And the new blog/messageboard system live!

I've made a new blog here, and a new forum here.

I apologize for the change, and I hope you'll stick with me as I move.  The layout/colors/themes are not what they could be, but I've been aiming for functionality so far.  Let me know if anything doesn't work and I'll fix it as soon as I can.

Hope you like the new stuff, the forum is for anything you'd like to use it for, post away. 

Well, in line with my earlier comment about this blog getting more personal, here comes some relationship musings.

 Before I get started, I'd like to inform you all that a message board has been created.  However, it's still in its infancy and must remain secret until I get things tired down.  It looks like it will be possible for me to create a new thread to discuss each of my blog posts automatically, which will be cool, especially for comments (the current system is a bit awkward).  Look for that soon.
So as most of the people reading this probably know, I've been going out with Marie for 3 years, 6 months, and 24 days (but who's counting, right?) which is a bit above average based on what I've seen…  And there's all sorts of interesting relationship stuff that comes with that, but I'll spare you most of those.  What I have noticed (and am going to actually blog about) is that trying to make female friends is more awkward (it IS apparently possible for this to be more awkward than usual) when you have a girlfriend.

First of all, the line that defines friendly interractions and flirting is pretty blurry, as is the line between just-friends-flirting and serious flirting.  Not only do I have to consider if something can be construed as flirting, but even if it is it might still be acceptable.  The reaons for this are at least twofold.  Firstly (and "firstly" IS a word by the way), I don't want to lead them on just for them to find out I have a girlfriend (which is why I try to tell at least a couple stories involving Marie when I meet girls for the first time).  Secondly, there's the whole public image thing; it just doesn't go over well if people who know I have a girlfriend see me flirting with another girl.

This is of course not to say I'd ever for a second regret being in a relationship with Marie.  I'd tell you all the reasons why, but frankly there's not enough space on this websever (nor time in which I could do it).

While I'm on the topic, the term "going out" has grown to bug me more and more.  In Jr. High through early high school, it was the whole, sit together at lunch and hold hands thing and you didn't actually have to go out anywhere at all.  In high school, the same thing continued, but you could actually go places.  Unfortunately, it also then could literally mean going out somewhere.  Now, in college, the difference between the relationship aspect, and the going on dates aspect is painfully clear, and yet I'm still at a loss for a better term than "going out".  Is that still okay to use, or will I get laughed at for my childish Jr. High language? 

Good night everyone, I've had enough Karaoke Revolution to last a month, and I'm tired.  I only hope this isn't one of those late-night emotional rants I go on and regret in the morning.  Let's hope I've figured those out by now.

Alright, well it looks like I've made it through the tunnel… I'm in the home stretch (it's apparently cliche time). One more week, then finals, and then summer is here.

Before I get started here, I'd like to point out that I'll be posting on another blog in addition to this one. This means that the posts on this page will likely get more personal as I move my professional/tech opinions to the other blog. The upside of this is that for all of you that aren't tech people, you don't have to listen to tech stuff. Which is good. Anyway, check it out if you like, XP-ert and Oaktree are posting there too.

Week 8 was crazy, week 9 had a few surprises too, but as I said earlier, it seems to be over now. Had a great memorial day weekend with Marie, BBQ'd twice, did some hot tubbing at Darrin's, good stuff. Went to a wind ensemble concert on Wednesday, I do kinda miss it, but I don't miss the time commitment. I think I'm going to switch to tuba next year; probably not for pep band, but at least for campus band at the end of the year. Partially because we don't have one, partially because my mini-baritone (though very cute, and very cool) just isn't cut out for large ensemble playing. Speaking of band, I'm playing at the Irvine Transportation Center on Saturday for some sort of OCTA thing. Should be fun (as always) and there's some INO coupons involved.

My immediate plans for the upcomming weeks are lots of relaxation (punctuated by work and the remnants of school), some Vacation Bible School practices, and hopefully I'll get some projects done around the house.

Socially: Yay bandos still.  Jazz dinner Friday (my sister's Jazz band), Band Banquet Monday…

And, I'm sleepy.  Setting up blogs really takes it out of you.  And of course I've got work in the morning…  Well, good night everyone, I've said it before, and I'm saying it again: Hopefully more posts as school ends.  Chances are I'll get all wrapped up in summer and completely neglect this place.  I suppose that really isn't too bad though, as long as it's summer I'm wrapped up in and not something boring.

'Night! 

Sorry Marie!  And Rory… you're not men (see last post/comments). 

So This week isn't as bad as I thought.  I've still got quite a bit of work, but with 3 of 5 projects behind me, and registration done, things are looking up.  Going to take Informatics x2, Physics, and Intro to International Relations.  The latter should be interesting, AND it's good for category III and category VII-B.

 Um… no more news for now.  Quick vote for me to start up a message board to make these comments a little more… conversational.  All in favor…

Man (and Lauren), next week is going to be crazy.  I've got projects due in everyone of my classes (most of them on Tuesday), a band banquet also Tuesday, and a Game Night Wednesday.  Not to mention this week's not even over yet.  If I don't blog… well it's because I'm lazy.  But I could just at easily use my business as an excuse.  Time for class.

So, illegal immigrants have been entering the country for decades.  Suddenly, within months America's reaction goes from nothing, to legislation flying, Mexicans leaving work, and people saying a War has been declared.  This of course, all covered by the media.  Obviously, something had to cause this sudden change in policy.  Did the media cause this?  Or is the media just over-covering a sudden random shift against illegal immigration.   Does anything actually happen without media coverage?

While I've mentioned it, I agree with everything Bush has said so far. 

Wow, two comments on the post… there's still readers out there!

Speaking of Mr. Oaks, Black and White 2 is a very cool game. No multiplayer, but that's supposed to be released in an upcoming patch. The creature learning is MUCH better, you can actually tell what it's learning, and discipline it for a specific action instead of just what it did last. Haven't actually played Neverwinter Nights yet, it looks to be pretty cool, but I haven't had time to learn it.

In other reviews, Propel Fitness water… not too bad.

Talking with a friend recently, it occured to me that I enjoy listening to friend's problems. Not because they have problems (that's never a good thing) but because it's kinda like a real-life drama show I guess, and I can get experience without actually having to live through various situations. I also like to feel helpful, so if I can lend them any advice, I feel good about it. Thinking along these lines I also decided that I should be careful since people might actually listen to my advice. And that I DO NOT enjoy listening to people I don't know wells' problems, and don't really feel like giving them advice. So, friends, I'm here for you. People I don't know too well, quit yer complaining. Oh, and by problems I DO NOT mean whining. There's almost nothing worse than a whiner.

I'm watching Braveheart for the first time right now. Looks to be good, but far too many scenes of Mel Gibson staring into the distance while music plays. Could be a good movie at less length.

And there you have it, the second decently lengthed post in May. Good day to you all!

… I almost forgot my blog password.

Apologies, as always, to my two or three readers for a lack of blog lately. I'm at a shortage of anything to talk about unfortunately. I might shift a bit towards my personal life in the near future. Of course I know no one really WANTs to read my thoughts on my own life, but at least there will be something to read. I'll put all the non-peronal stuff at the top of posts. This one's going to be rather long due to the recent gap (nothing in May yet!).

A breif review of my current thoughts on the Tech Market. Dell, HP and others will have Mac mini copies out very soon (my prediction). Sony has killed the PS3 by trying too hard to be on the cutting edge, and trying to copy the Revolution's (sorry, not gunna call it the Wii) motion sensing controller. Micro$haft continues down the drain. Apple doing well, won the suit with Apple Corp, rightfully so in my opinion. Government wants to pass legislation banning use of myspace and other online communities at public sites. Don't get me wrong, I hate myspace as much as anyone, but there's no reason to block it. It's not making kids evil, the kids are evil before they get on; kids have made myspace evil. Furthermore, free speech, yadda yadda…

I'm now 20 years old. It's not much different than 19, except I'm no longer "a teenager".

The most exciting thing in my life right now is band. Oddly enough we haven't actually had a performance for quite some time, and didn't even have rehearsal this week. I've finally got band friends again (it was a long, lonely first year). And of course, as with any group of people, there's all sorts of interesting social things going on. Relationships, feuds, drama, and the like. But it's fun to be back around that stuff, especially when I'm not involved in a lot of it.

Speaking of band friends, I now have a plant named Ludwig.  Or rather, I've had a plant for several years which was recently named Ludwig by one of my band friends.  He's looking pretty sad right now, but I got a cool plant watering system and I've been playing him classical music since Monday. 

In other personal news I'm still working at the school district fixing computers and writing interesting management scripts.

Marie's coming down this weekend (I can't wait!) and hopefully we'll have time to do some fun stuff.

And of course last, and least, school. Not too difficult a quarter this one. The homework has been slow and conceptual (my favorite kind) so I've been feeling pretty good about it.

Wow, it's been a long time… I apologise to any of the people who have been visiting here regularly. Those of you who haven't, I regret nothing!

My sam@miragegames.com email is down, as is our site. On that note, anyone who might be willing to invest in a Mac Mini to use as a mailserver/webserver can contact me. If enough people want websites hosted, and are willing to pay, I'll be able to upgrade to Cox business and actually host websites.

Anyway, enough of my shameful looking for money, and on to me talking about me. I've been working on an AIM bot again, and recently decided I might need two. Though I'm having second thoughts on the usefulness of actually separating them. Anyway, basically there will be a useful one (or part of THE one if I only make one) that will give me access to cool stuff like when my friends were last seen online, and turning on stuff on my computer from home. Then there's the fun one (or part) that will speak (something closely resembling) English. This one I can take into chatrooms with me to hang out and talk about stuff with. I don't know if I can have them talk to eachother yet, it might cause problems in a chat room if they responded to EVERY message… I've got a lot of work yet to go.

I also might be purchasing a mini Baritone (Alto Baritone for the technical ones) which would be cool because it's portable. Or more so than a full size one.

Oh, and I haven't yet publically bagged on Microsoft for yet AGAIN delaying the release of Vista until after the holidays.  Also, for all you bleeding edge PC folk who'll want to get Vista right away, you may to upgrade your computer.  Vista is taking bloated to a whole new level (7 GB!).  You know that all the Intel Macs (already out) will run Vista though.

I think I've said it before, and I'm saying it for sure now.  Vista will be the death of micro$oft as we know it today.  It's far too massive to disappear entirely, but will have to look to a smaller section of a different market soon.  Though apparently ol' Bill said Web-Applications are the way to go, so maybe that's where they'll find a niche.  If you'd like to argue your XP sentiment with me, send me an IM, I look forward to the conversation.

 I'll try to blog more, really!

    So the RMA number got emailed to me (see last post), I'm sure glad they had my email address.  FedExed it on Monday, should be hearing from them… well soon I hope.

      Still not too much to blog about, more a lack of motivation to type out my thoughts than a lack of thoughts or stories.  Perhaps when school starts up again, I'll have more free bored time.

    In the mean time, you can keep yourself amused with Googlisms.  Taking a few of them in order from my page I came up with:

sam is dead.   sam is back.   sam is pissed.   sam is trying to kill you.   sam is here to stay.

    Sounds like I'm back from the dead for a little revenge.