I’ve been sucking big time towards achieving this goal. I have so many things pertaining to my health that I have to get in order that this has fallen by the wayside for the moment. I try not to have more than one soda a day though, which seems to be working for the short term, but I am aiming for this goal once I get back to the gym.
Hard Drive space. Yes an mp3 runs about 3.5 to 8 mb max, but when you have a CD collection like mine (350+ albums) storage space becomes an issue. This is also taking into consideration that I have obtained countless other songs through mp3 downloads. Anyway, it is very nice to have my collection in digital format. Unfortunately, I have too much music. I am very happy that apple decided to come out with an 80 GB iPod but it still isn’t enough for collection. But with the advent of the iTV you can have a digital jukebox without having to pause for another CD to be put in and without the bulk of those mega CD players. It was a grueling month and a half of full-time work and full-time uploading but I feel much better. Now all I have to do is convert those m4a’s to mp3’s, and then make sure that I eliminate repeats, and then name then under a consistent formatted name…
I now notice when my posture starts sucking because my back actually starts hurting. I don’t know if this is because my posture overall has improved or if it’s getting that much worse. I hope it’s the prior of the two. I’m trying to get to the gym on a regular basis again and I hope that will help to get my posture in good shape as well.
I reversed engineered a computer my buddy gave me to become familiar with how components went together. He told me some of the things that were wrong with it only to find out that the things he said were wrong with it were fine and the things that were fine were not working. Anyway, I haven’t built a computer, per se, but have rather done pretty much a complete overhaul to the computer I have had for several years now. I know I should just scrap the sucker, but I am frugal with what I have and do not believe I need to deem it unuseable yet. The only problem is that when I run anything graphically intensive, my computer runs extremely hot. I found, much to my chagrin, that there are no exhaust fans for my case. I don’t know how this fact never dawned on me, but it was very displeasing to find out, nonetheless. Anyway, I tried to pull over the fan board from the comuter case my friend gave me, but to no avail, the fan board doesn’t work (and yes I supplied it through the PSU). Anyway, I think I’m going to have to bite the bullet and ghetto fan the case while it’s open until I decide it is worth upgrading (I’m thinking of building a micro ATX computer because I am a person who very much agrees with progess towards efficiency rather than the Machiavelli approach to more power. That was much longer than I anticipated in writing. Sorry if I bored anyone. Later.
I’m am very pleased to say that I was not only able to graduate, but able to graduate with Cum Laude honors and finished up with a straight A semester to boot. On top of it all I got my letter from the Professional Board of Engineers informing me that I passed my Fundamentals of Engineering Exam, allowing me to start my career of as an E.I.T. and putting me on the road towards obtaining my P.E. license.
I feel a little better. It took a while but I was finally able to get over to Burlington Coat factory to pick up a couple really nice slacks. They’re so much more comfortable than what I’m wearing now and they’re quite slick. Also, they were much cheaper than many other places.
I love my parents and all, but I just need my own space. In fact, I don’t think I’d have as good of a relationship as I do with them had it not been for the fact that I moved out for college. Sure the distance can be hard sometimes but, as they say, distance makes the heart grow fonder. To those who want to know, I left for college 4 years ago. I am, for all intensive purposes, independent financially from my parents and I have no debt. In fact, I have a sizable amount of money in my bank account from scholarships and job wages. It’s all a matter of budgeting and sacrifice. Anyway, I believe everyone needs to experience independence. It allows us to make mistakes and fix them and that is how we truly find who we are…
I have about 5 different email accounts. My primary one is routed through thunderbird to my computer, so I don’t really care about the amount of storage it has to offer. When my primary e-mail account can’t send a message to a certain e-mail address, however, I use my gmail account. It’s good, but I’d be alright without it too. I mean it’s a friggin’ e-mail account.
Addendum: for anyone needing a gmail account message me at samueledwardbird@gmail.com
Yeah I’ve done it. What can I say I’m adventurous. That junk is painful! I don’t know how you women seriously galavant around on heel biting, toe crunching stilts. I guess it did make my butt look good though :-P. So yeah, I guess it’d be worth it for a girl, but….
With alcohol you have to be really careful how much you consume and what you are capable of doing while under the influence. Everyone thinks they can drive after a few beers, but not everyone can. In fact, most people can’t. Also, you have the ability to drink yourself to death. This occurs more often than realized. The only reason there aren’t quite as many deaths as there should be is that people get their stomach pumped, their stomach lining scraped and other unpleasant circumstances in the hospital which helps save their lives. Also, for those that are incredibly intoxicated, but don’t completely overdo it, there’s the ever looming hangover. When you need to take a break from life to recover, it just doesn’t seem worth it sometimes. I’m not saying drinking is evil. Even I drink. I’m just saying that moderation is key and to be aware of the potential risks and hazards associated with it.
I’m an avid guitar player and have been playing for the past 10, going on 11, years. There is no instrument quite like the guitar. Virtuosos have taken the instrument to new heights of accomplishments and torn down limitations that seemed ingrain in the instrument. Only on the guitar can you change the way you play the same chords and make them seem as if there are 12 possible songs from the same progression. Frets? They don’t limit you once you pick up a slide. Open notes are wisked out the window once you start learning jazz theory. The guitar is such an emotional instrument and it has become my primary outlet for however I feel from depression to anger to contentment. To get the most out of playing guitar. I recommend first by practicing holding all the major chords (research difference in major, minor, 7ths, augmented, and diminished chords). After that I would suggest learning at least these minor chords: Amin, Emin, Dmin. From there you can branch out one of two ways: you can split off into learning barre chords or you can learn scales. Barre chords will allow you to play chords that occur in those odd half note areas. Like trying to play an A#min, this will make sense once you learn, I promise. Anyway, scales will allow you to create your own chords since they are a grouping of notes in the same key. Scales also allow you to solo and improvise over melodies, once the key is determined though. I hope this is a good starting point. Focused practice and regular practice will take you very far and you will see improvements quickly. You get out of it what you put in.
I think to fully appreciate a meal is to eat it the way that chefs had intended. When you immerse yourself in a culture it is best to try and assimilate all aspects of that culture into yourself as to find a full appreciation for the people as well as your own lifestyle. A large part of the world’s culture rests in its cuisine and how you eat it gives it that small amount of old world feel that seems to be lost on the current generation.
I’m an avid believer that not everyone is capable of being a college student. I believe, nonetheless, that everyone should try to get into college. If for nothing else than to learn about themselves. I suggest going away for college if possible. When you go away, you are thrown into a world of almost complete freedom. I say almost because most of you will be financially dependent. Anyway, it is in this freedom that we make our biggest mistakes, but we almost make our biggest gains in maturity. College campuses are the epicenter for personal growth and developing your beliefs. Highly recommended.
So, I was naturally gifted with the ability to run because I was always able to run a mile without stopping ever since I could remember. I ran a 6:30 in 6th and 7th grade. In 8th grade I joined the track team and ran a 5:26 in the County race. In high school, my running career was cut short by numerous injuries, but I managed to run a 4:54 during the first track meet of my sophmore year. Nothing spectacular, but I feel accomplished having done that.
Anyway, the best thing I can think of to give advice is to prepare to a run properly. Everyone thinks they can just get up and start running. Wrong. You need to have not eaten anything in the 3 or 4 hours and don’t even think about loading up on liquids within 30 minutes of your run. You should be hydrated throughout the day anyway. Forget about soda and other carbonated drinks entirely. You are just asking to vomit if you think otherwise. Now, in colder areas this is much more important. You want to make sure you do some light stretching before you run. I say light because your muscles aren’t warmed up enough to stretch entirely. You will want to do more rigorous stretching after your run, this time is called your cool down. These stretches help you avoid cramps and pulled muscles, things that decimate your excercising goal before you have a chance to get it off the ground.
Anyway, for those who just can not seem to run that one mile after all these tips. Try this out: If you feel that you just can’t run anymore, don’t run. Instead kind of jog/walk. It is somewhat difficult to explain, but the basic premise is as follows. You continue pulling your legs up as if you are running, but you kind of keep you toes close to the ground, that way you aren’t really taking full steps. You aren’t really moving anywhere, but you aren’t really exerting yourself much either. What this does is that it allows you to work out the running muscles while giving you time to recover and still keeping your heart rate somewhat elevated, at least above resting. Placing your hands on top of your head while doing this allows you to take in deeper breaths and replenish your oxygen stores more readily. Remember that deep breaths are far more efficient than short shallow breaths. I hope this all helps.
I agree with the last guy. It is a great conversation starter. It gives a good impression because you show them that they are worth remembering. If you don’t remember their name it makes it seem as if you don’t care regardless if you really do remember them or not. I think that learning last names as well as first names help because first names can be so common that it is easily forgotten. Also, the corniest rhymes or pronunciation games are the dumbest but easiest way to remember the person’s name. In fact, the dumber it is, the more likely you will be to remember.
I what I wish my car could do, but…
I love it nonetheless. I have an ‘01 Focus (the year just after the really crappy debut model). I’ve heard of many people having problems with them, but I haven’t had one yet. I take care of my car and I understand the basics of them and can tell what the problem is with my car usually. If not I go to my friend Phil who’s a gearhead. Anyway, having your own car gives you a tremendous amount of freedom and for some people it is a means of getting away and just being. For others, it is a necessity, a way of getting to and from work and running errands. Just know that saving up for a car is not enough and that you still have to pay for insurance and regular maintenance. Also, check out what consumer reports says about the model you are looking at. Consumer Reports is quite extensive and can keep you from making a huge mistake. I very well could have ended up with a 2000 Focus I was looking at. Also, get the VIN (Vehicle Identification #) for the car you are looking to purchase. You should be able to use this on www.carfax.com to see the maintenance and repair history of the car. Hope all this helps you on your search.
I’ve been on both extremes, from my entire high school experience of sleeping about 3 or 4 hours a night or less to sleeping about 10 hours a night for the first three years of college to everything in between. I find that this goal is much more easily accomplished for those who are night owls starting out in the real world (college students will know what I’m talking about). I found it hard to get regular sleep because I’ve lived in a college dormitory for the past 4 years (since I was an RA). Last summer and this summer I’ve found that obtaining a sleep schedule takes some effort, but since you are forced to get up early, you are too tired to stay up late and eventually will have to conform to sleeping earlier. I suggest not taking naps because it will make it much more difficult to sleep later on as well as avoid caffienated beverages 3 hours prior to when you want to sleep. For insomniacs I suggest seeing a doctor to get some medication to help you out. I experienced a moderately severe insomnia through high school and my mother experiences about the same level of insomnia as well. Be very careful about sleeping pills, however, because you can easily become addicted to them. Well, I just went off on an extreme tangent. So, sleep less, but not less than 7 or 8 hours.
Another tidbit of information, people who regularly work out are shown to need less slep because they reach their R.E.M. state of sleep (deep sleep) earlier and, therefore, need less time to reach the same amount of rest.
I’ve been playing for quite some time now (10 going on 11 years). I love the guitar because of the infinite way to play the same chord progression. The way you can staccato, mute, fast pick, tap and slap the strings to get a sound that’s uniquely yours. True this is an ongoing goal that can never truly be obtained (hell, even steve vai can attest to that), I still want to reach a higher level of ability than where I am presently. I just want to say that I am definitely not where I should be for 10 years of playing. I haven’t practiced enough and been focused enough. Sure I’ve gotten tempo done (which you NEED a metronome, any other way and you’re kidding yourself), I’ve gotten harmonics, scales of all kinds, etc. down, but I haven’t gotten the speed, the arpeggios, good two handed tapping (I can tap, I just don’t know what to do with it and have it sound amazing), and other techniques not mentioned. Right now I’m practiced, for lack of a better term, double picking (harmonic picking?). You know that harmonic sound that really makes a guitar scream during a solo? That’s what I’m talking about. I’ve been practicing that over the past five days and I’ve seen some amazing progress. I don’t remember the last time I picked up on a new guitar technique so quickly. Anyway, after I become more proficient with that I think I’ll move on to tapping. Can anyone offer me any advice?
not cutting it. I grew it out initially to get cornrows done, which I eventually had done, time and time again. I just got lazy, was saving money and had the opportunity to get my hair braided whenever I felt like it. Plus, it looks horrible in between the short and long. It looked like I had a mullet. HAHA, it was horrible, but well worth the experience. Just wear a hat for a while, and if you can’t, expect to be laughed at or be lucky to be able to pull off hairstyles during the in between lengths. My hair was about 14-15 inches when I finally cut it off.
