another week, another storm

I'm happy to be attending Pensacola Junior College and I think I can get a good, worthwhile education there, but that school definitely has its moments of disorganization.  Last night was my first night of class for the fall semester.  My Monday class is called Electronics for Technology and for its grand beginning we learned that we don't yet have an instructor.  We didn't get a syllabus and, because of Labor Day, we won't be meeting again until September 8.  I wonder if we'll get a 2 week discount on the class.  Oh well.  I didn't really have money for the textbook yet, anyway.

There's a hurricane in the Caribbean.  Great.  Its name is Gustav and it's headed for Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Cuba.  Then it's supposed to move into the Gulf of Mexico.  Forecasters aren't sure what it's going to do from there but they are describing it as a major hurricane.  The Pensacola area just dodged Tropical Storm Fay.  Now we have to keep our eyes on Hurricane Gustav.  I hope it doesn't hit us but the problem with that line of thinking is that it means I indirectly hope the storm wreaks havoc and destruction on someone else.  It's going to do serious damage to someone, somewhere.  I just don't want it to be me.  I don't want it to hurt anyone, but if it comes down to you or me...  Keep track of Gustav and his incipient siblings at the National Hurricane Center.

Early mornings are no time for moral dilemmas.  Time to return to the comfort of Gizmodo and beyond.

survival of the luckiest

This is why you don't play around outside, especially with wind-driven devices, during tropical storms.  The story linked below is a story of stupidity and courage.  I wonder if the wind-thrashed man will end up making a bunch of money from it.

Wind Blows Kite Surfer Into Bldg.  

GI Joe Resolute

If this GI Joe cartoon ever gets made, myself and many others will be giddy and spend money on it.

GI Joe Resolute

Snake Eyes RULEZZZZZZ!!!

the nobility of vcr repair

I just finished up my "Intro to Computers in Technology" course.  The book we used was called Computers are Your Future.  Hell, they're already my present so that potentially ominous-sounding title strikes me as just plain silly...like something out of the 80s.  It was a good course, a nice return to the ridiculous halls of academia.

I'm currently debating between the various emphases.  The main areas I'm thinking about are consumer electronics and medical electronics.  It seems to make sense for a number of reasons to focus on medical equipment.  I know I don't want to focus on computers and/or networking equipment.  I don't want to be a computer repair guy, I know that much.  But beyond that I'm not sure yet.  I could end up repairing industrial equipment.  Who knows?  I think I'd rather do something at least somewhat noble, though...and that takes me back to medical equipment.  The decision doesn't have to be made yet, though.  Maybe "noble" means fixing your TV.  That'd be cool.

Big ups to Ben at Homebrew Junkie for his AWESOME new winemaking videos.

Verizon Wireless Buying Alltel for a Bazillion Dollars

By the end of the year, AT&T's reign as the largest wireless service provider in the United States will come to an end and Verizon will ascend to the throne: Verizon Wireless Agrees to Buy Alltel for $28.1 Billion.