And you thought your friends were weird...

...and the peasants rejoiced!

Mon, 16 Jun 2003 22:38:42 GMT

It's ALIVE!

Enjoy

Mon, 16 Jun 2003 19:08:08 GMT

Gollum's acceptance speech

This is really damn funny.

w00t!

Fri, 23 May 2003 16:55:00 GMT

3-day weekend. Nuff' said.

Another enters the fold...

Thu, 22 May 2003 22:57:44 GMT

Latest victim of blogging disease

I want to buy a Mac

Thu, 22 May 2003 19:17:26 GMT

/me puts flame-protective suit on

Yes, that's right boys and girls, I want a Mac. However, that desire may change in the near future. You see, the whole iTunes Music Store thing is what I really want. I tend to buy a lot of CDs. I know that my collection spans at least 150 - 200 of them. Now about 33% of those CDs were purchased because of 1 or 2 songs. If I only had to pay $.99 x2 for those two songs instead of the $15 gouging that I normally would pay, I would be able to buy a lot more music.

Which leads to the next part. Buying an iPod. I went looking yesterday at one, they had it on display at Fry's [0]. I really like that it weighed practically nothing, but I didn't like the feel of the interface all too much. However, if I ever want to use the Music Store I am going to have to use an iPod. The Creative Zen looked pretty cool, not to mention being cheaper than an iPod. The Archos I don't like at all though. It's too big and clunky.

Hopefully though, I won't need to buy a Mac, if Apple makes an iTunes Music Store for Windows.

-Mikey

[0] For those that don't know, Fry's is the Mecca of computers. It's just slightly over-priced.

Matrix: Reloaded

Tue, 20 May 2003 16:49:00 GMT

I won't put any spoiler stuff here. Please look in the comments section.

Hockey equipment

Wed, 30 Apr 2003 01:37:14 GMT

I've never been so glad that I wear a full cage hockey facemask as I was this past sunday. I got 2-handed upside the head. Specifically, my jaw got hit. And it hurt, a lot. If I hadn't been wearing a full cage (which protects my jaw), I probably would have broken my jaw. That would have sucked.

Yay equipment!

According to Red Mage...

Mon, 28 Apr 2003 21:12:14 GMT

Over at 8-bit Theater there is a issue of Twinkin' Out that describes Vampire: The Masquerade as:

"It's more like a model UN that doesn't go out in the sun."

I started to laugh...until I realized how true that statement was.

Would you like fries with that?

Thu, 17 Apr 2003 22:05:09 GMT

I got some McDonald's for lunch last week, a combo meal to be precise, which includes a sizable amount of fries. I really like ketchup on my fries...I mean a lot of ketchup. My fries are drowning in ketchup if I have the option. I pay for the meal at the first window, drive up to the second one and politely ask the worker to give me "a lot" of ketchup. The worker seemed to understand.

I get back to work, empty the bag. And lo and damn behold, a meager 2 packets of ketchup. Needless to say, I was frustrated.

Upon further examination, I decided that "a lot" wasn't specific enough. I needed to say the exact number of packets that I desired for the optimal ketchup/fry ratio.

I got Burger King for lunch, and ordered 2 whopper jr's and a 5-piece chicken tender (which are shaped like stars and lightning bolts, but that's another rant...). This time I ask the attentdant, "Can I please have 7 or 8 packets of ketchup?". Once again, he seems to understand, shuffles some ketchup into the bag and hands it to me.

I get back to work, empty the bag. 4 packets of ketchup. Arg, foiled again! The 4 packets of ketchup was almost sufficient to account for the 5 chicken tenders. I think a 1:1 ratio of tenders:packets would work well personally. I guess I'll have to wait for next time...

Too funny to not post

Tue, 15 Apr 2003 20:39:05 GMT

I don't know if Ryan posted this too, but I just had to put this up immediately. enjoy!

The Thorn Top 10

Fri, 11 Apr 2003 18:05:57 GMT

This comes to you courtesy of Tori...

10) Baby, you're a 1011 out of 1010.
9) I'd like to mess around in your root directory.
8) You give me the shadow file, I'll crack the password to your heart.
7) I'd give up DoA Extreme Beach Volleyball, or even Hertz, for you.
6) [rot-13] Jvyy lbh tb bhg jvgu zr?
5) Hey baby, want to #include my header file?
4) I'll pass your continuation anytime you want.
3) Wanna reformat my hard drive?
2) I named my EQ character after you.
1) Hi there. How'd you like to merge sort?

How I miss Rose-Hulman.....

arg!

Mon, 07 Apr 2003 22:03:32 GMT

Movable Type isn't cooperating with me. I tried to finish setting up my webserver with blog software this weekend, and it didn't go well. After installing the necessary software that Movable Type requires, the script that checks the system for all necessary software was still failing on me when it came to the database software. Arg!

Dave offered to temporarily host my blog on his webserver until I got mine up and running. But, I'm stubborn. I am going to make this software do my bidding. As soon as I have it all set up, I will post the link to the blog here. In the meantime, you can visit my (crappy) 14.3 second homepage here.

Thoughts on the war

Sat, 05 Apr 2003 00:07:59 GMT

The war on Iraq seems to be a popular topic as of late, and for the sake of argument, I just thought I'd throw my own personal take on things up here and allow other people to agree or disagree with me.

Let me start by saying that I would prefer if a diplomatic solution could have been reached. I would much rather have prefered a solution that prevented the loss of life on both the US/UK side and the Iraqi side. I don't want _anybody_ to die. I think the George Bush gave Saddam a chance to avoid bloodshed. He told Saddam that if he (and his sons) left the country, then war could be avoided. Many countries offered Saddam and his sons Asylum to prevent bloodshed. Saddam did not leave Iraq. I can think of 2 interpretations of this act off of the top of my head.

1) Saddam feels that the pride of the Iraqi people shouldn't be thrown away to the "Imperialist scum" that the US represents and didn't leave Iraq because he felt that we (the US) would corrupt his people.

2) Saddam doesn't care about his people and won't give up his power to protect them from harm.

I am inclined to believe that the reason Saddam didn't leave is #2. He has waged war on his own people. He has murdered and tortured Iraqi citizens. He had soldiers execute civilians who were trying to flee Baghdad. This to me does not indicate the actions of a leader who cares about his people. If he cared about them, why would he wish them harm. He method of persuasion isn't "fight for Iraq, your home". It's "fight for Iraq, or I'll have you killed". He hides soldiers and weapons in hospitals. He has soldiers use civilians as human shields. We don't want to hurt or kill any civilians. Why are they forcibly put in harm's way by Saddam? I can't think of an answer that makes me think of Saddam as an Iraqi Patriot and not as a Malicious Dictator. If you can, please, feel free to enlighten me.

I don't think that giving Saddam and the weapons inspectors more time would have worked. Saddam had 12 years. He had 12 years to satisfy the world. He failed. I am sure people are sick of comparing Saddam to Hitler, but I am going to do it anyways. A policy of appeasement was adopted to deal with Hitler. Diplomacy only made him believe that no one could stop him. Can the world take the chance to appease Saddam? Hitler didn't have chemical and nuclear weapons. I think Saddam does. What if he decides to use them? I am not willing to take that chance.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the soldiers from around the world that are fighting for freedom.

That wonderful girl...

Fri, 04 Apr 2003 18:15:11 GMT

Today Tori told me something.... "i think i might wana put linux on my laptop".

< Vader > Her journey to the dark side is complete.... < /Vader >

Lack of blogging activity

Wed, 26 Feb 2003 00:31:19 GMT

Well, you may have noticed that I haven't updated my blog in a long time. It's not just because I am lazy. I have my own webserver up at the moment, and as soon as I get my blog rolled out on that machine, I will post the link here.

Mikey

Join our armies!!

Tue, 04 Feb 2003 23:57:20 GMT

Click to join my army.

Click to join Tori's army. And yes, you can join both. ^_^

You only have to click on them, and if you feel like it, you can click the links up to once per day.

"Grab a sword and fight the Horde!" - Warcraft III Footman

Next quiz!!! (Thank God I wasn't Windows ME)

Mon, 03 Feb 2003 19:09:23 GMT

Which OS are You?

But this makes me feel better...

Tue, 28 Jan 2003 02:30:57 GMT

Snoopy da bomb yo...

What
cartoon dog are you?

Brought to you by the good folks at sacwriters.com.

Ouch, this kinda hurts...

Mon, 27 Jan 2003 21:27:03 GMT

What
lesser-known Simpsons character are you?

Brought to you by the good folks at sacwriters.com.

Ding!

Tue, 14 Jan 2003 18:39:40 GMT

2 years! =)

I'm leavin' on a jet plane...

Wed, 25 Dec 2002 04:44:26 GMT

for Chicago tonight to visit my family for the holidays. I will be back on Sunday night. I want to wish you all a wonderful and a safe Christmas. God bless.

-Mikey

The ultra-super-duper-secret screening of "The Two Towers"...

Tue, 17 Dec 2002 12:20:47 GMT

One word: wow. Very very very good movie. The computer graphics (cg) got even better than the first movie. Since I never read the book, I am unable to compare to Tolkien's original storyline, but I am sure it did the book a fair amount of justice. I won't go into details on the cool parts since some people would rather see it for themselves. Go see this movie.

Time to get 3-4 hours of sleep before work tomorrow. And yes, it was worth it.

-Michael

New icon time!!!

Tue, 10 Dec 2002 20:54:12 GMT

Some of my DnD pals might find that this one fits me...

How do you know if you've been playing too much Dark Age

Tue, 10 Dec 2002 00:53:01 GMT

Need I say more?

On music, video games, and parents...

Wed, 04 Dec 2002 20:20:40 GMT

It really bothers me when people are so quick to blame music and the artists that create said music when something goes wrong in society. The fact that listening to something made for the purpose of entertainment can make you do something harmful to another person seems stupid to me. Music (as well as other forms of artistic expression) is a way for us, as people, to release emotions in a way that doesn't directly affect other people.

For example, let's suppose that I am a musician. Something really bad happens to me. I get angry. Now, instead of venting that anger by potentially harming someone else, I write a song about it. I feel better.

Art is a way to sublimate emotions. Sports serve the same purpose. So, I ask you, how can something which purpose is positive cause negative effects? How can people listen to music by artists such as Eminem or Marilyn Manson and go out and hurt other people? I have some of Eminem's CD's. After listening to them, I don't want to go out and kill people or be mean to gay and lesbian groups. Why? Those gay and lesbian groups say that Eminem's lyrics make people more hateful. Not me. Why? The reason, my dear reader, is my parents. The two most important people in a child's life. My parents were good parents. They taught me the difference between right and wrong. They didn't count on television and pop culture to do it. I went to a Catholic elementary school. There, the lessons that my parents taught me were reinforced. Note, that my school did not teach me right from wrong. Schools aren't supposed to do that. School impart knowledge about the world. Parents impart knowledge about life. I used to play violent video games and listen to Korn. But my parents were there and I knew the difference between a game and the real world. I knew that hurting people was wrong. Maybe, and I am just talking here, but maybe playing those kind of games made me _not_ want to go hurt someone. Maybe beating up an electronic opponent made me feel better about the kids in grade school that made fun of me and picked on me. Maybe, just maybe, things that so many parents are afraid of can actually help the children they are trying to protect. Parents need to be parents. I was fortunate enough to have 2 wonderful parents. A lot of people aren't so lucky. My childhood was no picnic, don't get me wrong there, but my parents did a good job.

It seems to me that people in this country have a thing with responsibility. That is, most don't want any. They want to do anything they want and not have to pay the consequences. People don't think about what they are doing. They don't stop to consider the consequences of their actions. All Americans want is a quick and cheap fix to every problem in life. Divorce, drugs, suicide, murder. You got a problem? Get rid of it. Don't try to solve it, because that would take too long. Just run away from your problems, eventually they will go away, right? Wrong. Some people have children and then expect the world to raise them. Guess what? It's _your_ job to raise them. Yes, your job. Your career, your wants, your needs are all secondary to that child. That child is more important than anything else in your life. Don't like it? Too bad, that's just the way things are. There is no cheap fix, no quick solution. Don't have a child unless you are ready to sacrifice everything.

More to come...