A Modern Mendel

Hey Everyone!

2014-01-03T03:43:37Z

Happy New Year! I still live, just less active on here... just ask me if you need contact info elsewhere... I might write more here later, but we'll see.

Take care. Be warm. Don't forget to breathe.

Other News!

2013-05-21T04:11:56Z

My brother is currently engaged. I'm going to be a Best Man. I'm so looking forward to this.

De rerum natura amore

2013-02-26T05:31:38Z

Sorry for the borrowed title... but I wanted to post some of my thoughts on love, none of which are particularly novel, but which I want to lay out nonetheless.

A question I wanted to ask a friend earlier... "Although, if I may, one question before you go to bed... what did you mean/envision when you said you hoped that our date would go well? That we'd end up together or that we'd end up learning whether we should be together?"

The thrust of the question is the dichotomy between a couple of things. Those things being those highlighted in 1 Corinthians 13:6, "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth."

The question is this - If love directs us to move away from one another... does that mean that we've lost love? I don't think so, but it feels so much like it and that's what I'm not sure I understand. Love isn't attachment, obviously, but it could entail attachment to some set of abstracts/concepts. The question is whether attachment to these abstracts (e.g. the description of love, such as agape in the Bible) is inherently a flawed sense of how things are (a la "The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao...") and if not, how we can right ourselves and our perspectives without a metaphorical rock.

Also, really enjoying the Magnetic Fields lately. So I'll embed a Youtube video, like a jerk.

In short: Same old song. Just a new artist.

Music that I've found...

2012-04-15T18:59:28Z

...and find absolutely awesome.

Also got my tax refund already. Gonna be doing a major computer equipment upgrade soon. Thinking about the following, although I'm going to give my family first crack in the form of b-day presents.

Some sort of mid-line video card:
HIS H685FN1GD Radeon HD 6850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

High speed RAM and in fairly large chunks:
CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model CMZ8GX3M1A1600C10

High speed storage to replace my aging Raptor (10k drive):
Mushkin Enhanced Chronos Deluxe MKNSSDCR60GB-DX 2.5" 60GB SATA III Synchronous MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

"Definitely pretty cool" processor:
Intel Core i5-2300 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz (3.1GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor

Reasonably ok motherboard (may wanna go with a better mobo, but I couldn't deny the price):
ASRock Z68 PRO3 GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Any advice/input is welcome. Although I've done some research already, via Tom's Hardware. The goal here is relatively modest... I wanna play Diablo III and I figure that should be enough to make it run pretty well. After that, well, I'll just have a good gaming system for catching up on older games, if I want and have the time.

Music is Amazing!

2011-04-16T06:43:41Z

Also, more awesome music of a different sort.

Good News Everybody!

2011-03-11T04:14:13Z

I'm on my third rotation and my mentor is much less... strict and overbearing. This has brought my mood up considerably even if it is at a slight cost in productivity. Oh well, c'est la vie.

I've now purchased a computer for $200. It's spec'd ok for the price: 2.2ghz Athlon 64 x2, 2gb RAM, 750gb HD and DVD-RW... w/ very few extra features beyond the minimum for its specs.

I've also purchased, recently, a 32" TV (720p, Vizio) for $250.

Total cost for the whole bedroom setup? $450! Or, $465 with shipping and a special delivery charge. Not bad all told!

Also, gotta give props to luagha for recommending woot and 1 sale a day! Thanks!

You mind if I have some of your tasty beverage to wash this down?

2011-02-21T03:02:16Z

St. Bernardus Abt 12 - "Ah, hit the spot." This is seriously, an amazing and truly unique beverage. It's just so complex and warm that it's mind-blowing. The malt is heavy, and very flavorful. Very sweet... and very very very warming. It tastes like Christmas! I want another! (But first I have to finish this one)

Grade: A

Yip yip Appa!

2011-01-18T07:05:13Z

Tecate is the B- of beers. I mean, seriously. It's ok, and it'll help get you drunk without being offensive... but there's something about its taste that's not really satisfying. I'm not really sure if I like it more than Corona or not, though, but I know I like Dos Equis better.

Yaaay!

2010-12-18T23:44:11Z

And with that... We CAN ask and we CAN tell! Another news citation (pinching myself).

I'm so excited I'm making a LJ post with link from my phone!

Threats and Warnings

2010-12-18T20:51:55Z

Just as a general note... if you threaten me or warn me with a loss of friendship (or really, anything similar) then don't be surprised if I go ahead and cut you out of my life peremptorily. Especially if your warning is over something I see as petty (i.e. something I don't care to honor) v. e.g., "I won't be your friend anymore if you hurt my grandma" which we could laugh about because it's something I'd only do if said grandma pulled a gun on me or something else equally improbable.

Threats from my social circle have been a theme in my life lately and it's a type of threat I simply will not tolerate. Maybe my opinion on this will change in the future, but I'm really not sure.

If you want something, just ask. I'm usually pretty cool about things when asked, and if it IS an ongoing problem that is beyond my means/desire to control then I'll let you know and we can cut it there. No acrimony is necessary, although it's certainly an option if you want some. I don't mind playing the villain or putting on my "OMG ANGRY!" demeanor as a last show for a former friend.

Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.

Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.

"Come on, girl" said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.

Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"

"I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?"

I like it, even if I can't always keep myself disconnected, as I'm not that enlightened yet. Also, I really like Tanzan's koans in general.

Post 1111!

2010-11-07T23:13:31Z

It's a palindrome!

Lets rock!

Learning from internet Memes...

2010-11-07T05:36:25Z

If I hadn't been looking up other "Yo Dawg" memes tonight I wouldn't know that Dr. Mandelbrot died...

Feeling Better

2010-10-13T03:47:22Z

I've been feeling better today! Gonna shower and eat... I should be all better soon.

I think it's really my socializing binging that gets me. It eats up vast swaths of time that I don't have to spare and people (including myself) just seem to expect me to have (more) time for them... when I don't. Oh well! Nobody leaning on me to be extra social for hours tonight, and had real, live, company last night so I'm feeling great!

I'm feeling at once thankful for the awesome people who stick with me even when I'm awful, and tired from a long day in the lab followed by a few hours of Aikido.

Now time to shower and eat! You folks take care of yourselves!

Writer's Block: Love stinks

2010-09-29T04:33:27Z

I saw this, and, 'cause I like talking about my love life so much, I couldn't resist the urge to say something...

Because my romantic life is killing me...

Thankfully, I like goth metal, so I have a good excuse to use it for a meme.

Lost a bunch of contact info...

2010-08-10T15:52:20Z

...since apparently the iPhone didn't properly back up my contacts when I upgraded to iPhone OS 4.0 (or for a while before that, for that matter) so now I'm re-binding phone numbers to names. Feel free to send me your info in a PM or something if you'd like!

Also, I have an apartment in Birmingham now! Yippie!

"111st Birthday Party!"

2010-07-24T16:55:25Z

Just a reminder that this party is going on next weekend!

The week following is my last at my current job.

Then, after that, I get to move to Alabama. I can hardly wait.

Busy lately...

2010-06-17T01:56:22Z

Who has time for such things?

Regardless, I just wanted to give props and note that I recently obtained a tablet PC.

It's awesome and outrayjus is selling them for only $300 a pop. A raging bargain and a nicer system than, say, an iPad, and a really well put together system to boot!

Also, zen koans.

OMG she's getting married!

2010-05-27T00:57:19Z

And you can help!

Check her entry here but the summary is this:

allykat is getting married.

She's holding an art sale with a number of her friends donating art.

To get art simply do one of the following:
(1) Donate!
(2) Donate art!
(3) Re-post to help her advertise! [See her original post for details]

Since ridayah is matching a number of larger donations, I'll match some of the smaller ones, namely, I'll match the best five donations <$25.

So there ya have it. Go on now, shoo, do your thing and remember what they say... "Every day is a good day."

P.S. I got my new bed today. Spiffeh, yes?

FREE WATERBED!

2010-05-11T04:59:24Z

Would you like a free waterbed? It's king-sized and has a pretty nice frame (with headboard with mirror, shelves, and lights). I'm also including waterbed sheets for the things, since, apparently, waterbed sheets are really expensive.

If you're interested I'll gladly post pictures, although I've already deflated the mattress (it's in good shape) so that would be harder to get well imaged.

Reply if interested.

[Locals] Beer Tasting!

2010-04-16T00:03:43Z

Beer tasting is on an indefinite hiatus until I can find new directions for it! I'm thinking of switching to wine tasting, but that pends a decision on my part.

In the interim, know that I still appreciate a fine beer and that I'm still available to hang out most Fridays!

[Locals] Beer Tasting!

2010-03-27T14:49:03Z

Next Friday's beer tasting will have a "Red Ale" theme. I picked up a couple of beers on the way home from my Saturday morning banking... Avery Redpoint Ale and Bell's Amber Ale.

I love symbolism and the ritual of my Friday beer tastings has given me a chance to let loose with it, within certain constraints.

[Locals] Beer Tasting!

2010-03-16T02:21:08Z

This week's beer theme is American made pale Belgian-Triple style ales. Beers are Stone Vertical Epic 08.08.08 and Avery's Salvation Ale.

Also, I'll have an Irish Lager for St. Patrick's Day.

No beer tasting this week!

2010-03-09T03:06:43Z

This week I'm going to my first graduate interview for this fall... I'll be in Alabama from Thursday through Saturday for the interview with a return home on Sunday.

In other news:

TV died

Got a new TV (46" Hitachi LCD)

The system (i.e. My computer) is still being upgraded... Trying to recover a nasty RAID failure. Looks like I'm going to be losing much of my data from being intoxicated and in a hurry to fix the computer quickly.

[Locals] Beer Tasting!

2010-03-03T03:41:05Z

Lets have some beer sooooo fruity it's a favorite of awesome classy gay folks everywhere.

Lambic! Specifically:
St. Louis Peche
Lindeman's Peach
Lindeman's Framboise

Computer Upgrades!

2010-02-27T18:43:11Z

I've gotten the following bits:

Athlon II x2 245 (2.9ghz dual core)
ATI Radeon HD 4650 (512mb)
2gb PC800 DDR2 (Extra RAM, yay!)

I'm getting the following bits since I realized I'd need a new motherboard for my new processor (Duh, thought it was AM2+ when I only had AM2 mobo):

ECS A780GM-A Ultra AM2+/AM3 AMD 780G HDMI Motherboard
COOLMAX NW-650B Power supply
Cyber Acoustics Platinum Series CA-3618 (2.1 cheapie speakers)

So, together, this should update my computer into being a reasonably nice new-ish gaming system. Maybe not "hot" but certainly enough.