Skippy

    It's been a while since I've updated Vociferor. I never really finished my last round of updates, but I don't especially like the direction it's heading in. I've got to do some work on it. Change something around. Something.

    It's been a while since I've written anything here either. I guess there's just not much going on aside from school, climbing, and church. But here goes.

    I'm heading up to Utah this weekend. See some old friends and all. Should be a hoot. I'm leaving Friday, and coming back on Monday before school, so we'll have a couple of days.

    I've also started as a volunteer membership clerk at church. It amounts to maintaining records, and making a directory. It sounds a little odd, but I was all kinds of excited to be offered this position. It's not like it pays or anything, it's just nice to be able to help, and this is something I can do pretty easily.

    I've been reconsidering which technical certifications I am going to go for here. I already have my CCNA, and am taking a class in A+. The class is mostly review, and polishing some things up, but I hear the software portion will be covering some slightly more unknown information. There is also a class I'm taking in Solaris. It's basically a unix class. I can apparently get a certification there too. Lately I've been wondering about a Microsoft Windows Server kind of thing, to round stuff out, or a Networking+, since I've already got most of that down with Cisco. I may just have to see where this all goes.

    Also, theres some dweeb I keep seeing all too often at school. Not a friend or anything, just someone who seems to have more time than personal skills, and is always hanging around. He tends to pop in from time to time, jump into your conversation, and inject his own brand of stupidity. I don't have any major problems with someone who has an opinion I don't share, but this guys arrogance is just a bit too much to stomach.
    I was sitting there discussing religion, and evolution with someone, and the dweep, who shall henceforth be called Skippy, stopped by with a few tidbits of his own. First he interupted us, to guess what we were talking about, and after three wrong guesses we just told him. Then he told us that monotheism is the peak of religion, and that no scientific advancements have ever been made by anyone who is not monotheistic.
    He explained how the first religions were basically just people worshipping nature, followed by people worshipping forces, gods, behind nature, followed again by people worshipping one all powerful god. That much I can kind of see, but I think he's over simplifying. The big problem is his statement that only a monotheistic religion can make any advances. Is he totally unaware of the ancient Greek civilization, or for that matter, anything more current in Japan or India.
    He didn't stop. He went on after some argument to tell us that Christianity is such a great religion because it allows for more variance among its sects than any other religion. He said you can find Christians who are very pious and devout, and Christians who are very laid back. I pointed out that Christianity, in it's beginning, was a radical Jewish sect, so therefore Judaism is more encompassing than Christianity could ever be. Besides, you can find the variance he was talking about in pretty much any religion. If you like Christianity that's fine, but it's not the only religion.

    That was my first encounter with him. Another day, as he was walking by, Skippy turned around and said, "Mastery of everything, that is what I seek," which would have been bad enough, but he went on with, "That is why I am slowly driving myself insane." Get a freakin' grip man. WTF! You're not insane man, you're just a moron. And mastery of everything? Put down the rpg for a minute and breathe man.

    Then today, we're all watching TV, and he drops by for a little visit to let us know just what he thinks about the show we're watching. There's a guy who needs a web page so he can go there with his opinions, and we can all ignore him properly. As is, Skippy must die.

MRE

I don't say this often enough, but I love MREs. Considering the Western Beans, and the Mexican Style Rice have been sitting in a box on my floor for quite some time, been put in storage for a while longer, left in a backpack for a while, and not even warmed up, they taste pretty good. It's not like I'm even starving or anything. Just hungry, and my MREs are in high need of rotation.

In case you couldn't tell, I'm kind of big on emergency prep. I suggest you get some yourself. You can get them at the Saratoga Trading Company. Looks like they have some nice packages set up. You can get a box of 12 complete meals with entrees, sides, beverages, and crap for $64.99. That should last a wee bit.

I'm not saying they're any better than a fine dining experience at your favorite restaurant, but they pretty much beat the holy ever-loving crap out of, say, Lunchables. Especially after a few years. I'm not even sure I'd eat the Lunchables. Might harvest me some mold off of them though. That's good eatin'.

Lovefool

I heard a song a while ago driving home, liked it, had no idea who it was. It had a line that said, "I'm losing my favorite game" so I looked it up using that. Turns out The Cardigans are more gifted than I knew. Awesome group. I thought Lovefool was good, but Favorite Game? I'm going to have to look into some more of this stuff.

I was driving home from some church activity. They had some dating game setup. I won me two dates. Great people. Not really sure when the last time I had a date was. Kind of busy with school and all I guess. Something. Not that I'm complaining, I can guarantee things are a whole lot less complicated this way. I mean, now I have to figure out when and how I'm going to date these two. Some guys just get dumped on I guess.

Back to School

I know I've already posted twice this month, and once today, and really, what blogger worth their own crap posts more than once a month, but there is stuff happening, and this really didn't belong with my other post. School starts up today. I've been looking forward to this. After this semester I'll just be a couple of classes away from an associates degree in wide area networking. I've already got my CCNA, and a certificate from the college in networking, and after this semester I should be able to certify for A+ as well. Life is good for the moment. Few things could make it better, maybe money, love, or power, but who doesn't always want those.

Maybe I should get books some time soon.

War in the Middle East

We went over some interesting stuff in church yesterday. Talking about war and all. There were a couple of people there who have relatives in the war in the middle east right now, and there was some interesting discussion, but the thing that stuck out in my mind the most was out of the lesson, a quote from David O. McKay, former president of the church, just after the bombing of pearl harbor.

There are, however, two conditions which may justify a truly Christian man to enter mind you, I say enter, not begin-a war: 1) An attempt to dominate and to deprive another of his free agency, and, 2) Loyalty to his country. Possibly there is a third, viz., Defense of a weak nation that is being unjustly crushed by a strong, ruthless one.

I don't know why, but that just seemed to hit home. Really I can't think of any other reason to enter a war than these. The defense of freedom, and I say freedom not democracy, is really the greatest reason to fight. I don't consider myself a pacifist, but physical violence should really be restricted to uses like this, or to defend oneself, one's loved ones or the laws of one's nation.

There are people in and out of our country who protest America's involvement in the middle east, and I don't really believe that Iraq had a major roll in the bombing of 9/11, or that there were necessarily weapons of mass destruction, but Saddam Hussein is an evil man. He rules his country like a wife beater rules his family, and neither of these things should be allowed to exist if there is any power in the world capable of stopping them. If that's America, and regardless of individuals within, or countries without who are selfishly worried about their own image, I'm just glad someone is doing something.

Vociferor

I haven't made a post in August yet. I must be slipping. Or slipped. Currently making my website work. it looks nice, but has no content. I have content, just not in it.
http://lord-greystoke.tripod.com/vociferor/index.html
I should have stuff in there soon. It's been a hoot.

Schools starting up again this month. Looking forward to that. I have computer hardware and operating system classes this semester. Those may bore many people, but I'm about to piss myself. It should be fun. Tuition however is not fun to anyone. I now have no money, and since I have no job. It's going to take a minute to save up some money.

I shouldn't say I'm broke. Truth is I have -895 Dollars. Far from broke. 895 dollars away from broke, just in the wrong direction.

Working on the whole job thing. Turned in a few applications, had an interview. Be hearing back about it on Friday (in two days). I have a good feeling about it. I also have a twisted gut about it. Also, I'm not totally sure it will be all that great, but having no money certainly isn't a day at the beach. Not that I like the beach a whole lot. The sand and waves are cool, but I'm just not a big sunsine person.

Church doesn't suck as much as I was thinking. It's a smaller group than I am used to, so I'm sure they will be looking for some more volunteering, but I'll be sure to let them know when I don't want to play anymore. Besides, the small group thing isn't too bad. Less names to learn. Sort of a closer group in theory, but I've never been much for closeness.

Speaking of closeness, I think dating has got to be about the most akward thing anyone has ever thought up. It makes one want to vomit, or not vomit. It's not unpleasant, just nerve racking, sometimes painful, and frequently unsettling. There have to be some theories behind it all, but they are about as user friendly as calculus. No sense whining about it anymore though. That should pretty much do it.

Church stuff

Anyone who knows me knows I am a fairly religious person.  I recently (like within the past month or two) started attending a different church (just a different group of people, same beliefs and stuff).  This particular group was supposed to be a good place to socialize with some of my peers.  people about my age, people I am not related to.  Also, it was a graceful way to get out of teaching the nine year old class I had (I like them, but enough is enough).  anyway I'm not all that great at the whole getting to know people but I was doing all right.  Starting to get used to faces and even learn a few names.  In short I was really enjoying it.  Today, they decided to split up our group into like 3 or 4 more locally centered groups.  I suppose I support their decision.  It was logical, rational, and probably ultimately good, but it sucks. 

I'll try to work on being more optimistic.  By next week I may love it. 

On a vaguely different line, we had a big church superactivity last weekend.  a camping trip at the sand dunes national monument (in Colorado).  cool place.  freakin 5 hour drive from north Denver.  It was good to hang out with everyone, talk.  But the real reason we went all the way down there was to see this big celebration that they were having in Manassa.  Manassa is a little Mormon town.  Emphases on little.  being the 24th of July (big as the 4th of July in Utah), they were having a bit of a party with a parade, carnival, barbecue, rodeo, and demolition derby.  Sounded awesome.  in reality, it was a bit disappointing.  I did ride a mechanical bull though.  Stayed on pretty well.  Beat my brother anyway.  I also saw an alligator farm.  I'm not sure if the alligators or the swampfolk running the thing were the stranger sight.  the alligators were cool though.  I held one.  The bigger alligators growled at us, and the ostriches kind of opened their mouths and hissed.  spit a little too.  I'm not really sure why there were ostriches.  also there was a chicken.  I really don't know what was up with that.  There's not much between you and the alligators though.  Just a chain link fence.  It's a good thing alligators are so lazy. 

On the way back up here, we stopped at Garden of the Gods.  If you're ever around Colorado Springs, I would recommend this one.  They have some nice trails to walk on with the coolest freakin rocks.  Apparently there is climbing allowed on some of them, but I didn't catch which ones it was allowed on. 

That's about it for now.  I'll try to get back sooner, but really.  It could be a couple months. 

Rock climbing

Haven't posted in a little while, so...

Of to a great start really with this whole blog thing. Normally you at least have the motivation in the beginning. I've been working on my site, but there is still nothing there yet. Just trying to write/collect some good content. Make up some graphics, spiff things up a bit. I have been rock climbing a lot lately. Here's the new happiest place on earth ROCK'n & JAM'n. I recently graduated myself from 5.7 to 5.8. If you are not familiar with rock climbing rating systems, 5.anything refers to a freeclimbing. That's anything that can be climbed without ropes or any special equipment (shoes and chalk excepted). 6.anything requires equipment and 4.anything from what I understand is not really climbing. A beginner can probably climb up to 5.6 or 5.7 no problem, but that's all wuss stuff now. My brother can do the 5.9s. Sort of pisses me off really, but he has been going all summer, so I guess he's earned that. Seems that most of the people there climb in the 5.10-5.12 range. Makes you feel pathetic to see some little kid climb something that you cant even hang on, but if I weighed 80 pounds I'd probably get up the wall a little easier too.

Starting off here

I've tried a few times to put together some kind of blog. I like reading them, and it looked fun to try to throw one together. Usually I just edited all of the HTML myself in notepad, so it's understandable that I never really lasted all that long with one of these. This should be a little easier, so maybe I'll stay with it a while longer. I'll put up som crap about me later, and scrape up some links to good sites, but for today this is likely all I'll get put up. And a link to my site, although it's not updated much more than any blog I've tried.

lord-greystoke.tripod