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Well, it's been a little while since I plopped something down into this here journal. The past couple of months have been a little bit busier; between work, school, and TV. That, and obsessing over a girl I like. Ah, to be young and in love . . .and incredibly stupid to boot.

However, I feel I owe it to all my adoring fans out there in Slashdot-land to update my little corner of the internet. That, or I'm bored senseless. Can't quite remember which it was. The thing is, I know I'm here for some reason.

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So, here's the events of recent months, in no particular order whatsoever:

• So, the last time I posted here was December of 2002, near the end of the fall semester. I did OK, but not as good as I would have liked. I have to retake one of the courses this semester (Damn my laziness!). The spring semester has gotten rolling, and I'm getting into the flow of things again.
• On Valentine's Day, I left a rose for the girl I like. I wanted to ask her out then, but I blew the chance. There were a couple of romantic things I wanted to say, but I froze up. I've been working up my nerve all week to say something. Needless to say, I am not so good with these things that are referred to as "women." Like I said before: young, in love, and really quite dumb.
• I mentioned a while back (I think April of 2002) that I was trying to lose weight. Well, I have done so. Since that post, I have lost somewhere close to 100 frelling pounds. That's not a typo. One with two zeroes. Let's suffice it to say, I look, feel, sound, smell and taste a whole lot better (not to mention my ability to communicate with the dead has improved substantially).
• WHEN THE FRELL IS SPRING GOING TO START!!!
  I mean, this winter has sucked. Cold, windy, and a little too much snow for my tastes (I live in SE Massachusetts, and was not all too happy with the two feet of snow to drop on Monday).
  I forget, did that stupid groundhog see his shadow or not?
• GODDAMN SEGMENTATION FAULT! HOW I HATE THEE!
  I know it's something simple I'm missing, I just gotta track it down (I'm working on something for a class).
  You know, it really would help if I put these test lines before the return, huh?

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I thought I had more to say, but I guess not. Maybe my life really is that dull. Oh, well. It's mine and I'm not giving it back. Wouldn't mind an upgrade package though. Who knows, maybe I can swing a date with that girl . . .

Man, has this been a long couple of months. The latter half of the semester is really dragging, and the work has been piling up like a son of a bitch. OK, so that last part is mostly my fault, I have a habit of putting things off. Still, it's been a hell of a ride.

It all started back in November with my second project for my CIS 370 course. The point of the project was to simulate different CPU scheduling algorithms. It was a whale of a time to write, let me tell you. It was a team project, so I had a partner working with me on it. Between November 13 and 14 (I believe, but around that time) we must have spent 16 hours staring at a friggin' computer screen. Man, was it fun. Hands down the biggest program I have ever written. It ended up being something like 17 pages of code. Admittedly, it was a bit bloated. I probably could have trimmed back a couple of pages if I had really wanted to, but I didn't. The damned thing worked, so I didn't really care if there was a little bit of redundant code in it.

The week of Thanksgiving I spent working on a project for my other CIS course, 360. I ended up finishing up a day late on it, so I get 90% credit. Damn my lazy ass! With that finished, it was time to focus on the paper.

I had a term paper due for the 370 course. Ten pages on the operating system of my choice. I chose Linux (the choice was made in September, the work began this past Thursday). With the paper due today, December 9, I had exactly 0 words written as of December 5. Another long day. Spent about eight hours on the Net, gathering information and stuffing whatever seemed relevant into my budding paper. Got 9 pages written that day. Finished up the last coupe of pages last night, and did a little bit of spit-and-polish this morning.

Oh, I almost forgot the third project for the 370 course. Also due today. I got fairly well into it as of Wednesday, so I should be able to polish it off today. Due today.

One more thing: I have a test today in my MTH 331 course. Probability. The probability stuff isn't that bad, but I've been struggling with the calculus. So, over the weekend I studied that.

Did I mention that during this period I've been working 35 hours a week on average? And a couple went over 40?

Anyway, this is the last week of classes. After finals next week, I get six weeks off from academia. Man, am I gonna need it. My frelling brain needs a rest.

So, on Sunday afternoon, my car broke down in the back parking lot of the Fall River Wal-Mart. It was fun, standing out in the cold waiting for a tow truck for an hour. After working an eight-hour shift. Fun stuff.

I dropped the car off to be checked out, to see if its worth repairing, but left the wrong keys. So, they couldn't get to it on Monday. I should hear something about it today.

Today, I took the bus for the first time since getting my car last November. Except I didn't know that the route had changed. Oh, well. Everything ended up working out. I got to class on time, and none the worse. After class, I have to take the bus from the campus back into Fall River to go to work today. Just what I want to do. Go to work.
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The question is, is the car worth repairing? Let's weigh some facts:

1. > 193,000 miles on it
2. No heat
3. Recurring brake problems
4. Blown struts in the back, resulting in essentially a half-lowrider
5. Stripped ceiling (mmmm ... metal)
6. Roof leaks
7. Smells funny
8. No radio, no cassette player
9. Mismatched tires (P205 75R14 in front, P205 70R14 in back
10. No visor on the driver's side (mmmm. . .blinded)
11. Plus . . . I frelling hate it!!!!!

Then again . .

1. One year of use for less than $400 (not including gas and insurance)
2. Good on oil, only needing the regular oil changes
3. Good on gas, ~20 MPG
4. Ran pretty well for the year

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Oh, well . . . I figure if I can squeeze a few more miles out of the sucker I'll be all right. That way, I can save up a little bit of money so my next car isn't another temporary-solution-junker.

Still, I can't wait to get a nice car. I've never had one before. I've had four pieces of crap in four years. I want something better, something I can admit to driving without qualifying it with "until I find something better." Unfortunately, I just don't have enough money to make that dream come true at the moment.

Update: 11:19 AM -- Friday November 1 2002

Well, on Wednesday night I found out what was wrong with the car (timing chain had gone, along with some collateral damage to the pistons). The repairs were likely to cost in the $300 - $1,000 range; meaning it wouldn't really be worth it to repair (considering that would only cover that critical problem; the heat, tires and brakes notwithstanding). So, it was obvious I was going to need a new set of wheels. Yesterday, my father picked me up and we looked around. He had been planning to get a new car sometime anyway, so the way we figured it was if we found something in my price range, I'd buy it. If we couldn't find anything decent in my range, but found something in his, he'd buy it and I'd get his old car (a 1992 Oldsmobile in very good condition; ~118,000 miles on it) for $800 (which is what he would have gotten had he traded it in). The latter ended up working out, although I was tempted by a 1995 Grand Am. Unfortunately, it was a little bit more than I can afford, so I ultimately decided to go with Plan B.

By the middle of next week, I should be on the road again. Then I can move my attention to other concerns: school, work, and getting laid.

Well, would you look at that! It's been a month and a half since my last Ramblings of an Idiot post. Have you missed them?

Anyway, I decided after RoaI (25I) to back off a little bit. My journal was being reduced to an unending series of RoaI. I decided that when I had something to say, I'd dedicate a post to it. That's not to say I wanted to abandon RoaI, not at all. These stupid (not so) little posts can be fun. Just decided that not every post should be one.

Anyway, let's get rolling . . .

1. Work: Looking back at RoaI (24I), I noticed something I felt needed updating. I mentioned that the guy that worked before me quit on August 20. Well, as of October 15, no one had replaced him. That, and the other guy to work mornings worked last over a week ago, on October 6. So the morning has been completely uncovered for a week and a half!
2. Odd Thoughts: This morning, while in the shower, I got the song Nowhere Man by The Beatles stuck in my head (it stayed there for about an hour after). Anyway, I began think of a certain person as the "Nowhere Man" -- our President, George W. Bush.

   He's a real nowhere man
   Sitting in his nowhere land
   Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

   Doesn't have a point of view
   knows not where he's going to
   Isn't he a bit like you and me?
   Nowhere man please listen
   You don't know what you're missing
   Nowhere man, The world is at your command

   He's as blind as he can be
   Just sees what he wants to see
   Nowhere man, can you see me at all
   Nowhere man don't worry
   Take your time, don't hurry
   Leave it all till somebody else
   Lends you a hand
   Ah, la, la, la, la

   Doesn't have a point of view
   knows not where he's going to
   Isn't he a bit like you and me?
   Nowhere man please listen
   You don't know what you're missing
   Nowhere man, The world is at your command
   Ah, la, la, la, la

   He's a real nowhere man
   Sitting in his nowhere land
   Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
   Making all his nowhere plans for nobody
   Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

   Just a thought . . .>

   Sidenote: This is the second time I've posted song lyrics in my journal. How long do you think it will be before the RIAA tries to sue me?

3. Baseball: Well, it's the San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels in the World Series. I didn't see that one coming (I didn't even have these two teams in the playoffs). It should be a good series, though. The Angels have been playing great baseball, and we'll get to see what Barry Bonds can do on the biggest stage.

   Prediction: Angels in 7

4. Transportation: On Monday night, I went over to my father's place to catch the Monday night football game. When I left at 12:30, it was just above freezing (35 degrees). So what you say? My car has no heat. It was goddamn cold in that stupid car. I spent the half-hour ride shivering my ass off.

   God I hate my frelling car!

5. Posting: Today was the first day I posted in response to a story, and not just in my journal, in three months! When I first started reading Slashdot, I posted every other day. I guess that was partially because I wanted to see that Karma number keep going up, and up, and up. Now that it's in text form (and already at Excellent), I got nothing to be anal about. That , and I've had a lot less time to peruse Slashdot recently.

END TRANSMISSION

Well, the baseball season ended Sunday. The Boston Red Sox failed to qualify for the playoffs again this year (but I won't get started on them). For now, I will compare my predictions ( Killing Time (And Hoping to Dodge the Murder Charge) ) with actual results:
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AMERICAN LEAGUE:
East:

• I picked: New York Yankees
• At break: New York Yankees
• Champion: New York Yankees

Not surprising, really. The Yankees are loaded, featuring great pitchers who are near the end of their careers, and great position players who are in their prime. The Red Sox couldn't even come close to keeping up, finishing 10 1/2 games behind.

Central:

• I picked: Minnesota Twins
• At break: Minnesota Twins
• Champion: Minnesota Twins

The Twins had no real competition in their division. The Indians and White Sox were disappointing, and the Royals and Tigers never really had a shot.

West:

• I picked: Oakland A's
• At break: Seattle Mariners
• Champion: Oakland A's

A much better division than I expected. The A's, Angels, and Mariners all had very good seasons. The A's took control down the stretch, including that amazing 20-game winning streak.

Wild Card:

• I picked: Seattle Mariners
• At break: Boston Red Sox
• Champion: Anaheim Angels

I'll admit, I had no clue on this one. I had no clue that the Angels would put together the season they did. Even as the A's won 20 straight, the Angels somehow kept it close. The Red Sox and Mariners fell off in the second half (which to be honest, is kinda what you come to expect from the Sox).
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NATIONAL LEAGUE:
East:

• I picked: New York Mets
• At break: Atlanta Braves
• Champion: Atlanta Braves

OK, I was completely and totally wrong about the Mets. They stunk. The Braves, as usual, were a dominant team. They finished with the NL's best record, winning over 100 games again. 11th consecutive division title.

Central:

• I picked: Houston Astros
• At break: St. Louis Cardinals
• Champion: St. Louis Cardinals

Another one I was way off-base on. The Astros did mount a second-half run, but they weren't quite good enough to catch up to the Cards. Props to the Cards, who won despite the difficult events of this season.

West:

• I picked: Arizona Diamondbacks
• At break: Los Angeles Dodgers
• Champion: Arizona Diamondbacks

My only correct pick in the NL. This was a damned good division, with the D-Backs, Dodgers, and Giants all contending. In the end, the Dodgers slipped back and the D-Backs held off the Giants.

Wild Card:

• I picked: St. Louis Cardinals
• At break: Arizona Diamondbacks
• Champion: San Francisco Giants

Wrong again. The Cards did make the playoffs, but did so through a division title. I didn't think the Giants would be this good this year, but like a few other teams, they proved me wrong.
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FINAL SCORE:
Four right (AL East, AL Central, AL West, NL West)
Four wrong (NL East, NL Central, AL Wild Card, NL Wild Card)

Hey, 50% ain't half bad. Oh, wait, it is . . .
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REVISED PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS:

ALDS 1: Yankees over Angels
ALDS 2: A's over Twins

ALCS: A's over Yankees
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NLDS 1: Braves over Giants
NLDS 2: Cardinals over Diamondbacks

NLCS: Cardinals over Braves
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World Series: A's over Cardinals