Monday, April 6, 2009
I miss blogging
Well, I do! I haven't really been motivated to blog about anything in particularly recently, but I've been browsing some of my old writing and I'm starting to remember just how much fun I used to have while blogging. Most of my time has been spent either working, sleeping, of Vlogging for 5AwesomePeople on YouTube. I entertained the idea of participating in BEDA (Blog Every Day April) but decided that it wasn't a very good idea to dedicate that much of my time to internet postings during final's month...So maybe you'll hear from me more this summer when I have time to do stuff that I actually want to do and have learned to manage my time better. Here's hoping!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Advertising?
Today I got an email from some company that wants to advertise on my blog page. HA! Probably spam, but wouldn't that be somethin' eh?
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Generic Political Blog or An Idiot's Guide to Bullshit
It's only the second day of classes and already I'm starting to feel sleep deprived...in order to keep myself awake while I wait for my next class to start, I'm going to do something I've never done before. I'm going to try to blog about politics.
So what do we have? Two candidates at each others throats about the most trivial bullshit issues I've ever heard of, it must be election time! Actually, it's not the candidates that are stirring up most of the bullshit that I've seen. After a fine afternoon of browsing pieces of flair on FaceBook, I've learned that Obama is but one letter away from Osama. That, and Obama's recent choice of running-mate, Joe Biden, who's last name is strikingly close to Bin Laden! And then there's Obama's middle name: Hussein! Holy crap! Obama must be a terrorist! And George Bush is actually pubic hair around a vagina! Obama also has the unfortunate initials of B.O. and a last name that, while very fun to sing the "Banana Fanna" song to, lends itself to the admittedly creative portmanteau Obamanation and the slightly less impressive No!bama. Let's all laugh at him!
Vote John McCain. Because Republicans can use PhotoShop
HA! Democrats can use PhotoShop too!
So let's review: Obama is a terrorist with a name people like to make fun of, while McCain is actually Orson Wells in disguise. These are completely legitimate reasons to decide who to vote for, right? IS THIS A COUNTRY OF FUCKING FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN?
It seems that both sides are more adept at slinging shit than monkeys at the zoo. I can say, however, that there seems to be significantly less of it aimed at McCain. Does this mean that McCain's a better person? That the democrats aren't as creative? That republicans are negative assholes? I don't necessarily agree with any of these theories, but the fact remains that most of the negative energy is coming from the red side.
AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
So the evil nanny lady tells us that Obama is a mix between Paris Hilton and Brittany Spears, which so obviously not true. I mean, he's black! And then we hear a bunch of negativity about Obama telling us why we shouldn't vote for him, but who listens to that crap anyway? We close with a very flattering picture of McCain, looking very American, all primped and made pretty by people who are probably over paid. He looks up into the light and the music swells! OMGZ I'M GONNA VOTE 4 HIM!!
Seriously people? This ad could actually pass off as a satire illustrating how ridiculous negative campaigns are.
Negative advertising pisses me off so much that I, being the petty person that I am, am actually inclined to vote against someone who's telling me not to vote for someone else, just to spite them. I was quite proud of Obama for a while because the commercials I saw for him were actually urging people to vote FOR him, instead of AGAINST McCain, but alas, it was inevitable. I soon came across a negative attack ad from the Obama campaign. At least it was a half-and-half, trashing McCain and then talking about Obama, instead of just talking about McCain eating babies and whatnot.
So what's the moral of the story? I dunno, how about stop with the bullshit, America. Or we could take it another step...Stop buying into the bullshit, and eventually it will stop coming. I'm gonna wrap this up quick because I'm almost out of battery and I don't have internet at my apartment. Happy voting season!
Oh, and by the way, I'm not nearly smart or well-informed enough to argue about anything political, these are just interesting findings that I decided to share, so don't expect me to get into an intelligent conversation about the issues at stake here.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
How I Beat My Kitchen Supplies
I am not on drugs. Let me just clear that up right now. Of course, someone who reads this and doesn't know me might very seriously doubt that very simple and very true statement. See? Now you're intrigued and want to read on, for you're convinced that what I am about to tell you must be interesting. Well, it might be if YOU are on drugs, but if not, I'd say prepare to be disappointed, unless you are fascinated by the incredibly random thoughts and musings of a bored 19-year-old who likes run-on sentences.
Today, I was supposed to empty the dishwasher, so no one was very surprised when I didn't. However, during my nightly ritual of watching random television, playing on my laptop, and snacking on goldfish and Cheetos, I decided that I would like a glass of milk. I went to the cupboard to grab a glass and was dismayed to discover that all the glasses were in the dishwasher. The dishes were clean, however, and had I not been the stereotypical lazy college student, I probably would have put them away, but that is neither here nor there.
I ended up doing what anyone in my situation would have done. I opened the dishwasher and grabbed a clean glass. This simple action got me thinking about how the glass would have felt if it had not been, you know, an inanimate object. Would this glass have been thrilled at having been chosen straight out of the dishwasher? At having been used so recently and then needed again, immediately after its obligatory rest period? Would it laugh at the other glasses that didn't get chosen and would they be jealous of it? Of the one glass that I picked to quench my thirst?
Of course, there was always the other possibility, that glasses don't actually like being used, and by choosing that one glass fresh out of the dishwasher, I had actually infuriated it beyond all belief, like a worker called in for a double shift on what was promised to be his day off. These two distinct possibilities troubled me greatly as I wondered if I was offending the glass or gratifying it.
While I contemplated these thoughts, I opened the fridge and saw an unopened gallon of 1% Lucerne milk. Excellent. I was concerned that we may have been out of milk and I would have had to settle for water. But just as I was peeling off the seal on the plastic pitcher, I began to wonder again. How did the milk feel about this? Because dairy expires rather quickly, it obviously has a relatively short time on this earth, but how did it feel about the time given to it? It must have known, as it felt me removing its lid, that its time was nearing an end. Just like the cow from which it had come, it was about to sacrifice itself so that a human could gain some kind of culinary enjoyment. Now, obviously this milk was created specifically to provide nourishment, so it is likely that it was elated at finally being having the opportunity to fulfill its purpose in life. However, because all things fear death, it is also possible it became terrified at the prospect of consumption as it sensed me picking away the seal on the lid.
In uncertainty, I continued on. Into a freshly cleaned glass, I poured myself a cup of brand new milk, all the time unsure of how my companions in this quest for thirst-quenching felt about the journey upon which we were embarking. I didn't have to wonder much longer.
As I brought the clean glass of fresh milk to my lips and took my first drink, the answer to my query was finally revealed, in the form of an assault on my taste buds. The damn milk tasted awful! It was far too watery, and despite being in the refrigerator for at least four hours, it was nowhere near cold enough to satisfy my expectations. The milk and the glass had obviously conspired in a vile attempt to spite me. It was mutiny! My two companions on this journey were unsatisfied with their conditions after all!
Now, I'm a compassionate person. I like to think that if I'm unintentionally wronging someone, under certain conditions I will correct the offense. But this was crossing the line. I had counted on this milk and this glass to provide me with a satisfying drinking experience and they had betrayed me for personal reasons, completely unrelated to business. It was unprofessionalism in it's most definitive form. Such a blatant assault obviously deserved no compassion from me whatsoever. I immediately had a nearly overpowering urge to smash the glass of milk against the wall, thereby eliminating both my opponents in one deft move. As I was winding up, however, I gave pause. If I allowed my rage to get the better of me in this battle, I would be handing victory to my opponents on a silver platter. If, on the other hand, I took the high road and remained calm, I could emerge as the better entity and therefore triumph.
I began to think, to plan. It was obvious that this milk did not want to be drank, and this glass did not want to be soiled. How could I use this knowledge to help me win in this showdown? After a moment of staring intensely at the two evil bastards in my hand, I came upon the ultimate solution. It was perfect, elegant in its simplicity and shocking in its deviousness.
Grabbing a shovel from the shed and laughing gleefully at my own brilliance, I hopped into my car and began to drive, with the glass of milk in a cup holder. Luckily for me, I live in a rural community and the nearest herd of cows is not far away. So, Milk, you don't want to be consumed eh? And Glass, you want to stay clean? Well we'll see about that.
I soon came to a fence. I got out of my car, shovel in hand, climbed into the field that I knew was home to no fewer than twenty cattle and set to work. I began digging and, as I worked, I again congratulated myself on the sheer brilliance of my plan. When I had dug a hole to my satisfaction, I retrieved the glass of milk from the car and delivered the final blow. I scattered the milk along the ground around the hole. So, this milk didn't want to be consumed? Well I would see to it that not only would it be consumed, but it would provide nourishment to cows who would go on producing milk meant for human consumption. A double-insult! I then filled the glass up with dirt, dropped in right into the hole that I had dug, and buried it, thereby ensuring that it would remain dirty for eternity.
And just like that, I had triumphed. I kept a cool head in the face of a direct assault and emerged as the victor. Not only that, but I had taught a lesson to all the milk and glasses in my house. I was not to be messed around with.
Now I reign supreme over my kitchen...What's that Mom? No, I haven't emptied the dishwasher yet, I've been asserting my power as king of the...no Mom, I haven't been wasting time, I swear...don't call me lazy! What? No more TV? Aww come on! OK, OK, fine! I'm going, I'm going! I'll empty the dishwasher!
Today, I was supposed to empty the dishwasher, so no one was very surprised when I didn't. However, during my nightly ritual of watching random television, playing on my laptop, and snacking on goldfish and Cheetos, I decided that I would like a glass of milk. I went to the cupboard to grab a glass and was dismayed to discover that all the glasses were in the dishwasher. The dishes were clean, however, and had I not been the stereotypical lazy college student, I probably would have put them away, but that is neither here nor there.
I ended up doing what anyone in my situation would have done. I opened the dishwasher and grabbed a clean glass. This simple action got me thinking about how the glass would have felt if it had not been, you know, an inanimate object. Would this glass have been thrilled at having been chosen straight out of the dishwasher? At having been used so recently and then needed again, immediately after its obligatory rest period? Would it laugh at the other glasses that didn't get chosen and would they be jealous of it? Of the one glass that I picked to quench my thirst?
Of course, there was always the other possibility, that glasses don't actually like being used, and by choosing that one glass fresh out of the dishwasher, I had actually infuriated it beyond all belief, like a worker called in for a double shift on what was promised to be his day off. These two distinct possibilities troubled me greatly as I wondered if I was offending the glass or gratifying it.
While I contemplated these thoughts, I opened the fridge and saw an unopened gallon of 1% Lucerne milk. Excellent. I was concerned that we may have been out of milk and I would have had to settle for water. But just as I was peeling off the seal on the plastic pitcher, I began to wonder again. How did the milk feel about this? Because dairy expires rather quickly, it obviously has a relatively short time on this earth, but how did it feel about the time given to it? It must have known, as it felt me removing its lid, that its time was nearing an end. Just like the cow from which it had come, it was about to sacrifice itself so that a human could gain some kind of culinary enjoyment. Now, obviously this milk was created specifically to provide nourishment, so it is likely that it was elated at finally being having the opportunity to fulfill its purpose in life. However, because all things fear death, it is also possible it became terrified at the prospect of consumption as it sensed me picking away the seal on the lid.
In uncertainty, I continued on. Into a freshly cleaned glass, I poured myself a cup of brand new milk, all the time unsure of how my companions in this quest for thirst-quenching felt about the journey upon which we were embarking. I didn't have to wonder much longer.
As I brought the clean glass of fresh milk to my lips and took my first drink, the answer to my query was finally revealed, in the form of an assault on my taste buds. The damn milk tasted awful! It was far too watery, and despite being in the refrigerator for at least four hours, it was nowhere near cold enough to satisfy my expectations. The milk and the glass had obviously conspired in a vile attempt to spite me. It was mutiny! My two companions on this journey were unsatisfied with their conditions after all!
Now, I'm a compassionate person. I like to think that if I'm unintentionally wronging someone, under certain conditions I will correct the offense. But this was crossing the line. I had counted on this milk and this glass to provide me with a satisfying drinking experience and they had betrayed me for personal reasons, completely unrelated to business. It was unprofessionalism in it's most definitive form. Such a blatant assault obviously deserved no compassion from me whatsoever. I immediately had a nearly overpowering urge to smash the glass of milk against the wall, thereby eliminating both my opponents in one deft move. As I was winding up, however, I gave pause. If I allowed my rage to get the better of me in this battle, I would be handing victory to my opponents on a silver platter. If, on the other hand, I took the high road and remained calm, I could emerge as the better entity and therefore triumph.
I began to think, to plan. It was obvious that this milk did not want to be drank, and this glass did not want to be soiled. How could I use this knowledge to help me win in this showdown? After a moment of staring intensely at the two evil bastards in my hand, I came upon the ultimate solution. It was perfect, elegant in its simplicity and shocking in its deviousness.
Grabbing a shovel from the shed and laughing gleefully at my own brilliance, I hopped into my car and began to drive, with the glass of milk in a cup holder. Luckily for me, I live in a rural community and the nearest herd of cows is not far away. So, Milk, you don't want to be consumed eh? And Glass, you want to stay clean? Well we'll see about that.
I soon came to a fence. I got out of my car, shovel in hand, climbed into the field that I knew was home to no fewer than twenty cattle and set to work. I began digging and, as I worked, I again congratulated myself on the sheer brilliance of my plan. When I had dug a hole to my satisfaction, I retrieved the glass of milk from the car and delivered the final blow. I scattered the milk along the ground around the hole. So, this milk didn't want to be consumed? Well I would see to it that not only would it be consumed, but it would provide nourishment to cows who would go on producing milk meant for human consumption. A double-insult! I then filled the glass up with dirt, dropped in right into the hole that I had dug, and buried it, thereby ensuring that it would remain dirty for eternity.
And just like that, I had triumphed. I kept a cool head in the face of a direct assault and emerged as the victor. Not only that, but I had taught a lesson to all the milk and glasses in my house. I was not to be messed around with.
Now I reign supreme over my kitchen...What's that Mom? No, I haven't emptied the dishwasher yet, I've been asserting my power as king of the...no Mom, I haven't been wasting time, I swear...don't call me lazy! What? No more TV? Aww come on! OK, OK, fine! I'm going, I'm going! I'll empty the dishwasher!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Vanessa Reichert, Vehicular Homicide and Competency to Stand Trial
Vanessa Reichert was the daughter of a close friend of my mother's. She used to baby sit me when I was little, and she was one of the best people I knew. About two years ago she was killed by a drunk driver. Now, the man who killed her may be able to walk away. The following is an email that Vanessa's mother sent those who were close to her.
Vanessa’s Community,
To all of you who made Vanessa’s life the life she truly loved to live,
I am asking you to take time to help protect others from the tragedy we
all faced as a result of her loss.
John Hoff , the man who crashed into Vanessa’s vehicle while he was
driving drunk on the wrong side of the road, has been living at the
Pueblo State Mental Hospital since he was found incompetent to stand
trial. It is believed that he will continue to digress and he will more
than likely never stand trial. There has been a motion’s hearing set in
July by his defense attorney to ask the judge to rule that the case be a
civil rather than criminal offense. If that happens it is very probable
that he will not only leave the mental hospital, but be in a half way
house or possibly just monitored on a probationary type schedule.
To me this is very disturbing because he potentially could drive a car
and be yet again the cause of another tragedy. When John Hoff was
questioned at the hospital after he ran his car into Vanessa going the
wrong way down the highway, he did not even remember being in an
accident or vehicle. Why did he even have a driver’s license? He also
had been stopped for a hit and run before he hit Vanessa that he hadn’t
been to court for yet. He was carrying a gun in his car. He is dangerous
and should not be free in Weld County to hurt someone again.
Although death is an inevitable and natural part of life, we should
still try to protect citizens of Weld County from people we know are
incompetent and dangerous. The question we are asking Judge Hartmann is,
what exactly stands between an unsuspecting citizenry and a drunk,
armed, demented moron at large in the county?
Please consider taking the time to write a letter and send it via email
to Judge Hartrmann, Weld District Court, demanding that the citizens of
Weld County be protected from this dangerous person by keeping the
charge that of a criminal offense, not civil, so he is monitored 24/7.
I am sending this to as many people as I can who knew how Vanessa
touched our lives. Please forward to others who may want to help with
this call to justice.
Thanks for being in my daughter’s life.
Debra Reichert
Please send your letter to;
Judge James Hartmann
Reichert/Hoff Case
Nineteenth Judicial District
PO Box 2038
Greeley, CO 80632
I can't see how this man could be considered unfit to stand trial if he was competent enough to have a driver's license. An article I read said that John Hoff suffers from multiple sclerosis, which causes him memory loss and forces him to use a walker. I don't know much about the subject but something here doesn't seem to click. If anyone who reads this has any information about competency to stand trial that would help me write a letter to the judge, I would greatly appreciate it. If anyone out there also feels compelled to write a letter themselves, please do. We need all the help we can get here to make sure this man does not hurt anyone ever again.
My email address: street.soccer4@gmail.com
Here's an article regarding Hoff's competency to stand trial (sorry, I can't post URLs right now, I'm at the airport and the wireless service is all screwy).
May 4--A man facing charges of vehicular homicide in the death of a 19-year-old Evans woman asked a Weld County Judge Thursday for a state evaluation to determine whether he is competent to stand trial.
John Hoff, of La Salle, was allegedly drunk and driving home from a bar Sept. 28 when his vehicle crashed head-on into a car driven by Vanessa Reichert-Fitzpatrick. She died the following day at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley.
Robert Ray, Hoff's attorney, said Hoff suffers from multiple sclerosis, which in Hoff's case causes him memory loss and forces him to use a walker. Ray said his client is not capable of standing trial, which had been set for the first week of July.
Weld District Judge James Hartmann ordered Hoff be evaluated by the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo and scheduled another court date for July 12. Based on the findings from Hoff's mental evaluation, which are due by July 6th, Hartmann said he will determine what's next in the case.
Deb Reichert, Vanessa's mother, said she has been shocked by how long the court process has taken.
"My biggest concern is that I just want to make sure that John Hoff is not going to be out on streets driving," she said.
Reichert-Fitzpatrick graduated with an International Baccalaureate degree from Greeley West High School and received a full scholarship to Colorado College in Colorado Springs where she was studying to become a doctor. She was in town visiting her mom for the weekend when the crash occurred.
Ray said that Hoff no longer has access to a car and will not be driving because of his physical condition.
What's Next
John Hoff will be back in Division 12 of Weld District Court at 11 a.m. July 12 to review the results of a mental health evaluation.
Copyright (c) 2007, Greeley Tribune, Colo.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Article covering Vanessa's accident:
Vanessa’s Community,
To all of you who made Vanessa’s life the life she truly loved to live,
I am asking you to take time to help protect others from the tragedy we
all faced as a result of her loss.
John Hoff , the man who crashed into Vanessa’s vehicle while he was
driving drunk on the wrong side of the road, has been living at the
Pueblo State Mental Hospital since he was found incompetent to stand
trial. It is believed that he will continue to digress and he will more
than likely never stand trial. There has been a motion’s hearing set in
July by his defense attorney to ask the judge to rule that the case be a
civil rather than criminal offense. If that happens it is very probable
that he will not only leave the mental hospital, but be in a half way
house or possibly just monitored on a probationary type schedule.
To me this is very disturbing because he potentially could drive a car
and be yet again the cause of another tragedy. When John Hoff was
questioned at the hospital after he ran his car into Vanessa going the
wrong way down the highway, he did not even remember being in an
accident or vehicle. Why did he even have a driver’s license? He also
had been stopped for a hit and run before he hit Vanessa that he hadn’t
been to court for yet. He was carrying a gun in his car. He is dangerous
and should not be free in Weld County to hurt someone again.
Although death is an inevitable and natural part of life, we should
still try to protect citizens of Weld County from people we know are
incompetent and dangerous. The question we are asking Judge Hartmann is,
what exactly stands between an unsuspecting citizenry and a drunk,
armed, demented moron at large in the county?
Please consider taking the time to write a letter and send it via email
to Judge Hartrmann, Weld District Court, demanding that the citizens of
Weld County be protected from this dangerous person by keeping the
charge that of a criminal offense, not civil, so he is monitored 24/7.
I am sending this to as many people as I can who knew how Vanessa
touched our lives. Please forward to others who may want to help with
this call to justice.
Thanks for being in my daughter’s life.
Debra Reichert
Please send your letter to;
Judge James Hartmann
Reichert/Hoff Case
Nineteenth Judicial District
PO Box 2038
Greeley, CO 80632
I can't see how this man could be considered unfit to stand trial if he was competent enough to have a driver's license. An article I read said that John Hoff suffers from multiple sclerosis, which causes him memory loss and forces him to use a walker. I don't know much about the subject but something here doesn't seem to click. If anyone who reads this has any information about competency to stand trial that would help me write a letter to the judge, I would greatly appreciate it. If anyone out there also feels compelled to write a letter themselves, please do. We need all the help we can get here to make sure this man does not hurt anyone ever again.
My email address: street.soccer4@gmail.com
Here's an article regarding Hoff's competency to stand trial (sorry, I can't post URLs right now, I'm at the airport and the wireless service is all screwy).
COPYRIGHT 2007 Greeley Tribune
Byline: Vanessa DelgadoMay 4--A man facing charges of vehicular homicide in the death of a 19-year-old Evans woman asked a Weld County Judge Thursday for a state evaluation to determine whether he is competent to stand trial.
John Hoff, of La Salle, was allegedly drunk and driving home from a bar Sept. 28 when his vehicle crashed head-on into a car driven by Vanessa Reichert-Fitzpatrick. She died the following day at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley.
Robert Ray, Hoff's attorney, said Hoff suffers from multiple sclerosis, which in Hoff's case causes him memory loss and forces him to use a walker. Ray said his client is not capable of standing trial, which had been set for the first week of July.
Weld District Judge James Hartmann ordered Hoff be evaluated by the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo and scheduled another court date for July 12. Based on the findings from Hoff's mental evaluation, which are due by July 6th, Hartmann said he will determine what's next in the case.
Deb Reichert, Vanessa's mother, said she has been shocked by how long the court process has taken.
"My biggest concern is that I just want to make sure that John Hoff is not going to be out on streets driving," she said.
Reichert-Fitzpatrick graduated with an International Baccalaureate degree from Greeley West High School and received a full scholarship to Colorado College in Colorado Springs where she was studying to become a doctor. She was in town visiting her mom for the weekend when the crash occurred.
Ray said that Hoff no longer has access to a car and will not be driving because of his physical condition.
What's Next
John Hoff will be back in Division 12 of Weld District Court at 11 a.m. July 12 to review the results of a mental health evaluation.
Copyright (c) 2007, Greeley Tribune, Colo.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Article covering Vanessa's accident:
Police are still not confirming or denying whether alcohol was a factor in a crash Sept. 28 that killed a 19-year-old Evans woman. However, a background check shows two prior charges for driving under the influence of alcohol.
John Hoff, 34, of La Salle was driving south in the northbound lane on U.S. 85 near the U.S. 34 overpass Thursday about 7:30 p.m. when he hit Vanessa Reichert-Fitzpatrick, who was on her way to visit her boyfriend.
Hoff was charged for driving under the influence, a misdemeanor offense, in September 1994 and July 2001. Hoff also had several other charges on his record, which included drug possession/use and weapon offenses. He was last charged with a felony in 2003 for having a controlled substance, which was later dismissed in court.
According to Evans police Sgt. Rich Strang, Hoff stands to face charges of vehicular homicide.
Hoff and Reichert-Fitzpatrick were taken to the North Colorado Medical Center. Hoff, who's been in the hospital since the crash, was reported in good condition on Saturday. Reichert-Fitzpatrick, died at 1 p.m. Friday at NCMC from multiple blunt force injuries.
Reichert-Fitzpatrick graduated with an International Baccalaureate degree from Greeley West High School and received a full scholarship to Colorado College in Colorado Springs. She was in town visiting her mom for the weekend.
Family members said Reichert-Fitzpatrick was positive and giving person, who in the end donated her organs to others. Memorial services are at 4 p.m. Tuesday at St. John's United Church of Christ, 3815 20th St., Greeley.
Family members included the following quote from the Dalai Lama in her obituary:
"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."
Friday, June 13, 2008
I HATE DRM!
I'm not what one would call "technologically inclined" but I flatter myself enough to declare that I'm not technology impaired either. Still, my tech friends think it's so cute whenever I try to talk about things involving a slightly advanced understanding of technology. One thing that I do understand, however so slightly, is something called Digital Rights Management (DRM), or, as I like to call it, "the reason for all the suffering in the world."
Wikipedia defines DRM (gasp! Is he actually using Wikipedia as a source?) as: an umbrella term that refers to access control technologies used by publishers and copyright holders to limit usage of digital media or devices. Here's a more simple definition by yours truly: Greedy, rich execs trying to gain even more money than they have, which is already more than they deserve. People who try to share music on iTunes are probably very familiar with DRM and don't even know it. Have you ever tried to share a song with someone, only to find that when they try to play it, a little window pops up asking for the password to your Apple account? This is because, when you bought the song on iTunes, you also bought the DRM, which won't let you play this song on more than five computers, which means that only five people (including yourself) can have this particular song, and all those people need to get your password to play the song. This has been my downfall many a time while trying to share music with friends. Of course, Steve Jobs says that he doesn't want DRM, that it's in the hands of the record companies and there's nothing he can do about it. Should we believe him? It is true that some songs on iTunes are now available DRM-free, of course they cost more. Here's a better idea: go to Amazon.com. They sell mp3s too, often times cheaper than iTunes, and NO DRM!!! Spread the word!
My more recent scuffle with this crime against humanity came on Netflix.com when I tried to utilize the "Watch Instantly" option, that allows you to watch certain movies on Netflix right at your computer, without even having them delivered to you! Sounds like a good deal, except that when I clicked on the button, I found that the function isn't supported by Apple and therefore, I can't do it on my MacBook! When I read a bit more into the problem, imagine my surprise when I found out that DRM was to blame. So there you go, that's DRM, the most annoying thing that I found to bitch about today.
Friday, June 6, 2008
(Still not writing anything new)
This is something I did a few months ago when my schedule was really busy (with school and all that) and I wasn't getting much sleep. It was just something fun that I enjoyed writing, so I decided to bring it over here.
MY LIFE (IN STAGE PLAY FORMAT)
AJ: Yes! Tonight's the night I will finally go to bed before three in the morning! I've got a good start on my homework and it's not even midnight yet!
Short Story: A.J.! Write me!!
AJ: Maybe later, Story, I have homework to do
Short Story: Awww...come on!
AJ: Ok, I'll START you, but then I've really got to get my work done.
Three Hours Later...
Story: Wow, you're almost done with me! Say, didn't you say you had to get homework done?
AJ: SHUT UP! *types furiously* There! Finished! And I still have five hours to do my homework, go to bed, get seven hours of sleep, wake up, and go to class!
Story: How can you get seven hours of sleep in five ho-?
AJ: *interrupting* SHUT UP!!!!!
Next Day...
AJ: *Wakes up at 9:00 and promptly cries* I don't wanna do stuff!
Class: AJ, it's your own fault that you stayed up late, now get your ass out of bed and get to Italian
AJ: I hate responsibility!
AJgoes to falls asleep in four classes that day with ten minutes between each, all on opposite sides of campus.
Uphill: Ha! I live to make you miserable!
Wind: As do I!
Freezing Cold: Me too!
Ice: w00t!
That night...
AJ: Ok, tonight's the night! I'm going to do my homework and get enough sleep to function properly tomorrow!
Best Friend: (on AIM) AJ! Ever since we went to rivaling colleges, we don't talk or hang out nearly as much as we used to! I'm picking tonight to be the first time I sign on to AIM in about a year so you should totally talk to me while you have the opportunity!
AJ: I don't know, Best Friend, I haven't been sleeping a lot lately and I have homework to do...
Best Friend: Awww, come on!
AJ: ok, but only for a little while.
Three hours later
Best Friend: Haha, wow, you sure are a fun guy to waste time with. Say, didn't you have homework to do?
AJ: SHUT UP! ...lolz...k, ttyl.
The next day...
AJ: *Waking up at 9:00* ...I hate myself...I hate myself...
Roommate: AJ, I don't have class until noon so would you get your ass out of bed, stop hitting the snooze button, and go to class so I can sleep in like you so badly wish you could?
AJ: *cries*
That day, AJ only has two classes but does not have time to eat breakfast, thanks to Snooze Button.
Sleep: Haha! Don't you wish you could have me?
AJ: Laugh's on you, Sleep, I have an hour between classes today so I'll be able to fit in a quick nap!
Lunch: Hey! What about me?!
AJ: zzzzzzZZZZzzzzZZZZzzzz
That night...
AJ: I'm gonna do it tonight! I'm gonna go to bed on time! I don't have any homework to do, so I'll go tire myself out at the Rec Center
Modern Treadmill: I am ridiculously complicated and hard to figure out how to get started! But once you get me going, I won't stop for 30 minutes, and I know that your pride won't let you stop until you finish the work out!
thirty minutes later...
Strength Training: Hey, this is great! This treadmill automatically inclined itself to make you feel like you were running uphill! Your legs got a real workout!
Cardiovascular Training: Hey, what about me?
AJ: don't worry, Cardiovascular Training, there's still time for you, I don't have any homework remember?
Later, still at the Rec Center...
Loudspeaker: The Rec Center will be closing in ten minutes...
AJ: That's strange, I thought the Rec Center didn't close until midnight...*looks at watch*...awwwww shit!
Next morning...
AJ only goes to three classes, having slept in and missing his first one.
Sentence Written In Italics Above This Line: I do not change the fact that AJ's classes are all on opposite sides of campus with only ten minute in between.
Enter Uphill, Freezing Cold, Wind, and Ice
AJ: Oh well, at least today is Friday...
Church Group Volunteer Work Weekend laughs evilly from offstage.
MY LIFE (IN STAGE PLAY FORMAT)
AJ: Yes! Tonight's the night I will finally go to bed before three in the morning! I've got a good start on my homework and it's not even midnight yet!
Short Story: A.J.! Write me!!
AJ: Maybe later, Story, I have homework to do
Short Story: Awww...come on!
AJ: Ok, I'll START you, but then I've really got to get my work done.
Three Hours Later...
Story: Wow, you're almost done with me! Say, didn't you say you had to get homework done?
AJ: SHUT UP! *types furiously* There! Finished! And I still have five hours to do my homework, go to bed, get seven hours of sleep, wake up, and go to class!
Story: How can you get seven hours of sleep in five ho-?
AJ: *interrupting* SHUT UP!!!!!
Next Day...
AJ: *Wakes up at 9:00 and promptly cries* I don't wanna do stuff!
Class: AJ, it's your own fault that you stayed up late, now get your ass out of bed and get to Italian
AJ: I hate responsibility!
AJ
Uphill: Ha! I live to make you miserable!
Wind: As do I!
Freezing Cold: Me too!
Ice: w00t!
That night...
AJ: Ok, tonight's the night! I'm going to do my homework and get enough sleep to function properly tomorrow!
Best Friend: (on AIM) AJ! Ever since we went to rivaling colleges, we don't talk or hang out nearly as much as we used to! I'm picking tonight to be the first time I sign on to AIM in about a year so you should totally talk to me while you have the opportunity!
AJ: I don't know, Best Friend, I haven't been sleeping a lot lately and I have homework to do...
Best Friend: Awww, come on!
AJ: ok, but only for a little while.
Three hours later
Best Friend: Haha, wow, you sure are a fun guy to waste time with. Say, didn't you have homework to do?
AJ: SHUT UP! ...lolz...k, ttyl.
The next day...
AJ: *Waking up at 9:00* ...I hate myself...I hate myself...
Roommate: AJ, I don't have class until noon so would you get your ass out of bed, stop hitting the snooze button, and go to class so I can sleep in like you so badly wish you could?
AJ: *cries*
That day, AJ only has two classes but does not have time to eat breakfast, thanks to Snooze Button.
Sleep: Haha! Don't you wish you could have me?
AJ: Laugh's on you, Sleep, I have an hour between classes today so I'll be able to fit in a quick nap!
Lunch: Hey! What about me?!
AJ: zzzzzzZZZZzzzzZZZZzzzz
That night...
AJ: I'm gonna do it tonight! I'm gonna go to bed on time! I don't have any homework to do, so I'll go tire myself out at the Rec Center
Modern Treadmill: I am ridiculously complicated and hard to figure out how to get started! But once you get me going, I won't stop for 30 minutes, and I know that your pride won't let you stop until you finish the work out!
thirty minutes later...
Strength Training: Hey, this is great! This treadmill automatically inclined itself to make you feel like you were running uphill! Your legs got a real workout!
Cardiovascular Training: Hey, what about me?
AJ: don't worry, Cardiovascular Training, there's still time for you, I don't have any homework remember?
Later, still at the Rec Center...
Loudspeaker: The Rec Center will be closing in ten minutes...
AJ: That's strange, I thought the Rec Center didn't close until midnight...*looks at watch*...awwwww shit!
Next morning...
AJ only goes to three classes, having slept in and missing his first one.
Sentence Written In Italics Above This Line: I do not change the fact that AJ's classes are all on opposite sides of campus with only ten minute in between.
Enter Uphill, Freezing Cold, Wind, and Ice
AJ: Oh well, at least today is Friday...
Church Group Volunteer Work Weekend laughs evilly from offstage.
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