Birthdays Apr 18, 2005
It was on this day, 23 years ago, that I entered this world, screaming and crying, and probably trying to figure out a way to escape into the wilderness, where I really belong.  Heh.  I remember 2 years ago when I turned 21.  That's when I (stupidly) started drinking because I became legal.  [Note to self:  just because something's legal doesn't mean it's a good thing to do.]  Then there was the time Wendy gave me a travel journal when I turned 20.  Before that, I remember turning 17 and going to the DMV to get my driver's license.  I think the only other birthday I remember before that was when I turned 10 or 11 and my parents and sisters jumped out of the barn after I got home from baseball practice and surprised me and carried me on their shoulders and spanked me like 10 or 11 times.  That was a good one.  Ooh wait:  last year, I took the FE exam the day before my birthday, and so I was recovering on the actual day of my birthday.  I think when I turned 15, I worked at this place called Cerbo's Hampton Nursery all day and then went to Ian's house for some bad stuff. #sociology
Close window Apr 18, 2005
In my online travels, I came across a "hack" that enables a link to close a window without that little warning that says, "The Web page you are viewing is trying to close the window.  Do you want to close this window?"  Here's an example of that with the warning:  close, done by using javascript:self.close().  Now here's a link to close the window without the warning: close, done by using javascript:this.focus(); self.opener = this; self.close();.  This code basically tells the window to say, "Hey, this window was opened by another window, which is actually this same window.  So I don't have to warn anybody about closing the window because somebody else opened it." #technology
Poor Apr 18, 2005
One thing that always gets me is how mean I act towards homeless and poor people.  I guess I have this general distrust of anyone who asks me for money or anything.  I figure they'll use it for drugs or alcohol, and I shouldn't help them out.  That's why I'm always amazed at how this guy Jeremy freely gives things away to poor people.  The most recent time was on March 5.  We were walking out of the McDonald's after a long day of snowboarding and more recently, waiting in long lines for sub-par food.  A guy asked us if we could spare some food.  I looked the other way, or said something stupid like, "Sorry, I don't have any," while I was holding a bag that said "McDonald's" on the side.  But Jeremy gave the guy one of his two orders of 10-piece chicken nuggets, and without even thinking.  I was amazed.  Why don't I do stuff like that?  Why am I so selfish that I couldn't have even given one of my little hamburgers to some poor person on the street?  And this isn't the first time.  Jeremy said that he used to go into a deli in Hoboken for lunch when he was on co-op.  He'd buy two sandwiches:  one for himself, and one for the poor guy at the door.  He didn't even consider not doing it.  It's things like this that just amaze me.  Little things that help people out or simple professions of faith. #psychology
Geeks will prevail Apr 18, 2005
After watching Napoleon Dynamite for the third time, I realized what it is that makes this movie so appealing to so many people:  It's the idea that the underdog, or in this case the geeks, will prevail.  Bullies never succeed.  Chances are that the people watching this movie have been the victims of bullies and ridicule.  The people who were once bullies are most likely drug addicts and homeless.  But anyway, it inspires all of us geeks to persevere, despite the obstacles we encounter:  being underpaid and overworked, being turned down by hot girls, having our family mess up our personal lives, getting made fun of for dressing and acting a certain way, etc.  It's like Revenge of the Nerds:  nobody likes jocks and cool people; nerds always win in the end.  It's an inspiration to us all...especially me, because I'm a geek. #entertainment