Im guilty, but I've learned my lesson

Smartphone crimes. You know the ones I speak of. If you don't let me break it down for you. Oh, but before I forget
*DISCLAIMER: I used to be totally guilty of being a phone nerd so just amuse me*

iPhone vs. Android. 
Being from both sides of the fence, I feel I am the port authority on this. And if you buy that I will sell you another one. iPhone3g-iPhone4. Great devices. Id say before the 4, the iPhone was just a great device. Thanks to the hype that was created by Apple for the 4, the iPhone became the Coach and Prada of  mobile devices. Now the iPhone is a status symbol for people. I have heard the words "Your nobody if you don't have an iPhone" come out of somebodies mouth. That right there is when I decided to be a nobody.  Trying multiple android devices it took me awhile to learn the android game. There are high end Android devices and low end devices. if you dont have a high end one, they are shit phones. If you have a high end one they are the best thing going. 

The Galaxy Note. Thing is huge. 5" screen is nasty, but is it practical? Could be, depends on what you like to do. That said. I was pointed to a YouTube video of the Note vs. the iPhone 4S by a good friend of mine. Obviously this video was made by Samsung and the women operating the iPhone was an actress playing dumb about her iPhone, so there is a huge biased there. Its the comments from the people that watched the video that drove me through the roof as always. I must stay away from the comments section. BUT. I. CANT.

Blame it on trolling if you will, but some of the comments I swear has led me to this and I want you to take full warning when I say this because it is the truth. YOUR PHONE DOES NOT IN ANYWAY DEFINE YOU AS A PERSON. IT IS NOT A STATUS SYMBOL ANYMORE. All caps. Yea, I went there. Why did I go there, simple. When the iPhone was expensive, not many people had it. Thats fine, and I'm glad Apple lowered the price, its good for competition, where the Samsungs and the HTC's have upped their game, and I like that, but people are taking this shit way to serious now. Throwing Specs around and blah blah blah, I can do this and it does this. WHO CARES! Does it work for you? And be honest, do you get what you, YOU, want it to do. Than thats all that matters. 

Pissing matches over computer specs, Ham vs. Turkey. White over Wheat. Chevy vs. Ford. Android vs. Apple. Who cares. Just be you and like what you like because you like it. I used to think I was the greatest thing walking when I had an iPhone because it was newer, it was rare, and I knew a lot of things about it. (I had help). Now its a bigger dick game that I will not get involved in. if you wanna see the video or gander at the comments heres the link--->  http://youtu.be/l2gjn12QS9I

~Thanks for Stopping By~
Luke

Who am I and what has happened to me?

I wonder who I am and what I have become over the years. What happened to me I will never know. Maybe I never had it to begin with. Am I lazy? Sometimes. But what has happened to me since being laid off almost 2.5 years ago is unknown.

I go to class everyday, I know my way around a smartphone like it is nobodies business. Specs, brands, what they can and cant do. I know my way around a computer pretty good, and the programs that come with them. I know that doesn't seem like a big deal because a lot of people know how to do that, but seriously, I cant tell you how many people I have to help out weekly with this stuff. Some get it and some don't. Maybe that is the category I fit in.

My internal struggle right now and my whole University run at an Associates is where the current problem resides. Name the class, and I will have a problem. I get what we are doing in class and I understand what I'm doing....(UNTIL)....I get home and I'm dumb. Its like I never learned anything. Right now in my Advanced web servers class, I'm fine. Until I get to my iMac and start to do the assignments. Fucking Lost!!! I coded the required task by the professor, (YIPPI). The .php logic that makes the page do its next step. NOPE! Isny going to happen, not on this shift. Completely dumb. Logic. Simple as it may seem, it really isnt for me right now. To watch people do it fast like it was the simplest thing I have ever seen depresses me so much cuz I should be that good. Why cant I do this stuff like everyone else?

I must have been dropped on my head or something when I was a baby. I have never felt smart, and I know I'm struggling with retaining information. This is the story throughout my whole life, and I wish I knew why.
~Thanks for stopping by~
Luke

There really arent any friends in this game

Today I had a good learning experience in class involving 3 classmates. 2 of them I worked with earlier this semester on presentations and 1 I became friends with last semester in my web servers class. The 2 I speak of enjoyed my work and the things I brought to the presentation, so I felt I made an impact and earned acceptance for future presentations. Sadly, this wasn't the case.

Before today's presentation with another group of people I went to the lab the submit the powerpoint to the teacher electronically. I remembered that I had to print out a slides page for the professor and could not for the life of me remember how to do it. Seeing the other 2 (I will keep calling them that BTW) I said "Hey, can you tell me how to print off the slides  page?" The 2 just looked at me and looked the other way instantly. I thought it weird at the time, but I could already tell what was going on. Seeing how we weren't working together this time it was like a every group for themselves attitude. Whatever the case may be, on to the next situation.

Prof. said we had to pick our own groups for the next presentation. I went to the 2 and asked if they wanted to group up? I just got a look and a ummmm from both of them. Seeing where this was going to go I went to the 1 from last semester and asked him. Now, the background with this 1. We became friends and talked through texts here and there last semester and this semester because we are taking similar courses, so somewhat of a friendship we had going. His reply was I have some people already, the 2 went to him and said we need one more, 1 of the 2 motioned for me to come over to the group. In the time it took me to grab my coat and binder and walk over to them, I was told by the 1 that they were full. I see a trend going on here. I said to him, "you mean in the 4 seconds it took me to walk over here you filled it already? "OK!"

I'm not crying by any means, I assembled a group and we will do fine I'm sure, but the people that were buddy with me, also turned on me. Thats when I seen how this class, or degree program is going for that matter. It is a competition to these people, but it shouldn't be. We aren't competing for a job. We are there to get degrees. These fucking geeks are really concerned with someone doing better than them. Who cares? You want to do well, I get that, everyone wants to do well. But to pull some shit like that makes me think that I should be more like I have always been in my life. Fuck everybody else, worry about me and don't worry about being kind to the next guy. This class is a joke as is, but it just got a lot more interesting.

~Thanks for stopping by~
Luke

The wallet of life

How much of your life is your wallet? Pretty much all of it really if you think about it. Social Security Card, license, Gamestop rewards card, Wegmans card, Tops card. The hours of my haircut girl, My bank card, my insurance cards, my student ID....on and on and on.

Well, kiss all those things goodbye, because my wallet is gone. It really is an inconvenience. Now I have to get all these things replaced. This day is just lovely, and it makes me wonder why the hell everything has to be in our wallets. I'm going to spend $25 for the student ID to be replaced, and who knows about the license. I can live without the rest for they don't cost anything to get replaced, but its the principal of the thing.

Not knowing where it went is the most frustrating part though. Did I drop it? If I did someone would of found it, so it feels like I've been robbed, and that's what really makes my blood boil. Keep the whopping $7 I had in there, but the rest is personal. I just got that wallet only like 3 years ago, so it was just getting to the shape I like. I cant bear the thought of starting over again. UGH! 

My card has been canceled, but I just cant bring myself to give up. I'm in high hopes I will get a phone call or something and I will magically have my wallet back. Too much of your life is in your wallet. Way too much as far as I'm concerned. NFC needs to become a massive reality and Google wallet will be the only currency left. As for the other things, those need to be programmed into a chip in your head. Makes life easier ya know.

~Thanks for stopping by~
Luke 

Coffee

Coffee, it is the wonder drug of America is it not? I love coffee. Black, Cream, No sugar, a little sugar, it doesn't matter. I NEED COFFEE TO GET ME GOING IN THE MORNING!!! Sorry, but it is exciting. Yes coffee is exciting. The only problem with coffee now is that it does not keep me awake anymore.

This morning after finishing a travel mug of Folgers Black Silk, which is a very dark roast made from my Keurig K-Cups; I found myself passing out in my first class. Isn't Coffee supposed to be the pep to get ya going in the morning? Coffee isn't supposed to make you start getting sleepy. Maybe coffee has been such a big part of my life and drinking it since I was literally 6 or 7 I have grown to be immune to the effects of coffee. Maybe somehow this immunity has caused me to have a reverse effect and it makes me tired. I have drank coffee at 10pm and fall asleep instantly.

Whatever the case may be. I need my coffee in the morning and while I'm doing some homework. That said I say raise a cup of your finest. Today coffee I salute you. For making social experiences more tolerable, for making me happy, for just being there in my time of need. You coffee have never let me down, and I will never not drink you.

~Thanks for stopping by~
Luke

Only my wife

Today is my wife's birthday. That's right. The old girl is 37. And of course, because she has the most amazing luck in the world, she is sick. Only my wife.

~Thanks for stopping by~
Luke

ign.com is pathetic

I'm just confused as to why ign.com can only give good game reviews to Call of Duty, Battlefield, Skyrim, or Batman? Seriously, these are all good games yes, but why is it when a game that isnt hyped to the floor boards comes across the review desk it gets shit from them.

Just finished the Darkness II. The game was great. I loved the first one so much. I played that game all the way through 3 times and I could still do it today. Its a little off the norm compared to some games and thats what sets it apart from all the other games on the market. And The Darkness II did the same thing with some added effects to make the game look like the comic book which is where the game is inspired from. Although I wasn't a fan of the comic book look, the game was still great. I really enjoyed it and I'm going to start working on the Vendettas in the game next.

ign.com loves to get meticulously crucial with these kind of games and it pisses me off. Does the story deliver and keep you interested? Yes. Was there lots of shooting and gore that got you excited every time you ripped a person in half with the darkness? Fuck yes!!! So y u ruin the game ign.com with your dumb review. If the game is good and makes you want to play the story more than once it should at least get a 9. Unlike Call of Duty where I could give a shit about the story after its been played, but alas, they keep giving these games 9 to 9.5's.

So today The Darkness II, I salute you for being a good game, although short, you kept me occupied and happy for 7 hours. Now on to the vendettas which will give me more enjoyment.

~Thanks for Stopping by~
Luke

Android Kitty ftw

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Oh Twitter

With Facebook becoming the biggest snooze fest ever I decided to start a new twitter account earlier last year. Out of this new journey I made some new friends. I met a local women who is a web designer which has been helpful with some of my homework. In turn her husband is a huge Philadelphia Flyers fan, just like this guy here. Made some friends from the UK. One of them named Jamie, I play Xbox and have convos about tech and web design. In this mayhem, I have followed and gotten followers back. Not a popularity contest by any means, but all the same fun. So I say to you twitter, Today I salute you. Thanks for chewing up all my free time, weather it be on the toilet, or slacking off in class. Thanks for making the parts of my day that are somewhat boring have a purpose.

~Thanks for stopping by~

Luke

The college experience being taught by the Google

HTML, PHP, slides, web design. This is all I have done since the semester has started back up. I understand getting a degree in CIS isn't supposed to be all fun and games, but it seems like the first 2 weeks has been nothing but work work work, and no end in sight. I enjoy learning new things that I may someday pursue a career in (I doubt it) but with lectures lasting an hour long with no actual hands on time until class is about to end seems a little absurd. Now when I am at home doing work and I am stuck I either email my professor and sometimes get a reply or consult the Google as my one professor likes to call it. Sadly, this is the truth. Professors stand up there and talk and then turn you loose. With little time left in labs, the professor finds himself/herself running around trying to get to everyone, which usual is a complete failure. I have respect for my professors, but don't they see what they are doing is completely backwards or broken? I would think more hands on time students would benefit the greatest from what they are being taught. I do also understand the professor would be stopping a lot more because you are going to have that one student who just doesn't get it, but please professors, everything you are rambling on about will have left my ears and flown out the window before you can finish your sentence. 

What does one do when the moment comes and I cannot remember what the professor has said? Like everyone else in this world. Consult a search engine. I learned more this week off of my questions to a forum or a similar question asked by someone else who also hasn't retained anything they heard, because they need to have the hands on experience to grasp the full concept of what is going to happen if they link the .php page to their .html page with bad if statements. 

The forums that the Google kicks back to you are probably being answered by the professors themselves. Don't doubt it for a second.

Thanks for stopping by
Luke

Is it Strange to visit someone you've never met.

2007 was a wonderful time. Yea, 2007 was the time of Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare. Not only was the story great, but playing online opened a new door for people, I myself made some friends along the way. This is where I am stumped right now. Let me give you some brief history for my first Blog. While playing this addicting competitive game we know and love, I ran into a gentleman running all over the map like a maniac. The map was wet work, known for its dark and raining environment, making it hard to hear the enemy coming behind you. The enemy being another playing on the end of an I.P. address and a controller. This particular game however, Lets just say my k/d was suffering. which I also knew nothing about k/d at the time was being disintegrated by a gamer tag at the time known as PushDatWeight. Now known as Betty Crock3r (that I'll save for another time). After being destroyed by this clown, he began to talk to me and added me to his friends list. We started playing so much that we swapped phone numbers to set up play times. Insane? but FUN!!! This gamer relationship became a friendship that has gone up until this very day. Whom I am texting with as I write this. Texts, Phone calls, Skypes, FaceTimes, pictures, Videos have been shared between us for 4.5 years now. The funny thing is we have never met each other, and that's where the question as well as the title comes into play. Is is Strange though? Seriously.

After this 4.5 year relationship I am finally going to meet this clown that I have been able to compare as a very close friend. 4.5 years. That's a long time to have a friendship and not actually have a face to face meeting with the person. He knows a lot about me, I know a lot about him and we have never met. Michigan from New york isn't a bad drive either, but this whole situation has me confused at the same time. What if we meet and cant stand each other? Not too mention that we both have egos the size of California. Either way though I am happy to call this guy a friend. he has steered me in a direction in my life that I may not have ever gone before. He has shown me what is better technology than what I had before. Like when I had a Blackberry, he explained why the iPhone was better. I got an iPhone. He showed me the benefits of OSX opposed to Windows. I have an iMac. Which all of these cards falling into place peeked my interest into knowing what makes all this stuff work. I have always loved technology, but being married young and a high school drop out hasnt made life easy to just sit down and play with this stuff like I do now. I am now pursuing a degree in Computer Information Systems. Taking me out of my Blue Collar environment to a tech world has been exciting to say the least. Always loving tech, and now being able to play with it everyday is great, And all of this may have never happened if he didnt get in my head and say that there is better out there and lets make it do what you want it to do. Jailbreaking was where the tech wheels started grinding. The process of doing something illegal at the time and pirating apps was so fascinating. And lets not get confused with this 45 second jailbreaking bullshit, I mean the gritty stuff, when Cydia was just a raindrop in the community. Keith pushed me to this, made me learn and want more out of my tech life. Yes, 4.5 years without meeting the person that made me want to strive for more. 

All I can say is that meeting him finally is going to be interesting, and hopefully will be the start of a yearly thing. Who knows, maybe we will kill each other in a blaze of glory, maybe we will just play Call of Duty, maybe we will become even better friends then we already are. Either way I'm looking forward to it. Wish me luck, and have a good day. You deserve it.


~This is my first official blog~ 
Thanks for stopping by,
Luke