Sorry for a lack of updates to my blog. It's summer now, and I'm setting a challenge upon myself: to update the blog once or twice a week (like THAT will ever happen), so expect actual post and/or blogs here now.
-Posted from an iPod touch
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Journal #1: "What if?"
I'm going to start to post my daily journal onto my blog. Here is Journal #1:
Sometimes I think about the "what if?"s in life. It's always been a common thought in my mind. Sometimes these ponderings are very simple ones. But more often than not, my "what if?" is a big one:
What if the levees never broke?
I always think of this before I nod off to sleep. It's amazing how just some slight cutting of corners changed a city forever. For once, the world saw New Orleans as something it could never be imagined as: a damaged city, a wrecked city, a city without life. I may have almost lost a home, but the city almost lost its life. Could you imagine a world without Mardi Gras? To me, the thought is preposterous.
To move away from the global aspect, the breaking of the levees changed my life forever. Before, I was a foolish child, believing I would always be free and safe. Nothing would ever happen to me. After, I emerged a new person. An event that lasted 2 weeks seemed to age me much longer than that mentally. I saw the atrocities of humanity and how idiocy dooms the world. I learned that I lived in a corrupt city, the government taking money and cops looting stores. To think that the men and women we believe protect us every day can be no better than the lowliest criminal. Another prime example of this is the murders on the Danziger Bridge. Cops killing the innocent, then being able to cover it up for almost 5 years. Even now, it sickens me to think about it.
Positives can come out of even the worst events. I was able to see my community, which Mayor Nagin wanted to bulldoze and pretend never existed, rebuild itself, without true help from the government. It was a disheartening yet joyful sight. After the storm, I was fortunate enough to adopt a "Katrina stray," whom I named Mushi. He was more than a cat. He stood for the fighting spirit that we should all have. Even to the day he died, he would never give up and never surrender.
Through a series of events, the storm brought me out here to San Diego. Even though it is not home, it is a wonderful place. Had the storm never hit and the levees never broken, I would have never had the horrid and great events that came from it. I would have never met someone whom I care about so much, even if she doesn't know it ♥
Sometimes I think about the "what if?"s in life. It's always been a common thought in my mind. Sometimes these ponderings are very simple ones. But more often than not, my "what if?" is a big one:
What if the levees never broke?
I always think of this before I nod off to sleep. It's amazing how just some slight cutting of corners changed a city forever. For once, the world saw New Orleans as something it could never be imagined as: a damaged city, a wrecked city, a city without life. I may have almost lost a home, but the city almost lost its life. Could you imagine a world without Mardi Gras? To me, the thought is preposterous.
To move away from the global aspect, the breaking of the levees changed my life forever. Before, I was a foolish child, believing I would always be free and safe. Nothing would ever happen to me. After, I emerged a new person. An event that lasted 2 weeks seemed to age me much longer than that mentally. I saw the atrocities of humanity and how idiocy dooms the world. I learned that I lived in a corrupt city, the government taking money and cops looting stores. To think that the men and women we believe protect us every day can be no better than the lowliest criminal. Another prime example of this is the murders on the Danziger Bridge. Cops killing the innocent, then being able to cover it up for almost 5 years. Even now, it sickens me to think about it.
Positives can come out of even the worst events. I was able to see my community, which Mayor Nagin wanted to bulldoze and pretend never existed, rebuild itself, without true help from the government. It was a disheartening yet joyful sight. After the storm, I was fortunate enough to adopt a "Katrina stray," whom I named Mushi. He was more than a cat. He stood for the fighting spirit that we should all have. Even to the day he died, he would never give up and never surrender.
Through a series of events, the storm brought me out here to San Diego. Even though it is not home, it is a wonderful place. Had the storm never hit and the levees never broken, I would have never had the horrid and great events that came from it. I would have never met someone whom I care about so much, even if she doesn't know it ♥
Monday, February 15, 2010
One More Time
Hmm, the Colts may still have a shot to win. Tracy Porter, do you think they can still win?
...That's what I thought.
So finally, after 43 years of mediocrity and awfulness, the Saints finally get the Vince Lombardi Trophy. I still can't believe that they won. I've watched about 7 replays of the game and don't believe it. I mean good god, I'm wearing a Super Bowl XLIV Champions shirt right now and I still don't believe it. It's because I grew up around the decline of the Dome Patrol, the Mike Ditka seasons, and the 8-8, 7-9, and 3-13 seasons. I never thought it would ever happen in my life. I thought they would forever be out of the hunt for the championship, kind of like the Lions. But thanks to the greatness that is Drew Brees and Sean Payton, we're not only a team with a Super Bowl appearance, we're also one that has the Super Bowl trophy.
...So, I guess I really need to post here now, since I spent time making a banner and such. Hopefully I'll find time to do so
...That's what I thought.
So finally, after 43 years of mediocrity and awfulness, the Saints finally get the Vince Lombardi Trophy. I still can't believe that they won. I've watched about 7 replays of the game and don't believe it. I mean good god, I'm wearing a Super Bowl XLIV Champions shirt right now and I still don't believe it. It's because I grew up around the decline of the Dome Patrol, the Mike Ditka seasons, and the 8-8, 7-9, and 3-13 seasons. I never thought it would ever happen in my life. I thought they would forever be out of the hunt for the championship, kind of like the Lions. But thanks to the greatness that is Drew Brees and Sean Payton, we're not only a team with a Super Bowl appearance, we're also one that has the Super Bowl trophy.
...So, I guess I really need to post here now, since I spent time making a banner and such. Hopefully I'll find time to do so
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Why Linux is 1 Percent of Computers
So Ubuntu 9.10 launched today, and it feels like a system meant for non-computer people now more than I've felt it be in the past 4 releases of using it. The Software Center or whatever it was called makes program installs so nice, no pop-up about post-installation man-db's and such.
While reading through comments about your generic "Lol linux sux win7 is better", I came across once again the comment of "If it's so great why is it only ~1% of computers?" Then the thought finally hit me, more than it did in the past year.
Go to Best Buy, Staples, etc. and look around at computers. What do they come loaded with? Windows. Walk down the street. What's that billboard for? Windows. Watch the TV. What's that a for? Windows (or Mac). See a pattern? The reason for all this time that Windows is the majority over Linux is because of marketing (and because you can't really market Linux because it's free).
Imagine if you flipped on the TV, and the first ad you see is for Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE, whatever it may be. Would you feel a little want to install it or use it? Maybe. Imagine you walk into Best Buy and every computer comes loaded with Fedora 11 or Ubuntu 9.10. Would you use it? Of course you would, because it's already there.
Those are the reasons why Linux use is so low. There is no multi-million dollar ad campaign behind. Best Buy isn't wanting to put it in the computers because there's no profit in it. They don't get money for it.
(tl;dr Windows is more popular because of large ad campaigns, Linux is free, and because your average Joe doesn't venture from the norm.)
While reading through comments about your generic "Lol linux sux win7 is better", I came across once again the comment of "If it's so great why is it only ~1% of computers?" Then the thought finally hit me, more than it did in the past year.
Go to Best Buy, Staples, etc. and look around at computers. What do they come loaded with? Windows. Walk down the street. What's that billboard for? Windows. Watch the TV. What's that a for? Windows (or Mac). See a pattern? The reason for all this time that Windows is the majority over Linux is because of marketing (and because you can't really market Linux because it's free).
Imagine if you flipped on the TV, and the first ad you see is for Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE, whatever it may be. Would you feel a little want to install it or use it? Maybe. Imagine you walk into Best Buy and every computer comes loaded with Fedora 11 or Ubuntu 9.10. Would you use it? Of course you would, because it's already there.
Those are the reasons why Linux use is so low. There is no multi-million dollar ad campaign behind. Best Buy isn't wanting to put it in the computers because there's no profit in it. They don't get money for it.
(tl;dr Windows is more popular because of large ad campaigns, Linux is free, and because your average Joe doesn't venture from the norm.)
Thursday, September 24, 2009
"Racism's Over, RIght Guys?"
I know the title seems very odd, but just bear with me.
I've just been reading over a commentary article on CNN about how Obama has handled his presidency for this getting closer to November 4th, when he was elected president. I was intrigued at how much the race card has been played over the presidency over the past few months, usually surrounding the health care debate. Here's a few lines from the article:
" Rather than bringing people together, those who run Washington have demeaned Americans for participating in the debate! House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls them un-American. The [resident dismisses their arguments as "bickering". Worst of all, the race card is being played in an attempt to shut down legitimate debate.
While I did not support Rep. Joe Wilson's decision to shout out during the president's address, I was appalled to hear him called a racist for daring to disagree with a black president. I know Joe Wilson. I had the privilege of visiting Iraq and Afghanistan with him. He is no racist."
Back when Obama was running for president, I was on a trip in D.C. with some friends. We got to talking about the election. Every other person in the group seemed to be supporting him. When they asked me who I was supporting, I gladly said "I'm supporting McCain."
To them it seemed to at that point I had put on some sort of Klan paraphernalia. They called me a racist, called me an idiot for supporting him, and said that I hated black people (the group talking to me was 50% black and 50% white).
It seems that many counter arguments from people de-evolved from talking about his "change" that he will bring (Hey guys, newsflash: Change does not always mean good change. Also any new president will bring some sort of change) into playing the race card. If you don't like Obama, you're racist. You don't like what he's doing? You're racist. Don't like his cabinet? You're racist. Don't support government run health care? You're even more racist.
It's 2009, people. This isn't the 70's, 60's, or the damned 50's. It's the 21st century. Hell, it's almost the 10's. I don't wanna sound racist, but don't you think racism has died away, and shouldn't truly be a reason for someone not supporting or liking something? We've elected a black president, we have blacks in many positions in the government and in important jobs. We're not the cross-burning, segregating redneck people that we were when it comes to race. We've become civilized people when it comes to that. And the fact that it becomes a shield behind which the Democrat party comfortably sits is appalling.
I might update this post a bit more tomorrow, it's 10:30 PM and I need some sleep.
I've just been reading over a commentary article on CNN about how Obama has handled his presidency for this getting closer to November 4th, when he was elected president. I was intrigued at how much the race card has been played over the presidency over the past few months, usually surrounding the health care debate. Here's a few lines from the article:
" Rather than bringing people together, those who run Washington have demeaned Americans for participating in the debate! House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls them un-American. The [resident dismisses their arguments as "bickering". Worst of all, the race card is being played in an attempt to shut down legitimate debate.
While I did not support Rep. Joe Wilson's decision to shout out during the president's address, I was appalled to hear him called a racist for daring to disagree with a black president. I know Joe Wilson. I had the privilege of visiting Iraq and Afghanistan with him. He is no racist."
Back when Obama was running for president, I was on a trip in D.C. with some friends. We got to talking about the election. Every other person in the group seemed to be supporting him. When they asked me who I was supporting, I gladly said "I'm supporting McCain."
To them it seemed to at that point I had put on some sort of Klan paraphernalia. They called me a racist, called me an idiot for supporting him, and said that I hated black people (the group talking to me was 50% black and 50% white).
It seems that many counter arguments from people de-evolved from talking about his "change" that he will bring (Hey guys, newsflash: Change does not always mean good change. Also any new president will bring some sort of change) into playing the race card. If you don't like Obama, you're racist. You don't like what he's doing? You're racist. Don't like his cabinet? You're racist. Don't support government run health care? You're even more racist.
It's 2009, people. This isn't the 70's, 60's, or the damned 50's. It's the 21st century. Hell, it's almost the 10's. I don't wanna sound racist, but don't you think racism has died away, and shouldn't truly be a reason for someone not supporting or liking something? We've elected a black president, we have blacks in many positions in the government and in important jobs. We're not the cross-burning, segregating redneck people that we were when it comes to race. We've become civilized people when it comes to that. And the fact that it becomes a shield behind which the Democrat party comfortably sits is appalling.
I might update this post a bit more tomorrow, it's 10:30 PM and I need some sleep.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Mal Fort
I would first like to announce that Mario in the Lylat Kingdom is now on deep freeze. It has existed since 2007, and now has somewhat sickened me to see it sit there with so few levels created, not even enough to fully complete the land of Meteo. So yeah, unless something miraculous happens, MITLK is dead.
So now is time to announce a new project: Mal Fort
Mal Fort, meaning Strong Evil (in French), is a hack about the overthrow of the fierce dictator of the land of Maeronia, where this hack takes place.
Right now, I have little to offer storywise, but expect updates on story, and screenshots!
So now is time to announce a new project: Mal Fort
Mal Fort, meaning Strong Evil (in French), is a hack about the overthrow of the fierce dictator of the land of Maeronia, where this hack takes place.
Right now, I have little to offer storywise, but expect updates on story, and screenshots!
Friday, June 26, 2009
The King of Pop's Dead
My blog today was just going to be on Farrah Fawcett and Ed McMahon dying, and how my summer is going. Then I got back back from a hike and checked out #smwc (SMWC's chat room) which had "R.I.P. Michael Jackson" in the topic. I thought it was some joke they did, so I checked out AOL to reassure myself, but I was wrong. The main headline was "Michael Jackson Dies at 50." I was very shocked. So me going to sleep last night consisted of me putting my iPod on and listening to a Michael Jackson album I have on it. This was pretty sad news.
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So...let's get back to being happy. The blog had a slight remake, changing the banner and putting a BG in (though I'll probably integrate my blog with my website, so expect another makeover in a few days).
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My birthday is in a few weeks. I'm so psyched, though I really had no idea what to ask for.
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So...let's get back to being happy. The blog had a slight remake, changing the banner and putting a BG in (though I'll probably integrate my blog with my website, so expect another makeover in a few days).
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My birthday is in a few weeks. I'm so psyched, though I really had no idea what to ask for.
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