Biggs' Zone

A Geek's Cogitations, Conjectures and other Cortical Experiences

To Those Crazy Enough To Change The World

“The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs

Apple, the computer industry and the world lost a great man this week.

I was not the biggest Apple fan. In fact, for a long time I despised Apple, but I admired Steve Jobs. The innovation and creativity he brought to the world and the industry has made him a legend. I’m a born again fan, much like a born again Christian but I don’t belong among the ranks of the true Apple fanboys.

Industry leaders, fans and professionals in the computer industry have been calling Steve Jobs a modern day Thomas Edison. Yes, I agree. I personally believe the influence his ideas and products has had on the world has truly had the same impact as the discoveries and inventions of other legends like Edison, Einstein and Marconi. His products have not only changed the way the world communicates and shares data but has also broken down borders and united the world.

I mourn his passing because I have had a recent personal experience of losing my wife’s uncle to neuroendocrine tumors. I hope, now that NET has taken the lives of two great men, that there will be an increased public awareness.

Rest In Peace, Steve Jobs. The world has lost a visionary, a mentor and a legend and you will be terribly missed!

The Countdown Has Begun

I am so excited I can hardly type. Bioware has finally announced a release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic!

December 20, 2011

The long awaited, most highly anticipated MMO of all time (yes, I went there) will be out before Christmas of this year! I have started the countdown on this website.

The pricing structure should look pretty familiar:

  • 1 Month Subscription: $14.99
  • 3 Month Subscription: $13.99 per month (one-time charge of $41.97)
  • 6 Month Subscription: $12.99 per month (one-time charge of $77.94)

Here is the link to the official announcement on the SWTOR website: http://www.swtor.com/news/news-article/20110924

The Fuzzy Wedding

This past weekend I attended the wedding of a very good friend of mine; a guy I have known for about 17 years. It was Fuzzy that got me into computers, Linux and programming. We have worked together, we have lived together, we created Mayhem and Chaos together (there is a double meaning there that only Fuzzy, if you are reading this, would get).

When I received the invitation to attend the wedding, the RSVP card was in the mail the next day, I really couldn’t wait. I had never met the girl that “grepped” Fuzzy, I had only spoken with her on the phone, but every person I asked said she is awesome. I am beside myself in regret because I didn’t get the opportunity to get to know her more as they were growing together, but I hope to get to know her more as they grow together in marriage. She must be pretty special to have captured the admiration of not only Fuzzy but also his family and friends, because they too are very special people.

As I am writing this they are on their honeymoon now (a honeymoon that is eerily similar to my own; you know what they say about great minds) so while they may not read this I still speak honest and true. I wish them both all the happiness life has to offer and, although I know we are 300 miles apart, I hope to be there if they ever need me.

Congrats and God Bless Erin and Adam!

Ahhhhhhhh, Football

Football season is back! I do like the summer, having the long days is nice. I can get a lot of work done outside, but the fall is the best season. It isn’t too hot, it isn’t cold yet, oh and there’s football!

We are at the end of week one of football (week 2 for college) and I just love this time of year. Win or lose, I don’t care. I just love to watch the excitement and thrill of 60 yard field goals, hail mary passes, quarterback sneaks, interceptions, punt/kick off returns for touchdowns. It truly is the best sport.

I’ve also noticed that the commercials during the football season are always better than any other sport. Obviously the advertising budgets are bigger for the fall then any other time of the year.

I was so worried that we wouldn’t have an NFL season this year because of the lockouts and contract disputes. I’m ecstatic that they got everything worked out and I hope they don’t scare us with any of that crap again!

I will now finish this post with the following …

GO BOILERS!
GO FINS!
GO SAINTS!
GO GIANTS! 

Biggs On: Windows 8

Microsoft officially unveiled the new Windows 8 operating system today and WTF??!! Its horrible! Words cannot describe how asinine Windows 8 is going to be! If you haven’t seen it, Engadget has a few blog posts about it. If you use or have seen the Windows Phone 7 OS, well, that is what Windows 8 is going to be. Yes, there is no desktop, you get nice big, bright tiles as your desktop. Apparently its designed to work on Microsoft tablets and on desktop PCs.

*scratches head* What Microsoft Tablets?!?!

Oh! You mean the one they plan on releasing in 2012 … after there have been 3 versions of the iPad and at least 2 versions of the Galaxy and Xoom! Yea, I’m sure that’s going to be successful!

I don’t understand how someone could possibly think that a touch style OS was going to be useful on a keyboard and mouse style PC! What primate thought this was a good idea?!? And why the hell did everyone else agree with him. There is some serious narcotics in the drinking water in Redmond!

The ONE thing Microsoft was good at (sort of) was the operating system. The Zune is/was garbage, Bing is garbage, MSN is/was garbage, Windows Phone is garbage; every market Microsoft has tried to get into, that isn’t operating system, has been nothing but garbage!

Someone, either a co-worker or a blog comment I read somewhere, said “Every even version of Windows has been crap” and I completely agree and Windows 8 is continuing that motif.

Get a fracking brain, then get a fracking clue Steve Balmer!!

No Gimmicks, Just Discipline

No Jenny Craig. No Weight Watchers. I didn’t count calories, I didn’t count carbs and I didn’t use any kind of diet pills or elixirs. So far I have nearly lost 15 pounds and all I have been doing is exercising regularly, making sure to push my body when it was necessary and managing my meal portions. I even still go to a pizza buffet once a week with co-workers.

I’m not going to say that all of those other gimmicks don’t work, everyone’s body chemistry is different; however if they don’t seem to be working for you then try plain old self discipline and routine.

Everyday, when I get home from work, I ride the recumbent bike using a preset program. The intensity of the program will depend on what I have eaten during the day and the pain scale of my knees. After the bike I will do some sit-ups, up to 70 now, with a 10 lb medicine ball. Every other day I will add some free weights into the routine. I have been doing it regularly long enough now that it has become a full routine for me.

My ultimate goal is to lose 40 pounds but I have set milestones for myself. I have already reached my first milestone. Two months ago I bought a new belt that was smaller then my normal belt. I have been wearing it now for two weeks. My new milestone is to fit into a new pair of shorts I bought while on vacation. I probably won’t be able to wear them this summer, but I should definitely fit in them by next summer.

Once I have lost the 40 pounds I will most likely push for another 10.

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