Shortly after New Years, I went into NYC to hang out with my friend Tracie. These are some pictures from my trip (I know they're not the greatest...but just use your imagination ;) ).
That last picture was from a firehouse right across the street from the World Trade Center (we didn't take any pictures of the WTC site because we didn't think that'd be appropriate...and besides, there are a ton elsewhere on the Internet). After getting dinner at the Hudson Cafateria (which is a really cool restaurant) and wandering around Rockefeller Center for a little while, we took a subway down to the World Trade Center site. The last time I had been there was right before the two towers were hit by airliners and destroyed. It's one thing to see the destruction and devestation on TV, but its another thing to actually go down there and see it firsthand. It was late, and so there were very few people there, but it was really insane (and moving) to see the site firsthand. The last time I was there, I remember walking across the large promenade and looking up and seeing these two incredibly tall buildings towering over everything. A symbol of American prosperity and might. And now, there's just a big hole in the ground. It's still hard to comprehend what happened on 9/11, and I still think a lot of people look on it from a more distant view, as if it didn't really happen. I just can't wait for them to build the memorial and the new skyscraper on that site, because while a hole in the ground might be a testament to what happened, as Americans, we need to once again show that this terrorist attack is not going to stop us.
For all those interested, I have set up PGP (public key: text / ASC) so that I can encrypt and digitally sign (so that you can authenticate that it was actually me who created the file or message and that it hasn't been changed since I created and signed it) outgoing messages and files and everyone else can encrypt and digitally sign messages and files sent to me. PGP works (very simply explanation) by providing individuals with two sets of keys, a public key and a private key. The public key is distributed to everyone else, while the private key is kept by the individual. When someone wants to send you an encrypted file or message, they encrypt the file or message with your public key, and you decrpyt it with your private key. When you want to send someone else a message or file, you encrpyt it with their public key and they decrypt it with their private key. When you want to sign a message or file, you do so using your private key, and the individual your sending it to can verify your signature with your public key. When someone else signs a message or file and sends it to you, you can verify their signature with their public key. You can both sign and encrypt a file at the same time as well for security and authentication. PGP is relatively straight-forward and simple, but has a lot of functionality and levels to it. For further information, see the following:
MIT Distribution Site for PGP How PGP Works Univ. of Rochester: Making Your E-Mail Secure Univ. of Pennsylvania: Secure Electronic Messaging - PGP PGP Corporation - Freeware Download Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Installing PGP 8.0 Freeware Tom McCune's page for Pretty Good Privacy Tom McCune's PGP Questions & Answers DarkFAQs - PGP Basics Macworld: PGP Basics Some PGP Basics Installing PGP7 on Windows XP SP1
So, I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do with my life...and I've had a couple of thoughts (ranked in no particular order):
1) Sit around on my ass all day long ;) - probably not the most productive idea ever!
2) Work on a cruise ship next year...how cool would this be....I could be an officer or something, I'm pretty sure I'd get a regular stateroom I only have to share with one other person (2 beds), lots of free time, a year-long vacation practically, and get a nice sun-tan...not to mention I'd have very few expenses and would be earning money on top of that!
3) Some type of computer job...this is what I've done in the past, but I just don't see myself doing the same job over and over again, every day of the week, every month of the year, for 40 or so years...
4) Which leads me to the choice I've been considering lately...law enforcement. I mean, my philosophy is that in a regular 9-5 job or a corporate job, its relatively stable, but there is 0% chance of excitement, in a job like this though, there's a 5% chance of excitement, which isn't much better than a 0% chance, except that there is actually a CHANCE! I probably wouldn't want to be a regular cop, although a detective would be cool...but maybe working in federal law enforcement somewhere. I'm also probably not FBI material (at least not yet), but you'd be surprised how many other federal law enforcement agencies there are out there. I'd definitely have to get in better shape, but I mean, how cool would it be to be a detective, or a federal law enforcement officer!?!?
Anyway, what does everyone else think about my future career...or your own future career possibilities...or if you're in one of these careers, let me know how it is ;) !
Who here has seen "Meet the Parents" ?? Isn't that movie really damn funny?!?! I have to say...I've always been a fan of Ben Stiller, but DeNiro can be pretty damn funny when he wants too...not to mention awesome in the movies he's serious in. He is definitely one of the most versatile actors out there, and definitely becoming a favorite of mine. That man can ACT!
"I will take you down baby. I will take you down to Chinatown!"
So...I'm hanging out in the dorm room of two of my friends right now (you two know who you are), and what are they listening to...N'sync....I mean, c'mon...whats up with that?
Sorry to all those fans out there, but there is no way three guys should be in the same room listening to N'sync...so if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna get the hell outta here ;)
Ok...so it seems like my idiot friends have decided to have some fun with me and have been making up random people's names and posting comments from them. Anyway, I know some of you have posted comments who I don't know, but are real people....so if that's the case, feel free to continue ;) and IM me (worldman4) or email me (mb007i@mail.rochester.edu). But if you are my idiot friends....I'm gonna *&$%@# kill you ;) !
Don't worry, I'm not really violet...I'm just going to think up some insidious method of revenge involving rotten tomatoes, glue, and a chicken ;)
P.S. To all those members of the ASPCA...I'm kidding about the chicken...I think I'll use someone's Acura instead...you know who you are ;)
So, I went and saw the movie "Miracle" last night...what a valentine's day I had, right ;) ?? I actually didn't want to see it originally...didn't think it would be my type of movie...but it turned out to be really good. It was definitely slow a couple of times, but the overall story was good and watching the hockey scenes was cool too. Has anyone else seen it? What did everyone else think of this movie? I can't wait for Eurotrip and Club Dread to come out...two must-see movies ;)
I just wanted to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day!! Notice the really cool floating animations that are now on this page (which I will take off in a day or so).
Ok...first, who actually uses the word Yikes!? I think by that word alone I've already fueled making fun of me well into the next century ;) Anyway, yes, that's right, as you can see, today is Friday the 13th. And you know, I used to work on the 13th floor at Nixon Peabody...luckily I never had any spooky or horrific experiences on the 13th...well, at least not yet ;)
Anyone out there have any funny, spooky, or horror-filled stories about Friday the 13th? Lets hear 'em!
And to everyone, Happy Friday the 13th and Happy Valetine's Day tomorrow !
I admit, I use smiley's way too much when talking online. But my whole feeling is that you lose so much when you communicate online (body language, facial expressions, etc.) that I'd try to use the smiley's to gain some of that back. I think most people just think its annoying at this point, and I don't even consciously mean to use them anymore, they just sneak in there when I'm typing. What do you all think about smiley's??
And if you think that's something, take a look at all these smilies!
Obviously I don't even know what the correct spelling of the word smiley's/smilies is !!
I have to say that my current all-time favorite two tv shows are Monk (USA Network) and 24 (Fox Network). For those that haven't seen Monk, you should definitely watch an episode (it's on Friday nights at 10 PM). I'd also tell you to watch 24 if you haven't seen it (it's on Tuesday night at 9 PM), but the premise makes it a bit difficult to come in halfway through the season (basically every hour-long show takes place in real-time during the show, so for each hour-long episode, exactly one hour has elapsed in the plot of the show - its about this terrorist unit and particularly an agent (Kiefer Sutherland) who have to thwart terrorist plots). You can try to pick it up (they show you what's happened in previous episodes in each new episode) but its a bit hard, but the show is still really good. If you really want to get into it, go to your video store and rent the past two seasons on DVD (I'm sure as soon as the third season is done it'll be available on DVD too).
Here is a running list (I will be adding to this list) of my favorite TV shows and movies:
It seems I had a bunch of funny videos and commercials on my computer, so I figured why not share the joy with everyone. However, I warn you that some of these videos are not for the faint of heart, and I don't condone anything on them (with the exception of those that are really funny ;) ). Also, "insert boilerplate text here" - use your common sense, and don't be watching these if you aren't old enough to know better ;)
P.S. Just to be on the safe side, I turned off a few of the videos that were just stupid and really not funny at all.
Sorry, but these videos are no longer available. They were originally available when this website was hosted on my personal computer, but I have since changed hosting providers and no longer have the space or bandwidth to host these videos. They may be hosted elsewhere at a later point, but for the time being if you are really interested in seeing what I had available, please email me. Thanks! Edited on 12/6/05
Unfortunately, it appears that I'm just as mentally stable as he is, since hearing about this story reminded me of a video clip I had on my computer of the Oregon State Highway Division attempting to dispose of a dead beached whale by, what else, blowing it up. So...for your viewing pleasure, here are the members of the Oregon State Highway Division attempting the impossible possible yet very smelly: Video Clip
Have you ever noticed that you call the area under your feet the floor if your inside, but the ground if your outside? What do you suppose you'd call it if you were on an airplane??
And this is an oldie but a goodie: Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway ;) ??
Wow...has it come to this? I'm posting incoherent thoughts on my blog now...
I'm looking at my older posts and it seems that I was much more witty in them than I am today. Maybe it's just because I'm soo busy lately that I don't have time to be witty, or maybe I'm losing the funny...???
I dunno?!?!?!
But one thing's for sure, The Onion still has the funny!!
Ok...I know everyone's waited a long time for this, and the day has finally arrived!! You may now post your own comments on my blogs...TADA!!! I know you'll all use this new feature responsibly ;) Enjoy!
P.S. I'm still currently looking into setting up a brand new movable type blog that I'll host myself. If anyone has any experience with six apart's movable type blog, or installing this on Win2000 IIS 5.0, or just experience with Win2000 IIS 5, let me know ;)
Did anyone else used to love the show "The Critic" when it was still on TV? Well, I did! For those interested, go check out the Jay Sherman Wave Collection, a collection of sound files from the show.
Ok...everyone should go and check out the Club Dread website and watch the trailer! This definitely looks like one of the funniest movies out there...and if you haven't already seen it, go rent Super Troopers!!
A week or so ago the miniseries called "Traffic" aired on USA Network. I taped all 3 2-hour episodes of it on the same tape. A few nights ago, I decided I'd start to watch it. I went into my bedroom, popped the tape in my VCR, laid down, and hit play. Of course...what followed next was not me simply watching it...but rather a tragedy of such magnitude that it rivals the loss of my printer (that's right, my printer broke a month or so ago...is it me or what?). I started hearing sounds coming from the VCR that can only be described as horrific (or perhaps they can also be described as the sound of tape getting squished and stretched). Apparently, my VCR decided that it was going to die that day, and it was also going to take my VHS tape with all 3 episodes of "Traffic" with it. After about an hour of fooling around with the VCR, opening it up, taking out screws, and hitting it many many times...I decided the tape and VCR were a total loss. So, now I'm on a quest for a new, cheap, good VCR...anyone have any leads for me???
Correction:
A former co-worker and friend of mine pointed out that even though I (as well as both Ethan and Megan - the two friends I road-tripp'ed this summer with) thought it was such a stupid mistake of the Hoover Dam people to have both of their clocks show the same time even though they were in different time zones, It was actually us who were really, really stupid. Apparently, one of those time zone's participates in daylight savings time, and one doesn't, so its perfectly reasonable that for 6 months out of the year those two clocks will show the same time. I feel like an even bigger idiot since I sent a copy of both of those pictures into the Jay Leno show for his headlines segment figuring it was such a big mistake they'd obviously have to air it....oh well...laugh away ;)
Ok...I'm currently trying to set up a new blog that will offer a lot more features (such as being able to post comments, etc.). This is Six Apart's Movable Type Blog. Six Apart offers this blog on a server hosted by them (called TypePad), or you can install it on your own server. I'm attempting to get this up and running on my own server so I don't have to pay them any monthly fees and I can have as much storage as I want (well, as I have available on my server). PC Magazine rated Movable Type as one of the best pieces of software for blogs out there (which I'd probably agree with), but also said it was relatively easy to install (which I definitely don't agree with)! I seem to be having a lot of problems getting it to run with Internet Information Services (which is no real surprise to those of you familiar with IIS). Right now, its up and running, but there are viewing problems, and I can't seem to get the Virtual SMTP (mail transfer) server that comes with IIS stable and working perfectly. It seemed to be working the other day and delivering email messages to my external email accounts, but today all I'm getting is errors. I have some questions about this floating around out there on the Internet, so hopefully I'll get some help soon. Until then...uhmm....you should all eagerly await its arrival ;)
