Lost in another world

So there I was, knee deep in smoldering dirt, sweat dripping down my forehead like a glandular waterfall. The sandbag fortification did little to quelch my fears as enemy gunfire screamed like death right above me. Bullets pinged off half exploded buildings, scattering more dirt and pebbles my directions. I risked a peek up beyond my only projection, panicked and shot off half a clip of my m-16 before huddling back down into the corner. Enemy gunfire continued to ricochet near me. They must have spotted me.

My team mate gurgled in pain as he fell to the floor. He was manning the machinegun mount. He didn't cry or whine, his body just disappeared from my sight. I looked at the empty gunmount next to me and knew my duty. I would carry on in his name.

I rose fearlessly, adrenaline pumping in every last vein within me. I fired where the cursor told me to, enemy specks falling in the distance. An enemy tank whirled around the corner and aimed ominously at my head.

"Can you please turn down your sound? The bang bang bang of guns is keeping me awake"

What who what where? My mom had peeked her head into my room and asked me to keep it quiet. How do you have a quiet war exactly? In the midst of a battle, you can't just turn down the sounds of gunfire. There's no whining, you just have to deal with it. How are you going to tell your enemies to turn down the sounds of their tank blasting shells bigger then your face at you?

Can you please turn it down? Real soldiers don't have the luxury of that. Real soldiers with their ears bleeding from the mortar shell that landed 5 feet away from them.

Luckily i'm a pusstard, and I could never fight a real war.

Can you please turn it down? Gladly. I'd rather hear that any day then ever be put in a situation where I couldn't.

Watching Jesus Die

I just finished watching The Passion of the Christ. I highly recommend this movie for all your Jesus freaks--I mean, Christians. Jews should go watch it too to see how effed up your people were. Muslims, buddhist, devil worshipers, nazis, and whatever else, go watch it too. It's never wrong to learn about other people's religions.

Let me get one thing straight

I talk alot of trash on religion, but it's all in good fun. When it comes down to it, I respect religion. ALL forms of religion. I just sometimes don't respect the smacktards who claim to be believers.

First off, ok, if you believe in a religion, that's great. Don't try to convert me. You don't know what my stand is. I could be in the "You talk to me about your religion and i'll shoot you" religion. See, if I were, i'd be obligated to blow your head off when you tried to convince me that you're right and i'm wrong.

Do not try to justify your point of view by using a reference that is in itself something that cannot be confirmed. Sorry to pick on the christians, but "The Bible Says" is not a valid point, and anything following that will be ignored. A valid answer would be "This is what i choose to believe in, and if you don't like it, that's fine by me." I respect your opinion enough to not say you're wrong. "This is what i was taught by my parents/church/elders" is also a valid answer. I will not disrespect your cultural viewpoints.

Also, blowing yourself up will not convince me that your god is greater then another's. I think you all know which religion i'm talking about there.

The random talking stranger

While watching Jesus die today, before the movie started, my friend mike and I were talking to each other. The atmosphere inside the theatre was intimidating. It was like going to church. People were all serious and nobody wanted to do anything to insult anyone else. I was just trying to have a little fun.

My cellphone rang and as a joke, I yelled "damn it, turn that cellphone off!" when obviously it was my own cellphone. This girl in front of me turned and laughed at my humor, and I shot her back a smile.

Later on, Mike and I were talking some more, something about The Mummy and how the one dude had a charm for every religion. The girl turns around and begins to join in to the conversation. I thought that was pretty cool. She seemed light hearted and fun, which was what I was trying to do. I think she was a little self conscience of the fact that she just jumped into a stranger's conversation, but i tried to speak loud enough to include her. She kind of just quietly turned back around, even though I could tell she was still listening to me speak.

At the end of the movie, she had turned into a completely different person. I don't know if she was moved or insulted by someone in the theatre, but she snapped at her parents when they tried to get her to leave, saying something about not wanting to go that way and that she just wanted to go home.

The moral of the story? See what happens to cute girls when they watch Jesus die?

I knew you'd understand.

*end useless post about religion*

Because I didn't want this to be a Monday/Thursday thing

Every now and then I take a step back from the internet and stop doin things on there. It's kind of hard though when your job is internet development. Luckily the internet is a huge place where there's plenty of stuff to do.

Yes, that was sarcasm. Let me explain.



This pie chart is the Virtually Infamous Internet breakdown. Nothing original, i'm sure this gimmick has been pulled before.

The Categories

Pr0n: This is the easiest category. Everywhere you go you stumble across porn. If you were to accidentally click on one link (oh, how many accidents i've had), you would be flooded with pop up windows leading to more pop up windows leading to more naked women (and men). You just get smashed with so much free porn that I don't see a reason to ever EVER pay for it.

Useless Crap: These are the stupid gimmick sites and goofy movie clips that people send to each other endlessly. You know, the site that one friend shows you, and the next thing you know, every friend is showing them to you. This category is also the countless other useless popups that aren't porn. You know, the ones where they're trying to get you to buy a spy camera or download the latest anti-spy software. This is also the adware stuff that effers sneak onto your computer. They mask it in things that you might want, and then flood your computer with useless crap, bogging it down and ruining your surfing experience.

Illegal Stuff: These are all the warez sites, crackers, serial numbers, etc. Included are MP3's, divx, and things like that. They exist because they exploited some technicality. Oh? I can download this if I already own a copy of it? Oh, I can use it for 24 hours to try it out but I must get rid of it? Ok! I can't say I hate them though, I've used plenty of things that I already owned and wanted to try out for 24 hours.

Actual Information: This is the stuff on the internet that I actually appreciate. Sites where you can learn about something that you might not learn watching tv, or listening to the radio. This are your How To sites, your technical forms, your guides and walkthroughs. Good stuff. I try to escape to this small section of the internet whenever I can because I love learning. It's hard though, sifting through all the other crap presented above just to get to it. But when you get there, it's usually great.

I believe more people would actually use the web for senseful things if they could actually find it. Hopefully someday everyone will.

Knock on wood

If you are an avid fan of my blog (all 7.2 of you) then you'll know my up/down balance theory. Simply put, my life always balances out to a neutral state. If something bad happens, something good will happen to bring me back to 'zero' if something good happens, something bad will happen and bring me back down.

Up until this week, i've been having horrible luck. I lost a chunk of money at the casino's, I got lost in pennsylvania, I had virtually no luck finding a car that I want in my price range, and if I did, it was sold before I could even blink.

This week things picked up. I won back almost all the money I lost at the casino's, I found a car and am in the process of getting it, and some other little things that made me smile.

Knock on wood though, because as the old saying goes: What goes up, must come down.

The really really long monday post

This weekend I drove 5 hours to Harrisburg (should have taken 3 at the most). Long story short, Tron is a smacktard, guided me the wrong way and I ended up in Allentown. For those readers who don't know where Allentown is, let's just say it's no where near Harrisburg. Top it off with another 3 hour drive home. It wasn't fun.

Begging God

Back when I was misguided and went to church, I was told something. Most of us only pray to God when we need something. We never pray when our lives are good. We ask for him to save us, but never thank him for the days that we're doing well.

Bare with me, I'm going to apply this to real life.

Many of us have friends. We call them friends because that's what they are. But most of us really take our friends forgranted. You know what i'm talkin about. You hang out with your boys (or girls) everyday and you're just like, whatever, I can see them everyday. They'll be there when I come back.

We do the same thing to friends as the preachers would say we do to God. We go to them when we want them or need them, but we never really acknowledge them for the everyday little things. Those days that are made better because they were around to listen to your story, or brighten your day with one of theirs.

They're due for a thanking

So I just wanted to take this moment to say a little thank you for those who've been there for me, to show my appreciation for all those little things that get ignored. So in no particular order:

Tron: You're the man. It's great that even though you're in Philly you still keep in touch with me on an almost daily basis. You always willing to let me crash when i'm in the city. Our phonecalls are fun too, when we're both on the road with nothing better to do, and we just shoot the shit for half an hour. And I can't forget you driving with me to Harrisburg and getting me lost. Oh, trust me, i'll never forget that.

Brian T: You're probably one of the few people I can truly act myself in front of. Every moment is like a goofy comical experience. We bash others, we bash each other, we just talk trash on about everything. I can't forget all the times you kept me updated on computer related things, i'd be so in the dark without you. Everytime you come to visit (or i go to visit you) it seems like we have so much fun that we never want to sleep. We really should work on that, it messes with my sleep cycle too much.

Marlee: Ah, my roomie. Just want to say thanks for all your effort in finding our apartment. You really did alot of the crapwork and I just want you to know I appreciate it. You're always inviting me along to your outings and open out bringing me into your circle of friends. You also have cool parents that like to gamble. Well, so do you and me. I don't see how we won't get along in this next year.

Annie: You're always bugging me. I can't get you to go away. I can't even go to philly without being obligated to see you. But you know what, I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks for being their to listen to me vent (and vice versa). Thanks for a place to chill when there's no where else to go. Thanks for making a mean lasagna. Oh, and thanks for being hot.

Fontaine: I think online would be completely different without you. I joke not when I say this. When you're on vacations and not online, it's BORING. Thanks for being my listening ear and for always being optimistic about everything. You believe in me and that inspires me to live up to how you see me. Can't wait til the day I actually get to see you in person.

My writers: Skippy, Matt, Jeff. I'll keep this one short. The magazine wouldn't be here without you guys. You're like the cement that holds my bricks together. Or like... the the bolts that keep my engine from falling. Or something like that.

Other people: There's alot of other people, and I don't mean to exclude anyone. If you think I missed you or want to make a fuss about it (that's what my real friends would do) then leave me a comment and I'll hook it up. These are just the most recent few who come off the top of my head right away as being my Gods.

Don't want to just pray to them when I need them.

Up Before The Sun

The Dreamteam decided to test Atlanticare's new online course registration software at 5 am, the lowest hour of hits according to our stats. So after gambling, drinking, and busting each other up in Halo, we promptly realized that it was close to 1 am and we had to be up in 4 hours.

Well, I dunno how, but we did it. We made it up. Now it's not even noon yet and I feel like i've been here for a whole workday already--wait, I have been here for a whole workday.

The worst part? I can't leave yet because I have an appointment at 2:30 in the afternoon to take pictures of the Surgery Center.

It's been a long freakin day.

I want a new-old-beat-up-really-fast car

Geez, why do first generation DSMs sell so freakin fast? I've been looking for one during the past month and after a couple attempts, i'm still short of a car. People keep buying them before I have a chance to even think about it. Argh.

So, if you know anyone with a 90-92 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD or a Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX of the same year, please, let me know.

I'm going to go pass out on my keyboard now.

All About Tron's Mom

It seriously is about Tron's Mom though. I went to Vermont this past weekend with Tron, Jesse, Sean and Skippy. Sitting bitch for four hours was not fun, but I digress.

Tron's mom just about short of force fed us her delicious home cooked food. Ever have a four course breakfast? Up until this weekend I would have said no too, but I can't anymore. And Tron's brother has his own half of the house, i'm jealous. Their backyard is literally a mountain range with nothing but a single transmission tower sitting on the top, blinking it's one red light.

The rest of Vermont

Vermont is a beautiful state. The three feet of snow piled meticulously on the sides of ever sloshy streets seemed to be a common everyday sight. Drivers scurried on half frozen streets, tackling corners and twisties as if the roads were dry. Three feet long icicles reflected headlights, fighting for attention with the clear night above, a blanket of stars.

Snowy mountaintops line either side of hilly narrow streets. They seem to twist and turn forever, going uphill and downhill in a random fashion. A rather unsettling place to drive during snow times for a "flat lander" like me, but I can see how it could be a blast to drive in normal summertime weather.

Snowboarding and the Corvette Museum

Mount Okemo, home of the ski people. Yes, I just made that up, but it seems to be the place that everyone goes if they want to slide downhill with their feet. The mountain is huge, with enough different courses to appeal to both the extremist and the first timer. The bunny slope itself is twice (maybe thrice) as long as what i'm used to in the Poconos, which seem like hills compared to mountains in Vermont.

Ah, the Corvette Museum. Seems out of place amidst the trail blazing snow trucks and the suvs filled with ski equipment, but yea, they were there. Next to the 50's style diner lies the corvettes, at least one of each generation. Their tires still brand new, their paint glossy and shiny, their engines lookin so pretty that they almost hum as if they were on and idling. As you walk, you can go backwards in time, from C4's to C3's, all the way to the original 'vette that started it all. It was memorable to say the least.

A Short Conclusion

So ignoring the 7+ hours on the highway cramped between two sweaty white guys, Vermont was a wonderful state that was refreshing as it was relaxing. Not only did I get to see the clearest sky ever with the purest snow, I got to finally meet Tron's Mom.

That in itself was worth it all.

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The KKK and Islamic Jihad

What is going on? I don't understand. First it was all these KKK search string hitting my site(and it was alot too, it was ranked #1 on my stats page for a while), now I get an email about a person wanting my blog to be listed under Islam:

"I am creating a web directory, The-Insight.com, and would like to include your website Mystified.blogspot.com under the "religion/islam" category. If you'd like to be added, please follow this url:

*undisclosed URL*

We shall put all our efforts into having your link up in less than 24 hours; and if you find our site useful for your visitors, please add a reciprocal link. "

Should I feel complimented or frightened? I don't even know why. Is it because I talk about terrorists? Haha, I mean, my Aunt is in Mecca right now, and i'm really worried for her since there was stampedes or something during that pilgramage, but jeez, I dunno if I talk about islam enough to be catagorized under it.

So I must be an Asian catholic-muslim-buddist-jew white supremist.

Actually, that sounds kind of neat.

Superbowl and Janet's right boob.

So those who aren't football fans missed out. I'm sure you've heard by now about what a nail biting game it was, how the Panther's showed everyone that they're not to be taken lightly, how the patriots repeated history by kicking a fieldgoal to win the superbowl.

And if you didn't hear about that, you heard about Janet's right boob. Didn't get to see it live like I did? Well that's what you get for not watching football.

The real monday post

Today Atlanticare Infoshare had a job shadowing day. Some sixteen votech kids came and listened to important people at my job speak about how important their jobs are so that the kids would grow up and become important themselves. They didn't care. That is, until they met us, the web team, the dream team. We showed them how fun it is to work under Pansy, our manager.

They loved the 3d designing. They loved the fact that all we did was talk about video games and play with a beachball. The side benefit was that they actually saw that we accomplished alot and they learned something about the internet they didn't know before. Surfing the web is easy, but knowing how all the pages are made and how much work goes into it is something to be proud of.

So hopefully today we sparked interest in some kids to become web designers and programmers themselves. The one kid brought smile to me. He said that he's never motivated in school and that after seeing the stuff we do, he's actually motivated to learn and accomplish something. Beyond that, our group (others went to learn things about security and hardware, etc) had the biggest smiles on their faces. The other groups seemed to be bored beyond belief.

Mission accomplished. I didn't know what to expect, but man, it was awesome to be a part of that.