| Posted using LJ Talk... |
[08 Aug 2007|01:51pm] |
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I'm moving over to http://jmitchem.livejournal.com/ to move to a newer and more current journaling system. This one has been around forever, is fairly personal, and I'm mostly retiring the "menelfea" name.
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| Posted using LJ Talk... |
[08 Aug 2007|01:39pm] |
Tom pointed me to this today at work... apparently there's some show on ABC called I-Caught, that deals with the backstory to various YouTube videos.
Anyway, when he saw the show, this is the video they were reviewing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM
That's quite a video... Lions, versus Crocodiles, versus Water Buffalo
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| Posted using LJ Talk... |
[08 Aug 2007|12:46pm] |
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I'm just testing out the LJTalk posting from IM thing
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| Minimum Wage and Social Security |
[08 Nov 2006|03:15am] |
Wow, that's [insert expletive] brilliant.
Proposition B passed in Missouri, raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.50. For the case of argument, let's just disregard the so called "republican rhetoric", or in my case, simply basic econ, that says that unemployment will increase as companies, especially small businesses running on tight operating margins, will need to eliminate or freeze hiring since they can no longer afford their labor costs.
Few people realize that paying an employee $5.15 an hour doesn't really mean you pay them $5.15 an hour; it actually means you're paying them $6.43 per hour. This is due to the way that Medicare/Social Security/FICA gets paid. The employee pays 24.8% of gross, and the employer matches that.
This means, for a wage of $5.15/hr, the employee keeps $3.87/hr and $2.55/hr goes to the government.
So, if you raise the minimum wage to $6.50/hr, as Missouri has done, then the employee makes $4.89/hr net, and the government gets $3.22/hr.
Now, let's just extend that to a month, to make it easier to see... for 160 labor hours, when the minimum wage is $5.15, the government gets $408.70. At $6.50, that value is $515.84. That's roughly an "extra" $107 dollars a month that goes toward paying the growing Social Security and Medicare demands.
Basically, the government figured out how to get up to an "extra" 26.21% increase in the funds going toward Social Security and Medicare, coming from employers who have employees with wages less than $6.50, without increasing taxes or changing federal spending.
Too bad people are going to get fired over this one, and gains of that level aren't actually going to be realized.
(Note: the FICA/Medicare/SS percent may be slightly off.)
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| Hard Drive Crash |
[02 Oct 2006|12:24pm] |
Roughly a week ago, I had a hard drive go out on me. The disk itself is fine, just somehow Windows corrupted the drive when I was copying 40+ gigs to it.
I'm still not sure what can or can't be recovered. I lost my music and my webserver. The webserver is being rebuilt, but the links to jmitchem.com and mitchemholdings.com no longer work right now.
Merely a matter of time and the sites will be back up. Hopefully better than ever.
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| Projects |
[11 Sep 2006|02:00am] |
This was pulled from my NetVibes Project ToDo list as of today.
I don't have a good way to actually link to content of these, since I'd really like to have a nice Wiki + RSS + ??? system in place to capture all the stuff related to these ideas.
Actually, the lack of an implemented TagURI system is partially holding me back, [not so] oddly enough.
I've talked to some people about these, but very few. As far as ideas I've come up with that I want to flesh out, here they are.
Instant Messenger
Distributed Video Streaming
Distributed Data Storage and Download/Streaming System
TagURI
Managed Identity Platform
YourSpace.com
Software Componentry
Playlist Sharing Application
XML Database
Automated Secure Remote Backup Software
Custom GMail-like Standalone Email Client
Embedded Video within a Graphical 3d Environment with Dynamic Shading
ATOM/RSS News Distribution and Submission System
HUD Vehicle Proximity and Blind Spot system
Drink Mixing Machine
Networked Audio System
Rotational Gravity and Hydroponic System
Private Secular School System
Education Content Management System
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| Martini Bianco |
[10 Sep 2006|11:20pm] |
So, I discovered Martini Bianco today.
There's virtually zero information on the web today, other than this was some girl in Paris' favorite drink. Didn't help me much, but it was enough motive to go buy a bottle.
I bought some, tried it plain (not a bad drink plain). But seeing as I have an assortment of various things to experiment with, I pulled out my container of Guava juice and managed to come up with a decent drink. It was a little mellow, so I attempteed to try a few other flavors.
I tried some Orange Curacao, and that just made it nasty. Combating sweetness with sweetness rarely turns out right.
Angostura Bitters seemed to put it in the right direction... I overdid it, but I have an idea.
Yet another drink that most people will never try to make, due to the obscure ingredients:ex
Guava Juice
+ Martini Bianco
+ Angostura Bitters
===================
Decent result of a bit of experimentation
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| Content specific embedding |
[10 Sep 2006|08:16pm] |
10+ years after the first implementations of hypertext, we're still stuck with some of the original problems that were supposed to be solved with the use of anchor tags.
For instance, I'd kinda like to be able to provide links to a specific portion of a page I read, without having to link to the whole thing. I can link to the base page, and copy/paste the content, but the content might change, or the base page might change.
Then again, I am writing about the specific part I excerpted. On the other hand, it'd still be nice to provide a link to that exact _part_ that I'm talking about.
Anyway, recently this came up with audio.
I tend to do a fair amount of recording with my keyboard in piano mode, just because I tend to do a fair amount of improvising. Usually I never repeat myself, so I figure, might as well record everything, and if there's something I like, go back and repeat it and flesh it into something different.
Well, that also means that for a 20+ minute recording, I might only be thinking about a 20 second excerpt that's good. If I want to reference it, I can say "here's the link to the 20+ minute file, download it and listen from here to here". That's a lot easier for me to say than for you to do.
The fact that I've found the flash-based mp3 player that I've been using has helped quite a bit, since it removes that download wait. On the publishing end (i.e., my end) I've also built tools to make it nice and easy for me, including my playlist sharing thing which is not quite complete yet. I'll return to that topic in a minute.
So, I'd like to be able to share an excerpt, and I'd like to be able to know exactly what notes I played (which means, keeping track of the file time in the original file). If I make an excerpt and use that as a recording itself, I can lose the time when it started in the original file (unless I do that with the use of some sort of naming convention.) I'd like to just have a piece of software that says "take this file, but only play from here to here." I can write that; I probably should.
Back to the playlist sharing thing.. it's almost done. I haven't even attempted to solve the NAT traversal problem, and right now, my router reset itself so the playlist sharing thing doesn't work right for even me. Lingo (who has leased [maybe sold?] it to me) decided to change the port to connect to the administratoin page on, so right now I don't really know how to fix it to pass through from port 5050 to my computer.
Besides that, I've run into annoyances with Microsoft, and I haven't taken the time to fix it myself (i.e., the .NET 2.0 generic List class doesn't provide any sort of OnInsert or OnUpdate or OnAnything events) so that I can update the interface or the web pages whenever the playlists change. But it's really just a matter of me learning how to work with generics and providing a derived List class. Oddly enough, my inability to come up with a good name is part of what's holding me back.
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| Presentation versus Content, and its importance |
[10 Sep 2006|08:11pm] |
I emailed this to myself, but this is still a better place to put it. For now at least:
Add to NetVibes list of ToDo:
Figure out a way to express ideas more effectively at varying levels of depth of details, ideally extract logical arguments and as the case
may be, allow people to get increasing levels of depth according to their own knowledge and interest.
The basics tend to be the same.
Sometimes the logical argument is flawed, but that's not obvious when it's entrenched in layers and layers of supporting topical details.
Additionally, allow tracking of navigational levels so that the user never gets bogged down in too much detail and can always return after a tangent of research. I suppose conceptually this isn't too far from the way that the 'history' portion of a web browser is supposed to work, but it doesn't really allow an easy way to monitor the flow of information nor keep track of the summation of knowledge that one was exposed to.
Tree-branching history + google desktop-ish searching + automatic cross-referencing of one's own knowledge-collection + ???
Microsoft did an interesting take on this with their auto-summarize feature of Word. This might be something worth looking into.
The reason for thinking of this again occurred when perusing the content from the Grunhaus Project:
http://www.grunweb.org.uk/page5.html
(I have however had the same thoughts with reference to textbooks; some textbooks excel at teaching better than others even though they contain the same content. Presentation has a lot to do with it, and a detailed study of it [presentation as it relates to learning] as well as a computer-based solution ought to be developed.)
The presentation of the content, which while appearing to be good, also seems to be at a level where it loses the interest of the casual web browsing reader both because of visual presentation as well as the conceptual presentation by providing too much detail. However, there's a balance between oversimplifying and overcompexifying.
What's the solution? I dunno yet.
(And, by the way, make a nice easy web-based way to post about this... this is icky)
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| Crazy semi-inefficiency |
[10 Sep 2006|08:07pm] |
Why is it I always have my best ideas (or at least do my best thinking) in places where I don't really have a good way to record them for future reference?
It's not that I usually ever go back and flesh anything out, but sometimes I do go back and review them. I guess sometimes I do flesh out pieces of an idea out at a later date, but only because I happen to record another idea at a later date that seems to be intimately related with the first.
That... was longwinded.
Anyway, lj works right now. Being stuck with IE6 means netvibes doesn't work. Emailing to myself is lame. So... lj.
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| 3 years and 5 days later... |
[07 Sep 2006|11:35am] |
... and I get the same answer. Weird.
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You aren't sure where you came from. Perhaps your sire did an embrace and run. Or maybe your sire was an outcast himself. Either way, your powers are unique and really don't belong to any clan...or maybe a little from each. Because you of these circumstances, you aren't really sure where you belong. You tend to wander and do a bit of soul searching in your eternal life. Maybe some day...you have a while after all.
What Vampire Clan Do You Belong To?
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[31 Aug 2006|03:04pm] |
My Music Personality
I'm not sure why they classify "electronic" music in the group they do. Then again, I usually prefer listening to DnB/Jungle, which is arguably the most "complex" sub-genre.
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[18 Dec 2005|04:09am] |
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| How I got hooked on ARDAM |
[07 Dec 2005|11:19pm] |
A long time ago, I was part of the Nanocomputer Dream Team. This would have been 1998, when I was 14.
And that's how I first heard of ARDAM. Here's the first email I wrote and the response.
> Dear Mr. Mohammed,
>
> On initial reading of your message on the NCDT [NanoComputer Dream Team]
> message board, you and the Ardam concept seemed absolutely crazy.
Big bulky hominids producing sophisticated robots to fit inside tiny living
cells is just as outlandish. Anything is possible if you decide it will
happen.
> After some thinking, I actually became interested in the concept. I
> conducted an Internet search and found some information on the Empire
> though it was outdated. The idea of creating an Empire has also occurred
> to me. While your application of nanites is not yet available, other uses
> may be available.
The applications of nanotechnology are endless. If our team is successful,
this development could be as big as the wheel or the transistor.
Plus which, our efforts will be strengthened when all of the Y2K programmers
get laid off in 2003.
> Because the members of NCDT are very diverse I sincerely doubt that many
> will be interested.
Probably not. But the people in the NCDT are for the most part, visionaries.
They have to be. To conceptualize such a thing as nanites requires a gaping
wide-open mind.
I imagine others will probably take interest in Ardam as well. I mean, it's
such a controversial development, it may take Earth people decades to swallow.
On other planets, who's gonna stop us?
> I am interested in some updated information on Ardam, along with possible
> study at ArdamU. Please Reply.
ArdamU is not really a place you can go. As a matter of fact, I believe
Penumshaad Imperitor Jake Wagner declared the department as dormant.
There is a whole beefy lot I could tell you about Ardam. I have over 10
Megabytes of information including history, structure, e-mail and
technological archives.
I will warn you. Ardam is about as weird as rumour has it. The only
difference between the lies and the lore is the fact that we do not encourage
the pursuit of one particular religious fate, nor present ourselves as one.
Ardam discusses and studies everything from Martian Geology to Technology to
paranormal phenomena. An anonymous member of ours has had a close encounter
of the third kind (If you join Ardam, please make no public mention of this,
the person doesn't want people to know about it, that's why I gave you no
name). As a matter of fact, I'm starting an operation under the K.A. to
investigate the truth behind certain incredible "facts" I've found all over
the place. Nanotech will be one of them.
I guess I could say that the most prominent things about Ardam are:
-We thrive on information
-There is sort of a fraternal bond between members
-It's somewhat feudal
-We want to colonize Mars
-Various members (including myself) have had dreams related to the goal
-Certain members (including myself) have had recent dreams come true
Khaanumshaad Finley can be quoted as saying "Ardam has never ceased to be
anything but wholly amazing"
Due to some internal conflicts awhile back, and some recent apathy and
decreased numbers, Ardam hasn't accomplished a whole lot. My friend Jake is
employing the methods of Wade Cook to generate some fundage. I have
confidence that he will succeed.
My friend, Jessica, recently inspired a campaign to inspire hope for the
coming century.
One thing that we keep telling ourselves over and over, and sometimes, it
pays off, is that as long as you believe something will happen, you can
make it happen. Thus, we have a lot of confidence in what we see in dreams
and visions.
I myself have had visions, of a life well into the 22nd century. Two
different people have told me "You will live two lifetimes". When I heard
about Nanotechnology, this prediction became a reality to me. I want very
much to see Ardam grow and leak out through the seams of the Milky Way. I
will probably die before that happens, but if I have a fighting chance, I
want to take it.
That's why I joined NCDT :)
I hope I've answered your questions. If you're still clueless about some
things, ask and you shall receive. Remember, there are no stupid questions,
just stupid people, and nanotech developers are not stupid.
So put on a funny hat and try to change the weather on Mars 10,000 years in
the past, and join us in our effort to found a Galactic Empire, perhaps 10-15
years in the future!
I envision The Ardamian Empire not as one nation of a few people, but as the
unified power of all Humanity. And our expanse will not be by conquering.
Niftiness, which we all strive to expore, will be our appeal to other
civilizations. We will be "Nifty" and they will like it, and they will want
to be part of the Niftiness! And they will join with us and form alliances,
provinces, and ultimately, THE ARDAMIAN EMPIRE!
May Niftiness Prevail!
Yours Truly,
_ _
| | |_| Umshaad Imperitor Dan R. Mohammed FC RP BZ2
| | ______ Imperitor:
| | |______| Ardam Technologies, InsanisAWft,
| | _ Kataskopeia Ardaminos.
| | / / Financial Comissioner:
|_| /_/ Ardamian Financial
Telephone: -------
Messages: -------
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| New word |
[03 Dec 2005|01:27pm] |
I've come up with a new word:
Flirtship
It's kind of like a 'friendship', but not quite. With a friendship, there's often several things in common, and you know a fair amount about the other person. A flirtship is more a relationship between two people where they know little or nothing about each other, but flirt with each other on a regular basis.
With a flirtship, you can spend hours with the person, joking around, having a good time, and over that period of time, nothing resembling serious conversation ever occurs.
--
That's what [name removed] and I had. Well, that, and a pretty weak friendship. I knew a little about her, and her about me, but really we just hung out and had a good time. For several months.
Nothing came of it anyway.
(Today's her birthday, so I was just thinking of her.)
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| Job Offer |
[18 Jun 2005|11:45pm] |
After some negotiation, I decided to take the position with E.S. Systems, Inc. I received an offer, discussed the offer, and accepted the result.
June 27th is my new start date.
For awhile at least, I'm going to work both Home Depot and there, since there's some value to working around peers.
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| Coins |
[17 May 2005|12:03pm] |
Yesterday I spent some time using my money sorting machine to sort and roll a coffee can worth of coins for me yesterday. I ran out of wrappers for both nickels and dimes, so I think I'm just going to bring a bag of them into the bank.
Apparently I had 90 dollars worth of quarters, and 35 of dimes. That was probably worth going through a long time ago.
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menelfea's journal