Democrat

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Filed under: Life ]]> http://bugsjournal.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/my-politics-in-a-nutshell/feed/ 0 Bug http://bugsjournal.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/geek-vs-geek-a-netcast-from-people-you-may-not-trust/ http://bugsjournal.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/geek-vs-geek-a-netcast-from-people-you-may-not-trust/#comments Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:59:53 +0000 Bug http://bugsjournal.wordpress.com/?p=687 ]]> Dear World,

Geo approached me with an idea I’m not sure he thought I’d go for but I thought was brilliant. The idea is simple, take our infamous debates over just about anything and compose a weekly audio show around them. We both developed one rule: We must allow ourselves to agree. Not every show has to showcase us on opposing sides.

The catch is I’m going to have to wait until I get my Mac Mini before I can do any sort of decent editing. I suppose I could do it on my laptop but I hate this this thing.

So I’ve been pricing equipment mostly recording. Which I’m adept to doing in my guitar playing over the years.

We’re thinking the show will be released late Saturday nights and as any netcast allows. will be downloadable at any time.. More details soon!

Peace, Love, & Understanding,

Bug

I get it all the time since I am a parent who is a computer professional. I get asked “How do I keep my kids safe on the internet?”

Most of the time I give the person some options and my own personal experience on the matter which I’m going to share with y’all right now. I’m going to share it because I saw an article in the Tuscaloosa News this morning about something I found shocking and utterly ridiculous

There is a large number of child monitoring software that SELLS the information that is collected whilst monitoring. The same information the parent is supposed to use to see and control what the child is doing. In other words EVERYTHING that is done on that computer while the software is running!

I have never been a fan of monitoring software or practices of any kind. The main reason is I trust my parenting skills and my role in my son’s life. I taught him ever since he was a very small child that the Internet is just like a door outside. I gave him the same rules as he was to follow when he was outside our home.

Don’t talk to strangers.

Stay in the neighborhood. (on the internet this would mean surf on mainstream websites that are established and trusted(

don’t be out all night (don’t spend hours upon hours on the internet – unplug)

Never give anyone you real and/or whole name.

Never give anyone your address.

I always explained why as well. I figured with some degreee of accruacy that if I told Brett why it is important in a logical reasonable way to follow a particular rule he would follow it and he has.

Most people run some version of Windows and therefore have enough “protection” software running. Anti-virus, Firewall, Anti-Spyware, Plus a whole host of Windows security annoyances. With all these things running the chances of having some conflicts increase greatly let alone how annoying it is having to click and close and configure it all while trying to just write an email or surf the web.

Don’t be a lazy parent and let game consoles, TV and the Internet be a nanny to your kid. You chose to have kids so raise them! You just might find how fun it is. I know I do. Heck you might even learn something.

There’s nothing more annoying than selfish lazy parents. We wonder why our kids are fat and disrespectful. Remember Monkey See Monkey Do. If your child sees you do it she/he is going to do it too! (that’s why I’m very vocal about what I think about things … whether I think Brett is listening or not. I know it’s being absorbed. He even quotes me on it!

Peace, Love, & Understanding.

Well Geo … looks like you got your rant!

Bug

.

I know it’s been a while but my life has been pretty busy lately. The computer shop has finally taken off and I’ve been behind about four computers for over a week now. I had a few moment today finally to catch up and that’s where I’m at now.

First of all … as I’ve written here before, my mother fell victom to breast cancer – yet another blow to the Toothman family – but – again’t one that we have endured. MY mom’ is now going through a vigirous chemotherapy program that’s left her weak, ill, and nasiated for much of the time. I’ve been there as much as I can be just as I’ve been there for my father when he went through his bout with cancer. Also, that’s left my personal life on hold for a while which is fine by me.

There is someone in my life now. I’m not going to gloat too much about her but she’s good enough. I’ve got everything I want from the relationship with none of the horrid side effects of a self-serving, selfish, “only think os herself and no others, that’s I’ve had to deal with in the past. I’m not mentioning names but she knows who she is and probably has no clue that she’s that way. Oh well. I cn’t go round teaching everyone about their faults as I’ve got enough of my own to deal with.

I also want to thank the minions for keeping me up to date on all fronts. I owe Poet, and Poppy a few rounds one of these days when they finally decide to let me into the their inner-circle.

Peace, Love, & Understanding,

Bug

I can’t imagine what I would have thought a year or two ago had I known that my life would be moving in the direction it is currently going. I have always tried to be flexible, open-minded, and above all – honest with myself about who I really am, how I treat others and where I fit in to it all.

I can’t for the sake of privacy get into too much detail about what exactly going on with me but as usual I’ll be all enigmatic about it.

I think it’s interesting how in certain situations I will now almost everything I need to about a person before I have every spoken a single word to them. Geo would say I am being overprotective and I should just as he says “go with the flow” I think in reality he has a tough time grasping my reasons and therefore feels I should dismiss them in the hopes we’ll both be happier. I have to follow my heart as well as my brain. Sometimes they go in two different directions and usually, in that case, I follow my brain. It has always guided me. Recently … I’ve discovered something wonderful. Something that both frightens me and delights me. I have been so careful as to not overturn the delicate balance that I haven’t spent enough time appreciating the beauty of what it could possibly mean for me, let alone my well being. My closest advisers are telling me with great consistency that I should relax, be myself. That the real me, the one I keep so tightly locked up that only about two or three know me really well, is worth knowing and that person is the one that will impress such charm and exude such wonderful qualities that I need not worry so much.

the bottom line is that I’ve been alone … relationship wise, for so long that I have had repressed any hopes or desires of ever finding someone and on a subconscious level I might have blocked any opportunity of it ever happening. With one notable exception: The Great Blunder. In the case of The Great Blunder, I gave it my all and then some and yet it still was not good enough. Knowing full-well that it was going to end in disaster I still gave it my all. I guess you could say that I intentionally ran that endeavor to the ground because I wanted full responsibility of its failure to rest on the other party. I put so much more into it than I should have so I, me, &, myself can look back with great honor and know it was not my fault. Some people say that the loss rested squarely on the other party and to that I finally agree.

So in the delicateness of this next great thing … I am being careful and allowing for small details in the hopes that the greater good will come through.

I felt something … I can’t describe it and no, I do not say and feel the same way about all .. somehow this is different … I just hope in its difference it turns out with a different result that has in the past.

I know this made no sense to most of you … it was intended that way …

Peace, Love, & Understanding,

Bug

I’m writing about something very personal today. I usually do not but there are a lot of people concerned and it makes better sense to point them to one central place.

First of all – my mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Here’s a breakdown of facts as I understand them.

She went in for her annual check-up and the doctor found a lump.

He felt that it may be nothing, or it may be something so he order her for a biopsy. A few days later he called her and broke the news. That’s where she is with it right now.

The details on the matter are a little more involved. First of all for the sake of awareness and understand (a trademark of my writing here on this journal) I will try to best explain how it’s being treated.

The biopsy was done via a method where the doctor goes in with a needle which is hallow. A very small incision is made and the needle vacuums away tissue where it can be sampled and then tested. It’s cutting edge from what I know about it

The next phase is an MRI is to be done so the doctor knows where things are and to get an overall picture of what’s going on. The treatment of the cancer itself will be similar. If all goes well. What I mean is this: The cancer will be removed via lumpectomy. If the cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes then all is clear for the method which localizes the radiation to the cavity left behind and that will only be 7 treatments versus the 32 (I think) traditionally. Then she’ll be done and will have to have an MRI annually as a precaution.

If it has spread to the lymph nodes then she’ll have to undergo more traditional radiation treatment with chemotherapy.

The hope here is that it’s local and has not spread to the lymph nodes.

[note: I will edit this post with more details and information as I get them along with progress. updates will be preceded by UPDATE: as to show new or changed information. So I recommend referring back to this particular post for updates and what not]

Peace, Love, & Understanding,

Bug

UPDATE:

While my mother’s MRI came back and showed that there are no further cancer throughout her body, the gene test (insert medical term here) came back showing her at high risk for cancer and that the tumor is a little too large for the new theropy. So she is going to have to go through the full chemotherapy and radiation after all. This sucks in the highest order but at least she is not riddled with untreatable cancer. There is a, extremly high chance that she will come out on the other side of her treatment fully recovered.

One thing a lot of people see as a undesirable quality is that of being detail oriented. I have found that by being methodical, well planned, and studious on all counts that my life has a beautiful simpleness to it.

I think it’s a trait that should be admired – Look around you, how many times have you wondered why a co-worker or boss, friend, or relative has had such a chaotic life? Had they been a patient and better informed in their decision making process they might see less of that.

I run on a 50/50 formula. I plan my life with the understanding that 50 per cent will only turn out how I plan it to. I expect the other 50 per cent but cannot plan around it.

I took this approach to my recent decision to be a regular ebay seller.  I’ve been studying the best approach for months and had even taken on a mentor in a more experienced seller (who is very honest I might add) so far it’s been successful.

apinkfloydman is my user name on ebay … I might have some stuff y’all want! As always the market decides price!

Peace, Love, & Understanding,

Bug

Why in the hell doesn’t the Deluge project get with the program and give me ANY damned windows version? The new Deluge 1.1.3 version has been released, says for windows, says you can download older versions … but nothing!

I love my Linux but I need the frigign’ Windows version! Let alone finding the version for my PPC Mac!

ARRGGGHHHHHHH!

Peace, Love, & Understanding,

Bug

First of all Dear World will become Dear Friends & Family. After this post all posts are going to be password protected and I will moderate who gets to see them.

It’s just the way it’s got to be. I don’t want to be famous, I don’t want the world reading my inner most thoughts only to have them chewed up and thrown back at me at some later point. I do this for me. No one else. So, I see no other point in keeping things public. Hardly anyone reads this anymore anyway. So who really cares?

I’ve got lots on my plate and I want my life back. I want control of it and I don’t want it to be complicated. I certainly as hell don’t want to worry about someone reading something here when hey don’t have any business doing so. Up to this this point I’ve been accountable for it all and I accept that. From now on, I’m going to do something about it.

To quote a Pink Floyd song “Goodbye, cruel world, Goodbye.”

P.S. If I get a bunch of email or comments begging me to keep this public I MIGHT reconsider but I doubt it. The argument had better be compelling in both nature and context.

Peace, Love, & Understanding,
Bug