What really IS up with kids these days?

Well, bad children are a product of their bad parents (intentional or not), this is nothing new. What I personally see is an issue with current generation parents being really flat-out awful. We’ve become a society of I want this now and blame everyone else for everything, and their kids are a product of this society. There are plenty of kids without this problem obviously, but when a teacher is in fact afraid of teaching (get fired, don’t get proper ‘results’, too much focus on standardized testing) or simply tells the parents their kid has ADD/ADHD because they don’t want to take the time to teach them, it’s a problem.

Also, discipline. Parents are afraid of disciplining their children for fear of any sort or reciprocation, be it getting in trouble with the law or hurting their kids little feelings. In addition, parents have just gotten completely lazy and expect everyone but them to parent their kids—teachers, TV, the internet, ANYTHING TO KEEP THE KIDS BUSY. I’m going to also add that a rising lack of common sense in parents is affecting things as well, but maybe that’s not something new. Parents now commonly don’t seem to want to give up their “youth” in order to have their child grow up properly. Obviously you can have a life, but you can’t keep acting like a kid when you have a kid. Maybe the last bit is just more of a personal opinion of mine.

Everyone believes their children is and always should be unique, when the fact is no one strives to be any better when they think they’re good enough.

I figure I’ll use them again for Valentine’s Day. Week in advance should be enough, which it was. Crap, it’s on a Saturday this year. They deliver on Saturday! Perfect. They look great (durrr hurr) and the cost is okay! Well, wait, after shipping… well whatever, it’s Valentine’s Day and I can’t hide them anywhere so Saturday delivery it is. Saturday rolls around and I play my little game of secrecy so she may have doubted I was going to get her flowers (we had late dinner plans). I expected an early afternoon delivery. Boy, I guess I just expected too much. What happens when you want to surprise your girlfriend with flowers but are stuck waiting for delivery? Nothing. That’s right, you sit at home waiting because you don’t want to ruin the surprise. You’re stuck. At. Home. I was afraid to even take a walk to check the mail because surely they’d be delivered as soon as we stepped out! I know it’s not a big deal, but I had a nice thing going in my head.

8:45PM. You guessed it—that’s what time they delivered. Who? FedEx. Was it in a box? Yes! You know that Superbowl commercial where the chick gets flowers in a box and it’s all funny to get flowers delivered in a box? That was me! I was beyond myself. Fortunately the girlfriend was upstairs getting ready to go out to our late dinner (yes, 8:45PM) so I had a moment to open the BOX up and set the flowers on the table. Except they weren’t flowers. They were stems. Ugly ass stems. With instructions. I paid a good bit extra for a Saturday delivery to get a late delivery full of unbloomed flowers that I had to arrange myself. Obviously I didn’t have time to make it look nice so it was just a red vase (that was fairly nice I admit!), some stems, a cute teddy bear, and some stems. Did I mention they were unarranged stems?

Fortunately Ashton was happy with them and she was understanding of course, but this doesn’t change the fact that this is not the right way to receive flowers. After telling my friends what happened, I heard the same story from them and a “I coulda told you that” warning about not using ProFlowers. Oh well. Here’s an official notice to everyone. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE they had very understanding customer service and refunded me what I requested. If you’re just looking to buy and arrange your own flowers, ProFlowers is for you, otherwise, don’t be fooled by their marketing and their web site—they are NOT the right choice for a special delivery.

Okay. Wow. Where do I start? I guess about a year ago, when I first told myself it’s time to start reading, I was scouring my favorite forums for off-topic ‘favorite book’ threads. Granted, I stick to tech/geek related forums, however, each forum’s book threads had the same thing in common, a single series: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. I really had no clue what it was about, and had only a few books in my arsenal that I’d read—Ender’s Game, The Ruins, Jurassic Park, and Foundation—a little bit of everything. I was ready for anything. When I first opened A Game of Thrones it was a little difficult to get through the prologue and the first few chapters. It was fairly overwhelming for a book amateur like myself. GRRM continually spilled out one new character after another, and with him, often times it’s hard to determine whether this character would be really important later down the road. Regardless, they kept coming, as did the locations, as did the the different levels of power, the kingdoms, and so on…

I decided to make a single post about this series because it’s truly an ongoing story, and the encyclopedia that is A song of Ice and Fire could be written as a single book (and sometimes meant to be). To try to write about each single book would be difficult, as the story goes on as one and you are just completely submerged in this world that GRRM created. Westeros, the Seven Kingdoms, the Free Cities, Valyria, the Wildlings, the Starks, the Lannisters, the Targaryens, the Baratheons, the First Men, the Andals. The fact is, I could fill up a dozen paragraphs just naming the cities, cultures, families and characters from this epic series. Fortunately GRRM is kind enough to place a “world map” at the start of each book and the family lineage/trees at the end of them as well. This helps should you get a bit too overwhelmed.

It’s pretty typical to tell someone how amazing a book is, and God knows I’ve done it before, but so many people can’t be wrong. When you’re reading a book what are you looking for? Because I can tell you right now that this series has got it. Romance? Check. Forbidden love? Check. War? Check. Suspense? Check. Politics? Kings and Queens? Scheming and drama? Magic? Knights and honor? Check check check double and triple check. Honestly, the only thing lacking is the space ships and aliens, and I’m fine with that. People you just love, people you absolutely loath, and people you really hate to love. Heroes and villains (and not being sure who is which!). It’s got it all. Growing up I didn’t know the type of things I would really like. Girls? Sure—money, cars, whatever. I’m a typical guy. Yeah, I got into computers, I got into anime, I got into video games. What’s that mean? Well, absolutely nothing. You don’t have to be a science fiction or fantasy nerd to enjoy this work of art, truly.

Are you sick of the praise yet? Okay, okay. So I do have a bit of a criticism. Currently the series stops at A Feast for Crows, yet GRRM has scheduled 3 more books forthcoming—A Dance with Dragons, The Winds of Winter, and A Dream of Spring. A lot of amazing stuff happens in the first 3 books. The plan GRRM had was for the 4th book to be A Dance with Dragons set 5 years after the events in the first 3. The book became so large, finding it “difficult” to manage the flashbacks, and on top of that he wasn’t close to finished at roughly 1500 pages. He had to split it into two stories, giving us A Feast for Crows. Basically we’re getting half a book told from the PoV of half the characters we want to read about, so we’re left a bit hanging (and by bit I mean very much so). It’s a tough way to end your read with such an amazing story. Some people don’t like the PoVs in AFfC but I enjoyed it. The really unfortunate thing is the last update GRRM made on his web site was in January of 2008 regarding the next book (which was slated for 2006) and as you can see it’s still not published. Fans are DYING for more, _I_ am DYING for more!

I’ll close this long post with some minor things. This series actually has a pretty major following. You can find a lot of information from the online Wiki, including links to timelines, FAQs, and a forum that’s a great read once you finish (and please, ONLY once you finish). GRRM puts a lot of sublties, foreshadowing, and prophecizing in his books, so keep that in mind should you take this series up. After reading the forums I realized I missed a ton of wonderfully interesting things and I’m really, really tempted to reread the series when the next book comes out, something I would have never imagined doing before.

In case you can’t tell, I HIGHLY recommend this series. Get them. All. Now. Here’s some Amazon.com links: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, and A Feast for Crows. Keep your eyes out for A Dance with Dragons as well.

Moving right along to the security checkpoint — I toss my keys, belt, shoes in a bucket and put my carry-on through the conveyor and walk through the metal detector. Guy has this super serious look, “What’s that bulge in your pocket??” “It’s my sunglasses.” “Put them in a bucket.” “Okay, but they’re plastic..” (obviously) “Put them in the bucket.” I comply since I don’t want to be gunned down by some fool who has a superiority complex. I decide to toss my wallet in the bucket with my glasses since I don’t need another comment about a bulge in my pants (giggity). So I grab my stuff and get a lecture afterwords on how I should have put my wallet in my bag and not left it sitting out there, whatever, just let me get to my damn gate already.

Keep in mind my keys and wallet were the only thing in a bucket/container. The next morning I wake up and think, weird, I don’t remember taking my pocket-knife off my keychain. Crap! Lo and behold I see my serrated blade pocket-knife on my keys. Okay, all the fuss about seeing if I can keep my Mach3 in my carry-on bag, all the fuss about buying bottles for stupid liquids, all the fuss at security over nonsense. And a knife goes through unquestioned even though it was practically by itself. A knife more dangerous than what they used on 9/11. I guess as long as I can’t kill more than one person in one shot it’s not important enough. You know, between the administration and this stupid government we have in power, the fear mongering, taking our rights and freedoms for false security. I’m really almost not surprised. Almost. All I can do is sigh… TSA: go fuck yourselves. You’re a god damn joke.

Let’s start with initial sign-up (this is for HydroBarn). The process went smooth, however, their internal billing system is shoddy. It runs off of a “billing” user account on their server and it doesn’t tie in to your original user account. Did I mention it’s slow as balls? Whatever. Up-time has been acceptable. So I need an SSL certificate for my shopping cart. I need a static IP. Additional $2 a month? Okay, I guess. I purchase an SSL certificate from GoDaddy and I’m greeted with a link to SSL configuration on their web page by a live chat support rep, no problem. Generate CSR, get my certificate. “Now what Mr. HostGator support?” Yet another link to their site. They want to charge $10 to install the certificate. What? WHY?!

Fine. One time charge to install it. First month billing rolls by and I keep getting these blank e-mails from billing@hostgator.com. No subject. No message. I open a ticket “What’s going on?” I’m told it does this every month. They don’t know how to fix it. Real professional, guys. Whatever, so life goes on and I’m paying $16.95 for a basic hosting package with private SSL support. Bit pricey, but I deal.

One year rolls around, my SSL certificate is expiring. I have to rekey and resubmit these stupid forms. I’m told they’re going to charge me $10 to update the certificate. WHAT?! Here’s some chat transcript from two different online CSRs:

danny: so i have to pay $10 bucks a year for you to update your Apache file?
Alan L.: It’s a little more complicated than updating apache

Yeah. Right. Whatever, I have to update it so I fill out the form. But this time I ask another rep.

Gary A.: and since this is to update the SSL, we probably won’t, which might be why they didn’t include it

Funny thing is, the moment I clicked to submit the request on their web page I get this:

Gary A.: The charge is still there, because this is a new SSL
Gary A.: even though you’re just updating it, it’s a complete new SSL

These retards have no idea what they’re doing. Oh, and I actually decided to check their hosting plans and saw that my plan has gone down to $7.95 a month. I ask the rep to change it for me.

Gary A.: https://secure.hostgator.com/downgrade.php
danny: why the hell do you guys charge $10 for everything
danny: jesus
danny: that’s stupid that i have to pay to change my plan
danny: i know you’re just a support rep but what the fuck is that about?
Gary A.: It takes admin time, which means it costs us money to do, which means we don’t want to be losing money, which is why we charge.
danny: do you guys not have in-house admins?
Gary A.: We do, but we still have to pay them.
Gary A.:

Wow. Another stupid web page, another stupid $10 charge. You have in-house techs on salary and you’re charging your customers for 3 mouse clicks. Fuck you and fuck your piece of shit company. A company apparently that’s so distraught and spent all their money on marketing that they have to screw their customers on basic needs like installing an SSL certificate and DOWNGRADING YOUR HOSTING PLAN. Scum. I responded to the SSL update ticket immediately telling them not to install it. They sent an e-mail saying the ticket’s been “resolved” with no other information. Think they’re going to try to scam me? Won’t shock me. Found many horror stories about them and their employees after the fact—wish I found those earlier.

I submit a cancellation through yet another form—I’m surprised they didn’t ask for $10 to cancel. I decided to go with HostDime.com because I know they have at least a bit of professional management, and hey guess what, they don’t charge me $10 every time they move their mouse. As of now, HostGator still hasn’t responded to my cancellation request, seeing as how my cancellation was the same day as my next billing cycle, mark my words, you’re going to get some happy charge backs from AMEX if you dare charge me.

In closing, STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM HOSTGATOR.COM. Thanks and have a nice day.

Knowing what to have prepared when you move is critical. If you’re going to be driving to your new destination you want to do your best to avoid any issues along the way—no one wants to get screwed while they’re far away from home. Be sure your car is prepared for a long journey, be sure you have everything you need on you in case you get pulled over—cops don’t seem to like people out of state causing them problems. On that note, it’s always a good idea to keep certain things on you at all times, and make sure you don’t carry other things that may become a problem should you lose them. Remember, being stressed out is the complete opposite of trying to chill, so we must do everything in our power to (sanely) avoid it. With that said, I’m going to leave you with a video of what NOT to do when your chill level goes down and you’re feeling stressed, after the break.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVxlCh7Hn-Q

There once was a 5 year-old boy. His name was Little Timmy. At his age it is time for him to attend kindergarten school. But young Timmy didn’t want to go to school, and refused to his mother. In reply, little Timmy’s mom said, “I’ll tell you what. If you get straight A’s in your classes each marking period, I will give you whatever you want. Little Timmy, loving his bargain, went straight to school that morning.

That marking period, Little Timmy’s mother checked his grades. To her enjoyment, she found he had gotten all A’s. She then said to Little Timmy, “What do you want as your gift?” Now, Little Timmy thought a moment. He then said to his mother, “I want a Ping Pong ball.” Puzzled, Little Timmy’s mother agreed, and bought him a Ping Pong ball. The next marking period, Little Timmy had gotten A’s again. His mother asked him again, “What do you want as your gift?” Now, Little Timmy thought a moment. He then said to his mother, “I want 2 Ping Pong balls.” Puzzled still, Little Timmy’s mother agreed, and bought him 2 Ping Pong balls.

Throughout his time in Kindergarten, he requested more and more Ping Pong balls. On his final marking period, he had gotten straight A’s once more. This time, Little Timmy wanted just 1 Ping Pong ball, painted red. Little Timmy’s Mother went out and boguht him a red Ping Pong ball. Finally, she asked Little Timmy, “Why do you ask for so many Ping Pong balls?” Now, little Timmy thought a moment. He then said to his mother, “Give me until the end of Elementary school, and I will tell you.”

Hesitantly, his mother agreed. Throughout the course of the years of Elementary, he asked for a variety of colored ping pong balls. Some red, some yellow, some blue, some even black. On his final marking period of 4th grade, Little Timmy wanted 10 Ping Pong balls. 1 red, 2 green, 3 brown, and 4 grey. After giving him his gift, she then asked Little Timmy, “Why have you been asking for Ping Pong balls?” Now, Little Timmy thought a moment. He then said, “Give me until the end of Middle School, and I will tell you.” With a long sigh, she agreed.

Throughout those years he excelled through his grades. He asked for big Ping Pong balls, small Ping Pong balls, but never regular shaped. Finally, his graduation to High School began. He asked for 50 white Ping Pong balls. After getting his balls, she asked him, “Why have always asked for Ping Pong balls?” Now, Little Timmy thought a moment. He then said, “Give me until the end of High School, and I will tell you.” Resentfully, she agreed.

Years passed from then. Little Timmy asked for many different balls. Big blue ones, small brown ones, yellow broken ones, and white tiny ones. Little Timmy had now graduated from High School. He was given a scholarship to Harvard University. This time, he asked for just one Ping Pong ball. His mother got him the ball he wanted, and asked, “Why have you asked for Ping Pong balls all these years?!” Now, Little Timmy thought a moment. He then said to his mother, “I will tell you. But let me tell my girl friend first. Happily, his mother Agreed.

Little Timmy began crossing the street to his girl friend’s house. Out of nowhere a truck ran him over, killing him.

Don’t kill me.

Foundation

The Galactic Empire had lasted for 12,000 years and ruled over a million planets. But now it was dying. Hari Seldon, creator of the science of psychohistory, knew that it’s death would be followed by 30,000 years of brutal barbarism and savage warfare. To preserve knowledge and shorten the dark period to a mere thousand years, Hari Seldon set up the Encyclopedia Foundation and staffed it with the best scholars and scientists of the Empire. Then he placed it upon Terminus, a bleak world at the edge of the galaxy. But now the Empire was retreating, leaving the Foundation isolated and unprotected. Around it, little barbarian kingdoms were already beginning their wars in search of dominance. The Foundation knew itself as the only hope of mankind. But what could it do, alone and helpless, against the greed of the warlords who were reaching out to conquer and destroy it.

The novel is actually a series of short stories revolving around a single theme. We continually have to follow different characters and stories that revolve around the Foundation and Hari Seldon’s plan for the future (which we progress through with each chapter/story). I found it a bit difficult at first but once you allow yourself to read the story as if you were watching history unfold, you stop focusing on any single character. The writing is dated, and so is some of the science fiction, but Asimov does a good job putting us through the “history”—the politics of the future. With the end goal being initially described as simply surviving, we learn that it’s much more than that, and of course more exciting.

Asimov takes us through human psychology in politics, one extreme to another, in an interesting and entertaining story. If you like politics, history, and science fiction then I highly recommend this book. Initially this book was the first of a trilogy, but in the 80s he continued the series. I look forward to the next Foundation book: Foundation and Empire.