Day light lasts a little longer

Natty posted an audioblog about the fact that it was still fairly light out at 6pm this evening. I was out between 5:30 and 6:30 pm and can attest to her claim. In fact, I had my digital camera with me at the time, and though the sky looked cool enough to warrant my taking a picture. So, to supplement Natty's post, here are a couple of pics.

The top pic was taken at 5:26 pm. The bottom pic was taken at 6:23 pm.

Rest in Peace Anthony Burger

Gospel Pianist Anthony Burger Dies At 44 While On Gaither Cruise
posted February 23, 2006

A gospel pianist who hailed from Cleveland, Tn., died Wednesday while performing on a cruise with Bill Gaither.

Anthony Burger was 43.

He was a part of the Gaither Homecoming shows and had a number of gospel albums to his credit.

He lived at Brentwood, Tn.

Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland said Mr. Burger grew up in Cleveland and was on his radio show playing the piano when he was three. He said he had been friends with him ever since.

Mayor Rowland said Anthony burned his hands when he fell on a grate as a youngster, and doctors said he would not be able to use his hands. "But he was determined that he would play the piano."

He said he left Bradley High School when he was 16 to join the Kingsmen Quartet. He went on "to win virtually every gospel award. He won the gospel music award so often that they named it for him."

Mayor Rowland said Mr. Burger came back to Cleveland to film his 25th anniversary music video and it was a best seller. He was in Cleveland for three recent Christmas concerts and all were standing room only.

Mayor Rowland said Mr. Burger played the National Anthem at the World's Fair when President Reagan attended, and he played several times at the White House. He said he "played with all the great people."

He said there was no hint that he had any health problem, though he had said he was not feeling well and he had chest pains. He said he was on stage playing when he winked at his wife, Luanne, then fell backwards dead.

The couple has a daughter, Lori, who is in college, and young sons, A.J. and Austin.

His parents, Richard and Jean Burger, still live in Cleveland.

Mayor Rowland said funeral arrangements are incomplete, though he expects there will be services in Nashville and in Cleveland.

He said the ship is not due to reach shore until Saturday. An autopsy will be performed, but a heart attack is suspected.

Anthony Burger was described as "a piano virtuoso with an incomparable style of playing. Classically trained, the much-revered pianist for the Gaither Homecoming series as well as a highly successful solo recording artist, he commands a stage with his keyboard acrobatics."

On his latest release, A Tribute To Bill & Gloria Gaither, he featured some of the best-loved classics from the Gaithers, including He Touched Me, The King Is Coming, It Is Finished and Because He Lives.

Congratulations April

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Engineering Week Banquet held in the conference center on campus. I say it was a pleasure because April was honored with an Oscar Weitzman Academic Achievement Award at the banquet. After 3 years of applying for one of the E-week Scholarships, April was finally selected to be a recipient this year. Daniel Ewing, P.E., of the Fort Wayne Engineers Club presented the award.

We had a wonderful evening, dinner was great, and April received an honor which she definitely deserves. Congratulations April!

Quick Guide to Programming Languages

Quick Guide to Programming Languages

The proliferation of modern programming languages (all of which seem to have stolen countless features from one another) sometimes makes it difficult to remember what language you're currently using. This handy reference is offered as a public service to help programmers who find themselves in such a dilemma.


TASK: Shoot yourself in the foot.


C: You shoot yourself in the foot.

C++: You accidentally create a dozen instances of yourself and shoot them all in the foot. Providing emergency medical assistance is impossible since you can't tell which are bitwise copies and which are just pointing at others and saying, "That's me, over there."

FORTRAN: You shoot yourself in each toe, iteratively, until you run out of toes, then you read in the next foot and repeat. If you run out of bullets, you continue with the attempts to shoot yourself anyways because you have no exception-handling capability.

Pascal: The compiler won't let you shoot yourself in the foot.

Ada: After correctly packing your foot, you attempt to concurrently load the gun, pull the trigger, scream, and shoot yourself in the foot. When you try, however, you discover you can't because your foot is of the wrong type.

COBOL: Using a COLT 45 HANDGUN, AIM gun at LEG.FOOT, THEN place ARM.HAND.FINGER on HANDGUN.TRIGGER and SQUEEZE. THEN return HANDGUN to HOLSTER. CHECK whether shoelace needs to be re-tied.

LISP: You shoot yourself in the appendage which holds the gun with which you shoot yourself in the appendage which holds the gun with which you shoot yourself in the appendage which holds the gun with which you shoot yourself in the appendage which holds the gun with which you shoot yourself in the appendage which holds the gun with which you shoot yourself in the appendage which holds...

FORTH: Foot in yourself shoot.

Prolog: You tell your program that you want to be shot in the foot. The program figures out how to do it, but the syntax doesn't permit it to explain it to you.

BASIC: Shoot yourself in the foot with a water pistol. On large systems, continue until entire lower body is waterlogged.

Visual Basic: You'll really only appear to have shot yourself in the foot, but you'll have had so much fun doing it that you won't care.

HyperTalk: Put the first bullet of gun into foot left of leg of you. Answer the result.

Motif: You spend days writing a UIL description of your foot, the bullet, its trajectory, and the intricate scrollwork on the ivory handles of the gun. When you finally get around to pulling the trigger, the gun jams.

APL: You shoot yourself in the foot, then spend all day figuring out how to do it in fewer characters.

SNOBOL: If you succeed, shoot yourself in the left foot. If you fail, shoot yourself in the right foot.

Unix:

% ls
foot.c foot.h foot.o toe.c toe.o
% rm * .o
rm:.o no such file or directory
% ls
%

Concurrent Euclid: You shoot yourself in somebody else's foot.

370 JCL: You send your foot down to MIS and include a 400-page document explaining exactly how you want it to be shot. Three years later, your foot comes back deep-fried.

Paradox: Not only can you shoot yourself in the foot, your users can, too.

Access: You try to point the gun at your foot, but it shoots holes in all your Borland distribution diskettes instead.

Revelation: You're sure you're going to be able to shoot yourself in the foot, just as soon as you figure out what all these nifty little bullet-thingies are for.

Assembler: You try to shoot yourself in the foot, only to discover you must first invent the gun, the bullet, the trigger, and your foot.

Modula2: After realizing that you can't actually accomplish anything in this language, you shoot yourself in the head.

The McMillen Copy Service?

Since when does the McMillen Library offer copy services? I'm sitting at the circulation desk, and in walks one of the security guards, who proceeds to demand that I make some copies for him. Not once, but 2 fricken times. Now grant it he is an older guy, and I try to show some respect for my elders/authority figures, but for the love of god, how hard is it to place a piece of paper on the copier, press the number of copies desired, and press start? How hard is that? Apparently, too hard for this particular chap.

This is not the first time this kind of thing has happened. This time he only want 4 copies of each paper he brought in. However, he has been known to bring in a folder full of stuff, and demand 40 or 50 copies of each. That's bullshit. Why the hell should I have to do someone elses work? Is it really in my job description that I have to make copies for other departments in this building? If this is the kind of shit that I'm going to be expected to do on a regular basis, then by damn, we should be charging a fee for the service.

Hey you lazy some body, copy this!

Blonde Finally Wins

A guy gets on a plane and finds himself seated next to a cute blonde. He immediately turns to her and makes his move. "You know," he says, "I've heard that flights will go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger. So let's talk."

The blonde, who had just opened her book, closes it slowly and asks the guy, "What would you like to discuss?"

"Oh, I don't know," says the guy. "How about nuclear power?"

"OK," says the blonde. "That could be an interesting topic. But let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff-----grass. Yet the deer excretes little pellets, the cow turns out a flat patty, and the horse produces muffins of dried poop. Why do you suppose that is?"

The guy is dumbfounded. Finally he replies, "I haven't the slightest idea."

"So tell me," says the blonde, "How is it that you feel qualified to discuss nuclear power when you don't know shit?"

Painfully funny

Now that the pain is easing from the injury mentioned in the post below, I'm finding it much easier to joke around and laugh about it. It was such a stupid accident; a finger smashed in a frickin library book dropbox. You can't make this shit up! It's a damn good thing I have pretty thick skin, because I'm catching grief from everyone I talk to about it.

Several people have congratulated April for a job well done, and have offered suggestions as to how to do a better job next time. Next time? Bullshit, once is enough for some things. And at least one person has said they wish there were pictures from the scene of the accident. Well God Bless them too. :-D

There I was, holding my hand and dancing around like a frickin idiot; April trying to figure out what the hell was the matter with me. I was so cold, and in so much shock that I couldn't really say anything. I just showed her my hand. The one thought that ran across my mind was "damn it, you hurt me, AGAIN." I know that she really didn't mean to, and appologized profusely, but I couldn't help but think that thought. I think this is about the most painful thing that has happened as a result of something she did, but this is not the first injury that I have suffered at the hands of my accident proned fiancee. From the many hits in the head as she pulled her purse or book bag from the backseat of the car, to the near busted ear drum from her screaming "there it is" when she saw a sign while driving down the road. High pitched shrieks in small closed spaces are not good for the ears.

I can say with a great deal of certainty....Love Hurts!

Library Hazards

Until last night, I had never thought of a library as a dangerous place. I do work in one after all. Well, April needed to return a bunch of items to the public library, and since it was after hours, she had to use the drop box. Well, I was helping her, and thought I had my hand clear, but I was wrong. She slammed the door shut, and then tried to figure out why I was dancing around like an idiot. Then she realized that the stuck book was actually my finger. My left ring finger no less.

Yes it was an accident, and April knows that I'm not upset with her. Despite all the 4 letter words I said at the time. And of sourse, a post about an injury wouldn't be the same with out a picture. so here ya go. my black finger. That looks nothing like a book, but you can most certainly read the one next to it.

By the way, if any of the writing above is incoherent, it's due to the mass quantities of Vicodin in my system. 3 vicodin in 24 hours make for a bitchin' day.

Nerds, Jolly Ranchers, and Pink Carnations

Well, yesterday was Valentine's Day, and as usual April and I celebrated in our own way. We fixed dinner here at my place; spaghetti and garlic bread, yum. As for gifts/cards/etc..., April and I decided to go the cheap route. I bought her carnations, a card, and the candy of her choosing.....Nerds. hehe. April gave me cards, and the candy that I wanted.....Jolly Ranchers. Who says you have to go out for an expensive meal, or buy expensive chocolates to show someone how much you love them. I can think of less expensive, and much more enjoyable ways of doing that. Just depends on what tickles your fancy. Hehe. I have such a way with words. Anyway, we had a wonderful evening.


This evening, I am charged with the nerve racking task of studying for an Advanced Database Systems test. Try as I might, I can't find anyone willing to take the blasted thing for me. Well, at least anyone who would stand a chance of passing anyway. Yes, I know, I expect a lot of those who work for me. HA HA! Tomorrow's schedule includes my test, project planning, article summaries, and finally, work in the library. I'm praying that things will go better than feel that they are going to. I need some good days to come my way. I think I deserve a few.

Thoughts from the calendar

The top of my desk calendar has reminder note blocks labeled write, see, do, and don't forget. A spark of inspiration came from these words as I sat here thinking last night.

Write the adventures of lifetime.
See what no one else sees.
Do what the heart says.
Don't forget who you are, or from where you came.


Simple words with such complex thoughts behind them. Just what crossed my mind in a moment of silent reflection.

Who am I?

I find myself asking that question quite frequently these days. I have developed a reputation for being short tempered. A lot of people around here would tell you that I'm cold, vendictive, and simply, a hateful son of a bitch. It is true that I am a hard ass, and don't take shit from anyone. I do tend to be forceful when it comes to taking care of things. Damn it, if I have to kick some ass to get r done, so be it. There are some who disapprove of my methods, one in particular who brings a moment of pause.

I find myself in a period of introspection, seeking my true self. Am I really the jerk that some people around here think I am? I don't think that I'm a bad guy, but then again, I am biased. However, if people would take a chance and get to know the real Mike, they would find a much different side. If people would take time, they would find that I'm really a just a loveable teddy bear. I'm honestly kind and caring guy, who would do any thing to help someone in need. I'm a gentle giant, with a big heart, and a passion to succeed and see others succeed. I may be a little judgemental of people who waste their life, but I like to think that I see a greater potential in a person than he or she sees.

I wish that a certain someone would understand that there is a method to my madness. I'm really not out to run people into the ground. If it takes a little shame to get someone to change their ways, so be it. Yes, my methods may be a little harsh, but they do tend to get results. I guess that's the only thing that I have in common with Bobby Knight.

As hard as I am on others, no one ever sees how hard I am on myself. As I look inside myself, feelings of regret and guilt are coming to light. I know that I have offended a certain someone by saying something derogatory to another student. It's not that I'm sorry for what I said, it's that the person offended means more to me than anything in the world, and I would never intentionally hurt them. That is what I'm sorry about.

So as I try to get a grip on my thoughts and temperment, I'm asking myself: who am I, and why am I the way I am?

Workin hard, or hardly workin

This evening, my tour of duty in the library has been spent pulling books, scanning them, and placing them on shelves with the other books marked for zooble. I didn't have a headache when I started messing with them, but I sure do now. Mold, dust, and god knows what else cover all of those old pieces of crap. The condition of the collection in this library is well beyond embarrasing, and I am utterly ashamed of it. They say it's gonna be improved, but at this rate, I won't see any real improvements until well after I have graduated. That will probably be caused by the donations that the alumni office will expect from me. Blah!!!!! This place has taken enough money from me to last a lifetime. Hey, Napolean, leave my wallet alone!!

You know what's really pathetic? I could have sat here on my ass for 4 hours, working on homework or just taking it easy. But NOOOO!!!! I, being the honest, reliable guy that I am, stayed on my superior about getting something done while I was here. I think she was shocked that I was willing to work on the stuff at all. She must not be used to having a student worker who will actually WORK!

I have to say that I am rather irritated by the fact that there are about 10 student workers, and only a few, myself included, do any work at all. I may do more than my share of sitting on my duff, but damn it, I do what I'm asked to do, when I am asked to do it. Sure, not everyone is like Mike, but damn it, every student worker that was hired has the responsibility to do their frickin' job.

I know that I'm not the only person around here that has noticed this trend.

The Early Report

In a post last month, I mentioned having to do a book report. Last week I busted my rump to get it finished, only to find out that the professor wasn't going to take it until the end of this week. So, I basically completed an assignment a week before it was due. WOW..scary stuff.
Anyway, the prof wanted the reports in html form, so I decided I would post the like to mine.

Exposure Report

What Kind of Church

What Kind of Church

I wonder what kind of church would my church be if every member was just like me, and how many souls would be saved today if it all depended on what I say. I wonder how many prayers would my lord have to answer, if all that he heard came from me. I wonder what kind of church would my church be, if every member was just like me.

How many times have I said I love Jesus and turn into fear to believe? How many times have I said I’m a Christian, but never one soul did I lead. How many luxuries have I passed by to have more to give to the Lord? Jesus I promise as long as I live from now on I’m gonna do more.

No wonder my pastor has so many burdens I never do offer to bear. No wonder the members are bowed down with sorrow, or I never offer to share. No wonder the hither are dying in sin, no wonder the missions are light. My heart is so cold and I've lost my first love, but Jesus I’m on my way back.

How many times have I said I love Jesus and turn into fear to believe? How many times have I said I’m a Christian, but never one soul did I lead. How many luxuries have I passed by to have more to give to the Lord? Jesus I promise as long as I live from now on I’m gonna do more.

I wonder what kind of church would my church be if every member was just like me, and how many souls would be saved today if it all depended on what I say. Well how many prayers would my lord have to answer, if all that he heard came from me? I wonder what kind of church would my church be, if every member was just like me.

What kind of church would my church be, what kind of church would my church be, what kind of church would my church be?

If every member was just like me.

Song By: J.D. Sumner & The Stamps Quartet

Talking to the Lord

Talking to the Lord

While resting one day, by the side of the road, I saw an old farmer in a field he’d just hoed. His face was all brown, and wrinkled by the wind. And he was talking to the Lord, just like he’d be talking to a friend. He said, “Well sir, in a voice calm and quiet. Them corn tops needs a sacking, but I got no string to tie ‘em. Ain’t had no rain in so long, the fields is mighty dusty. And it’s been so unbearable hot, even the kids is getting fussy. And you take the grass in the pasture Lord; why it ought to have been knee. If we could just get a shower or two, might keep the cow from going dry.

Ah but, list to me a talking. Why you’d think I wasn’t grateful. And if you didn’t know me so well Lord, you’d think I was down right hateful. You’d think I wasn’t thankful for the new calf that you sent, and the money that came in the mail to catch up the rent. Why, ma’s colds better, and Johnny’s home from the navy; and that Sunday dinner, with chicken, dumplings and gravy. And the new preacher, you sent us Lord; he sure is a fine young man. Why, he’s been converting them sinners, just to beat the band.

Well I guess I’ll be moseying along Lord, and not take up no more of your time. I guess the needful folks here abouts is waiting to ring your line. Evening to you Lord, and, watch over us tonight. And don’t go worrying bout us none, cause everything’s going to be all right.

By J.D. Sumner (Gospel Music Legend)

You Are Unique!

~You Are Unique~

Think what a remarkable
and miraculous thing it is to be you!
Of all the people who have come and gone
on the earth since the beginning of time
not ONE of them is like YOU!

No one who has ever lived or is to come has
had your combination of abilities talents
appearance friends acquaintances burdens
sorrows and opportunities.

No one's hair grows exactly the way yours
does. No one's finger prints are like yours.
The few people who laugh at all the same
things you do don't sneeze the way you do.

No one prays about exactly the same concerns
as you do. No one is loved by the same
combination of people that love you.
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY UNIQUE!

Enjoy that uniqueness. You do not have to
pretend in order to seem more like someone
else. You weren't meant
to be like someone else.
You were meant to be different.

If you did not exist there would be a hole in
creation a gap in history something missing
from the plan for humankind.

No one can reach out to others in the same way
that you can. No one can speak your words.
No one can convey your meanings. No one can
comfort with your kind of comfort. No one can
bring your kind of understanding to another person.
No one can be cheerful and lighthearted and
joyous in your way. No one can smile your smile.
No one else can bring the whole unique impact of
you to another human being.

YOU ARE UNIQUE!

Love Thy Enemy!

The scriptures teach us that we are to forgive those who trespass against us, and that we should love our enemies. Our father, who art in heaven, forgives us of our trespasses, and we are to forgive those who tresspass against us in equal measure. We are not to hold a grudge, nor are we to seek vengence against those who do us wrong. This comes from Leviticus 19:18, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

We are to be a reflection of the Love that God has for us. In the same manner, we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, even if the person has done us wrong. Now this doesn't mean that we are to have emotional feelings towards the person, like we might have for a spouse, or family member. This means that despite the feelings of resentment we may have, we should still be considerate, and respectful.

For example, there are a couple of guys around here on the campus, for whom I don't care. They are generally rude, arrogant, and self-absorbed. While I don't necessarily agree with how they behave, when in passing, if we meet and they speak, I generally acknowledge them. Simply because it is a courtious and respectful thing to do. If someone speaks to you, you should at least acknowledge their presence. I don't have to care for them, but I don't have to be rude and hateful in return. It's all about maturity.

Another example, there is someone that I work with in the library, that I find difficult to work with; primarily because of her disposition towards those around her. While it is really tempting to speak my mind to her, I have enough respect for the fact that she is a superior, to not say anything to her. There are proper ways to handle situations like that; ways that won't result in physical confrontations or other drastic measures.

Love thy Enemy; show some maturity, and be respectful of those around you.

It's a damn dirty shame...

....It really is a damn dirty shame that some college students lack the maturity to clean up after themselves. I share an apartment style dorm room with 3 other guys. Now at this stage of life, I would like to think that all of us would be mature enough to clean up the messes we make, and not leave them for others to deal with. Part of sharing an apartment/dorm room is everyone doing their part to keep it clean. To make a long story short, I have a room mate who refuses to clean up after himself. He leaves trash and other crap on the counters in the kitchen, refuses to clean the bathroom/shower when he uses them, and a bunch of other bullshit.

I have to admit that I don't have a lot of patience for this kind of thing, but I have politely asked him to pull his own weight, and clean up after himself. When I tried being nice about it, he got shitty with me, and was blaming me and the other guys for everything. Now the other guys and I have gone to the RA and the housing director, and even went to the VP of Student Life, in that order, to try to get the problem resolved. We are going by the book, because three of us are white, and the one causing problems is black. I don't want that whole descrimination thing to come up. I do tend to lose my temper easily, and certain racial slurs tend to fly.

I'll try to keep my cool for a while longer, but if that sorry SOB ever gets shitty with me again, I won't be responsible for my actions.