Linkfilter is kinda like digg.  "All links are posted and moderated by users. Links can be ranked on several levels: clicks, votes, age, or a combination of all three called points."  So, like all social sites, somebody finds a cool link and shares it with the rest of the geekworld.  Then about a gazillion people visit that link and cause an accidental denial of service attack.  Oops. #technology

Ha!  That's a funny title, but no, this isn't about adult diapers. 

We're reading this book called "Love, Sex, & Lasting Relationships" in our Sunday school class and I just realized something.  For a long time, I've been apprehensive about the idea of trusting another person.  At some point in the past, I came up with a quote:  "Don't depend on people; they'll always let you down."  I didn't mean that they'll always let you down.  I meant that people will let you down at some point.  It may not be today or tomorrow, but it will eventually and inevitably happen.  This has two parts:  the idea of trusting someone to come through with something, to be there on time, or to do you a favor; and the idea of relying on someone to fulfill a certain desire or need.  The first part is mainly based on pride.  I don't trust people to get things done for me, so I often do them myself.  That's my problem.  It's pride based on repeated failures in the past.  But that's not the main issue here.  The main issue is the second part, that I don't rely on another person to meet my needs.  And I think that's still true, at least to a certain extent.  The book has a few interesting quotes:

The key to lasting relationships is developing a relationship with God through Christ in such a way that you are secure in who you are in him.

If you attempt to build intimacy with a person before you've done the hard work of becoming a whole and healthy person, every relationship will be an attempt to complete the hole in your heart and the lack of what you don't have.  That relationship will end in disaster.

In other words, when your identity is in Christ, you don't need others the same way, you don't have to perform, and they don't have to come through in order for your ultimate needs to be met.

The world says, "Set your hope on this person to come through for you.  Make this person the center of your existence."  It doesn't work.  The problem is, that person is weak, imperfect, and needy, just like you and just like me.

It's not that you shouldn't trust a person at all, it's that you shouldn't depend on them to fulfill your desires and needs.  Depend on God for that.  A person can meet some of your needs, and that's great.  But if you depend on a person to consistently meet those needs, you're setting yourself up for disappointment, just like you would eventually disappoint a person who's depending on you. 

This all sounds kind of dismal, but I think it's the truth. #religion

I was sceptical at first, but now I can see the advantages of text messaging.  I don't think it's useful when you have 9 buttons that represent 26 letters, like on a regular cell phone.  But ever since I got a Treo 650, it's been worthwhile because there's a full "qwerty" keyboard.  I still don't pay for unlimited text messaging, because I don't use it enough to justify the cost.  But I think the idea is great.  Instead of calling a person and going through the whole "Hey, how are you?  I'm fine" nonsense, you can get straight to the point.  You just say what you're trying to say and you're done.  Another benefit is that text messages are plain text, so people most likely won't forward you junk.  And the good part about typing things on a small keyboard is that it's difficult, so most people probably won't text message unless it's relatively important.

So in the end, ideal text messaging is (1) personal communication in (2) plain text that's (3) to the point and that's (4) easily accessible anywhere. #technology

Sometimes I wish I went to a big college.  I wish I could've gone to Big 10 football games and tailgate parties.  I wish I could say the name of my school and have 90% of the population of the country know exactly what I'm talking about.  I wish I could name famous people that graduated from my school.  I wish I lived in a town who's population consisted of the students going to the local school.  A town named Collegeville or College Park.  I wish I went to school where it was warm.  Why didn't I do that? 

I wish I went to school in Texas, where schools like the University of Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech are synonymous with winning and rivalries.  Or I wish I went to school in Florida, where schools like Florida State, the University of Miami, and the University of Florida have football teams consistently ranked in the top 25 in the nation, and usually in the top 10.  The bottom line is that I wish I went to a football school.  Apparently, this wasn't very important to me when I was in high school.  Academics!  Grades!  Forget that.  Football is more important.

But then, other times, I'm glad I went to a tiny school.  The students had a considerable amount of power and influence.  The professors (some of them) knew their students (some of them).  I wasn't in competition with a million people.  The school sponsored events with free food.  The school organized dances/proms like high school.  And of course, school is where I met Wendy. #education

I don't like when people make it obvious that they're tired.  I take it as an insult.  "What, am I too boring for you?  Am I not good enough for you?  You have better things to do?  Why don't you check your watch?  Better yet, why don't you check your cell phone?  Any new messages?  Maybe someone important called you.  Why don't you make it obvious that you're not interested in what's going on around you."  I especially notice this at Bible studies.  I know Bible studies aren't exciting.  And I know you had a busy week and you're really tired.  But hold it in like the rest of us.  When I have to yawn, I try to not even open my mouth.  Sure my face is contorted and my eyes might water a little bit, but it's my way of toughing it out.  And what really kills me is when people not only yawn with no abandon, but when they vocalize it with some sort of audible groan or other noise.  Why don't you just leave?  Let's be honest:  you don't want to be here, so just leave.  Get the heck out.  Or if you're tired, cover your mouth or do something else to hide the fact that you're yawning. #psychology

I don't like dogs.  They lick.  They slobber.  They have wet noses.  They stink.  They jump.  They sniff your crotch and butt.  They bark.  They fart. 

But I have to admit that dogs have one thing going for them:  they love unconditionally.  I think a dog's sole purpose in life is to attract attention and earn affection.  I've never seen an animal get more excited than a dog gets when a new person walks in the door.  "Oh boy!  A new person to sniff and lick!  I've never been more excited than I am right now (except for 3 minutes ago when that other new person came in the door)."  And dogs tirelessly walk around trying to get you to give them attention.  When they find a person who gives them attention, it's like they say, "Woohoo!  A new best friend!"  And it seems like dogs just want to get closer to you.  When you lean down, they jump up and lick your face.  When you sit down, they try to jump on your lap (50 pounds of dog doesn't constitute a lap-worthy animal, in my opinion).  So I have to commend them for being so loving and affectionate. 

But again, I don't like dogs.  Unless I can get a dog that's de-barked and de-stunk, I won't get a dog.  But God bless 'em. #nature

This link contains an archive of Dilbert comics dating back to 2001. #entertainment

This digg post says,

"AOL's instant messaging service has been hit by a virus which downloads spyware onto computers via a special website."

Whatever.  I'm not too concerned.  But the comments say it all. 

D14BL0:  "Special website"? You mean AOL.com?

diggthiscrap:  They've isolated the virus, it seems to be called "AIM".

My sentiments exactly. #technology

I have a very acute sense of smell.  I was born this way.  With this sense, I'll associate an event, time period, location, or person with a certain smell.  And if I ever smell that specific scent, I'll immediately think of its reference. 

I'm known to be fairly unobservant.  Oh well.  But I notice smells.  That's the first thing I'll notice when I walk into a room.  Sometimes I use the executive bathroom at work.  As soon as I walk in, I'm pummeled by an almost overwhelming smell of comforting citrus.  It's beautiful.  It's not like burn-your-nosehairs Lemon Pledge or hey-everybody-look-at-me-I'm-eating-an-orange orange.  It's almost like an orange sherbert (acceptable alternate spelling of sherbet), sweet and comfortable. 

Wendy and I got in my car last night to drive somewhere.  As soon as I shut the door, I smelled a very familiar smell.  Back in high school when I played soccer, my cleats would sometimes get a little wet.  And I'd leave them in my bag or my locker.  After about 2 days, they would develop this smell that I can only describe as rotting-grass-feet.  This is exactly what I smelled in my car last night.  It turns out that Wendy's jacket had been left in a chocolate manufacturing area, and the smell of chocolate from a manufacturing plant tends to resemble baby poop.  This is a proven fact and has been stated by more than one chocolate manufacturer.  So apparently, the smell of rotting-grass-feet is the same as chocolate-baby-poop.  Interesting. #entertainment

I can't stand it when people have phlegm in their throat and continue to talk.  It makes me sick.  I notice it more with older people.  I was recently talking to an older person who had phlegm in her throat.  No big deal; just clear your throat.  Nope.  She continued to talk as the phlegm jiggled around in her esophagus.  I could hear it almost come up into her mouth, but no, it just stayed there.  I almost threw up. 

My advice:  if you have phlegm, take care of the problem.  Clear your throat.  If you think it'll be disgusting for the people around you, leave the room.  Hack that stuff up.  Just stop talking with phlegm in your throat.  And if you clear your throat and phlegm gets in your mouth, don't make it obvious to the people around you.  Don't make a disgusted face or make that sound with your mouth that says, "Ew, there's something gross in my mouth." #health