe are typical of the new malaise.

You should be happy. You have fulfilled the requirements of a media driven life. You have your own place. You have a 'decent' job. You have a woman. And yet, underneath it all there is this dissatisfaction. You can't quite place it but it is there nonetheless, gnawing in your brain.

You flick randomly through internet pages for hours after dark. The TV chatters in the background. Every world developement is known to you a few minutes after it happens. You are the master of an external world that appears and presents itself through text and pics and vids.

You go about the business of living as it has been described to you and you can check all the boxes for relative success. And yet it doesn't feel like success. Not the way it does in the movies or on TV. No orchestral music chimes in when you do something good, no ominous montage depicts things negatively when your performance is not up to par. Life itself is removed from you because consciousness itself does not match up to the way 'we' are used to receiving information; that of third person observer through a cam. The P.O.V. first person view is somehow limiting, it limits us to this space and time which is not in keeping with how consciousness can effortlessly cross time when 'connected' to the internet.

Life today in a modern industrial society has an air of rigidness about it. Everywhere you go, you run up against barriers and rules. Speed limits, parking restrictions, decorum, social rules (unwritten but bearing on the mind), myriad exacting laws. All of them supposedly designed for the collective benefit of everyone. But no individual feels like everyone, each individual feels like you. So you end up being oppressed by the collective rules designed to protect you. This is called the "system".

There is nothing "wrong" with you brother.

You are merely suffering from the collective malaise of having all that we are supposed to want. Supposedly, human existence today is the best it has ever been. The 'facts' bear this out. Life expectancy today for the average person is higher than it's ever been, right?

And yet you long for the hunt. The risk. The hunter gatherer life, buried deep somewhere in your hypothalamus, longs for that time when your own ingenuity resulted in food for your group. When you could exploit your human genius for real and direct gain...feeding yourself and your tribe. Going to the office/cubicle today gains you money to obtain these things. But it does not offer the thrill of the hunt. The risk. The adrenaline rush of the successful raid on the enemy camp, the high of the perfect kill.

Homo sapiens sapiens is not a very old species in relative terms. But it is a cunning one and the greatest force this planet has ever seen. But, the amount of time we successfully gathered as hunters (2 million years) is far longer and evolutionary significant in comparison to the existence of human civilisation (8 thousand years). Yet, all cogent information tells you you are better off today than anyone in human history.

And yet, on a quiet walk outside the city, you stare at the moon through leafy glade and can almost touch the truth of a different life. A life you were designed for but no longer is.

There is nothing wrong with you brother, that is not wrong with all of us.

Disregard those who tell you your problem is solvable through the use of some 'drug'.

If you need to alter your consciousness self medicate with whiskey or weed. Do not touch the shit the "experts" have formulated to suppress the spirit.

Because our needs are being met in ways we've been built to expect, some of us hunt for the animal inside us. Some of us refuse to live like Lions at the zoo.

Labels: links, quotables, ramblings, Reddit

So United Airlines broke a country musicians guitar. Won't pay to replace it. Singer makes video called "United Breaks Guitars" and puts it on youtube.

Labels: links, Reddit, video, youtube

Its presents a literal interpretation of the Bible and argues that believing otherwise leads to moral relativism and the destruction of social values.

Creationism is a theory not supported by most mainstream Christian churches.

Lisa Park of the University of Akron cried at one point as she walked a hallway full of flashing images of war, famine and natural disasters which the museum blames on belief in evolution.

"I think it's very bad science and even worse theology -- and the theology is far more offensive to me," said Park, a professor of paleontology who is an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

"I think there's a lot of focus on fear, and I don't think that's a very Christian message... I find it a malicious manipulation of the public."

This article leaves me with some questions: How the hell did people stupid enough to believe the modern creationist message (the modern day flat earth theory) actually get $27 million to build their "museum". Second, how many of its 715,000 visitors were scientists going there to piss themselves? Third, if the T-Rex was vegetarian, why'd its need so many razor sharp teeth?

Labels: crazy people, links, pop culture, Reddit

The accepted political guidelines for jilted wives (see: wives, jilted) have always decreed that the wounded ones be seen, but stay silent. They are the suffering partners willing to literally remain in the picture out of political necessity. Their very presence helps to suggest that this love is worth saving, because this man is so special -- to all of us.

Well, forget it.

In just one week, Jenny Sanford has shifted the paradigm of the political wife.

Good for her.

Labels: links

Here's the rant. I disagree and think it was a great popcorn movie. It was what I was expecting. I just felt I'd link to this because it sums up people's grips.

The best quote in the article is:

When you’ve made Bad Boys 2, Armageddon and Pearl Harbor and this movie is considered to be your worst to date, you know you’ve done something wrong. That’s like being Hitler and doing something worse than the holocaust.

Its a sequel to a movie about a cheesy cartoon/toy line meant to bankrupt the parents of children of my generation. It doesn't even follow cannon. Its beyond hyperbole to do a Hitler comparison.

Labels: links, movies, Reddit

Rands In Repose has a great blog post on "Toxic Assets". These are the people who go ALL CAPS on your ass. People avoid this team member. He doesn't get the memo. He's defining someone as "Toxic" when despite Management's best efforts, people can't work with him and he might have to be let go. He closes with this:

The history of the Silicon Valley is full of stories of toxic people who were, well, right. These people were physically removed from their respective companies, but their agenda, their ideas, however unpalatable to the existing cultural regime, were actually the right thing to do for that particular company.

The paradox is we often need these toxic people. We need these self-centered assholes to totally ignore cultural conventions and to mix things up beyond recognition. They don’t need social grace and they don’t need charisma. Both help, but their value lies in their intense belief in their own culture.

I have an intense belief in my own culture. I've had debates where the other person has left the room because they felt they weren't being heard. They probably feel I was going ALL CAPS on them. I was just bypassing the part of the argument where they talk. This might sound arrogant, but I've heard it before.

You don't grow up poor, punk, educated, atheist, and liberal in central PA without facing intense cultural scrutiny. You're an outsider. People you've never met know things about you before you even start the conversation.

Anyway, the article and its simple model of relationships provoked thought in me, and I thought it was a good read. So I thought I'd share.

Labels: corporate culture, goals, links, personal, ramblings, thoughts

Professional Windows Shill, Technology Know-Nothing, John C. Dvorak, stated in 2007 that Apple should "unplug" the iPhone. Fast forward to now, where Apple has announced it sold six million iPhone 3GS units in the first week.

The problem here is that while Apple can play the fashion game as well as any company, there is no evidence that it can play it fast enough. These phones go in and out of style so fast that unless Apple has half a dozen variants in the pipeline, its phone, even if immediately successful, will be passé within 3 months.

There is no likelihood that Apple can be successful in a business this competitive. Even in the business where it is a clear pioneer, the personal computer, it had to compete with Microsoft and can only sustain a 5% market share.

And its survival in the computer business relies on good margins. Those margins cannot exist in the mobile handset business for more than 15 minutes.

This is why people don't listen to you, idiot. Apple did it their way, and easily has 10% (worldwide) market share in under a year. Motorola is looking at failing out of the phone business, and Verizon has nothing but blackberries, sad imitations, and paying lobbyists to talk up anti-trust claims.

Got any predictions for Bing.com, John?

Labels: 2007 Predictions, apple, crazy people, links, Mac OS X

Here's a yarn for everyone.

A Russian girl who's undergone "re-virgining" SIX TIMES is now in an intensive care unit, due to complications of having the procedure performed once a year as a "gift" for her husband.

Original story is here.

Yay for stupidity and meaningless social constructs, I guess. Hats off.

Labels: crazy people, links, ramblings

On Michael Moore's Weblog there's a scathing and yet accurate take on the GM bankruptcy. Money spent saving a company with management that can only be described as "inept and stupid" is money wasted. Money spent saving GM's workforce to build American light-rail and green technology is money well spent.

Only time will tell what GM will become. As it enters Chapter 11, it will continue to operate. But does this mean it will still focus on developing next-gen cars such as the Chevy Volt? Will it become our industrial backbone and build the components needed for a more competitive infrastructure? Or will see an H4 and a convertible Chevy Cobalt? More "more of the same" badge engineering?

One major indicator to me will be who becomes the new CEO after the company emerges from Chapter 11. Every single foreign car company's C-level management has engineering, math, or physics degrees. These people grasp and understand the technical problems of manufacturing, global supply chains, automation, waste recycling, etc. Its no surprise these companies emerged as better built and efficiency oriented. When it comes from the top, it becomes part of the culture.

Former GM CEO Rick Wagoneer, on the other hand, spent 26 years as president of the Marketing Department. As UAW obligations rose over the past 25 years, and revenues shrunk, he merely engaged in too little, too late. He denied climate change. He over committed to SUVs and trucks.

I, for one, would like to see an automotive engineering company actually run by engineers. Its too bad I feel GM's culture is incapable of transforming itself in such a way that it could lure consumers such as myself (that only by foreign-branded cars) back to the fold.

Labels: cars, links, money, politics

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:

"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.

Labels: links, quotables

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".

Labels: blogging, cars, gas prices, links, music, Reddit, soapbox, video, youtube

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.

Labels: links, ramblings, today's generation

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.

Labels: corporate culture, links, Reddit, thoughts

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:

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

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.

Labels: links, ramblings, Reddit

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.

Labels: links, movies, Reddit, software, video, web 2.0

This just in among British Men: Curves are the new thin.

Labels: links, pictures, ramblings, Reddit

This is like the coolest thing I've seen on youTube in a while.

Labels: links, movies, video

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?

Labels: links, video, youtube

I found three articles I really felt like sharing from my usual social news site, Reddit.com

1. 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.
2. 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.
   
3. 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

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

http://dfranke.us/pfs.html

This is the most brilliant thing I've read all week. I really hope they deploy it against 419ers.

Labels: links, ramblings, thoughts

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.

Labels: links, personal, software, thoughts

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.

Labels: links, movies, Reddit, youtube

The new "Dark Knight" trailer is available on YouTube. Its awesome.

Just click "Why So Serious?"

Labels: links, movies, youtube

<> 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

Labels: IM conversations, links, me trying to be funny, Reddit

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

Perhaps the best campaign to raise awareness in a mental illness since "Support the Rabid".

Labels: links, pictures, Reddit

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

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.

Labels: apple, iTunes, links, NBC, TV, video

Read This.

Labels: links, Reddit

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?

Labels: life is short, links, thoughts

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.

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

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".

Labels: links, Mac, ramblings

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.

Labels: links, politics, pop culture, today's generation

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).

Labels: AJAX, links, pictures, politics, pop culture, quotables, ramblings, Reddit, thoughts

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

This is exactly what I think of Mullets.

Labels: links, me trying to be funny, web comics

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

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

http://www.randomkittengenerator.com/

All kinds of cute kitten pics -- randomly selected.

Labels: kitten war, kittens, links, Reddit