Monday, January 05, 2004

Breaking Radio Silence.

Wow, blogger is slowly but surely upgrading their UI...good stuff!

Travelling, and that is one of the best reasons to use a blog...

Anyhow, I am in AMD (Ahemdabad), India right now - where my aunt (in gurjathi she is called Massi) lives and where my Grandfather lived before he passed away. This is also where Gandhi-ji kept his ashram. I leave tomorrow morning to meet up with my cousin and brother in Delhi and then to Haridwar - the main purpose of the trip. Haridwar is the start of the Ganga river and where we are going to perform last duties for my grandfather. Kind of tough emotionally, but good because it is a chance to say good bye to him and properaly say put him to spiritual rest.

Before coming to AMD, i was in BOM (Bombay or Mubai now) visiting my aunt (in marwathi she is called Booaji) and cousin and his family. Spent New Years in a club in BOM dancing to indian techno, eating "handy food" and having a few indian beers. A bit before midnight, the club had belly dancers come out to entertain the crowd. Also, at midnight, no kisses, but rather hand shakes! While in BOM, i visited the Gateway to India, the Taj hotel, Rajabai tower, and a few museams. Oh, and I ate a freaking boat load!

My start point in India was CCU (Calcutta or Kolkata now) on the 26th night. I saw uncles (taujis and chachas), cousins, and friends. The majority of time in CCU was spent seeing various family members. With over 25+ first and second cousins it was a full few days. I also went out to a few night clubs and saw a bit of the tourist trappings that all cities have. I continue to learn more about my family history and slowly am being moved from young adult to full adult status. Two of my cousins in CCU, Vikas and Anurag, are my age and we get along really well - so that always make CCU a good time and visit for me.

Now jumping forward, after Haridwar my brother and I will be going to Jaipur, Pushkar, and Udipur - all cities in Rajasthan. Rajasthan is where my father's family is orginally from, and in previous trips we have visited our ancestorial havelis and temples. This time we hit the major tourist sites and see how well we manage completely on our own. After Rajasthan, I will go to the Agra solo to check out the lauded Taj Mahul - 8 trips to india and I finally get to see it! Then it is time to head home, re-adjust to california (& the usa), and then start working.

Food on this trip has been increadible - pani poori, sevi puri, tikkas (chicken, panner, kabobs), naans, chuna bathuras, and more. Plus, the singapore hawker food was pretty good too (oh yeah, i checked out singapore for a day on my way to india - not bad, not great). My low carb, high protien diet is wrecked, but i am really enjoying the both the vegitarian and non-vegitarian fare this time. Highlights have been pani poori in BOM, sevi poori in AMD, Chuna Bathura in CCU, some crazy kebob in BOM, and chicken tikka in AMD. Plus, the Naan is unreal everwhere! Controling sugar intake, so carb effect has been minimal...but I am looking forward to getting back on track.

Last thought - cell phones are all over the place here - less then 2 cents a mintue for national, and 20 cents for international to usa. Plus you can get a handset for $10 bucks! Unreal!!! Okay, time is done on this terminal...later!

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Monday, July 21, 2003

counting packets.

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Sunday, July 20, 2003

Hey make sure you check out www.neelbubba.com/blog as I am posting the majority of my stuff there now a days.

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Friday, July 11, 2003

From Chris and Christina...Japanese-Matrix-Ping-Pong.

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Wednesday, July 09, 2003

I just posted a long story about my cousin's wedding...with pictures thanks to bubba blogger! If you have comments, you might want to leave them here...

posted @ 8:36 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, July 03, 2003

This says it all. Man oh man, is this what I am to be know for online?

Other intresting things I found from my site statsitics (provided by sitemeter...thanks!):

• 8% of traffic comes from .mil domains
  
• 2% of traffic comes from Microsoft.com (i wonder if billg has come by? lol)
  
• 1% of traffic comes from canada (thanks karen!)
  
• ~50% of visitors share my time zone (pacific standard time, -8 GMT)
  
• 73% of visitors use IE 6.X
  
• 19% of visitors use IE 5.X
  
• 4% of visitors' browsers don't support css or dhtml
  
• ~18% of visitors enter the site at the in and out page
  
• ~8% of visitors enter the site at the livejournal usage analysis page
  
• A little less then 9,000 people visits have happened since I begain tracking them
  
• A little less then 18,000 page views have happened since I begain tracking them

Definetly not an "a-lister" type blog, but not bad considering I am not all that intresting, have more typos & grammar issues then a 4th grader, and post sporadically at best. I am super curious about what other friends of mine see in their site stats. Karen? Chris? Neema? MC? Joe? Guy? Greg? Aaron?

posted @ 12:51 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, July 02, 2003

I just realized I haven't explicitly mentioned my other blog here yet. I will continue to use this one but will be more active in the other one. Why? Well, it was a VERY important concept I learned while working at Microsoft...eat your own dogfood. What does that mean? Well, simply put it means use the stuff you create...and use it heavily, even when it is still a work in progress. MS product teams do this with everything they write (or at least they try too) and imho it is a key to good software managment and design. You, the creator, find problems, edge cases, and brain farts far before your users do. You learn what potential problems (ie bugs, weird UI/UE) might be before they happen, and hopefully get to fix them before shipping your stuff out the door. More importantly, you learn what works and what doesn't in real life. Design decisions can look great on paper, but when you live with the consequences of your decisions every day you get a much better idea for how great/terrible they really are. Then you fix them. Then you do it again. Isn't software grand?

BubbaBlogger is not nearly as polished as I wish it was, but I am using it. If you want to too just let me know...then you can tell me what stinks about it and what doesn't. Of course, you could also just read my ramblings and curses about my own dog food instead...

Here are the links:

www.neelbubba.com/blog (yes, it is lowercase...breaking my previous naming conventions, but I am slowly but surely relenting on the idea that directory caps are a good idea in URLs).
www.neelbubba.com/blog/rss.xml (no void star, no crap, no excuses...I have it and it validates on winer's validator)

posted @ 4:05 PM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, June 29, 2003

Went to the town of rough and ready today. I am now the proud owner of a t-shirt that says:

"Where the men are rough, and the women are ready"

Town of Rough and Ready, California.

We happened to go through town on their Succession Celebration day. The day is a celebration of their seceding from the union for 3 months over taxes and states rights.

It is really amazing what is out there to be discovered.

posted @ 11:16 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, June 27, 2003

Excerpt from this New York Times article:

"Online registration will be available at www.donotcall.gov [not up yet], officials said. The trade commission has staggered phone registration to handle the large volume of calls expected. Residents of states west of the Mississippi, including Minnesota and Louisiana, may register by phone starting Friday at 12:01 a.m.. The entire country will be able to register by phone as of July 7. The phone number is (888) 382-1222. The registry will go into effect Oct. 1."

about frigging time

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Thursday, June 26, 2003

When you download stuff of the P2P network of your choice go ahead and move it out of your shared directory!

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Intresting cell phone adoption data point.

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Well, I am migrated to the new blogger. How fun! Now go read this (from chris...pretty funny) and this (well don't read that if you don't want to read about Harry Potter V).

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Sunday, June 22, 2003

Oh, and other thing swiming in my brain...new harry potter...spent the eveing reading book 5.

Do not read if you don't want to hear or discuss harry potter V until you have finished reading it

Is it just me, or does harry seem a lot more aggitated about life, ron/hermoine seem much more secondary in the story, and that sirus/dubledore are pulling 180s in their relationship with harry? I am sure it is all for a reason, and I am only about 250 pages deep, but overall the entire book style seems vastly diffrent then the previous four. Of course I haven't read the four books in quite a while, and I am sure I have forgotten more then I remember. Terrible analysis on my part, but reading this so far, I haven't felt the same draw I felt to the previous books. Of course I did read 250 pages today, so I guess I can't say I am not eagerly consuming and enjoy it at level that is not common among most books I read.

posted @ 11:12 PM | archive_link | Comment

Proof, submitted by my "friend" Rama, that I have been a dork for quite a while. Note the date...January 1995...that was a long time ago in an age where email was not nearly as prevelant or depended on; pine was the reader, bbs were the file sources, and 486s ruled. Still debaiting if those will be the "good ole days" or if today will be the "good ole days" of technology in 25 years. Today the web is every where, i use a windows and office for most everything, and i have tons of spam & pop ups everwhere I go. Back then i got homework questions answered by email, used the unix shell and mosaic/netscape for everything, and didn't know what spam was. Today MP3s have changed music, IM has ruined my productivity (in a good-bad sort of way), and most people can't use their computers as they would like too. Back then computer games changed entertainment (consoles too!), girls ruined my productivity (in a bad-good sort of way), and most people couldn't use their computers...period.

Mmm...

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Saturday, June 21, 2003

Today was rock solid...

Hit the greens with my roommate Greg today. I am still a sucker pimp when it comes to golfing, but my last three holes were promising...laid up 25 yards of the green on the 7th hole; on the green on the 8th hole, and 10 yards off to the left of the green on the 9th. Now if only I had a short game... I think the bug is catching and I can't wait to go out again soon. Still playing with all irons, but soon (~1 month?) i hope to start hitting my woods on a full length course.

Also checked out the Concert in the Plaza in downtown SLO...man the place was going off. Families, 20 somethings, and old people all drinking, grooving and having a good time. Way cool. Never been in SLO for the summer, but already it is looking like a lot of fun...now I just need to finish my pesky little thesis.

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Wednesday, June 18, 2003

You can thank Karen, Nikki, MC, Walter, Blake & all the other crazy msners for the new msn im client. Highlights include:

• File transfers work...all the time (caveat: both people must have MSN IM 6)
  
• Custom Emoticons
  
• Background skins (ala 3d's skins)
  
• Games! I will beat you at tic tac toe.
  
• Character Tiles

Have fun!!

posted @ 9:41 PM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, June 17, 2003

Okay joe here you go:


You are Neo, from "The Matrix." You
display a perfect fusion of heroism and
compassion.


What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

posted @ 7:17 PM | archive_link | Comment

Long time no talk, how you do'in?

posted @ 9:57 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, June 12, 2003

I couldn't resist...I sent in a resume. Boy has it been a long time since I have done that. Worst case scenario, it will be good practice for my cover letter writing skills. *grin* I wonder how many emails his post generated?

Special shot out to Travis for the quick turn around on a resume critique...good eyes, good eyes.

Oh, and I have been forgetting to share Caroline's Vegas rule, so here ya go:

Trips to Las Vegas are always more fun with a big group people who are of the same gender.

Kinda true from my past experinces...

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Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Wow, I won!

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This is just wrong.

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Tuesday, June 10, 2003

I want one! From meta filter.

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Guy had asked me to add him to my blogroll quite a while ago and I kept forgetting...until today. IncidentIy, I checked my blog's page rank in google (was a 6, now it is a 5) and I realised I need to get my blogroll rolling on the front page to spread the love. It is quite intresting to see how much of blogging is an ego related exercise. Did I mention I am a blog daddy? lol...geek humor is terrible.

posted @ 1:11 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, June 09, 2003

A new section of the website is now up...go to www.neelbubba.com/Marathon for more information about my running adventures then you probably ever wanted!

Also, I updated the in and out page with a new secret item...animal style fries. Yes, I have already tried them...complete heart attack in a single serving container!

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Thursday, June 05, 2003

404. From Adam Curry's Bloggy Blog.

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A while back I posted a link to the kid pretending to be darth maul. The video was all over the net and travis just sent me this wired article that talks about it and the blogger that interviewed the kid. As travis says, "you crazy bloggers."

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Wednesday, June 04, 2003

Greg says:
god im a geek... im ordering a programming book to read in my spare time

bubba (finisher) says:
i do it all the time.

Greg says:
yeah.. you're a geek too

posted @ 1:40 PM | archive_link | Comment

Some more marathon details:

Pictures:
Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4
Pic 5
Pic 6

Video:
Clip 1
Clip 2

Sorry for the click to see...but I am still working on building a final site for all things Marathon related...

Thanks to the support team that was out in full force to help me cross the finish line!

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Tuesday, June 03, 2003

2003 Goal List:
...
run marathon
...
more details forthcoming

posted @ 12:02 AM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, May 30, 2003

Okay, this is gonna be (most likely anyway) my last post until after the marathon on Sunday. I leave for San Diego tomorrow at noon (on a bus with the team) and come back on monday night. Our coach told us we would be feeling all sorts of odd pains and hear diffrent noises in our joints this week because it is game time. Funny how much of sports is a mental thing, something I have always known but am constantly reminded of at game time.

Anyhow, here are the top 5 questions I have heard in the last week:

q: You nervous?
a: Naw (you believe me?).

q: How far are you going? YOU are going to run that?
a: Yup...no, really, no shit. I swear. Really.

q: What do you think you are going to feel like at the end?
a: jello + high + accomplishment

q: You going to do another one?
a: Probably. Maybe. Here, lets just get this one out the way, okay?

q: Did you know that you get a beer at the finish line of the race?
a: Its the little things like this that re-affirm that there is a supreme being.

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." - Emerson.

FINISH LINE HERE I COME!
(sorry for yelling, but I am excited!)

posted @ 2:00 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, May 29, 2003

My roommate Greg now has a blog (well he has had one for a few weeks). Go read it (and laugh...).

Update: I shouldn't type urls...cut and paste is my friend. :>

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Tuesday, May 27, 2003

I have been lightly blogging as of late. It is funny though, because as of late there have been many funny interchanges with my friends that would be perfect for blogging, but I alwasy forget them before I get infront of the computer. Anyhow...

I went up to the Bay Area this weekend for a myriad of events. First off was sloshball (softball with a keg at second and a cup of beer in your hands at all times) with the BSE crew. Lots of folks were in town because of memorial day and a wedding, so it was a bit of a reunion of friends from college. In case you didn't know sun+keg+movement == funny shit...some of the "plays" would were so bad they were awesome. After sloshball, I headed over to the folks for some dinner and to get ready for Grady Green's (I love that name) graduation party. Grady has one of the biggest families I know of, and they were out in full effect. After a few turns on the Kariokie machine I had to call it quits and get some sleep.

Sunday was a family bbq with my uncle and his family. My cousin Millane and her hubby were out from NYC, so it was really nice to catch up with them. Then it was off to Tim & Katie's wedding. Now this was a huge reunion...it was out at Boundary Oaks golf course in Walnut creek and half the wedding attendees went to Cal Poly. With an open bar and a great DJ, the scene was a bit out of control. I heard (but haven't confirmed this) that the Bride & Grooms room were decorated quite nicely while everyone was dancing away. Hehe. This was a great wedding to start out wedding season with...bring on the rest of them...gulp!

Monday morning was spent improving my xbox with my buddy rama and getting some work done with my dad. Then on my way home I went to the (future) Klayko's house for a little Memorial day BBQ. Always a good time when Chris & Christina are hosting a shin dig. Finally, on the way home I stopped by Aromas to see my friend Scooter for a bit before finishing out the drive.

Whew....good weekend.

Now this week is the week...the week before my big date with 26.2 miles. This sunday i am going to be running, walking, and if need be crawling 26.2 miles in San Diego. I am really excited and can't wait to nail the race shut. Agenda for getting ready includes lots of pasta, rest, and some very light running. More on the race when I write next...

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Thursday, May 22, 2003

Buffet on Taxes. I guess being rich doesn't make you a finacially conservative when it comes to taxes. Cool. From andrea's photo blog.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2003

So I am getting ready for a redesign of the site...I am trying to find a list of all CSS2 compliant browsers...anyone know where you one exists? I haven't found one yet.

Also, for everyone that hates my current style sheet...I just checked and it validates. With some warnings, but it should work more than it does. :<

posted @ 11:33 PM | archive_link | Comment

Cool bio 2 points for creativity.

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Check this out...San Luis Obispo vs. Seattle. Seattle friends...come visit!!!

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Monday, May 19, 2003

Today's Laugh. Via rub-a-dub rama and because Klayko requested it.

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Today's Laugh. Via J-Dub in the big D.

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Sunday, May 18, 2003

I bought an iQuarium this weekend for Brusier because he has survived so long.

It never fails to amaze me how much the iMac influnced industrial design . Funny enough, it appears that the iPod (along with iTunes and the Apple Music Store) is changing the music world. I wonder what Apple will try to change next? Video Games? Sex? Cell Phones? I can't wait to see...

Defintion: iProduct -
(1) refers to products that are shipped in multiple colors (often blue, orange, red, green, translucent) skus that gives the consumer "choice" on which version they want to buy thus making commodity purchases a little more intresting.
(2) an attempt to cast something as a cool new take on an existing technological gadget space. Homage to Apple's unique ability to ship "revolutionary" new products that aren't totally new, but rather a near perfection of how the technology/gadget should work.

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Note to self...it is true, nothing is scary then a women's scorn. Seriously.

posted @ 7:44 PM | archive_link | Comment

I met Aaron in a class at Cal Poly when I was speaking about Blogging and my thesis/project. I guess I must not have sounded as silly as I ususally do, because he started up a blog. Anyhow, he is an avid poker player, so soon I am going to take his money (shh don't tell him), but until then he still has enough money to pay for webhosting for his site...so check him out. Oh, and did I mention that today is his birthday? The big 22...man, getting old is a bitch, huh? lol.

posted @ 7:42 PM | archive_link | Comment

Yesterday's run was really good. It was supposedly 14 miles, but I think it might have been closer to 13. I ran it really well and felt pretty top notch after it was done...it is amazing that 4 months ago I would have scoffed at the idea of running a half marathon before 11am on my Saturday morning! Nowadays I don't think about if I could run it, but rather about how fast I am going to run it. Crazy!

On a more serious note, while the physical accomplishment is a great reason for joining Team in Training the reason it exists is to help find a cure for Leukemia, Lymphoma, and other blood related cancers. My friends Travis and Jude just finished up their Triathlon with TNT, and in the wrap up letter they shared this:

"There’s one more story we’d like to share about the weekend. On Friday night everyone had dinner together as a team (carb-loading!), and after dinner team honorees spoke of their struggles and triumphs with blood-related cancers. The last speaker was a participant from another team in the Bay Area, just like us. He told the crowd that just the day before he had been diagnosed with lymphoma, and would not be able to compete in the race on Sunday. Never had we heard such a sudden gasp from so many people. In that moment we were both reminded once again of the uncertainty of life, the gift of health, and the larger meaning of our involvement with Team-In-Training. It’s not just about getting in shape, or having a personal triumph; it’s about saving lives, and trying to make this world better for people who are suffering."

Why am I writing about this? Simple...I wanted to plant a seed a motivation...it might not take root this year, and maybe not even next year...but at some point I hope you check out the Team in Training Chapter in your area and consider committing to "help save lives one mile at a time."

posted @ 4:07 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, May 16, 2003

Down in LA with my little brother helping him move into his new appartment. He freaking lives at melrose place...pools, college kids in bikini's and board shorts , and lots of beer make up his new appartment's landscape. He is stoked!

E3 yesterday was a bit disapointing. I didn't feel compelled to play anything and was only blown away by one demo...Ninja Gaiden by Tecmo. Unreal graphics engine and cinema production. I was only at the show for a few hours, and perhaps that contributed to my disappointing take away. Or maybe I am just to tied to my favorite genre of games (fighthing ones) and nothing was outstanding in that area (doa online, bfd). On a side note, I saw capitalism at its finest...because both E3 and Lakers were going on at the same time, so parking was at a premium...to the tune of 85 dollars for lots close to the Centers. Unreal.

Newport Beach is a lot of fun...go check it out if you have a chance.

And a heartfelt good bye to the Lakeshow for this year....don't let the door hit your Jlo glasses off your face on your way out.

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Thursday, May 15, 2003

Gonna go hit E3 with my friend James. Later...

posted @ 9:07 AM | archive_link | Comment

I liked it. Hedionism of Zion was a bit much, the CG was a bit overwhelming, but the action, the fun, and the umfoof was there for me. Warning...don't read this if you don't like spoilers...


(really don't)


I am envisioning a matrix parallel to another matrix. Too much symmetry between the "real world" and the "matrix" for it to be chance. Other thoughts: Exceptiong handling anyone? Locke vs. Decarte? Christ, Judasim, & other religious arches? Doplegangers?

Sleep time...as I have to go to E3 tomorrow. Tough life, huh? lol.

posted @ 1:22 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, May 13, 2003

Word of advice...don't try to run if you don't have your asthma inhaler. The lungs just don't work too well...like breathing through a straw. YUCK.

posted @ 9:46 PM | archive_link | Comment

Dude...the spurs won by pure luck, and I am happy. I still can't believe the in-out-in-out on that last shot.

posted @ 9:45 PM | archive_link | Comment

I was thining about diets today and came to the conclusion that the run your ass off diet is much better then the starve your ass off diet. What do y'all think?

posted @ 1:27 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, May 12, 2003

Typing Monkeys. Thanks to rama for this little gem.

posted @ 11:54 AM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, May 11, 2003

Just scored 8 tix to the matrix reloaded sneak preview on wednesday night...ye-haw!

posted @ 5:30 PM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, May 10, 2003

I ran 21.9 miles this morning...the longest run of the season (well, until the marathon). I am tired and my body is sore. But i did it and I am proud of that.

posted @ 6:15 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, May 09, 2003

So I just finished watching the animatrix part 4. I am completely amazed by the Wachowski brothers. They have done so much deep thinking and planning around the story, the charcters and the alternative universe they created. Lots of things are going to be building the story of the matrix in the next 6 months...so here is a highlevel timeline since the first movie:

The Matrix - Sets up the story and builds an amazing following. (March 1999)
The Matrix Revisited - Shows the depth of thinking that is going into creating the upcoming movies, video game, and anime shorts. (Nov. 2001)
The Final Flight of the Osiris - A 9 mintue CG short done in conjunction with Square (final fantasy games and movie). This was the intro to the Animatrix, a project that the Wachowski brothers put together to help fill in more of universe they created. It was shown before the screenings of Dreamcatcher (March 2003) as a special teaser.
The Matrix Reloaded - Next week the second movie of three is released. Easily one of the most anticipated movies of the year. Trailers are availible at the main site, but again I can't link directly to each one (there are about 11 of them). There is also more media coverage on this movie then I have seen in recent movie history. (May 2003)
Enter the Matrix - Since the Wachowski brothers don't sleep they decided to sim release a video game with Matrix Reloaded. Intrestingly, it is not a rehash of any of the movies, but rather another expansion of the Matrix Universe. It was directed by the brothers, and features 1 hour of new film footage to help build more info for people to digest. (May 2003)
The Animatrix - Nine anime shorts, 4 written by the Wachowski brothers, all directed by big names in the Anime world (I am a geek, but not that far in yet...so I don't know much about the directors). They released 4 online to download for free and in June 2003 they will release a DVD that contains all 9 (good upsale!). I would link to each dowload, but the site is flash and frames so it doesn't play nice with links...go there and get them yourself. (June 2003)
The Matrix Revolutions - Not much is known right now, but supposidly the first trailer will show after the credits of Matrix Reloaded. Also, the Matrix Reloaded is supposed to leave people hanging pretty bad...so this is going to be a painful wait. (Nov. 2003)

Is that it? Man, those guys sure are lazy. Riiiiiight. Some other intresting things I found while surfing that are matrix related:
Hack the Matrix - Use this guide to help your hacking.
Matrix Fan Site - I am sure there are many, but this one has cool fade in and fade outs. lol.
Keanu Web - I shit you not...

I have a bead on matrix tickets for a 10pm showing on wednesday night (I would get to see it a full 2 hours and 1 mintue earlier then most of my friends)...if you live in the slo area drop me a line if you are intrested in going!

posted @ 12:30 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, May 07, 2003

I am hooked...capcom vs. SNK 2 EO is my new vice. Move all other vices down one on the totem pole. My only gripe: I can't connect to my friend Vic because our router's don't like each other (i think they are both "5 tuple" routers, but am not sure). I even tried putting my xbox on the dmz, but it failed (doesn't help that both of us are behind not one, but two NATs - our routers and an ics connection because we are using laptops as the wirless bridge in our living rooms). Man oh man...if only they had built live support into marvel vs. capcom 2...then I would never have to leave the house. As my friend travis pointed out...I have sunk to a new level of geekhood. Long live geeks!

posted @ 11:29 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wells Fargo gets my digital thumbs down for the day. Their online branch directory does not include the phone numbers (just addresses!)...I had to bust over to yahoo to get the info I really needed...pretty weak sauce experince.

posted @ 1:03 PM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, May 06, 2003

All you crazy blog writing friends of mine...sign up for blogtree so we can start our own forest!

posted @ 9:35 PM | archive_link | Comment

Nuns in motions. My friend Kristin never ceases to amaze me with the Circuit Traning Gym she opened!

posted @ 9:32 PM | archive_link | Comment

Shoryuken.com - Your Street Fighter Competitive Edge I shit you not that is the title of this site. And even worse...I am going to be a regular visitor now that I own Capcom vs. SNK 2:EO. I know, I know...I have a problem. But look, I am not alone! :)

posted @ 5:38 PM | archive_link | Comment

Tapwave sounds cool.

posted @ 1:35 PM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, May 05, 2003

I am sick...this sucks.

posted @ 9:45 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, May 02, 2003

GOOD LUCK TRAVIS & JUDE!

(for the record they are nuts...this weekend they are running the Wildflower Olympic Distance Tri)

posted @ 3:25 PM | archive_link | Comment

Copious update, part II:

I got into downtown Seattle around 9:30pm and we were out in full force by 10:30! We headed to an old stand by, Tia Lous, to meet up with who ever was game to play. I got to see TONS of old friends and dance with some good looking ladies. After closing down Tia Lous, we hit up the local hot dog stand to get fuel for a late night venture to afterhours. We were home in time to catch the 5am news. :)

Saw a bunch of friends, and there were some pretty funny observations that I wanted to record in the blog, but unfortunetly I don't remember them any more. :( I think I am going senile...

On sunday night, the boys and I met a JLo look alike and the best part was her name was Cristina Lopez...hehe.

Monday night was spent with two very good friends, Vic & Jenn, that also happen to be engaged. Vic and I are total Street Fighter II devotees, so we played the newest iteration, Capcom vs. SNK 2, for a while. I could go off on its high and low points, but over all being able to connect to a live human player at any time makes it ridiculously addictive. I ordered a copy and started getting my xbox live set up as soon as I got home. I know fear for my thesis and social life. *grin*

Tuesday night I had dinner with Karen. We went to an old favorite, wasabi bistro, where I got to be reminded of a fateful night there about a year ago. Lucky for me, Karen still puts up with me (of course I do have to put up with her, so it is more than fair) and it was really good to get some QT in with her. She is working like mad on MSN messenger, and I can't wait to see the next release...it will be pretty killer.

After dinner we caught up with more people and caused some more trouble in the Seattle downtown scene...

Before heading back to SLO on Wednesday I hit up the Pike's Place market for breakfast. Then headed over to my old team's offices to say hello and catch up on the latest happenings. It is amazing to see how much had changed in the last 6 months.

All in all, it was a most excellent trip. Saw lots of great friends, got to play with some cool stuff, and had fun expanding my mind. I have one more big update, but I am going to need to draw something for it, so I will get it up later.

posted @ 3:20 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, April 30, 2003

I owe a copious update...consider this part 1:

On Friday Trev bones & I set out for our longest run of the training...18 big miles. We decided to do a lapped course, so we ran Pisatch twice. Before heading out we stashed drinks, gummi bears, and energy bars along the path. Trev trucked the distance and finished in 2:36 and I was "just" behind him at 3:46. 18 miles under the belt with no major negative side effects other than some soreness that is to be expected. One point of note, was my first 2 miles were painful because of my left shin...don't know exactly what happened, but it slowed me down pretty bad. My thinking is that I was running a bit diffrent because of a conversation I had with a friend about how her coach makes instructs them to run. Nevertheless...it was pretty amazing run!

Saturday was Open House at Cal Poly. One of my favorite events on the Central Coast. My buddy Ryan and I emceed the event and managed to get some laughs and fun out of the crowd. Plus, we exchanged shamless promotions on stage for free food from the zillion's of clubs out selling stuff to make some cash for their coffers. Fun & Filling (expecting a low blow from klayko on this). The Indian Students Association was a large presence this year with three acts on stage...and all were very, very good. I have an intresting relationship with my cultural heritage that is not always as deep as I would like it to be. I will save my thoughts on that for a future post.

Saturday afternoon I headed up to Seattle via the Santa Maria Airport (SMX). I had a heart breaking loss along the way...my In-N-Out burger managed to leak grease and weaken the structure of its to go bag. It ruined the stack of papers beneath the bag to my dismay. Worse, when I picked the bag up and made my way to the terminal the burger broke free and landed on the floor...it was a HUGE bummer. I have never hated on In-N-Out before, but they need to do something about their bags so that this doesn't happen to someone else. Okay, so maybe it isn't that big a deal, but it sure did suck.

Ending part 1 because I got a boot load of work to do today. In part 2 expect to hear about the seattle trip & other goodness...

posted @ 11:52 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, April 24, 2003

My buddy (name with held for his own protection) pointed out how funny MSN search is...look at the results for google and cnn.

posted @ 8:58 PM | archive_link | Comment

Audioscrobbler.com & Synapses look like cool ways to generate suggestions on what to listen to next...nice when you have a huge digital music collection.

posted @ 3:12 PM | archive_link | Comment

TiVo's Home Media Option...looks like I may finally break down and buy a freaking tivo.

posted @ 11:36 AM | archive_link | Comment

Been getting ready for the seattle trip...really looking forward to seeing all the great friends I made up there. Plus, stomping around my old hood will be most excellent. Leaving seattle was a tough thing to do, and the friends up there certainly didn't make it any easier for me to leave.

My thesis is going aight. My advisor came over on monday night and I showed him my work. He wants me to start changing gears and focusing on writing the thesis, and spend less time on the implementation work. Fair enough...and I will probobly wrap up bubbablogger in the week after I get back from seattle. My friend Joe was nice enough to license me his FTP code and I intergrated it a few days back...so right now I just need to finish up some style sheet work and a couple of modifications I want to make and then it will be done. I am debaiting releasing it to the world, but probobly won't because a) I don't want to support it & b) it is not full featured enough to be intresting to most people.

Running has been going pretty good. I have developed a few pains that have me slightly worried. My right side hurts like a side stich, but deeper after running for a few miles. I try to breath and strech it out, but it doesn't work so I ususally just ignore it with mind over body thinking. Additionally, my mid section has a couple of sore spots, which doesn't make any sense to me...Legs are actually pretty good considering my milage base. I am starting to use my second pair of shoes (right now just walking around in them to break them in) which means that game day is getting close. A month and a week. Holy shit...this is going to be awesome. My pace gets better and better and tomorrow (not saturday) I am going to go for the longest run yet...18 miles yo. Who would have ever thunk it?

Been hanging out and doing the thing too. Went out on the town last night with Trevor, H-bomb (Heather), and A-bomb (Autumn). It was Heather's Birthday and she was pretty celbrated out by the end of the night. Pretty fun night...going out on a school night is just fun in general.

In blogging news...I can't believe how much has changed in the last 4 months. Winer's @ Harvard. Sixapart has funding. Blogger is Google. By the end of the year, AOL, Yahoo, and perhaps even MSN will have blogging intergrated into their product line ups. A hellofalot of people know what blogging is now, and even more are blogging themselves. Glad I got to play on the edge of the mainstream addoption...

posted @ 9:39 AM | archive_link | Comment

Three words that should be in a row: pink denim jacket.

posted @ 9:20 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

Playing with the WMP9 music blogging plugin and W.blogger. W.blogger is pretty nice, but I wish it had a better ui for viewing previous posts. Actually, I think it needs a few ui changes...but I really do like rich client blog editors...

posted @ 9:19 PM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, April 22, 2003

I don't know if anyone else has ever noticed how much the buying on the internet is like shopping in flea market or third world country bazaar (except you get stuff you **might** actually use as opposed to the shruken heads or cool lama wool rug). You can almost always pay less then a) what the msrp of any item is & b) what the retailer of your choice is asking for the product when you first arrive to their site. Example: go to dell, select something...then open up a new browser window and go to google...type "dell coupons". You will come up with almost 100,000 matches...but more importantly the first page or results will get you free shipping, 10% off, or $50 off of $500 (or sometimes all three). Try this with Staples, Amazon, Buy.com, BestBuy, or pretty much any other major e-retailer. Pair this technique up with mysimon or similar service and you can get prices that are amazingly low while still having the confidence in retailer you are purchasing it from. And if you want to get advanced...starting thinking about sales tax implications when selecting your merchant...

posted @ 8:57 AM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, April 20, 2003

Travis and I had a good time this weekend. We geeked and talked about life stuff that we had not had a chance to do in quite a while. My favorite part of the visit was our run. We busted out a ~11-12 mile run and talked about everything and then some. It was the first time I had articulted some of the thoughts I have been having for a while and it was good to get travis's take on them. Plus we got to be boys and make stupid jokes and laugh at all the funny shit that has happened since our last talk. From the physical point of view, the run wasn't in record breaking time but it was good to get pushed by running with someone who is faster than me. Thanks for coming down Travis.

My friend Chelsea was in town on thursday night. Chelsea and I have a long standing friendship that has gone through some pretty big ups and downs but some how we have managed to remain pretty darn close. Her visit was full of laughs, fun and good food...we had dinner at Rosa's in Pismo Beach. The food at that place is pretty unreal. I had only been there one other time (for my friend klayko's graduation dinner), but I only have myself to blame for that. I had this steak that was rolled with garlic and mint and then simmered in a red sauce; knifes need not apply for that meal...it was increadibily fork tender. C-dawg had this artichoke pasta that was full of tasty goodness. After dinner, we caught a flick (pretty good, but had its cheesy ass moments) and played some darts downtown. A really good night out on the town.

So changing gears...

So it is funny what you learn from books. Not textbooks, but books about life, history, and the such. I just finished "what should I do with my life" and one of my biggest take aways was on becoming a parent. I have always been leary of the responsibility and of the impact it will have on my "freedom." But, the part of the book that spoke about becoming a parent, and what it meant to some of the people featured in the book was pretty amazing. Part of me doesn't want to be a spoiler, so I won't quote an except or paraphrase what I read. Nevertheless, I think my long standing relectuance to have children has been whitled down to near nothingness. Don't worry mom and dad, I am not talking about going out and doing this tomorrow, but rather when the time and situation is right, I will not balk at it. This is from the guy that 6 years ago swore that having kids was not part of my master plan.

Reading this book made me think of another book that I always found to have a suprising take away from. 7 habits of highly effective people. All the great points and rhetoric about how to become effective and happy were awesome, but I truly loved the author's little blurb on love. It is only a 1/2 page or so (bottom of page 79 of the soft copy version), but it makes a lot of sense to me.

Anyhow, need to get some serious shit done today and for the rest of this week as I am heading up to seattle on saturday. I can't wait to play in my old school hood with my buddies up there...this is going to be a long ass weekend!!!

posted @ 11:00 AM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, April 19, 2003

Bingo...I've got rss! Now everyone leave me alone and stop asking for it...

posted @ 11:04 PM | archive_link | Comment

Trying another post, because voidstar is not creating any items in the rss feed (though the channel info is being created).

posted @ 10:54 PM | archive_link | Comment

Test link to see how voidstar's rssify script works on my blog. Cross your fingers...I might have a rss feed working.

posted @ 10:49 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, April 18, 2003

Travis pointed me to espn page 2 today...where I found this hiliarious article about the Boston Marathon.

posted @ 8:15 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, April 17, 2003

My friend Seb is conducting a survey on blogging...please help him out! The results will be presented at blogtalk, the first big blogging confrence in Vienna. There are surveys for both bloggers and non-bloggers.

Update: I need to learn how to read. It is Lilia Efimova's survey and not sebs...but that shouldn't matter...take it now!

posted @ 10:59 AM | archive_link | Comment

Good article questioning the design of the new Nokia phone that has many salivating.

posted @ 10:51 AM | archive_link | Comment

My lungs felt like they were going to explode today. I don't know what the dealio is, but it was not cool. I still pushed myself hard and got in the high 9s for a 5 mile run this morning. My coach and assitant coach both got some viral thing and they described running with it like running with a half a lung...and that was what I felt like today...I really, really, really don't want to have gotten whatever they got.

Tomorrow my buddy travis is coming down so we can geek out together. He wants to know about blogs...and it will only get geekier from there. :) I am totally stoked about his visit! Hopefully the weather will be kick ass tomorrow so we can go enjoy the best thing on the central coast...the sun and the beach!

posted @ 9:48 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, April 16, 2003

I have been reading Po Bronson's new book entitled, "What should I do with my life?" (a fast company article about the book with excerpts). It is pretty intresting and is akin to a shrink refelecting about his personal career, the lessons he learned from his clients and how the two are related. I don't know that reading it will help anyone answer the question, but it certainly serves as a good start point for the discussion. Here is a quick excerpt:

"Lately, I've found myself talking about what I call the Brilliant Masses. The Brilliant Masses are composed of nothing less than the many great people of our generation, the bright, the talented, the intelligent, the resourceful, and the creative - far too many of whom are operating at quarter speed, unsure of their place in the world, contributing far too little to the productive engine of modern civilization, still feeling like observers, all feeling like they haven't come close to living up to their potential. The Brilliant Masses are mostly intellectually motivated, so if they cross over and get involved, their commitment is conditioned on being respected, and conditioned on a minimum of unnecessary idiocy, and conditioned on winning/succeeding. They like being cerebral. In their tribes, it's cool."

posted @ 2:17 PM | archive_link | Comment

Fuzzy Rappers. This is some pretty funny shit...you need quicktime, but watch this and feel free to laugh out loud. From davezilla.

posted @ 1:01 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, April 15, 2003

Sweeeeeeeeet. From the leet internet surfing skills of my main man Ezar, the code monkey!

posted @ 1:10 PM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, April 14, 2003

Giants get another win tonight! I was scared during the top of the ninth, but they pulled it out beautifully. Damn, they are sizzling right now!

Hit up a short 3 mile run today, but for the first time I got into the 9s for my pace. High 9s, but the 9s nonetheless. It is really good to feel and see progress through training.

posted @ 10:45 PM | archive_link | Comment

In Searching the Web, Google Finds Riches. A nice little NYT peice on Google with some numbers on their revenue...

posted @ 9:24 PM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, April 13, 2003

guywilliamwelch.com. Another one bites the dust...welcome to the blogging world.

Honestly, Guy is one of the smartest and wittiest people (almost said guys...) I know. He has a very grounded yet unique take on the world. Plus, his dry humor could give a brit a run for the money. Do I have high expectations for mr. welch? Yes. Will he deliver? Yes.

posted @ 10:30 PM | archive_link | Comment

BAM! Bottom of the 12th and the Giants sweep, let me say that again, SWEEP the dodgers.

posted @ 9:37 PM | archive_link | Comment

Blogging and Baseball...america's new favorite combo (up there with garlic and fries, jack and coke, and in and out).

posted @ 9:26 PM | archive_link | Comment

HOLY SHIT! Out at Third again...god it sucks to be a dodger fan tonight!

posted @ 9:21 PM | archive_link | Comment

I hate the ump tonight.

posted @ 9:12 PM | archive_link | Comment

So I can't spell, google still loves me.

posted @ 9:11 PM | archive_link | Comment

YES! I am watching the top of the 11th...2 on with no outs to start out...and NO DODGER RUNS!

posted @ 9:07 PM | archive_link | Comment

Yesterday's run was hardcore. For those of you who know San Luis Obispo we ran from Broad & South (meadow park) to the Avila Beach exit (San Luis Bay Dr.), out to the gated community, and then back town. The first 12 miles were solid at ~11 mintue mile pace that felt good. Then I started to feel the distance and by the time I got to 15.5 miles I slowed down to a walk. I was a bit bummed since the last 4 miles brought me up to just under 12 mintue miles. Plus my legs were just done at the end. I still have a month and a half to get the endurance down, but it was a bit of reality check about how long 26.2 miles is going to be. Regardless, I felt like a champ for doing 16 miles before noon on a Saturday.

After the run I took my coach's advice and tried out the fabled ice bath. I filled the tub with 75% of the ice from the freezer and started to water all the way to the right. FREAKING COLD is an understatment. But after sitting in it for about 10 mintues my legs felt much better and I am now a firm believer in the mythical power of the ice bath. My one additional piece of advice is to augment the ice bath with a nice hot water bath a few mintues later. Anyhow...

The rest of the weekend was pretty chill. Watched 40 days and 40 nights which was pretty funny. Had a bit of a chick story hidden among the obvious guy humor movie it was packaged as. Also caught Blue Crush. I know, I know...but I had to see the surfing (riggggggggggggggght). One thing to say about the movie...I think living in Hawaii for a little while would be awesome. It is so beautiful that I can't believe it is real some times. Plus if I could find a Kate Bosworth I would be a happy man. Lol.

In other news, I got my taxes done and mailed this week. Over the last few years I have tried a bunch of approaches from tax software to H & R Block, but this year I did it by hand. Why you ask? A good friend's Dad started working at the IRS and he relayed to me that Tax software often screws up people's tax returns and that the individual is still liable for all mistakes. When I took it to H & R Block I was very unhappy with the quality and throughness of my return. So I took the time to read and learn the tax law and went ahead and filled out the forms. It was actually pretty straight forward and I couldn't believe how easy it was to actually do them by hand. I did have my Dad's CPA review them, but now that I have done it once by hand I am pretty confident about the whole process. If you have a full copy of Adobe Acrobat (not just the free reader) you can download all the forms from the IRS and easily fill them out and submit a clean typed copy (actually even if you have the free reader you can fill them out on the computer and print, but it is really nice to be able to save the digital copy). Something to consider if you have pretty straight forward tax situation.

Anyhow, back to the Giants game. GO GIANTS...sweep (kinda...yesterday's game got rained out) the Dodgers!!!

posted @ 6:42 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, April 11, 2003

Tomorrow I have a 16 mile run. That is going to be a doozy. I am carb loading a bit tonight (bread, and lots of it) and going to take it easy so I can nail the run. The cool part about it, is I used to run distance at about 15 mintues a mile. Now I am down to 11-12 mintues. So if I had to run 16 miles when I first started training it would have taken 4 hours...now it should take right around 3 hours to get it done this weekend. That is some cool progress in my opinion. Oh, and yesterday's run was almost a new record for me...it was 4 miles long and I did the first 2 right under 20 minutes, but on the back 2 I slowed down and finished the whole thing at 10:30 pace. I think I will be able to get runs less than 5 miles to under 10 minute miles soon. I am pretty excited about that because I have never broken 10 mintue miles in my life. Have a good weekend everybody!

posted @ 4:26 PM | archive_link | Comment

I shit primes for breakfast.

posted @ 1:22 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, April 10, 2003

Getting air play is cool.

posted @ 3:26 PM | archive_link | Comment

Blah. Actually double that Blah, Blah. Thats all I got.

posted @ 12:11 PM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, April 07, 2003

So we had a little party this weekend. Totally bitching (except for the day after's hang over and clean up chores) with lots of great friends from the area and out of town coming to the event. Like the previous Big Bad Birthday Luaus we roasted a pig, made lots of jungle juice, and made sure people got lei-ed. The weather cooperated...sorta....it was nice and sunny, but a bit too windy to be called a nice day. Anyhow...as the saying goes...a picture is worth a thousand words...so go here to see 50,000 words or so about the party.

Oh, and best part about the party...we raised over $600 for TNT and the Society. Thanks to everyone that came out and helped celebrate our birthdays and support the cause!

posted @ 11:53 PM | archive_link | Comment

Gas Protection Thanks Garrett.

posted @ 5:19 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, April 03, 2003

Get involved. I think I might wet my pants from laughing at this.

posted @ 2:21 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, April 02, 2003

Oh forgot to mention...knocked out a great 7 mile run today. Time was getting closer to breaking 11 mintue miles...and if I did that I would be SOOOOOO excited. Only bad part was some pretty nasty side stiches that slowed me down at the begining and the end. Need to talk to the coach about those...and probably need to start eating bananas. G'night.

posted @ 1:48 AM | archive_link | Comment

Got my second surprise of my b-day...a bunch of friends that live in SLO town were waiting for me at Firestone to celebrate the b-day during dinner. Not only did they surprise me with their presence, but they also caught me off guard with a ton of water guns that were used to soak me in assorted places. By the end of dinner I was completely soggy, but totally full of great food and good vibes from my friends. Plus Darnell, the man that keeps firestone running day in and day out, took a couple of special jabs at me over the mike to make sure everyone knew that 25 might as well be 30. Rat fink. :)

I also spoke with my Grandfather in India. He is 90 years old and still goes to work every day to make sure things get done. He has had an increadible life and never ever ceases to remind me about what is important. I am going to attempt to see him (and all of my relativies in india) this year after I finish up my master's thesis work and before I start my next challenge. Being born and raised in America but having the majority of my relatives in India has always been a challenge as I don't get to see or interact with them as much as any of us would like. Plus the cultural and language diffrences between the countries contributes to the challenge of communication. I wonder what (if I have any) my children's relationship with India will be like.

All in all it was a great birthday with many friends and family making time to call, write, or IM me happy birthday wishes. I felt really loved and can't believe how lucky I am to have so many good friends and family members in my life. I am truly blessed and need to make sure I never ever forget that. Thank you to everyone that shares sooo much with me.

posted @ 1:46 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, April 01, 2003

Today I am the big 25. Maybe not wiser, and probably not smarter, but definetly older.

My folks popped a good birthday surprise on me on sunday night...after we got back for dinner about 30 friends were waiting to scare the shit out of me surprise me. Mom got my favorite cake and everyone hung out and had some food and drinks for a while. Then we kicked on the HT and drooled for a while. I forgot how great the picture quality was on the Grand Wega II.

Saturday was spent running (10 miles again...felt good overall though I walked a bit more towards the end than I wanted), driving (first to the cupertino, then to san francisco), and playing (hit up Steps of Rome for dinner, The View for round one of drinks, The Skylark for round two of drinks) in the sf. Not a bad weekend.

posted @ 11:08 AM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, March 29, 2003

My computer just took a really random dump. CMOS lost state, and all settings and clock were wiped. Not sure if the CMOS battery is dead, or if something else happened. Talk about being scared out of my shorts though...i really do need to by a DVD-burner and back up my stuff.

posted @ 7:47 AM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, March 28, 2003

you have got to be kidding.

posted @ 2:38 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Time to catch everyone up on my personal life since I know no one comes here for the links….

Saturday was my "longest" run to date...going 13 miles. I put longest in quotes, because while our coach said it was 13 miles, the consensus from our team is that it was only 10 to 11 miles long. Still my longest run, but not the magic half marathon number. It was in Atascadero and was boiling hot on the back half. Towards the end of the run a toolbox fell out of a truck driving next to us, and we played goodie to shoes and picked up the mess. The best part of the run was getting to chat with my mentor Michael and another Mentor April. We paced the back half together and had a blast chatting. Overall, I felt good, but my right thigh was bothering me....not sure what is going on there, but if it continues, I will have to get it checked out.

Saturday afternoon was spent wine tasting (3 times in the last 5 weekends...what a great life). Went with a bunch of old friends from the dorms who all came back in town to party like we were freshmen again. All in all, it was a total blast. After wine tasting we hit up happy hour at the hotel everyone was staying at (free drinks!!!) and then headed downtown. I was pretty pooped and came home around midnight (after not drinking for 5 hours) and crashed out. But I did have some fun at Firestone and then at Mission Grill. A pretty cute girl asked me for my number, so we shall see if I get a call (I put the chances in the low 40s). Lol.

Sunday was recovery day...wrote some code and everyone I went wine tasting with came by to check out the pad. We played some pool and video games and then everyone headed out.

Jumping back a few days, on Thursday my friend Zack, Dr. Larry Gorman, and I hiked bishop's peak in SLO town. The hike was solid, with some rocks at the end that took a bit of effort. The reward (view) was incredible and I can't wait to try another trail up there. Thursday night headed out to downtown SLO for farmers market and checked out the downtown scene. We ended up at SLO Brew, where a new band, Pepper, I am totally digging was playing. Found this pretty cool feature on MSN Entertainment that gives you "sounds like" album comparisons. If you liked sublime, you will probably like pepper. Funny story about this whole thing is, my friend Scott got me listening to them last weekend, I went and bought the album on wednesday, and then ended up buying it again so they could sign it on thursday night. I really do think the music industry can go fly a kite...i have had the MP3s since scott clued me into them, but i bought the albums because I really dig the band.

Zack and our other buddy Justin and his galpal Martina (aka Smartina, Tunes, Stunes) and two of the roomies head over to the Cliffs for a little happy hour that turned into dinner. Followed that up with a good scary as shit movie...The Ring. I don't want to be a spoiler (my friend chris has taught me to be sensitive to that), but i would totally recommend watching it. Great ending and good freak factor. Only bummer is I now need to go see Ring-U.

Now to continue with this stream of consciousness writing, I am going to jump back to today. Knocked out a 7.5 mile run this afternoon…started a little tough, but I settled in and knocked it out at about 11 minute mile pace. Also hit up a great lunch with Nikole at High Street Deli. I forgot how good their sandwiches are…piled high with fresh veggies, good tasty meat, and super fresh bread…man, oh man…I really do love good food.

Good food brings to mind my dinner last week at 7 Hands ….WHAT A FEAST. My friend Bill and I went huge and had the chef’s grand tasting menu…and boy was it huge. Here is the break down:

Course 1: cardamom crusted sashimi with a dried sashimi slice over the top and surrounded by a sweet soy based sauce. The cardamom added a great and unique flavor to the sashimi and the fish freshness was excellent. The dried fish was interesting, but not memorable.

Course 2: lobster shooter in a tomato absinth sauce. Marvelous flavor and fully enjoyable…

Course 3: cold citrus soup with sliced citrus, avocado, cilantro, and fresh sweet citrus sorbet. This was a very unique soup that relied on the combination of ingredients mix in the mouth in order to offset each other in a tasty manner. Great flavor when it worked, but too much of anyone thing ruined the balance…

Course 4: seared ahi tuna with Fois Gras. Not a big fan of duck liver, but the tuna was good.

Course 5: Mac and Cheese…with lobster, black truffles, and mascarpone cheese. Unreal…perhaps my favorite dish of the entire evening.

Course 6: Caribou steak medallions with goat cheese flan. Very tender and extremely flavorful. The goat cheese flan was super tasty and did a good job complimenting the caribou flavor.

Course 7: Cheese souffle with dates, crumbled blue cheese and fresh mini pear. The blue cheese and dates were incredible. The souffle did not have enough flavor for me…

Course 8: Chocolate Creme-Brule. 'Nuff said.

I am glad I am running...but even then I wouldn’t recommend eating that much on any sort of regular basis. Bill eats out like that for a living (he is in sales/marketing of sorts) and says he runs 4 miles a day just to keep the ship on course. I think 8 might have been needed after that meal.

Final notes of this post...next week I turn 25. Kinda feel weird about that...but not sure why. Cheaper car insurance is cool, and 25 is the first b-day since 21 that has any sort of significance (even if it is just because it is divisible by 5). Anyhow…more to come on that later…

Oh, go watch Roger Dodger. Peace.

posted @ 2:15 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, March 24, 2003

USA today reports that for many, their cell phone have become their only phone (from gizmodo).I haven't had a landline for almost 3 years now and have only given out my cell number for almost 5 years. Many of my friends are similar and I often never hear from them if I leave them a message at home. With AT&T's unlimited mobile plan I was in hog heaven...but now I am back to verizon and paying a bit more for less phone (time and hardware...I miss using my t68 and bluetooth headset...btw, anyone want to buy them?). I bet within 5 years the vast majority of people under 30 only have cell phones.

What I can't wait for is for when phone calls are just made, like email is just sent. It doesn't matter where, who, or how you are calling...it is just data being transmited over a network. So many walls will be brought down when that can happen. I have deja vu...maybe I have said this before....

posted @ 11:29 PM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, March 23, 2003

wouldn't that be intresting from dave.

posted @ 10:58 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, March 21, 2003

So much to write, and so little time. I just set up this to help my group of friends in discussing current events. My friend zack is in town from NYC en route to his new house/career/life in Newport Beach. I have been working on a side project to get a little work lined up. Oh, and did I mention I am trying to ready and digest all that is going on right now? Finally, I have been "working" on my thesis project. More to come later today, but for now email me if you are intrested in joining the Talk team blog and want to throw in your two cents.

posted @ 10:55 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, March 19, 2003

Heads up, this blog post is a pretty sharp departure from what I usually write about.


For the past few months I have been pretending to be an ostrich. I was just sort of minding my business and focusing on the immediate issues of my day to day life. But Monday's news about world events triggered me to re-evaluate my complacency. I took a little while to read several big media articles, President Bush’s speech, and the blogsphere (the blogging collective) in order to get educated. I would link to them all, but I don’t want to try to make this a “researched” tit-for-tat type article…rather I want to keep it in the domain of an opinion based on my currently internalized data and mindset. With all that said, let me get down to some of my thoughts.


I think disarming Iraq and removing Hussein from power is the right thing to do because both expose the national security of the United States to large amounts of risk for the following reasons:

• Hussein has demonstrated his willingness to use WoMD on his own people and enemies
  
• Hussein has demonstrated his desire and intention to continue to acquire WoMD
  
• Hussein has demonstrated complete disregard for UN policies and has not made a good faith effort to disarm
  
• Hussein has demonstrated the contempt he has for the United States and other “western” powers
  
• Hussein has demonstrated his willingness to kill for political and monetary goals.

War is not something anyone in the world should ever want or aim to achieve, but I believe that it is the only method (both in the current situation and historically since the first gulf war left Hussein in control of Iraq) available to disarm Iraq and remove Hussein from power.


I could spend significant time defending my belief, however I decided that the rest of my writing is not going to focus on the right or wrong of starting this war, but rather on what caused the strongly polar divergent opinion in the world on the need to disarm Iraq and Hussein by force. I acknowledge that by trying to explain why there is so much polar opinions on this issue I am, at one level, defending the decision to go to war. I will also expand on my concerns are about the outcome and the subsequent future. This is something I have not heard a lot of my friends talk about, and think it is an important discussion as the war is eminent but the outcomes and future are not.


One of the major causes of polar opinions was the poor and irresponsible diplomacy demonstrated by members of the UN. All governments (and people for that matter) hold their own interests in clear view when it comes to making politically sensitive and strategic decisions. Individual countries can not be expected to do more, but it is disheartening when such decisions result in broken agreements and damaged relationships that set back the worlds ability to make progress as a race. I am of course referencing the shenanigans that France and Russia pulled at the UN. By threatening to veto any resolution that came before the Security counsel these countries prematurely ended consensus building discussions and effectively ended the worldwide discussion completely. By ending the worldwide discussion opinions could no longer be converged upon, but rather now opinions have been forced into extremes.


An additional issue that contributed to the polar opinion of people is the mixed messages that the White House has given throughout the national and world wide discussion of the situation. These mixed messages could have been avoided by assessing what our risk exposure was in 1991 after Desert Storm (can someone please tell me why he was left in power?), and then again after 9/11 when it was apparent that the risk presented by Iraq/Hussein was larger than was tolerable. If our government believed that significant threat to national security existed and that force was going to be necessary to eliminate it they should have taken decisive action early and effectively. Instead we got messages that the government wanted to seek diplomatic methods to disarm Hussein while it acted as if it knew that force was going to be necessary to achieve this goal. Add in the fact that the current President made some inappropriate comments about the situation (I don’t find the fact that Hussein tried to kill your dad a valid reason to ask Americans to risk their lives…) and you have another reason why opinions are so heated.


I am now going to move to my concerns about the outcomes and the future. First and foremost, I am concerned about our country’s long term foreign policy goals. President Bush’s speech fundamentally changes our foreign policy and our willingness to use force and ultimatums overtly. While, it appears that the present situation requires these short term actions, I am very unclear on what it means for the long term. What is really scary is that I do not have confidence that our government knows what it intends in the long term either. Are we going to go after “evil” countries as soon as the Iraqi situation is solved? Furthermore, what defines a solution to the Iraqi situation? From what I have internalized, it is appears that removing Hussein and weapons of mass destruction are all that are being focused on. There is some nice rhetoric about Iraqi citizens jumping for joy to be free, and “plans” to re-build Iraq as a democracy, but how do we plan on doing this without pissing off the whole Middle East? I want actual plans and commitments for the White House, not just words and hand waving to help me alleviate this worry.


Next concern is the damage that has been inflicted on the international relationships and political community. This is just fucked. How much “payback” will have to be doled out before the world can move forward and keep working towards playing nice with each other? BTW, when I say payback, I mean both political maneuvering as well as terrorism that could potentially arise. Both are serious and real possibilities now that this war is going to move forward.


I am starting to get tired, and I am guessing you must be getting bored. My last thought is that War is never something to enter into lightly, but sometimes is a required in order to achieve security and safety objectives. I hope in my heart that this use of force is brief, causes the minimum loss of life for all sides, and results in safer place to live in for everyone (but am not convinced that that is going to happen as of yet).

posted @ 9:49 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

Finished up a nice ~6 mile run this morning. I have to say I might live in one of the most amazingly beautiful places in the world...especially for running. I ran south and got a killer view of pismo and the ocean and then cut back up north and ran ocean side for the back half of the run. Finished up the run on a cliff over looking 50 surfers catching waves...it was unreal. Cut out a solid pace for the distance and hope I can keep dropping my time as training progresses.

posted @ 11:03 AM | archive_link | Comment

Some light hearted food stuff, because this war is weighing on my mind.

Nuvo (no web link :( ) is a killer new tapas and gourmet sandwich joint in downtown san luis obipso. Located across from Mother's Tavern where Kona's used to be it is a very tasty joint. Super fresh breads, daily made soups, and kick butt sandwiches help make it a pretty place for the lunch time business crowd. Plus, it looks to have incredible desserts (I didn't sample them, but did look at the tray and almost get hungry enough to order one). It is part of the new trend in SLO town of upper scale joints targeted at the local 30 somethings yuppies and the older established people of this town.

In that same style Madisons, the old greek favorite, has been replaced by Blue, again no web link. This is a louge inspired joint with leather stuff and a darker ambiance featuring not to loud music and more called drinks than I have seen in a while. However, I am not as enthusiastic about Blue as I am Nuvo...it is a something that is going to do well in town (from what I can tell), but i don't think it was laid out well enough or that it uses the space it has well. Adittionally, their tapas (so trendy that even SLO town has two tapas restraunts now!!!), are overpriced and under wheleming in taste and proprotion. Nevertheless, the late 20 somethings (now me...yikes!) and early 30 somethings will embrace this joint because it is a notch diffrent then the rest of downtown bar scene.

Finally, tonight I am going to "Seven Hands on Higera." It has been billed as the best food in town by several people I trust. They have a definite gourmet look and feel (big plates, little food) and focus on the concept of a tasting menu. I am looking forward to trying it and will report back tomorrow.

posted @ 10:27 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, March 17, 2003

I own this search query! It is a very happy day in bubba land.

posted @ 7:51 PM | archive_link | Comment

toy cars. I really do love the internet.

posted @ 6:12 PM | archive_link | Comment

Ladies, memorize 408-344-9412 for those nights when you go out without me.

posted @ 4:56 PM | archive_link | Comment

It looks like karen has moved to her new site and done a little update to the graphics on her frontpage. Suh-weet!

posted @ 4:50 PM | archive_link | Comment

Google PR. This is the first peice of google PR I have ever seen. Makes me wonder if they are picking up that they can't be a blackbox to the world because it risks their image and trust with customers. More to the point, it looks more and more like a hell of a place to work. I am not sure I am turned on by search tweaking, but maybe there is something there (blogger?) that I can get into...i wonder if they have any bozo bloat yet?

posted @ 8:33 AM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, March 16, 2003

A little marathon training update....it was raining cats and dogs yesterday morning, so our team long run was cancelled. Nevertheless, my teammateTrevor and I decided to get some milage in at the Cal Poly Rec center. We trucked over there, and put in 99 mintues on the treadmills (max amount of time you can dial in). Luckily, Trevor and I had a enough to bullshit about (including stuff we didn't need to be discussing in a crowded co-ed gym, but oh well) otherwise I think my mind would have suffocated from the boredom that is treadmill running. I have to say, I thought I was going to puke when we stopped because of the world was still moving at about 5.5 miles an hour while I was just standing.

Besides training, I headed up to my good friend Steve's house for his big 29th birthday bash! Between green beer, corned beef, and the oodles of intresting people Steve knows it was a GREAT time. It definitely got me ready for the Big Bad Birthday Luau V that is coming up in a three short weeks! Stay tuned for more details, but know this...there will be a PIG!!!

posted @ 9:46 PM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, March 15, 2003

Practice your aim in a safe, clean and dry enviorment.

posted @ 12:43 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, March 14, 2003

Dude, I am using Virtual PC...it is SICK! What a great app...lets me run an os in an os!!! I am digging around to see if I can find my old OSX cds so I can run some of the cool mac blogging software out there. On my next software project I am going to buy multiple licenses to VirtualPC and give'em out like candy to the test, pm, and dev teams. Fil is a fan of VMware, but I am not sure there is major functional diffrence (UI for sure) but the functionality is similar, and from what I read VMware is a bit faster, but not a huge diff with 5.0. Special thanks to my buddy Jason Weber for hooking me up with a legit copy of VPC a bit back.

posted @ 6:24 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, March 13, 2003

Something new for the found bubba section of my site.

posted @ 8:34 PM | archive_link | Comment

for my old friends...and me now a days.

posted @ 5:11 PM | archive_link | Comment

toys rule! from gizmodo.

posted @ 2:27 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, March 12, 2003

My roommate greg is one smart cat. He observed that the game of pool, and more specifically 8 ball, has a built in catch up system much like most modern video games. You know, when you are down by 55 points and all of a sudden you become a stud and catch every ball, break tackles, and dunk like shaq was your little brother. Well, in pool two things happen when you are losing:

1. You have more possible shots on the table to take and make.
2. Your opponent has harder shots to take because of working around the mine field that you have left for him.

Thus pool continues to remain fun even when you are getting the crap kicked out of you.

Pool is my new vice.

posted @ 11:48 PM | archive_link | Comment

My car hit 40K miles today...I feel like I just bought it last year!

posted @ 5:04 PM | archive_link | Comment

So my friend Lisa just busted my balls over email. She says enough geek (though she like those posts) and more speak on TNT and the marathon. So, here I go....Yesterday was a killer day with a very nice run. 5 miles up and down the frontage roads of Shell and Pismo Beach. Ocean was visible the whole time, and the run felt good. My pace is steadily improving (about 1.5 minutes a mile faster then when I started) and I would love to break 5 hours for the actual marathon.

I have been a bit concerned because last week's long run hurt my achilles and my coach told me to chill for a few days (5...including the first long run I have skipped all season). I could feel the achilles a bit yesterday, but I think it isn't muscle based, but rather friction based. I think my shoe is rubbing and noticed that my left shoe is a bit looser than my right shoe (left achilles what is bothering me). Other than that, just normal runners pains - shin splints and general leg soreness.

Overall I feel really good about training and I can't believe I can run the distances I can. Still have a long way to go with training...this weekend we go big; 12 miles to be exact. Coming up in April, our team is going to do the Wine Country 1/2 Marathon in Paso Robles as our long run for the week. Pretty cool, eh? Rumor has it Christina & Lisa are going to motivate and run it with us...right?

posted @ 8:33 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, March 11, 2003

P2P gurilla marketing! I freaking love it (well not the music industry part...but rather the fake p2p files part). We talked about doing this for a beta of a project I worked on a while ago, but canned the idea...XXX_HOT_CHICKS.exe could be more than meets the eye! :> Actually, speaking of that, why aren't there more p2p viruses? I can't imagine that it would be that hard to create a virus that modifies the kazza.exe and then replicates itself like mad throughout the network. It could easily hi-jack incoming requests (file and search) and seriously fuck shit up. Hell, I wonder why the music industry hasn't created a seek and destroy mp3 virus...once downloaded it would delete all non-drmed mp3s on a users hard drive. I could totally see them fucking doing that too. When are they going to understand I don't care about the fucking bits anymore...I care about the access to my music. I will give you 20 bucks a month if I can easily listen to anything I want from any device I own, without toooo much waiting, sound quality degredation, or work on my part. Oh, and isn't if funny how fucking smug the music industry dudes are in the article? Its is like hahah, we finally won something...to bad you look like total dill weeds for so freaking long (not that they don't look like total ass for this, but now at least they aren't being whiney). Sigh....end rant.

posted @ 11:24 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, March 10, 2003

psychic flash ball...Math is cool! (from metafilter)

posted @ 11:44 PM | archive_link | Comment

Here is a pic of the copter that landed next to the house:



Turns out it was just a drill, but good to know that I can get out of here in a jiffy if needed. :>

posted @ 9:20 PM | archive_link | Comment

Well this was crazy...a helicopter just landed next to my house. Like i am sitting 50 feet from it now. It blew all the shit out of trees too..so they look cleaner now.

Heading over there to check it out now.

posted @ 1:02 PM | archive_link | Comment

This is clutch for when you are getting a new phone number! Thanks fil!

posted @ 11:28 AM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, March 09, 2003

Neato. thanks seb.

posted @ 8:03 PM | archive_link | Comment

Hey, all you corporate type friends of mine...read this on email and productivity.

posted @ 2:54 PM | archive_link | Comment

A couple of things occured to me today:

1. Why the hell did the marketing morons at Exress/Structure decide to rename Structure to Express for Men? I was happy to shop at structure, but am not happy to shop at Express for Men. Maybe it is just me that has this dislike, but a few friends have also expressed similar opinions...way to go marketing morons!

2. Warm sun + good beverages (cold beer and good wine) = great afternoon.

3. Wine is really a complicated subject. But it is a cool complicated subject. Some people know a lot about it and can give you the exact reasons for how one wine is diffrent from another, or how the way it was made affects such and such character. Other people can only say it taste good or it taste bad...but regardless of this range of abilities, people can still hang out and go wine tasting together as long as they are open minded and don't rag on each other (too much anyhow). That isn't always the case with other complicated subjects.

4. Driving fast on a back country road is really fun.

5. Why is it so hard to find a good pair of shorts in march in california? Doesn't compute.

posted @ 1:36 AM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, March 08, 2003

Rumor has it some MS wigs are checking out this site...if so, smile...you are on Candid Camera! :>

posted @ 9:56 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, March 06, 2003

Okay, bust this link to make your day much better. Shiggity Shiggity Shwa...the flag sound track rocks!

posted @ 9:05 PM | archive_link | Comment

Does anyone know if it is "fair use" if start a gallery of past Google front page logos? Today's (michalenglo) is quite unique and I am intrested to see if they continue to expermient with them. Traditionally they have kept the color scheme (blue, red, yellow, blue, green, red) and font of the "Google" word static and then added some graphics (ie hearts on v-day). Today, they totally changed the font and color of the logo for big mike's birthday. Intresting, no?

Man, I could see a coffee table book coming out with Google front page logos with commentary...wouldn't that be the sheik geek item to have?

Update (3/8/2003): the comments show the way to a few resources that are already dedicated to this very pursuit...I love it when what I want already exisits!

posted @ 12:53 PM | archive_link | Comment

Dude, my friend Dana just set out to really help me with fund rasing for the Marathon! Check out the mail she just sent to all of her friends:

As some of you know my good friend's mother just passed away from Leukemia at age 55. Coincidentally, my other friend from Cal Poly (Bubba) is part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Cancer Society in the Central Coast and is running in the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon on June 1st, 2003 to help raise money. He will be wearing a bracelet with my friend's mother's name on it in her memory and this battle she had with Leukemia for one month. Your contribution is 100% tax-deductible and checks can be made out to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

If you haven't already take a moment to support the Lukemia and Lymphoma society, please help out now. People of all ages are affected and the research benfits all forms of cancer in the long run! Thanks!

posted @ 12:19 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, March 05, 2003

Oh, and my friend kevin sent me this. I started to read it and it looks intresting...funny I just read this subaverage article a bit a go as well!

posted @ 5:34 PM | archive_link | Comment

I am back after being MIA for a few days (as several of you noted). I had all of my work items for the thesis converage in the last few days....a two hour presentation and usability study seriously cramped my blogging style! Good news is it is all done, the better news is the prof I did the presentation about CSCW and Blogs for wants me to deliever it as a departmental colloqium (spelling?), the best news was the UI model I estabilished for my blogging tool made sense and garnered positive praise from the usability study! Nice tripple hit! Of course the bad side, is I now have to burn some fuel to get it up and running!!! No more fluffy stuff...I got real work to do now!

On a diffrent note, why is Murphy so mean? I practice my little presentation, know what I want to do...and then Blogger.com won't auth me when I try to log into my account from the presentation computer...crash and burn! I had to back up into Greymatter that I installed on my school acount. Brutal. F murphy and his stupid law!

Went and checked out my friend's new house...in avila (a nearby beach town)...AMAZING VIEW! They are up on a hill and are having the house built to spec for themselves. I wish I had my camera because you would not believe how cool the view was! Anyhow...time to go watch the sunset from my backyard...:) I love shell beach!

posted @ 5:29 PM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, March 02, 2003

This is an example of a post.

posted @ 9:25 AM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, February 28, 2003

kinda cool...shorterlink...does what it says.

posted @ 3:43 PM | archive_link | Comment

I flaked last week, but I am putting off working on my thesis right now, so this seems like a good use of time:

Friday Five
note: some gives it a thumbs down, but some are up for trying it...leave a comment with what you think
1. What is your favorite type of literature to read (magazine, newspaper, novels, nonfiction, poetry, etc.)?
It really depends on location. In bed, I am a fictional book (sci fi or fantsy) reader, on the couch or at my desk is best for technical books, the throne requries magazines or history books (yes, history books).

2. What is your favorite novel?
I hate questions like this (fil might be right). I would say Siddartha because every time I read it I learn something new about myself and my thoughts around spirtuality and religion.

3. Do you have a favorite poem? (Share it!)
Can't claim that I do...but I do like to bust out baby got back on a regular basis.

4. What is one thing you've always wanted to read, or wish you had more time to read?
5. New York Times, Sunday Edition
4. A good book on Chess Strategy
3. Design Patterns
2. Godel, Esher, Bach - an Eternal Golden Braid
and drum roll please....
1. The Bible (though I am not sure what version, King James, Gideon's, or another one).

5. What are you currently reading?
John Adams by David McCullough
Pretty intresting, if a bit tough to get into and read actively. Adams is a remarkably intresting charcter that got little to no air play in my us history courses. He is also on my list of historical people study in order to have historical mentors as through my lifetime.

Mmm...I don't think that was all together a complete waste of time...it was kind of fun to go and find links to things I hadn't thought about for a while. :)

posted @ 2:27 PM | archive_link | Comment

Check out this little USA today article. Running is tough!

posted @ 2:00 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, February 27, 2003

I just got the iRiver MP3 player...seems loads better then the POS MuVo. Nice little LCD screen, simple and very usable software (my biggest worry), an FM tuner, and folder support for grouping "playlists" on the device. Only real complaints is the stupid plastic hook and lack of an arm band for running with it. Oh, and it was a bit more expensive than I would like, but then again what toy isn't?

posted @ 11:57 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, February 26, 2003

I have always dreamed of something like this happening. I hope they don't fuck it up and forget to do the following:

1. tie it into phyiscal mail as well.
2. make the UID possible for humans to remember
3. not address the security/privacy issue in a flexible manner through a multi access level system. Stranges go to one box, family to another, etc....

This idea + single rate phone calls = new era in human history. With communication boundries erased, the world totally changes and becomes a whole hella of alot level for a lot of people and ideas!

posted @ 12:22 PM | archive_link | Comment

The MuVo is the biggest peice of shit ever....DO NOT BUY ONE. This is the second one I am returning. I have yet to have mine work for more than 2 weeks, and have spent more money on shipping and time on the phone that this piece of turd is worth. My earlier rant about it was not enough, I am now fuck creative labs camp.

Now, for the upshot of this...the guys I bought it from, ecost, really have outstanding customer support. I just got off the phone, and they said sure, we will let you return it and sorry it sucked. Totally cool of them. Anyhow...back to the salt mines!

posted @ 11:21 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

I just did a kick butt 5 mile run. It went south along the coast and then double back through my little town and along my most favorite park in the area. Plus, I kept up a really good pace during the whole thing! I am really starting to catch stride! Yipee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, 5 miles is now an "easy" run. Scary!

posted @ 6:59 PM | archive_link | Comment

audblog audio post

posted @ 2:51 PM | archive_link | Comment

audblog audio post

posted @ 2:50 PM | archive_link | Comment

Last night I ***finally*** finished all of my donation letters for Team in Training fund raising.

If you are intrested in sponsoring my run and helping fund research to cure leukemia check out this letter and then donate online here. The donation is 100% tax free and will help find a cure.

If you have any question about the run, the program, or the experince please drop me a line!

posted @ 9:00 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, February 24, 2003

Check out the new content on the right hand menu...pages for the marathon, poker, bubba stuff, and a major update of my links page. Have fun....

posted @ 11:28 AM | archive_link | Comment

Its alive...its alive! Go download it today....:)

posted @ 10:58 AM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, February 22, 2003

Okay, I am pretty stoked..I ran 9 miles this morning. It was a hilly course in Atascadero, but overall I felt really good. I can't believe I ran 9 miles already. Next week is 10, and from there it only gets bigger...in 2 months or so I will be at 20 freaking miles! Anyhow, you should be getting mail from me soon (if I have your email or mailing address) filling you in a bit more on Team in Training and the marathon. If you want to get a copy and you aren't sure if I have your info please email me your 411 asap!

posted @ 4:48 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, February 20, 2003

Don't buy the MuVo as it is a POS. I am on my second one (the first one failed after the its second use), and it just crapped out on me. However, after futzing around with it for 20 mintues I got it to come back to life (not quite sure how that worked out, but hey don't question the small stuff) sans all the music I had copied over. Now, i am waiting for it to copy over music again (not to mention I have to hunt and for songs again...bastards!!!)

To compound all of this, I think it is all because the device firmware is crappy...it pisses me off royally when a company doesn't take time to do things right, and instead rushes off some crap that could have been good with a little more fit and finish.

In general, I have been ***very*** unhappy with creative products (also have a jukebox), and think today's experince has pushed me into the never again if I can help it catergory. As they say...Buh-bye Creative!

posted @ 9:56 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, February 19, 2003

This totally fucking classic. If I ever met him, I am going to buy him a beer!

posted @ 11:54 PM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Oh, and another bites the dust! My friend Chris, an avid movie watcher and fellow geek has started a blog (maybe I can even claim I influnced him a bit?) to discuss movies and other things that occur to him. His site name is a refrence to a Clerks scene where one of the charcters, who works at a movie rental store, claims to not watch movies. If you haven't seen Clerks...go rent it....NOW! Oh yeah, his site is at:

idontwatchmovies.com

posted @ 10:11 PM | archive_link | Comment

I can't tell if I like this or not. Maybe if a few of my blogging buddies would sign up for it (hint, hint, nudge, nudge) it would be a worthwhile thing to try out...I will get the ball started and try it this friday. Deal?

posted @ 9:00 PM | archive_link | Comment

FYI (from haloscan.com):

Update We have found that the cause of the recent problems with the service were caused by a hardware failure in the database server. We are working to replace that server completely but in the meantime we have a backup loaded. No comments have been lost but we have temporarily disabled the posting of comments to the server until we have the database server replaced. Everything should be resolved and running Tuesday at the latest. Sorry about the problems and thanks for your patience as we resolve this matter.
they didn't say when tuesday though....;)

posted @ 12:53 PM | archive_link | Comment

Netgen (Threedegrees) goes big!

When I worked at Microsoft in Seattle, I was on this new team called Netgen. It was a crazy experiment which involved 7 new college graduates and a plan to do something crazy...ship a new v1 product from MS. The road to getting there was tough to say the least (actually that is the most I will say because I don't really know what I can say under my NDA), but it has ended well for the team! Over the last few days the product (now called Threedegrees) the team worked on has been getting some major airplay.

First to hit the stands was a Newsweek article (click the embbed link for a flash tour of the UI), then News.com had an article, and then it busted out big with a Slashdot article! Totally killer press and good initial reviews (well, minus the cynical slashdotters comments...) give me a warm fuzzy feeling. It also is incredible how quickly the news spread...go do a google search for "threedegrees" now and you will get reams of results. As little as 3 days ago a google query wouldn't even get you a link to the domain name in the results. Well, actually, maybe that is because one of the developers who left the team now works at Google? :) hehe...

I sent the link to a few friends and got an intresting universal response...how does this make you feel? Truth be told, I am excited...I helped design it and got it to the point where it was on a good path to ship before I left the team. Yeah it would have been fun to be there for the media swirl that is going on right now, but I have no real regrets about my decision. Plus, right now it is almost 65 degrees outside and not a cloud in the sky! :>

Anyhow, I am really curious to see what kind of respones it gets when end users get to start playing with it. The groups, winks, and launchpad were all things I was heavily involved with, so if you play with it and like/love/hate them let me know! :) Oh, and if you want to play with it go sign up here:

threedegrees.com

I am guessing they are going to ship the bits sometime this week or next. You need XP and a bunch of other things (don't worry, there is a handy dandy tool they ship to help get your system up and ready), but try it out if you have a chance!

posted @ 12:17 PM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, February 15, 2003

I hate being confused. But I digress.

So, my long winded post generated a few calls to check in on my sanity, but overall...i think people understand I was just free flowing. Asynchronous communication is fasinating, cause you do not know what mind state (ie contextual assumptions) the author and the readers are in. Try your best to mean something one way, and it is still possible for people to take it another way. And, then there is the need to for ambiguity (perhaps obfuscation is a better term?) of personal information in a public outlet (i have some old post on it, but I am tooooooooo lazy to find it right now).

Anyhow, I don't think I will try to break the record tonight, but for now, I am going to go write about some thoughts in the thesis section of the bloggee, blog! Peace.

posted @ 11:24 PM | archive_link | Comment

Well...that was nice...I just ran 7 miles on a very hilly course. I kinda liked it...What the heck is happening to me? Anyhow, off to the bay area this weekend for a little QT with the family and friends. Wish me luck! ;)

posted @ 12:09 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, February 14, 2003

Hey Dr. Rogers!

posted @ 1:30 PM | archive_link | Comment

So, I feel like I haven't written a personal post in quite a long while. Somewhere along the lines I started writing my blog like "those other bloggers" who try to focus on content and cool links instead of letting people know what I am feeling AND what I think about those feelings. So, here is my go at it:

Right now I have been juggling a lot of diffrent things. I have a thesis to write. I have a marathon to train for. I have fundraising for cancer research to do. I have consulting work for my dad to take care of. I got a side project with some buddies. I have my future to figure out. I have my friends to keep up with. But you know what? I feel like something is missing. What is it though?

Maybe it is this whole crazy v-day thing. I don't talk about it often, but a girl I was once really in love with has her birthday on valintines day...and I realise that another girl I think is so amazing is slipping away. Plus, I haven't met a new girl that makes me do cartwheels in my heart for a long time. A really long time. Maybe that is what is missing?

Maybe not though. I mean all that stuff is a bunch of huey...love comes when it does, and not when it is forced or longed for. So maybe something else is missing? What? How come I am spending so much time thinking about what? My pops does things very straight forward...he just does them and worries about what they mean later. It has its benifits and draw backs...but overall, it seems to work for him. Of course, we are not the same person, so maybe it isn't for me.

Maybe nothing is missing, and human nature is meant to keep trying to add more or find more...after all evolution works in a biological manner, so why not in a phsychological manner as well?

Enough about that.

So, other things I am feeling and subsequently thinking about include...inertia. I only left the house to go running or to get food over the last 5 days. I have ***never*** been so introverted in my adult life. But it was easier to do stuff at home then to find things to do else where (I mean I am sure I could have called someone and done something social, but I didn't feel like it). I remember when I would do 50 things in 49 mintues...is that age catching up with me, or something else?

I noticed that when I write slowly I make very few spelling errors (still more than is acceptible, but I am the by product of spell checkers), and when writing things by hand, my script is exponentially neat. But for some reason, I like to write/type fast. Why is that?

Is this classic stream of councious writing or what? :)

I read 2 books in the last 10 days. One was pleasure: Wheel of Time book number 10, and the other was code...UI design with winforms. Talk about a little ying and yang action. Nevertheless, the process of reading was very pleasurible. My friend today commented on his lack of time to devote to reading and how he missed it. Little things in life are definitly nice, and easy to miss when you pack your schedule, or worse let something else packs your schedule.

My buddy quit his job in New York. Good high paying job, that most people would kill for...but I think he did the right thing. A little perspective, a little fun, shit...soon we will have morgages, families, and real responsibilities. We should take advanage of what we can now, don't you think? Mmm...what do I talk about now?

Oh, I know...last night I went to bed (stone cold sober) at 8pm. I just didn't feel like being awake anymore....and I woke up at 8am today (granted I woke up 3 times in the middle of the night, but easily went back to bed each time) and just started up again like nothing happened. 12 hours of sleep should have made me taller, or smarter, or something...don't you think?

My good friend is running her 1/2 marathon on sunday. How crazy is that? She is going 13.1 miles...who the heck does that for shits and giggles? I guess, the truth of the matter is she is helping change the world, and that is worth every step and every ache.

I have this really nice pen that I have been using to do everything in lately. It was a graduation present from an dear and close friend, who unfortunetly has drifted away geographically and emotionally. But I can't blame him, he has had a lot happen. A cross country move. A high profile job. A tough personal life. A lot...and I know that he knows that we are always going to be there for each other.

I wonder how long a blogger post can be, before I hit some hard coded character limit? I wonder if the client ui will prevent me from entering text past that limit? I think I will do a copy to the clipboard to make sure this ranty narrative is saved in case I do break blogger. I wonder how big a clipboard item can be? Not that I am worried about hitting that limit...when you can cut an paste whole webpages with graphics from IE to Word...who would have thunk it?

Am I feeling anything else? I think about my old job a bit, and what the friends and not so friends i met up there are doing. I wonder who I will still talk to in a year? In 5 years? In 25 years? Will we tell stories about how we knew each other back when we were fresh out of college before we did X and Y, and while we still partied hard and let people know who we really are? Remember the time....

How come the internet doesn't work right? I can't use my webcam with half of my friends, and things seem to be really sketchy in general. I mean, if we got to the moon and back (well, sadly we didn't manage to get everyone back from space...), how come we can't make some little 1s and 0s work consistently? I know, I know...I should know better being that I am a computer science major and all, but it is like the whole statistical birthday problem. You know, if you have ~20 people in a room, it s 50+% chance that two have the same birthday. It doesn't make sense, but it is true.

Why does water taste good sometimes, and not so good other times? And how come no matter who much I brush my teeth and how short of a time I sleep my mouth still has funky morning breath after sleeping?

If I got skinny, would people still call me bubba? How long am I going to go by bubba? Two of my roommates call me neel now a days, and I have taken to signing some mail as "neel." Who determines the use of a nickname? I guess I do, if I start introducing myself as neel, slowly people will adopt it...kind of like corporate branding of sports venues. But then again 3com stadium is not really 3com....it is Candlestick.

Well, i think i wrote enough to either a) make people ignore me, b) cause enough people to bitch me for something I said that I will be busy for days, or c)rambled on enough to make people wonder what is wrong with me.

That was fun.

What are you feeling and what do you think about those feelings?

posted @ 12:35 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, February 13, 2003

Google, good or bad?
Notes:
With nothing but good things to say and feel about them, I was caught by suprise by this article...since the site doesn't definitely prove anything I don't take it too seriously, but, this might prove to start some further inquires by known organizations/individuals that will prove something. I mean, at the end of the day, corporations aren't out to make people feel good and smile (at least not many...), but rather they are there to generate revenue and continue to expand operations (funny....kind a like real living people). From dave.

posted @ 1:02 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, February 12, 2003

Bill Gates Memo
I got this from davenet when poking around his stuff. I still don't know what to make of it. Maybe all the negative hype about Bill is over rated and we have all taken the easy route of calling him and MS the evil empire. I mean, it is sooooo much easier to propagate a negative opinion about something than it is to propagate a positive opinion about something with an established negative opinion, right? Or maybe the hype isn't overated and there was some other intention driving this letter, afterall we don't know what the context or thinking was behind the letter he sent was...

Just food for thought for all of my microsoft hating and loving friends (of which there are many).

posted @ 11:30 AM | archive_link | Comment

Fil just told me filblogger is getting some loving...I can't wait to see it!

posted @ 9:47 AM | archive_link | Comment

he is unique

posted @ 12:28 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Not the business I imaged starting What will those crazy kids think of next? From boingboing

posted @ 10:46 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, February 10, 2003

Matrix, Animatrix, and more
Pretty cool geek stuff...the matrix movies are coming out this year (two films in one year, pretty crazy stunt) and to build hype they also have a set of animated shorts (both anime and CG) to fill in more detail about the matrix. The first bit is availible now for free download as will the next 3 installments, but after that it is pay to see via dvd (yo, your first four hits are free man). If you are a geek, have at it...

posted @ 10:10 PM | archive_link | Comment

Great Concept...and execution
First time I have ever been to Mark's site...pretty good day to end up there.

posted @ 8:35 PM | archive_link | Comment

the spoils of victory, take 1

posted @ 12:41 AM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, February 09, 2003

Oh, and i forgot to mention...I survived the 7 (maybe only 6.5+) run yesterday morning. Knees hurt a bit for the first time and asthma was a bit hairy (forgot my inhaler), but other than that I felt good and stoked that I did it! Christina went on her biggest run yesterday....the 17 mile loop in Monteray...very curious to here how that went!

posted @ 11:19 AM | archive_link | Comment

I love gadgets
From my new favorite blog - www.gizmodo.com. Note: it is babelfish translated from korean, so just look at the pictures and drool.

posted @ 11:17 AM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, February 07, 2003

Done and Done. I won. 2-1. I owned raquetball, and she owned tennis...both expected outcomes. Bocce ball was a bit of a race, but not a real challenge. Now, lets get the peanut gallery's reactions...

Klayko will say...great job...you beat a girl. way to go stud.
Travis will say...yeah, what Klayko says, ha!
Romani will say...lily, how could you let women all over the world down and lose to bubba?

I think that about sums it up folks...have a good weekend! ;)

posted @ 4:42 PM | archive_link | Comment

cklayko says:

Did you kick that girls ass?

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

the comp is today.

cklayko says:

I hope you got a full night sleep and big breakfast for the big compettion

Travis says:

LOL

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

lol

Travis says:

you gotta be focused, intense. it's going to take everything you have to pull
this off. you gotta WANT IT!

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

hahahaha.

cklayko says:

dig deep man

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

r-ball will be no challenge.

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

tennis will probobly go to her.

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

and bocci ball will decide the winner.

Travis says:

damn, then you're screwed

cklayko says:

I look forward to your next blog that depicts the results.. Make sure you go
into detail on each of the events

cklayko says:

you know.... "as sweat rolled down my face, I threw the last bocci ball which
seemed to tumble like hay thru a kansas plain, it finally collided with her red
ball it nocked it clear an I tasted sweet victory...

cklayko says:

Bubba I think you should change your IM name just for the day to "eye of the
tiger"

Travis says:

i think he's giving us the silent treatment

cklayko says:

no he is just stretching the days competition..

cklayko says:

come on man talk to us your making my day a lot more enjoyable...

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

sorry.

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

was working on something.

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

you guys kill me.

cklayko says:

your bocci form?

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

no, i had that down after learning to easily beat you in hawaii

Travis says:

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH

Travis says:

smells like a challenge, sucka!

cklayko says:

LOL

cklayko says:

at least there is some diginity lossing to a guy...

Travis says:

and so it comes out...

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

haha....

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

sigh, i have tears from laughhing so hard.

cklayko says:

your not alone

cklayko says:

my stomach hurts I've been crying all morning cause of this

Travis says:

any chance we can get a live video feed of the proceedings? is there going to be
an opening ceremonies?

cklayko says:

Yes hook up that web cam

cklayko says:

I want this shit documented

Travis says:

is there a bet for this? or just a "gentlemen's" bet?

cklayko says:

no travis you mean a "women" bet

cklayko says:

lol

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

beer, im names for a week, and some other shit.

cklayko says:

what is going to be your IM name if you win or lose?

Travis says:

NO, not IM names!!!!!!!!

cklayko says:

lol

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

probobly beat by a girl.

cklayko says:

I'm fucking crying.. my coworkers are asking what the fuck I'm doing

cklayko says:

let me and travis help you with that one

Travis says:

oh bloody hell. this is WAY too much fun

bubba (who needs vin?) says:

aight gentlemen....i need to be off.

 

posted @ 8:25 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, February 06, 2003

So tomorrow, I have a challenge (well...maybe not really, more like a commitment), I am going to destroy my friend Lily at three sports. She drove down from Santa Cruz today (she had never heard of the term "granola" before...shesh...and is a child of the 80's for crying out loud!) for our raquetball, tennis, and bocci ball. She is ultra competitive, but has no chance at taking me on. In fact I was thinking of spotting her a sport...but her ego is toooooooo big for that! Anyhow...it is almost game time...i can already see the tears welling up in her eyes!

posted @ 10:42 PM | archive_link | Comment

Is it just me, or does sweet N low taste even worse after microwaving it?

posted @ 12:42 PM | archive_link | Comment

shell beach

posted @ 11:23 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, February 05, 2003

i want one

posted @ 12:06 PM | archive_link | Comment

it has been almost a year and half since the 9/11 tragedy occurred. Today while surfing, I found this
link (from new york times rss feed) that talks about the plans for the new structures to re-build the area. The ultra interesting part was the right hand side java link (pops a java script window and requires free registration, so I can't just embed link) that shows the proposals for the memorial and reincarnation of ground zero. Flash, and bandwidth heavy, but I highly recommend taking a look.

Human nature amazes me. The ability to re-create something positive from such a painful experience speaks volumes of why life is so great. No matter what happens to individuals or society we seem to overcome it and make as much positive as possible. A very important thing to learn and remember from the personal point of view.

posted @ 11:06 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, February 03, 2003

This weekend was absolutely killer! Friday night I was out to a Poly Rep fund raiser at Tortilla flats. I managed to find my old plaque on the wall from my 21st birthday night...YIKES! It was good to kick it and see all the new reps, as well as find out what is cooking now a days. Poly Reps was a club I was a memeber of during my undergrad days at Cal Poly and one of my favorite experinces and memories.

Saturday was the big day...i ran 6 miles in the morning during our first Team in Training full team run! Not only did I run 6 miles, I did so with out stopping! HOLY CRAP! Who would have thunk it...Needless to say I was very excited about the accomplishment and can't wait to hit next weekends 7 mile run! During the week I have four 3 mile runs on my plate, but feel fairly confident about that distance now, so it is just a matter of streching well and then knocking them out. I still can't believe I am running a marathon.

Saturday afternoon I drove up to bay area for Chris and Christina's Engangment party. I was supposed to bring up Christina's little sis, but unfortunetly she got some food poising (her aunt thinks she was just really hung over...funny family!) Anyhow, the party was at Chris's and I didn't know what to expect...I had never been to an enagment party before. After arriving, I discovered that my name tag was MIA and Chris's little sister took me to find Chris and it. That is how I found out I was a groomsmen! Chris's exact quote was classic, "I like to f*** with you," which pretty much describes how we goof around with each other. To say the least I am really excited about being in the wedding, also another first, because of how close I am to both Chris and Christina. I know most of the other guys in the wedding party, and it looks to be a very rocking group!

At night, I caught up with my folks for a nice dinner at our favorite chinese food joint. Mom just got back from India, so I got the 411 on her trip and I gave them an update on how everything is going for me. Pretty soon after dinner was done I was face down sound asleep in bed.

Sunday was spent at Dad's office getting some work done and working on my fundrasing letter for Team in Training (Oh, and come to my blog soon will be an online donation system...;) and then I saw Eric and Jen before I headed back to good old SLO town.

All in all, it was a pretty darn nice weekend.

posted @ 9:28 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, January 28, 2003

Wow. Just did my first "buddy" run. 8 of us met up at and went for a solid 3 mile run. The loop was almost identical to the run I took yesterday, which I finished with 2 stops. So, when I started, I decided to make my goal for the day simple; finish this loop without stopping. It has two pretty steep hills, and those were my major concerns, but I powered through it all and finshed the run and the goal. I was totally pumped...two days of training down, only ~124 left to go! :) As they say at cheerleading camp, Bring It On! Okay, enough out of me...

posted @ 6:35 PM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, January 27, 2003

Mitnick Surfs the Web
Wozniak presented him [Mitnick] with a brand-new Apple Titanium Power Book, then said, "I'm pro-choice, so if you prefer a P.C. I'll buy you one."

posted @ 10:21 AM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, January 26, 2003

It is official!

I have signed all the paper work and started training for the biggest physical challenge I have ever attempted; I am running the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon on June 1st, 2003. 26.2 miles straight to the dome, and I can't wait! Best of all, I am running for a GREAT cause...to raise money for Leukemia and Lymphoma Cancer Society. The organization I am volunteering through is called Team in Training and together with 30+ others from the central coast we will be participating in a variety of events to help raise funds for research to find a cure.

Part of me is nervous as all hell to attempt this (supposedly, less then 1/10 of 1% of people in the world try to run a marathon) especially since the last time I went 26.2 miles by feet it took 4 days (granted, it was also straight up to 14,000 feet en route to Machu Picchu in Peru). But I knew I did the right thing when today at the kick-off meeting another participant told a very sad account about a 5 year old boy's struggle and ultimate loss in his battle with Leukemia. I know that anything I can do to help make sure other children don't have to succumb to this disease is worthwhile. How lucky are all of us to have our health, our dreams, and the ability to still pursue them?

So, what does this whole thing consist of? Well, I will be training 5-6 days a week with 2-3 runs a week with distance varying from 3-10 miles each. Then every Saturday our whole team will get together and tackle a run that will build up to a distance of 20 mile about 3 weeks before the marathon. From there we taper down in order to keep our bodies well rested for the actual race. I was surprised to find out that the first time I run 26.2 miles will be the day of the race, but hey what a great time for that first! Along the way for training I will run over 550 miles (holy expletive) which is more than the distance from San Diego to San Francisco (or for your east coasters, longer than a roundtrip between Boston and New York City).

By joining Team in Training, I am responsible for raising 2600 dollars (bling, bling!) for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. One of the great things about the money I raise is that 75% of it goes directly to bottom line for funding research to find a cure. The rest of it is used to cover the expenses of running Team in Training. Last year the Team raised 84 MILLION dollars for research to find a cure…isn’t that AMAZING? Anyhow, supposedly they have an electronic method to donate, but I don’t know when I will get access to that, so for now just watch your snail mailboxes for something from me. If you can spare a few bucks for a good cause I would really, really appreciate it!

Tomorrow I go 3 miles…let the challenge officially begin!

posted @ 8:52 PM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, January 25, 2003

Japancons
From boing boing.

posted @ 3:09 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, January 24, 2003

Sony in a nutshell

posted @ 11:38 PM | archive_link | Comment

Oh, go over to the Thesis pages as there is now content there. Finally.

posted @ 7:53 PM | archive_link | Comment

Random thought: If you ever are in charge of a project avoid codenames that have any meaning. Pick things like colors or make up a new word that is neutral. Between MS, Intel, and the FBI/Pentagon I have never seen more PR damage than what has occured with codenames.

posted @ 7:52 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, January 23, 2003

Okay, maybe Syndirella is bad. Cause of it, I just bought an 18.1 inch flat screen from dell. The offer was found late today by slickdeals.net and expires tonight, so I probobly would have not seen it till tomorrow morning (when I normally check slickdeals cause 90% of their content is uploaded in the morning) and then just said "oh darn." Sigh...can anyone loan me some money for food now? :)

posted @ 4:31 PM | archive_link | Comment

I am blown away with the amount of information I have found online about blogs. Here is the tip of the iceberg

posted @ 2:45 PM | archive_link | Comment

Fil was right, Syndirella rules. Actually, it is worse then crack, but in a good way. Hopefully, fill will help me out and help boot strap my reading list! :>

posted @ 9:42 AM | archive_link | Comment

For Fil, I have syndirella-fied my blog entries formats. Fil highly recommeds syndirella, so I am going to play with and let yall know what I think.

posted @ 12:49 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, January 21, 2003

My friend Neema is exploring whether to blog, or not to blog. I have written a bit to him in order to challenge his thinking, but more importantly so both he and I (as well as other intrested parties like our mutal friend fil) can explore the issue as it has rattled around my head from time to time. To be truthful, I actually have multiple blogs (this is the main one, but i have other public and private ones as well - including one that I have hinted about previously on this but no one has found it yet) and have kept a personal hand written journal off and on for nearly 10 years.

In my recent reading of John Adam's life, it appears that having a journal greatly enhances a person's clarity of thought and ability to work through difficult issues. But, with the public nature of Blogs, the journal's role is one's life is much more intresting and unpredictible. I don't know where Neema will end up, but regardless I am impressed with his thought in pondering this issue.

Blogs are soooooooo powerful, and sooooooooooo under understood right now. I am happy my thesis topic is going to allow me to submerge myself into them (even if the more intresting aspects maybe sociological in nature and my requriment is to focus on the technology side).

posted @ 4:27 PM | archive_link | Comment

:>


Just went for a killer run, I really do love California!

posted @ 10:15 AM | archive_link | Comment

Yesterday I recieved an email from an on campus group asking me for some help. I struck out the content of the email, but it is offical, I am old:

Mr. Muraka,
****
Jenny
Open House Committee

So sad, so sad!

posted @ 8:23 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, January 20, 2003

If you haven't seen noah grey's site, go there now.

posted @ 11:13 PM | archive_link | Comment

Happy MLK day!

posted @ 6:26 PM | archive_link | Comment

From my friend Matt:

>1. Bluetooth...would ya?

Yes for phone sync, pda sync, and cordless headset functionality.

>2. Palm Tungsten vs. Pocket PC (any)

Haven't tracked Tungsten at all, but I really like my PocketPC. I have the Toshiba with built in wireless and use it to surf the web from the couch. Pretty cool. The new HP ipaq has Bluetooth and wifi built in + a super ir port for using it as a universal remote. It would probably make good sense if you get a Bluetooth phone...

>Any other helpful hints about Bluetooth...

It is still a babe in the woods, so expect prices to drop in the future and technology to significantly improve. Of course, if you are cynical (and I can be) you would remind friends that what I just said was said almost 5 years ago when Bluetooth first got some steam. :> As the they say online, YMMV (your mileage may very).

>Thanks for your time - you know I trust your opinion and appreciate any words of wisdom from the Uber-nerd...I mean Uber-Genius. :)

At least my friends are honest about their opinions of me.

posted @ 5:14 PM | archive_link | Comment

I just geoURLed my site, have you? Also, if you haven't used ACME mapper before, check it out! Add your zip code and get pictures like this one. Too cool!

posted @ 8:02 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, January 16, 2003

Quick poll, what blog tool do you use? Quick, don't hesitate to answer via a comment...it is easy and painless!

posted @ 4:38 PM | archive_link | Comment

So I haven't written for a while cause of everything that is going on! I am offically back in the swing of things at Cal Poly, and have gotten all the little stuff taken care of. Now only the big stuff remains, like finishing my thesis. :)

The house is offically clean(er) now. We had a professional carpet cleaner come in and fix up our mess. Plus, we all put in some elbow grease and cleaned the joint up. More importantly, we got the Home Theater system set up...SICK! We have a two TV system (35 incher, and 27 incher) that are centrally switched to run any of our inputs. And boy, what kind of inputs we have! Check it:

• Xbox
  
• PS2
  
• Game Cube
  
• Dreamcast
  
• N64
  
• SNES
  
• NES
  

We are in gaming heaven! My roommates are re-conquering Zelda right now, and I am getting addicted to Tony Hawk 4. This is definte trouble in the making...now all we need is a Foosball table and i can never accomplish anything again.

This weekend promises to be fun as Dan, Steve, Triton, and Jen are all coming down to hangout. The last three are staying at my house, which has me a bit nervous, but hopefully Steve & Triton will behave! What have I gotten myself into? Last time Trition stayed at my house my room was TPed, and I was doused in Sardines (oil, not water packed too)! I can't even write what Steve has done to my house in the past for fear of those with weak stomachs! ;)

I have decided that Reality TV is evil. Joe Millionare...my god, where did they find these women? And truth be told, where did the find the guy? At least it is sinfully fun to watch! Also, I think I might have to start my own reality TV series....there is definetly some intresting backdrops I could use. Man, oh man!

It feels really, really good to be back in SLO town. RIght now the door to my back yard is open, the sun is shining, and the waves are crashing. Unreal! Is it really janurary right now?

posted @ 4:37 PM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, January 12, 2003

Dan, my advisor, and I are exploring blogs together. I am going to show him blogger.com interface, as well exlpore the basic of the blogging community.

posted @ 1:16 PM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, January 11, 2003

CSS hates me. I tweaked and tried a bunch of fixes (caught a few errors), but still cannot get my site to render in IE5.0 right and so I assume it is also broken in all other browsers other than IE6.0 (and perhaps 5.5). I have invested enought time for now, so notice the new disclaimer on the front door. Sorry!

posted @ 1:41 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, January 10, 2003

Note, I know my site sucks in anything other then IE6. I will figure this out and fix as asoon as possible!

posted @ 12:07 AM | archive_link | Comment

I just took the blogger personality test...not quite sure what it means, but here are the results:

You are a David Weinberger.

You are smart, savvy, interested in why people do what they do,
enjoy questioning yourself and are not balding.
Take the What Blogging Archetype Are You test at GAZM.org

Here is a list of all the archtypes, but go take the test (karen, fil & christina) and see what you get!

I know what you are thinking, why is bubba spending all this time examining blogs, blogging, and what not...doesn't he have a thesis he should be working on? Well...i have an idea for a thesis that would involve an analysis and expansion of the blogging space, so I am spending some cycles seeing what is out there. If anyone has seen a good research paper on blogs out there let me know...;) I swear, I go through more thesis topics then most people do TP!

posted @ 12:05 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, January 09, 2003

I went to farmers market tonight. I am not sure if people outside of California know about it. Here is an article all about them. Nothing beats a San Luis Obispo Farmer's Market outing!

On the geek side of things, I installed Visual Studio .NET today. I am excited to get to play with it and try to figure out what this whole .NET thing is about. If anyone has an idea please let me know! ;)

posted @ 11:11 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, January 08, 2003

Well, every adventure has a begining. Yesterday was mine.

I am officially living full time in Shell (Pismo) Beach. Yesterday I set up wireless internet, and right now I am sitting in the living room looking at (and hearing) the ocean. Last night, I slept with the sliding glass door open so I could listen to the waves crash as I slept. I woke up to a blue sky, and surfers walking down the cliff I live on to hit early waves. Unreal!

I cruised around the block today via el pedros to survey the scene. I think I might be living in a dream right now. This place is perfect. Maybe unreal is a better term. Yeah, unreal is the best term.

Let me intro the roommates. I will get some pics of them up after I get my computer all set up.

Nate
Nate is a computer IT kinda dude that went to Cal Poly the same time I did. He now works in town at a local accounting firm, and seems to truly love his job. Nate has the master bedroom which he shares with his Girlfriend.

Jennie
I don't know too much about her yet, but she is a very polite and seemingly soft spoken young lady. Also, I am not quite sure how long she and Nate have been dating, but they seem to be happy and comfortable with eachother. Right now, she is waitressing and taking a class at Cal Poly while she awaits Med (PA? PT?) school.

Greg
By far my most mellow roommate. Greg grew up near me (Los Gatos) and also went to Cal Poly. Right now he is hanging around and enjoying life. Greg is a sports fanatic and a pretty neat fellow.

Chuck
Well, Chuck doesn't really live here, but he does. You know what I mean? When I woke up today, it was the first time I have not seen him at the house. Chuck is Greg's little brother (though he is physically much bigger then Greg). I like Chuck...and not just cause is name is Chuck.

Well, I got a big todo list today, so I need to run...

posted @ 9:46 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, January 06, 2003

danny pointed me to this. I haven't finished reading it, but the first 1/3 was good. Thanks D dog.

posted @ 1:28 AM | archive_link | Comment

Have any of you ever heard of a Pronto Neo? Pretty sweet little gadget. LCD Universal Remote Control. Right now I am programing mine (in a vb style app) to have cool macro's and make it easy for my parents to use the new HT setup. You know, big button that says Watch TV...and blamo...TV turns on, receiver gets set to TV mode, and volume is set automagically! Anyhow, niftty if you ask me.

Watched the Niners' Game today...SWEET! I haven't seen such a good football game in quite a long time. Unreal. Oh, and tomorrow night I am actually going to go to a Warrior's game. A buddy of mine's girlfriend works for them and got us sweet court level tix (for free!) Should be lots of fun.

Tuesday is the big day...offically start life in SLO and get laser like (well, as laser as bubba gets) focus on the Thesis. I am getting excited. It should be a very intresting 6 months with large potential payoffs.

Anyhow....off to the remote programming I go! Yeah toys!

posted @ 12:43 AM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, January 03, 2003

Well...I am back from another crazy New Years with all my buddies! We were in South Shore Lake Tahoe...it was an unreal time! I didn't take my dig camera because I couldn't find it...so unfortunetly no pictures. But maybe that is a good thing....;)

Hope everyone had a happy new years...several good friends went off and got engaged...three couples to be exact. Man, it is a fact...we are getting older! :) I won't say who got engaged yet, because I don't want to spoil their fun...but Congrats to all of you...and you know who you are!

Have a good 3rd day of 03.

posted @ 12:39 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, December 25, 2002

Hey, I am here with one of my good friends Steve McShane! We have a Xmas tradition of exchanging Books on christmas day. He is gonna take the floor from me right now....steve:


Boy.... If there is anyone out there that knows technology..... It's "The Bubba"..... Nice ...... real nice.. This guy is amazing.... One day he will REALLY make a difference by connecting those afraid of TECHNOLOGY with it......... in the most of IMPORTANT ways... Let that be your challenge this year Bubba. It is a gift you have... your enthusiasm... more importantly... your enthusiasm and love for technology and how it can make peoples lives better.


As I now blush....I am ready to post this...but not with out a great word about Steve. He is one of the most amazing people I know. Our friendship has spanned nearly 10 years, and continues to grow exponetially every year. He lives life to the fullest, takes on every challenge, goal, and involvment with a passion that is unmet among anyone else I have ever met. I love learning from him, and cherish the way he makes others great through words, actions, and thoughts. If you want to see more about him, and read about his adventures check out his site at www.smcshane.com

posted @ 2:10 PM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, December 24, 2002

Okay, I am going to geek out here...cause it is 2 in the morning and it is what I like to do.

Computers amaze me. I just finished building 2 machines from scrap my brother and I have accumulated over the last 2 years of playing with our own home built systems. I also have revived an my old laptop from college (a pII 400 mhz box) and am currently in the process of getting Win2K up and running on it.

I got the laptop all set up with a wireless card and am now waiting for SP3 to finish installing. It is soooooooooo cool to have a totally wire free laptop connecting to the internet, downloading files and updating its OS on its own. Now, i have my days of frustration with Windows, Linux, and Computers in general, but gosh when they work is it great. I still remember jousting with my first computer, a 286 with 2 megs of ram (or maybe it was 4), and being excited to get silly text based games working on it.

My how far we have come. What i consider a slow machine is more than many people in the past would consider impossible and beyond the limits of science fiction. What will the future be like? I mean, if we have progressed this far, this fast, what will 30 years be like? That rhetorical question has been answered by so many people I don't even dare touch it with a ten foot pole.

Wireless network connections are bad ass. And they are coming in all diffrent formats. Tonight, while I was geeking, I imed a friend in Canada from my cell phone. How cool is that? How much had to happen in the back end to make that possible? Does anyone out there understand it all, or is it a mircale of epic proprotions that it all works?

I also checked out the timex instant messenger watch and got the feeling that dick tracy's creator was rolling over in his grave with a HUGE grin on his face. I can now literarly connect to anyone, anywhere, in any manner I want. I am just waiting for nike to come out with the mp3 shoe and nintendo to have the gameboy glasses form factor, with network game play!

Anyhow, between a mame box for games, an mp3 audio server, and a combo wireless/ir super remote I will have a scenario that the Jetsons would be jealous of. Throw in my super cool blue tooth headset that senses where I am and connects to the appropriate phone connection for me to call on and lets me call people using intergrated voice dialing...shesh...this is almost obscene.

And to imagine, that all of this is availible, and only needs to be strung together by dedicated geeks like myself...it warms my heart to see technology make life soooooo much fun. Of course there are lots of downsides to it (not the least to mention the "digital isolation" that people can end up in), but at the end of the day how can any Ludite argue with this pure and unadulterated science fiction dream that is becoming reality?

I wonder what other people think? A lot of folks I know are tied into technology at such a level that they take it for granted, but what about those that don't? I wonder how people grapple with the awesome toys out there when they don't feel comfortable with even their VCRs? Technology and cars are similar...sooooooo much terminology that it is easy to get lost and overwhelemd, but so much power if one take the time to learn about them. How can we make sure people don't get taken advantage of like so many do when it comes to cars?

Will I ever get tired of playing with this stuff? I hope not, because if I do, it will probably be nearly impossible to overcome the rapid changing of the landscape that technolgoy churns through.

Okay, this was a totally pointless rant, thanks for reading it...you really didn't have to. Thanks.

posted @ 2:24 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, December 23, 2002

So I have new project...check this out. My friend has one of these, and i since I have a few old MoBo's laying around, I figure I might as well build one in my spare time. So, come janurary, I am doing it. Combined it with a foozball table and pool table I will never need to leave my house in Shell. Heck, maybe I can open a bar there...bubba's beachhouse bar? Th locals could call it triple B!

Anyhow...it is the day, before the day, before the day. So Merry Christmas and what not. ;)

posted @ 11:39 AM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, December 22, 2002

Just saw two towers...gotta say:

IT ROCKS!

Some great scenes and actions...my only wish is that Liv Tyler appeared more. Man, she is smoking hot!

If you haven't checked out froogle yet, get to it!

posted @ 7:33 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, December 19, 2002

So, I just had an intresting night with one of my oldest (not age wise, time wise) friends. We headed out for a quite night of coffee and catch up, and instead our ears were assaulted by bad, I mean really bad, teenage Karaoke. We decided to find a new place to try to hang out and ended up at Target. We wondered around, found a gift for her brother, and i got jacked by the toolbox gods (twice the price for an extra 4 inches...hey, keep it clean!) After that we walked in a slight bit of rain and just caught up. I know she will always be a close friend, because no matter how long it is between the times we talk, we always fall back into a comfortable conversation filled with humor, wit, and bluntness.

Anyhow, we were talking about a certain subject and she made a keen observation. She cut out the crap and asked me if I was settling for things right now and warned me to becareful of that. I didn't know what to say, but it was a very intresting observation. If I am that would be very, very sad. So I have decided to make sure I am not and prove it to myself. I mean, you only get what you go for, and you only go for what you want. Might as well go big, or just go home...

Mmm...public catharsis (is that just a nice way to say "whining"?)...blogs at there worst. Anyhow...on to something else:

I watched the LOTR, extended remix DVD today. It was really long, but quite good...i am now ready to see the Two Towers. I can't wait!

In other news, this is funny. This is jack black being funny...an exponential improvment from Shallow Hal. Which, btw was a terrible, terrible, terrible movie. Avoid it at all costs!

Well...have a good friday...i know I will. :)

posted @ 11:53 PM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, December 17, 2002

My friend Lori is here and she wants to contribute to my blog. Here she is:

I don't want to be on your blog...but you're cool anyway.

As you can tell she is a very loving and adventurous friend...anyhow...anyone else want to be on the blog? Email posted @ 9:50 PM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, December 14, 2002

Well, I have to say the update mail certainly spiked traffic to the site. Mission accomplished on that end! The site had nearly 100 new unique visitors yesterday! Pretty exciting. Now I just gotta figure out a way to get them to come back. Maybe I should move every few weeks? :)

Today is an exciting action packed day. Final decision by my pops on what car he wants to buy, and some major Xmas shopping to be done. Guess which of the two I am really looking forward to? :)

Check out google news for google next step in taking over the world, and to get your update on the world in one easy stop.

posted @ 11:21 AM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, December 13, 2002

I am not sure what just happened, but I think my email update got rejected by Hotmail...if anyone gets it and checks out the site, please let me know (via an email or a comment). Shesh...this technology stuff sure is tricky!

posted @ 2:18 PM | archive_link | Comment

I will be sending out my huge new Contact mail in the next 24 hours to inform all of my friends and family about the rather signifcant changes I have made in my life as of late. The final factors of a SLO based cell phone (the number is not as good as my Seattle cell phone) and updates the site to include some new content (The In-N-Out page) as well as some site design fixes were completed today. Now, I am just have to compose the update email, create the distrbution list and hit send! With my grammar skills, I should also do a quick edit/revise as well (as opposed to the write and post method I use on this site)! ;)

Anyhow, the reason I am writing about this is that I have absolutely no clue how many people will be visiting the site in the next week or so. Last time I sent out a big update mail my inbox was overwhelmed for almost 3 weeks. It was great, but even at that time I was thinking there has to better way to communicate with my friends that enabled me to be in contact, but not have so much repetitive content. I am very intrested to see how having a blog affects the process of communicating my update. Some things I wonder include:

1. Will people visit the site? If so, are there any trends in their location, age, and/or relationship with me?
2. WIll people come back to the site after an intial visit?
3. How far back will people check back into the content I have up and will the exlpore the links I to other blogs I have posted?
4. Will people use the Comments Feature on the Site to communicate and create a community conversation around the update, and/or other things on my site?
5. Will anyone who reads this blog be motivated and start their own to communicate to their friends and family?

Also, now that I have become a full convert of personal and news based blogs, I am hoping to become somewhat of an evanglist. I still remember my orginal belief that these things were a bit foolish and destined to be anonther lame internet fad. Boy, was I wrong. To that extent, I wanted to write about how I put my blog together so others can be the part of the cool cutting edge group of cybergeeks. Getting the basic site up was actually fairly straight forward, and anyone can get one up and running in an amazingly short amount of time. Here is what you gotta do:

Step 1 - Decide on your witty url. Most likely www.cool.com and www.johnsmith.come are gone already...bend your brain and come up with something that you like and works for your readers.
Step 2 - Get a basic webhosting package for as little as 35 bucks a YEAR! I pay that much for neelbubba.com at name2host.com, and I am sure there are even cheaper ones out there.
--------Note: Step 1 & 2 are actually opitional if you want full control of your witty url. You can also use free webhosting to get urls like mywittyurl.blogspot.com--------
Step 3 - Go to blogger.com (my solution and perhaps the easiest to use) or enter "blog software" in google and get your blog set up following their directions.
Step 4 - Start rambling online and see who comes to visit. Tell a friend, change your IM screen name to promote it, do what ever it takes to get eyeballs on your witty url.
Step 5 - Build the community of blogs you read by checking them reguarly, posting to their comment fields, and getting them to come to your site. It is a vicious cycle, but somebody has to make it happen! ;)

Anyhow, if you decide you want to set one up, let me know I will make time to help you out if you get stuck, deal? :) Happy reading, blogging, and holiday season!

posted @ 12:30 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, December 09, 2002

Dude...working the system. I just got my folks a new TV. But the best part was the deal I made...check it:

I called around and found the cheapest price at circuit city. I then called the Good Guys, who matched the CC price. But, i had a good guys coupon for 10% off which I threw down after the price match. After Magnolia high fi verified all of this, the did a low price match and delivered it for free...plus the massive discounts they gave me off of everything else I purchased because of the tv purchase. Sweet, huh?

On a side note, I am totally stoked to set up this home theater action. It is going to be killer...god bless electronic toys...i don't know what I would do with out them! :)

posted @ 5:34 PM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, December 07, 2002

I forgot how to code. Well, that is not right...just not how to code at the level I used. It took me way to long to do something, and I didn't even get it to the quality level I wanted it to be at. :( Coding is a mind set...the ablity to focus and concepalize (sp?) rules, grasp their impact/scoop/meaning, and enforce them strictly is challenging. Not to mention understanding everyone else's convoluted code that is prone to break! But man, oh man is it fun when you get something to work!!! :)

posted @ 1:07 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, December 05, 2002

two things of note...

1. I am 50% there on getting my new mailing address and phone number estabilished. Soon, very soon I will be a local californian again!
2. you can now email me at bubbam_at_exmsft.com. Another wonderful free service provided by the internet!

:>

posted @ 3:59 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, December 04, 2002

I just realized something. For the most part, my entire site is free. I use blogger for the blog software, haloscan for comments, and sitemeter for basic site view statstics. I pay absolutely nothing for these. How the heck is that possible? I wonder if that will be the case in 5, 10, or 20 years. How long can free software services remain?

I can understand, and even accept free software. It is like free digital content (like this blog), once you create it, there is minimal cost to support (if you even chose to support it) and replicate it. The theory is simple in this case, someone didn't anticipate a market space and thus did not pursue creating one and subsequent revenue. While some people might call this a pure lose, and others will call it a social-technological experiment that produces useful bits of technology that keep the world on a forward progress. This can be akin to work of ancient philsophers who established new ways of thinking, and often shared them for free (or for "a donation"). Anyhow, I am diving into a point I was not trying to make...but free software make sense and at an abstract level is beneficial to the world in most cases.

But can someone please explain (use the comment feature!!!) how free software services work? I get something for free, that you (who ever you may be) are paying out of pocket in order to provide me with it? WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND DOES THIS? Okay, so I know what I am going to hear...strategy. Right, get lots of users, and then slowely convert them to a revenue source, or leverge their membership status to enable partnerships, advertising, and the such. But how long can you sustain this? And even worse, how do you stave off a competitor that offers your service better, faster, and with less revenue generation (commecials! spam! etc!) mechansims? Worse, what happens when your user base overwhelems your resource allocation in a sudden massive sign up spree that can result from the cliches of "viral addoption" and "internet time?"

Free software services appear to fly in the face of logic and economic reasoning. I mean, look all the big software mongers are currently attempting to convert their "buy it once" model of software sales, to a re-occuring revenue stream system which they like to think of as "Software as a Service." Yet these same big companies contiune to give away software services in exchange for a promise of marketshare tomorrow. What is their secret plot? Are they selling my intimate letters to penthouse for the stories the contain (pa-sha!) or are the secretly using my computer as part of a global hacking network designed to crack the secret alogrithym's of state lotto picking devices? SOMEONE TELL ME!

Regardless, I am pretty freaking stoked that i am getting away with free software services this right now and hope the econmic theory doesn't catch up too soon! ;)

posted @ 11:02 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, December 03, 2002

Mmm...I just enabled comments. Click the little blue comments link at the end of each post to leave your thoughts...pretty cool. Thanks Haloscan!

posted @ 5:45 PM | archive_link | Comment

If you need some DVD's check this out.

posted @ 4:39 PM | archive_link | Comment

I picked up another historical book...this one on John Adams. I am still unclear if we have some common characteristics or if I am just identifying with him because he is the first I am reading about. Anyhow, I am enjoying working on identifying some historical figures that I can read about and see how they succeeded and failed in their pursuits. I have a big list of people to explore and plan to get it down to less then 6 so that I can make a hobby of reading about them. A somewhat intresting undertaking that was motivated by a book of my mother's called "The Leadership Challenge." We shall see what becomes of it.

Currently I am in the San Luis Obispo area where I am chilling at my new pad and setting up the bedroom to some degree. Also brushing up pool game, since the house has a very nice new table. The weather is unreal, and I, unfortunetly, will be heading back up today.

I have been pondering my future as of the last few weeks and now, more than ever I am unclear what it holds. I discussed it with my father for a while yesterday, but still have no clear path that i feel is compelling. Nevertheless, the next 6-7 months are charted clearly and thus I have some time to come to final conclusions.

Mmmm...this, perhaps, has been the most candid I have been in a post in a while. Still unclear of the short and long term impacts of keeping a publically published blog is (I wonder what kind of research has occured in this area). Well, there is the obvious impact in sharing with the world my lack of spelling and grammar abilties, but that is the least of my concerns as modern word processors & meticulious revisions will compensate for that in serious academic or business undertakings. More importanly, I wonder whether a public journal is beneficial for reflection and catharsis, or if the private process of a written journal is a better outlet. The practice of subtly in blogs is strangly appealing and seems to allow authors to explore topics with a strange balance of deep thought and coy admissions. The interaction with readers as a result of posts is perhaps the most intresting and unique effect of a blog. Hearing my words echoed back (to be challenged, complimented, or for clarfication) to me by both those that are close and distant has a very distinct effect on output as well the thinking/reflective process.

In a few days I will make the existance of this blog much more public, and the resulting traffic spike and subsequent new regular readers makes me wonder what I will and will not post in the future. But I digress (grin...that phrase is so loaded in its meaning and intentions)...

posted @ 4:37 PM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, November 30, 2002

Spent the last couple of nights getting crazy with some old school friends (highschool and college...guess they are not that old school).

It is funny how fast time can fly. Getting traction to get something done feels like a painful process that is much slower than one would expect.

I just finished this book, called Founding Brothers, that was perhaps the first book on US history I have read since High School. It is amazing to realize the intellectual epic that unfolded during revolutionary period. Even more increadible, is to realize how history was able to capture and analyze the times because of the intense reliance on written communication (as opposed to electronic). Discussions were had as much for the point being made as there were for the postierty of the History books. These written conversations held more subtle and discreet language then any interchange I have ever known (even more so then the gentle give and take present in the early courtship of lovers).

Why am I so facsinated by this subject? Well I came to realize that many of the descisions, conversations, and actions society (and more egotistically, myself) will have no method to inturpt them in the future. Sure, the Media will record and reflect major events, but often major events are precursed by a series of minor events that no one will ever truly know about. And furthermore, Media will always impart its own tint on what ever it is reporting, and unfortunetly history is always written on the terms of the winner. Think about all of the important decisions that have been made in YOUR life via temporal mediums such as instant messaging, phone calls, and email (unless you keep massive archives) which essentially blot out any historical inturptation of meaning.

Not that we are historical meaningful (yet, but I bet several people you/I know will be), but how will historians of the future perform analysis of major occurences when so much of business, politics, and life are carried out by transitory mechanisms?

food for thought anyway. Oh yeah, read the book it is enjoyable.

posted @ 12:24 PM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, November 25, 2002

So this is a bit over do, but here is a re-cap of the ultimate Hawaiian adventure!

The Playas
Chris - The kind host for our time in paradise. Chris is an old college friend who works in the bay area in software industry.
Travis - Many of you meet him in Seattle. He is another solid friend from college who is also into the software biz in the bay area.
Brian - One of Chris's friends, Brian is a solid guy that is an outstanding Golfer and Drinker. He isn't too bad at tennis either.
Jamie - Another one of Chris friends, Jamie is a ski instructor in Aspen. Lets just say it doesn't suck to be him.

The Scene
Uh...how do I say this...UNREAL! The house was amazing. Located in McKenna by big beach and the swanky hotels, we were in an area of the island that I had not spent a lot of time at previously. Check out these pics of the view from the backyard:

click either image for a movie!


That doesn't even begin to do the place justice....there were flat screen tvs, a bocce ball court, and tennis courts!

Day One
Arrival...we made a costco run and picked up supplies (meat & beer) for the week. We then got to the house and proceed to drool for a few hours. Promptly after that we went for swims in the ocean, hot tub, pool, and started relaxing. Dinner was BBQ steaks along with lots and lots of bocce ball! The night ended early, with Chris kicking my butt at bocce ball and me in the hole for 25 bucks. The day had foreshadowed a killer week!

Day Two
We were awake by 7am (that is not a typo) and shook out the cob webs with an early morning dip in the ocean. Chris and Brian then set out for a round of 18 and Travis, Jamie and I headed to Kihei to get some snorkel and scuba gear. We were foiled on the scuba gear because only Travis had his padi certification card, but got some snorkel stuff in place. Chris and Brian cut out of their round early because of a tournament in front of them (with some work they got a full refund) and we all synch up again at 10:30am. From there we hit lunch up at Tommy Bahama's (two thumbs up) and then got into an afternoon of activity. We played some double's tennis (on a sick clay court) and various people swam and snorkeled. It still wasn't even 4pm. :) After a while we got ready to eat and I manned the BBQ to get some killer pork loin cooked up for us. A few hours later we engaged in some fierce games of liar's dice! Liar's dice Rules! The day had taken its toll on us and so we called it quits and got ready for another day in paradise.

Day Three
Chris and Brian decided to attempt another round of golf and hoped for better conditions. Travis and Jamie cruised up to North Shore to surf, and I decided to improve my tennis skills by hitting balls in preparation for the afternoon's fierce rematch (brian and I won the previous day 2 sets to 1). After hitting balls for an hour I decided to check out the snorkeling scene off the beach near the house...boy did I get a TREAT! I saw three HUGE sea turtles and a bunch of fish (not that I have a clue what kind they were). I got out pretty far and was fairly exhausted by the time I got back to shore. I trucked up to the house dried off and talked with the stereo guy...he hooked me up with the Pearl Harbor DVD (good flick minus the cheesy love story in the middle) which I used to put the home theater to the test. Needless to say...it was SICK. Unfortunately, the movie was really heartbreaking...war is a sad and evil thing. It gets down to who is gonna do the most fucked up thing to the other side. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life though. On the flip side, I did learn one thing from the flick and in a sense history...in war always make the most decisive attack you can or else you might live to regret it. I also remembered that you don't fuck with the USA...then or now. After Chris and Brian finished their 18 we headed to Kihei for burger's at Bubba's!!! Check out the pic:





After lunch we had an intense tennis re-match that was wicked cool. I am definitely a fan of the sport now. After tennis we made some Digerno, finished watching Pearl Harbor and hit the hot tub...we were pretty pooped so the night ended without us going big in town.

Day Four
Man, you are still reading? Don't you have a job or something??? :)
Anyhow, we were pretty pooped at this point, but we headed up to North Beach where travis and jamie tried their hands at surfing, and chris and brian tried boogie boarding. After goofing around there we headed back down to the house (late afternoon) and decided to go hiking through the lava fields. Fun, but painful for me. I ate it hard and cut up my legs up and nailed my knee hard. All, in all it was a bummer of a way to end a great vacation, but no serious damage, so i was off easy. That night we went to ______(i can't remember the name!) for killer ribs. No, you don't understand...these were killer! Oh man...my mouth is salivating at just the thought of them. Yes, they were that good. After dinner we proceeded to have bocce ball showdown (i revenged my earlier loss to chris and took back some cash), and some intense liar's dice action. The night ended quickly for some, and much later for others. Guess who was one of the early birds? doh!

Day Five
Say good bye to paradise. BUMMER!

Chris left first, then travis and brian. Jamie and I hung out all afternoon and spent the time reading books on Big Beach. It was a very nice way to polish of my time in Paradise.

posted @ 2:58 PM | archive_link | Comment

spent the weekend with jen's old roommates and assorted other people. It was a blast. We ate and drank like there was no tomorrow...good bless Thanksgiving Holiday.

Oh, and went and saw James Bond yesterday. Some pretty cool shit, with only a bit of over the top lameness. Plus Haley Barry is a babe.

posted @ 12:03 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, November 22, 2002

My impact at Microsoft is still felt:

--------------------------------------------

Chris says:
Dude, you got mentioned at today's WIM [Windows Informational Meeting]

bubba [at the top of your buddy list!!!] says:
you mean netgen, not me, right?

Chris says:
no, you

bubba [at the top of your buddy list!!!] says:
what?

bubba [at the top of your buddy list!!!] says:
for what?

Chris says:
Did you know a brunette named megan?

bubba [at the top of your buddy list!!!] says:
uh...

bubba [at the top of your buddy list!!!] says:
did I get busted for sexual harrasment?

Chris says:
anyway, this girl played a stunt at the WIM and got up and asked Brian [Valentine...big head hancho in windows] to hire her (she was in the new hire line)

Chris says:
then when brian asked her if she knew anyone at MS she said she met Ian at a party a few weeks ago, "Bubba's going away party"

bubba [at the top of your buddy list!!!] says:
lol.

bubba [at the top of your buddy list!!!] says:
i know the girl.

bubba [at the top of your buddy list!!!] says:
did brian give her a job?

Chris says:
no.

--------------------------------------
rock on!

posted @ 6:07 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, November 21, 2002

So I have been slacking, but soon will have stuff up from my trip to Hawaii...but the best part might have been this:

Highs for the week 84 degrees, Low for the week 78 degrees.

'Nuff said.

PS It is gloomy here in Cupertino...:(

posted @ 11:09 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, November 19, 2002

Big Sexy Jeremy says:
  i'm having a mexican dart party this weekend.
Big Sexy Jeremy says:
  i guess you can't come up for it though.
bubba [cupertino] says:
  mexican dart party?
Big Sexy Jeremy says:
  i just got a dart board and a blender
Big Sexy Jeremy says:
  mexican dart party = darts and margaritas
bubba [cupertino] says:
  lol.

posted @ 5:36 PM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, November 17, 2002

Okay, this is my only post from Hawaii:
Sick. Unreal. Beautiful. Crazy. Fun. Insane. Outrageous.
That about covers the last 5 days.

posted @ 4:36 PM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, November 10, 2002

My Bro

posted @ 11:01 PM | archive_link | Comment

I have been all over the fucking place. Right now I am in Long Beach with my little bro Sameer. We hit up a pretty killer joint called Wasabi for sushi tonight....Good food, good eye candy...but the service was kind of shitty. Or maybe I am just bitter that my poki salad got given to the chick next to me...and she didn't even eat 1/3 of it!!!! Ah...bitterness will get me no where...I know.

I am here in Long beach until Wednesday morning and then it is off to Hawaii with Chris, Travis, and company. Maui. Should be bitchen.

Then back to the bay area to help my side project, my pops out, and nail my masters thesis.

Oh, and least I forget, I must bitch a bit...I have been in the car for almost 40 hours over the last week (Seattle to home, home to slo, slo to home, home to santa cruz, santa cruz to home, home to long beach, plus assorted other drives)! I love my car (and shaun's), but enough is a fucking enough! At least I crossed 35K miles on my beautiful ride! At least Shaun and Travis were around for the majority of that ride. ANd the rest of the time I put Att wirelless unlimited mintues to the fucking test!!!

Speaking of ATT wireless...they suck in california...i love my phone, and I love my bluetooth headset, but I might be ditching them soon cause of the SHITTY, SHITTY, SHITTY service I get around the bay area, in SLO, and on 101. Sigh...I really loved my phone too...:(

Sigh. This independent contractor shit sure is a bitch. ;)

posted @ 10:28 PM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, November 08, 2002

So yesterday I was driving back from Shell Beach (my new home) and it started to rain (guess seattle weather missed me and came down to find me). About half way through the drive I saw the most increadible thing...the sun broke thru the clouds and right in front of me was a Rainbow...a full on arch of 7 colors. It was increadibily beautiful, and the thing that topped it all of, is I saw where it hit the ground. Never before had I seen "the end of the rainbow"!!!! AWESOME!

Also, last night there was a big Cal Poly Alumni event put on by my friend triton. It was awesome...saw tons of people I hadn't seen in a while and got to see some of the faces in the bay area that I didn't know were around.

It truly feels good to be back home.

posted @ 10:36 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, November 06, 2002

Sun, warmth, and california...all you people in seattle can officially hate me as of right now!!!

Check out the view from my new backyard (house is on the cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean):

Not enough? Try this one:


Wanna see a movie? Check out this.

Send all flame mail to sunnycalifornia@neelbubba.com.

posted @ 8:56 PM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, November 05, 2002

I love toys.

posted @ 2:32 PM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, November 04, 2002

California...here I am!

I survived the road trip with Travis (or perhaps restated, he survived the road trip with me!) We drove from Seattle to Portland where we had lunch with Dan, Rachel, Tyson, Kristy, and Kent at this little joint called Clay's. Not bad.

We then hightailed it from Portland to Redding. That was long, really long. In redding we stayed with our buddy Charlie and his fiance Jen. Charlie is focused on becoming a real estate tycoon in the up and coming town of Redding. Jen is a drug pusher (the good kind, she works at a pharmacy). Talk about treating their guest's right...we were cooked for and treated like family during our visit!

Saturday night was supposed to be big, but after friday night's big night and serious lack of sleep we decided to crash at 11pm. We are two wild and crazy guys...

Sunday was a nice drive down to davis for the niner's game with Travis's buddy Bret, and then to Walnut Creek to check out Travis's joint. There travis and I parted ways...sniff (good ridance)! Oh, but before we parted we watched some of the Monster's inc DVD...dude...it is PACKED full of extra stuff!!! I am gonna git me a copy soon....

My folk's ended up having a party in Orinda to go to, so I re-directed to Scott's house because he was incapacitated from ACL surgery. Man...did it look PAINFUL! After hanging out with him I headed over to Orinda to catch up with my folks and see my uncle for a Divali/birthday party.

And then...whew...I got home.

Quick take is that it feels good to be home and rad to be back in California. The Sky is Blue, its gonna be ~70 degrees today.

Guess who's back? back again? Bubba's back...tell a friend!

posted @ 8:59 AM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, November 01, 2002

Rode the Duck today! Saw the EMP! Played at Gameswork! What a great last day (travis came up to help pack and play)!!!

Saying good bye, and getting ready to peace out of seattle tomorrow morning! Holy Cow...california here I come!

posted @ 7:17 PM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, October 31, 2002

Have you ever met someone that you wish you didn't ever have to say good bye too?

posted @ 5:26 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, October 30, 2002

Blond is gone.

Belongings are packed.

Seattle is blue [skyed].

Man I am done.

posted @ 9:54 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, October 29, 2002

Eat at Jaks as soon as possible!

The Poker gang got together last night for a steak and cigar's night. It was a quality, quality night. Jaks has increadible steak and low, low prices. It definetly gives the big three (The Met, Daniel's, and el Gaucho's) good company in the steak scene of seattle. Dinner started with salad's (with real crubled blue cheese on it), followed by fresh baked warm bread. Next came the Steaks, potatoes (many, many choices, but garlic mashed was my yummy choice), and fresh steamed vegies. Add a glass of solid red wine and the meal was completely outstanding. Can I go back?

Cigars were had at Tini Biggs along with some wonderful port (racha 20 year tawney).

On a sader note, I realized how hard it is to find a good crew of men to hang out with and how well I had done in finding this group. Dan, Vaughn, Jason, Mike, Eytan, and Pete are all men at the top of their game and will be going far in this life time!

My only negative about last night was that I didn't have the presence of mind to bring a camera along with us to take a couple of pictures to imortalize a great night!

posted @ 10:52 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, October 28, 2002

I put up a bunch of photos today...click on the pic link to the right to check them out (or just click here).

While getting these pictures ready for the web, I checked out diffrent photo gallery software features in Front Page (still blows because I don't have frontpage extentions and don't plan on paying for them...) and Photoshop (yeah, no shit...file->automate->web photo gallery). The photoshop feature set looks really compelling, and I am planing on using it moving forward, but I need to write the templates I want to use for that. I am holding off till I get to California to do that because I really have a lot of packing and shit to do between now and Wednesday (so instead I watch the series [i hate the angels now], watch the sopranos, hang out with the guys all night, and then post to my freaking blog). Anyhow...

6 more days and I am back in california...for the next 9 months. HOLY FUCK!

posted @ 2:46 AM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, October 27, 2002

Last night went to two really funky parties. Now, since I have been in Seattle, I have not really seen a "crazy" party. I have been to several good parties, and many fun parties, but no truly crazy parties. At first I figured that crazy parties died with College, but I was wrong...

Party 1
At the invite of my friend Lili, myself and a half dozen other friends cruised to this nutty costume party. I would say 99% of people were dressed up...and not just in weak sauce costumes, but rather full out duds!!!!!!!!! There were close to Now the wacky part of the party was the fact that it was run in conjunction with Microsoft Research. They are doing a research project to see how people react to digital images and blogging as tied to a social experince. I don't know what else is going on, but as more information becomes availible I will point to it here.

Party 2
My friend Karen passed on this invite to a HUGE Loft party. Now what do I mean by huge? The evite had 1300 people on it. 536 people accepted the Evite. Now, this party was what all party animals have envisioned...Kegs, live DJs, Cage for dancers, and LOTS OF PEOPLE. We got there at 1:30am and there were still 200+ people there. Oh and did I mention the location? Top floor loft in an old ass warehouse right on the Puget Sound! SICK!

Pictures

posted @ 12:16 PM | archive_link | Comment

So I just killed 2 hours of my sunday morning reading this new blog type site I found...subaverage. If you click the link, don't forget I warned you about the time suck!

posted @ 11:51 AM | archive_link | Comment

Saturday, October 26, 2002

Picking a CPU

Just read this and like the guy's system for creating a rule set for CPU selection. However, I worry that time is going affect his dollar based recommdations (the whole industry is becoming a set of commodities), and thus wanted to share my own rule for picking a CPU:

Always buy the chip 2 bins down from the top

What the heck is a bin? Intel test's their chips after production, and depending on how well the perform they are placed into "performance" bins. The top bin is for the fast chip (currently a 2.8 P4), second for for the next fastest (currently 2.53), etc, etc. If you look at the neat graph, you can see the the third bin down is ususally a bit higher up the curve, but nevertheless it provides the best value.

Why? Because it is well stocked at vars/oems (translation = good deals), supports all of the latest bell's and whistles (example in the current market is the 133 FSB support), and it offers a slight peformance edge for relativily insignifcant cost over the 4 bin chip.

With all that said, you have to make the call based on your cash and technology requirments. But the make sure you take a hard look at chips in bin 3 and 4

posted @ 10:37 AM | archive_link | Comment

last night was ugly.

posted @ 9:43 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, October 24, 2002

i played raquetball and handball today. I am tired and my hands hurt. Yes...I am whining...deal with it...no one is making you read this shit! ;)

Anyhow, there was a point to this post. Have any of you played raquetball or handball? Very similar games (use the same court and have very similar volley and set rules) but the balls used are vastly diffrent. A raquetball is light and dances around the court. A handball is heavy, solid and doesn't like to be hit. Handball is a very ambidextrous sport while raquetball is similar to tennis, backhands are the norm. Both are extremly reliant on positioning the ball and making your opponet run a lot.

Bottom line...I recommend checking out either of the sports...LOTS OF FUN!

posted @ 7:49 PM | archive_link | Comment

posted @ 7:27 PM | archive_link | Comment

Jen Landers!

posted @ 7:26 PM | archive_link | Comment

cleaning out the ole' inbox finds lots of random shit...check out this forward and this long piece of mail I wrote when I first moved to seattle.

posted @ 11:16 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, October 23, 2002

some new blogs:

camworld
obscurestore
stuffeddog

enjoy!

posted @ 11:55 PM | archive_link | Comment

this says it all

posted @ 11:36 PM | archive_link | Comment

I wonder if this post will work, or if blogger hates me? also, f the angels.

posted @ 6:35 PM | archive_link | Comment

So my buddy Patrick (note no content there...) and I were playing raquetball yesterday and he pointed me to the OSA foundation. It is an intresting concept for starting a software project...it is a non-profit organization that is aimed at creating a new style PIM. Yes, they actually write code and are building a new platiform soley on funding they can recieve as a non-profit. Read this for more information on the whole enchillada.

Also, after reading OSA's feature list I got all inspired and wrote up an idea that I totally want and have been kicking around for a while...here is a cut and paste of the email I sent Mitch:

Before I go into the idea I am going to assume the following:

*Your contact auto update feature has a subscribe request/approval model (similar to MS IM buddy list approval)
*Your contact auto update feature uses a secure method to verify data source and keep data acl's secure

Also ideally, your contact auto update is integrated with the IM buddy list so that those are not divergent sources of contact storage and you can tie in presence management into the idea below.

Anyhow, on to the idea:

Contact Information Profiles and Access Control

Enable users to define profiles of what contact information they want to share. For example lets say a user has the following contact points:

*work mailing address
*home mailing address
*work phone - direct
*work phone - main
*work fax
*home phone - main
*cell phone - personal
*aol im name
*yahoo im name
*work email
*personal email

Users could then define profiles (business contact gets only work information, while family member gets all information, etc) that gave access to certain subsets of the contact data. Additionally, if contacts are stored in step with the IM buddy list, profiles can also assign certain 'presence' status to them ( business contacts can only see presence from 8am to 5pm or when set to a certain presence mode) as well.

This concept is especially powerful in an 'auto update' world because people can now control and publish information as appropriate and be confident that they are accessible to their contact according to the priorities and rules they have set. With the correct security provisions contact information can also be revoked or reduced for privacy or relationship management issues.

posted @ 5:24 PM | archive_link | Comment

Bargin sites are becoming the norm
Personally, I like www.slickdeals.net the best...but maybe that is just loyalty...

posted @ 4:14 PM | archive_link | Comment

have you ever wondered what the meaning of life is? I have often pondered this. My old college roommate use to say it was about hedionistic pleasure. Somedays it sure seems that way...I mean look at what the vast majority of people are doing...trying to make mo' money. For what? To buy more shit? Why? To have more fun? What the heck is this cycle about? I mean, what about the concept of giving/taking care of those that are less fortunte? I guess that isn't true hedionistic actions...but maybe it is. What if these people have been so brainwashed by something that those kind of actions are the only things that give them pleasure? mmm....

Does the ever lasting want ever stop? What happens if it does? Is the it some sort of fucked up wierd psychological manifest of darwinism? Never be content and always seek to evolve through trial and error of actions and thoughts (not just physical mutation)?

This is kind of depressing. Why did I get on this topic? Oh yeah...the meaning of life...hold on a sec...I am going to google "meaning of life". Intresting the first site has lots of depth...my gut is it some religious propaganda, but I am too tired to wade through it all right now.

Anyhow...I am sure that other people have thoughts on the meaning of life, and if I ever get around to using movable type other people will get to post comments a la neema's site.

posted @ 2:09 AM | archive_link | Comment

Time is quickly running out...i totally feel the lack of it...I am going to be leaving seattle soon!

Well tonight I went to dinner with Kate and then we watched "Rule of Attraction". We both enjoyed dinner (the strombolis was rocking, and the marinara sauce was fantastic), but were luke warm about the movie. Some cool cinetography, but the story was a bit choppy and lacked a real kick in the rear. anyhow...

(sigh)...

posted @ 12:04 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

Karen admits it all!
k one chord to another says:
well
k one chord to another says:
you called me on it
k one chord to another says:
i am in love with you

*Note: this is not a fabricated conversation...ask her yourself!

posted @ 2:17 PM | archive_link | Comment

okay...so karen dumped me...I will deal.
riiiiiiiiiigggggggghhhhhhttttttttttttttt!

posted @ 1:52 PM | archive_link | Comment

I did post some pictures from my apartment on saturday...fil tells me there are broken links, but since i built it in Frontpage it only took me like an hour to fix them...freaking frontpage...why can't it just work well (instead it requires all this server side shit to do the simplest things).

posted @ 1:49 PM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, October 21, 2002

just had dinner with jenn and victor. You know...sometimes I forget how truly blessed I am to have friends as good as I do.

posted @ 10:21 PM | archive_link | Comment

So karen has lobbed a [weak] volley in the war of fabricated words. Taking a page from my own book [where is the creativity?] she created an IM conversation to blow up her ego...check this line out:

karen, i know i joke around with you a lot but you are one of the most wonderful people i have met in seattle - you're smart and beautiful and funny

Man...I mean, yeah she is smart, beautiful, and funny...but come on people, I would never say that to her...she already has a big enough ego!

btw, if you have seen karen's other website check out www.karenluk.com.

note: i will always make a note when something is fabricated...and all of this banter between karen and I is just that...friendly banter...i think

posted @ 11:56 AM | archive_link | Comment

bubbahka
Like the jewish holiday of hanukah, 8 days of celbration that occurs on an irregular pattern.

posted @ 11:43 AM | archive_link | Comment

Friday, October 18, 2002

Dell has done it again...540 bucks for a shipped P4 system with a 15 inch flat screen...my goodness!

posted @ 3:56 PM | archive_link | Comment

Just had lunch with the NetGen team...quite tasty and exciting! Everyone seems to being doing well, and from what I could tell, everything for the product looks on target. Man...I still can't the change that is coming up fast up here...less then 2 weeks and I am out of Seattle. Crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At lunch I realised I should imortalize my favorite eats in Seattle...so here they are (not in any particular order...):

Shallots - yummy asian fusion.
Frontier Room - almost as good as firestone's in San Luis Obispo...one heck of a BBQ joint
Philly's Best - AWESOME cheesesteaks (special thanks to KC Cross for intro'ing me to it)
Assaggios - great italian food and killer wine list....what else could a couple want on a date?
Wasabi Bistro - perhaps my most frequented up scale joint in the city...I love it!
Marco's Supper Club - cool food and ambiance make this place fun to eat and/or drink
Red Mill - can you say KILLER burger? Say it, say it...
Two Bells - can you say KILLER burger? Deju vu? ;)
Gordito's - I was wrong when I assumed that Seattle couldn't have good Mexican food....
Mom's Teriyaki - Teriyaki is a northwest way of life...and thanks god for Moms!
The Croc - It used to have the BEST breakfast in town...still...I love the joint.

get to eating!

posted @ 1:52 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, October 16, 2002

So I had a bitchen dinner with my mentor tonight (before dinner I thought of her as my former mentor, but after dinner I realised she is not "former"...cause everytime we interact she teaches or reminds me of something important) and we walked through the list of states we had been...click here for the results (yes it is white on black...deal!).

[rant: blogger does not support tables creation in their edit text box very well at all...BUMMER!]

Also, Lauren and her friends are gourmet restaurant connoisseurs! Read about their pursuits, as documented by Hillel Coopermen, at the tastingmenu.com site.

posted @ 10:32 PM | archive_link | Comment

So my friend karen has decided to copy my stylez...what a poser! Just kidding....

k* in class says:
you are the best bubba
b-man says:
knock of the sarcasim...it is toooooo early for that shit
k* in class says:
no, i really mean it.
k* in class says:
your style is the best.
b-man says:
wow...well thanks....but that doesn't mean you should copy me, you can have your own style....
k* in class says:
i don't want to have my own style
b-man says:
well in that case...fine, copy me but make sure your friend amisha is nice to me!
k* in class says:
hehe...totally

*Note: the above im conversation was totally fabricated and will most likely start a holy war between the two of us...bring it i say! :)

posted @ 10:23 AM | archive_link | Comment

let the packing begin! The offical move out day is now oct 30th.

I was going to write something big and deep right now, but all of a sudden I am ready to go to bed.

posted @ 12:27 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, October 15, 2002

do you read this site? if so email me and let me know how I can make your experince better....

posted @ 10:04 AM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, October 14, 2002

Paul Allen's Joint
So I saw the front rec hall. It was phat...I would write more but the NDA I signed requries me to foreit a testicale if I say more...lets just say the water slide was dope!

posted @ 11:58 PM | archive_link | Comment

DUDE! I am so excited about the following things:

50 bucks for a usb 2.0 40 gig external hard drive...totally solves my storage problems!

dan, vaugn and jenn are planning a kick ass going away party for me...THIS WEEKEND!

i am going to PAUL ALLEN's JOINT tonight...my buddy patrick works for Vulcan and hooked it up!

Life is good!

posted @ 3:57 PM | archive_link | Comment

people often make up words so that they don't have to change

posted @ 1:32 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, October 10, 2002

Fil sayz:
filipe says:
Women usually can't do math ...
filipe says:
The ones that can are inbalanced by that ability


bubba says:
"don't shoot the messenger..."

posted @ 5:28 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, October 09, 2002

I got the archive working again! Yeah!

posted @ 7:10 PM | archive_link | Comment

coin toss im style...
rama says:
ok, i'm flipping a coin, heads or tails
me. says:
wait a second...I don't trust you that much.
me. says:
here lets just pick someone at random to say t or h.
rama says:
h or t?
me. says:
t
rama says:
ok, t i drive, h you drive
me. says:
okay.

Vaughn (C'valing) has been added to the conversation.

me. says:
vaughn....say h or t...first one to come to your mind.
rama says:
how do i know you didn't "coach" him beforehand?
Vaughn (C'valing) says:
h
me. says:
FUCK!
me. says:
that is how.

posted @ 6:04 PM | archive_link | Comment

I think the most painful movie scene of all time is when Mikey calls Nikki 6 times in 10 mintues and goes through the whole fricking relationship cycle at once. Man...does it hurt to watch. Singers...if you didn't know what movie I was talking about!

posted @ 3:05 PM | archive_link | Comment

So get this...getting a uhaul will cost me about 900 buck plus gasoline & time (gas= 150-300 dollars, time=priceless) while the moovers look like they will charge me less then 1500 do pack and move my shit. Incredible....

posted @ 10:21 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, October 08, 2002

And who says IM doesn't convey emotions?

Cheezman Dan says:
don't ? me
Cheezman Dan says:
you know its true
Cheezman Dan says:
I picked up my Gride...
Cheezman Dan says:
I love it
me. says:
?
Cheezman Dan says:
can't wait to send you a picture
Cheezman Dan says:
I'll fucking kill you
me. says:
?
Cheezman Dan says:
damn it janet
me. says:
?
Cheezman Dan says:
????????\
Cheezman Dan says:
I hate you
me. says:
!
Cheezman Dan says:
#&@&$#&@
me. says:
?
Cheezman Dan says:
you must die!!!!

posted @ 7:55 PM | archive_link | Comment

Okay...I just started messing around with the odds...and I forgot how much math I forgot...to do them right it takes some multivarible equation jive...i am just brute forcing it in excell...but man...talk about room for error and a waste of time!

posted @ 6:24 PM | archive_link | Comment

Btw, I won 200 gambling last night. Not the best use of time, but damn is it fun! Let me outline my craps strategy (the one that put me up 200 in 30 mintues...of course that is not what I walked away with...i instead lost that at roulette, along with the 100 I took from the BJ table, and then pulled out my last 10 dollars and cooked it up to 250 in 7 mintues at the BJ tables.)

Craps by Bubba
1. Bet 1 unit on the Pass line and wait for come out roll.
if (7 || 11 rolled) add 1 unit to your stack and smile
else if (2 || 3 || 12 rolled) frown; start over
else if (point estabilished) goto 2
2. Bet 1 unit on come line
if (7 || 11 rolled) pick up 2 units from come line bet (even); start over
else if (2 || 3 || 12 rolled) lose come bet (lose 1 unit)goto 2
else if (point estabilished) goto 3
3. Take full odds on all bets (2 units on each bet on a double odd tables), bet 1 unit on come line
if (7 || 11 roled) Fuck (lose 7 units); start over
else if (2 || 3 || 12 roled) lose come bet (lose 1 unit); goto 2
else if (1 of your numbers is not rolled) wait for next roll;
else if (1 of your numbers IS rolled) take in winnigs (dending on odds); goto 3

I need to run the odds on this, but all in all I have done well using this strategy. Add some fun 1 dollar bets {hardways for any point I own, C-E, etc} and you have a good way to waste several hours.

posted @ 5:37 PM | archive_link | Comment

How is it possilbe to build, ship and market a computer with a flat screen for less then 600 bucks?

CHEAP ASS DELL COMPUTER

AMAZING! INCREADIBLE! HOW DO THEY DO IT? ;)

ANyhow, I just bought one for my folks...how could I not do that? And while I was at the site, I noticed that my last dell order was alllllllllllll screwed up...sent to ship to my cupertino street address , but in Seattle township...DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

posted @ 4:12 PM | archive_link | Comment

Monday, October 07, 2002

fuck...i am a slow dev dude now a days...need to get quicker....

posted @ 7:38 PM | archive_link | Comment

yo.

posted @ 6:37 PM | archive_link | Comment

shall we rock and roll? New site testing...1

posted @ 6:09 PM | archive_link | Comment

IM Conversation Clip
get it faster says:
yeah, really!! how have you been?! what have you been up to?
me. says:
well...a few things.
me. says:
playing {movies, reading, gaming}
me. says:
learning {php, css, web dev shite}
me. says:
planning {move, masters thesis, future}
me. says:
and lastly traveling {portland, bay area, slo town}

posted @ 11:28 AM | archive_link | Comment

hyper discipline
Focus that results in massive time managment to revole around excution of tasks and activities to support long range goals. Core foundation of succesfull people (specifically, C level people, but succesfull people everywhere).

measured risk taker
opposite of risk-averse personality. Better defintion to come.

posted @ 2:47 AM | archive_link | Comment

Sunday, October 06, 2002

PS Thinking that i should have pulled the trigger on change 6 months ago...bummer that I didn't, but I hope this thought does not haunt my mind for very long.

posted @ 11:17 AM | archive_link | Comment

in portland with dan and his dad. Also, hung out with Mike yesterday...it is good to see friends and eat at montage!

On a more serious note, realised that I need to do the following:

1) write about single fee communications
2) talk to sameer about his ideas
3) build new p4 box!

okay...will write more later (after sopranos).

posted @ 11:15 AM | archive_link | Comment

Thursday, October 03, 2002

Some more defintions (and perhaps the reason I am motivated to do make these defintions so prominent in my public thoughts)
Vocabulary/Nomeclature/Terminology
In context of culture this is the what frames all thinking, attitudes, and beliefs of a culture. Essentially, by defining a vocabulary and backing up its syntax with a set of exhibited values (attitudes?) one estabilishes a culture. Any takers?

Culture
While normally applied to describe an ethnic, regional, or political grouping of people it essentially applies to any relativily stable set of people that communicate on a regular basis. Obvious examiples include corporations and and non-profit organizations; not so obvious are group friendships, groups temporarly estabilished to accomplish a goal (ex. political campaign), and professions (doctors, lawyers, computer scientists).

posted @ 9:59 PM | archive_link | Comment

Man, oh man...i had to give up on my little image resize attempts...:( I don't know what the fuck is wrong and I can't seem to figure it ou. Oh well...(yes, inside I am SUPER PISSSSSED OFF).

I did learn some new php work arounds and am starting to get the web programing model into my head. It has taken a while (about a week now), but what can I expect...I have never done this before and haven't coded in quite a while. To boot...all the work I did for the play site will have to be demolished so I can make it a proper css sub site. I don't plan on doing that right away, but I do think it could be where I put the 4 column layout to work. :) Anyhow....regardles...this webshit ain't too hard, but it defiently ain't to intresting (intental grammar oh great grammar police).

off to go hang out with lisa...dinner and then a ride to the airport...

Oh, shit, forgot to mention, watched Amelie today...intresting flick, not sure why everyone was soooooooooooooo gaga over it, but it was a good watch. I like quirky foriegn films...i think.

posted @ 5:56 PM | archive_link | Comment

btw, my spelling is horrible. :)

posted @ 2:04 PM | archive_link | Comment

Okay...I am really freaking frustrated with PHP, MYSQL, and NAME2HOST today. I have spent the last 3 hours trying to get a fucking script to work, and it won't. FUCK!

On a diffrent note, the leadership speech I have to write is shaping up:
Leader vs. Leadership: a subtle diffrence that deterimes success and failure
Leaders - power that is granted or earned by an individual
Leadership - actions that demonstrate belief and improves the effort/project/undertaking
basically an individual does not have to be a leader to provide leadership. Furthermore, leaders that are successful provide leadership, while those that are not may continue to carry titles of "leader" but in actuallity are just show peices.

posted @ 2:04 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wednesday, October 02, 2002

another thesis idea:
6.photo processing....take a dir of pictures straighten them out, and make a cool little picutre albume out of it.

i looked at a ton of sites to do this yesterday, but rama was the one who made a point that it could be an intresting thesis/biz idea.

posted @ 4:35 PM | archive_link | Comment

does anyone have thoughts on this company?
dicarta?

email me...

posted @ 4:32 PM | archive_link | Comment

onion factor
the fact that all people have layers to their personality that are discovered over time....like peeling away an onion.
of course you can slice up an onion, like you can with a personality, but in the end that just makes you cry...;)

posted @ 4:09 PM | archive_link | Comment

I just got back from a killer game of raquetball and some dixies with my friend Mike.

He blew me away. The onion (defined shortly) factor was in full effect. Anyhow, with out going to into details he is a fucking briliant and disciplined guy. And he fucking beat me at racket ball. Don't you hate those kind of guys? ;)

posted @ 3:56 PM | archive_link | Comment

Two term defintion:
five mintue factor
Things that seem extremely cool when you read or initally try them out but quickly become borring and useless. Often time I think this is what fucks VC's out of lots of money...

Leason? Play with something for at least 10 mintues :)

one way life functions
Black and white questions about life (you have or you haven't...there is no middle ground):
Have you ever shot a gun?
Have you ever stolen anything?
Have you ever killed anyone?
Have you ever had sex?
Have you ever had a kid?
etc
Significance? A really good way to get to know a definitve data point about a person. Also very intresting for introspection...you may see some function that you want to be on the other side before XXX happens in your life.

g-night.

posted @ 2:32 AM | archive_link | Comment

cut and past from an email to my friend eric:

>How are things going (a general question)

Not bad. Went to a little up and down mood swing, but now I am feeling good. It is weird to have all day to myself...I like it a lot. Went and read about the skull and bones today and played with websites for like 4 hours. Plus video games are now a major force in my life again. Add to that the fact that I pulled an all nighter last night because I could and I think I have general contentness.

Started thinking about thesis today and came up with a couple of ideas I care about:

1. contact management (automatic update, distribution, and privacy)
2. spam filter that works
3. bioinformatics (genetic modeling could be very interesting)
4. natural language processing (I never took compilers, so it could be
interesting)
5. a cool distributed fighting game (sf2 done over the net)

I am trying not to look myself in to one area of thinking, but I who knows...I want to do something that I find super compelling.

posted @ 2:26 AM | archive_link | Comment

Tuesday, October 01, 2002

sunset is pretty money here too!



:)

posted @ 6:59 PM | archive_link | Comment

dan garbely is a sucker.

posted @ 6:15 PM | archive_link | Comment

Wow...that wasn't tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo PAINFUL!

Switched over to a real dir hiarchy for the site...and to recalc the links by hand. Remind me to never do that again.

posted @ 4:56 PM | archive_link | Comment

now lets post!

posted @ 4:55 PM | archive_link | Comment

post please...

posted @ 4:54 PM | archive_link | Comment

lets try this sucker with my new fixes

posted @ 4:43 PM | archive_link | Comment

some more clean up...added the links page too...:)

posted @ 3:54 PM | archive_link | Comment

found the error in the link column...SWEET! Also got hard archive linking set up...I am officially a stud muffin.

posted @ 3:20 PM | archive_link | Comment

okay...talk about a whole new world of cool shit...check these sites out...they are insane:
cool flash site 1
cool flash site 2

Also had lunch with mr. pattilo at this decent neighborhood joint called otis. intresting conversation that lead me to rediscover the field of bioinformatics and wonder if that is a direction for the thesis. Furthermore got me chuging on whether I wanted to have a blog for thesis section....could be my engineer's notebook...kind of feel stupid fracturing them and worry that I will start ignoring one, but I think it might be the right thing to do....

posted @ 3:11 PM | archive_link | Comment

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAW!

Got the work section all up and running...who would have thunk it...me getting a webpage up...HOLY Cow!

Off to have lunch with a buddy and then back to the grind...man, oh man...this unemployed shit is cool.

posted @ 12:30 PM | archive_link | Comment

wonder what happened to the side nave bar...it is all bold...maybe something got chunked at blogger?

posted @ 11:03 AM | archive_link | Comment

yeah haw....the weather is gorgeous right now:

posted @ 10:53 AM | archive_link | Comment

Wow...i am going to have a real honest to god website. Pretty cool, huh? I wonder if people will read my blog (maybe)? I wonder if people will look at the pictures (probobly)? I wonder if I will keep on the ball with it (50/50 chance)?

Lets see, it is almost 6 in the morning, I haven't gone to bed yet and I don't think I should plan on going to bed anytime soon...sound good to you? good!

My mind is chuggin with thesis ideas, and feature ideas for this website...man, oh man...so much to do, and so little time.

Ever wonder why people write these things? A deep seeded need to be "cool" and popular? Cathartic relief? Boredom? Something to explore....I can say I am leaning towards the last one personally....;)

posted @ 5:48 AM | archive_link | Comment

enough is enough for tonight.

posted @ 5:33 AM | archive_link | Comment

fuck yeah.
done...for now ;)

well...maybe.

actually...fuck it...look at the time...it is an all nighter officially!

posted @ 5:30 AM | archive_link | Co