I Feel Like a Cliché
For 23 years I’ve hated salt herring (which for most Swedes is one of their greatest weaknesses). Till two days ago I tried it on a spur of a moment type thing… and I loved it. I still hate Swedish Meatballs, to the amazement of my family. I’m not blonde, although a lot of Swedes aren’t. I love ABBA, but who doesn’t. I also love the traditional Swedish Christmas Ham, the saltier the better. By age three, I had accumulated more airline miles than most entire families have.
Side note: For people who feel like they’ve never been any where or even traveled outside of their city or town, don’t feel bad. Most people worldwide never really go anywhere; they stay where they were born, only to die there. It doesn’t matter where you live, people are if anything consistent.
I have most of the traditional Swedish and German Christmas Decorations so don’t ask me how American Christmas’ are different from the rest of the world; because I’ve never really experienced the pure version. I have one of those infamous Swedish Gnomes, although as a kid it scared the shit out of me (gnomes creep me out to an extreme). Also can somebody explain to me the appeal of the ever so toxic “Lutfisk”?
Currently Listening To:
Michael Buble - It’s Time - Quando, Quando, Quando
Country Stats for the Site
Truly, I feel worldwide, plus this varies constantly.
No Internets for You
This must be an unknown virus because my scanners won’t detect anything or there is a rootkit on my system. So as a precaution I’ve disconnected my net connection and I’m already feeling the withdrawal. I’m writing this post up in Word, so hopefully it will make it to the net eventually.
Currently Listening To:
Aly And Aj - Insomniatic - If I Could Have You Back
Ubuntu Sucks So Badly
Having not been a fan of Ubuntu now for the past few versions I wasn’t planning on using that for my new Linux platform. Then I read about version 8.10 and it’s ability to detect the monitor and resolution quite accurately, this is suppose to work for most people… except me. So I’m thinking Fedora now.
Windows is Dead to Me
I know I’ve said this before; but I don’t care anymore about the problems and inconviences that linux has, Windows has broke this camels back. I’m writing this using the web interface since Windows is dying on me in many ways. I know I can’t get rid of Windows completely, but I’m only going to use it for stuff that I can’t emulate in Wine.
Update: Don’t expect any posts for anything until I’ve either ordered a new drive because this one is full or I’ve backed up everything on this drive. Since that sums up to about 450 GB in data, I’m betting on the former.
My Big Problem with the Bernie Madoff Ponzi Scam
Within minutes of the story breaking, various news channels were telling that a ton of charities had their accounts with Madoff and had lost all of their money. My problem with charities having lost all of their money, is that aren’t charities suppose to you know give the money away… not hoard it and collect interest on the donations. No one seems to be bringing up this rather important point. This should illustrate why people should be careful giving money to charities when it just might end up in a bank account collecting interest and never seeing the people who it was meant to help in the first place.
Currently Listening To:
Death Cab For Cutie - Plans - Your Heart Is An Empty Room
401K Begone
Yesterday I was thinking about one of the first jobs I ever had. It was crap and most people will probably agree that theirs were too. I remember getting offered the chance to enroll in the company’s 401K program, and of course being 18 at the time thinking “Hell No! Why should I invest now?!, I could use it for beer money.” Back then I didn’t really have much interest in saving for my future; I doubt most people do at that age. Looking back I think of my comment as a bit arrogant and stubborn, and as the years passed, more and more people I knew had 401K’s and were collecting impressive sums of money, but I had my beer and fun memories of what I did with the money that I could of saved. As the years passed even till a year I ago I always wondered what I could have done with that money, most of the companies that I’ve worked for in the past would even match my donation, which hurts a little bit when I think about it. My response even back then when people asked me was that every investment has risk, and I would get this puzzled look from people, I swear I think most of the population thinks stocks and 401K’s are just like opening an old fashioned savings account. People back then didn’t realize that they could lose all of their money that they carelessly invested. Also people didn’t even care what they invested in; they let other people decide for them. Which if I invest in something, I want to know everything about it. When the market started to tank some of my friends cashed out their 401K’s incurring penalties, fees, and a wonderful surprise on their taxes that they’ve yet to see. Those people were lucky; they got some of their money back. In the end most of my friends that invested in their 401K’s and stocks lost everything and have nothing to show for all of their hard work in “saving”. At glance it would seem that I would be in the same boat since I didn’t even try to save anything, and that I’ve got nothing to show for it as well, but you’d be wrong. The money that I didn’t put into a 401K or stocks I spent on books, DVDs, and just plain having a good time. $15 for a book goes a long way; you can learn a language, a useful skill, learn a bit of history, or why investing in stocks can be very risky. I watched a ton of movies and for which my knowledge of pop culture is very useful in social situations and comes in handy when chatting up potential employers in interviews. As for the having a good time I can’t even count how much money I’ve gotten back for recycling my old beer cans and bottles; plus no matter how bad the market is and what happens in the future no one can ever reprocess my memories of having a good time.
Currently Listening To:
Joshua Radin - We Were Here - Winter
Allergies Abound
My sinuses feel like crap and that’s the joy of how I feel at this moment. I haven’t watched Leverage tonight… yet. But I heard they switched the episode about a crooked Wall Street Broker who kills his own horse with the one that was supposed to be released next week. I tend to remember quite a few shows that’ve had their episodes mixed up as a result of real life news only to end up leading the audience down a path of missing information that of course would bite the show in the ass later by not getting it renewed. Sometimes I feel like the only person who doesn’t feel sorry for the super rich people who lose money. Plus that charity that lost money was the result of one of the guys who worked for the charity letting Madoff’s firm invest a 100% of that fund into, which normally is an investing no-no; the head of charity couldn’t believe that this guy didn’t diversify and trusted this guy completely. The head of the charity also said he wouldn’t invest a 100% of his money even with Warren Buffet. This government feels so corrupt it’s unbelievable; I can’t even form words in my head to justify how bad it is. The fact that Bush hasn’t been impeached with constant scandals going on and his blatant disrespect for the constitution and the law in general… amazes me. I remember reading about something like this once (The French Revolution); although I’m sure Bush would wipe out half of the population in a heartbeat and try to justify it, just to stay in power. My biggest worry is that the democrats won’t change much.
Currently Listening To:
Atomic Kitten - Ladies Night - Everything Goes Around
Update: I was wrong… the rumor was off. The correct episode aired.
Quotes Galore!
In doing this and that… and well more of that. I did manage to add a few more quotes that get displayed every time you view the homepage or refresh it, bringing the total to 55.
Currently Listening To:
Joshua Radin - We Were Here - Winter
John C. Dvorak Look a Like
I forget where I found this picture, but doesn’t it happen to look a lot like a certain tech columnist.
The Real Dvorak:
The Wannabe:
(Click on Pictures for Larger Versions)
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2008 720p
For those who missed the annual event The Pirate Bay has a link for the version in 720p (HD).
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2008 HD
Photos from the Show:
Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2008 Photos
Asking for More
The normal thing to do after having a case of food poisoning is of course to go out and eat, in my case Taco Bell. The horrible pain made the weekend almost unbearable and that was just the endless repeats of the shows on the TV. Of course all the time lying in bed not getting laid gave me time to think about where I am and where I want to go. Like most people who write, I get occasional blocks of creativity and that tends to blend into other parts of my life as well. I’m sitting here drinking a rum and coke and listening to that Dixie Chicks album “Taking The Long Way”. Even if you don’t like country music it’s a very singer/songwriter type album. The album is the type of music you want to listen to when you need to contemplate something important… or when you’re stoned. For someone who loves classic rock it’s actually an album I’m not embarrassed to have on my bookshelf, because of the deep meaning and pain that resonates throughout the entire work. After I got home and ate my Quesadillas I noticed this little burn mark (it very closely resembled a cigarette but) and made me think apparently I must have slept with some chick that worked there and I didn’t remember her or something of that nature. After further examination it wasn’t a butt, but it sure did scare the shit out of me. It was just some charred remnants of the prior meal that was cooked on the burner and got pressed in. I don’t why but eating Taco Bell and watching “Californication” just seems right. Plus any show about a fellow writer is bound to be something that I’d be interested in.
Currently Watching:
Currently Listening To:
Dixie Chicks - Taking The Long Way - Favorite Year
Food Poisoning
I’ve got quite a few emails this weekend of how everyone is getting snow… I’ve been getting freezing rain. I got snow about a week ago, but not now. If I sound bitter it’s not because of the lack of the white stuff (the coke dealer lives a few houses down, just kidding or am I?) but because I got food poisoning again. It was horrible and one of the worse cases I’ve had in a while (I’m still suffering as I’m writing this), so as a result I had touched my system all weekend (but I did get a new-to-you episode of the Binary Source Code out). So if I remain the same for another day I’m going to get myself admitted to the hospital. Unfortunately in my case the main treatment for food poisoning is spending a few days in the hospital getting fluids pumped into you through an IV. So how was your weekend?
Currently Listening To:
Atomic Kitten - Ladies Night - Everything Goes Around
Tired of Turkey
With two chickens in every pot… err Turkeys. Living in the US Thanksgiving gets spent eating either chicken, duck, tofurkey (tofu turkey), turducken (a chicken stuffed inside a duck which is then stuffed inside a turkey), and oh turkey. I find myself finding the turkey this year as well as past years being a tad bit salty… maybe next year I’ll do Chinese.
Atomic Kitten – If You Come To Me
Currently Listening To:
Atomic Kitten - Greatest Hits - If You Come To Me
Update or Else!
While playing a video I had just purchased off of the iTunes Music Store, iTunes had apparently decided that it was so important to notify me of a new update that it launched the notification and then iTunes just crashed. It’s nice to know that Apple not only copies the good features but also the problems with unreliability.
Currently Listening To:
The Bangles - Bangles: Greatest Hits - Walk Like an Egyptian
My New Camera
Just bought a new Olympus camera as one of my Christmas presents. I bought my old camera (Vivitar) about 3 years ago for almost the same price as what I paid for my new camera (Olympus). Although I need to buy an xd card for the camera (since the camera has 20mb internal memory) and I’m going to get the 2GB model.
My New Camera
My Old Camera
Number 1 Application Every Mac User Needs
Odds are if you’re a Mac user you’ve never seen this little program… it’s called a calculator. I know I know it may seem daunting, but I promise it’s easy to use. It will help you to calculate that you paid $2000 for a $500 computer in a shiny box. At this point you’ll have realized that you should’ve paid more attention in math class, when you buy a Mac you’re paying for your lack of knowledge of basic arithmetic.
This calculator is running on a free operating system called Linux… say it out loud with me… LINUX. Linux is based on UNIX just like Mac OSX claims to be (OSX is based on a UNIX core); but unlike Mac OSX, Linux is free.
Most people who use Mac OSX claim they really have no choice since it’s thought to be the #1 system for graphic designers; even though Photoshop runs on Windows too. The program pictured below is a program called “GIMP”, it does everything Photoshop does but more and it’s free. “GIMP” gets its name because when you realized that you paid $700 for an inferior product you’ll feel like a “GIMP”.
Real Life Barbie Doll
Of all the so-called Barbie Doll’s that I’ve seen, none pulls if off better than Marie Serneholt.
Currently Listening To:
Marie Serneholt - Enjoy The Ride - That’s The Way My Heart Goes
2002
2002 was a very busy year; I spent most of that summer driving from Tarboro, NC to York, PA (which I later moved to). The iPod was out (unless my memory is really bad) and people were saying it would never take off. Having an iPod was as about as rare back then as someone doing well in the stock market today. This song “Love at First Sight” by Kylie Minogue was all over the radio, after that single in the US, for Americans at least she disappeared off the face of the Earth. Of course if you were in Europe Kylie’s career was as strong as ever and still is. Kylie even got the honor of being a Doctor Who Girl (maybe the bond pun won’t exactly take off, but you get the point). Her character’s name Astrid is even an anagram of the “Tardis”, which is the epical blue box (Police Call Box) that the Doctor travels around the universe and time in. I’ve always wondered how many people worldwide go into medicine just so they can use that famous line “I’m The Doctor”. To be honest it’s even tempted me. I leave you with the video that brought all of these old memories up.
To days to come and all my love to long ago…
Currently Listening To:
Kylie Minogue - Fever - Love at First Sight
Taco Me Bell
Today just brought back memories when I use to be on the road nearly all the time and eating out at every restaurant under the sun. It got bad when I use to know what specific restaurants in chain had the best service and food. As well as taking any road and saying I’ve been to every place along the way. Even McDonald’s aren’t created equal, even though their pommes frites are (my favorite is one along Interstate 81 halfway between York, PA and Harrisburg, PA). I will say I’m recently in love with the McGriddles from McDonald’s breakfast menu. For dinner I had Taco Bell (my usual chicken quesadillas), and I tried the new “Triple Steak Burrito”, which I think is the best burrito I’ve ever had.
Currently Listening To:
Abba - Waterloo - Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)
Yesterday’s Source Code
I did manage to record a short source code yesterday, although I didn’t get a change to upload it to the site. Today I’m hoping to upload all the episodes I’ve recorded so far so we can begin normalcy again. Plus I’m cleaning up the studio for real this time so it can once again have its professional atmosphere. Also I’m trying to catch up on the long list of podcasts that I haven’t listened to in months. Plus I’m going to try and read about 4 magazines a day since I’ve got them piled up everywhere in the studio. Why you may ask? Well since I kept putting off getting glasses for so many years, I didn’t read that many magazines and my subscriptions really piled up.
Currently Listening To:
America - History: America’s Greatest Hits - Sister Golden Hair
Just Bought a New Coffee Maker
For the past few months I’ve been favoring the local McDonald’s for their coffee bar, finally today I got tired of paying $5 for 2 large coffees. I was thinking about splurging on a $100 coffee maker, but they didn’t have a coffee maker that spoke to me. So I went with a standard cheap Mr. Coffee (this same model), but I got it on sale for $17.99 at Target. I will say for people who think they need to have an expensive machine is that you don’t; but the nice thing is that they’re much better at not burning the coffee. With the cheap models you can be more flexible in how you cook the coffee, and if you take the pot off right when it’s done it will keep it from having that awful burning taste. Plus for 17 bucks I like to think of the machines as “Burners” (like the prepaid cell phones that drug dealers use); so I don’t feel bad if I break it. Plus once it gets nasty from the hard water I can just chuck the machine.
Currently Listening To:
Michael Buble - Call Me Irresponsible - Everything
