November 29, 2003
Whoa...
What do you guys think this is a picture of?
Copyright © Opte.org
Neo, this is the Internet... opte.org has been working on creating maps of the internetthe VRML version if you care to view the map virtual-reality style.
November 27, 2003
Thankgiving
Happy Thanksgiving !
Too bad this is my last night I will be spending in Orland Park. On a good note, I will return after three weeks. I sure am looking forward towards the MSI trip.
For the past few days, I have been going out with my friends. I certainly enjoyed the time and had a blast! I spent Thanksgiving with family. Even though we're not doing quite as cool things, it is still pretty nice spending time with them.
Until I return :-)
November 26, 2003
From the literary world
Ok, this is old nwes from Sdhsloat, but I like it a lot :-P Smoe polpee wree pnoniitg out that hmaun bnairs have vrey sortng ritngiocoen silkls that the senipllg in the mddile of the wodrs can be scmrlaebd but raed wutioht much ductlffiiy at all. I gesus curptemos would need to have the smae lveel of rteinogoicn slklis brfeoe we can ecxpet them to rieogncze us igtlnlleeinty.
November 24, 2003
PC vs. the Mac
Yes, that old discussion that started before the personal computer was conceived. Ok, maybe it wasn't that old.
Newsfactor Network takes a look at total TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) for both platforms. Their conclusion? It doesn't really matter. Wow... we need a news release to tell us that ?
The Cable Problem
Business Times is reporting landlords are having problems with tenants leaving behind networking cable, and the new tenents installing new cable because they don't know if the old cable left behind does not work. As the tenents leave and go, the number of cables continue to grow until the support structure starts to fail.
The problem is who should pay for removing the cables? Removing networking cable is not easy to do - you have to imagine there could be 7 miles of cable inside a moderate size building and you have to know where all the wires are located.
So the next time the ceiling above you is bulging, run away before you get snarled in the mess :-)
The Cable Problem
Business Times is reporting landlords are having problems with tenants leaving behind networking cable, and the new tenents installing new cable because they don't know if the old cable left behind does not work. As the tenents leave and go, the number of cables continue to grow until the support structure starts to fail.
The problem is who should pay for removing the cables? Removing networking cable is not easy to do - you have to imagine there could be 7 miles of cable inside a moderate size building and you have to know where all the wires are located.
So the next time the ceiling above you is bulging, run away before you get snarled in the mess :-)
November 22, 2003
Amtrak Trains...
sucks.....
Laundry List of why my trip home sucked.
1.) Trip took place during the night (ok, they can't be blamed for it) 2.) That big rain storm took place 3.) Chairs was uncomfortable 4.) Trip was 10 hours long 5.) Could not get sleep because of reason number 3 6.) Rails between Rochester and Buffulo feels like a roller coaster (bumpy ride and sudden turns) 7.) The temperature kept on changing due to people entering the car
On the bright side, I am home at OP. I realized OP has some benefits that college cannot replace such as I can drive a car, I have more space to move around in the house, I do not have to do laundry, and I do not have any class work. In the other hand, there is much more freedom associated with college life that I miss. Oh well, I am leaving within a week and returning back to OP in less than two months.
In Memory of JFK
Today, we remember the assassination of JFK.
If you have not turn on the History Channel recently, you have been missing out the many shows talking about JFK assassination. Due to BPA Nationals last Spring, I had a chance to visit Dallas, TX and visit the exact spot where the assassination took place. While I was watching the tv shows, I felt very awkward since I have stood in the area that JFK was shot in person. It was certainly a memorial place to visit, especially if you have any interest in history.
November 14, 2003
Personality Test
| Disorder | Rating |
| Paranoid: | Low |
| Schizoid: | Moderate |
| Schizotypal: | High |
| Antisocial: | Low |
| Borderline: | Low |
| Histrionic: | Moderate |
| Narcissistic: | Low |
| Avoidant: | Low |
| Dependent: | Low |
| Obsessive-Compulsive: | Moderate |
-- Personality Disorder Test - Take It! -- | |
Pretty interesting information, even though I don't know many of these disorders.
November 11, 2003
Veteran's Day
In support of all Veterans that have served our country, watch this flash movie.
http://www.gcsdistributing.com/WeSupportU.htm
November 09, 2003
Essays suck...
but at least I got A's on both of my essays :-) Not to mention these are the last essays I have to do for the quarter. Still, I can't get myself to write them. Oh well, things dont' change for me I guess.
November 06, 2003
Sigh..
According to CNN, millions of households are deleting music files from their computer. Normally, I would appraise their actions, but this isn't a good sign with the fight aginst the RIAA. If the report is accurate, this is giving RIAA more power than it really needs; not to mention the more money it trying to "get" by sueing everybody.
I hope our priviliges to record media would not be taken away in the future. Recently, the FCC approved a broadcast flag that will be added to HDTV streams that specifies copyright material. The flag isn't harmful itself, but having it there in the first place is. Imagine not being able to record the SuperBowl or give a copy to somebody who couldn't get a copy. Supposingly, they allow you to copy things if it stays in the household, but I have a feeling it will not be in that case. Of course, current HDTV Tuners will ignore this flag, but what if they started add more DRM in order to enforce "copyright"?
November 04, 2003
College going to VoIP
Wake Forest is going to convert the 1,000 + dormitory phones to VoIP. Why? Because students are bypassing paying the telephone charges and instead using cell phones which offer greater mobility. It is interesting to see that they are trying to pursue other sources of revenue such as video conferencing.
Sent by RHeaney who is wayy too busy working on his blog scripts :-)
New type of key
I'm sure you heard the hype about smartcards. Because of their RF chip inside, they can authenticate you automatically so you don't have to prove your identity. Since theives could possible duplicate the signal, some scientists have developed an additional security measure: use the chip as the key.
Use the chip as the key?! Basically, every circuit in the world have different signal delay times. By timing this delay and putting it in the database, you have a pretty good identification system. Of course, this doesn't prevent from others from stealing your card and using it (unless there is a security measure I'm not aware of), but it sure helps in the fight against counterfeigts.
Click here for the news article in MIT: Technology Review.
Somebody is a little to Homery
A devoted Simpson fan with too much time on his hand decided to get his hand dirty and start up his own.... TOMACCO plant. If you haven't watched that episode, tomacco is combination of tomatoes and tobacco. Curious to see the General Surgeon warnings lasered onto each one :-).
From slashdot
Mom... can I get this?
I want to build to build a model of the Saturn V rocket. I probably won't launch it anytime soon, but it will look so cool as a floor decoration :-)