I was looking through my AIM buddy list, and noticed an away message with the following:
"spring break is fail. because when I think of spring, I obviously think of 40 degree weather, dead grass, heavy coats and trees without leaves."
Keep in mind, Spring doesn't officially start until March 20. Tech's Spring Break is March 4 thru March 12. Shouldn't Spring Break be after Spring officially starts?
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
The Position Has Been Filled
Well, I thought about the web site job that Julie told me about and I have decided that I would take the challenge head on. Having reviewed the organization's existing web site, I can honestly say that I'd almost be willing to do the job for free. It's really bad. I've been told that they are looking to have a simple, yet visually appealing and professionally done web site. I told Julie to give the people me contact information, and have them contact me after spring break. By then, I should have the current web project I'm working on completed, and will be able to handle the new task.
By the way, did I mention that there was money involved with this gig? I'm not sure how much yet, but any thing is better than nothing at all. Not only will I walk away with money, but it will be one more job to add to my resume, and may potentially lead to other job opportunities. The more projects like this that I can add to my resume and portfolio, the better off I am going to be.
It's nice to know that people have taken note of my talents, and are promoting me when job opportunities like this come along. May these opportunities continue to present themselves as graduation grows near.
By the way, did I mention that there was money involved with this gig? I'm not sure how much yet, but any thing is better than nothing at all. Not only will I walk away with money, but it will be one more job to add to my resume, and may potentially lead to other job opportunities. The more projects like this that I can add to my resume and portfolio, the better off I am going to be.
It's nice to know that people have taken note of my talents, and are promoting me when job opportunities like this come along. May these opportunities continue to present themselves as graduation grows near.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Encouraging Prospects
So I was sitting in the networking lab this morning, studying for a test, when Julie walks in and tells me that she finally remembered what she had been wanting to talk to me about. It turns out that the Indiana Association of Hostage/Crisis Negotiators is looking for someone to rebuild the organization's website, and Julie seems to think that I would be the perfect guy for the job. The plus side is that there would be money involved, so I am sorta drawn towards it. The website to be developed will be relatively simple in nature, and shouldn't take long for me to build at all. I have to figure out if it can fit into my schedule, so, I told her that I would consider it, and let her know soon.
Then, this afternoon I received a call from a technical staffing company, that evidently found my resume on either monster.com or careerbuilder.com, and thought that I would be a great candidate for a web design position at International Truck and Engine here in Fort Wayne. While the prospect certainly excited me, I was disappointed to have to inform the guy that I couldn't take the position at this time. He was very understanding of my persistence towards getting finished with college before taking a position, and said the company will keep my resume on file, and contact my closer to graduation time. I am encouraged by this prospect to say the least.
It is nice to know that there actually are employers looking at my resumes on monster and careerbuilder, and it was gratifying to receive a call from someone stating that I appeared to be very well qualified for the position he had available. I hope and pray that something else like that comes along at graduation time, when I really need it. I truly believe that God will provide when the time is here. And for that, I give thanks.
Then, this afternoon I received a call from a technical staffing company, that evidently found my resume on either monster.com or careerbuilder.com, and thought that I would be a great candidate for a web design position at International Truck and Engine here in Fort Wayne. While the prospect certainly excited me, I was disappointed to have to inform the guy that I couldn't take the position at this time. He was very understanding of my persistence towards getting finished with college before taking a position, and said the company will keep my resume on file, and contact my closer to graduation time. I am encouraged by this prospect to say the least.
It is nice to know that there actually are employers looking at my resumes on monster and careerbuilder, and it was gratifying to receive a call from someone stating that I appeared to be very well qualified for the position he had available. I hope and pray that something else like that comes along at graduation time, when I really need it. I truly believe that God will provide when the time is here. And for that, I give thanks.
Monday, February 27, 2006
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.
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.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
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!
Friday, February 24, 2006
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 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.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
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!
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
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?"
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!
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!
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