Well... I wanted one last post for January 2010, so I guess this will be it. Though, given that today is the last day of the month, I would find it extremely difficult to add another post this month.
Been holding off on buying one of my textbooks for class. I'm not the type of person who refuses to buy books. In fact, I'm probably in the opposite category. But... when a book costs 150, its for 1 semester, and it doesn't seem to have much use out side of the the class it's for, I have a problem buying the book. I mean... if I was planning to go into research and the like, it would be a good book to own. Though, with the way the class has been going, I may need to pick it up as a substitute to the course. Not that the teacher is bad, just that I may need something better to study off of then my notes and the teacher's original slides... especially since I tend to be a little fuzzy on some of the stuff from Comp Sci 1. (The course the book is for is Comp Sci 2).
Truthfully though, I don't know if I like the current setup of colleges. The programs are all designed around the idea that the students have large blocks of free time in the middle of the day. Classes are often overcrowded, taught by teachers who are more interested in research then teaching. Not that research is a bad thing. Still though, there should be more efficient ways of doing higher education... or at least, higher education for people who work 2 jobs. This semester, I was trying to schedule my classes in such a manner that would allow me to work 40+ hours a week... even only taking 2 classes it was almost impossible. And, to make matters worse, all but 1 class offered in the Computer Sciences program was before 5pm, but after 9am. I mean... how is a person suppose to hold a what many people call a normal job while in school, when schooling isn't setup to allow it? A better model, or at least, a more accessible model, would be something like a subscription set up for classes. Pay a monthly fee, get unlimited web access to online material, and so many hours access to in-person TA's and professors, while, to receive credit for a class, you pay an extra fee to either take a comprehensive exam, or pay a fee to submit a paper/project thing. But... I guess I'm just babbling now.
I think I need to get out more. Just seems I'm going stir crazy in my dorm. Though, most of the people I know in the Orlando area seem to be busy with either class or work =(. Still, I should probably consider joining a school club or something... though the last time I joined one I really didn't feel like I fit in with it too much. Still... may rejoin it, since odds are the old officers of the club are no longer involved.
Anyway, I have an assignment to finish up... and I may start looking into devoting more time to being at the UCF library for study purposes... but anyways, ~Night!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Brakes.... Just Don't
Well... apparently brakes break. Yesterday I went to have new brake pads installed on my vehicle, only to find out that (according to the mechanic) my rotors on my brakes are beneath factory specified levels. I ended up having to get the rotors replaced, which, although I budgeted 140 for my brakes, it ended up costing me 340. So now I need to save up 250 by January 31st so I'll have enough money to pay rent. Guess I won't be picking up any more books for a while.
Probably also need to continue putting money away for car insurance as well. I believe my 6 months of insurance is up in March, which will mean that I will need 500 dollars by the end of March, so it seems I'll have no money in February or March as well... And then I'll probably have to do a tax payment as well. Stupid finances...
Been trying to write some fiction, though that's not progressing as fast as I would like... though that may be because I'm not writing as often as I would like. It's not that I don't enjoy writing (if I didn't, I probably would have deleted this blog a few years ago), just... when I want to relax, banging my head against writer's block isn't my idea of doing so. Though, I would probably experience less writer's block if I wrote more often, then what I currently do.
Going to work on some writing, and maybe wast some time... ~Night!
EDIT: Stupid google and needing me to close my /span tag...
Probably also need to continue putting money away for car insurance as well. I believe my 6 months of insurance is up in March, which will mean that I will need 500 dollars by the end of March, so it seems I'll have no money in February or March as well... And then I'll probably have to do a tax payment as well. Stupid finances...
Been trying to write some fiction, though that's not progressing as fast as I would like... though that may be because I'm not writing as often as I would like. It's not that I don't enjoy writing (if I didn't, I probably would have deleted this blog a few years ago), just... when I want to relax, banging my head against writer's block isn't my idea of doing so. Though, I would probably experience less writer's block if I wrote more often, then what I currently do.
Going to work on some writing, and maybe wast some time... ~Night!
EDIT: Stupid google and needing me to close my /span tag...
Monday, January 11, 2010
First day of semester
Well, it's the first day of the semester. Currently only signed up for 2 classes, though considering signing up for a third before the end of Add/Drop. Currently taking Comp Sci 2 and Discrete Structures (again).
I think I really need to start looking for another place to live. Not that I don't like my dorm, but an apartment would be more permanent. Also, depending on how I could get rooming to work, it may be cheaper then my dorm. Currently pay 480 a month at my dorm. It's not too bad, but considering that I share my dorm with 3 other people, if I can find a 2 room apartment for 700, divided between 2 people would be 350, a full 130 less a month than I'm currently paying (though I'd have to provided the utilities). A new place also has the benefits of not having random inspections, then getting a notice of not being in compliance because we have unwashed dishes in our sink.
I also seriously need to look into getting either a second part time job here in Orlando, or a full time job and quitting both the job with my parents and my Orlando job. Though, that will be harder than it seems, since apparently the UCF only places CS classes in the middle of the day. One of the reasons I'm only taking 2 classes is because the other classes I could take would end up preventing me from being able to work. I mean, seriously, shouldn't school work with in my schedule, and not the other way around? In fact, I could go on a huge rant on how the university system currently works... but I currently lack the time for it.
Also, decided to create the (preliminary) stuff for my own software company. Linky here! I'll need to save up some funds to pay the LLC cost so I can be my own company. The main driving factor in this is so I can write off all the programming and tech books I buy, but if I do sit down and create a game, well, this would be my springboard to do it.
Anyway, I need to log. ~Night!
I think I really need to start looking for another place to live. Not that I don't like my dorm, but an apartment would be more permanent. Also, depending on how I could get rooming to work, it may be cheaper then my dorm. Currently pay 480 a month at my dorm. It's not too bad, but considering that I share my dorm with 3 other people, if I can find a 2 room apartment for 700, divided between 2 people would be 350, a full 130 less a month than I'm currently paying (though I'd have to provided the utilities). A new place also has the benefits of not having random inspections, then getting a notice of not being in compliance because we have unwashed dishes in our sink.
I also seriously need to look into getting either a second part time job here in Orlando, or a full time job and quitting both the job with my parents and my Orlando job. Though, that will be harder than it seems, since apparently the UCF only places CS classes in the middle of the day. One of the reasons I'm only taking 2 classes is because the other classes I could take would end up preventing me from being able to work. I mean, seriously, shouldn't school work with in my schedule, and not the other way around? In fact, I could go on a huge rant on how the university system currently works... but I currently lack the time for it.
Also, decided to create the (preliminary) stuff for my own software company. Linky here! I'll need to save up some funds to pay the LLC cost so I can be my own company. The main driving factor in this is so I can write off all the programming and tech books I buy, but if I do sit down and create a game, well, this would be my springboard to do it.
Anyway, I need to log. ~Night!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Blorg
Yes, Blorg is a word. I don't care what spell check's opinion is on Blorg.
Christmas went... ok I guess. Spent it with family, though I spent the week of Christmas working. Pulled about 55 hours in that week, though technically it was divided amongst 2 pay weeks (stupid Wednesday being the divider day). Did get a new set of tires on my vehicle for Christmas, so that made me happy, though I was kind of unhappy that day since my father decided that the family should spend Christmas day at Bush Gardens... I mean, seriously, why?
Sorry... started writing this Tuesday Night, but ended up going to sleep. Now it's Friday, and I haven't had a chance to do anything on this blog...
New Year's Eve went well. Jury duty for me got canceled (was scheduled for it at 9:00am on 12/31/09, but the automated message number I had to call stated that all jurors were relieved of duty on the 31st), so that was good. Ended up taking apart my 360 that day, since it had stopped showing video and was a year or two out of warranty. Ended up finding a capacitor on the board that was damaged, which is where I'd place the most likely cause of the problem (though I'm surprised that that's only interfering with the video).
Afterwards, I had a few friends over for some gaming and game-related video watching to celebrate the New Year's. Kira didn't come since she had plans for Sea World. Tim (this boy I've been flirting with since Jacon, though only really over phone and steam) got called into work. But Chris and Ryan showed up, and we even had a round or two of Brawl going on (Chris has a wii... my sisters have a copy of Brawl that they let me borrow). Felt nice to have friends over, especially after having to spend the week of Christmas with my family. I do love them, but somehow they always manage to raise my stress level by about 700%. The Sunday before I was suppose to leave back for Orlando... well... I wasn't a person you would have wanted to talk to.
Also, if you haven't checked out Unskippables, and you like Mystery Science Theater 3000, then you owe it to yourself to view it. Also, another good thing that website does... worth the watches.
Thinking about starting up my own game company thingy. Largely to act as a tax shelter for my love of purchasing programming and game design books, but also to actually produce a game. Currently mulling over how to do an Escape Velocity Nova clone-type-ish thingy game. I would write it in XNA, with the target platform being the 360, even though I currently don't have a working 360 (yes, I see the flaw in that plan). I'd also write it using XNA for how easy it would be to port it to the computer, and vice-a-versa. Been learning XNA through some books I have (in fact, I may have too many books, not just XNA but in general... or not a large enough bookshelf. There's one foot of clearance between my bookshelf and the ceiling, so maybe I could put more books there...) and so far I'm liking how easy it is to do media... though writing up something to do typing in that game looks like it'll be a PAIN IN THE ASS!!!... at least until I write up some sort of library for it.
You know... it feels good to have an actual direction. Anyway, ~Night!
Christmas went... ok I guess. Spent it with family, though I spent the week of Christmas working. Pulled about 55 hours in that week, though technically it was divided amongst 2 pay weeks (stupid Wednesday being the divider day). Did get a new set of tires on my vehicle for Christmas, so that made me happy, though I was kind of unhappy that day since my father decided that the family should spend Christmas day at Bush Gardens... I mean, seriously, why?
Sorry... started writing this Tuesday Night, but ended up going to sleep. Now it's Friday, and I haven't had a chance to do anything on this blog...
New Year's Eve went well. Jury duty for me got canceled (was scheduled for it at 9:00am on 12/31/09, but the automated message number I had to call stated that all jurors were relieved of duty on the 31st), so that was good. Ended up taking apart my 360 that day, since it had stopped showing video and was a year or two out of warranty. Ended up finding a capacitor on the board that was damaged, which is where I'd place the most likely cause of the problem (though I'm surprised that that's only interfering with the video).
Afterwards, I had a few friends over for some gaming and game-related video watching to celebrate the New Year's. Kira didn't come since she had plans for Sea World. Tim (this boy I've been flirting with since Jacon, though only really over phone and steam) got called into work. But Chris and Ryan showed up, and we even had a round or two of Brawl going on (Chris has a wii... my sisters have a copy of Brawl that they let me borrow). Felt nice to have friends over, especially after having to spend the week of Christmas with my family. I do love them, but somehow they always manage to raise my stress level by about 700%. The Sunday before I was suppose to leave back for Orlando... well... I wasn't a person you would have wanted to talk to.
Also, if you haven't checked out Unskippables, and you like Mystery Science Theater 3000, then you owe it to yourself to view it. Also, another good thing that website does... worth the watches.
Thinking about starting up my own game company thingy. Largely to act as a tax shelter for my love of purchasing programming and game design books, but also to actually produce a game. Currently mulling over how to do an Escape Velocity Nova clone-type-ish thingy game. I would write it in XNA, with the target platform being the 360, even though I currently don't have a working 360 (yes, I see the flaw in that plan). I'd also write it using XNA for how easy it would be to port it to the computer, and vice-a-versa. Been learning XNA through some books I have (in fact, I may have too many books, not just XNA but in general... or not a large enough bookshelf. There's one foot of clearance between my bookshelf and the ceiling, so maybe I could put more books there...) and so far I'm liking how easy it is to do media... though writing up something to do typing in that game looks like it'll be a PAIN IN THE ASS!!!... at least until I write up some sort of library for it.
You know... it feels good to have an actual direction. Anyway, ~Night!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)