True Stories I Made Up

Taco Bell will now serve Big Macs after Law suit..

2008-12-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

Ok...well not really. But they might have to one day.

I heard about this story. Basically a man filed a lawsuit against eHarmony.com because they don't offer a same sex service. Unfortunately, eHarmony buckled and is settling by offering an alternative service for homosexual people, and I heard that the guy that filed the lawsuit is also getting $5000. Basically getting away with a silly lawsuit.

:::Shock and Disbelief:::

I mean how crazy is that. eHarmony was founded by Neil Warren, and he's a man who had a goal of bringing the divorce rate down by 1% before he died. It was intended to build lasting Hetero relationships. For those of you not hip, eHarmony basically asks you a bunch of questions and based on your priorities, values, likes/dislikes, it used a database to match people. The idea being that if you're honest, you'll be matched with someone who you are compatible with at the core. The idea was mainly to get people together and stay together forever.

So my issue with it is that there are plenty of other companies that offer homosexual service, but let’s sue this company because they don't offer it. I'm sorry but if I want a Big Mac, I don't sue Taco Bell for not having it. If you want that service, then go somewhere that offers it. I know many people think that this has nothing to do with them, but this is ridiculous. It seems small at first, but then the next thing you know someone will sue other because they don't offer something that that person wants.

I mean if someone doesn't have what you're looking for, you don't sue them to make them start doing something they don't have. What people don't understand is that it'll get more and more ridiculous and cause all kinds of stupid law suits. Would you sue a restaurant that when you ask for a Sprite, they tell you they only have Sierra Mist? Can I sue Porsche for not making a truck? Can Caucasian people sue the government for not having a Caucasian history month? I mean there is a Hispanic and African American History months, why not one for Caucasians or people with mixed heritages. Would you sue a steakhouse for not making available a tofu steak? Should women’s clothing companies be sued for not offering Men’s sizes? Bras for men? Jock straps for women? Perfume for Men and Cologne for Women? How come Men can’t play in the WNBA? Isn’t that discrimination. So if you think these kinds of ridiculous lawsuits have nothing to do with you...think again.

I'm not bashing homosexuals. I'm bashing silly lawsuits that people do to put pressure on our courts/legal systemthat have "real" problems to tend to. There was no crime here. It's not against the law to not offer services to everyone. You cater to your market.

To me this is as dumb as the lady that complained that the Coffee was too hot at McDonalds, or the one where the parents of a drunk driver sued Honda because their seatbelts aren't designed for drunk people to unfasten them. Coffee is supposed to be hot, and people aren't supposed to drive drunk. I'm sorry that the lady was burned, but it was an accident. I'm also sorry that their daughter died, but their Daughter drinking and driving drunk was not Honda's fault. Instead of suing Honda, ask them to make a donation for an anti-drinking and driving campaign.

If you want something that someone doesn't have, you take your business elsewhere. It's not hard to figure out. It's not like eHarmony is the only online dating service. I guess if I was eHarmony, I'd argue take it to court and make that argument. They’re not the only site out there and they shouldn’t be forced to offer something they don’t want to. It's unreasonable. Why doesn't the guy take the initiative and start a site for homosexuals. That's the American way. It's called an opportunity and that's what America is all about. Don’t cry about your rights, get off your duff and use your right to start your own business. To make others offer something they choose not to is violating their rights to offer goods and services that they choose. eHarmony doesn’t advertise that they are only for straight people, or broadcast that gay people can’t join. They’re designed to match people of opposite sex together. It’s just not their business model. So take your business to the many other sites that do.

Take a stand against stupidity…

Solar Flares

2008-11-26T12:37:00.001-08:00

Click the Picture....

A Tribute to John Williams

2008-11-06T05:41:00.000-08:00

This is awesome and clever.

Nuff said....

H-O-R-S-E

2008-09-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

Check this Out.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Warehouse-worker-destroys-LeBron-at-H-O-R-S-E?urn=nba,105511

I guess it's probably only funny to me. Maybe the guy that beat him can get an NBA contract. I'd be a little embarassed if i was LeBron, but then I'd think about how I love that I can play basketball for money and the other guy has to go back to his job.

Paper Money Burns!!!

2008-08-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

I thought that this was interesting because he has a point. I never really looked at things this way.

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

Man buys Chevy with small change

James Jones' new Chevy

An Ohio man with a hatred of paper money slapped down $8,000 in coins at a car dealership to buy a Chevrolet pick-up - then paid the rest by cheque.

James Jones, 70, produced 16 coffee cans full of coins to buy his new Chevrolet Silverado in Cincinnati and staff spent 90 minutes counting it.

But his coin hoard only covered half of the $16,000 (£8,500) price tag.

The man's son said the most amazing thing for him was his father deciding to replace his 1981 pick-up at all.

As far back as he could remember, Dennis Jones told the Cincinnati Enquirer, his father had always had coins.

“He gave me lunch money in coins and each time he ever gave me money it was in coins,” he recalled.

Paper money will burn, but it is hard to damage coins

James Jones

“I am amazed that we were able to talk him into buying a new truck, because he is pretty tight with his money.”

According to the paper, James Jones walked into the Jake Sweeney dealership, plunked down his cans and said: “I want that Chevy truck.”

"In my 19 years in this business I have never seen anything like this,” said Biff Arnold, finance manager for Jake Sweeney.

“I have seen many buyers come in with a lot of cash money, but never this much money in coins.”

Salesman David Crisswell said the coins included "dimes, quarters, half-dollars, silver and Susan B Anthony dollars".

The new owner of the Chevy says he does not trust banks or paper money.

“Paper money will burn, but it is hard to damage coins," the retired engineer pointed out.

"I bought four or five rolls of coins each month. I don't know how long it took me to save this amount, probably all my life.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7559881.stm

The funny thing about it is..

2008-07-08T08:59:00.001-07:00

The last 24 Hours have been a bit depressing. I had a long day at work, and was really tired. I was on my way home and I stopped at Albertsons. On my way out, I see this guy sitting down outside looking at the door and waiting to ask someone for money. I think we’ve all seen it before, and I don’t know why it makes so uncomfortable. Anyway, the man asks if I have some spare pennies, and I tell him that I don’t because I used my debit card. I keep walking away, and maybe it was because I was so tired, but I really felt sorry for the man. I began to wonder how people end up in those kinds of situations. I’ve never ever had to do that, and I would like to think that I never would do that, and maybe I’m stuck up, but for me, that would be worse than dying. If the Man had asked for food, I think I would’ve helped him, and I almost offered, but didn’t. I feel a little guilty like maybe I could’ve helped him if even for a night. Then I realized that I’ve maybe been taking things for granted.

I think that many people are in the same boat. The biggest worry I have most days is what am I going to eat? This guy has way more to worry about than I do. Even the drama that Sarah and I had the last 2 months must pale in comparison. What is the right thing to do? I mean I can’t change the world, but I can change myself and my attitude. I got up this morning and thanked God for my Life. I could’ve had a much worse life and sometimes I need to be reminded of that.

After I thanked God, I left for work. I turned the corner at Foothill and Garey, and I see a Bus pulled over on the side of the road. Not unusual, but I did see the display on the bus displaying : “Emergency, Please Help, Call 911” I was puzzled because I’ve never see this before. I drive past the bus, and I look inside. The bus driver is slumped over the steering wheel. I keep going and pull over. I called 911 and told them what I saw. Then I continued on my way. I think and I wonder if I should’ve pulled over. Would I have made a difference. Could I have saved someone’s life? Or did the bus driver get shot? I didn’t see people standing outside of the bus, or any people on it. Did they get shot? Did I want to be the one the found out? I don’t think that I am a coward, but I would say that I am into self preservation. It made me think about the fact that I could go at any second. I prayed again, and went to work.

It’s just depressing. But I also know that these are the times that we need to focus on the Lord. I’m not always the best at that. I wouldn’t even say I’m good at it. I would say that I try, but suck at it.

You might as well be surfing on the Sun..

2008-06-18T07:38:00.000-07:00

Thought that this was kinda cool. Scary, but cool.

June 17, 2008

Giant Solar Tsunami Viewed from NASA's STERO Spacecraft

Just as earthquakes can set off huge tsunami waves on the surface of our oceans, a coronal mass ejection or flare can cause a tsunami on the Sun's surface—and it did on May 19, 2007. The waves generated by the explosions can travel at over a million kilometers per hour. The event was captured by NASA's twin Stereo spacecraft and was observed by a team at Trinity College, Dublin.

The event lasted for about 35 minutes and ultimately covered almost the full disk of the Sun. “The energy released in these explosions is phenomenal, about two billion times the annual world energy consumption in just a fraction of a second,” stated Long.

A previous observation of a solar tsunami was recorded by the SOHO spacecraft almost a decade ago but these images were misleading to scientists. Theorists were unable to match the anticipated behaviors of the tsunami to the observation because theory suggested that the solar tsunamis would travel much faster that observed. According to their calculations, tsunamis on the Sun should have had phenomenal speed due to the influence of the Sun's magnetic field on the solar material—making the waves magneto-acoustical in nature. With the improved capabilities of the Stereo's Extreme Ultraviolent Imager (EUVI) instruments they in fact measured speeds in agreement with the theory. In addition, by monitoring the Sun at four wavelengths which penetrate different layers of the Sun's atmosphere, astronomers could see how the wave moved vertically as well as horizontally.

“We were able to show for the first time that this wave actually propagates almost all the way from the surface of the Sun to high up in the Sun's atmosphere,” said Dr. Gallagher, a colleague of Long.

The researchers even saw the pressure wave reflect and refract off different regions of the Sun's atmosphere exactly as Earth's tsunami's do as they crash against land. This past April it was reported at the RAS National Astronomy Meeting by David Long.

Posted by Dr. Chandra Walker

Source Links:

http://www.physics.tcd.ie/Astrophysics/tsunami/
http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/stereoimages/195SolarTsunami.shtml
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7326097.stm
http://nam2008.qub.ac.uk/press/2008-15-release/

Dr. Jones

2008-05-23T09:49:00.001-07:00

Wow. Go see this movie. It was done very well. And for those of you who were worried, Harrison Ford sold the performance. The film takes place around 15 years after the last film, so it’s very believable because the story moved with the age of Harrison, and so does the enemy. This time it’s not the Nazis, it’s the Russians.

This movie is a good Hollywood movie because it is realistic while being just a little far fetched at the same time. But that’s what makes it so fun. It’s really entertaining, and I’d love to say more, but I might spoil it for you. I like movies that are epic, and this is really epic. The word play was good as well. There were really good jokes that are kind of subtle, but that’s what makes it so good.

I don’t think loyal will be too disappointed. It’s really close to the other movies.

Dancing with the Stars

2008-05-10T22:02:00.000-07:00

I thought everyone should get a preview of what Sarah and I are planning for the wedding...

Iron Man

2008-05-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

I Got to see it at a sneak peek. I went with some of the fellas from work and we saw the 10:40pm show. I really hope that this movie sets the pace for summer movies this year because I felt that it was done really well.

It had a nice balance of good comic book grounding, a little bit of Hollywood, a good cast, and the right dash of humor. Plus, Robert Downey Jr. was probably the best actor that they could have cast. I don't want to take away from his acting ability, but some of you may remember his drug addiction which I think made him a good choice for Tony Stark.

Tony Stark is an alcoholic and has that brilliant playboy kind of way about him that someone like Downey could pull off. He can do it so well, and really sell the acting because he's very similar to his character.

Jeff Bridges was really good. I don't ever remember seeing him as a bad guy. He's come a long way from the movie Tron. It was really just interesting because I've seen many of his films, and he's just such a good actor.

It's a really good movie, and there isn't much I can say other than I recommend it to those of you who like movies. Looks like this Summer's movies won't suck as bad as the ones the last few summers. Moives that look good: The Hulk w/Ed Norton, and of course The Dark Knight w/ Aaron Eckhart, Christian Bale, and the late Heath Ledger.

Kashi, Chicken, & Soy Milk

2008-04-21T10:40:00.000-07:00

So I’ve been making an effort to eat better while I’m at work. The main reason is because I am a little overweight. The reason I’m overweight is because the scales lie, or at least that’s what I’d like to believe. But the facts are hard to ignore.

My Pants are too tight, and I had to buy new ones.

The doctors told me so.

When I wear a red shirt outside, little kids come up to me and say “It’s the Kool-Aid guy!!!”

I weigh about 275 pounds.

I know it seems like the above information could be skewed, but they say a picture is worth a thousand words. So here is a picture of what it looked like when I tried to fit into my Army Uniform for the Military Ball I’m supposed to go to.

I think Sarah said something about looking like a stuffed sausage. (And she’s supposed to be my wife one day)

In an effort to feel better about the way I look, and my health, I decided that I need to make a few new friends.

I bought some Kashi Bars, Soy Milk, and Canned Chicken to leave at work. My issue is that I don’t really eat. I know it seems weird when you’re overweight, but I would skip meals, and when I did eat, maybe once or twice a day, I would eat crap.

Ever since the Doctors told me that I was anemic and may have ulcers, I’ve been trying to eat a little better. The Doctors gave me Iron tablets to take and I’ve been taking them for the most part. That was until I found out that Soymilk has about 32% of the recommended Iron amounts per quart. So I drink about a quart a day with my iron pill, and it will help with the anemia. Also, Soy milk gives me about 200% of the recommended B12, and 100% of the recommended Calcium per quart. Calcium is good for bones and such, and the B12 is good for certain types of anemia. Not to mention about 28 Grams of protein per quart.

The Chicken gives me about 45 grams of protein which is great. I feel tired and weak sometimes, and I think it has a lot to do with Iron and Protein. I like the Kashi bars because they are tasty and not too bad for me. Each bar gives me some Protein, Iron and my personal favorite, 4 grams of Fiber. Gotta have that fiber.

It’s been about a week and it’s been hell on my insides. I do notice that I feel hunger now. I know that seems a little strange but it’s true. Before I used to know that I could eat, but now my stomach feels hunger. I guess the best way to put it is that it’s more physical than mental now. Also, I think that I can say that my muscles are not as sore as they used to be. I supposed that with the increase in protein, I should also increase my exercise, but that tends to be a little harder for me.

The Terran Federation

2008-04-16T18:52:00.000-07:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7351314.stm

I'm sure that Robert Heinlein would be smiling if he were alive to see this.

Most won't understand why I said that...

Starship Troopers, which is my favorite book, had the Mobile Infantry Soldiers in Exoskeleton Suits that allowed them to run faster, jump higher, and carry more to kill the Bugs. This article is just a small step towards that vision of soldiers, and I wonder how many of the people who worked on it were influenced by the book.

BTW...the movie was good, but the book was much better.

Programmer Pops Question on Girlfriend's Video Game

2008-04-16T13:06:00.000-07:00

Programmer Pops Question on Girlfriend's Video Game

414 Views

6 Comments Flag as inappropriate

JERSEY CITY, NJ – Hiding a ring in a bouquet just wasn’t enough when a computer programmer decided to pop the question.

Bernie Peng reprogrammed Tammy Li’s favorite video game, “Bejeweled,” so a ring and a marriage proposal would show up on the screen when she reached a certain score.

Li reached the needed score – and said yes.

The word of the romantic feat last December filtered out after Peng, a financial software programmer, posted details on his blog. The reprogramming was a tricky task and took him a month.

“I thought it was pretty cool, in a nerdy way,” Peng told The Star-Ledger of Newark.

The couple plan to marry over Labor Day weekend, and PopCap, the Seattle company that makes “Bejeweled,” will fly the couple to Seattle as part of their honeymoon.

“Most video game companies would frown on people manipulating their games,” said Garth Chouteau, a spokesman for PopCap.

“But it won him a woman. As a bunch of geeks we have to say, ‘Bernie, hats off to you.’”

The company is also supplying copies of “Bejeweled” to hand out as favors to the wedding guests. In the hugely popular game, players score points by swapping gems to form vertical and horizontal chains.

http://www.insidetech.com/news/1767-programmer-pops-question-on-girlfriends-video-game?referral=IT_nlet

"Jules Verne"

2008-03-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

I thought that this was interesting because of the name of the rocket, and It's kinda amazing the things that we can do with technology.

~Austin

Space freighter primed for launch

By Jonathan Amos
Science reporter, BBC News

Europe is set to launch the biggest, most sophisticated spacecraft in its history.

The Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) is an unmanned ship that can carry up to 7.6 tonnes of supplies to the International Space Station (ISS).

Its other primary role is to push the orbiting outpost higher into the sky to keep it from falling back to Earth.

The ATV will launch on an Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana at 0403 GMT on Sunday.

Its mission will be a huge statement of capability.

The maiden voyage will announce that Europe now has some important new technical competencies to rival the very best in the space exploration business.

ATV is a marriage of human spacecraft and satellites

Alan Thirkettle, Esa's space station programme manager

The most notable is the ATV's automatic rendezvous and docking technology - the ship can find its own way to the station and attach itself without any human intervention.

"The ATV is how we contribute to the operations costs of the space station - by taking up several tonnes of logistics," says Alan Thirkettle, the European Space Agency's (Esa) ISS programme manager.

"It's also very important as a development. ATV is a marriage of human spacecraft and satellites. It's a very complicated spacecraft; and European industry has had the opportunity to develop new technologies and new techniques as a result of ATV," he told BBC News.

The vehicle has been dubbed "Jules Verne" for Sunday's flight and will weigh some 20 tonnes at launch. Its booster, the Ariane 5, has had to be specially strengthened for the task.

PUTTING THE ATV ON THE RIGHT PATH TO THE ISS

(1) The Ariane 5's first thrust phase lasts 17 minutes; the strap-on solid boosters and the main stage fall into the Atlantic Ocean

(2) Upper-stage re-ignition occurs 1hour and 2 minutes into the flight, and circularises the 260km orbit. The ISS is about 340km high

At 1 hour and 6 minutes, the ATV is ejected; and a final burn (3) deorbits the upper-stage. The ATV must now raise its own orbit

Kourou: European spaceport's sky-high ambition

The rocket will put the vehicle - the size of a double-decker bus - into a 260km-high (160 miles) orbit, underneath and behind the space station. The ATV will then raise its height and edge closer and closer to the platform over a series of orbits.

For the Ariane 5, the mission also marks an important milestone - that of the heaviest single payload it has ever attempted to put in orbit.

The 775-tonne Ariane 5-ES vehicle was rolled to the pad on Friday

The rocket is more used to lofting telecommunications satellites into equatorial orbits that go out to 36,000km above the Earth. For this flight, it will have to take a highly inclined trajectory out over the Atlantic to put the ATV on the correct low-altitude path to the ISS.

Ariane's upper-stage will also have to reignite twice - once to circularise the orbit before ejecting the ship; and a second burn to take itself safely out of the sky and into the Pacific Ocean.

The ATV will essentially then be parked in space. It must wait until Space Shuttle Endeavour has completed its forthcoming mission to the ISS before moving in to make a docking, probably on 3 April.

The ship's own computers will be in charge as an advanced form of GPS and, in the latter stages, optical sensors guide it into position on the end of the Russian Zvezda module.

Mission controllers in Toulouse, France, will keep a watching brief but will not intervene unless they see a problem arising.

Likewise, on the station itself, the astronauts will view the approach but will have no role other than in an emergency. If they do sense danger they can order the ATV to reverse by pushing a large red button on a panel positioned in the Zvezda module.

Fly with the ATV on a mission to the space station

The ATV will stay at the station for six months. At intervals of 10 to 45 days, the vehicle's thrusters will be used to boost the platform's altitude.

Over time, the ISS crew gradually deplete its stock of food, fuel, water, air and equipment.

"And that's when we also act as a dustbin," explains John Ellwood, Esa's ATV project chief.

"All the stuff that the crew has used during the six months that we are attached, they will put in ATV and then we will dump this in a very controlled re-entry into a completely unpopulated area of the Pacific."

Europe has high hopes for the ATV and its technology. Although astronauts will not launch to the ISS in the ship, the vehicle is human-rated - they can go inside its pressurised vessel without wearing spacesuits.

The ATV is a starting point, therefore, if Europe wants to develop its own independent, crew transportation system.

At the moment, no Esa astronaut can get into orbit without the US space shuttle or the Russian Soyuz vehicle.

At their meeting in The Hague in November, Europe's space ministers will be asked to build on the knowledge gained on ATV by approving a research programme that would investigate further technologies which could be used in a possible future human-launch system.

Cost: Total bill was 1.3bn euros (at least 4 more ATVs will be built)

Total cargo capacity: 7.6 tonnes, but first mission will fly lighter

Mass at launch: About 20 tonnes depending on cargo manifest

Dimensions: 10.3m long and 4.5m wide - the size of a large bus

Solar panels: Once unfolded, the solar wings span 22.3m

Engine power: 4x 490-Newton thrusters; and 28x 220N thrusters

Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7278414.stm

I'm on the Right Track

2008-02-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

I work in Desktop Support at my current Job/Internship. This article says that I'm on my way to lower my stress.

Rubber Gloves

2008-02-26T11:56:00.000-08:00

Well, some of you know and some of you don't. Basically, I found out some interesting news regarding my health.

1. I'm Overweight ~ No duh!!! I'm 275 pounds with clothes on. It's kinda scary... I don't want to be 300 pounds.

2. I'm Anemic ~ Basically I'm bleeding/losing red blood cells from somewhere. They're doing tests to confirm that its coming out of my stool.

3. I've probably got Ulcers ~ which may be where I'm loosing the blood from.

4. I'm Stressed/have anxiety ~ this is probably why I have ulcers.

5. My prostate is slightly enlarged ~ yeah, if you know where the prostate is, then you know how they figured that out and why the title of this post is rubber gloves. I don't have to say anymore about that.

Doctors gave me meds for my stomach to help with the ulcers that they are pretty sure that I have. Also gave me anti-anxiety pills that also will help me sleep better. So I've been taking those and I feel much more rested and relaxed. Also when you are anemic, you lose energy, so I'm like a walking dead person.

I'm holding up well. I think that it's better to not know about all this because it's kinda depressing. I try not to think about it, but it's hard to think about my body bleeding on the inside. I've bee taking it easy, but not as easy as I would like.

Thanks and advance for prayers and well wishes that you might have for me. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Express

2008-02-13T20:14:00.002-08:00

So today was orientation for my new part-time job at the clothing store Express. It's a clothing store that used to be owned by the "Limited" brand, which included: Bath and Body Works, Limited, and of course, Victoria's Secret. But I guess they all are their own companies now, so I don't get discounts at other places.

I got the job to supplement my meager interns salary. I don't even know how much I'm going to be paid, but I do know that it pays money, and money is good. It's interesting because it's a place where I never thought that I'd be working at. It's a place for cool, hip, people who are into the latest and greatest fashions.

I saw the movie, "The Devil wears Prada," and I find myself thinking the same way as the protagonist. She thought fashion was silly and not meaningful, but over the course of the movie, she discovers that fashion is very deep and personal, and a big deal to some people.

I'm not sure how deep I'll fall into things. I'll be a stock associate. For you movie buffs out there, I'll quote the Academy Awards Best Picture for 2000 which goes something like: "Just give me the job with least amount of responsibility possible" ~ Lester Burnham. That's pretty much what I have. I'm a stock associate. Basically I'm behind the scenes, not really having to interact with customers very much. If they can't find a certain size on the sales floor, it's basically up to me to find it in the back.

The schedule is kinda cool, although not exactly what I was hoping for. Maybe it's just cause I'm new. I work Mondays and Tuesdays from 5-9pm and then Wednesday and Thursday I'm on call for 5-9pm. On call basically means I'm supposed to call in at 3pm and ask if they need me to come in. If they don't, then I'm off. If I don't call them to check on my shift, then it's like not showing up for my shift regardless of whether or not they needed me.

I've got to dress "Cool" too. So I have to wear stuff that you can't see the label. An example would be that you can't wear Levi's Jeans or a shirt that says GAP on it. As a new employee I get 50% off my first purchase of up to 300 bucks. So I'm going to get a pair of jeans and a couple of T-Shirts and call it good.

Express isn't too bad. They actually have stuff I'd wear, but it is actually kinda steep pricewise, and I wouldn't shop there unless I did work there. As an employee I get 30% off, so the price is a little bit more normal for me even though it's expensive.

I think this will be a fun, eye opener for me, and it'll actually get me out of my comfort zone. I've been in charge of people and stuff for a long time now, and I'm actually looking forward to being a regular employee.

Elvis was here.....

2008-02-05T19:01:00.001-08:00

Good news, kinda. Looks like the company that I'm interning for is likely to hire me on as a temp come April. I know I might have mentioned March to some of you, but that was what I was hoping for. I know that things are always going to change, but I'm doing well, and I told the VP that I would make it very obvious that I am the guy that they want to hire. Although not a very huge deal, it's still worth mentioning that about 3 months after that, I'd be hired on as a regular employee of that company. So hopefully that will include a raise and benefits. So I guess it's a good thing. I'll be glad to not be working for free any longer, and I'll also be glad when I won't have work pretty much 3 places and try to go to school.

Actually, school is still up in the air. I'd like to go to school, but I don't know when I'll have the time to do so. I can take something online, but that's about it. I don't really have time to actually go to class because I spend so much time working for free. I actually got a couple of good recommendations as far as school goes. I guess in IT it's good to have an actually degree, but having experience is just as good if not better. I know that the job that I've been doing pays 42, 600 on average. I guess to put that in perspective, that's double what I made working at the Pizza place last year. It's about 22/hour. I don't think I'll make that much starting off. I'm thinking I'll temp at 12/hr and start between 14/hour and 16/hour. I think that once of the guys that's been there for a while makes around 19/hour.

Pizza Factory paid me 12/hour, but I wasn't getting 40 hours/week. I'd be happy to be making 12 with 40 hours, and there tends to be Overtime from time to time so I'll be alright. Actually, if I made12 bucks an hour, I'd still have about $1000 left after paying my bills. That'd leave about $1000 bucks a month for food, gas, and video games!!!!

It's more likely for me using that "extra" money to save up for a wedding. I keep trying to talk Sarah in to some kinda Elvis themed drive-thru in Vegas, but she's not going for it.

Star Trek

2008-02-05T18:57:00.000-08:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_%28film%29

I'm kinda glad that there is another Star Trek movie coming out, but I'm not too sure how it will turn out. I'm not a Trekkie or anything, but I do think the originals were great, and I'm worried that it'll be a let down. What do you think?

Internships and Cat Food

2008-01-23T20:47:00.000-08:00

Some of you might know, and some of you don't, so I'll just go ahead and tell you that I started an internship about a week ago. Sounds cool huh? Well it is, but it isn't. The best and most interesting part about it is that I'm not getting paid. I guess not getting paid isn't so bad because of the experience, but I am getting money for Gas which is really cool.

I work for a Company that is basically an HMO. I'm not sure that I want to list the company's name because of security issues. The company is really big on security because of the nature of the work that we do. We deal with personal information of our clients, and also the company makes decisions on authorizing or denying claims. The way that it was put to me is that if the company denies a claim, you never know what that person might do. Think about that movie John Q with Denzel Washington. Plus I'm not really supposed to go into too much detail about who we are/what we do because of competition. I guess you could say it's kinda like Men in Black.

I'm an IT intern, and I'm one of two interns. The other one is out because he was in a car accident. I work at the IT Help Desk and learn/help users with their Tech Issues. I've been there a week and it's really cool to see how much all the things that I've learned in school get put to use. There is a huge difference between reading about doing things and actually getting to do them. It's really fun and I'm learning a lot which is cool because what I'm not getting paid monetarily, I'm making in knowledge, and knowledge is pretty much priceless. It's also cool because they have offices all over the country, and I'll get to travel to different places to really see the big picture.

My supervisors tell me that working for them for 6 months will give me a years worth of experience. They are pretty impressed with me and tell me to really get involved and learn as much as I can. The grand plan is for me to learn their systems and then be hired on by them in a few months. My goal is 6 months. I told them that at that time, the decision will be clear that I'm the guy that they want to hire. After they invest the time into me, and I can be an effective team member, they won't want to let me go. I like all of my co-workers, and a few of them are former military so we get along pretty well.

So the worst part of all of this is that I have to get a job for the hours I don't get to work because I'm interning. So my days will be spent interning, my nights will be spent working, and then somewhere in there, I've got to take 6 units in order to not have start paying back student loans. My mind hurts just thinking about it. My boss assures me that all my effort will pay off. He said that he started the same way.

The best thing is that it is a step in the right direction. Sarah and I want to get married, and I really want to be able to provide for us without us eating cat food. And I don't like cats. It's interesting because I really need this to work because she wants to go to Law School, and I want her to just be able to focus on that and not worry about the bills.

So we'll see. I hope to be making some kind of money around May or June or sooner. I think I can master the job by then.

So we'll see...

Burgertown....

2008-01-13T13:47:00.000-08:00

I could really relate to this commercial.

Desprate Measures

2008-01-03T20:43:00.000-08:00

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/sad/527444731.html

Kinda funny. Well maybe not if his wife is cheating on him. I wonder what would make someone wanna spy on their spouse. I'm not that old, but I do believe that if you can't trust her then that's a big problem.

I think desperation is an interesting thing. I think about the things that it makes people do. It's kinda sad...

Graduation Pics

2007-12-25T18:11:00.000-08:00

http://picasaweb.google.com/armyaustin/Graduation

A Shot at Love

2007-12-20T21:22:00.001-08:00

I've been watching this show, called "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila" and It finally ended.

Yes, I watched the show from time to time. It's only because I'm a sucker.

It was the finale and Tila (Female/Bi-Sexual) chooses Bobby (Male), instead of Dani (A Lesbian). It was funny, because I'm normally good at predicting who gets eliminated, and I was right.

It was sad that she didn't pick the lesbian to be her lover. But then as I think about it, I realize that I should be happy that this celebrity picked Bobby. It's like a victory for heterosexuals.

In my opinion, Dani the lesbian was real, and Tila was fake. Like Tila is a lesbian because it's cool, and it advances her career. And you could tell from watching the show that Bobby was the "natural" person.

Anyway, it's funny because about a year or two ago I wrote a blog about how much I hated reality TV. I guess it finally got me.

I should write SUCKER on my forehead.

Captian of Capitalism

2007-12-11T00:22:00.000-08:00

This was a cool interview, well at least the boat was cool. I think that the ship steals the show.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3450746n

The Meatrix

2007-12-09T23:56:00.000-08:00

I've never been that into all that organic food, free range stuff, but this is pretty interesting, and inspires me to make more of an effort. Plus I love the Matrix...

Part 1
Part 2
Part 2.5

A Perfect World

2007-12-06T12:47:00.000-08:00

It's been probably 10 years since I've seen this movie. I've always loved it. Maybe I'm an idiot. But I'm a sucker for this movie. It made me cry when I watched it years ago and nearly this morning. It's the ending that get me every time.

Stockholm syndrome is a major part of the movie, but it's also about the relationship between the two main characters. I recommend this movie. It also stars Clint Eastwood, so that's always cool.

A Perfect World

Fight House?

2007-12-06T00:16:00.000-08:00

Thought this was kinda cool.

Brad Pitt clips from Larry King Live

Also, Brad said that when the community is finished it will be one of the greenest communities in the world.

It got me thinking...

Could I live like that? Adopted kids, standing up for good causes, and being so positive. I think I could be that positive. I know he's a movie star and rich, and this is only a part of the whole interview that I watched, so it just got me thinking. So then I asked myself if Brad does it because he cares, or is it so that people see what he does. And would I do it because I care, or because I want people to see what I'm doing it. Maybe Angelina is a big influence. Maybe Sarah will be a big influence for me.

Brainwashing is Possible

2007-12-05T21:39:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but this was just scary to me.

Hannity & Colmes

It seemed like that her plan was to push her crap, rather than actually be interviewed.

But this one is even better.

Julie Banderas

I did watch "Fall from Grace" and I'd say that this pastor put it in a way that I liked.

"Fred Phelps is a perfect example of someone who needs love the most, but deserves it the least."~ Pastor from the Documentary (they flashed his name and I don't remember it.)

I need a Motorcyle...

2007-12-04T20:04:00.000-08:00

Been watching "Fall From Grace" and it's really sad.

Maybe I'm partial, but I think it's a really good idea, and it's really cool to show support for our troops. Plus it limits the families from harm.

Westboro Baptist Whack Jobs

2007-12-04T18:06:00.001-08:00

My Mom was telling me about this really interesting show called Dexter on Showtime. It's basically about this guy who is a serial killer, only he only kills other serial killers, and he works for the police as a blood splatter analyst. It's interesting.

Anyway, I was waiting for it to come on and I saw this trailer for Falling From Grace:

Falling From Grace is a documentary, so it should be interesting.

So I did some reading up on Fred Phelps, and Wikipedia gives a lot of information about him and his "organization." (I don't wanna say it's a church, and I don't wanna call it a cult.)

I'm really curious to see how it goes. It comes on tonight at 10:00pm. But I do wanna go to bed early. But on a side note... Dexter is really an awesome show.

Cool Decal

2007-11-29T17:36:00.000-08:00

I saw this on the back of a truck today. Thought it was cool.

"If you feel like you can't stand behind our Troops,
then please feel free to stand in front of them."

All I want for Christmas.....

2007-11-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

Well maybe I don't really want one of these, but you gotta admit.... This is pretty cool.

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

2007-11-26T09:42:00.000-08:00

So a few weeks ago, I went to school and actually wandered into a career fair at school. I browsed the booths and stumbled on to this company called ESRI. I had heard of them before, but I didn't really know much about who they are or what they do. I was asking questions, really nervous, and just putting my feelers out there. I started talking and one of the recruiters and she asked me if I would be interested in working in their customer service section. I told her sure, and gave her my information.

So I asked around and looked at this company, and all I can say Wow. ESRI is number one in GIS. It's a monster. Their facility is described as a "college campus" and all I hear is good things about them.

Anyway, I was anxious, and even though she said she'd call me, she hadn't. So then I saw that ESRI was going to be at a job fair in Ontario, and decided to take another shot. I saw the same recruiter and got an Interview. I went to the Interview and I think that I did well, and have been following up for the past week.

After a week, I finally spoke again to the HR recruiter. " They decided to go with another person, but feel free to apply to other positions, and let me know what you applied for so I can make sure your information gets into the right pool."

:::Sad Relief:::

I'm disappointed. Rejection always sucks...

I was glad I finally caught up with her, but sad that it ended like this. I prayed and was positive about it, but still didn't get the job. So now it's just a matter of figuring out what God has planned for me to do next.

Keep your eyes and ears open guys, and I'm always open to suggestions.

My next blog will probably be about the things I'm thinking to do next.

The Perfect Gift....

2007-11-26T00:23:00.000-08:00

Everyone Loves Sandwhiches

2007-11-19T23:20:00.001-08:00

Check out this video: Doppelganger

Add to My Profile | More Videos

Will work for Praise.....

2007-11-12T00:14:00.000-08:00

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3486473n

So I watched this video and I was thinking about it. I'm a Millennial and I don't know how true this is. I mean I will say that much of it true, and I do think that there are some good points, I really want to understand why it's so true for my generation.

I'd say that most of the issues come from parents. I'm no exception. My parents, at least I think, did do some things to make me the stereotype, but also to break the mold. I think my folks were encouraging, and supportive, but at the same time they made me work. I mowed lawns, and my parents would also tell me "No". " If you want it, then you need to buy it."

I'm guilty of living with my folks until I was 24. And yeah, to me it made a lot of sense. It seemed smart and economical, especially for me. It was selfish on my part. I HATE being told that I'm doing a bad job, or that I made a mistake. I do only want to hear that I'm doing good, and I desire to be appreciated. I think I'd enjoy my Job more if I was told I was doing good, and my hard work got praise. But I also know that isn't always realistic, and many of the bosses that I've had just expect a good job, and hardly give praise.

As a manager, I do see many of my peers that really think it's all about them. I told a guy he was making pizzas boxes wrong. Making pizzas boxes is an easy task, and I told him, nicely, that he was wrong. His reply to me was " What? Do you have OCD or something?" Needless to say, I was surprised and got a little upset. I had to explain to him that I didn't have OCD and that wrong is wrong. If he asked why his paycheck was short would he have OCD?

Other people think that if I don't praise them, then I'm stupid. They think they are smarter than I am. It's really funny to be a part of that generation, yet on the other side of the issue.

I really think we can't apply this stuff about my generation to everyone in my generation. There are people who have broken the "mold." And sometimes, change is good.

It's just interesting. What do you think? Are you a Millennial? Have an experience with a Millennial? Maybe you're a parent of a Millennial. Why do you think makes Millennials?

French Fries

2007-11-11T12:38:00.000-08:00

Kinda cool for French and American relations I think. It's just refreshing.

http://www.lebaneselobby.org/JSite/content/view/1100/2/

And this is cool too...
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3424314n

Juniper Street

2007-11-05T12:37:00.000-08:00

So many of you know that I moved out about a month ago. It's been okay so far. I don't really miss home so much as I miss the cheaper Rent. Actually, rent isn't so bad, it's the fact that I'm working less at work because it's been so slow. Plus the VA says they over paid me, and I owe them like 900 bucks. So the money I used to get from them doesn't come, paycheck is a little smaller, and rent went up makes things much tighter.

I'm not surviving on change from the couch or anything.... but I do notice a big difference in my lifestyle. I keep asking myself if I really need something, or can it wait? I've been really good.

Yeah, school is over with at the end of the month, and then graduation is 2 weeks after. I'm not too excited yet. I'm looking at study guides for the A+ certification. I think i found one I like. I'll order it on payday. My Goal is to take the test before the end of the year. Well at least the first part. Then the second part soon after. Each Test is like 150 bucks. I need to take two 150 dollar test to get the A+. I've seen many jobs that want you to have A+, so I think it will help open doors even if it costs me money.

We had a Job Recruiter visit the school, and he gave my Resume a once over. He made some suggestions, and I think it's way better. So that was cool. Plus he was in the Army, and told me if there was anything else I needed help with then shoot him an email. So it's cool to have someone like that review your stuff.

I've just been working on our "Capstone" Final project thing for ITT. It's pretty in depth, but not too hard. Just requires work. I'd say we have most of the information, but we have to make it a presentation/report for a grade. I'll be really glad when I don't have to drive out to San Bernardino anymore. Gas sucks for me.

I guess so far for me, moving out is over rated. It does have it's good parts, but other than physically being out of my parent's house, I don't feel any different. At my parents house, no one did my laundry, or cleaned up after me (the occasional dish from time to time). But It is a little more "Fun" to do your own thing. I think if you can get along with your folks, then milk it as long as you can. If you can't follow their rules, then move out.

The Fast Lane

2007-11-01T21:56:00.001-07:00

The Fast Lane

Okay. So I decided yesterday I would fast for 24 hours. It was a solid food fast. I drank juice and water. I decided to fast because I’ve been struggling to find a job, and figure out what I wanted to do to get there. I’ve been running around like a mad man trying to answer questions and just know what’s going on. What’s the best thing for me to do? Where should I look for a job? How do I make sure that my efforts aren’t in vain?

So I started my fast by reading the bible. I’m not normally a big or frequent bible reader. I’m the guy that listens to it on the radio, and takes good note on the sermons. I think I’m getting to the point where I’ve listened enough, and now I need to read it. I didn’t know where to start or what to read. So I did what made sense to me and I opened the “Daily Bible” that my folks had given to me so long ago. I never really read it until today, so I flipped to November 1^st, and read.

Something else I learned is that it really doesn’t do me any good to read the Bible right before bed, because I fell asleep. Not because it was boring or anything, but because I was so darn tired. I read about Jesus feeding 5000 with the bread and fish. I was thinking about how that applied to me and my life currently, and I had a thought. I thought that it might seem like I don’t have much by way of education or experience. I might not have any luck finding a job or making more money. It might seem like I’m not enough. The thing is that I realize that Jesus is able to make a lot out of a little.

The story seemed to be very fitting because I feel like I’m not equipped to tackle the IT field with my weekend warrior approach and knowledge to getting a job. But it’s really awesome because Jesus made a lot out of a little, and now he’s helped to show me some things during my fast.

I was able to get a plan together to get some certifications. I understand what it takes to get them, and how many test I’d have to take. I figured out the ranking of the tests as considered by IT professionals. I had looked before, but today things were much clearer than they have been before. I determined that I’m going to go after my A+ Certification first, and then Network +. It’s my understanding that they are like “the peanut-butter and jelly” of entry level IT. (It hurts to talk about food. I’ve got 36 more minutes). After that, I’ll go after either MCSE or CCNA. CCNA is harder, but it’s only one test. MCSE requires that you take about six tests. My understanding is that MCSE is number 1 and CCNA is number 2. That’s just my understanding.

I know all that sounds simple, but for some reason, I didn’t get it until today.

Also, I began to realize how much I value Sarah. She’s been supportive even when she doesn’t know what to say. We’ve been going to pre-marital counseling, and we have been doing these exercises that help us communicate. We’ve only done it twice, but it seems to have helped a whole lot. I realized how important she is in my life. I was more aware, especially today, how much she means to me. It just felt really good to be able to talk to her and listen to her talk to me. I don’t always understand her, and that normally frustrates me, but today I just talked to her and when she’d talk to me, I knew she loved me. It was really nice because I haven’t felt that way about her in a long time. I know that the longer you’re with someone, the more you take them for granted. So today it felt like we were dating again. I hung on her words and just thought about how much I liked her. We’ve never been really bad about talking to each other, but today was more about being connected to and aware of her.

I spent the day actually wanting to stop fasting. I started before I went to bed around 10pm, and I woke up hungry. Breakfast wasn’t so bad, but when lunch and dinner rolled around, I was hurting. It wasn’t so much hunger, but that my mind was telling me to eat. I had a headache all day, and my allergies have been acting up. I feel generally sore. But I normally feel like this, but I think it just made it worse because I wasn’t eating. I wanted to stop fasting because I thought I couldn’t take it. I needed to eat. I’m not a good eater anyway. It’s not what I eat, but when. I eat at weird times, and never consistently. I also think that I was dehydrated from the start.

So when I felt these urges, I thought about God. I thought about Jesus. I thought about he’s in control, and I asked for him to show me the way. Eventually, the hunger or the pain would stop. And every time it came back, I had to pray again. I just tried to focus on God.

So I think that my attempt to get some direction has helped. It’s been hard, and I was thinking that this might not work at all for me. But in the back of my mind, I knew it would. I knew that if I tried to align myself with God that it would work out for me.

Now I’m 12 minutes from being at 24 hours, and I’m really hungry. My head hurts. I know you’re supposed to go easy after fasting, but I want a giant In & Out Burger.

I’ve enjoyed the experience as a whole, and I’d do it again. It was the first time that I’ve done a fast but there are something things that I’d do differently. I should fast with someone. And I should have people pray for me. (Thanks Patrick & Sarah). I started the fast without telling anyone. I told Sarah 2/3 of the way through, and I really should’ve told her sooner.

I just wanted to share my experience. I’m going to get some food, drive home and sleep.

Goggle takes over the World

2007-11-01T16:15:00.001-07:00

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,139192-c,webservices/article.html

I thought this was interesting

George Grady

2007-10-31T23:39:00.000-07:00

Last week on Saturday, I was in my Professional Portfolio Development Class at ITT Tech. This class is basically about helping people build resumes, portfolios, and go on interviews. It’s been a useful class, but at the same time, it also is one of those classes where you only really do a little bit of actual work. It’s easy to get ahead.

This last week, they had a guest speaker who was coming to share with us. I figured it would be someone that was really lame, or someone from career services, because that’s who normally comes to talk to us. I had seen this guy before. He was wearing this purplish-pinkish suit with shoes to match. He had a really nice haircut, some jewelry, and an expensive Watch. He looked like some sports superstar with really flashy clothes. Think T.O I walked passed him in the halls, and over hear him say something about talking to a class. It turns out it was our guest speaker and his name was George Grady.

It was interesting because he had to wait to start his presentation because only about four or five of us showed back up after the break. He began by introducing himself and telling us what he does. This guy was pretty amazing. I don’t remember everything he said, but a few things stood out to me.

He graduated from Highschool with a 4.333 GPA at the age of 16.
Graduated from ITT with his first Bachelors degree at the age of 20 with a 4.0
Graduated with his second Bachelor degree from ITT again with a 4.0
During his time at ITT he also completed his studies to be a minister.

This guy stayed busy with school. He was architect student who now works for Fleetwood and needless to say he’s pretty well off. And he’s only 26 years old as of right now.

He told us about all the struggles that he went through to complete school. How his friends teased him because he went to school. He told us about how he always had a backpack full of books, and one time his strap broke and his books fell everywhere. He’s friends all laughed at him and told him if he hadn’t had so many books, that would’ve never have happened to him.

But he said that he was determined. He didn’t listen to them. He knew what he wanted and wasn’t going to let them stop him. He knew that it would all pay off. He told us about him falling asleep doing homework. He told us about how he was able to buy a car because of his good grades. He didn’t have credit, but dealer sent him home and told him to send in a copy of his grades. George sent them in, and the next day, the salesman drove to his job and picked him up in his new car. There was a program that allowed them use grades towards their credit history.

He told us about how his heart is for kids, and he’s a children’s minister. He talked about how hard it is to grow up as a kid these days with all the things that go wrong. He talked about how our young people have so many more things that they have to deal with. I agreed with him. Ht said that he really want to be an inspiration for those kids, and lead by example.

I think I’ve talked about Mr. Grady long enough. I just wanted to give a picture to what he’s like and who he is. I was listening to his the stuff that he shared with us, and I began to think about it. This guy was determined, I mean really determined. He had a goal, and he was locked on to his target. I began to do like so many of us do, and compare my self to him. I asked myself, what am I focused on? What is my goal? What am I pursing consistently. What am I trying to do?

Well there are lots of things that come to mind. I know that I should have that passion for Jesus, but it’s not always easy. And also, I still have to put some effort into things that I’m doing. I’m nearly done with ITT. What’s next? Get a job, go to school? I wanna get married. What am I going after. Am I letting life happen to me, or am I at least trying for something?

I went to ITT kinda as a backup plan incase stuff at work didn’t pan out like I wanted it to. I really believed that it would all work out, and ITT was just on the back burner. Well it looks like I need my ITT education to be my relief pitcher. Think Jonathan Papelbon of the Red Sox. I never really pondered what my plan was after ITT. I mean I knew that it’d be cool to get a job doing network stuff, but I’m discouraged by my failed attempts for the past 2 weeks. I know it takes time, but it’s no fun getting rejection letters.

So now I think about George Grady and his focus. I wanna have that same focus. I don’t care too much for being and example for others, or getting really awesome grades, or even making insane amounts of money. I just wanna be able to take care of my family. I want to enjoy my life, and my job. There are plenty of things I can do, but there are only a few things that I want to do.

But I first have to figure out where I’m going with this thing called life. What am I pursing? I’ve got a few ideas, and I’m taking some steps. It’s so close that I can taste it. I’ve almost picked a point and am planning to go full speed ahead. I also know that I can plan all I want, and God will change it or leave it alone, depending on what he wants. The thing is that I want what god wants, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do while he does his thing. I’ve got a strategy, but that focus isn’t there yet.

If all goes well, I hope to have more figured out over this weekend.

Working isn't Working

2007-10-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

So as many of you know, I'm looking for a job in the IT field. It seems like there are many jobs out there, but the problem is that they are tricky to find. I find that it's hard for me to live out here where I live and find something that works for me.

I've applied at the Pechanga Resort and Casino, in Temecula, for their entry level Network Technician. It seems really basic, but the best part is that it's relatively close to where I live. Maybe 6 miles, and they are one of the biggest companies around. That job would really be awesome to get.

I posted my Resume on Monster and Carrerbuilder, and I've actually gotten some offers sent my way extremely quickly. That sounds good, but it's actually not that great. I've gotten two offers for restaurant management.

One was from a Head Hunter company, and the other was for Pickup Stix, which is literally across the street from my apartment. I considered Pickup Stix, but it has its own issues. I'm not really big on Asian food. It's not that bad, but at the same time, I'm leery of it. When I was young, I got really sick after eating Chinese food, my Mom too, and since that day, I've really not enjoyed the food. The other issue is that I've got a food job where I'm at the top of the food chain. Why would I leave to be an assistant manager somewhere else?

I also got a job offer from this company called "Braxton- Bains" which seemed a little bit fishy. So I did some digging at found out that it's a phishing scheme. I'm pretty sure all my readers know what 'phishing' is, but I'll let you know anyway. Basically they get you to apply and send them information about you, and then they sell it or try to steal your identity. I'm actually thankful that I found this site bye Tabatha Marshall. She kinda dedicates herself to exposing Phishers.

So it's going, but not very fast. I think that Sarah and I have decided that I should continue to go to school. So I'm looking at Cal Poly Pomona's Computer Information Systems Degree on the Telecommunications and Networking Track. But I have to probably take some more classes at the JC and then transfer to Cal Poly.

It's actually kinda funny because I've got a good friend named Tabber, who reads my Blog, and he graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his EE (Electrical Engineering) Degree I think. And now he's in the Army, and I'm out. It's like a flip flop.

So that's what's going on with Job/Career stuff. I'm always open to suggestions and ideas. Just let me know...

Attention to Detail ~ Teamwork is Key

2007-10-21T02:27:00.000-07:00

That phrase, "Attention to detail, teamwork is key," is a phrase that will be forever burned into my mind. It was the phrase that could sum up my military career. But all these years later, I still find that if everyone lived by these phrases, then life would be a whole heck of a lot of a better place.

I learned that phrase during my "Zero" week at Basic Combat Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. I'd been in Oklahoma for just a few days and we had been doing mountains of paperwork, and got issued all of our gear. We stayed in a temporary location, where we in processed. This place is Disneyland compared to our actual training Battalions. We left the in processing location in these cattle trailers. We have a mountain of gear, and they jam us in the trailer as if we were, well cattle. I remember the ride very clearly. I was relieved because for that 10 minute ride we had no Drill Sergeants, and no one yelling at us and telling us what to do. It was the calm before the Storm.

I could see through the little slits of trailer to the outside world. It was okay, but I was thinking about what was going to come next. The Trailer pulls up to this really big building, which later I learned they called "Starships". There were windows, but they were very small. This is what I would be calling home for the next 10 weeks. The trailer stops and I see a Drill Sergeant, a woman actually, and she opens the door.

Why do I mention that she's a woman? Simple. The Women D.S. were way meaner and harsher than the males were. I think the woman had more to prove, and therefore were more horrible. It makes since because of how many men don't respect women. She had to be tougher, and believe me she was.

As the Door opened, she began yelling. I couldn't tell you everything she said because one, I don't remember, and two, let's just say I didn't think they were supposed to curse at us. I'll just say that I heard some really interestingly new curse words. I think I was about the 3rd person off of the trailer. I had all this gear in tow that was really heavy, and I'm running down this path towards the Starship. As I get closer I see more D.S. and they are screaming at us as well. There were these little yellow dots on the floor and that's where we were supposed to stand. We got two our spots and I remember the D.S. yelling at people for putting there stuff on the ground. Eventually, we are all in a formation and the First Sergeant introduces us to our Senior Drill Sergeant. Later on I found out that the other D.S. called him "Senior." "Senior is standing in front of us. He then introduces the Cadre Drill Sergeants.

Now my impression of the First Sergeant and Senior was pretty good. They wore the Campaign hats but seemed like they weren't that bad of guys. The Cadre was a different Story. One of the Cadre takes command of our formation tells us that he's going to give us some simple instructions. I don't remember the exact details but it went something like this. (Pick up all you gear, move to these other yellow dots on the ground about 30 feet way. Put your civilian stuff in front of you, your duffel bag on the right and you rucksack on the left. Or something like that. We also had like 20 seconds or something like that.) He give us this command to execute. So we run over to the other dots, and attempt to follow the directions... It's also worth mentioning that while we were doing this the other 6 or 7 D.S. were yelling and screaming at people. Needless to say we didn't make it all together some people but stuff in the wrong place. Some people couldn't find a yellow dot in time. Some people stood in the wrong place. What ever it was we were wrong.

Then the D.S. in charge of our formation had us do a facing movement to face towards the rest of the D.S. Cadre. The one in charge would ask," Cadre. Have the recruits completed the task correctly and within the time limit?" All of the D.S were standing next to each other and they raise their hands like they are about to give a thumbs up or thumbs down. Needless to say, we got the Thumbs down. We got a command to Turn back to face the one in charge, and he says, “Privates, You have failed to follow directions and failed to meet the task." He then issues a command of half right face, and front leaning rest position. (Push-up Position for those non- Military folks.)

Down!!!........Up!!!!!.....Down!!!........Up!!!!!.....Down!!!........Up!!!!!.....Down!!!........Up!!!!!.....Down!!!........Up!!!!!.....Down!!!........Up!!!!!.....Down!!!........Up!!!!!.....Down!!!........Up!!!!!....

This seemed to go on forever. Then He had us get up and repeat the process all over again. We pick up our gear and run back to the first yellow dots and again we fail.

He tells us that we need to remember Attention to Detail, Teamwork is Key. He wants us to say that was we do push ups.

Down!!! (Attention to detail!!!!) Up!!!!! (Teamwork is Key!!!!!!) Down!!! (Attention to detail!!!!) Up!!!!! (Teamwork is Key!!!!!!) Down!!! (Attention to detail!!!!) Up!!!!! (Teamwork is Key!!!!!!) Down!!! (Attention to detail!!!!) Up!!!!! (Teamwork is Key!!!!!!) Down!!! (Attention to detail!!!!) Up!!!!! (Teamwork is Key!!!!!!) Down!!! (Attention to detail!!!!) Up!!!!! (Teamwork is Key!!!!!!)

He has us get up again and try again, and again we fail, and again we get punished.

This repeats again, and again, and again, and again, and again for like 15 times. Until we got it right.

I'll never forget that day. That principal has stuck with me until this very day. It applies to so many things. I wish more people would have that stick with them. I get so frustrated sometimes because people approach things so differently than I do. I wish that the people I work with only had that principal burned into their minds like I do. I tend to feel like everything is on my shoulders and other, just don’t get me.

Fratricide

2007-10-20T01:33:00.000-07:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7053898.stm

Kinda Scary.

It's interesting. But still scary....

Joel Olsteen

2007-10-18T10:58:00.001-07:00

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3366025n

I kinda thought this was interesting.

Personally, there is just something about Olsteen that doesn't seem right. Like he's shady. I don' t know.

I tend to agree that it is very focused on people feeling good. There seemed to be little mention of Jesus, and I don't think I saw a bible.

I know I've got a couple of Theology people that read this blog, and I have a question for you.

Do you think that all the "Good" that people say that he does, does people any good? Or is his efforts a complete waste of time?

Keep in mind, we just saw a snap shot of what he does in the video, but I really think that Olsteen is helping people, but not helping them save their souls.

What do you think?

Michael Vick

2007-10-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/10/10/bc.fbn.vickjersey.ap/index.html

Would you have taken down his jersey?

I don't think that they should've taken it down. It's kinda dumb in my opinion. It's like if we take down his jersey then people won't know that he went here. Or Even if they are worried that Vick is a bad role model, all the kids already know what's going on. If he was a star at the High school, then I think his jersey should stay up. If he's able to come back to the NFL and be successful, are they going to put his jersey back up?

Vick's got enough embarrassment to deal with. I read this and thought it was pretty petty on the school's part. He still went on to play in college, and got the NFL. It's like they are smearing his past football accomplishments because of something not related to football. I think if there was something that happened in High school that he got in trouble for and it all came out now, like murdering someone while he was in high school, then they'd have more to stand on.

I think the kids should know that Vick went to that High school, and was successful. He's a great football player, and should be remembered as such.

Off the Field, he's a total Idiot who deserves to go to jail. The Kids should know that fame and success can make people lose focus and screw up. I think there's a lesson for the young people.

I'm just not so sure it is the "Right thing to do"

Take Me Home To The Ball Game

2007-10-04T16:58:00.000-07:00

I was watching the Wild Card Tie Breaker Game between The Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres, and I thought about something. Baseball doesn’t have instant Replay, or at least I don’t think that they do.

I remember that the player for the Rockies was coming Home in the bottom of the 12^th and he was trying to beat the tag. He dives face first for home plate [* Note: He really went face first because he skidded his face I the dirt. Dirt in his mouth I’m sure, and he was bleeding.] Anyway, he dives and those of you that know baseball know that one has to touch the plate before getting tagged unless it’s a forced out. The Rockies’ Player never touched home plate. The Catcher’s foot actually kept his hand from touching Home plate. The Catcher wasn’t doing on purpose but it kept the runner from touching Home.

So after a second or two, the dust clears and the Home Plate Umpire motions that the Runner is Safe. Game over for the Padres, and the Rockies win. I really wish that the Umpires could say, “I’m not sure, let’s review the tape.” But everyone is waiting for that instantaneous call. But what if it’s wrong?

Maybe it’s not a big deal, but I really wish that they would have instant replays in Baseball. I’m not a Padres fan, but I do like to see a team win fair and square. And this isn’t just my opinion. The commentators rewound the play and actually show that the Umpire was wrong.

I guess the reason that Baseball doesn’t have instant replays is because there would be many challenges on the calls. Was it a strike or a ball? Was he safe or was he out. There are so many calls that happen in Baseball that it would be a mad house of instant replays.

Another thing is that there isn’t really a way to penalize the challenging team. In Football, they charge you a timeout if you lose the challenge. What could they do to a baseball team? Maybe Charge them and Out or a Strike or something. Maybe I’m being a little bit strange, but in a sport surrounded by so much controversy, I think it’d be refreshing to have the games be as fair as possible.

Captain Zero

2007-10-04T16:37:00.002-07:00

I'm not a Math whiz or scientist, but I do think that tis is a little bit Funny. I'll admit that I had to Wikipedia the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, and I still don't really get it. But it was interesting. Any of you smart people want to break it down in simple man terms.

I think that sometimes scientist spend too much time to try and disprove Intelligent design, when it's something that they don't really believe in. Imagine how much more good people could do if they didn't spend so much time trying to disprove Intelligent Design.

Heaven

2007-09-27T13:19:00.000-07:00

Why Did God create us? What's my purpose for having a soul?

Is it possible that I've been living my life all wrong?

Something hit me last night. I was talking to one of my good friends for a long while last night, and he shared something with me that was really deep, for me at least.

He (Patrick) asked me, "What do you think heaven is like? Do you think that we'll be just up there eating and drinking and relaxing all the time?"

I said, "Well yeah, I mean what else would we do. Heaven would be kinda dull if we just sat around all day praising God. Honestly, I don't know though."

"Austin, you really need to understand this. As Christians, one of the things that we are meant to be are servants. " He then began to tell me the story about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.

He tells me that it's about humility and servitude. This was interesting because my Dad was telling me that as Christians we should take the approach to ask "How may I help you?" It's all about helping others, and being humble. None of this was really new to me, but the things I thought next were interesting

Patrick went on to suggest that even though I thought it might be kinda dull just praising God forever and ever it is what heaven is like. He told me we are for God's enjoyment, and that is our purpose. We're to serve our brothers on earth, and to serve God's purpose in Heaven.

He said that I need to get the idea that Heaven will not be some kind of Hollywood paradise kind of thing where it's all about us. ***It's not about us, it's about God. ***

I'm no theology whiz, so I'm sure that there are many opinions on this subject, but it makes sense to me. If Jesus is to be our example, then it would make sense that we are to serve others and help others. I don't know what I'd do If Jesus washed my Feet. I can't even imagine the master of the universe washing my feet. Jesus was being a servant to the disciples, so we should also be servants to others. And I think in heaven, there will be much of the same. The difference being that we'll be serving God.

I know that there is much more to learn from the life of Jesus, but I was just focusing on my thoughts about servitude and Heaven.

Does this make any sense, or am I really crazy for thinking this?

Sticky Situations

2007-09-25T01:52:00.000-07:00

Okay. Guess what. I’m about a breath away from getting fired at work….

It’s kind of funny how things work out. I’ve been wondering what to do about work and family and stuff, but it looks like my mind is being made up for me.

Wondering what I did that was so bad?

Well let’s say that it’s a matter of pride, respect and attitude.

Some of my Bosses think that I have an attitude, and whether or not I’m justified doesn’t matter when you’re dealing with the Boss. I feel justified in what I did, which really wasn’t that bad, but I’m catching a lot of flak.

Rewind to last week: One of my Bosses put a sign up at my store that said “Why?” on it. Some pizza boxes weren’t in the right place. I had the last shift and figured it was meant to be a message to me. I was rubbed a little the wrong way, and felt that it was extremely dramatic and un-necessary. All he had to do was ask me. The reason the boxes were there was because the guys had made too many the night before, and I wasn’t going to have them unfold pizza boxes.

Later that day, that same boss calls me on the phone and asks me about a missing roll of quarters. I told him I didn’t know, and asked if there was anything else because I was busy making orders. He told me that there was by saying “Yes” as if he was irritated that I wanted to get off the phone with him.

Today: I guess I really pissed him off because one of the other partners told me that we needed to talk about my attitude. Basically he explained to me why I was wrong, and how the other partners see my attitude. I guess they want to have a meeting, and I get the impression that it’ll be one of those ultimatum things. If I don’t change or whatever, then I’ll be let go. I’ve had some minor issues in the past, but not lately.

So I’ve been thinking a lot. I know what I’m going to do. The thing is, what I plan on doing could get me fired. I’ve thought about it, and I’m not going to be a victim. I plan on standing for what I believe in, and taking it from there. If I have to change jobs then, so be it. I have to change jobs soon anyway, so it’s not a big worry. But it is significant. We’ll see what develops. Also there are many more details, but it’s late and I’m tired. You know enough to get the idea.

I’m only good at being young…

2007-09-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

Death has been on my mind lately. I just realized how I used to not think about it because it terrifies me. Even though I believe in Jesus, God, Heaven and Hell, I still worry. All I know is my life on Earth. It’s scary to think that I’ll die and not be me anymore.

Death is just so permanent. It’s kind of like gravity. It’s a constant thing. I’m talking about it in a physical sense. I imagine a timer that just counts down to zero. Or like an hour glass that’s measures time.

And being that our souls live forever, I wonder what my soul really is. Like is my soul my mind? What part of me is my soul? Where’s the line between Soul and Mind? I feel like I have no idea who my soul is. I’d like to meet/ get in touch with my soul seeing as it will be all that’s left when I die.

But I also think about the other extreme. What if people could live forever? I remember seeing an Anime called “Galaxy Express 999.” One of the things that stuck with for the past 10 years since seeing it was this: People could have their brains turned into computers and basically be androids. But the thing was that they lived forever. So one character talked about how she thought she wanted to live forever, but no that she’s lived for thousands of years or whatever, she wishes she could die. It was maddening, And really sad. So I don’t think I really want to live forever because that would also be crappy.

Also if that was a little abstract for you to grasp, think about the “Highlander” movies. He lives as an immortal and can’t die unless his head is cut off. He falls in love and lives with this woman, until she dies, which is horrible and painful for him. To love someone a lifetime and then for them to die would have to be miserable. And it’s even worse to keep repeating that pattern.

So then Death is the end of the road so to speak. I think about all the people that spend their lives as atheists and I wonder what they think. What do they think happens when they die? Is it just “Game Over?” And if that’s the case, I don’t know why they aren’t depressed all the time. I know that I would be. I would think that they would welcome Jesus because of his promise.

Atheism is something that I can’t understand. Even if they won’t believe in God, they have to know that something can’t come from nothing. There would have to be a start point for everything to be created. The proof is in the result. Because there is a creation, there has to be a creator. It’s common sense.

Bottom-line is that I don’t want to die, but I kind of do. I want to go to heaven and be with God forever and ever. It’s just scary because it’s so unknown. I don’t know who my soul is. I’m only good at being young, alive and living with my body. I don’t know how to be a soul or how to “live” without my body. I’m just trying to have faith, and whenever I feel this way and think these things, I try to focus on Jesus and the promise of eternal life. I feel that Jesus allows me to think these negative things to get me to focus on him. It’s not easy, but then again, it was never meant to be.

School of Hard Knocks

2007-09-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

So Like School will be done in December. I can't believe that I will done at ITT. I've been going for a long time it seems, but I guess it's only been 18 months or so. Then I'll have an Associate Degree in Information Technology in Computer Networking. Sounds interesting, but I guess that all it really gets me is a Job. I guess it'll be better than Pizza Factory but that's debatable.

At least at Pizza Factory, I'm the highest paid person, and get all the perks of not having many bosses. It's an easy job, and I get paid pretty good. But the problem is money. I've got around 18 months untill Sarah and I get married (note: Depends on Deployment, but that's another blog) I just don't know how I'll get there unless I get more money. It kinda sucks that I have to switch jobs because of Money, rather than enjoying the job. So should I chase money, or a "happy" job. I mean if you have to work, I think it's better to just do something you enjoy.

The other hard part is just having to not think only about me. I've got to think about Sarah too. I mean what's the best thing for me and her. She wants to do Law School, and That means we need a plan to make money. Things were so much easier when you only have to think about yourself. Now it's like I'm going to have a Family, and I'm responsible for it. I mean Sarah and I are responsible, but everyone looks at the man if there is a problem. Plus I feel like I have to get it done. It's important to me.

What if I can't get a job that works? What if I don't make enough? What if I fail? What if I pick the wrong direction? What if I hate my job? What happens if we don't save enough? What if Sarah is deployed? Lots of questions and few answers....

I guess I knew things weren't going to be easy, but I never thought they would be this hard either. So all i can do now is trust God to show me the way....

Engaging Conversations

2007-08-30T22:51:00.000-07:00

So basically it was kind of a weird thing with Sarah and I. We had exchanged Promise Rings a few months back, so it was already like a done deal that we were going to get married...Someday. Anyway, I still needed to officially propose. So It was right after Sarah had found out that she would be deploying to Iraq and was feeling pretty down about it. She had been giving Amanda and I a really hard time because she was a real party pooper. She and I were talking, and in that moment, I knew at that moment that I would do anything for her because I love her.

It was a really weird feeling, and I knew that it was the right time. Now it may seem as if I was just saying it because she was in a bad mood, but I saw it was a perfect time to show her that I loved her. I wanted her to know that I will always be there for her even when things are bad. It wasn't planned out or elaborate. It was a gut feeling that I had. It was kind of like a nudge that you get that you can't explain. Like green lights telling you that it's time to go.

So I told her that I love her, and she's important to me. I told her that I wanted her to know that I was committed to her, no matter what. I told her that I couldn't/didn't want to deal with all of this stuff as her boyfriend, and That I wanted to know if she'd marry me. I can't remember the exact words that I used, but when she said "Yes" I felt something change. It's like our whole relationship has changed ever since we made that decision. We're fighting less, and getting along better. I think it's because we're "really" committed to one another, and that we're depending more on one another.

So then, she and I have been telling a lot of people, but I can say that my family didn't seem like excited. It's like they were happy for me, but it's like my Mom said, " I thought you two were already engaged with the rings and all." Which is true, and I guess that me asking her was more of a formality than anything else. I'll admit that it is a bit weird for people to go around saying we're engaged. I remember being at th CLCC Bible Study, and Jun-Jun announcing that Sarah and I were engaged. I was kind of embarrassed. Probably because I didn't expect for him to say that. Plus I think that nowadays its more about the bride anyway. I didn't have people come up to me and be all happy. I don't really care, but I did notice a difference.

Also, I think the day before, we had lunch with Sarah's dad, Eric. We took Eric out to Lunch at BJ's and it was the first sign for me that everything would be ok. (***Note: I had intentions of Asking Eric if I could marry Sarah beforehand, however; my timetable didn't go the way I had planned.) So Eric tells us that he's happy for us, and that it was a little hard to concentrate on our new engagement because of everything else ( Iraq Deployment/Walmart Trouble.) I told him that I wanted to talk to him before I proposed, to let him know I'm serious about marrying Sarah, but that It didn't happen as I had planned. He told me that it was okay, and he appreciated that I wanted to talk to him. He also said that he has had a good feeling about me, and that he would do what he could to help us out with a wedding and stuff. It was really nice to have someone else be supportive, and I didn't feel strange at all talking to him.

Other than that...It's been going good so far. We're supposed to start pre-marital Counseling in October at NBCC, So that's coming up. Now it's just a matter of picking the best direction for the two of us. It's been a lot of pressure for me, and I think it has been the cause of my lack of sleep.

Now I'm going to get some sleep....

Rome

2007-08-29T03:49:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm an official insomniac, I figured I'd do something I like to do a lot....and that's talk about cool things, at least in my opinion, that I see.

It's and HBO Original Series called Rome. It's pretty interesting and I doubt that it is very accurate considering it seems like one of those fictional stories that are based on historical figures. Like 300. Which is also a cool movie/comic.

I've not been able to sleep, but i have watched about 4 episodes of Rome. It's plot isn't so complicated, however; it is very interesting to see how everything comes together in the end. It's pretty graphic, well I'd say very graphic, and I imagine that things really were as graphic as they are depicted on the show. I enjoy they backstabbing, and secrets that surround the plot. I like the friendship of Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus. It's a deep and complex. They would do anything for each other, even kill.

Then there is the whole Julius Caesar part of the story, which is actually only the first half of the story. My Favorite, and I'm sure others liked it too, was the whole "Et tu, Brute?" was pretty cool. And the death of Caesar sets the rest of the plot into motion. Basically, how Caesar's Heir, Octavian, wheels and deals with Mark Antony, Cicero, and Brutus to basically avenge his "father's" murder.

I don't want to spoil too much information, but if you ever get a chance...i could be worth watching. I like it, maybe you'll find it different from the everyday sitcoms and reality TV Shows that overload your TV watching Taste Buds.

'Till Next Time

Can't Stop

2007-08-29T02:49:00.000-07:00

I am up at 2:49 am. I can't sleep. I don't know why. I've been tired all day with a headache, but I can't find any relief. So I figured I'd Blog something. I have to be up in 3 hours...for work and I haven't slept.

There is alot on my mind as of late.

I was recently engaged to Sarah
I should graduate from ITT Tech in December
I'm moving out for the first time @ the end of September
I volunteered to audition for the music ministry at NBCC, I'm really scared
I'm filing a Claim to the VA for Disability (mainly PTSD & Tinnitus)
I'm trying what to do with my life, I proposed, and will have a family soon, and It's hard to know that I'm making the best choices for us

I will expand on the above topics over time. I see this as a good way to keep people posted on my life and such.

A New Day

2007-08-29T02:41:00.000-07:00

Well I figured that it would be cool to blog more...and I wanted to try this out. Plus I can't sleep...