Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I have to say that the thing I am most thankful for now is the wonderful start of my independent life.  I have a job, and it looks like I am getting noticed for the effort I am putting into the project.  There are plenty of ropes to learn, and I am slowly receiving the training I need.

After paying off my student loans, I got myself a Dell UltraSharp U2410 and an Ergotron LX Dual swing arm.  Installing it turned into a weekend project as I made my desk just so.  Well, here’s “just so.”  You’ll see in the below pics that most of my wiring is hidden on the sides.

Remember this addition to the Texas Constitution that got approved over 3:1 back in 2005 (Proposition 2, adds Section 32 in the Texas Constitution)?

The constitutional amendment providing that marriage in this state consists only of the union of one man and one woman and prohibiting this state or a political subdivision of this state from creating or recognizing any legal status identical or similar to marriage.

During one of my rounds through the Internet before heading off to work, I came across this article: http://www.star-telegram.com/local_news/story/1770445.html It became a conversational bit I carried to work with me one day, and I got some very good discussion out of it.  Some think it’s a politician’s ploy to get support from the LGBT community.  One person believes that if this were to come up in court, the intent of the law will settle things and precedent would follow.  There was a consensus, however, that it could’ve been worded better and more well-thought-out.  Before banning gay marriage, perhaps divorce and infidelity should be made illegal first.

I’ve been told to lighten up.  Whoever tells me that needs to give me a flashlight.

This is pretty much a culmination of some thoughts from the past month…

Many people, including myself, disagree with some of the things President Obama is doing.  But for the last time, you do NOT create a Facebook poll over whether he should get killed, pray for his death, or show any dispositions of violence against the President.  Remember, folks:

Source: Uncyclopedia*

Rationally, these threats of violence only serve to dilute whatever these people have to say.  I have trouble justifying why I have to take those people seriously.  Some of them claim to be speaking for God, but the God I know is loving and non-violent.  That is probably too liberal for some people (http://www.conservapedia.com/Conservative_Bible_Project), and they seek to change it.  Well, from sinner to sinner, I refer you to Revelation 22:18-19.  It means the Bible is NOT a wiki that you can change willy-nilly!  Luke 23:34

While on the subject of government and religion, I got into an argument one time with someone over gay marriage, and it struck me when someone said that “our country was founded off God.”  While this may be true, the reason why the Plymouth sailed here was to escape the state-established Protestant faith.  The First Amendment of the Constitution and my interpretation of the Bible (which this entry describes very elaborately) reinforce my belief that divine and secular authorities are to be isolated from one another.  Besides, with the divorce rate the way it is, I feel that marriage is, more importantly, an exclusive, lifetime commitment between two people.  This means no mistresses and no divorces.  The government should only see it as a legally-binding partnership between two people that confers various benefits and responsibilities and nothing more.

Random thought: What if Mahmoud Ahmadinejad developed oil refining capabilities in his country instead of his current nuclear aspirations?  That, I think, would have been a better action because I think it would be likely to bring more economic stability to his own people.

* The above logo is a parody of MPAA’s “You Can Click But You Can’t Hide” campaign.  The text said “Illegal Downloading / Inappropriate for all ages.”

Yesterday, I read an article on Digg throwing around the possibility that some people are simply going to let the bank foreclose because their property values have dropped so significantly.  I have a suggestion for averting it, but before you read my suggestion, please read the article yourself here: http://www.slate.com/id/2188982/pagenum/all/#page_start

Read the rest of this entry »

Note: This is a response to a friend’s blog entry, located here.

Sometimes, I feel like I am missing out on something because I do not have a mainstream item.  There is no doubt that we all have desires, but it’s the motive and method of satisfying or controlling our desires that places us in our situations.  It is one of the many ways we are accountable to our actions.  With respect to money issues, I heard accusations such as the notion that the only thing that matters is the bottom line and that people’s appearance of being affluent is riding on credit.  The latter came from my Dad; and as much as I resent hearing his opinions every now and then, there are times when he is right.

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The tree is up, the presents are placed, the lights are on, and invitations are sent for our family Christmas gathering.  After all is done, I am left contemplating whether the winter money drain known as Christmas is really up to the hype.  While one of my friends dislikes it because of the way people put on some sort of phony mask on only for this time of the year, I dislike it for the concentrated peer pressure of giving presents.  It’s hard for me to come up with a present for everybody, let alone finance it.  Furthermore, I have a tendency to give friends useful things rather than consumables.  Finally, would it not be better if I gave presents on someone’s birthday instead?  After all, birthdays require effort to remember… Christmas does not.

Ultimately, Christmas is a great time for friends and family to gather.  For Christians, it is a time for us to commemorate the birth of the Saviour who took on the world’s sins and to strive to follow Him by repenting.  If I don’t show up with presents, just remember that I still care about you.  Happy Holidays!

As of Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn), the distribution featured something known as “Restricted Drivers Manager” to appease open-source purists who basically believe that anything closed-source is bad.  I believe that this could not be further from the truth.  I believe that being open means:

• Creating a better alternative for cheaper
• Presenting all the choices to the end-user
• Being willing to meet other vendors halfway
• Enabling the end-user to pick and choose a solution that would work for him/her.

From making mistakes installing the nVidia graphics card drivers on my computer numerous times, I have finally learned the magic sequence to do things without ever touching the Restricted Drivers Manager.  I call it the 10-Step Program to 3D Acceleration:

1. Install OS
2. Update.  If there is no kernel update, skip to Step 6
3. Reboot (into the new kernel, obviously)
4. Uninstall everything that has to do with the old kernel, install build-essential
   
5. Reboot
6. Install graphics drivers and configure accordingly
7. Reboot
8. Test 3D acceleration
9. Install programs
10. Restore files (if any)

The Restricted Drivers Manager will tempt you to click on it twice, but ignore it like an itch and it will go away.

Thus far, I have had two people (both women) come up to me and say that I either need a blank check to get new clothing or that I need to go out and buy something “stylish.”  With this blog post, I would like to set the record straight.  My only standard for myself is that I am dressed in a tidy manner and I keep the brand to myself as a way to track which brands are of inferior quality (you have to try very, very hard to mess up clothing).  As one of my friends say, “functionality over fashion,” which is a universal truth for me.  When people say that I need a makeover, I feel insulted.  I will adapt when I feel the need to, and I will try new things at my own whim.

Over the past couple years, innovative services such as P2P, VoIP, and Internet TV made the Internet so much more useful. A clear sign that telecom providers are unable or unwilling to carry these services is the net neutrality debate. It is a given that these companies would sell consumers more speed than what they could provide on the basis that the nightmare scenario that everybody uses said maximum speed simultaneously is highly unlikely. It is also a given that many companies are out for profit, and that has been one of the major barriers to innovation in our capitalistic world today. Taking a page from the University of Texas at Austin ITS playbook, I would like to suggest a middle ground where competitors can somehow play fair.

My proposed solution revolves about one question: Would you rather be limited by speed or the actual amount of data transferred? Like many of my friends, I would rather be limited by the latter. Therefore, I would like to propose Internet service plans in which the speed remains constant, but the quota is tiered. Once a user exceeds this quota, they are reverted to slower speeds (in my University’s case, it is dial-up speeds, but that’s adjustable) or given the option to buy more data transfer allocation. I believe that this would be mutually beneficial to innovators and service providers alike because:

• It is an objective method to penalize those who use “disproportionate amounts of resources”
• It opens streams of revenue in the form of customers purchasing extra data transfer allocations when they must have the speed.
• It has the potential to raise awareness of additional services the ISP provides (e.g. Use ___ with our service and it will not count against your transfer allocation).

While I salute those who carry this country forward in technological advances, this is where I am willing to meet those with an obligation to please their stockholders.

The Virginia Tech shooting that occurred on Monday, April 16, 2007 hit home for many college students. It surpassed The University of Texas at Austin’s tower shooting in 1966. Additionally, with the advent of technology, many others were able to pay tribute to those who passed on as a result. Many events occurred over this week: Some explored the killer’s motives, some pointed fingers, and some sought to exacerbate the pain and suffering. These events have served as triggers to some of my anger, and while some may disagree with my feelings, I would like to express them here. Read the rest of this entry »