Archive for the ‘Everyday stuff’ Category
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8
Jun
2008
Anyone got any bug spray?
There’s nothing strange about hearing rain drops hit an exterior of your car while you are driving. What was strange on my way back to Toronto late last night was that there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky and the drops were sticking to my wind shield.
The following were taken off of my front bumper earlier this morning:
A nasty feeling comes over me when I see these images. Couldn’t believed that this madness is possible. God help those who are planning to do camping this year!
16
May
2008
Electronic border security
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Having a personal device [computer/laptop/pda] cannot be considered luxury; it is without a doubt a necessity these days. All of us have something electronic that we drag around with us on the daily basis: “My wife doesn’t like it but I sleep with my Blackberry tucked away under my pillow” said my manager few days ago – needless to say the electronic devices have become our personal private extensions. Having said that what I’ve read this morning has thrown my warm and fuzzy feelings about privacy right out of the window. It is now legal for any There’s hope though; it requires a bit more effort but you can keep your privacy in spite such drastic regulations. When traveling, keep only crucial data on your devices, delete items that you don’t need. |
Clean your system with appropriate utilities insuring that those items that you delete stay deleted. Spend some time encrypting sensitive information with proper applications [there’s lots of literature out there about passwords and their importance, so pick something harder then your last name in reverse order].
Worst comes to worst your data will be copied/lost but inaccessible.
26
Jan
2008
Acipher Beta
Here’s a very basic version of the tool that I’ve developed a while ago and now converted to an online version using Adobe Flex.
The tool helps those people who wish to write in a different language but are only familiar with a English based keyboard.This is a very basic version of the tool that simply translates character by character. I hope to improve it in the near future.
PS: The tool only translates the Russian language at the moment.
27
Sep
2007
Before Jack, before Chuck, and before time there was SAP.
The top 40 sap facts:
40) SAP is so efficient in creating software, there is actually only one developer writing code, all others are architects and managers.
39) What Yoda really meant to say about the force: Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to ABAP.
38) The song “Killing me softly” was originally written by a SAP customer
37) The matrix runs SAP
36) When SAP NetWeaver was released, there was a disturbance in the Force
35) SAP is so secure that condoms are made from it
34) SAP can divide by zero.
33) By reading the source code of transaction SE38 you will temporarily be granted invisibility [SE38 starts up the editor]
32) SAP made Bill Gates retire. When asked why, SAP answered “Because we can”
31) SAP: It’s not just a job; it’s a wardrobe.
30) SAP stand for SLOW AND PAINFUL
29) Chuck Norris uses SAP to keep track of his death count
28) Not 42, but SAP is the answer to life, the universe, and everything.
27) Oracle still hides the fact that FUSION stands for: Finally use SAP in our network
26) The European Union has decided that by 2008, ABAP will be the only offical language used in parliament
25) If you post a question in the SDN ABAP forum, Rich Heilman already has the answer typed in and is just waiting for you to
press the “Post Message” button.
24) SAP only made its software so complicated because this way they were able to lay the foundation for the vast SDN community that would soon replace all SAP developers. As SDN points are easier to give away than monetary salary, the company’s increase in profitability is expected to crush all existing stock software, making place for SAP to installed in there, which would increase sales again … all in order with the SDN program (SAP Dies Never).
23) GOD runs SAP
22) It’s a little known fact that if you are on SAP’s network you will never get a “server not responding” or 404 page not found error… nobody is too busy to not talk to SAP.
21) His Holyness Pope Benedict XVI is an SAP certified ABAP programmer
20) The Klingon Empire runs SAP
19) SAP NetWeaver doesn’t adhere to the J2EE specification, the J2EE specification adheres to the SAP NetWeaver specification
18) All SAP consultants have a black belt in Karate
17) SAP invented the internet
16) SAP stands for Suffer After Purchase
15) The strongest and unbreakable argument in any architectural discussion is: “It was done this way in ABAP”
14) SAP stands for Start Applying Patches
13) Your SAP is not connected to the internet. The internet is connected to your SAP.
12) The real reason behind Pluto’s recent demotion from planet status: incomplete plant configuration in NASA’s SAP system.
11) It is rumored that Michael Corleone, “The godfather” used to work as a consultant in SAP.
10) The ultimate survival strategy if we ever find intelligent life in the galaxy is to SAP them right away …
9) Spiderman is powered by NetWeaver.
8) Julius Ceaser, Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan ran SAP. Their successors didn’t.
7) Sony Advanced Playstation
6) SAP next releases will come with a lifetime supply of Prozac
5) asap is actually an abbreviation for “in A SAP way”
4) Leonardo da Vinci was SAP Certified!!!
3) Whenever a new bug is found in SAP someone gets a hickup.
2) Every kid had his/her heroes…Boys had Superman, Girls had Lara Croft…And young Abapers…they had Rich Heilman.
1) On the first day God created SAP
…… That’s all folks ……
12
Sep
2007
How common is your last name?
An amusing article listed the top 250 Russian names in the Russian Federation.
Interestingly enough the name Титов translated to Titov in English was the thirty fourth most common surname. Talk about the Smith’s of America.
In addition to the name commonalities you would be able to find how a typical Russian male/female would look. The samples were gathered from a large collection of individuals and then blended together to create the images.
27
Aug
2007
Make your code look pretty in WordPress
Just activated the Google Code Prettify plug-in for WordPres. The results seem to be excellent: added code now contains colored scheme and the parsing seems to be simpler if you use the <pre class=”prettyprint”>...</pre> tags.
The implementation seems to be workign better with comparison to the native <code> ...</code> tag set implemented in WordPress. Mainly I no longer have a problem with tab spaces and I only need one set of tags to encapsulate the entire contents of my code snippet.
9
Aug
2007
Toronto Comic Arts Festival
TCAF is coming up on August 18th and 19th at the Old Victoria College building on the University of Toronto Campus.
Admission is FREE!
Show Hours:
Saturday, August 18th: 10am-7pm
Sunday, August 19th: 10am-6pm
Over a hundred artists and other comic-related guests will be in attendance showcasing their work and discussing the comic art form.
UDON Crew in Attendance:
Scott Hepburn
Jim Zubkavich
Saturday 3pm: Digital Comics and Digital Media Workshop
Various comics professionals take you through the creation of their digital art. All of the creators work differently with different results, and the creators will be sharing as much with each other as with the audience! Featuring artists from Imaginism Studios, Atilla Adorjany, James Jean (Fables), Jose Villarubia (Promethea) and Jim Zubkavich (UDON Comics).
Note: Attendance for this workshop is strictly limited to 60 participants. Participants must register at the main registration desk at the front entrance to Victoria College on the first floor before 2pm on Saturday, August 18th.
25
Jul
2007
The end of a great story.
Just as many others I was waiting patiently for the final book in the series of Mr. Harry Potter‘s adventures. I became an instant fan last year. Having watched the first four movies I didn’t waist any time and started off with the fifth book [The Order of Phoenix]. Plunging in to the depths of magic the novel mesmerized me, bewildering my senses and capturing my imagination.
Shortly after I finished book five and six. Amazed by the intricate details and a twisting plot I earned for more. Eager to learn even a little bit about the upcoming finale I naturally turned to the web. Finding hundreds of fan sites I stumbled across J.K.Rowling web-page. The author had a poppy layout and provided additional hints and insights about the characters and general plot of the novel. More importantly I learned that I was not alone; just like millions of fans I was a part of a larger community that wanted to know what will happen to the boy who lived. But just like everyone else I had to wait.
The months went on. The author released hints about the upcoming book: talks about possible deaths of main characters and uncertainty regarding Harry’s survival made me more curious. The desire grew so great that I found my self glimpsing at spoilers one late afternoon; quickly closing the link in fear of ruining the ending.
The day of the final book arrived on midnight of July 21st, 2007 and I was one of many who rushed to get their hands on the final masterpiece. Unable to stop I spent hours in company of great wizards and witches. Ronald, Hermoine, and Harry; Albus, Severus, Minerva and Hagrid; Neville, Ginny and Luna; Fred and George; Lupin, Tonks and Alastor Moody; Dudley, Petunia and uncle Vernon, Molly and Arthur Weasley, Isabelle Delacour and Persey, the Deatheaters and of course the hissing soulless man who’s name I am not afraid to say – Lord Voldemort [the Chief Deatheater] all kept me company. I was delighted to get back to Hogwarts, The Ministry of Magic and even Number Twelve, Grimmauld Place. I spent hours flipping through chapters grasping every word, every phrase, every daring act and bravery.
The book, in my humble opinion was a worthy conclusion to the epic story. Quick, exciting, mysterious and heart stabbing: the novel guided me one last time through the magical world of Harry Potter. When it was all over I found my self feeling remorseful; like loosing a dear friend. I miss the characters immensely, and will undoubtedly go through the entire journey all the way from the beginning at some point in the future. It is without a doubt one of my favorite fictional works.
I raise my goblet in salute to J.K.Rowling, well done!
12
Jul
2007
The first post
This blog signifies my second step in rebuilding the techsplice.com domain.
This Blog will surve me the purpose of keeping track of my daily activities and projects that I will undergo in the near future. I hope to regenerate my interest in onlne-blogging by installing the Word Press application.
11
Oct
2006
Green Jackets
Between tests, assignments and that yearly honor roll award ceremony I hardly notice high school anymore. I am a loner, people know me; I am that chubby kid. I tend to distance my self from them; I don’t make an effort to socialize. I try to blend in.
I like to stay late at school, I really enjoy working with computers. Mr. Mooney is my programming teacher. He’s a Scotsman in his thirties. He has a clean black goatee, he wears slick glasses; we like to call him Millhouse sometimes. I enjoy talking to him; he has a great sense of humor.
It’s Wednesday afternoon and I need to get home before it gets dark. I pack my books and turn off the computer. “See you tomorrow Mr. Mooney” and I run out of the computer lab. It’s a two km walk to my house. I don’t like to take the bus, it’s not cheap, and having extra change in my pocket is a priority. The streets are almost empty, most students are long home enjoying the usual six o’clock television show.
Ahead of me I see two teenagers, they are wearing similar green jackets, and black pants. They must be from my school. As I gain closer I recognize one of them. It’s Darien, his un-tucked shirt and lowered pants make him look like a gangster.
I continue with the same pace and pass them right as we enter the residential area. I don’t acknowledge them; last thing I want is to draw attention. Continuing my pace I gain some distance and some comfort. Suddenly,
“Hay, you have any cash?”
Just keep walking you don’t need to answer,
“Hay you, do you have any money?” I hear the voice again this time angrier.
I briefly turn and see Darien staring at me. He has that smirk on his face, I feel like a kitten that will be drowned soon.
“I don’t have anything.” I turn and continue walking.
“Come on I just need a toonie” this time the voice is much closer, they are right behind me.
I don’t like this, I am not particularly brave but I will not let him push me around. I look Darien straight in the eye and don’t say anything.
They back off for a second, I continue heading forward. I hear some murmuring. Suddenly a strong thrust lunges in to my back. I fall forward but manage to maintain my balance. I turn around and get my guard up. Darien’s partner tries to kick me again, he misses and I grab him by his neck, squeezing it between my biceps. I know I have him, my grip is tight there is no where to go. Darien jumps on my back and places four direct hits to my neck. I loose my balance and fall on the ground.
The concrete is wet. Two sharp kicks hit my back. A car passes by, a woman looks at me; I hope she stops. She keeps driving; I lift my self off the ground. Two more kicks this time hitting my ass. I stumble in the nearby store, they stop; I’m saved.
I catch my breath and try to stay in control, my hands are shaking. I spend the next half an hour moving from store to store hiding from them. There is only about a kilometer left to my house, and it seems that Darien is no where in sight. I take a deep breath and leave the secure walls of the shopping mall.
I walk quickly; about ¾ further I notice two figures far behind me. It’s them, I know they see me, I turn and run; I am so close. I quickly glance behind, they are chasing me. I run behind a random building, they don’t follow; I lost them.
Taking side alleys trying to avoid major open areas I make my way home. I’m safe I made it.
