New Years Updates

It's the start of a new year and that means a time of introspection and planning.

Most people use this time to review what they've done and how they've been treated and make adjustments to get to where they've like to be. I'm no better than anybody else, so I'll do the same.

My first realization is that this sort of activity should be done more than once a year... maybe monthly or quarterly. Maybe some random interval not tied to the rotation of the Earth around the Sun.

I've been exceedingly lazy this past year, yet somehow I've managed to obtain a good paying job at a good company with good co-workers. Now it's time to excel at my job and earn the recognition that I deserve. That sounds very conceited, but it needs to. If I don't think highly of myself then nobody else will either.

Now that I've obtained a good job, it's time to put more time and effort into all those things that I've neglected in the past. All those things that I said I needed to get a good paying stable job to start working on.

I spent all of high school weighing 145lbs (65.7kg). At college I jumped to 165lbs (74.8). Now I have become a fat man. Well, much fatter that I've ever been, 224lbs (101.6 kg). This situation needs to be remedied. I've begun a mild diet of simply cutting out calories and I've lost 5lbs so far. Not bad, but progress has slowed, partly due to the holidays and partly due to my laziness.

Mild exercise alone will not get me into the shape I want to be in. I need to begin exercising. As a matter of fact, I want to join a gym where I can lift weights. I've decided that I want to get jacked. I have the weight needed to build muscle, weight I've never had before, now I just need to start building it.

I am a smart man. er... I used to be a smart man. I have done very little programming in the past year. This situation needs to be rectified. Part of the problem, well part of my excuse, is that I'm not very creative when it comes to developing ideas for new programs. Now, I have tons of ideas and it's time to act.

In this area, I really have to credit Lord Omlette for being a huge inspiration. In addition to randomly opening my eyes to new things that can be helpful and new ideas and programming languages (Haskell for instance), his work and tales of woe in PhD land are also inspiration.

There are also alot of activities I'd like to start doing outside the computer world. I'd like to start camping again... going on day hikes... canoeing. Get back into snowboarding some more. Give my scuba diving license some use! Maybe even find some new things to do.

I'd also like to do some travelling. I've been to a few places, but not as much as I'd like. And not necessarily out of the country, but that could be fun too. I have to get my passport first though. I'd just like to go around and gain some new life experiences. I think that's really the allure of travel for most people.

With all these new things I'd like to do it doesn't seem like I'll have much leisure time, but gaming is something that's definately on my to-do-more list. It's not really a time killer for me. I wouldn't play a game if I didn't feel that I wanted to. Games are more of an escape for me. A chance to do things I don't normally do and to have new experiences. Most of the games I play are online games and give me a chance to interact with different people all over the world. That's exciting and fun to me.

My job is good, the money I make is good. Now to make more. Does that sound a bit greedy? I guess it does. I've got bills to pay and most of my money goes to paying bills with some left for wasting and eating food. I wouldn't mind a bit of extra cash to help fund the other things I want to do.

I can make webpages, I can do some programming and general computer stuff. If you want stuff done please contact me. :)

Over the past year I've spent most of my time selfishly. I haven't been around for my friends as much as I should be. Whether I've been home or at Rutgers or elsewhere, I've focused much of my time on myself. In effect, I feel that I've neglected most everybody important in my life and for that I am sorry. I have some of the greatest friends in the world and they deserve much better. Friends... Family... and even The Greek. That last one might sound suprising to alot of people... even myself, but I feel that I haven't been all that I should be.

My last acknowledgment is to be happy with myself. Alot could be said about this, but I'll just leave it at that. I recommend this be on everybody's to-do-more list.

define: Nerdcore

MC Frontalot rocks!

... ehem...

MC FRONTALOT ROCKS!

As mentioned earlier, I caught the Frontalot show at Crash Mansion in NYC.

The performance was tight... with multiple capitals and other assorted exclamations.

Nerdcore Hiphop Could Reign Supreme!

It was most of the usual crew but drummer, The Categorical Imperative, was missing and in his place sat Venom. Still, the sound was dead on. The rhymes were flawless, and the witty stage banter was exquisite. Gminor7 (Gm7), pwned his keyboard and assorted equipment many times over with his solid mastery of musical might, and his singing added that extra bit of polish to the show. Black Lotus, was a bass bashing behemoth of brobdingnagian proportions! The sounds generated by BL were far beyond anything that any bass has ever produced evar... EVAR! A few new songs of the new album, Nerdcore Rising, were performed. A few of the classics were thrown in. It's a shame the crowd wasn't as large as it usually is for the Front... alot of people missed a great show.

My only problem was with Crash Mansion itself. The downsized the drink size and made naught a change to the prices. Although, I only drank beer there, my homie companion was shafted. Even with that, the place is awesome inside, and the door guy had an awesome british accent.

After the show I obtained, for myself, one (1) signed copy of the aforementioned album which quickly made it's shiny spinning way into my cars CD player. I rocked that out all the way to Union City and then to New Brunswick. The old songs are masterfully remade and the new songs are killer. I think my favorite new bit of ear candy is the beat on "This Old Man". The collaboration on the title track, Nerdcore Rising, with Jesse Dangerously and MC Hawking was awesome. A little mc chris would've made it a nerdcore bonanza!

If you haven't heard the new songs, the buy the album. If you are a VSP, you can get some of the new material on the boards.

If you like music for being music, you'll love this album. If you enjoy witty words being weaved in wonderful ways, you'll love this album far more than you enjoyed my pathetic attempt at alliteration. If you love hiphop, you'll love this album.... even if you aren't into comps and tech.

Go buy it at amazon.

Conversations With http://www.wikipediaclassaction.org/

I recently had the joy of finding this little nugget of internet fun: http://www.wikipediaclassaction.org/

I felt obligated as a good internet citizen to engage in conversation with whomever was behind this situation.

The following hiliarity ensued...

================================
ME:
Your class action lawsuit has to be one of the most terrifying acts against the internet that I have seen.

The blatant disreguard for first amendment rights is chilling.

First off, Wikipedia is a site that claims no authority of fact over any topic and they make it clear that what you find may not be factual.

Anybody can change/modify/edit a Wikipedia entry. So the 4 months of hard work and anguish, that you mention on your site, that was suffered by John Seigenthaler could've been fixed by 5 minutes of editing the entry.

Maybe you are unware that the internet is full of false information and that it is not a trusted source of information.

I find it scary how close your agenda falls inline with that of the Iranian president and also that of Fidel Castro who think the internet needs to be censored because it contains too much information that they claim is false because it disagrees with them or is defamatory towards them.

To be honest, I had no idea who this John Seigenthaler person was until his story about being "attacked" by Wikipedia. Glad to see that I wasn't missing out on anything important.

I hope for the quick demise of your lawsuit so that the internet can continue to be what it always has been.

A bastion of free speech.

Good Day Sir.


Response:

Hello,

You do not understand the principals at work here, so perhaps, it is
best for you to sit this one out on the side.

Why must I become involved in your website? If there is offending or
inaccurate content, about me, my business or family, why should I be
required to become a user and edit the content?

I am interested to learn why you thought I would be interested in your
comments.

Regards,



Me:
First a correction, I think you mean "principles" and not "principals".

On the contrary, I think I understand the principles quite well.

If you are a figure of public interest then you are already part of general information. As hard as I searched, I could not find myself in Wikipedia. If Mr. Seigenthaler wished not to be in the public eye, then I would recommend a career outside of the media.

Should we not discuss public figures on the internet unless we can be sure 100 percent that what we say is factually accurate? That would be ridiculous. That's not even a requirement of what we see on television or read in news papers.

I can't help but find one thing ironic. Mr. Seigenthaler is a journalist who himself reports information that may or may not be accurate, yet becomes enraged when he finds inaccurate information about himself. Although, this isn't strictly about him. His publicity and fame is just the snowball that started this avalanche of garbage.

I can't help by find myself amused by your last comment:

"I am interested to learn why you thought I would be interested in your comments."

Let me provide some more information to in addition to it's raw comedic content. I found your website though some of the internet news sources that would be destroyed if you lawsuit were to proceed. Also, I found it important enough to state my opinion. Such is your freedom to ignore my comments as you like, but you reading them was showing your interest.

Again, Good Day Sir.
================================

After some research it turns out that the site is run by a Mr. Greg Lloyd Smith whom has a sordid history.

MC Frontalot Live!

Saturday Dec 17th
Crash Mansion
199 Bowery @ Spring
New York City
9PM
21+, ten bucks

Be there or be... not there.

He always puts on a good show and Crash Mansion is a really really nice looking place on the inside.

Drinks there are usually on the high side in quality and price.

I'll be there with the usual crew hopefully.

Frustrated

This makes Bush's response to Katrina that much more shameful:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/5/134849/2070

Although you'd think Bush's guys would have experience with something like this:

http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/000246.htm

Atleast their using the victims for something good:

http://stevegilliard.blogspot.com/2005/09/join-us-homeless-confused-people.html

I am poor.

I spent too much money this past week/weekend.

GeoGirl came home for the weekend, and much partying ensued. I don't think one night was spent at home.

Now, I normally hate going bowling, and Ice will get mad at me, but I went this weekend. Though I can't remember the day. I didn't bowl though, I just consumed mass quantities of beer. I think that night we hit up The Breakfast Club. An 80's themed club in Old Bridge which consists of little more than a mediocre bar and an open area for which to dance upon. I think I could have a kick ass club if I rented a busted down shack, painted everything black, dropped in huge speakers hooked up to a laptop with winamp or something and threw in some kegs.

It was fun there... drinks were too expensive though and the lady selection wasn't that interesting. Rey wasn't allowed in because he didn't have sleves on his shirt. So I guess the place has some standards. Though he didn't mind. He lives 2 minutes from it.

Oh, btw, I don't know what I'm doing on the dance floor, but I don't mind standing out there bopping around for a bit. Otherwise the woman yells at me. To be honest, she'll yell at me either way, cause that's what she does.

Saturday dakotah, root and meagan went to Jenks. The gents were invited, but they were too busy loosing money to each other to want to party with hot chicks. So freaking packed. I think NJ has the largest population of New Yorkers outside of NY.... and they are very unwanted. The place was filled with hundreds of goombas with goku hair and popped up collars. I've never seen such a large group of people look so dumb, yet think they look so awesome.

We danced for an hour, but it was too crowded to continue. We stook outside overlooking the ocean for a little bit having some drinks for the rest of our time there. Hit up a diner afterwards somewhere near Colts Neck. Good burger! Then we went home.

Sunday I went home to relax. Did my laundry. IceInferno was generous enough to take me and his woman out to dinner. Good burger! I need to eat things other than burgers.

Leveled up Ion Beam to 13 last night. Fired up some counter-strike for abit. After playing CoH for the past couple months pretty exclusively, I have to say it was good to grab the m4, creep around a corner and blast away a few T's. I did better than I thought, but the servers are different than they used to be. The kids are still getting younger of course, which in turn means I am getting older.

In one month and 11 days I hit the quarter-century mark. Damn I'm getting old.

Oh Noes!!

Supreme Court Justice O'Connor is retiring. The end is now nearer.

Bush is gonna shove in his bible bearing buddies and you can say good by to abortion, gay marriage and anything else bush doesn't like... like freedom.

I doubt the democrats will have the organization and power to stop bush from steam rolling in whomever he wants. He said he'll get somebody in before October.

Rhenquist is likely to leave soon too. BOO! I was hoping these peeps would hold on for another few years so the next president would get to pick, but I understand their reasons for leaving. Both are going through tough personal matters.

Fare ye well O'Connor, Rhenquist and freedom.