Personal Blog - Part 2

In continuing my search for a new home for my personal blog, i still have not found exactly what i'm looking for. Perhaps if i could pinpoint what it is that i'm looking for, it would make the task easier.

I did see that Google/Blogger has a new version in beta. I will likely look into it further, however walking through their brief overview, it still seems like the same Blogger which i am trying to get away from.

I want something with a web2.0 look and feel, that can be customized to some degree, while maintaining it's dignity as a whole and unified site (my and all other blogs) unlike myspace. At the same time, it must be easy to use and fast and easy to create and manage the customizations. It would be nice if their were social aspects like linkedin or vox, without the heavy advertising or locked in themes of vox.

Anyhow, the search continues...

Personal Blog - Part 1

I looked into using VOX, and although I am not currently planning to use VOX for my personal blog, I am continuing to look for an alternative. Ideally, I would like tagging support and the ability to customize it somewhat to add links to external web2.0 sites but I want a cohesive and organized site (i refuse to become a member of the waste that is myspace).

I could always host my own personal blog and use an open source CMS, however i was hoping to include my personal blog as part of a community, instead of isolating it to myself.

but on the other side, by joining my personal blog to a community of bloggers on an existing site, i do not want to feel that my posts are no longer mine. By that i mean, if i decide to move elsewhere, i want to be able to export my posts in a standard xml format that i can take with me. i don't want to feel locked into a particular server forever, much like i do with my blogger account now, that just makes me hesitant to keep toiling away to add content.

How to Start a Startup

Here's what seems to be a pretty good discussion of how to start a startup (although I haven't read it completely yet). By the sites name, i'm guessing that it was written by Paul Graham, so to him goes the credit.

To Technical

While watching the recently released movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonka in his vast wisdom had some valuable advice to offer.

He becomes somewhat annoyed with the children, who keep reminding him how much more they know than any of the others. When they begin to tell him a technical reason that something cannot be done or that it's not scientifically possible, his response is simple yet profound. He simply tells them to stop mumbling, that he can't understand a word they are saying.

After seeing this a couple of times, a revelation comes to me. He's making an important point. Don't question. Don't hesitate. Don't let the illogical hold you back. Follow your heart. Find a way to make it happen. Even if you have to import Oompa Loompas from Oompa Loompa Land, make your dream a reality, whether in a chocolate factory or elsewhere.

High View

It's an amazing scenescape, almost unbelievable, and in my mind simply incredible. Flying at thirty thousand feet, looking down from above the clouds, a vast landscape of valleys and mountains is laid out. It was something I had never before experienced, the higher clouds casting shadows on the landscape, possibly even raining on the lower cloudscapes. Intensely bright sunlight overhead creating a rainbow through the top layer down the landscape. Even an airplanes shadow cast on the landscape moving through the rainbow. And in all of this, there was of course no true land, no physical earth to be seen, only the clouds and sun and rain and wind to create this view that words fail to describe.

Moving Overseas

Check expatfocus.com and transitionsabroad.com to help with the decision.

Investment Infomation

www.dividendachievers.com lists stocks that have raised their dividends at least ten years in a row.

RealtyTrac.com is a foreclosure and pre-foreclosure website that might be useful in finding off-price real estate.

Your Butt, Somewhere Else

It always gets to me when i see people discard their cigarette butts anywhere and everywhere. Whether car window, sidewalk, parking lot, flower bed, or lawn, it gets me. I've seen perfectly beautiful areas tainted by butts. It's ridiculous, they are such a small and simple things to dispose properly, perhaps they are so small that noone thinks they have an impact? The world and many of the people in it may disagree.

That said, here's my official statement on smoking:

It's not my place or position to tell you to smoke or not to smoke. Smoke till you combust if you want, but don't take our world out with you. Don't stick your butt where it doesn't belong.

Windows Media Player Version Error

Yesterday I ran some of the security updates from Microsoft's update service. I also saw that there was a new version of Windows Media Player, so I decided, "hey, why not, i'll go ahead and install it while i'm here." What a waist of 45 minutes of my life.

The install seemed successful, so I started WMP. I was prompted through some wizard pages, make MWP the default player, etc, blah, blah, and then it finally tried to start the application. Immediately I received an error stating "wmplayer.exe has a version number of 10.0.0.3646 where 9.0.0.2980". I'm then offered the option to redownload/install the application; being on a broadband connection I say ok.

After download, installing, and going through the wizard once again, I'm presented with the same error. Not willing to try again, I googled and found the following good solution amongst a variety of more difficult solutions that may or may not have worked (i didn't want to try them).

Goto Start>> Run
Type "c:\windows\inf\unregmp2.exe /UpdateWMP"
Then simply restart WMP.

This was not my solution, so thanks goto Chris Lanier [MVP].

Lasik - Post-Op

It's been ten days since the procedure and my vision is better than 20/20. Yesterday (day 9) my eyes were very much back to normal, and I had to remind myself to use the artificial tears. My eyes didn't seem dry at all. And it didn't hurt that I'd had a good nights sleep without goggles.

I will offer a word of caution, scented shaving creams and/or lotions are not your friend during these first weeks after the procedure. Whatever fragrance or chemical was in my shaving gel caused my eye to water and burn very uncomfortably although it never came in direct contact. Several face washings and a shower to try and wash the fragrances off of my face and my eye finally stopped burning. It was sensitive to perfumes and other fragrances in the air for a couple days after that.

All this said, I highly recommend laser eye surgery. It simply magnificent not to have to watch out for and clean and do all of the other things you do for glasses and to not have them slowing down life. But find a reliable and trustworthy facility and doctor with plenty of good references! These are your eyes and worth every penny, don't skimp on them.

And so the day of the procedure came. Obviously, any procedure that involves the eyes should make anyone a bit nervous, excited, and curious about the technology. The numbing drops are in and within minutes the doctor is using a marker to draw small dots on the eye (as a point of reference).

Then comes the laser. As an assistant standing to the side announces the steps, the doctor uses a small device to hold the eye open and in position. As you watch a small light flashing overhead, it suddenly disappears as a flap is cut in the eye. Seconds later vision reappears and right on queue with the assistants remark a clicking sound is heard as another light flashes overhead; the laser performing its task. Finally, a cool sensation washes over the eye and the procedure is complete.

Repeat the same for the other eye and in less than five minutes all is done and your headed out of the operating room. By description and time, this is the simplest part of the entire process.

Following the procedure comes a long nap, likely until the next morning. Sleep may not be quite so easy due to the goggles one must wear to prevent involuntarily rubbing the eyes while sleeping (for the duration of one week no less, but again these are our eyes so we'll do exactly as instructed). Medicated drops three times daily for the first week and artificial tears at least four times daily for four weeks and that's it. Initially there may be some periodic dryness that's easily resolved with the artificial tears any needed number of times daily.

I wouldn't say that any part of the procedure was difficult or painful. Sleeping wearing goggles is only a slight hassle and the drops are easy to remember (your eyes will typically remind you). Still it's the coolest thing that there's no pain involved.

Lasik - Pre-Op Decisions

Media and print adds make it sound quite simple, and in many aspects it is, however the patient is not without some decision in the process (at least in my case). There are multiple different laser types with different characteristics that make them applicable to certain eye types and conditions. The particular location I visited had three laser options.

As I said before the primary considerations are required prescription, thickness of the cornea, and size of the pupil. The lasers can be divided basically by age of technology and diameter, the oldest technology having a smaller maximum diameter. The newest having the largest maximum diameter and a variety of other benefits.

In my particular case, the size of my pupil was slightly larger than the middle size laser. At such, I was given two options, the middle or largest size laser. The smaller laser, the older of technologies, simply would not cover the area needed to provide full correction.

Option one, the middle sized laser, and allow the doctor to do a blending effect where the laser didn't cover. This option would still provide 20/20 or nearly 20/20 vision. The drawback to the blending method is that some lighting conditions may be more likely to cause glare or a halo effect.

Option two, was to use the largest of laser sizes. This also happens to be the newest of technologies, referred to as wavefront. In addition to being large enough to cover the full area of the pupil, if I understood correctly, this method also has the ability perform the surgery based upon the topographical data from optical scans. According to the physicians this provides the most accurate vision correction since it accounts for the unique contours and shape of the eye. With this method, 20/20 vision is all but guaranteed and the chances of glare and halo are almost eliminated.

This particular facility also offered a guarantee on their work such that any future vision corrects would be performed free and with an equivalent laser by whatever the current standard is.

Based on the information and the test results, and because these are my eyes and I am, of course, not willing to accept anything less than the best, I chose the laser using wavefront technology.

As a note, I would recommend if your employer has a flexible spending plan to use that. The tax savings allowed me to get the wavefront for what it would have cost for the mid-sized laser without the plan.

Lasik - Qualification Exam

It's about time. After years with glasses I reached the end of my patience. After talking to several people, I decided to take the step and visit a local vision center for one of their 'free comprehensive eye exams'.

Comprehensive was an appropriate term, as the various steps of the exam lasted the better part of two hours. That was ok however, as these are my eyes were talking about, so things should be done with exactness. The tests are painless and range from simple vision test (reading the letters on a chart) to electronic tests measuring pupil size and eye's topography. The end result is that the tests provide a determination as to whether or not the individual characteristics of the eye are applicable for the lasik procedure. Key factors are required prescription, thickness of the cornea, and size of the pupil.

Of course once the tests are complete and if ones eyes qualify for lasik then comes the discussion of price and setting a date. At this they were also very efficient and before you can blink your signed up to have the procedure done, the only choice is which laser to use.

Death at the Door

"Aroused from sleep I slowly opened my eyes as I lay still in bed. Standing in the corner of the room just to the right of the door, and just visible in the light shining in from the hall stood a dark foreboding figure. His face was skeletal, but darker and blurred.

Instantly I knew this figure's intent was not good. Boldly and without hesitation I shouted, 'be gone in the name of Jesus.' The figure seemed to whence, then shrunk sideward and out the door, not turning it's gaze away from me. In the hall it continued to gaze intently at me and I could feel it trying to search my mind for doubt, fear or any other unholy agreement to his cause. But I stood firm in my statement and offered no re-entrance. At last the figure turned away to the right and proceeded down the hall in a clouded veil of darkness. I noted the time; it was exactly 3:17 am."

That's the story my father recounted. It wasn't until two days passed that news would arrived. A restless gentleman in reasonable health had been evidently unable to sleep and walking the halls both for exercise, as his condition was not critical nor terminal, and tire himself. It was at exactly 3:17 am that this gentlemen had fallen over dead in the hall just two doors down to the right from my fathers.

Over the holidays I had the opportunity to read a couple pieces of fiction; something I've not had opportunity to do for some time.

A Series of Unfortunate Events
Book 1 - The Bad Beginning
This proved, a very entertaining story. Aside from what you've already heard or seen in the film adaptation, I'll give no information about the storyline itself. I will say that it is well and cleverly written. It even has educational potential as well. Definitions are provided for a good many words; however they are presented in a manner such that the reader almost doesn't realize they're learning. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series. Somewhat dark, albeit wonderful story that it is, it may not be for all readers (it is after all, a series of unfortunate events).


The Spiderwick Chronicles
Book 1 - The Field Guide
I've only had chance to read the first in the series so far, and very much enjoyed the tale of Boggart. Perhaps my only complaint here is that the story is somewhat short. It feels more that the series of five books should have been bundled as a collection of short stories, as 10 dollars for an hours read seems a little steep.

The author has also written at least one other book (for adults). While reading an excerpt online I realized it was definitely not something that I was comfortable reading. This caused me to take another look at the spiderwick series and although I may not be the quickest to pick up on symbolism and other such methods, I didn't notice anything that would cause me not to read the rest when a few hours leisure can be found. Due to the content I read from the adult work, I would suggest parents read of Spiderwick themselves to make judgment prior to handing it over to the kids.