Oh the wonders of the Internet

The internet is a wonderful tool, you can use it to help resolve arguements, help write your paper, find out why your computer blue screens, and help you find that function call or parameter list that you need.

Then there are times when it becomes a burden. I stay connected to my IM clients all the time at home, I sort of use it as a way for people to leave me a message even when i'm not at home. I try to respond as soon as I can to things. But there are times it gets in my way. I try to ignore it but gosh darnit, I just can't seem to do it.

Well, i'm taking ISC 561 this semester with Dr. Pardue. I am excited about this course and the first week has not been a let down. In the CS courses, the enrollment is in the teens, I think somewhere around 17ish for real-time and probably about the same for AI and Algorithms. But when I walk into the ISC course, boom 42 students. Could it be the difference between approaches? I believe so, the CS part seems to have their approach forged in the dark ages with no regard to how the times have changed. While the ISC guys seem to keep theirs somewhat dusted and, dare I say, polished.

Yesterday, I was asked to deliver lunch to kc and some coworkers at the hospital, to which I replied 'sure'. I didn't have much going on and thought getting out of the house would be good. So they order from Ruby Tuesday and I pick it up and deliver it to the 5th floor. I sat and chatted with kc, Jennifer, and Debbie (?) for a bit while they ate. While I was there kc told me about Jan's (picklefish) picture was in the paper from Beerfest (not the movie). So I picked up a paper on the way home. I then proceeded to cut the grass and spray some round up.

I came inside and practiced what little I know about SQL on Dr. Pardue website for his classes. Watched some Extreme Engineering and Mythbusters (in the background while doing the SQL stuff) till The 4400 and The Dead Zone came on. After that, 5 others and myself played some Battlefield 1942 and Desert Combat mod until......oh......1:30am.

Some Linky goodness

Playstation 3 vs Nintendo Wii

The worst Price is Right contestant ever

Angry....maybe

Bas Rutten, much accomplished mixed martial arts star and undefeated UFC Champion, gives lessons on how to street fight

What do you get when you cross The A-Team with Lost.....well this video of course

Years of classical musical training...combined with games

I like to think this is why the French just wave the white flag

Helicopter pulling a boat....recipe for disaster

I remember doing this....Bo Jackson was never this good

Not safe for work: We have activity in a war zone....but they don't think they need to report it

And finally, cool song but even better video

HOW TO: Open a beer with a piece of paper

Whoa

Guess what I failed to mention in my last post?

Dying to know aren't you?

It was the one year anniversary for my BLOG!!!

*^confetti^* *^balloons^* *^noisemakers galore^*

*WOOOO*

162 posts over the last year AND countless number of enlightened people. People from all over the United States and the rest of the world.

So, what have I learned during this last year of blogging. Its fun ruffling the feathers of the Bo Bice 'grannies' and the rest of his 'fans'. Sorry people, he still sucks!!! People search for the oddest things....and they tend to find either my blog or Matt's ('does a one legged duck swim in circles' or 'white trash black belt'.....wtf?!?). I don't remember some of my weird searches, but the latest ones were for 'julie froseth', 'kisea blog', 'kisea blogspot', 'saitek x52 linux', 'soul kitchen gwar' and finally 'ppc or hyip or autosurf or egold make money -htm -html site:blogspot.com' which came from someone in Iran (no Mr. Big Brother, get those thoughts out of your mind).

Until later....cya

Missing Mobile?

Well, sorta. Mom and I went out to eat some mexican Tuesday afternoon and I did not like it. It was bland, the salsa wasn't good, and just wasn't good. I miss Los Arcos when i'm up here.

I don't know if this is a good thing or not, but there is not a Panera Bread place here in Cullman. I like it but ever since I introduced mom to it she would call me and scold me for ever introducing her to it without one being in Cullman. Mom goes through these periods where she 'craves' things. At one time she would 'crave' Chik-fil-a before there was a restaurant in Cullman, thus she would drive to Decatur just to get her fix.

Thor has been doing fine, no more seizures thus far. When he was on the initial doses of sodium bromide he was very lethargic, but now that he is on his regular dosage he is more chipper yet he still passes out from time to time.

Also, for those of you who may not know but the airlines have been put on the highest security level (Red) for the first time since it has been instituted. A terrorist plot to hijack and destroy planes bound from the UK to the US was uncovered and 21 were arrested (source). For the time being they are not allowing anything which can be squeezed or pumped from a tube or bottle onboard domestic or planes inbound or outbound to the US and UK except for baby formula or food.

Fairly Uneventful

The trip up was fairly uneventful. Around mile marker 110 or so, what looked like at least 3 vehicles were involved in an accident. Two of the three vehicles I saw were in the median and the third, either a GMC Jimmy or similar SUV, had flipped and was on its side in the inside lane of the north bound side facing south. From the marks in the median they were traveling on the southbound side. Some of their luggage from the overturned vehicle was on the pavement near the dividing line between lanes on the North bound side. That was a small delay.

Next there was another wreck on the southbound lanes which did not affect the north bound side except for those who feel compelled to slow down and stare at an accident. This time an 18 wheeler ran off the right side of the interstate and hit an embankment. The truck and trailer both were torn up pretty bad. Then maybe a half mile up the road another 18 wheeler looked as though it rear ended something pretty hard but there was nothing there for him to hit. Then just a little ways up from that, a state trooper had south bound traffice stopped due to the accident(s). They were already backed up a half mile and there was heavy traffic approaching.

Well, I got here and Thor was quite happy to either see mom or get out of the truck finally. He was very hyper and spaztastic. Not quite as overactive as when kc got home from her 2 week hiatus Sunday. To celebrate me coming home, mom grilled steaks which were awesome.

Peace
~B

Trip home...

Well, I am almost finished packing for my trip up to the great north.....Alabama. I'll blog about my trip when I get there.

For now, enjoy this. I love the bass in this one.



~brian

Minimum wage increase anyone?

Not so fast. According to this article ,you will have to wait till at least the fall before this may come back up for a vote again. The Republicans introduced a bill which would increase the minimum wage in addition to cutting taxes on multimillion-dollar estates. Well, the bill failed. I support the wage increase but I don't like the part where it would cut taxes on the multimillion-dollar estates.

In other news, Microsoft is letting people have a crack at Vista's security. Some have already shown soem ways to load unsigned code into the kernel (Source).

Now for a good laugh, check out this video. Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo...



~Brian

More Thor updates

Well, early Tuesday morning (4am) Thor woke me up by falling off the bed due to the beginnings of a seizure. This time I got to record a video of it for the vet. So, my birthday was spent kinda hanging around the house with some close friends and going to the vet's office.

The vet put Thor on Sodium Bromide now to try to prolong the time between seizures. In addition, we are cutting Wheat from his diet. His dog food I already get him doesn't have wheat but all of his treats did. So I gave them all to another friend for their dog and got Thor some replacements.

Then, late yesterday evening the air conditioner decided to konk out. Apparently, the sump pump failed and was cutting off the compressor outside. Needless to say it was quite warm in the house.

Then around 11:15pm he had another seizure. But this time it wasn't nearly as violent nor was the recovery time afterwards took as long as previous.

Today, the AC sump pump was replaced and all is now good in the house. Its nice and comfortable in the house again.

I hope that it gets better. Right now since I am giving him the 'loading dose' of sodium bromide, he is pretty lethargic. Hopefully after we finish the loading dosage and get to the day to day dosage, he won't be as sleepy.

Also, a few friends and I have gotten copies of Battlefield 1942, one has graciously hosted a teamspeak server on his domain, and are ready to get together and play online. I got a joystick to aid my flying.

In trying to find a good joystick I was quite disappointed. What is considered, arguably, the best is not being made in China with quality problems (Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS). The other one that other people to be the best while being better priced is the Saitek X52 HOTAS. When I went to Best Buy and Circuit City to look them over I was extremely disappointed at the centering spring. It was very, very weak. I am used to the Thrustmaster TopGun which is stiff, more like actual flight controls. So, I saw the Saitek ST290 joystick which had a stiffer spring and a built in throttle flap. I didn't really need the throttle with a HOTAS system, unless I get into flight sims so this is just fine. Plus, its much cheaper than the Cougar or X52.

Anyway....good night

~Brian