I have been passively following this story about domestic NSA surveillance. I usually just read from Bruce's blog site.
In the latest article, he talks about Project Shamrock. Interesting legal issues.
I wonder what is next. Why Shamrock did not happen sooner. I guess it was all because of WWII. The spy museum has a ton of stuff stemming from WWII. The whole Cold War was all about spying it seemed.
I tried to work with my speech recognition software yesterday. It still needs more training. If I was not so impatient maybe it would OK.
I visited the neighbors briefly again. The father is a decorated Army veteran I asked how he got his silver star among others. I need to ask if he has a journal or something.
Today it is raining a bit. It feels nice to have the weather reflect my mood.
Last night, I went to the Washington D.C. Temple visitor center to patrol parking. It was rather fun. I was mostly stationed at the Far West parking lot.
Far West meaning farthest west of the visitor center, but I liked the double meaning of the place called Far West, Mo.
I heard my favorite (or one of) Christmas songs in the evening of Christmas day. I had my radio tuned to this station all month in anticipation for the song but never heard it.
I tried to locate the Grinch DVD but could not find it. Where are you...?
My Dad marched us all over once after we got on his nerves because we would not stop arguing. It was also lunch time and he was hungry. We first thought he knew of a place he wanted to eat at because we couldn't make up our minds.
After passing several restaurants we started to question where we were being led. He finally stopped at a place.
Yesterday, I set out on a walk. Everyone seemed so keen I have some place to go on Christmas -- which I was grateful for, but it was like pulling teeth to get what few people I could to go anywhere.
Well, I went nowhere. Finally, I got so upset I just set out with no real plan of going anywhere. I just wanted something. Not sure what I got, but it was good to get out.
I started this entry late last night, but feel asleep. That is why the date is wrong. It is actually Tuesday, December 27, 2005 at 9:30 AM.
Briefly I went to a party. I felt somewhat out of place. One reason was that I was 1 of 4 white people.
I opened one of my gifts early. It was from a coworker and he said we talked about the gift once before. I was curious as to what it was and could not wait...
It was a utensil of sorts to help in making beer can Chicken. Sweet! Now, I will need to get some beer.
In my efforts to "spread the wealth" and not solely support the monopoly, I ordered from Safeway.com instead of peapod.com (A.K.A. Giants). This was the second time I ordered from them. Not only do I not get the option for unattended it seems, but they have come late both times.
Anyway, I ordered this Mega Lunchable. I wondered if it was to promote obesity in children or they have learned grownups, like myself eat Lunchables.
At either rate, it was interesting to note that it comes with a can of drink, bigger crackers, two snacks, and a small thing of Pringles chips. I wonder if there is the same amount of cheese and meat in both the regular and Mega pack. In the Mega pack, they have a larger surface area but are very thin.
The other day I noticed a new feature by Google. Special PDA GMail format! It makes it nice not to have to scroll so much.
I've been using my toy more lately. My new wireless NIC for my laptop doesn't seem to work very well.
I gave one PDA away as a gift. Once my phone completely dies, I'll only have two.
Yesterday was only Tuesday. Soon I wonder if I will be saying it is already 2006?
Keeping busy is all I can do to from going crazy. Plus I get a bunch of stuff done while learning new stuff in the process.
Bah humbug?
My roommate got me a website if my own and is hosting it too. I wanted shadowtech.com, but some Canucks have it. Compare with shadowtech.ca
So, I will be shadowtech.us for distinction between countries. I'm not sure what will go over there yet.
Last night, we went caroling in the neighborhood. It was nice to meet them.
My other roommate's car got hit early Monday morning. I'm sure he was happy about that.
Well, tonight was my third dinner I was invited to. I guess it was only because I was substituting for someone else. By this standard and like family invites, I don't think it counts as an official invite. Oh well, at least I was invited.
Anyway I thought most of the people there were weird, because of all the random topics that came up in the conversation. I then realized that I must be the weird one because I knew little, if anything, about the topics at hand.
I suppose it is good to be different, weird or strange. At least it might make for a good, random conversational topic.
It was a nice day yesterday as well. I turned up the heat during yesterday's excuse of a party. It was so nice and warm in the house I decided to go running.
Going to a movie this afternoon. Should be good. C. S. Lewis is almost always quoted by President Monson... so at least the book the movie is based on is great.
Change is happening, as always. One roommate is moving out and another will take his place. One day, I'll be the lucky one to move out because of ring.
14ox Chicken
6 Tb ls Butter
4oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1/8 tsp Lemon Pepper
2 packages/ready bake cans of Croissant rolls
2 Mozzarella String cheese sticks
Mix butter, cream cheese and chicken. Roll in to balls. Slice string cheese into bite sizes. Stick one "bite" in ball. Wrap ball in croissant dough.
Roll bundles in spiced bread crumbs.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
I'm going to try making this. I think these instructions are right.
Lately, I have been on a drive to code simple controls. Well, I guess the .Net Framework makes it fairly simple.
I might redo the OutputWiondowCtrl and just inherit from the RichTextBox. I image it would be easy and less code (although Visual Studio did most of the work to set up the class.)
I want to write an ImageListBox, a DirectoryListBox, and a PickList control here over the Holiday... seeing how it is too cold to really get out.
I'm not going anywhere for Christmas. I'm still in denial that the Mannings left me here... Well, I guess I'd run too if I wasn't attached to myself.
Anyway, trying like always to get out and see/do new things... like the National Christmas Tree I keep hearing about.
I went to Ted's Montana Grill yesterday with some friends and ate buffalo meat burgers. It was well done and good too.
I should have posted this yesterday, but I got involved with other stuff.
It is supposed to be really cold -- it has been really cold for some time. I mean, it is supposed to snow or rain a lot today. Not very happy with that seeing how it is just as cold inside the house than it is outside. They like it cold; what punks! Glad I have my own heater... but it keeps me in my room.
If seven is the last of the Harry Potter books, one of the following might be true.
1) Miraculously, and in quick succession, Harry, the Order, or whoever must find the remaining Horcruxes, destroy them, and then destroy Voldemort.
2) The book is entirely about his last year at Hogwarts.
3) Other books will follow now that the Harry Potter world has been created.
4) Harry Potter dies -- which would be great because Harry would be reunited with Sirius Black and Dumbledore.
This would mean the bad guy wins? Or see number 3.
5) There are only 3 or 4 Horcruxes created: the diary, the ring, and one that destroyed itself somehow... so book 7 will not be so long.
6) Harry wakes up from a long dream and he is 11 again and none of this witchcraft ever happened, but that would be really lame.
I bought some cold cereal boxes. I think it as the first time ever. Well, at least out here.
A key on my phone is jammed so it renders my phone a bit more useless. I'll get a new phone one day.
The work party was alright. I didn't stay the whole time, but it was fun. Glad I didn't go alone.
I finally finished HP6, the Half-blood Prince. It was alright for the most part because I was prepared.... I knew what was coming. The end was still pretty lame though. Oh well.
I was given a pie last night after this ward party. I felt singled out because she came straight to me and I was in a crowd. I enjoyed the evening for the most part.
Today should be good. I hope the end of the month will be just as busy. Well, just so I am not sitting around.
I got a Safeway.com order delivered. It was late and he initially gave me the wrong order. I figured I should try them so Giant's would not have a monopoly.
I was told this about a week ago and I inferred this today from a different source.
"Oh well" is all I can say to the supposed loss. I'm really not sure exactly why I never got more than the occasional "time of day" greeting.
There was a time once, back when I felt she was trying to get my attention. when I saw she was very busy with things, I whispered a hello trying not to disturb her much. It was fairly comical to see her "drop" everything to say hello.
Hopefully all of the assumed embers are not or do not get extinguished. She is a very great woman. Pretty too.
No, I am not talking about Mountain of the Lord, but that is a great show too.
I was looking over some information on the Internet movie database. I noticed the projected schedule of Disney.
A release date of 2009? That is planning for you. Pirates of the Caribbean 3 (2007)? The second one hasn't even come out yet! Santa Clause 3? The second wasn't bad enough?
I finally got someone to go with me this year. They usually hold it in Annapolis and over night. Most women I know have morals and would not go over night... not that I would do anything. It was probably just the easiest escape route for them.
This year it was a pain in the butt because of crazy schedules. So much to do I noticed this year.
A friend is going because she wanted to try and go to two events that night. Well, at least she tries. Most people I like either are not really interested in me or aren't willing to try to spend time with me.
That sounds pretty obvious? Example: I finally got one to come out and turn me down. It was like she didn't have the guts. I started to laugh when she finally said no instead of coming up with some excuse. It must have taken a lot of effort.
It snowed yesterday. It looks really nice out. It is cold too so the snow might last a while.
I found some Burl Ives downloads on the Internet. Now, it feels like Christmas.
This morning I found out someone I know is still without hot water and heat. I knew I should have called her last night.
I just went to lunch with these pretty ladies from my ward. I wanted to talk to them both so I had no issues with inviting both.
In the last few months, it seems I learn about more and more people that I know, work not far from where I do.
Anyway, I really like the sister of one of the people I went to lunch with. I think I could have been a bit more tactful about making that information known. Oh well.
It was a cold day and looking back, I should have at least walked them to their building -- which was next to mine.
Live and learn? Well, live anyway.
Last night I went on a tour of Mount Vernon by Candlelight. It was fun to have a larger group than the trio from the Hershey trip.
I did not go through the house when I went on the boat ride. It was nice. I guess they don't usually get to go up to the 3rd floor.
I liked the 18th century clothes. It reminded me of the candlelight tour in Alexandria.
I just sent out the bulk of my cards this year. At least I waited for December; last year I sent them before Thanksgiving.
I bought a bunch of stamps at a price of convenience I guess. It was 2 cents more per stamp. Oh well, I guess it is a service charge?
I hope my cards are received well. Sent out personalized cards and not the cheap dollar store ones like last year.
I have about 25 non personalized (non dollar store) cards left in my arsenal just in case there are some people I forgot to send to.
I was supposed to have lunch with someone else today. That person did not show, but someone else did. I went to Busch Gardens with him.
I asked about this script of which he mentioned. This is why I thought the Stake did the whole production.
The script never saw the light of day. Even all the music was written by someone else.
Harvey is a strange man, but so am I.