I feel like...Computer.

Everyone says I shouldn't use Microsoft Vista. Well, I guess not everyone, but most people. Especially Mac users.

Let's examine the alternatives to Microsoft Vista, and I will explain exactly why I am using Vista (and much content with it, I may add).

Possible Alternative 1-Linux, and any other GNU OS.
Although I love the sound of free, I've witnessed way too many problems with Linux for me ever to trust it as my primary OS. Many friends of mine have it as secondary operating systems, for good reason. For one, I feel that there is a steep learning curve for this, having never used it I don't know for sure, but it seems programming-intensive. It definitely seems that one needs a knowledge of elementary programming before using this software. Furthermore, many programs that I use do not run on Linux systems. I realize that there are substitutes, for most of the programs, and the rest will probably eventually run on Linux, but in the meantime, I'm going to stick to one of the main two.

Possible Alternative 2- Windows XP
Quite frankly, unavailable for the most part, and is getting phased out. Why bother.

This leaves only one alternative to Vista, being MAC OSX. dun dun dunnn....

Possible Alternative 3-OSX
Let me be the first to say that any (current) MAC system is beautiful. Honestly, there is no equal when comparing functionality and style with the MAC systems. Unfortunately, I could give a crap about style when it comes to my computer. Give me a 5 lb laptop, if it can run, has good power/functionality, is fast, is reliable, and is CHEAP. Unfortunately, no such thing exists that can be bought in the mass market to date, that I've seen.
However, the functionality/style combo is not the only thing attractive to using a MAC- the monitors are remarkably better, and they (used to) run a lot better than their competition. Currently, I feel that the competition has since stepped up and they are on equal ground. Please correct me if I am wrong on this one, it's not something I've researched. I've also heard that "once you go MAC you don't go back". As amusing as the quip is, I also know several people that have bought PC's after obtaining MAC systems and are perfectly happy with them.
MAC is doing a lot to improve their system, including allowing others to publish MAC compatible software, thus allowing for a greater breadth of consumers (aka gamers), and dissolving the idea of buying a PC just for the games.
Furthermore, I really can't seem to find any problem with the assistance given on MAC computers by their technical staff, except that it might be expensive-but really, what technical help is not?

So why am I using a Vista system?

From the small dissertation above, the only real competition for me personally is OSX. And I would heartily recommend this system to people who want the best style/functionality combination, a space saving machine, or are into media design. Personally, I'm an engineer, and am not in the mood to pay another grand for a screen that is more clear. This is what it boils down to: price.
If Steve Jobs wanted to sell more Macintosh laptops, he would take a pay break- trust me, he wouldn't notice too much- and sell his laptops at a comparable price to PC's with the same specs. For example, I recently bought my current laptop (HP Pavillion dv6500) for approximately $1000. The cheapest Macbook on the market now (according to their website) sells for $100 more, has the same processor, 1GB less of RAM, and 80 GB less of hard drive space, and the same features otherwise. So why buy this Macbook? Why pay $100 more for a lesser computer, just for the name?

This short answer, to why I run Vista? It's cheaper for the exact same thing in a PC, that (to my personal experience) is just as reliable as a MAC system.

April Fool's!

So I just figured out my schedule for next semester- I'm happy with how it's turned out, even though I will have a sucky 8AM lab, but I've done those before! so hah! take that Chem. E.! (go Physics?)
I'm having a strange night with no homework, and absolutely no motivation to do anything. Lately my life has just seemed on track. This only means one thing- hell is about to break loose and unleash its fury on my life. Something big is about to happen.
Enormously great news yesterday from the research that I've been doing, however no one wants to celebrate with me. Sadness. Am I that big of a bitch?
no. seriously. am I?
I'm in a strange mood tonight- like forlorn mixed with content.
I also ruined a pair of jeans today. Fortunately they were my least favorite pair.
It was Matt's birthday on Saturday. I think he had fun-he got mad at me because I apparently 'spoiled' him, which I didn't. He kept finding the good in situations, and exclaiming that they were so because it was his birthday. This made me smile for pretty much the entire night.
I made an offer I will have to back out on. A few weeks ago, I told C that I would start a Flickr 365 project with her in June (for moral support). After thinking further about the subject, I realized that not only do I dislike being the subject of pictures, but also this blog is probably stretching my limits as far as comfort zones go, and that's only because I've been blogging for nearly 4 years now, and I like to convince myself that no one reads it anyway.
I have to wonder though, what happens at day 366(or 367 for the leap year)? Is it a feeling of accomplishment or emptiness? I suppose it would be different for everyone, but I would imagine after taking a photograph of yourself for an entire year, it may become second nature or a part of the daily routine. On the other hand, it is an enormous accomplishment to have kept with something for so long, imo.
Maybe I'll quiz people once they finish.

St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

And yay for spring break! I've gotten an opportunity to re-learn LaTeX all over again, which has been interesting. Tonight I celebrated St. Patrick's day with some very good friends, and later ended out at the bar with another one of them. Green beer ftw!
It's about that time where I get super sleepy though, goodnight everyone!

INTERNETS!

So my parents finally stepped out of the stone age and got the internets (again).

Am very excited. Especially because I don't have to drive about 10 minutes only to buy either a fruit and yogurt parfait or a hot apple blast so that I can check my email.

Spring break started yesterday at 2:15, I am looking forward to doing nothing this week!

I went out drinking with an old elementary school teacher today, and it was not as awkward as I thought it would be. Yay!

mems.

Break has gone by so quickly.
It was a total blast though, I got to see some old friends, and even made a few new ones- that I'll probably never see again, which is sad.
I did get to play starcraft for the first time! I felt so bad that I was so bad- I could tell that the guys were getting frustrated with me that I can't play, but I appreciated them not leaving me out to dry- especially when my camp spawned directly next to enemy camps for at least two games. One was so bad I had to move my entire camp.
I got Guitar Hero III for Christmas, and have nearly beaten it on the hard difficulty. Apparently this version is a lot harder than the past two- and I'm really noticing. I also played some Rock Band when I was home- I've managed to weasel my way out of singing so far, and I totally suck at drums. which you would think would be a little different considering I've had practice on those in real life. Well, some practice anyway.
I got to go to New Ulm over New Year's. Totally worth the five hour drive. I had a lot of fun, even though Matt thinks he totally bored the crap out of me- he didn't. not even close.
The semester eventually ended up great. I managed to finish everything that I needed to, and not too much pain was involved. I really need to stop complaining about things that suck- like school. The less I dwell on it, maybe the less it will suck?
My last day of work is tomorrow. At Tundra, anyway. Everyone keeps telling me there how much I'm going to hate working at Ecolab. They keep saying that I'm just going to be at a computer all day, etc- which is totally different from what I do now (well except for this past week, anyway... drr broken furnace..drr). I think its good that I'm finding out what its like to work in the corporate world now, before I devote my life to it. So if it sucks, it only sucks for like 12 weeks. Then no more Ecolab. If it doesn't suck, then yay I get a whole summer there. I'm thinking its not going to suck.
I'm really going to miss the guys there. It has been a total blast, and even though I didn't like it when they made me do monotonous monkey tasks- they were actually pretty well balanced with ones that were semi-important. I have a lot of memories, ones I know that I will either never get to empathize with anyone to or ones that no one else finds interesting/cares about. They make me happy, anyway.
School starts in 5 days! and one class is canceled already- w00t!

First Weekend

College started Tuesday. Things have been so hectic here, but they always are at the beginning of each new semester. I already have homework, which sucks, but fortunately it is not due until Friday. Unfortunately I've already started it and am probably doing it wrong. Guess that's what study groups are for, huh?
Can't wait to get the new phone. I have a feeling it may be a POS, but I know it will probably be better than a motorola anything. Yay Samsung.
Matt's been back a week, and I'm thrilled. Unfortunately, I already feel like I'm annoying him and his roommates.
Went to a frat party last night, they had a slip-n-slide. We were invited to the one that they will have next weekend (also with slip-n-slide). If I wasn't going to Hibbing... I wanted to get drunk really badly. Maybe next weekend. I always feel so awkward saying stuff like that. But it's fun. Matt is against it most of the time, which also makes me feel guilty for doing anything.
A lot of my friends are really hot/cold on the issue. On one day they'll say "yeah! let's go!" and then the next day they tell me that I should watch out, take someone with me, scary this, scary that, "I don't get drunk", "i don't want to go", etc. And yes, I know a lot of it is atmosphere. Maybe we'll see more when more of us turn 21.
I'm afraid that one day I'll look back on college and be like "gee, I wish I'd had a little more fun". Not that I don't. Its just that most of the time everyone is so damn serious.
Speaking of 'fun', there was a LAN party tonight that I attended. dramadramadramadramadrama.... and everyone gets so TENSE. How is that fun? really. It was fun to see people and everything, and play HALO (and suck at it!), but half of the people I talked to were in a pissy mood at some point in the night. And how fun is it to talk to people in pissy moods?
I guess my point is that one's mood reflects upon one's surroundings. How many people can be happy in a room where someone is crying? Extreme example, I know.
Tired. need sleep. Take it easy.

want a free video ipod?

I guess this is actually legitimate.
http://www.YourFreeVideoiPods.com/index.php?ref=1671219

try it if you feel adventurous. A friend of mine said that you don't get any spam from it, I guess we'll see.

turkeys, rantings, ravings

I made this turkey in paint. Isn't it special? Because everyone else always has to talk about the holidays in their blogs, I figured that I should too. So this is "Happy Belated Thanksgiving!" to the whole world of about three and a half people that actually read this. yes. you are one of them.
I've decided that the paint program on the computer is actually a very interesting one. For one thing, you can make just about anything if you are creative enough. There are no high-tech programs and evil ass-monkey programming and scripts to be played with. No offense to you people out there who like programming, I guess its just not for me. In fact, I have a friend that likes to program. He makes 3D animation. Anywho, he's pretty good at it and if everyone who programs things is like him, I feel very justified in leaving such things up to them. Back to topic, I recently realized the wonders of 'Paint' and I am trying to figure out why nobody uses this blessed program anymore. What happened to the days of old when children used to sit at the 'family computer' for hours muddling over color choices and the line tool?
Oh yeah, I've been reading philosophy, therefore I might ask some pretty dumb questions. Just keep reading, don't pay any attention to my mind muddling.
Thanksgiving weekend was well welcomed and much needed for me and the rest of the IT Honors group, I'm positive. I just wish it was longer. For me, the weekend was supposed to be one of rest and relaxation, however this was not the case. My parents picked me up Wednesday after class. This was just after I realized that the organic chemistry class that I've been wanting to take had filled up and I was no longer able to take the class, considering that I wouldn't register until Monday. This leaves me pissed. The reason why I was unable to take the class is because a bunch of cake-eating asswipes from large schools took a bunch of AP classes and got a bunch of college credit for it. Therefore, Their college credit for phony high-school classes leaves me stranded at seven REAL college credits (thanks, PSEO) and still registering at/near the bottom of the pile. I hate getting screwed over.
After venting to my family over this new development and the fact that I now have to take biology (yippee.... *cough*), we cram into a packed over-heated car and drive for about 10 hours to Michigan through a blizzard. We get there at two o'clock in the morning and wonder why everyone is so crabby...
After much-needed rest dating back from the past three months while I've been at school, I am rudely woken up to laughter and loud voices. I looked at the clock- NOOOOOO. yes. it was 7 am. Groggily rolling out of bed, I hear the voices go down the stairs and I attempted to calculate the amount of time I slept. Unfortunately unable to accomplish this, I shrugged and got on with the day. Thanksgiving dinner was awsome. Occured at noon, but awesome nonetheless. It really made me realize how much I miss my mom and my grandma's cooking- UDS here leaves much to be desired according to my palate. After finishing a luxurious turkey dinner, I high-tailed it off to the room where my parents were staying and proceeded to study chemistry for the next 5 hours. So much for break, huh.
The rest of the weekend continued as such, except on Saturday when I finally finished my chemistry and started on the class from hell: History of Science. Also, another Aunt arrived at the cabin at which I was staying. Unfortunately, when my mom gets together with her two sisters they become evil. Fortunately for me, I had more homework to get to, therefore I left Fred and both of my Aunts' children (all 8 of them) to be hassled by the women to be comforted by the sad buzz of my laptop and the pounding in my brain. In retrospect, I believe Fred managed to leave as well.
Finally, Sunday morning I was, again, rudely awakened at 6 am (this time by my alarm) to drive another 10 hours back to the glory that I call college. Only to be confronted by "Happy Thanksgiving!" and "wow! I slept so much!"
I love my family dearly, and my extended family as well. But understand, this was just too much. I lead a life of solitude. I can understand this, and I am comfortable with it. I do not like large groups of people, and am uncomfortable when made the center of attention. Therefore, to people unlike myself, this weekend would have been a blast. Unfortunately, aside from seeing my family, my weekend wasn't so great.
There is one fact that I can comfort myself with:
I know I will be spending Christmas at home.