Michael's Shower

Change your RSS feed

Or add a new one for Blogspot. I'll use that until i write my own or what not so my brother-in-law can post comments. I need to figure out how to add images, back it up, etc.

New Project; My own blog program

I was messing with a RSS class last night that I found. After scanning over the details on how to create an RSS XML file, I thought a class could easily be written to do this. I didn't want to take the time to write it.

I could probably find some code to put on my website, but I'm thinking about writing my own. It won't be as fancy as some, but it'd be kind of fun. Maybe I could roll out pieces at a time.

I'd want to archive this bog somehow. Well, the data anyway. In time it would be rather sweet.

I created a simple CAPTCHA, so it could keep some spammers out until I implement a better way to allow comments. See my Feedback page.

Virus, old computer, or what

I doubt it is a virus because I always run as a non-privileged user unless I need to install something and the ran as Admin will not work. So, I hope that I don't have a virus. I don't use scanner software.

Anyway, it might just be an old machine. At times, usually when I run a combination of iTunes, IE on the iGoogle or GMail page, and Outlook 2007, my CPU utilization goes to 100% and never comes down.

It drives me crazy sometimes!

Not so patient

Had everything gone according to plan, I would not have missed the Cambodia festival today. After I saw my plan start to unravel, I took matters in to my hand.

After I ran to a friend's, we talked and then he took me to my next spot. Mr. K finally showed up I got very bored. Fortunately I had an out.

I told the Brazilian bastage that I was not a patient person. Of course I tried not to swear in his face or on the phone. He lives up to the civilian stereotype that can't be fired. I just want to be the one who tells him the world doesn't revolve around him.

Free play: 1776

I went to this yesterday. I got caught up at work so I did not go home first. I usually carry a red sports bag to/from work. I usually carry water bottles back and forth.

I got a small gash on my forehead from running the other day. I think I hit a tree. Or rather, hit a branch.

Anyway, I walked by the house number 1812. I thought it was odd because I thought the play was about the year 1812 for some reason. There is something on Saturday about 1812.

As I came t the outdoor amphitheater, some old lady came out of no where right in front of me. Looking back she suddenly slowed. I slowed as well, trying to figure out what she was doing so I wouldn't run into her if she changed direction...

Anyway, she then tells me to walk around her. I think I freaked her out. I still thought it was rude so I returned the favor and said I would pass her eventually and called her a paranoid old Betty.

Obama or McCain?

These are our choices? Not that I've been following that either. I just wanted to bring up my Google search hit count. :)

I think I'll go with the historical vote again. I voted for Bush originally because it was the second father-son president connection. (Well, Kerry did bug me too much.) I'm going to vote for Obama just so I can say I voted for the first non-white president.

We, OK I'm just not ready for a woman President. Thank goodness Hillary dropped out. The country is safe for a few more years.

Sorry, McCain.

Beijing 2008 Olympics

A friend asked if I've been watching the Olympics. When I told her I was not, she was surprised. I than asked what reason would I have to be interested. She answered about the same time I asked. She thought I was patriotic.

The best I do to keep up, if you can call it that, is clicking on the new Google logo image every morning to see how many Gold medals the US has. China is kicking butt, however we still have the most medals overall.

Is sheer size of the country proportional to the placement? The list has been 1) China 2) US and 3) Great Britain. Given a large enough population, you are bound to find some talented person that can get a medal?

What time it is?

i just had a thought about time. Time is like distance in a way. As you get far away from an event, the details become sketchy and (depending on the nature of the event of course) the event becomes irrelevant.

Time difference from distance in the obvious fact you can not go back the way you came. It is a useful measurement, and a great conversation piece or backdrop.

Time flies and never stops to rest. Every clock and calender in the world is different, so what time is it anyway?

Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

Today I was asked if it was Church policy to not do sports on Sunday. It sounded like a trap, so I asked for the context of why the question was asked.

I then told them that members were counseled not to seek for this sort of activity but unlike the Olympic NZ women who didn't play b-ball for religious reasons on Sunday, not all members will choose not to play. NFL players for example.

I tried to explain that like many things, it was a personal choice. I also quoted the phrase about teaching correct principles and letting people govern themselves.

A follow up question was asked about if those who do seek for sporting events on a Sunday are looked down upon. I told them I personally didn't or wouldn't care. I understood what they were asking though.

In small neighborhoods of Church members it is almost like living in a fish bowl. You're bound to offend or irritate someone. And what of it?

Like with embarrassing moments or situations that people like myself worry too much about at times, it is possible that neighboring cities might care about your predicament but neighboring states probably will not.

Get far enough from the "problem", others not familiar with your subculture might actually find your situation comical. Get it on tape and put it on the Internet or something and stop worrying. Or, on the other hand, stop passing unbinding judgement if someone you know is not living a commandment you think it should upheld. (A.K.A. Pull your head out. Didn't like that response? Cry to your bishop. Everyone loves a Ned Flanders.)

I love my iPod headphones

They thought of everything?

I never bought an iPod before because I didn't think I'd use it much nor do I like shoving stuff in my ears. Due to noise pollution, you have to turn your iPod up so load. When you are in a quite area there is no need to combat other noises -- which probably means your music or whatever is up too load!

I have an awesome pair of headphones at work. They block lots of outside noise, but they are bulky.

I have some cheap headphones too. I use them when I forget to bring back my iPod headphones. Like over this last weekend. One pair of black, mobile, iPod like headphones I noticed has very poor sound quality.

I also hate how the headphones get all tangled up. This morning, I discovered the tangle-free mechanism. Sweet!

New podcasts?

I decided to start subscribing to a few of the many NPR podcasts. One on books, the news, and other things.... Right now, I've only got the business story of the day.

So much to listen to. I just wish there was a way to search the audio files. So many times i wanted to reference something I heard. Sometimes I'm lucky to find what I was looking for.

Maybe in the future the technology will be there... I guess I'll need to archive all the audio I want to search. I want to get a new laptop too. I'm actually wanting to play with Vista. I wish i had time for Ubuntu Linux and even some iPhone application development.

Long time, not enough minutes

As always, I'm trying to go a million ways at the same time. Or I choose not to do things so I can do others. Other times I'm just in the "right" spot. Like tonight, I sat by this very pretty lady. If it wasn't weird to talk to weird people like myself on a public transport, I would have attempted to talk to her.

She would have been nice, but relieved to see me get off the bus?

Anyway, just got back from watching a very entertaining movie,the Mummy III. I wasn't expecting much, and I found it pretty funny. Glad I got out to see it. I barely tried to get someone to watch it with me, but it was good to have a discounted ticket.

I am of the opinion that the R rating stands for really dumb. Few "pirate"movies, or even the trailers for that matter seem to make little sense. It's all for the sex and/or violence. It's a bonus to have a weak storyline.

I saw Remember Dawn the other day. I could barely listen to the first 10 minutes before I fast forwarded. I'm not sure if I should be offended for the defamation of character or sorry for people who actually watched the damn thing at normal speed.

Busy weekend coming

Unlike last Sunday, I'm not sure there will be time to be board. There are many things to do. I just got word of a party tonight too. I've got to work out logistics.

Anyway, I wanted to post about why I like commercials. Or at least, most of them. They are informative and entertaining. Some are really lame, but that is it in a nut shell.

Great? Well, work has been going fairly well. Always could be better, but I hope I'll be real productive and happy in the next few days. Slave driver is gone, but another might takes it's place. We'll see.

Perfect job?

For years I desired to get a job programming with MFC, but i never got a chance. I them switched to C# which is a higher level programing language. I like it, and there is so much more I want to do with it and learn.

The other day I tried to get a job using the latest version of the .Net Framework. I'm pretty much stuck with version 1.1 at work. I have 2.0 on my own web site. I need to put more demo's on it.

I don't ever see myself on the cutting edge. I just want to be fairly close behind.

Homecoming mum

Aside from Sunday, it was a pretty eventful weekend. Two parties, free historical tourist events, and an Irish Festival.

At one party, I was standing in a circle chatting with people. I then noticed that Texans outnumbered the rest in the circle. I made the comment to a guy I'm always heckling. To his surprise, he learned of a fellow Texan he was not aware of.

I thought it was fun they started to talk about homecoming mums. I had to ask what they were. The one lady tried to explain that it was a contest to see who could make the biggest floral arrangement... I had to go online to see. I had some weird ideas on what it might look like.

Huh, I guess everyone has some weird traditions.

Cuil, not so cool?

I was shown this new search site. You can read wikipedia's article on it here.

I'm not sure I like the layout, but I guess they want to get away from the Google look-and-feel.

If I go to a new search engine, I'd look at Mahalo.com because I know of some people who work there. They are on TWIT at times. Read the wiki on the site here.

Barbed wire

There is a guy out here from a country south of the US border. English is not his primary language. Roger is a funny guy. I was playing soccer with him yesterday and was reminded of this event.

Months ago we were playing Apples to Apples. Roger draws a card and starts to laugh. Someone asked what was so funny. He throws the card down face up. It read Barbed wire.

"This, " Roger explained. "is one of the first few words you learn in English."