Christmas in September???

Well I haven't posted for a while so I will post a more technical post this week.  It has been a rather enjoyable "Christmas Like" Weekend.  On Friday I was able to obtain a piano from a friend named Holly.  I haven't missed a day of playing since it entered our tiny apartment.  it nestles up in our kitchen and almost makes the spacious room seem cramped, but it is well worth the space to get my creative flow working.

Secondly I have a tablet that seems a bit outdated now.  It is the first generations of "MID" [meaning Mobile Internet Device] so it sadly weighs around 1.6 LBS which is hefty for a tablet, and it was stuck with Eclair 2.0 Android ROM.  Now for any of you who know anything about Android operating systems you know that is outdated.  For those you don't have a clue what I am talking about let me give you a break down.

Android consists of different versions of the operating system.  Its like Windows or Mac [and for the techies like me Linux].  They have had different versions of the OS[Operating System] available since the first release to today.  The older the OS the worse the operating system ran.  So for Example if you were to sit down at a PC with Windows 7 installed and mess around for a bit and get used to the operating system and the look and feel of the computer, and then someone were to pull out an old white chunky box that ran windows 95 you would hate the old machine and rather want the newer one for its capabilities.

Here is the old windows 95 Computer [sorry I couldn't find a picture of a real life one so enjoy the google image searched one =D ]

Here is the windows 7 Beastly Alienware computers of awesomeness.

Like Mac fans out there, if you Remember the old computer that was combined with the monitor that ran I can't even remember the name of the device.  It was not even called a "Mac" back them but an "Apple" or "Macintosh" [not a single person now days even calls them Macintosh thats too long of a name] verses the new hip and loved devices that society has embraced and deemed "You aren't cool unless you own a Mac" or if you enter any major production studios [Film, Music, Art, ETC] there will always be a mac present.

Old School garbage Mac

New age weighs nothing smooth Macbook

And I am sure you think I am rambling and posting garbage info, well its your fault for reading my blog.  Any whom the point boils down that my poor tablet was running an outdated version of the OS. Here is a list of android operating systems so you can become familiarized with the names and why this is important

1.5 Cupcake
1.6 Donut
2.0, 2.1 Eclair
2.2 Froyo [Frozen Yogurt]
2.3 Gingerbread
2.4 Ice Cream Sandwich [not yet released]

well my device came with Eclair 2.0.  This operating system didn't support anything. Also another issue is my  processor on the tab is known as "MIPS" which isn't the standard for tablets and phones with the android OS.  So that means I don't get Adobe Flash due to a non supported platform, and Netflix won't even think about making a port because they are Netflix.  But I couldn't even access the Google Market because Velocity Micro didn't make support for the OS and submit the info to Google to have them give us access.

Well this boils down finally to my point.  Velocity Micro finally released 2.2 Froyo for my device, and with the update I was able to follow the step by step guide on www.slatedroid.com to Root my device [which gives me super user commands and also the ability to work around the firmware, and OS]  and of course GET THE GOOGLE MARKET WORKING!  I was so excited I downloaded at least 40 apps within the first hour.  So now I am living a bit more in the fancy life with my tablet.  Though as stated its still a MIPS processor which means still no Adobe Flash, Adobe Air, or Netflix, but I am one step closer to having a semi normal Tablet instead of people mocking it as a good paper weight.

Velocity Cruz T103

And lastly I finally got a new Power Supply for my computer due to a radiator leak which burned out my old one.  Well I have a new Radiator and a new power supply so I am back up to gaming.  I just got Deus Ex Human Revolutions.  If you Haven't Heard of the Deus Ex [God Like] series you are completely missing out.  CHECK IT OUT NOW AND BUY THE GAME.  Its completely epic and I love it to death.  Part 3 is more like a part 0 so you can understand the original story "better".  Personally I think it was just a desire to make a new CyberPunk game.

Here is the Cover of the PC Game

Also I got F.E.A.R. 3.  Another classic series. Though I do have to warn this is a horror game and isn't made for the feint of heart, I would have to say I am an addict.  Oh how I remember staying up til 3 in the morning playing the game just to get it over so I didn't have nightmares.  Now I am onto part three and I still get the chills when little Alma pops up here and there with your flashlight flickering out and Phantoms attacking you in the dark.

And the Cover to this game

As for that, that is my update in life.  I will get some more posted soon.  I think I am going to push myself to at least update you guys once a week instead of once every two months or so.

With a starry brush, paint the dusk venetian blue

Well I decided its time for people to get to know my desk mates for the first time.  I have been stationary in my job for almost two years now.  I started September 8th 2009, and I have no further plans as of now for change.  So with small purchases and stocking stuffers my desk has been spruced up enough for me to at least crack a smile every now and again from the little buddies hanging around.

Lets start from left to right.  On the left I have a photo gallerium of my dating days with my wife.  We haven't printed new pictures yet, but the nostalgia that these photos produce is still worth having them on my desk.   Eventually I would love to exchange that for an electronic picture frame so I could have more photos with me.

Next up we have the quote of the day office calendar.  I love that series.  My wife and I have watched they first six seasons 5 times through beginning to end.  It can always lead to people asking if its appropriate to have at my desk until they read a quote and walk away laughing.  Almost everyone here can appreciate the series.

Next on the list we have our desktop dart board complete with magnetic darts.  Its rather entertaining to have someone walk over and start trying to play a quick game with me between calls, until of course I start getting too many calls or when they realize they burned a good five minutes standing by my desk.

And then we have the dead Fred pen holder.  People steal my pens.  Whether they mean to or not it happens quite frequently.  So I brought in my own gel pen since it seems that no one here appreciates how much darker a gel pen writes.   This is also insurance for my pen since no one really likes it.  Secondly I have a special pen holder which would make someone take a conscious effort to remove my pen.  Plus its good stress relief when I get frustrated with people to stab the little Guy over and over with my pen.

Panning right on my L shaped desk I have my Lego calendar.   No I have no need for two calendars, but the fact that I was a Lego fiend as a child doesn't help much. I love building this every month and often times people have to swing by the cubicle just to see how it looks this month. Lastly we have the dismember me zombie plushie. He is a gag to have at the desk. People can't figure out why there are extra parts just lying around my speakers until I pull him out and show them the grotesque display of internals strewn across the desk. Rather entertaining if I do say so myself.

Biking to work

Well as you know I bike to work everyday for the most part.  So much money on gas has been saved.  Its been about two full months now and I feel so much better about my day when I roll in to work.  The bike to work month was rather difficult due to weather issues but June and July have been wonderful. 

For the most part I felt like updating for the first time in a long time.  Things are always fluctuating like normal.  We have our ups and Downs but I think that is just how our lives are supposed to be.

I want to Ride my Bicycle

Well today Drew said he wanted to get out and ride some bikes. So below I have posted up some group pictures of the complimentary beach house Cruisers. We also took pictures of local art and of Course the Yaquina Head lighthouse. That light house is the same that was featured in the Feature Film "The Ring". Of course they CG'd the buildings and barn found in the film, but the amazing lighthouse is still the same building. Secondly that is the largest Lighthouse found in Oregon. Mind you that is according to my knowledge which might be a bit flawed.

But the cruisers were some old style huffys with worn down seats. mine included a Tire that needed to be Trued (Aka it was bent like none other and you couldn't even figure out how it didn't manage to pop while I rode it) And Drew's bike had the most atrocious noise made by his fender. It was classic as we rolled down to the coffee shop and sipped some cocoas in the brisk 11 in the morning air in Oregon. Visiting the sites for about a half an hour we rolled on home. I would have to say that today was a rather eventful day.

Kite Flying

I figured I would get some Photos of our kite adventure posted to the blog so you at home or around the world can enjoy the little time we spent on the Beach. I picked up a newer type of Kite when we visited Oregon when I was a kid. My dad and I both kinda flew them and got into them. It was pretty hard to get started out, but I have the hang of it now. Mind you I am no professional but I can say I really enjoy flying stunt kites.

In these images you will see Aubrey, Debbie, Drew and Myself. All new additions to my family and I really have enjoyed the time we have spent

together this trip =].

If you want to see some of the photos in larger format I can upload them elsewhere so you can see some of the colors that we have going on. The beach is beautiful, and the skies have been so clear for us that today we even went swimming in the frozen Pacific Ocean. I would have to say though that the Pacific is my favorite if it came down to having a choice.

Anyway I am about to post another blog of our little bike ride this morning. So as I said earlier if

you want any more info, of photos just comment below and I will respond as swiftly as my phone will allow me to =] Godspeed and enjoy your wonderful week everyone!

Biking to work

So the month of May is National Bike to Work month. It focuses on saving gas, energy, and keeping our united states citizens healthy since we are a rich and fat people who get lazy because we are used to our perks that we have such as cars, and electronics. Don't get me wrong I love having these little benefits in life but excessive amounts of these little pleasures soon take over and we lose who we as humans are.

Any whom, I have almost biked to work 70% of this month, sadly a little speed bump of rain and snow made it hard to get 100%. But my goal is to get up to 90% by the end of the month. We will see how I do, since vacation is going to cut into my percentages. That actually makes it a bit easier also cause the weather forecast says it should be semi cold in Idaho while we are sitting in the already semi chilled Oregon Coast.

I will post up pics when I am done with the bike to work month. I got a participants t-shirt and a reflector that gets discounts to local businesses that are participating in the event. So if you have a bike and are willing to take a bit more out of your day, make sure your business is participating and you can get some free stuff also =]

ISU Destroys Dreams

I would have to say that I thought I was coping with this whole debt issue and the semester problems that were going on. But nope. I just realized that I can't afford to get my wife anything for the next 2 years. Idaho State University is by far the worst joke of a school that I have stepped foot in. Its upsetting that I now have an ensured future of working in a dead end call center job for the next 2 or more years depending on how much of my paychecks I can scrape out to give to that school.