November 2002 archives
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Tuesday, November 19, 2002
you're in the big leagues now, Junior
About 5 minutes ago, I turned in my second project for operating systems, 10 minutes ahead of the deadline. Was it complete? I'm sorry...you must have had this confused with an undergraduate project.
We were given two weeks to do this thing. While juggling other projects/tests/homework, I still worked on this thing for who knows how many hours. Total lines of code written: 2,666. Total number of Java classes: 20. And most of it still doesn't work correctly, even after about 7 hours spent doing nothing but debugging.
I got up this morning at 8:10 a.m., and save the time eating breakfast and attending the one class that I had today, I have spent every second in front of my computer screen today attempting to get this thing done. I succeeded somewhat. It compiles, it even does some of the things it's supposed to correctly. But it's not complete.
While at class, a colleague informed me that some of the people in my class had just given up and turned whatever they had in. It was just another reminder that we're all in the same boat, for the most part.
The professor let us know that he was unsure of the scope of the project and that it was difficult to walk the fine line between interesting and overwhelming. Let's just say that the line is a dot to him, as far as this project is concerned. If you gave me another week, with absolutely nothing else on my plate, maybe, just maybe, I could have it done by then.
And, of course, the next project builds off of this one. Gales of laughter come from our collective weary souls here. It's the laughter of the downtrodden.
Yep, EE 480 was hard, when I took it. The MBA coursework was difficult, when I took it. Yet the bar still has the ability to be raised even further, and it has been here. I don't know if I can take too many more days like this. The scary thing is, this upcoming month looks to be fraught with them.
EE 480 was AA-ball. The MBA was AAA. This, kids, is staring down Randy Johnson.
I realize that this isn't exactly uplifting news, but please understand. I just spent the past 16 hours either staring at a computer screen or in class. I'm amazed my brain is still functioning properly.
Saturday, November 9, 2002
random thoughts of the week
Some scribbles before I go to bed tonight:
- My highest grade of my four midterms: 81.5. Number of A's: 3. Says a little something about grad school, doesn't it?
- When it comes right down to it, there's no poetry like teenage angst poetry.
- I've seen more of my computer than I care to think about this semester.
- I'm fighting a losing battle with my apartment on the cleaning front.
- About the haircut I got today: let's just say there's a reason why they call it "barber college".
- If I hit the "Caps Lock" key one more time on a Sun workstation keyboard thinking that it's "Control", I just might scream.
- It may just be me, but I think that it's a paradox when a prosecutor says that they wanted to prove that actors aren't above the law as far as a crime is concerned and then says that they won't seek jail time for said crime.
- If you'd have given me 11-2 at the beginning of the year, I'd have taken it in a heartbeat if you could promise me the two weren't Auburn and Tennessee. Now I kinda wonder what might have been...
- The Count of Monte Cristo is a pretty good film. My friend Jeremy is now 2-for-2 on Guys' Night movie picks.
- The weather should stay all year long like it's been for the past three days.
- I realize that Veterans' Day is about so much more than getting a day off, but right now I need the extra sleep and the time for my projects.
- I'm tired...so tired.
Sunday, November 3, 2002
I knew I could be an ad exec!
You may or may not recall that over two years ago I had what I thought was a brilliant idea for a car commercial.
I hadn't thought anything more about it until about 10 minutes ago, when I saw a Cadillac commercial that used my idea! Okay, so it was two big-rigs, but other than that...
All right, now, GM...where are the royalties?
Friday, November 1, 2002
another batch of random mayhem
Thoughts from this week...
- I just came back from a costume party. I went as a cowboy. Someone told me that I actually pull off the look (cowboy hat and all) well, although it may just be because I'm in the minority down here in Florida.
- The singer of "Brown Eyed Girl" was right...Tuesdays are so slow.
- So, do you suppose that female 'Bama cheerleaders all inhale a tank of helium before they do their thing on Saturdays?
- Chunky Chips Ahoy now officially takes its place on the list of "foods that cause Brandon to experience Biblical gluttony", alongside Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cheez-Its.
- Can you imagine me as a tenor? Because that's what I'm singing in the church choir that I joined this past week.
- Sign #178 that I'm getting old: the speaker at lunch on Tuesday asked us who was in college five years ago and I was the only one to raise my hand.
- It hurts to be a Tide fan so far from home with no TV coverage and no radio affiliate. Yeah, yeah, I realize that I can listen to the game via Internet broadcast. Let me complain, will ya?
- Diet Cherry Coke is now my favorite diet drink.
- That ESPN story about Vanderbilt's football team not being allowed to curse was at once one of the most heartening (I'm all for Bobby Johnson's idea) and funniest stories I've ever seen ESPN produce.
- Everybody needs a friend like Dr. Mike Burton. If you don't get this, you need to watch Ed.