A Couple Rants

1. BYU Students who wear University of Utah hoodies to school. Ok, let's get something straight: I'm not talking about generic red shirts, or anything like that (although, those are  pretty unacceptable during a big sport rivalry week like this one). I'm talking about those BYU students who feel it's ok to wear their U hoodies on campus. It's not. I don't care if you grew up three steps from the stadium and went to every game growing up and your family has 300 years of tradition in the school. You now go to BYU. Put the hoodie away for a few years, and pull it out again later. I don't care if you are a fan of the U, but they are the rival school. Imagine going to Ohio State and wearing a Michigan sweatshirt. They might kill you. These things matter, people!
2. Twilight: The WB Movie. I am not going to hate on the phenomenon, or anything like that. In fact, I think that Roger Ebert summed it up best in his review of the movie (here): "But I understand who "Twilight" appeals to, and it sure will." That's not an attack on the film. I think it will do very well, and that it won't be THAT bad. However, it wasn't made for me. So I can accept that. What I can't stand is the shoddy production values of the movie. Have you seen some of the special effects? They look attached to a harness. That's not ok. The action sequences that I have seen (admittedly few) seem to come straight from an episode of Charmed. Sigh. The acting -- well, judge for yourself by watching the trailer at apple.com.
3. Quantum of Solace disrespect. Disclaimer: I MAY SPILL A SPOILER. I really enjoyed the movie on its merits. I understand that Casino Royale was a great movie that set up expectations really high for Daniel Craig's next entry (arguable, the best Bond ever). And this movie probably doesn't live up to the character development expectations. However, the movie is perfect in what it is: an emotional outrage against the organization that killed the love of Bond's life. He's mad. He's upset. He just wants to kill people. And he does. I'm glad he doesn't fall in love during this movie. He was in REAL love last movie. That's not the point of this one. He's motivated to get revenge. To get those people back who killed Vesper. And in that anger and grittiness, it's believable. I like that they didn't delve too deep. It was a continuation of his anger over the death of his love. It felt right. However, the next one should continue with a new story, and some great villians. I would argue this is a good middle entry, but the next one needs to push forward in the story and create more atmosphere like Casino Royale. I'm excited, however, because I think Craig is perfect in this gritty reimagining of the Bond franchise.

I'm done. I just wanted to get that stuff out.

ONE MORE THING: I got married. It was amazing. We were sealed, had a fantastic luncheon with great food and atmosphere (Mom, you did wonderfully!0, and moved to a wonderful reception. The reception was outdoors, and GORGEOUS. The location was perfect, and the food was wonderful as well. Then the perfect quick weekend at The Rose Hotel in Pleasanton, CA. Thanks to all that were there. I appreciate the love and respect! Lindsay and I are so happy to be together, and I'm blessed to have a wonderful, beautiful, amazing, and talented wife.

Until next time.

Our Times

My mom read me this quote the other day, and I thought it so very applicable:

"Make no mistake about it, brothers, and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. In short brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. Let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel."

Neal A. Maxwell, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said this in 1978. 1978. Never is it more applicable than presently. The prophet of this dispensation, Thomas S. Monson, recently asked membership of the church to support and vote yes on the proposition 8 movement in California. Let me rephrase: he announced that the church supports proposition 8 and asked the membership to cast a "yes" vote and work to obtain the necessary votes to pass this ballot measure. It's important.

I guess I should just say, as trite as it may be: "As for me and my house ..."

Not to mention the logical arguments that can be made to pass such a measure.

You know what to do now.

P.S. I thought this article by Orson Scott Card, an LDS democrat and journalist was a fascinating view of the current economic crisis, http://www.meridianmagazine.com/ideas/081017light.html

Don't hate me for my opinion, but I just needed to say that.

P.P.S. VOTE!!!!!

Mission Video

So, this mission video was made by one of the missionaries that served with me, Elizabeth Clark. If you wanna see me, forward to 30:20.

I'm warning you now, IT'S REALLY LONG. REALLY LONG. LIKE 40 MINUTES LONG. But it's cool.

Enjoy.

Comment as usual.

My Personal Opinions

Well, today I've decided to fill a post with my opinions. I'm going to write about politics, civil rights, and other things. Here goes:

• Proposition 8: I support proposition 8. And no, that doesn't make me a bigot, nor a hater or anything of the sort. It simply makes me someone who supports the definition of traditional marriage. I get so sick of hearing that this argument is all about "civil rights" and hatred and bigotry. The reality is that it has nothing to do with civil rights. I think that those who were involved in the civil rights movements of the 20's and 60's should almost be offended that this is being compared to those. Homosexuals have the right to vote and participate in the political process. They have the right to receive the benefits that straight married couples receive. There's no comparison. They simply want to apply the term marriage to their civil unions. I do not support this. I agree that homosexual couples deserve certain rights and that they should have the opportunity to receive the same benefits as married straight couples, however, they don't need to call this marriage. This push has been talked about as "equality". It has nothing to do with equality at this point. They'd have you believe that you are intolerant if you support proposition 8. When did the definition of tolerate (according to the interwebz: To allow (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) to exist or occur without interference) to embrace? Why do I have to love and support and accept and embrace homosexuality to tolerate it? The reality is that I am not going to stop you living in your lives until you try to interfere with mine. So please, don't accuse me of bigotry and hatred. It's merely an argument against the redefinition of marriage. Gay couples already have civil unions. As far as I'm concerned, that's good.
• Democratic Leadership: I'm scared. And that's not because Barack Obama is likely to be our next president. He's not a bad person, and in fact, he has some policies that I agree with and support (gun control, net neutrality, part of his economic policies) and I won't be angry when he (most likely) wins the next election. That's not the problem. The problem is the unchecked ownership of the democratic party in the government. With almost the 60 votes needed in the senate to push bills straight to vote and a majority in both the house and senate, it would seem that there will be a lot of unchecked power in the government for at least the next couple years. It's a problem. Some would argue that Bush has overused the power of the executive branch -- however, everything he did was within the power of the executive branch during war time or with the support of the house and senate. However, with unchecked power in the government, the whole liberal agenda could be pushed through quickly. Extremely left-wing people will be happy with this, but the majority of the US should be worried. Our government has always been about checks and balances. This year, we are potentially removing every one of them (the judicial branch is also very liberal). This is worrisome. I don't like that picture. Especially when Obama originally began his campaign talking about cooperation and support of both parties, and has now moved to the extreme. I don't worry about Obama being president: I worry about the entire liberal agenda being moved through in 4 years. Be careful America. There are a lot of conservatives out there.
• "Stupid Conservatives": I get so sick of listening to highly liberal people talk about how conservative are stupid. Some say "Religion is just a crutch for the weak". (Yes, I've heard it plenty of times) It's interesting stuff. And I would like to refute it: I'm a very religious person. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I'm one of the more religious people that you might now. And I do not believe that my religion is a crutch. I enjoy having my faith in the Lord and Savior, and in God. He is powerful, and provides a lot of support and strength in this world. Religion has not made me blind. The reality is that I choose to be who I am and to do the things that I do. I choose to obey God's commandments and to follow His path. This does not make me weak. I would argue it makes me stronger. But that's a useless argument to those who don't understand the nature of God. I only ask that you stop useless attacks on religion itself.
• TV: There are great shows I recommend: The Office, Heroes, 24 (January), Eleventh Hour, Chuck, Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Seinfeld, House and Fringe. Watch them.
• Politicians: I love that supporters of Obama would refer to McCain as a politician. He's not really a "true" politician. If he was, he wouldn't say things that he says. He'd be more "polished" and ambiguous and less argumentative and crochety. Those are all qualities that a certain "true" politician has: Obama. If there is one thing Obama is, it's a career politician. He speaks well, presents himself in a political manner and uses the word "change" a lot. If there is one person in this election that's a true politician, it's Barack Obama.
• Obama's Health Plan: Social security is a mess. NASA is a mess. Medicare is a mess. Our country is deeply in debt. And Obama's going to cut taxes on the "middle class", skyrocket taxes on the rich and then use government money to create a goverment organization to provide socialized healthcare? Why would we want that. The government has failed in providing us with social security and medicare already. Why would we believe that the government can run our healthcare better than it already is? Taxes will be lower, and we'll find money to pay down our debt and create new, HUGE government programs? Does anyone else see the problem here?

Ok. I think I'm done. I know that I don't know everything. My opinions are just that: opinions. But I honestly hope that people will think during this election about what will be best for not only our country, but every country. The world benefits from democracy and freedom. Get out and vote. No matter who you are voting for, VOTE! Don't let people decide for you. Make your own decisions. But think through it and remember that not everything that is said is true. Don't get caught up in "change" or "hope". These are great things, but remember, without action, hope and change are just wishy washy concepts. Be careful and think before you vote.

Comment away.

24!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait. Amazing.

Enjoy.

Shortness

Short sweet and to the point: 18 days and I get married.

Check her out:

I am so lucky. And she decided to make me dinner last night and tonight! Dang, she is ONE GOOD COOK, AND ONE AMAZING LADY.

Lucky = me

New Technology

Click the pictures to read about the most recent technology that makes me drool:

 

All of these links are to Engadget, which I love. LOVE.

Seriously. Go read.

My Mom is Great

A list of the names I either called my mom or she called herself in the last 24 hours:

1. Doodles McDoodles-a-lot
2. Dude
3. McGillicutty
4. Twinkie
5. Butthead
6. Popsicle
7. Mr. Roboto
8. Moms
9. Mom
10. Mommy
11. Dianne
12. SkankFace
13. Trophy Wife
14. Super Dude
15. Loser
16. Super Mom

Geez, it may sound like my mom and I are at each other's throats -- but we're not. We love each other tons. She's really cool. We just happen to call each other lots of different names. I could put up the list of names she has called me, and it would look pretty darn similar.

Check out my mom's rantings at her blog.

Have a good one.

BYU

Who hasn't heard about BYU's football program this year? Ranked #9 in  the AP Poll, and higher in other polls, they are one of the best teams in college football. They are led by their excellent junior quarterback Max Hall, who has a passer rating of better than 170 on the year so far. He has been dominating in his appearances, and has been the heart of the offense. Harvey Unga, their sophomore running back, has been excellent this year. He has been pounding it on the ground when given the opportunity and making plenty of different receptions to help out the offense. It's amazing. They have been dominating their opponents, with the only exception coming at Washington. Yes, that was an interesting game, and the ending was quite interesting. However, the rules were followed as they are outlined in the book, and the call was made. Do I agree that it should be the call, not necessarily. However, it is how the rule is written. We've all gotten past it at this point, as BYU shut out it's next 2 opponents, and smashed through the two following ( Utah State, and New Mexico).

I think the most interesting thing about what happened at the Utah State game was when their fans starting cheering "overrated" while their team was down by 20. That, in any other location, is a blowout. And they were just happy that they scored on us. I find that utterly entertaining. I hope that Utah State can pick it up after that game, however, and that they might be a little more effective in the future against foes that are a little more on their level.

I think the part of BYU that has most impressed me this year has been their defense. Anchored by their line, they have been shutting out opponents and otherwise dominating everyone. The most given up all year was to Washington, at 27, and the least came from two shutouts to UCLA and Wyoming. If you don't think that defense is for real, just remember how hard it is to actually shut out an opponent when your starters are taken out at the beginning of the 3rd quarter.

Anyway: don't sleep on BYU. TCU on Thursday, and then Utah in November.

We're coming for you BCS.

Give me more POWER!

How many out there watch Heroes? How many are following the current season? Ok, so, I'm going to do a lame crossover. You know how Peter and Sylar just keep acquiring more and more powers? I'd like more power too. But I don't necessarily need more power, like superpowers (although I would really enjoy having some), I just need more power in my computer life. And that's why someone invented POWERSHELL.

I know. I'm a nerd. I'm ok with that.

Onto other subjects.

So, I'm taking a financial planning class this semester. It's giving me lots more power. How do I mean? I mean it's giving me power over my finances instead of letting my finances have power over me. It's amazing how, when you simply take control of your money, rather than letting your money control you, how much better you feel about everything. Creating budgets and trying to stick by them is fun. Plus, it's teaching me how to get my credit score, how to obtain my credit report, and also know more about what to do with these things. And that's been really nifty.

We recently had a class about home buying. I think that this is a class, or at least a section of the class, that everyone needs to focus on by visiting the website for personal finance that I linked above. It provides tons of information about how to compute your effective interest rate for your mortgage, and other information about affordability and what you can take into consideration before you head off to buy a home. I think it especially important to know during this time of financial meltdown.

But I digress. Windows Powershell is really cool.

But I keep digressing. Financial planning is crucial. Especially now that I am getting married, it's important to talk things over with my (future) wife and make sure that we are on the same page. In fact, this class has even helped to design a savings plan that should allow us to by a townhouse or condominium within the next 3-5 years while the market is recovering. It should be a great time to buy.

My brain's confused. It doesn't know what it wants to talk about. Heroes, Powershell, financial planning, Chuck, power, sleep, glasses, contacts. The list goes on. So let me conclude like this: I can't wait to watch The Office tomorrow.

Sigh.

Run, Fat Employee of the Month, Run

 

Run, Fat Boy, Run: This was actually a pretty entertaining movie. The plot was full of contrivances and small plot problems. But that doesn't take away from the appeal of the movie itself. The premise is simple: A dude runs out on his pregnant fiancee on their wedding day. Years later, he decides he wants her back when she surprisingly meets someone who wants to sweep her off her feet. To show that he's changed and willing to dedicate himself and go the distance, he pledges to run a marathon. Mix in some hilarity and some clever acting by Simon Pegg, and you've got a fun movie. At least one that enjoyed.

While the movie is not a cinematic masterpiece, Simon Pegg is likeable in the main role. He shines through and gets the laughs where he needs to. He does spend a needless amount of time in small shorts, but that's part of the British culture, it would appear. Anyway, the supporting cast is great as his trainers and friends. They almost steal the screen when they are on it, and they provide some very interesting commentary in the background. But the reality is that Pegg is a likeable protagonist and Thandie Newton does enough to avoid being irritating. His will to overcome is well shown, and I appreciate the end ***SPOILER*** where they just don't magically get back together. I like that he just asks her on a date, and they keep the mystery involved. It made it a little less contrived.

Employee of the Month: Dane Cook can't act. When he does succeed, he is merely playing himself on screen. And that's where Employee of the Month succeeds. Because it is just Dane Cook acting like Dane Cook. It helps that Jessica Simpson looks very attractive in the picture, but could she have less lines? She is clearly there to just pout every once in a while and provide the contrivance through which Cook decides to become the Employee of the Month. Gay jokes abound -- not very clever.

Let me temper this, however: IF YOU HAVE EVER WORKED AT COSTCO, IT IS FUNNY. I laughed because I recognize the employees from my local Costco. I remember every one of those types of people. That makes this movie worth suffering through: It does have some relevance for those that have worked in a retail warehouse before. You will find the same pressure when the big-wigs come in, and competitions to be the fastest cashier. As is typical in movies, it's all pushed to the brink, but it's at least entertaining if you can connect to it.

I recommend Run, Fat Boy, Run. I reservedly recommend Employee of the Month to anyone who has worked at Costco, otherwise, please ignore it.

You know what to do with the comments.

Financial Crises

The world is collapsing! The sky is falling! These seem to be relatively familiar to anyone who spends time reading the business or money sections of your local newspaper. The current financial crisis is terrible and unexpected. It's awful to see what's happening around us, and watching the stock market crash over 780 points in ONE day was not very nice. However, there are several comments about this current situation that really bug me.

1. "Predatory Lenders"
2. Resistance to the rescue plan
3. "It's Bush's fault!"

Let me attempt to explain myself one by one.

First of all, let me clarify that I am not claiming that the lenders are completely without fault in this current situation. They should have been looking at front and back end ratios. They should have been considering that people shouldn't be buying more house than they could afford by only qualifying them at the lower rates involved with interest only options. They shouldn't have been expecting the housing market to continue to grow at the ridiculous pace it had been. They should have been more cautious. But to call them predatory? I think that's a little overboard. These lenders didn't go out to people and tell them to buy more house than they should. They simply helped people to afford it. Was that a precisely good idea? No. But can you blame these people for wanting to make money? That's at the heart of everything we do for work. We work to make money. Sometimes that means that we offer credit to those who may not be as worthy. Look at all the people with credit cards, who have no idea how to use them. I'm not saying that lenders are without fault, but I do think it's crazy to refer to them as predatory and therefore make value judgements on them. They made some mistakes that cost a lot of people a lot of money. But every indication was that the market would continue its rise. Can you blame them for saying that you could refinance after 5 years?

But I also don't want to take all the blame away from the lendees. Why are they buying so much more house than they can afford? I mean, I understand that everyone wants to "keep up with the joneses", but it was clearly a terrible idea. At some point, didn't they think that the potential huge payment waiting for them at the end of 5 years was a bad sign. That they couldn't qualify for a fixed rate mortgage. That should have said something to the people. So let's not put all the blame on the lenders. The American people should know better. We must be educated to use these blessings.

Why is there so much resistance to rescue? The 700 billion is a lot, however it is to be placed out in different phases. 150 billion immediately, 250 billion in a couple years, and then discretionary use of the rest. Why can't we do this? The housing market WILL recover. It has to. Eventually these mortgages will be worth  money again. The government is the only organization in our economy that can wait the inevitable time that it will take for the investment to pay itself back. Don't we understand that it's not tax payers dollars that will be used to pay this back? Only making 1.5% on these investments will provide extra money to eventually pay down our national deficit. But, despite that, realize that our national deficit is above trillions of dollars. We're never paying that back. So, what will it hurt? Ok, so that's not the best argument, but we need to recover our economy and the housing market. I'd definitely prefer that to a horrible depression that will rival that of the 30's and cause a need for another "deal" that will end up taxing me at 94%. Ugly.

Lastly: It's not Bush's fault. Unless you believe that the government should be involved of every aspect of the free market, you can't possibly think that this is a result of Bush's administration. Many of these loans have 10 years options. Most of these people have done this before, "flipping" houses. This didn't start with Bush, and it won't end with Bush. He only has so much power to save the economy, and when our president suggests a possible solution, he gets shot down in congress. It's hard, but it isn't Bush's fault people. The economy is a living, breathing organism. Personally, I'd prefer that the free market roams and we have the possibility of problems, than have the government run our market and create a socialistic environment. It's never worked before, and it won't work in the US. Educate yourselves, people. Bush couldn't have prevented this any more than he could have prevented Hurricane Katrina. While many would criticize Bush for his reaction following Katrina, we can't do the same here. He tried. Congress has stopped him. A plan backed by Bernake and many other economists.

What do we do now? I don't know. But I hope we figure it out soon.

You know where the comments go.

Tires Explode When You Least Expect It

Do you think you are safe from exploding tires? I used to think I was as well. But then, I found out that no one is safe. Let me elaborate.

Last night, as I was driving my future spouse home form the airport, we were along I-215. A little thing popped out in front of me, and I was unable to get out of the way without causing a problem. I went over it, and everything seemed fine. When I shortly thereafter merged onto I-15 towards Provo, we suddenly noticed a very loud sound coming from the front left side of the car. It was odd.

The car started pulling, and I began to make my move to get off of the freeway. I succeeded, and then got to a parking lot. Turned out that the front left tire had completely shred, and it was smoking. It smelled awful. I got out, and changed the tire. My fiancee did find it sexy that I knew how to change a tire. We were joined by a peace officer who drove by and wanted to check on us and make sure that all was ok. Anyway, I got the tire changed, and we drove home. Slowly. It was a long drive.

On another note. I was picking my fiancee up from the airport after her trip home to CA for two, yes 2 bridal showers this weekend. We racked up the gear, and I'm pretty stoked about that.

Check out my favorite three ladies in the world.

Sleep, sleep the magical fruit

So, I love to sleep. I don't think I'm in the minority on this one. But sleeping is a wonderful thing. I mean, just look at some benefits (from http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongenergy/tp/healthy_sleep.htm):

• Keeps your heart healthy
• May prevent cancer
• Reduces stress
• Reduces inflammation
• Makes you more alert (duh)
• Bolsters your memory
• May help lose weight
• Naps make you smarter
• Reduce risk of depression
• Helps the body repair

No joking here. Sleep is like the best thing ever. I love to go to bed at night and just fall asleep to a good episode of Family Guy. You may ask yourself why I am writing about sleep -- I'm TIRED RIGHT NOW! That's why. I'm sitting here at work and I can barely keep my darn eyes open. I am writing this blog entry to keep me functioning for the next 10 minutes until I can head home and take a nap.

So there.

Go sleep people!

BASIC

So, how many of you out there have actually written program code in BASIC? I know it's pretty much a dead language, but there are many different types of microprocessors out there that actually eat the stuff for lunch. I'm taking an Enterprise Infrastructure course in this, my last semester of college. It's pretty fun so far. Our first assignment involved writing a couple very simple programs in BASIC, compiling them to assembly and then running them through a microprocessor simulation. It's interesting. Here's a code snippet:

So, this program very simply creates a counter variable which increments and outputs to a port. The final variable outputs alternating 1's and 0's to a port upon completion of the counter. Obviously, the counter is designed to count up to 9, and then kick to the end of the if statement and loop.

Here's a slightly more complex program:

This program starts with a word variable (2 byte variable) which responds to the input from port d. If port d is lit up, meaning it returns a value of 1 from the bit in the zeroth location, it will increment the counter by three and output the high bits to port c and the low bits to port b. Meaning that port c doesn't light up until the value is at least 256, or beyond the storage capacity of one byte.

It's interesting to look at this. It may as well be sudocode. I mean, I barely had to think too much about the complication of the code, and realize that BASIC was a simple program to write in. It is not object oriented like Java or C++ or even VB, however, it is a simple language. As I write more in BASIC, I will have to deal with such things as memory deletion, clean up, and memory buffering. That's the ugly part of simple languages.

I'll post more as I learn more.

/coding

Add: By the way, if you want to play with some BASIC programming, you can check out www.oshonsoft.com for a pic simulator (pic is a microprocessor for many different industrial uses). It's fun!

What to do in these times

This is a just a quick post to point out a wonderful article:

http://consumerist.com/5051714/what-to-do-in-these-uncertain-financial-times

This is courtesy of consumerist.com, and is a fantastic way to prepare for the financial problems of today.

I add -- Pulling all your money out of the stock market won't help it. You are going to make money, the market will recover. Selling all of your stock when it is worth almost nothing will not be any better. Weather the storm. Don't run and hide. There's no where to go. If we all pull our money out, the economy WILL collapse.

Just weather the storm.

A Wonderful Birthday and my Presents

So, this last Friday was my birthday. It was a great day. I'd like to thank, first of all, my future wife. She's  amazing. Wanna know how well she knows me? She got me a Garmin Nuvi 250. It's awesome. It's already been super useful, seeing as I had to go somewhere yesterday that I had never been to, in an area I was unfamiliar with. I plugged in the address, and said "Go!" And there was no problem getting there. Fast drawing, accurate maps, and spoken directions are fantastic. I really do recommend it.

My parents decided that I deserved a new iPod after all. My first generation iPod nano was finally starting to die. The battery didn't last long enough, and it was only a 2 gig. I had almost 10 gigs worth of stuff, and so it just wasn't enough space anymore. So, I bought a 16 gig iPod Touch (first generation) and software upgraded it to 2.1. That means lots of app store fun for me, and it's been incredible. I have to say, the capabilities of the iPod Touch is great. It's like a mini computer. I can check my email when I wake up in the morning by turning over and looking at my iPod. I check the weather, sports, and anything else that I want. It's a great invention. The touchscreen is as nice as anything I've seen in my life, and it has a great resolution. I HIGHLY recommend it.

I also got some great itunes gift cards from my future in laws, and my sister. And I've used the money to load up my iPod just a touch more. :)

Also, my (future) wife made a great cheesecake for dinner, and also did a great belgian waffle bar with apple juice, orange juice, real maple syrup, fruit, eggs and bacon. My sister and brother-in-law joined us for dinner and the white chocolate cheesecake. It was a wonderful meal. Afterwards, we watched Son of Rambow (which I really should review). As a precursor, it was a pretty entertaining movie. I do suggest that you add it to your netflix account.

 

Overall, it was a wonderful day, and I'm super grateful to everyone that had a part in it. As a side note, I turned 25. Yes, I feel old.

I've included some of the engagement pictures of me and my future wife. I truly love her. 

     

All photos are copyright Jon Tehero Photography (www.jontehero.com)

My Rant on Hypocrisy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/17/palins-email-account-hack_n_127184.html

So, recently I've been doing a lot of reading online. Granted, online may not be the best location to get honest and good opinions from either democratic or republican points of view, however, it's been a hot bed recently for political news. Now, I'd like to state for the record that I have both republican and democratic leanings, but I will focus here on some blatant problems I have encountered on the internet.

The internet provides an anonymity that is not available in real life. So, perhaps the commentary that I read online is not representative of how the majority of democrats feel about the republican party -- however, it's definitely swayed me in my opinion of the entire party itself. Allow me to explain.

The article above is from the Huffington Post, known to be a notoriously liberal news site. The article talks about how a hacker named Anonymous, who previously took on Scientology, recently took it upon himself to hack Palin's email address and post the contents of her email online. The accounts have since been deleted, however, the damage has been done. Now, this could be bad enough itself. Imagine the uproar if someone hacked Biden's or Obama's email address. The whole nation would be up in arms, democrats and republicans a like. It's not ok to violate someone's privacy in this way and then use it against them. The problem with this is the legal ramifications. Obviously, we don't know if it was her real email, or if it was planted now. None of this evidence is viable in a court of law because it was obtained illegally. Some may argue, "what about Bush's illegal wiretaps?" Oh, I'm not supporting those (although he does have the Patriot Act on his side, but we'll leave the legality and constitutionality of that for another post), however I am saying that this is ludicrous. And what have the reactions been online? Just a sampling:

• since the email has been hacked, the account has been deleted. which means that the GOP was prob behind this as an attempt to destroy evidence and blame "liberals"
• Why should she complain? Bush reads everyone's email -- if she's done nothing wrong she has nothing to worry about.
• Just downloaded the contents. very interesting.

There are plenty of others who decry the action, but a great majority blame her for being an "idiot" and other things of the like. It's frustrating to see that something like this is ok because it is Sarah Palin. I state again: imagine if this was Obama's email.

Anyway, let me come back to another point. The sheer superiority of the democratic party has recently turned me off to their politics and their followers. Now, this does not apply to everyone, and I'm aware of that. However, the vocal minority has truly begun to affect my feelings and political leanings. At every turn it seems to be that someone decries the morality of being a republican. No longer is it a choice what they are going to support -- it's become a matter of intelligence. According to many internet commentaries, no one can understand how any intelligent person can truly support the republican cause. While I do not agree with everything that has happened in either party, I feel it is a little dramatic to claim that any person who supports a republican viewpoint is an idiot. The facts exist: no one could foresee the complete collapse of our economy. No one could have predicted the outcome of the Iraq war. Just like no one could possibly predict the storms years ahead of time when they ravaged the gulf coast. Everything we have to do is reactionary at this point. Let's not fool ourselves: having someone else in the presidency could not have stopped the collapse of the mortgage industry nor the credit industry. Don't be fools.

It's scary to see the division being preached by the democratic party. I understand that their ultimate goal is to destroy the republican campaign, but a divided US is not better than a united country. They would preach tolerance and understanding for those that agree with them: That's the beauty of the US. Not everyone has to agree. And that's what keeps this country from utter chaos. Let's be a little more careful with how we choose to approach commentary and subjects, and decry all that is illegal. If you want to preach acceptance of all, accept all, whether or not their opinion differs from you.

I know, people will disagree with me, and I'm ok with that. My experience has lead me to this point. It's frustrating, but it's what drives this country. It's ok for people to have differing opinions on things. But let's remember: that doesn't mean that anyone is smarter or dumber. Most of the time it just means the opinion is different. There are exceptions to the rule, however, it's a good one to live by.

/rant.

The Manchurian Candidate: Wow.

So, I've been thinking about what my next post could entail. Should I write more on the yucky mess of politics? Should I write about the new iPods and the like that Apple, Inc. officially announced yesterday? Should I do some random writings about weddings? How about write about my wonderful fiancee? There are a million subjects that I could knock out today. But I think I'm going to be simple and talk a touch about a  movie called The Manchurian Candidate.

For those of you that are unaware, I have a Netflix membership. It's one of the great choices that I have made, seeing as I am a major movie buff. I love to watch them, review them, talk about them, and be entertained by them. However, I've never been much into classic movies. I think it has something to do with the audio. The audio just never seems quite right -- it just appears to make the actors very rigid and boring. It's a factor that has kept me from renting and/or enjoying many of the classic movies that make up American cinema. That's not to say that I don't love the stories or don't appreciate the actors of the bygone eras, however the rigidity and audio quality is a major barrier to getting my attention and keeping me involved in the movie. That being said, I'd like to tackle some of the messages from The Manchurian Candidate, however, I just want you to remember that my impressions may not be wholly accurate.

The Manchurian Candidate (wikipedia) is a disturbing story about Raymond Shaw (played by Laurence Harvey), a military man captured during the Korean War. He is captured and brainwashed to be an assassin sleeper agent for the communist party. His trigger is the queen of diamonds playing card, after which he can be given assignments to carry out. The original 1962 film was directed by John Frankenheimer and opened to critical acclaim. In fact, it's one of few movies to have received a 98% rating on RottenTomatoes. The man who unravels the mystery and eventually saves the day is Bennett Marco (played by Frank Sinatra). You see, Raymond's mother is behind much of the conspiracy, and is attempting to place her husband into the presidency (he is the manchurian candidate). The hopes of the communist regime is that he will be a puppet to their wishes and they will control the US presidency. However, Raymond's mother (a creepy part played by Angela Lansbury, who looks EXACTLY the same) plans revenge after the presidency has been obtained because they used her son as the assassin. Anyway, as convoluted as the plot may seem, this plays out in utter perfection under his direction. Now, let me make one qualifying statement: this is a LONG movie. It could have used some editing during some of the slower sections. It is deliberately paced, and can drag at certain parts. For example, as Captain Marco discovers the secret behind the trigger, this is played out in a scene that occupies far more screen time than it truly needs. Therefore, to truly enjoy the picture, one should go in aware that the film will move forward, however, it will drag at many moments.

Now, this is considered a masterpiece of American cinema, and I completely understand why. The implications of what this says about our society and our strengths have never been more true today. Our fight may no longer be against communists, but we have new enemies. And the scary part is that this is an effective and scary method for them to gain access to our political system. As the Manchurian Candidate, Raymond's step father does not know that he is being controlled and propelled into the presidency. This is certainly not his goal, but much more placed upon him by his controlling and manipulative wife. While the parallels my not be so direct, it is quite a timely commentary on our current political machine. Often, we grabbed people and thrust them into the spotlight and the presidency perhaps before they are ready. They aren't necessarily evil people, nor even aware that they have been thrust in such a manner, however, our system is providing for them to become candidates for the US presidency and inviting them to promise things that may be far out control of the presidency. This is a strange thing that has not been popularized only recently. In fact, many presidential candidates make sweeping promises and fail to deliver on 90% of them during their actual presidency, when they discover that many of their promises were out of the reach of the presidency.

It's not that I don't believe in the reach of "change", however, I do believe that their are limits. And I think it's important to realize that change requires concrete plans, not aloof promises. While we all may be searching for that, it's something that must be obtained with plans, not merely wishes.

But I digress. The Manchurian Candidate is disturbing on another level based on the motivations of the mother. Someone who is willing to allow her son to be brainwashed and murder people for her own political aspirations is scary. Some will do anything to reach that pinnacle of power; it's important to be aware of the internal motivations and the reasons behind the search for power. When we can realize why someone aspires to such a position, we can truly find someone who is worthy to receive such power.

Anyway, if you want an intense thriller, I invite you to see the 1962 version of The Manchurian Candidate. It's slow, deliberate, and brutally honest.

Let's be careful.

P.S. I have the best fiancee ever. She's beautiful, smart, alluring, wonderful, and motivated. And she's great! :)

Commentary follows.

The Week Long Wrap Up

This has been an entertaining week. I've gotten a lot done in the last seven days, and learned even more about random things. First of all, attending my first week of classes is always an enlightening experience. Finding out that I will be working with XLMiner (data mining and business intelligence software), Windows PowerShell (powerful scripting software for the Windows environment) and even Quicken Deluxe 2008 is exciting for me. Discussions on personal finance (personalfinance.byu.edu), change management in organizations and enterprise infrastructure creation and management were insightful and engaging. It's interesting the types of things that interest me. Most people I know would fall asleep quickly if they were subjected to such abject "torture" as this. However, I find myself intrigued -- quite a relief when I think that this is what I have selected as my future career.

My wife-to-be's birthday was on Monday. We had an exciting day of laying around, watching Just Married (an entertaining honeymoon movie) and many episodes of Friends on DVD (she LOVES it). We ate chocolate cake from Costco, proscuito, swiss cheese, and sourdough bread. It was a fun day, and one that was desperately needed by both of us. A little relaxation before the start of school is always a good benefit. It also allowed us to experience an entire day just being with each other and we loved it! That makes the wedding even more thrilling for me as we come closer to November 8. She's an amazing woman, and I feel more and more lucky every day to truly be able to call her mine. That's the thrill of a lifetime. And yes, I'm 24 (25 on the 12th), but I've never been more sure of anything in my life. It's great!

I came back to work at the lab this week. It's been entertaining. It's very crazy though. I went from making REAL money at Ernst & Young during the summer to my pittance that I receive for working at the lab. Granted, it's an easy job that allows me the freedom to do my homework and add to my blog here on the internet, however, it would still be nice to make more money and prepare to be better suited to support my future wife. It's all good still -- I'll be making real money soon. January and I get to be back in California and working at a real job and putting actual money in my bank account!

Next week is exciting. Check it:

• Tuesday, September 9th: Apple has a new product announcement at an event called "Let's Rock". Check it out here: Engadget Blog
• Friday, September 12th: I turn 25, officially. That's a crazy day.

Ok, so only two things may not qualify it as the most exciting of weeks, but I'm certainly looking forward to it.

I love technology. I just had to say that.

I can't wait for some more fun next week!

The Complications of American Politics

Recently, I've taken a turn of interest in American politics. That would seem to make sense, seeing as this is an election year, and the election has never been more in the media and on the minds of the American people. However, my interest has developed for a reason separate from the actual candidates. My interest has been piqued more by the reaction of the American public to the candidates running this year. Allow me to elaborate.

Barack Obama is the democratic choice for president. I have no problem with him in a general sense of the word. I do find some of his claims interesting (wanting to downsize the government, but increasing taxes and providing for universal health care would seem to be at odds with this, among other things) but it is not this I would like to focus on. It is more that he is being praised so greatly in all media publications. He is looked at almost like a Savior, someone who will bring us back from the brink and save us all. It is a well known fact that a president only has so much power to influence the economy and political opinion during his first term. Normally, the effects of a presidency aren't seen for around 4 - 8 years. Some could argue then that the economic results we are currently experiencing are a result of President Clinton's decisions while in office. However, this is not the argument I wish to make.

Obama, while a worthwhile candidate for the presidency, is not a "savior" of the American people. He is a good man, and will probably be a worthwhile president -- however, he is not without his faults. Much has already been said about his mysteriously absent flag pin, the flags in his campaign office, the pastor to which he listens. I'm not about to talk about these subjects, as they have been covered. However, it would seem in the media that Obama can do no wrong and that McCain can do no right. Obama is praised for his VP; McCain is made fun of. Lack of experience of the McCain's VP candidate? What about lack of experience of Obama?

Obama's speech was watched by more people than the Olympics. Why is there such an intense interest in this? The American people have been truly polarized by George W. Bush, however, does this mean that Obama will be THAT much better as a president? Let me say: the economic prosperity of the US is much more influenced by the secretary of the treasury than by the president. In the same breath, bring back Greenspan! But that's for another day.

I agree that Obama is a good man. But he's not the only hope for the American people. I think that we need to be careful in our lauding of everything that he does. I encourage people to analyze the issues and make sense of them. Don't vote for Obama just because you don't want another republican. Let's not forget that not every republican agrees with everything that Bush has done while in office. While there are certainly polarizing issues, Obama is not perfect either. It would seem that he can do no wrong, but I would contend that both candidates are human beings and are perfectly capable of making mistakes. Please, don't get caught up in the hype, and remember to evaluate the issues individually to determine what is best for you.

In the same breath, I want to state that I have not yet decided who will receive my vote. I am just disturbed that it seems that Obama can do no wrong.

You know where the comments go.

I'm BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!

And better than ever!

I'm engaged, starting my last semester, applying for graduation, not super poor, and ready for everything that life can throw. It's going to be a fun one.

Just as an update:

• November 8, 2008 -- My wedding day, in Oakland, CA
• August 17, 2008 -- The day I proposed to Lindsay
• August 17, 2008 -- The day Lindsay said yes :)
• September 2, 2008 -- My last semester starts
• September 12, 2008 -- I'll be 25
• December 19, 2008 -- I have my Master's degree
• December 27, 2008 - January 3, 2009 -- My official honeymoon
• January 5, 2009 -- Official start date at EY

Any questions?

More soon.

A Sweet Bedtime Story

So, I've been really busy, and thinking about what my next blog post should entail. There's lots I could tell about my life right now, including stories about my wonderful girlfriend, my stoic mother, my lost contacts, my meanderings with BYU financial aid, my experience in data analytics, SAP implementations, and plenty of other things. But instead, a short story.

A man once thought that things couldn't get better. He believed that he'd reached all that he could. He couldn't stand anymore. He couldn't stand the thought of trying again -- of attempting to make something work yet again. He had struggled through many a relationship, trying to find something, anything, that could potentially make the whole thing worthwhile.

In all his travellings, he had met many people, learned many things, and experienced many a heartache. But that's the beauty of the design of this life: you never know what's coming next. Proddings, pressings, and designs from the people that love him the most finally placed him in the right place at the right time. It may have not been the first attempt, however, it was the real attempt.

And life became more or less a fairy tale. Things fell into place. Things made sense. Suddenly, life came into a sharp focus. Everything that had been experienced made sense. Life, love, happiness -- it all the sudden became one large round where everything that had happened came together and brought happiness to his heart. And he knew that it was all worthwhile and that he would never have to search again.

Fear not -- for He knows and He is planning. Press forward, because soon all will make sense.

 

Checking In

So, It's been  little while since I had a chance to write up here on the blog. I've had so much going on. Here's the quick updates:

• Moved to Santa Clara and started work at Ernst and Young.
• Assigned to the IMAS team in Palo Alto, and worked on some big and small accounts doing data analytics and journal entries tie outs.
• Experienced three full weeks of training, including the last week of RAS (Risk Advisory Services) or now known as AS (Advisory Services) training.
• Taught about business and community at a local elementary school (2nd graders).
• Spent time learning about myself and what I am truly capable of.

Overall, it's been a wonderful few weeks. I've been having a lot of fun and learning more and more about myself. That's the best part. EY has turned out to be a great fit for me so far, and I've actually enjoyed all the people and work that I've been doing. That's the most exciting part, considering that I've committed to them full time after graduation.

I've also been looking at apartments here in Santa Clara, including some called Orchard Glen (Orchard Glen Website). I really liked them. They are great apartments, and include washer/dryer, laminate hardwood, granite, and new appliances. They run about $1600/month, which is my reality here in San Jose. But it's beautiful. However, if anyone has any knowledge of something else available for January here, let me know!

I have a friend coming in this weekend, and I'm heading to see The Dark Night on Saturday night. I saw Wanted, which was a great movie, and have also seen Get Smart and Hancock. I really need to get my reviews of those up.

Anyway, thanks to all that read. I'm going to get more ritualistic about this again. So expect more soon.

The Wonderful World of Santa Clara

So, I moved to the south bay today. I'm going to be spending the last bit of my summer here, working for Ernst and Young's Risk Advisory Services here in the tech center of the universe. I'm pretty excited about it. I don't know if I should be, but I am. I'm looking forward to learning, and growing, but most of all -- looking forward to a REAL paycheck. I know it doesn't come for a couple weeks, but it will. And I'm looking forward to that.

You know how you can tell? I left this:

Any questions?

Oh California, why did I ever leave?

Triviality and the Link to Joy

Joy: the emotion of great happiness (wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn)

Triviality: something of small importance (wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn)

I was thinking the other day that it's the small things that get you down. Everyone tells you not to sweat the small things. It's the little things that kill. Let the small things go. The trivial things are the least important. I agree with those sentiments, but what about the other link? What about the link between trivial things and extreme joy? Don't see the link? Let me flesh it out for you.

Small thing: The way a girl looks at you just tells you that she thinks you are fun and funny, despite your retardness. Result: Joy. Pretty girls thinking you are nifty and amazing provides a sense of adventure and happiness that is hard to find in many other places.

Small thing: Inventing a word like hi-larry-ass with your mother. Result: So much laughter that it can severely inhibit your functioning for a brief period of time. As a bonus, even better relationship with your mother and the strength to help out the rest of your day.

Small thing: Watching a plant that you have cared for grow up and become a full fledged bush. Result: Just ask my mom. There's no greater feeling for her than seeing her plants grow to maturity and basking in the glow of their beautiful and ornate flowers.

While I talk to my mother a lot on the phone, I can't remember the last time that we had a "serious" conversation. The reality is that we enjoy talking about the trivial. The small things bring us so much joy. Watching how these things can truly bring us closer together, and happier in a moment of weakness is one of the true joys of my life. That's right -- little trivial conversations bring me joy. How can that be? Isn't it supposed to be the small things that we ignore?

I think the reality of happiness comes from every aspect. The small things that happen to us every day make up a beautiful tapestry that becomes our every day lives. And that's the beauty behind it. We have to remember that everything occurring around us will, in some way, influence our lives and become a part of us as we move forward. These good things that happen, the trivial small things, can often be the greatest patches that you will ever sew into the quilt of your life. Don't overlook the joy of triviality, because then you might miss something?

Something trivial to say? The comments section follows. :)

The Intricacies of the Mind

Anyone who reads this (which according to google analytics isn't a lot of you yet) probably doesn't know that I started as a neuroscience major at BYU. My plans were to graduate, go to medical school, and pursue a medical speciality in Neurology. It's an interesting thought to me now. to think that I was very involved in that for a long time. I still have a desperate fascination with the mind and how it functions so clearly differently in so many different people. That's the interesting part for me. Maybe my future lies in neural network programming, HCI (human-computer interaction), UI design or other things along those lines. However, for right now I'll have to settle for postulating.

As many would know, I'm an avid technology geek. So, of course, I was watching the WWDC Keynote with keen interest, hoping to find out more about the imminent revamp of the iPhone. It happened, and we now have a new iPhone 3G releasing in 70 countries, with GPS and a lower price point of $199 for the entry level phone (8 Gig). 22 countries will have availability on July 11th, the US amongst them. I like the iPhone. I've used one sparingly, but I find its simplicity, capability and future extensibility to be unlike most other phones currently on the market.

You may be wondering what this has to do with the mind. Let me explain: the beauty of the iPhone has always been in the spectacular engineering involved with the UI, HCI and underlying stability. Let's be honest: simply pushing an icon on a screen is an ideal way to launch an application and find information. Could there be a more simple interaction when it comes to the factors in human-computer interaction? It isn't necessary to create coordination to run your muscles and control a mouse to find an icon and double click it. You merely use your fingertip and press it. Instant activity, and instant gratification. That's the beauty of such simplified programming: ANYONE CAN USE IT! Who out there has ever picked up a WinMo device? You have to go through menu after menu to find the program you may be looking for. You have to adjust through many panes to find simple sets for brightness, and many other factors. Granted, some compete very literally with the iPhone (the HTC Touch and Touch Diamond come to mind, along with the new Samsung Instinct and various phones from LG), however apple created this simple interface. Why does the demand exist for something so complex yet simple in its creation? Because humans enjoy interacting with things that are logical.

Many humans have been blessed with an incredible spatial capacity. They can visualize and create complex maps of things in their minds. Their creativity is limitless -- they can create music, artwork, and many other things. I'm not amongst these people. While i have a great facility for creativity, I find it particularly hard in those arenas. I am very logical and procedural. And that's the beauty of the iPhone. Pretty icons indicate the programs. Logical steps are taken to facilitate the use of advanced features. It's an idea blending of the creative and logical minds, which allows it to find a position amongst the most spatial and the most logical in this world.

Whether or not you like Apple, their engineering teams are second to none. To find this lack of blending in the real world, and create a device so well suited to satisfy the needs of the procedural computer geeks and the creative art kid is from where their true strength is derived. Focus group testing, product iterations, design implications -- everything must be considered when creating such an advanced device that is designed to cater to so many people.

Anyway, that's my diatribe on the creativity and eccentricity in Cupertino, CA. Congratulations Apple on creating a convergence device that not only converges email, iPod, cell phone and internet but that also converges the minds of so many different people.

Sing your song after the break.

Tag Goes to the Runner

So, my roommate JR tagged me on his blog to do something inventive like this, and write down three things within three separate categories of my life. So here goes:

1. 3 Joys: Searching endlessly for cars online. Calling my mom after a long day of work and having random conversations which generally don't have anything to do with anything. The fact that I am moving back to California for a couple months in a couple weeks! w00t!
2. 3 Fears: Failure. Hating my job and missing my potential. Being unable to find that one special lady.
3. 3 Goals: Buy a new car in January. Successfully navigate my last few classes and graduate with my master's degree in December. Pay down all my credit card debt by the time I move out (or at least a VERY healthy portion of it).
4. 3 Obsessions/Projects: ONLINE CAR SHOPPING. ONLINE CAR SHOPPING. Did I mention online car shopping?
5. 3 Random Facts: I'm an undercover nerd (as I've stated on this blog previously). I LOVE 24. I'm pretty much a random person, providing stranger and stranger things to talk about every single day.

That's the end of my tagging. I don't really have any blogging friends, and I have no idea who will read this, but I'll tag three:

Amanda Parker, Dianne G, and Doug G.

That's right. All family.

I'm still here world, and I'm going to take it over soon enough.

You know where the comments go.

Your Friendly Neighborhood ChaCha Guide

So, while I might not be quite as cool as Spiderman, I still have some good powers that I am now granting to the world.

I am an internet nerd. I love it. I search it. I even know advanced search operators for Google, and that makes me an efficient searcher. The fun part is that I can now get paid for it! For those of you (most of you) that haven't heard of ChaCha, let me introduce you. It is a human powered search engine that allows you to text any question you may have to ChaCha (242242) and get an answer from someone on the other side. Most of the guides take less than 3 minutes to find the answer to any inquiry. While things like directory listings are still faster from google, it's hard for Google to answer "What's the closest Mexican restaurant to the paradise hills golf course?" However, as a ChaCha guide, that's what I do. Find answers to ridiculous questions!

It's fun. I stay logged on and at $0.20 per answer, I'm making some money in doing this. And it's fun. You learn plenty of things. For example:

1. The symptoms to syphilis
2. The distance from LA Art Institute to FIDU
3. Numbers for various people in Utah

And many other things.

If you spend as much time on the internet at work as I do, I recommend giving it a whirl. Check out their website.

Comments go where they go.

The Rolling Stone

So, I have a stone rolling in my kidney. Yup, that's right, a kidney stone. Those are scary things. Well, ok, so they aren't all that scary. They are exactly what they are: stones forming in your kidneys. There are several types of kidney stones, but "calcium in combination with either oxalate or phosphate. These chemicals are part of a person's normal diet and make up important parts of the body, such as bones and muscles." (WebMD) They occur naturally, and they aren't necessarily a bad thing. They just occur. Doctors don't know for sure why it happens, and there is much disagreement about them. All I know is that they hurt.

The story: last night, going to bed and all of the sudden the pain hits. 11:30. Hurts, and hurts. Gets worse. 12:30: I call my parents, get some advice. 12:45: Pain leaves, I fall asleep. 7:30 a.m.: Wake up to more pain. 8:00 - 12:00: Still hurting, worse and worse. Finally, I get to the doctor's office, and get diagnosed. X-Rays, urine test, and shots later, I'm feeling better. And I get vicodin. The wonders of narcotics.

So, these things hurt. They hurt a lot. Turns out that the best way of making sure to pass them fast is removing the pain. The reality is that your muscles respond to the pain by cramping and inhibiting the movement. While you eliminate the pain, the stone will move easier. So, the best way to get better is to simply OD on narcotics.

That's right. That's what I said.

So, what do I have to say to my stone? Keep on rolling. Find my bladder, and stop freaking hurting me!

You know where comments go.

Digsby -- The Ultimate Windows Chat Program?

I feel bad. I've been using a program called Digsby (site) for a few weeks now, and haven't had a chance to to through a review here on my site. So, I dedicate this blog to Digsby, and hope that all will benefit. Unless otherwise noted, all pictures are from the official Digsby site.

What is Digsby?

Digsby is a multiprotocol chat client developed for Windows. It integrates all of your chat and email addresses into one simple-to-use program that allows you to chat with whomever on a variety of chat protocols. These include Gmail chat (my favorite), MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ, Jabber, and even Facebook Chat (this is not perfected yet. Facebook's chat protocol is ever changing, and so updates are necessary continuously. It still works. Although I hate facebook's chat.). In addition, you can add email addresses to your account that are constantly updated through your "buddy list". It includes support for Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, and any other service that provides POP or IMAP access. It also includes support for social networking, including facebook, myspace, and twitter.

How does it work?

Digsby puts this all together in a customizable, skinnable buddy list. Alerts by default pop up in the lower left hand corner of your monitor, and include friend updates from your social network, emails, and messages. The chat protocol is rock solid, and even supports things like pictures, file transfer, voice chat, and other important protocols. It doesn't support hand writing for MSN Messenger and probably misses a few other features that the full-fledged versions might have. However, this is far from a deal breaker for me. I never use those features and find that the simplified version of chatting that Digsby provides is better and more suited to my chatting preferences.

What does the chat window look like?

The chat window in Digsby can also be skinned and changed. The beautiful thing for me is the ability to TAB conversations. That's right: no matter how many chats you having at the same time, you can open them all in one window, tabbing them for convenience. This is a life saver for anyone on the job, or anyone looking for more screen real estate. This is invaluable for people like me who hate having 400 windows open at the same time and just find it better to keep one program window open and tab the different things that you might be working on (think Firefox, or Notepad++).

Why use it?

There are a multitude of reasons to use it. My primary reason is the ability to stay on top of all things at once, without having to have separate browsers for all my different email addresses, avoiding unnecessary resource usage through multiple chat programs, or simply consolidating my online usage and tracking everything more effectively. There is a very robust preferences pane which allows you to customize the look, sound, and performance of Digsby. Want more alerts? Easy. Want less alerts? Easy as well. Adding protocols is a snap, and signing up for a Digsby profile is simple.

Are their drawbacks?

Sure. Signing up for a Digsby profile stores some information on the Digsby servers. You can use this program between computers without having to add all the different protocols again. This means that some sort of information is stored by Digsby regarding your sign in usernames and passwords. However, this information is stored and protected by the company. Also, as I said earlier, some more advanced features are not supported, and if you are avid user of handwriting, or of gaming with Yahoo messenger, this isn't for you.

Overall: Download the program. Seriously. I love it. It has changed the way I chat and the way that I interact with the web. It's free, fast, dead simple, and super effective. I would recommend this whole-heartedly to everybody on my contact list and everybody who glances at this blog.

Link: http://www.digsby.com/. Just click download now, and select the platform you'd like it for! That simple!

Leave any and all comments in the appropriate and designated location. :)

The Lifestyle of the Poor and Geeky

Little known fact by just looking at me: I'm a geek. I'm someone who absolutely loves to research, to learn, and spend time with the internet and computers. This leads me down many paths, and leads me into true geekdom. What do I mean?

Well, many people, when they buy something, decide that some research should be involved. Geeks, however, raise this research to another level entirely. A wonderful example: I am going to buy a car when I graduate from college. That's a pretty typical thing, and most people would start investigating this a month or two ahead of time, look at a couple cars, decide what they like, and head off to buy. When I decided that I was going to do this, back in February or March of this year, I began researching. I went through list after list, looking at used Pontiac G6's, G5's, BMW's, Mazda3's and 6's, MazdaSpeed3's and 6's, and even Lexus'. I had decided, about 2 months ago, that I was leaning toward a Pontiac G6, due to their styling and their prices used from '06 and '07. Of course, being a geek, this was not the end of my searching. And now, I've decided on one important factor I hadn't been entirely considering yet: Gas mileage. This has made me reconsider my choices, and I am now squarely focused on either the Honda Fit, Scion xD, or the Suzuki SX4 Crossover. And that means that I have spent hours perusing the internet, reading multiple websites with consumer and professional reviews. And I'm not even going to buy for another 6 months or more. Yea, that's how a geek operates.

You see, a geek isn't only about computers. Geeks research and consider EVERYTHING before they buy it. We research endlessly, and attempt to verify our decisions and continuously look for better deals. You'd think that would lead to us never buying anything -- but the reality is that it makes us buy more things. Because, in the course of our research, we often discover other things that we "need" or simply want. It's pretty fun. But it's not a bad thing, it's simply how we work.

The other weird thing about geeks is that we aren't made to be poor. And that's my main problem. I have no money. But I have lots of wants. And that makes the internet evil. Cause, you know what? You can find ANYTHING! It can be stressful.

Besides that, I research plenty of other things before buying. You ever need advice about a computer? MP3 Player? GPS unit? Pistol? Car? Find a geek researching to buy the same thing, and trust me, he'll fill your ears with plenty of information. Maybe too much.

I love being a geek.

Comments? As a geek, I'll read and listen to every single one. ;)

What Happened to Free Speech?

Let me preface my remarks with a quick statement: I do not endorse hate-filled rhetoric of any kind be it anti-religious, racist, overly religious, or any other form of hate. However, I have seen a strange trend recently in the treatment of "free" speech and the different definitions that we tend to employ of it.

First of all, there are the highly liberal people who decry all things contrary to their opinions. This includes opinions on gay marriage, government, health care, and other things. Anything against their opinion is called "uneducated", "stupid", "bigoted", or anything else. Mind you, most of this experience comes from the highly liberal internet message boards, where most things are decried as foul and wrong. I will never understand why people must decide that other people have no idea what they are talking about, especially when we are talking about opinions. Don't call someone intolerant who simply does not want other people's lives to interfere with theirs. Tolerance is exactly that: live and let live. It's not acceptance of everyone else's ideals or opinions. Its not even agreeing with others -- its more of an allowance of opinion.

Internet flamewars are all too common. So many people call religious people "stupid" or "blind", not understanding how they can believe in something that cannot be seen. The reality is that there is nothing wrong with religion, in any form. Taken to the extreme, it can be very detrimental and cause many problems. However, for the most part, it just involves people living and being happy, finding their own way to express themselves and obtain happiness. Is that so bad?

I've noticed a disturbing trend that decries all conservative talk as hateful or uneducated. People seem to think that to have a real opinion, it has to be against the political mold or against mainstream society. Anything that expresses an opinion contrary to gay marriage, or to socialized healthcare is often referred to as stupid, or simply intolerant. The reality is that they have their opinions. They are well entitled to write and express what they feel. Does this mean that I agree? No. Does this mean that I am entitled to rip them apart and call them stupid? No. Once again, when it becomes hate-filled and violent, that is terrible and inappropriate. However, conservatives are just as entitled as anyone to their opinions on government, political candidates, mainstream society and economics. Everyone, on both sides of the political spectrum, has messed up thousands of time.

It is my sincere hope that we can allow everyone to have their opinion. Free speech is not speech without consequences, but we should all be willing to allow others to have their opinions stated without flaming or attacking. If someone thinks differently than you, take their opinion into consideration and evaluate it for its merits. Sometimes you'll find that they make more sense than you do. Let me offer 3 suggestions:

1. Research. When someone expresses something you don't agree with, don't jump on the flamewar bandwagon. Research the opinion. Look at the author's resources. Read through point and counterpoint. Evaluate the argument objectively, finding the strengths and weaknesses.
2. Think before you comment. When we read something that we disagree with, our natural reaction is to immediately comment. However, I think it is good to let it marinate. Sit back, relax, research (see step 1), think, ponder, meditate -- don't just flame. Find a way to contribute to the conversation. Don't just hate.
3. Write clearly and contribute healthily. When you write a counterpoint, don't call the other person out by swearing, or by calling them an idiot. Write legibly, and consistently. Find a way to express yourself without hate, without inflammatory phrases. Countering hateful rhetoric with more hateful rhetoric is not a solution and does not help -- it tends to prove the author's point. If you really want to counter an argument, make sure that you know what you are talking about and express it clearly enough that people can see your logic. Then leave it up to others to decide. Don't argue more by responding to inflammatory posts, it will just make you angry.

I think if we can use some of these plans, we'll see more productive comment sections, and find more value in the internet forums we participate in.

Leave comments in the designated area.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Really-Out-There Skull

The fourth Indiana Jones was released last week to mediocre reviews by both critics and fans alike. A classic "professor/action hero" story led to the success of the original franchise, leading to movies like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and others. After a 19 year hiatus, Henry Jones, Jr. makes his return to theaters. Is it a bust? Read on to find out my impressions. SPOILER WARNING: There may be small spoilers included in the rest of this review.

Story: This is one crazy story. Basically, it hinges around Indiana, who gets in trouble with the FBI for "helping" Russians gain access to an artifact of significant import. He is then harassed by them and given a "leave of absence" from the University. He then gets a message from Mutt that one of his good friends has gone missing. This sends him on a quest to find the crystal skull, and return it. The story is all well and good until we get closer to the end, where it becomes uniquely convoluted and complicated. While Indiana Jones has never been one to dabble in the ordinary, this story one ups all of the other ones in the odd section. Let's just put it this way: aliens. I don't want to spoil it, because the movie is perfectly enjoyable as is -- it just has a very strange story line that I still don't know if I love.

Acting: This is Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones) back in the old, comfortable pair of shoes. He plays Indy with aplomb, enjoying and relishing on screen moments. You can tell he's having fun with the story, and enjoying putting on the old Indiana Jones costume once more. Shia LeBeouf does an admirable job as Mutt, a cantankerous kid always rushing impetuously into new dangers. Cate Blanchett, as the evil Russian seems a little empty for most of the movie. She seems to have one face, permanently held with a sneer and a snide little stare. However, she does come into her own late in the movie and makes for an enjoyable, if not strange, bad guy -- er, girl.

Action: Indy is in top form for his action scenes. They play a much larger role in this movie than in the previous. The mindless action fun is there, and it is truly a sight to behold. It is nice to see that Ford and LeBeouf did almost all their own stunts, and allowed for close ups on their faces during intense moments. I enjoyed the scenes very much, although the middle chase scene through the Amazon seems to get a little too long. I wish they had cut just a bit of that out.

Overall: A good movie, but not a great movie. I enjoyed it, and recommend it for anyone looking for a good escapist movie. However, the story is a little excessive and sometimes the action can get a little repetitive. Overall, I do recommend it.

Story: 7.8/10
Acting: 9/10
Action: 8.8/10
Overall (not an average): 8.4/10

Comments? You know the drill.

GTA IV: Glorious Mayhem

 

Grand Theft Auto 4 has been released to major critical acclaim. All of the major gaming review outlets have praised the game as simply marvelous, heaping on it the first 10/10 ratings given in the last 10 years (interestingly enough, the last game to receive such high marks was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64). As a gamer and with a roommate who owns a PS3, we picked up a copy of the game the day that it came out. Having played through about 40% of the actual storyline to this point, I think I can sum it up and provide an accurate picture of just why this games has been so praised by reviewers and gamers alike.

Anyone who knows about video games has heard of the mountains of controversy surrounding the GTA franchise. Purported as a game that supports and even glorifies murder, mayhem, robbery, mobs, gangs, drugs, sex and a partridge in a pear tree, the game is subjected to hours of news coverage whenever it is released and subject to heavy criticism as it breaks every sales record ever established (first week sales totaled over $500 million, which is a certified world record for the largest entertainment launch in history). Why does such a horrid bane on our society sell so well? Why is it received so well critically? Has our society collapsed to the point where this is what people want?

After spending time with the game, I can fully understand the reviews and the criticisms levied for and against the game. Yes, it has more f bombs than any movie ever made. Yes, it is violent. Yes, you can kill civilians and cops. Yes, you work for the mob. Yes, you steal lots of cars. But the reality of the game is that so much care and thought has been put into every detail that it is impossible to hate the game. The first time I rode around listening to the radio, dialed up my cell phone to identify the song, careened through traffic at high speeds, shooting out the window and some thug who I was supposed to chase down, running from the cops with a three-star rating, I was hooked. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but let me sum it up.

Graphics: Impressive for a game of this scale. The game has a HUGE map, and plenty of areas to explore. You can climb to the tops of many buildings, set up vantage points, travel through the water or in the air. Call a cab and watch the city go by you. It's amazing. While there are texture issues, and some pop ins, the reality is that for a game designed with so much detail and on such a massive scale, it sure is beautiful.

Sound: The voice acting is terrific. The characters all have depth and emotion built into everything that they are talking about. The soundtrack, as per typical Rockstar style, is magnificent.

Controls: Car physics are loose. Very loose. It allows you to pull full 360's almost on command and spin out whenever and wherever you want. But EVERY car handles differently. I'm not kidding. Get in a "coquette" (GTA's Corvette) and you can fly around, speeding and taking turns with aplomb. Get in a Hummer-like vehicle, and the car is noticeably more sturdy and can take way more hits. It's still relatively quick, but won't keep up with a sports car in a race. The other buttons are well mapped and thoughtfully placed. I have no complaints, except for the half pull on the free aim. I tend to pull to far. :(

Gameplay: This game was designed with so much detail. Like I said, each car is different. You can surf the internet, have relationships with women and men, discover the "statue of happiness" and so many other aspects of the game. You can identify songs by a built-in system that you can call and it will text you the name and artist of the song. You can go to comedy clubs, cabaret shows, play pool, play darts, go drinking, and a myriad of other activities. It's incredible.

Morality: The game is, of course, of very questionable morality. But I've noticed some interesting things: Civilians and cops typically don't die when you shoot them. They fall, and get disarmed. But normally will stand back up and limp off the scene if you let them. You are encouraged to steal cars, heck, required to steal cars, but frequently listen to Niko (your character) apologize after doing it. It's this kind of action that condemns this game in many eyes. However, if playing a video game causes you to go out and commit these heinous acts, you need more help than you are letting on.

Overall, the game really is a masterpiece. Every set piece works together flawlessly, and the game really does draw you in. If you are a gamer, you really owe it to yourself to pick up this game. It is a fun time, and allows you to truly experience a video game, rather than just sit in front of it.

However, if you are offended by language and other questionable acts, I'd recommend foregoing it.

Comments on the game? That's what the "comments" section is for!