Month: August 2006

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Redesign, Part 2

So apparently OCF went through a bit a server upgrade, so my OCF site is a lot faster. Good news there.

Meanwhile, I not only redesigned a blog, I decided to try out a new operating system. Specifically, I installed Ubuntu Linux on my laptop. I didn’t permanently move away from Windows, though, as it is still in my system. For a free operating system, it works very well. The icons have greatly improved, so it looks a lot better than other versions I’ve tried. It also detected my wireless card right away, unlike other versions. It didn’t, however, let me connect to wireless points that had passwords at first, but somehow it started working (I still don’t know how). As everyone states in the blogs, MP3s and DVDs don’t play out of the box, so you have to install support for it. However, a program called EasyUbuntu adds that and a few other things, though I still haven’t figured out how to play DVDs. Also the alternative function keys on my laptop keyboard don’t work, and neither does the memory stick reader. Also, it’s still pretty hard to install programs, though it does have a net Add/Remove Programs feature that lists many of the apps that can be installed on the machine. It’s not a comprehensive list, but it’s pretty hand and sure bets searching Download.com and the rest of the web for a program (though I have yet to find a livejournal client I like as much as Semagic). What is best about Ubuntu though is that you can try it with a CD (that they will even ship to you for free with no shipping) and without affecting the current computer you are working on.

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Wine tasting in Napa

So last Friday, August 4th, I went to the Napa Valley for the first time. Napa, in case you didn’t know, is know for its incredible wine vineyards. I went to three different wineries: Mumm, Copia (though it’s not really winery; it’s described as a discovery center), and Ceja. It was a work related event with the ESL Program at Berkeley. I’m finally old enough to go (despite what my outer appearance would suggest), though I never particularly cared for wine too much (or anything grape-flavored that wasn’t actually a grape). I must say it felt like one of the more “grown-up” things I’ve done. Nevertheless I had a lot of fun on this trip.

Mumm is a neat place, because it is one of the few wine tours that actually shows you how they make wine (at least that’s what the tour guide said).

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Rebuild

I thought my interest in Livejournal and blogging might be rekindled if I redesigned with another theme. So I decided to get one of those accounts with Ads and picked the popular component theme ( I think vociferouspanda uses it). Another thing that seems cool about Livejournal now is they also allow to post YouTube videos now and has better integration with Photobucket (which I never got into, but is extremely popular).

I also decided to change the theme on my OCF site, though I’m seriously believing that I need real web site host. If you’re wondering who makes this design, it’s called Hemingway by Kyle Neath. I can’t decide though whether or not to move to it now (so that it might help me get another job) or get it later (when I would have a better paying job). Decisions decisions.

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The Post Mid-Summer Update

Yeah, I’ve been slacking on blogging on anything. It’s probably because I’ve been finding everything rather boring lately. I haven’t really moved any where or done anything particularly exciting as of late except go to a San Francisco Giants and San Diego Padres game last week. I will say though that AT&T Park is probably one of the nicest places to watch a baseball game though. It looks over a magnificent view of the cove and the marina that’s really something that needs to be seen.

So if you didn’t know I still work for the College Writing Programs at Berkeley, but it’s a lot more exciting in the summer. Since a lot of these kids are just in America for the summer, they take them to events like the baseball game and I get to go if I wish. They’re going wine tasting in Napa this Friday, and even though I don’t particularly care for wine, I’m still going.

Yes I still live over at my frat, though surprisingly I’ve never lived in the house for the summer. I do feel a bit more responsible for myself this summer, especially when it comes to things like food and keeping a budget. I’m still trying to figure out that balance though of feeling good now and putting aside for the future.

I say this a lot, but I really mean it. The years fly by way too fast. I realize I let to many people and things slip away from me. Sure that’s the way life is a lot of the time, but is it so wrong to think you can hold on to things for just a little longer?

Anyways, that’s all I want to say for now. I’m off to bed.