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About this blog

The boring things you never wanted to know...

Entries in this blog

 

Can Socialists Be Happy?

A Christmas essay from Orwell, whom I find an absolute pleasure to read, written exactly 63 years ago.   http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/895/

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Terrible Lie

This is quite a bit different from the last post.   This is for all those who shared an upbringing similar to mine. I'm posting it mainly because this is the best (most intense) performance of this song that I've seen.   Hey God...

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We're all gonna die...

Word has it, from a devout Christian in my family, that something bad will happen in 2007 and that anyone who is not Christian and does not support George Bush will die. Just thought you'd all like to know... better repent and vote for a neocon

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Unfathomable Dreams

I've been writing my first real bottom-up web application for the past few weeks. When things start really falling into place and I can see real interactive results, I become obsessive to the point that everything else is nearly excluded from my thoughts - well, except for my obsession with the American history that was somehow left out of 12+ years of schooling.   Lately, I've constantly had dreams where, for whatever ultra-bizarre reason, I'm attempting to grasp some stupendously unfathomable concept.... repeatedly.... and I wake up each time I almost succeed. As soon as I awake, I feel almost panicked and extremely confused. When I try to remember what exactly I was dreaming about, its just a dense haze of absurdity without even a tangible handle or word to apply to it.   So, during the day I've been tired and cranky and sometimes even angry and resentful that I can't go home and obsessively program and read. Stupid dreams.

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Life's Surprises

At work today, my boss called a meeting of all the employees and surpised us with the news that the business was being shut down immediately. Apparently, the business had not been turning a profit for a while and it was time for him to cut the losses. Coincidentally, I had been half-heartedly job-seeking prior to this, with no result. Time to step up to the challenge, so I may be M.I.A. for a time as I find a new source of funding.

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Guns, Germs, And Steel

Has anyone read this? I just picked it up from the bookstore after wandering around for a good half hour. Supposedly aims to explain (and not just state obvious factors) why advanced civilization comes from the 'West', excluding Darwinian theories of genetic superiority, taking into account human pre-history.

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Keep Your Mouth Shut

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/5034100.stm   This scares the hell out of me. How come this is the only solution concieved to address the issue of cases being filed by disgruntled workers posing as legitimate whistle-blowers? Now the truthful people whose personal honour and principles do not allow them to remain silent in the face of corruption will be stifled. I thought the Bill of Rights was designed to protect citizens from the government. How many more rulings will be made to protect corrupted government from its citizens?   I can't even describe the indignation I'm feeling.

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IpCop

I've had an ancient eMachines computer sitting in the closet for who knows how long, along with a bunch of near obsolete computer parts. While doing some spring cleaning the other day, I pondered how I could put it to any use. It would be too slow to tolerably use as a personal computer with its 9 year old Celeron processor (even though I managed to scrounge up 256MB of PC133 RAM to replace its measly 32MB) and its 4GB hard drive would be nearly filled to capacity if Windows XP or 2000 were to be installed on it along with the requisite software.   I then recalled that there is a Linux distribution designed to turn old obsolete PCs into first rate firewall/routers called IpCop. As it turns out, I had two unused network cards which were to provide the 'in' and the 'out' ports required to use the PC as a firewall/router. Yay!!! I burned the install CD, loaded it on the old clunker (as per directions), configured my old basic router to function as a switch, hooked it all up, and it's working GREAT. It is far more secure and has far more options than my old $30 router. If you have an old computer, I would definitely recommend not throwing it away. Put it to good use protecting your newer computers. It may sound daunting but its actually pretty simple if you can read directions. Everything you could possibly need to know is in the instructions or just a Google search away. The best part is that its free!!

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I Hate Grass

I have some advise for anyone who will take it - do not buy a house on a 1/4 acre lot that is mostly covered in grass lawn, unless you are a lawn freak or have the finances to hire someone to maintain it.   There is street bordering three sides of the property, since I am at an intersection and on the edge of a cul-de-sac, and the lawn runs front, side and rear of the house. Anyways, one section is overrun with root suckers from a quaking aspen, another part is continuously eaten bare by the legion of rabbits in the neighborhood, there are huge spots dying from some disease or insect infestation, the section at the rear of the house is directly across the street from undeveloped land and has picked up more dandelions than grass, and the best part is that there is an utterly massive ant colony in the back yard. I'm talking about a bared mound of dirt bulging out of the earth roughly 6 feet in diameter, and I've found entranceways as far as 25 feet way from this mound.   I plan on absolutely ridding the back yard of grass and covering it with shredded bark with the addition of some trees and shrubbery *gasp*. I'm sure that no one likes to hear me complain, but at least maybe I can help someone avoid this type of thing.

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Something Beautiful

As I sit here at the computer in a room on the second story, there is a window to my back that overlooks a panoramic view of this area of the city. There is a nearby baseball stadium that regularly shoots off spectacular fireworks displays at the end of winning games. The booms are exaggerated by echoes off of the ridge that the house is on. Tonight, there is a massive thunderstorm looming across the horizon a dozen or so miles away. As the fireworks explode into sparkling orbs, bright atmospheric lightning continuously lights up the sky and clouds with incredibly long horizontal arcs, sending low rumbles to mingle with the echoing booms. Occasionally, a long and bright fork of pure whiteness hits the ground, unobscured by the distant rain and mist.

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Raison D'Etre

I stopped by the local liquor store to see if I might find some Chateau Jiahu, to no avail. Not all was lost, since they did have some Raison D'Etre. I really enjoy adventurous brews like this, especially when one spirituous coppery glass can make me all warm and fuzzy.

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Chocolove

Here's my recommendation to all the chocolate lovers:   Chocolove 61% Dark Chocolate Bar   This tops any other chocolate I've had, though I admittedly don't go out of my way to find new chocolate to taste. It's like crack.

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Beer

Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams. If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver." -- Jack Handy   If you ever reach total enlightenment while drinking beer, I bet it makes beer shoot out your nose. -- Jack Handy

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Horn Dog Barley Wine

http://www.flyingdogales.com/beer-horn-dog.asp   I'm thoroughly enjoying this one. It's malty and sweet, the 10+% alcohol makes me warm inside.

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Politics and the English Language

It's Orwell again. I can think of a few here who might appreciate this. http://www.george-orwell.org/Politics_and_...Language/0.html   It makes me think of Common Sense.

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Militites!

I'm enjoying my first ever glass of militites from the Meadery of the Rockies. I chose the semi-sweet Guinevere, and I have to say that this is very drinkable though I might go with a drier mead next time. I can taste things in the honey that are not normally noticable when it's consumed raw. Anyone else have a mead that they'd recommend?

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And I'm Spent!

The forum upgrade is finally done after many hours of testing and preparation. I'm happy with how smoothly it went... in fact I've never had so little trouble with a script upgrade.   Thanks Invision! /high five

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Google's Compromise

Google agrees to China censorship.   Some of the censored topics: Tiananmen Square Massacre Taiwan's Democracy   The spread of evil is the symptom of a vacuum. whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be no compromise on basic principles. - Ayn Rand   Google's Motto: "Don't be evil."

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Your Vote Counts! Maybe...

This really inspires confidence in my democratic efficacy.   http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/20...oting_here.html   Anyways... since Gaius has mentioned Thomas Paine in a few discussions, I nabbed a book on clearance at B&N called 46 Pages by Scott Liell and so far I'm captivated. I'll give some more opinion once I'm finished - which may be a while since I'm usually reading about 4 books simultaneously and randomly for whatever reason that eludes me.

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