My computer got a virus. This is scary enough normally, but when all of your coursework depends on you having a functioning computer it becomes positively frightening. I realized I forgot to disable Javascript after enabling it to watch a video on TheOnion.com. Worth it? Perhaps.
Vista started asking me if I was trying to access certain files. I told it to block this so I might have saved myself a larger headache. In a few moments I was bombarded with "virus scanners" Telling me I had Trojans that could only be removed with my credit card number. That's when I know I'm fucked. Then Firefox and iTunes mysteriously close and wouldn't reopen.
The removal process is arduous. I shut off my wireless card and look up virus info on the PS3. I wade through C:\Users\Steven\Appdata\local looking for and deleting suspicious files. I discover Internet Explorer still works and find a program that kills suspicious processes. It works like a charm and firefox and itunes return. AVG scan my whole computer and finds 6 Trojan files.
I still don't trust that it's clean so I may do a system restore to a few days ago. I'll see if anything persists tomorrow. I think "Antimalware Doctor" is gone but whatever installed it may still be lurking. Think I should restore?
In other news the job hunt is looking up. I've got 3 interviews for sure and I'm an alternate for another. The companies are AllianceBernstein, Rosetta and, the big one, Microsoft. Turns out the key to getting interviews is sending your resume to everything possible. I've sent out roughly 50 resumes if not more. 3.5/50, That's a batting average of 0.070. Hopefully that'll be enough to make the majors.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Magic Prerelease
Sorry to those who don't play Magic:tg but I just felt like writing about my recent tournament conquering. Today was the Prerelease for the new Magic set and I drew for first place. My grand prize? $75 store credit at get your game on, not too bad! So what made this time different to help me win?
1. I played with the right cards. Usually I open good cards and then don't play with them because I can't see how great they are in a limited format. This time I opened mediocre cards but I only played with the good ones.
2. More tournament experience. It's easy to get some nerves at these things, all the nerds start to make you jumpy towards the end. But I played a lot of successful tournaments over the summer and that experience really makes a difference in your play.
3. No Ian Winkelstern to beat me in the last round. I swear you've beaten me all but maybe one time.
Match by match analysis. You might want to skip this if you don't know magic stuff.
Match 1: He was a playing an infect deck so I was on the defensive often to make sure I didn't have a quick poisonous death. Eventually I started generating an infinite stream of cat blockers with "kha, rhemba Regent" (or something like that....) and I finished him with flyers.
Match: 2-0 total: 2-0
Match 2: Shit, I always lose to the guy I'm paired with, Kurtis something or other. He plays bomb ass card after bomb ass card and I die to planeswalkers. Fuck.
Match: 0-2 Total 2-2
Match 3: Game 1 I crush, Game 2 I'm mana screwed, Game 3 I crush.
Match: 2-0 total 4-3
Match 4: Oh snap I'm against Brendan. He's got a tricky deck that aims to win with by dealing ten poison counter in one swing. He gives me eight but I pull some fancy tricks like playing glimmer stag flickering his sunblast angel killing all his creatures. I pull the win but was at 8 poison counters and I would have lost next turn... close!
Match: 2-0 Total 6-3
Match 5: Last round, I'm currently placed 7th so a draw won't put me in the top 8. I recognize my opponent so that means he's good. He might be the guy that touched Caitlin's hand once to up his creepiness. Don't worry, he's got a girl friend now that he met while playing Arkham horror. And he traded for Arkham Horror with Magic cards. He tells me he traded a magma phoenix for Arkham horror and a girlfriend. Our matches are really good. Game 1 I take him down by hitting him with multiple 2 for 1's and establishing card advantage by making him take bad blocks and lose creatures. Game 2 he plays a planeswalker and wrecks with it. Fucking planeswalkers, I can't beat them! Game 3 He's land screwed. I publicly lament the loss of another possible good game but silently I cheer for a top 8 place. I also killed his venser in game 3 after he makes a mistake, take that you stupid card type.
Match 2-1 total 8-4 Games: 4-1
I'm in top 8 and so is Dan at this point with me at 2nd place (behind my 2nd round opponent) and Dan . The 8 of us discuss a split but one guy wants to play so we got to play.
Last match:
Tight play on both sides. he's playing a lot of good cards, but I am too. Game 1 I take him down with flyers hitting for 4 damage a turn. Game 2 I've got control but he's starting to take over. I'm out of creatures and he's still got 2 left. They're crappy but if I don't don't get some awesome they'll get there. Luckily he punted the game for me. He's at 2 life due to the beats I was laying down earlier. He attacks with his two creatures leaving no blockers, but I have no creatures. He had forgotten about my equipment though which gives the creature haste. I top deck that creature so hard and hit him for 3. Shit yeah.
Dan wins his game too in a close and long one. In top 4 we convince the other two guys to split. It's already 8 at this point and we're all wiped...We gladly take our 150 credit between the two of us. One of the other guys brags about how he would have won. Yeah whatever, next time I'll have to beat his face in.
P.S. Ian I did not face that short guy but he was there (Brian?) He got into top 8 but not top 4. I really wanted to beat him this time! But I placed higher than him so that'll have to do... for now.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Back in the Saddle
Back in school again, my last year. So what's happened so far?
1. Silly Freshmen
I hear freshies on the bus complaining about their busy schedules. "Oh no! I only have 10 minutes to get from astronomy in Dennison to Spanish 101!" They're especially funny on the bus "I'm so lost, I really hope this bus goes to North Campus I just got on the first one that came." Good thing they all go to North Campus. Someone in the diag asked me how to get to Mason Hall, Silly Freshmen.
2. Commuting is a bitch
I'm further out this year then ever before and to get to north campus I need to either Drive or use AATA buses. So far I've just driven to central campus then taken the bus from there. The total trip takes about 45 minutes. It wouldn't be so bad but I have a class from 10:30-12, then nothing until 4:30. I don't want to goof around north for 4.5 hours but the trip back is long it's almost not worth it. I'm going to try and figure out where I can park on North.
3. Major Design Class is scary
My teacher won't stop yelling at us. Ok, I understand this class is going to be long and difficult, please stop screaming at me. "EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH, YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT IS DUE MONDAY" Holy shit! I'll get it done!
4. It's lonely at the top
It's weird not being surrounded by a minimum of 4 other people at all times. I used to seek people out if our numbers would drop to 2 or 3. Now it's just me and Teddy. More personal time is niceish, I've never been so caught up on the internet, but I'm just kinda bored a lot of the time. Teddy is often out of the house so it's normally just me in a big ol' house.
5. Magicked out
Magic is pretty dull when you're playing by yourself. I'm going home this weekend for a tournament. I might have to go to more tournaments at Get Your Game On to get my fix otherwise my favorite game will get used up pretty fast.
Overall all is ok so far, just a bit boring. I might start walking or something just to get myself out of the house. I just need an excuse to do something, I suppose exercise is good enough.
1. Silly Freshmen
I hear freshies on the bus complaining about their busy schedules. "Oh no! I only have 10 minutes to get from astronomy in Dennison to Spanish 101!" They're especially funny on the bus "I'm so lost, I really hope this bus goes to North Campus I just got on the first one that came." Good thing they all go to North Campus. Someone in the diag asked me how to get to Mason Hall, Silly Freshmen.
2. Commuting is a bitch
I'm further out this year then ever before and to get to north campus I need to either Drive or use AATA buses. So far I've just driven to central campus then taken the bus from there. The total trip takes about 45 minutes. It wouldn't be so bad but I have a class from 10:30-12, then nothing until 4:30. I don't want to goof around north for 4.5 hours but the trip back is long it's almost not worth it. I'm going to try and figure out where I can park on North.
3. Major Design Class is scary
My teacher won't stop yelling at us. Ok, I understand this class is going to be long and difficult, please stop screaming at me. "EXPECTATIONS ARE HIGH, YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT IS DUE MONDAY" Holy shit! I'll get it done!
4. It's lonely at the top
It's weird not being surrounded by a minimum of 4 other people at all times. I used to seek people out if our numbers would drop to 2 or 3. Now it's just me and Teddy. More personal time is niceish, I've never been so caught up on the internet, but I'm just kinda bored a lot of the time. Teddy is often out of the house so it's normally just me in a big ol' house.
5. Magicked out
Magic is pretty dull when you're playing by yourself. I'm going home this weekend for a tournament. I might have to go to more tournaments at Get Your Game On to get my fix otherwise my favorite game will get used up pretty fast.
Overall all is ok so far, just a bit boring. I might start walking or something just to get myself out of the house. I just need an excuse to do something, I suppose exercise is good enough.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Hamcruise Vs. Alaskacruise
I know you've been waiting for it. The Hamcruise vs. Alaskacruise side by side comparison! Which cruise was truly better? Let's find out!
The Travel:
Ham:
1. car ride was short and the company was good.
2. Airport was fairly painless.
3. Stopover was annoying but there was no need to exit the plane.
Alaska:
1. Car ride was long and I played pokemon for 90% of it
2. Bags lost during checking process. My mother freaks out.
3. Flight changed to have a layover, effectively doubling airport time.
EDGE HAM
The Food
Ham:
1. Great waiter who brings extra food
2. Much deliciousness
3. Formal Night gets out of hand with wine ejaculation
Alaska:
1. Polite waiter appeases grandparents
2. Even tastier treats, I try something different each night
3. Formal Night stays firmly in hand
EDGE ALASKA
The Entertainment
Ham:
1. Comedian makes abundance of "take my wife" jokes. Audience is highly amused, Hammers not as pleased
2. Magician plays ball and cup games and card tricks. Amazes few
3. Lounge musicians play "My Way" twice a night. Old people have a ball
Alaska:
1. Comedian had appeared on Conan but is still quite unentertaining
2. Magician cuts women in half. Fails another trick halfway through.
3. I avoid watching the disco show and play pokemon instead.
EDGE HAM
The Sights:
Ham:
1. Beach is relaxing, fun and free, Locals yell at Sara.
2. Old British fort reveals interesting history.
3. Trip to private island canceled
Alaska
1. Jeuno Glacier and waterfall is breathtaking.
2. Wildlife everywhere. Deer, salmon, eagles and moose all spoted.
3. World's longest zipline is fucking awesome
EDGE ALASKA
The Booze
Ham:
1. Drunkenness occurs just about every night, inebriation enables dancing and assorted good times at circuit.
2. CC and coke is the drink of choice for Steven and Ian with Long islands in 2nd place.
3. Ian mistaken for 14 year old consistently
Alaska
1. Soberness occurs just about every night, it enables falling asleep at 11
2. CC and coke is the drink of choice for Steven and Brian with ice tea in 2nd place.
3. Grandparents determined to be old enough for their cranberry juice consistently.
EDGE HAM
The Room
Ham
1. Me and Drew, enough said. Also, window.
Alaska
1. Brian and I tell each other to shut up in our windowless box
EDGE HAM
Overall they're hard to compare because the main attraction was fairly different. I'd say Alaska had better times off the boat and Hamcruise had better times on it. They were both great trips though.
The Travel:
Ham:
1. car ride was short and the company was good.
2. Airport was fairly painless.
3. Stopover was annoying but there was no need to exit the plane.
Alaska:
1. Car ride was long and I played pokemon for 90% of it
2. Bags lost during checking process. My mother freaks out.
3. Flight changed to have a layover, effectively doubling airport time.
EDGE HAM
The Food
Ham:
1. Great waiter who brings extra food
2. Much deliciousness
3. Formal Night gets out of hand with wine ejaculation
Alaska:
1. Polite waiter appeases grandparents
2. Even tastier treats, I try something different each night
3. Formal Night stays firmly in hand
EDGE ALASKA
The Entertainment
Ham:
1. Comedian makes abundance of "take my wife" jokes. Audience is highly amused, Hammers not as pleased
2. Magician plays ball and cup games and card tricks. Amazes few
3. Lounge musicians play "My Way" twice a night. Old people have a ball
Alaska:
1. Comedian had appeared on Conan but is still quite unentertaining
2. Magician cuts women in half. Fails another trick halfway through.
3. I avoid watching the disco show and play pokemon instead.
EDGE HAM
The Sights:
Ham:
1. Beach is relaxing, fun and free, Locals yell at Sara.
2. Old British fort reveals interesting history.
3. Trip to private island canceled
Alaska
1. Jeuno Glacier and waterfall is breathtaking.
2. Wildlife everywhere. Deer, salmon, eagles and moose all spoted.
3. World's longest zipline is fucking awesome
EDGE ALASKA
The Booze
Ham:
1. Drunkenness occurs just about every night, inebriation enables dancing and assorted good times at circuit.
2. CC and coke is the drink of choice for Steven and Ian with Long islands in 2nd place.
3. Ian mistaken for 14 year old consistently
Alaska
1. Soberness occurs just about every night, it enables falling asleep at 11
2. CC and coke is the drink of choice for Steven and Brian with ice tea in 2nd place.
3. Grandparents determined to be old enough for their cranberry juice consistently.
EDGE HAM
The Room
Ham
1. Me and Drew, enough said. Also, window.
Alaska
1. Brian and I tell each other to shut up in our windowless box
EDGE HAM
Overall they're hard to compare because the main attraction was fairly different. I'd say Alaska had better times off the boat and Hamcruise had better times on it. They were both great trips though.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Religion Pt. 2
I always knew Em was religious. There were cross necklaces, bible passage fridge magnets and weekly youth groups that alerted me to this early in our relationship. I chose to ignore it and we didn't talk about it. After all, I'm not opposed to my partner having faith; it's just not for me.
So we moved forward and things got serious. There was love, and there was college. We chose to pursue a long distance relationship despite the warnings against. All went well for a while, until i fucked up. It wasn't one thing, just a series of dumb mistakes on my part. I was too swept up in college and I forgot how to be a boyfriend. She met someone else and we broke-up.
I remember 2008 as the worst year of my life, mostly the first semester of college. Our breakup happened over Xmas and continued until summer 2009. I skipped class just about every day, I played picross, I watched Raocow and I failed Calc 3. Then summer 2008 came and something happened, I got over her. I saw my friends about everyday that summer. We recorded music, we played magic, we made videos and we hung out.
I saw her again and the feelings rushed back. She was going to break-up with the other guy, I knew this was my chance to get my girl back. She had never really lost feelings for me either. Summer 2009 we got back together and things have been great since.
I'm not sure what sparked it but in July Emaley suddenly wanted to start going to church again. Perhaps it was the debate with my dad, or maybe it was to show me the light, or just more likely I think she felt she was losing her connection to god. She invited me to come with but I turned her down. She pressed me for more information, she knew I wasn't particularly religious but she said she thought I had a belief in god. Maybe I misled her to that conclusion or maybe she was lying to herself, I'm not sure. Either way we reached a turning point.
She decided she couldn't have children with me because I would be unable to truly raise them Christian. I agreed, even if I went to church just to go or sent them to Christian schools, I couldn't lie about my beliefs if they asked and I wouldn't want to do either of those things anyways. Now I don't know if I want kids yet, but to say there's no chance is disheartening.
I asked her if she could live with a nonchristian me and she replied through tears "I don't know." Is that good enough? Can a relationship be built with an "I don't know" lurking in the back? I don't know either.
I told her a couple days ago that I think we should spend some time apart and she agreed.
She's headed out for vacation this week, and I'm still in SJ. I think the week will give us both some time to reflect and think. I'm going to spend it with my friends as I did in 2008 and maybe even push to record a new drewcifers album or something (and how long has it been since the last bowling Monday?) The end of the week marks Jay's wedding camping trip too. I guess I'll see if Ridin' Solo is anything like how Jason Derulo says it is.
So we moved forward and things got serious. There was love, and there was college. We chose to pursue a long distance relationship despite the warnings against. All went well for a while, until i fucked up. It wasn't one thing, just a series of dumb mistakes on my part. I was too swept up in college and I forgot how to be a boyfriend. She met someone else and we broke-up.
I remember 2008 as the worst year of my life, mostly the first semester of college. Our breakup happened over Xmas and continued until summer 2009. I skipped class just about every day, I played picross, I watched Raocow and I failed Calc 3. Then summer 2008 came and something happened, I got over her. I saw my friends about everyday that summer. We recorded music, we played magic, we made videos and we hung out.
I saw her again and the feelings rushed back. She was going to break-up with the other guy, I knew this was my chance to get my girl back. She had never really lost feelings for me either. Summer 2009 we got back together and things have been great since.
I'm not sure what sparked it but in July Emaley suddenly wanted to start going to church again. Perhaps it was the debate with my dad, or maybe it was to show me the light, or just more likely I think she felt she was losing her connection to god. She invited me to come with but I turned her down. She pressed me for more information, she knew I wasn't particularly religious but she said she thought I had a belief in god. Maybe I misled her to that conclusion or maybe she was lying to herself, I'm not sure. Either way we reached a turning point.
She decided she couldn't have children with me because I would be unable to truly raise them Christian. I agreed, even if I went to church just to go or sent them to Christian schools, I couldn't lie about my beliefs if they asked and I wouldn't want to do either of those things anyways. Now I don't know if I want kids yet, but to say there's no chance is disheartening.
I asked her if she could live with a nonchristian me and she replied through tears "I don't know." Is that good enough? Can a relationship be built with an "I don't know" lurking in the back? I don't know either.
I told her a couple days ago that I think we should spend some time apart and she agreed.
She's headed out for vacation this week, and I'm still in SJ. I think the week will give us both some time to reflect and think. I'm going to spend it with my friends as I did in 2008 and maybe even push to record a new drewcifers album or something (and how long has it been since the last bowling Monday?) The end of the week marks Jay's wedding camping trip too. I guess I'll see if Ridin' Solo is anything like how Jason Derulo says it is.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Religion
Our family has always been secular. My mother was Catholic, but practiced less and less as her marriage furthered. My dad was also raised in home without God. So if I was to attribute my lack of faith to anybody it would be my grandparents.
My grandma was a practicing Catholic and grandfather was a card carrying Latter Day Saint. Then love happens. Catholicism said non-Catholics went to hell and Mormonism said the same of non-Mormons. So as my Grandparents say, "When both of our religions said the other was going to hell, it just didn't feel right." And thus religion faded from their lives.
I hate to blame my Atheism on my parentage but they do carry a certain influence. But of course there is more to my nonbelief. It's not a rejection, it's a simple lack of feeling. I have no reason to believe there is a God. I have never felt a presence or influence from an otherworldly being, so why would I believe there is one? Sometimes as a child I would make small prayers: for toys, for cookies, for more TV. But even when these prayers came true they didn't feel "answered." It was always either random chance or the kindness of others.
Of course in this reasoning I am alluding mainly to a Christian god, one that is supposed to intervene in daily lives and answer prayers. If there is an uncaring creator is there any we should worship such a being? I won't make any claims now about such a God since that is a much more open topic.
My girlfriend has always been deeply religious and for the moment we agree to disagree. But sometimes our circumstances are hard to ignore. During the last weekend her and my father debated:
"So you believe that all non-Christians are going to hell? That seems harsh"
"Well, the truth hurts."
Yes it certainly does.
My grandma was a practicing Catholic and grandfather was a card carrying Latter Day Saint. Then love happens. Catholicism said non-Catholics went to hell and Mormonism said the same of non-Mormons. So as my Grandparents say, "When both of our religions said the other was going to hell, it just didn't feel right." And thus religion faded from their lives.
I hate to blame my Atheism on my parentage but they do carry a certain influence. But of course there is more to my nonbelief. It's not a rejection, it's a simple lack of feeling. I have no reason to believe there is a God. I have never felt a presence or influence from an otherworldly being, so why would I believe there is one? Sometimes as a child I would make small prayers: for toys, for cookies, for more TV. But even when these prayers came true they didn't feel "answered." It was always either random chance or the kindness of others.
Of course in this reasoning I am alluding mainly to a Christian god, one that is supposed to intervene in daily lives and answer prayers. If there is an uncaring creator is there any we should worship such a being? I won't make any claims now about such a God since that is a much more open topic.
My girlfriend has always been deeply religious and for the moment we agree to disagree. But sometimes our circumstances are hard to ignore. During the last weekend her and my father debated:
"So you believe that all non-Christians are going to hell? That seems harsh"
"Well, the truth hurts."
Yes it certainly does.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
All My Friends
"All My Friends" is the title of my favorite LCD Soundsystem song. I've shared it with other people but most tend to dismiss it when they tire of the initial piano riff. However, the riff is a metaphor what the singer is talking about. I won't get too much into it now but this is the line in the song that always hits home for me:
"You spend the first five years trying to get with the plan, and the next five years trying to be with your friends again."
I talked to Caitlin online briefly today and she said "I've already sort of started mourning the end of ham, so this will be one last hurrah." Is it over already? My friends have been drifting a lot recently and not just temporarily. Cong is in Korea for a year, Pranav is in India for 2 years, Dano has moved to Cleveland, and Ian's in NC indefinitely. But that's just the people who are already gone. I foresee spouses and jobs in faraway lands for many of us.
I guess we're at the end of the first five years. Let's try to end up where we want to be.
"You spend the first five years trying to get with the plan, and the next five years trying to be with your friends again."
I talked to Caitlin online briefly today and she said "I've already sort of started mourning the end of ham, so this will be one last hurrah." Is it over already? My friends have been drifting a lot recently and not just temporarily. Cong is in Korea for a year, Pranav is in India for 2 years, Dano has moved to Cleveland, and Ian's in NC indefinitely. But that's just the people who are already gone. I foresee spouses and jobs in faraway lands for many of us.
I guess we're at the end of the first five years. Let's try to end up where we want to be.
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