So how many of you have already completed your Christmas shopping? I've been doing mine mostly through a program that gives points that can be redeemed for gift cards, so I've earned a $50 gift card just by doing what I would have done anyway. That's nice, since it's an extra gift I can get. So... Weird question of the day - how many of you give presents to your pets as well? We have a dog and a kitten at the moment, and because it's cold, pet beds look like a great option. Who know, maybe it'll keep the kitten from sleeping on my head! I swear he's trying to suffocate me sometimes... Do I have cat breath or something? I gave the pets some cute bandannas last year, and there are some clothing items too on this site, that can help with the cold weather and make for a good Christmas card photo, which reminds me that I need to get those as well... So hectic, as usual. Hope it's going well for the rest of you!

I attend college online myself, so I have some experience with these programs, knowing firsthand how much easier they are on my schedule. Not only that, going to school via internet doesn't acerbate the worst of my medical conditions, and allows me to be home for my son when he needs to be. While I am still finishing my Bachelors, this online MS nursing program require a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college, and combine one weekend of campus hands on learning with your normal online classes. This Master's degree is based on AACN practices and fully accredited with the CCNE, so check them out for nursing, and the beautiful campus they have!

Okay, other than election talk, I've been working on my novel for this month (which reminds me, I need to update my word count) and I've become addicted to World of Warcraft. Lich King comes out today!!!!

And I'm in a lot of pain, so will be going back to the doctor on the 19th to find out what else we need to do. Have very limited mobility unless I take pain meds, which I'm not a fan of, and it's just been a rough couple of weeks.

Midterms are past, so I actually do have more time to update the sites, which is nice, since class is tapering off a bit. I like working with databases - need to have my right hand looked at though as well, since I'm showing the same pain as my left hand before that surgery. If anyone says the word surgery or Obama around me, expect to get water dumped over your head, but I've read some good stories lately that deserve reviews.

Gryphon's Hei Lin Wushu class had an issue but it was resolved quickly by Sifu, so I'm glad about that. Bullies should not be allowed to come to martial arts to learn to be better bullies, and maybe I can't stand up for myself very well, but I will always stand up for my son. Two of our cars broke down on the same day so that took away from Christmas money... and um, not sure what else there is to say since I've been laid up. A lot of posts will be going down in order to replace them with articles regarding parenting, arts, literature, and events, so don't get confused when that happens.

If you're looking to sell your home or just make it a nicer place to live in, you'll want to consider all the details of your furnishings, including crown molding. I enjoyed how nice and clean the layout of this site is; It made it easy to shop, and was easy on the eyes, just the way you want your living space to be. I have to redo my room, so it's always helpful to get links like these, especially when there's such a large selection with nice, tight pictures that you can readily imagine in their rightful spot.

It isn't often you find a store like Inviting Home that lists the inspiration for their pieces, and it appeals to my artistic nature - after all, isn't anything that makes your world more beautiful an artistic endeavor? I didn't even realize I was suffering from "Naked Interior Syndrome" until now! I find myself on the verge of panic, and scurrying for brushes at this dreadful thought! After all, better to spend my copay on some furnishings and medicate myself than to spend all day in the dismal doctor's office, amongst uninspired rooms and tattered magazines from last year. Perhaps my recent depression could be cured by finding my niche in life - my functional wall niche that is! They even have one named after my city, and I love it!

Being somewhat of a gothic nature, I've always enjoyed adding my own personal touches to corbels - some silver leaf, rivets, a dark stain, but you need a good form to start with, one which inspires you to your creative heights. I like the Providence, Sarasota, and Vienna myself, for the more elaborate looks, though there were a few simpler designs I could have some fun with. ^^

Best of luck to the new administration, ironic that it's the 100th anniversary of the NAACP if I understood CNN correctly.

Sending out positive thoughts regarding the election tonight, and waiting to see the results.

I won't be around tonight because I'll be at Centennial but you may be able to catch me mobile if I have a signal. Midterm week, so if you do catch me, expect me to be studying while I'm there.

When I get my own place, I'm going with modern furniture, since I don't know, traditional just bothers me, and isn't my type of thing. And this site has some beautifully unique pieces that are more art than furniture. Some of the beds are so Japanese in design, that I could easily go with my Otaku theme and get the feeling without leaving the country, of being in a foreign land I've been dying to go to for so very long. I'm also very big on storage, and they have a roll-top bench which resembles the type of desks that used to close or roll the cover into the top, and that's just awesome. I love it when art combines with functionality. ^^

I have some progress on my novel, not as much as I'd hoped, but some.

And another reason I am DONE discussing this election - Some girl on Pogo accused me of being racist because another person I didn't know said something about people plotting to harm Obama if he gets elected, and my response was I didn't want my son to see that. Saying I didn't want my son to see a president get shot because his generation already lived through 9/11, and somehow she took that to mean that I didn't want my son to see a black president? I have no idea how, but I've also said that whoever wins, I hope the best for, and that I hope people aren't going to be idiots about it. So much controversy, and it is over for me. I cast my vote, I did my duty, and don't you dare say that I'm a racist simply because I'm open about voting McCain. It had nothing to do with Obama's race, and if you know my voting history, you'd know that. I actually had hoped Hillary would get the nomination, and hell, if Colin Powell ever ran, I think he'd do a great job. Last I checked, he was still black... So apparently I'm not that racist.

Humanity in general annoys me regardless of race, only when they are acting ignorant. Love you all, have to go write and paint, please post comments on my upcoming technical tutorials and blah blah. ^_^

My friend put the best comments, and I'm laughing my ass off right now:

Why did you decide to cancel your membership?

Checked: Too expensive, Had problems with the web site, Would rather play at some other game site.

Other (Please Specify): I pay for better games on a different site now... have already paid about $200 into them. You need serious improvements. And not allowing free members to keep their points more than 60 days ensures that they just lag the system, but can never reach a prize leve, and your new points for prizes rips people off. I think you suck. And if you think anyone wants to play this lame site without prizes like the below questions YOU ARE MORONS. Maybe a GOOD site like POGO which doesn't gaurantee prizes, I would pay to play for certain perks, but your site just sucks. It was a good site in November 2007, but you sent it straight to hell with bad business ethics and decisions.

Overall, how did you like your experience? Any other suggestions or comments?

I liked my experience a year ago, up until about 6 months ago. Your programmers are illiterate regarding good design, your games are flawed, you have no business sense, and I will personally be glad never to visit this site again, as will the other people who had accounts through me. All the decent players have left anyhow, so it's not like we have anyone left to play with but our small team. Way to take an ingenious idea, rub it in monkey feces, and throw it on a cute puppies face, guys. It seems that every time Kaplan logs online, fluffy bunnies run in fear for their cute little cuddly shelters, for fear that they may become your next feces-faced puppy test subject.

Suggestion: Kaplan has proven himself to be a failure at technology related endeavors and even written a book on the matter, so perhaps he should look into something more traditional, such as being a mail clerk.

I fall out of chair now to howl in laughter. Silly friends. Thanks for sending this to me, you little conspirating minx. ~

And the best site to get them from that I know of - Zenni Optical was on FOX news! Very exciting for them, and I hope they keep their prices cheap, but I love their designs. Prices go as low as under $10 for Zenni Optical $ 8 Rx Eyeglasses, because they sell their own manufactured products with no middlemen and barely any advertising. You'll need a prescription to enter in, unless you're buying for cosplay or Halloween (Merry Samhain by the way!).

Seriously, before they get too popular, you should really check out the Incredible Stylish New Frames From Zenni rather than paying up to 80x as much for the same thing and less unique designs, because most of these - you won't have the same glasses as everyone else in your town who went to a generic or even high name glass store.

Been learning about normalization in my class, and on this one database, I can't figure out how to get it to third form normalization. I don't use Access, but I tried their site...

Sorry I haven't posted much. I wrote some new articles that I need to clean up but I need to see a doctor and my mom is injured so I've been the driver and such. I have to have two surgeries and etc. Feel like I'm falling behind in class, which I shouldn't be, since it's using MySQL.

Healthy grilling is a hot subject today, and I adore grilled food over the alternatives. This grill helps you cut the fat out of your food and grill indoors during bad weather - we've had one for years, and I adore it. I have a bit of a phobia towards fire and large grills, but even I can use a George Foreman with no trouble, and still cook a much better meal than I'm normally capable of, and it's amazing to see how much grease runs off that you would have been putting into your body. I mean, ewww. That's why I tend to like things like steamed rice and sushi, because it amazes me how unhealthy our food is and how high our meat consumption is. I do have one tip that I haven't seen put up anywhere - If you're grilling habaneros on your burger or other food, you will want to clean the grill thouroughly before cooking anyone else's food, especially if they don't share your penchant for peppers. That is, unless you really would like everyone giving you the 'eyes of death' for a few hours.

One requires a visa rather than a passport to go from America to Japan for a longer stay, right? I guess it doesn't matter, I found a site that will process it and guide you through it pretty painlessly, because I have a passport but no visa, and I'd like to go to Japan for a while, just as soon as I've passed the JLPT of course. There are new regulations, so now is the best time to go ahead and get one if you don't already have one. You'll need a passport even to go to Mexico after it takes place, which wasn't the case the last time I went.

Apparently I only need a passport if I'm staying less than 90 days, but knowing me, I won't want to come back, so I'll have to apply for a visa and then citizenship. I thought anyone that travels like me might want to know about the changes - needing a passport to go to Mexico, Canada, and other places that didn't have this requirement before. It would be much better to get it now than to wait for the last minute, since it's one less thing to stress over.

I voted! Have you?

Today is my parent's 31st anniversary, which means the gift is timepieces. I just gave my dad a eagle and flag clock, so I guess that counts. We're going to vote and to dinner. McCain, of course! Sifu accidentally put my son's certificate as a blue sash so I have to get that fixed tomorrow. So much going on right now it's not even funny, considering programming and creating products and one of a kind items, plus the new gaming site.

Pogo suspended my account... I'm upset about that. I have 84 badges - would have been 88 by tomorrow and it's one of the only things I have that's just for relaxing. Plus, I've paid a lot into the system for premium stuff, and bought Rayna a subscription as well for Christmas (early). Something must be done, seriously. If I miss this week's two badges, there will be hell to pay.

Anyhow... productive stuff to go finish but I am around if you need to tag me on instant messaging. Just really super busy.

I'd heard of this type of medication, but had not actually seen any sites about pills that reduce your fat absorption so that when you eat, you can still eat fat but not gain as much weight from it. Alli looks like a better alternative than starving yourself or eating icky food you don't want, so you can still keep some of the simple pleasures in your life. You take it with your meals that contain fat, and although it doesn't give major weight loss, it helps as a supplement. An average of 6 pounds may not seem like much to some, but for those of us who are diabetic or have other issues which weight only worsens or can even cause. It's especially useful when you have conditions which conflict with taking anything that raises your heart rate or any amphetamine-like diet medications that are common today.

I joined a new site recently, and although some of my used cds were turned down, others weren't, and this is a great movement, especially for eco-geeks like me. I've done other trades online, but it's difficult - you have to discuss the terms with the other person, figure out what to trade for, and then hope they actually send you the item, which may or may not happen. With this system, you recycle your unwanted items when you clean out your room by mailing them, and you recieve credits that can be exchanged for all kinds of things you do want! It lets someone else use what you were tired of, while not having to barter like other systems. You can get brand new electronics for sending off things you're done with, and it's really easy once you've learned how to use it.

Just put in the UPC of your item or ISBN, and your information, and you will get an e-mail back saying approximately how many points they will give for the entire list, including which ones are denied. Then you can decide what to send and have credited, and trade for an ipod, lcd tv, or almost anything your little geek heart desires. It's a more organized 'recycling by trading' movement than I've ever seen. Sweet! I completely recommend at least submitting a list of your unwanted books and cds to see what you can trade in for Christmas, because you may have items gathering dust that you can convert into something useful!

It seems that weight loss pills now have more of an internet presence than in traditional media, though I still see the occasional commercial. I wonder if it is because you can access so much more information on a website than in a 30 second clip, and whether it is also because you can purchase directly without leaving the house - this has to appeal to people who might be embarassed to go ask questions of a pharmacist or be seen at the counter buying the pills. Despite many of us being overweight, we're still self-conscious about it, at least the people I know. I'm open even with people online that I have a weight issue instead of glossing over it, but that doesn't make it any harder, and it doesn't make me feel any better about it that it's caused by surgeries, limited mobility, and medication. As far as going web-based rather than traditional, I wholeheartedly agree with the idea, because more and more people are like me - I use a DVR, and don't view the commercials. When there is one on the radio, I change the station, or I've become so used to them being the same thing that my mind had adjusted to tuning them out, whereas a website shouldn't be static, but ever-changing and useful, and the internet is what I would use for marketing. Cheaper, more effective (assuming that your intended audience is online, which may not apply to companies marketing solutions towards the impoverished or extremely elderly, or even the very ill), and can be easily updated and varied.

I know I'm behind on my own web comics, but I've been so stressed, and haven't really had anything humorous happen lately, so I went and checked on xkcd rather randomly (I seem to do a lot of things randomly but it works for me) and found this, which has to go on my wall. And it does rather encourage me to get enough of my own comics done to start posting them daily.

So one of our discussions in class this week was regarding good links for programmers to have, and I went the conventional route, giving the Dev SQL site, and other sites, that were specifically programming, but other students went to broader concerns that programmers have and it got me thinking...

There are so many aspects to this field that I'm in. And sure, tutorials and code are great, but there are so many resources that have nothing to do with your coding, so does anyone have a good suggestion? My favorite is using del.icio.us for my bookmarks because then if I'm coding on a different computer, or god forbid, mine crashes, I still have them. Plus I can tag, and choose whether they're public or private, and the tagging comes in handy so much more than only keeping them on one browser in folders.

So, since I am working on redoing this site and others, I'm trying to list programming concerns and resources, and would love to hear from you via instant messaging or comment - Sorry, but trackbacks and comments have to be approved because of spam, but I do get them. I don't allow trackbacks of any kind - you'd be surprised at how many involve adult content and animals, which I'm getting SUPER annoyed at. I will approve comments if they're on-topic or at least mature.

The concerns I can think of so far are debugging, beta testing, backups, remote access... Will try to come up with more once my database test is over. School rocks but it takes up so much time. I already have some beta testers for one of the new sites... If you want in, send me a reason why and a well written few paragraphs so I know you're mature.