Calling all Kindle owners! I don’t have a Kindle but I read about a new WordPress feature today called “Send to Kindle” that allegedly will save my posts to your Kindle for you to read later.
I’m really curious how well this works so if you own a Kindle and you are reading this, please click on the button and let me know if it works and how well you think it works.
Source: engadget article
Image from Fox News
“We Have A Pope!” As a Catholic I will remember March 13, 2013 as the day I witnessed a very blessed and time-honored tradition of the election of a new Pope. As I sat and watched the live feed of St. Peter’s Square the energy of the crowd gathered outside the balcony was palpable! I think what was most incredible, and perhaps indicated a sense of divinity, was that I felt connected with all those people in the square and all the Catholics around the world as we watched an important event in our history.
Pope Francis I was elected by Divine Will on the second day of conclave after the historical resignation of Pope Benedict. Pope Francis was the first pope to be elected from outside of Europe in 1300 years. He was a Cardinal from Argentina.
Another aspect about this election that I think is quite miraculous is how such an event brings so many people together including those that are not even Catholic. The live feed that I was watching also had a live twitter feed and several tweets were from people, who were not Catholic, expressing a sense of connection. It isn’t coincidence that I wasn’t the only who felt the connection.
I like our new pope. I’m excited to see what he will do for the church. I’m sure all the folks who like to target the Catholic Church will be finding anything to mock and criticize Pope Francis. I will pray for a successful and blessed papacy as he leads the Catholic Church into the future.
I have been working, post-college, as a programmer for going on 9 years now. I have been working for the same company as a programmer over 5 years. I have not earned a single Microsoft certification. Every year I try to set a goal to complete a certification and every year I never do it. I do not feel that not having a certification has had a negative affect on my career or my job. In fact I’m beginning to wonder if continuing to try to get certified is moot.
There has to come a point where years of experience provide a better measure then certifications. I cannot conjure up a scenario for a standard programming job where someone with just a certification and little to no experience will be a better selection then someone will several years of experience and no certifications. Perhaps if the job were entry level and the job wouldn’t really benefit someone with lots of experience, after all I remember what its like to be right out of college and trying to find a job with very little experience under my belt. Those entry level jobs are a godsend.
I have gotten as far as actually taking a certification exam but missed the cutoff by one question. I remember studying the material and thinking that it will be extremely unlikely that I will even use two-thirds of it. In fact, 5 years later I still have yet to even use half of the material covered and it was “fundamentals”. It’s kind of like reading material on how a combustion engine works when all you will really be doing is changing the tires.
Furthermore, it feels like its not worth completing a certification when it seems that every couple of years Microsoft changes what each certification means and what tests are required. Sometimes even the tests themselves are changed or retired. MCSE, MCSD, MCIT, MCPD, do all of these still exist? Are any of them still prudent? Speaking of Microsoft, they really aren’t the industry leader anymore so wouldn’t that also affect the value of their certifications? They are starting to become the old senile relative in the room who only thinks they are still relevant when really acknowledging their existence is more patronizing then recognition.
Perhaps certifications are good for those folks that don’t have a lot of experience and need to build up their credentials, but if you are a seasoned developer, I really don’t see the point in spending the money.
Cheers!
So I woke up to a pleasant surprise, I have lost enough weight that I am now the lowest I have been probably since I was in college!
The best part about my weight loss so far is that I didn’t use any of the latest weight loss gimmicks and fads you see on television and the Internet. I used good old fashioned perseverance, exercise and portion control. I still eat a lot of the same foods that I’ve always enjoyed, I’ve just learned to eat smaller portions. I still drink pop and coffee but I have thrown in 24-48 oz of water. I also feel that the techniques in self-discipline and pushing myself I learned in martial arts also played a role (Thanks Tom).
I’ve been exercising 3-4 days a week for 25-30 minutes working upper and lower body. I mean, basically I’m ensuring that I’m burning more calories then I consume. Granted I may have had to give up a couple of foods that I like, but those have mostly been foods that I don’t have very often anyway. For example, I will probably never order a Baconater from Wendy’s again but I did eat at LaRosa’s for dinner the other night and I still dropped a pound the next day.
Everybody’s body chemistry is different so this method may not work for others so I’m not suggesting that those other programs are bogus, just not for me. It’s easier for me to follow a regimen that I’ve designed instead of a regimen dictated by someone else. I think my advice for anyone that is trying to lose weight, if programs like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig doesn’t work (or its too pricey) then just try a more rational approach. Count your calories, try to walk more (I bought a Fitbit) and find exercises that you enjoy doing. Finally, don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results right away. Your body needs time to adjust to the new way its burning fat and building muscle.
Cheers!
I couldn’t decide if I wanted to post this under the SWTOR category or a Soapbox. I ultimately decided on a Soapbox because I’m going to focus more on that folks are making a big deal out of it. I mean, this game mechanic even made it to main stream news.
First I am going to give a quick back story. In an upcoming expansion for the MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic a new planet, called Makeb, will become available to extend character storylines and questing to reach the new level cap. Apparently the NPCs on the new planet will allow same sex flirtation. In my opinion, and keep in mind I’m pretty conservative, who frakking cares! In fact I want some lesbian flirtation action so it’s only fair to allow the males to do the same thing.
And in all fairness, both sides of this conflict are going to drive me crazy. Those that are adamantly opposed to it need to learn that SWTOR is just a game so there’s no reason for any kind of outrage over a bunch of pixels “flirting” with another bunch of pixels. Threatening Bioware that allowing same-sex romance will ruin the game and force you to leave makes you intolerant. Now, as far as the LGBT community is concerned, you don’t need to flaunt it. Yes, they know you want to be recognized as normal human beings just like everyone else but constantly throwing it in their face only pisses them off and makes you insufferable.
Bioware is simply trying to appeal to a specific demographic and their decision to do so isn’t necessarily “selling out”. This game mechanic should not be viewed as a “win” for the gay community or a “loss” for Christianity (I picked Christianity assuming that religion is the basis for their defense). The only way to win in this situation is for both sides to stop being so intolerant of the personal beliefs and choices of the other side. Acceptance is the only true winning scenario.
Less then a month ago all we talked about was the illusion of the Mayan Apocalypse. Life is too short to get all worked up about such insignificant minutia. I’m an avid gamer, and I’m the one that needs to get a life??
/facepalm!
“Should Old Acquaintance Be Forgot, and Never Thought Upon!”
Well, I seem to be having a string of bad luck with the years ending badly. 2010 and 2011 ended on extremely depressing notes and 2012 decided to end while I was still battling a tremendous head cold. The cold, unfortunately, had me asleep before 11 so I did not participate in any countdown festivities. I hope Ryan Seacrest made Dick Clark proud.
Reflecting back, 2012 wasn’t a bad year, obviously it had its peaks and valleys. I think, overall, the peaks outnumbered the valleys. I hope for a great 2013, though it isn’t starting out great as my head cold has mutated into a wretched cough.
I hope everyone reading this had a wonderful New Years celebration and I wish you and your families an extraordinary and prosperous 2013. I hope you are recovering from your hangovers well and lets look forward to some NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl in a couple weeks.
/Cheers!
Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén