Raven's Journal

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10867596/

If Iran has a problem with the location of Israel, then don't try to argue the Holocaust didn't happen. There is so much evidence (scientific, eye witness accounts, historical, etc...) that debating its existence is a waste of time. The Holocaust happened, end of story. It's a horrible event in human history.

Also Iran's argument that Israel should be located in Germany or the United States is silly. I don't really see how the United States played an active role in the Holocaust (though it is true that our government did not do what it could to slow down the slaughter). In addition, the current German government is far removed from the Nazis.

I think the problem is Israel has to be located in the Middle East and it has to be where it is. The Jewish religion views that land as holy and part of their birth right. I think the land of Israel also belongs to all of its residents (Jewish or otherwise). It's a shame that no serious action has been done to share the land and authority.

We're going over the first chapter in the book (introduction to networking). That reminds me I need to email my advisor and set up a meeting time for my project.

I emailed one of my co-workers about the .NET changes needed for the intro programming classes. My opinion about the CS department switching the intro classes to C# is not favorable.

I ran into Luke when I buying a coffee on the way to class. That was nice. :)

My day has been rather slow, but at some moments didn't seem to stop.

I've had oatmeal, a piece of bread, juice and some coffee so far. I think I may want to consider purchasing lunch soon.

I tried to use MSN spaces (for testing purposes) on my Mac. I'm out of luck since I don't use Windows and IE 6.

My work schedule will be different this semester. I will work in the afternoons and focus more on projects. One of my co-workers is willing to deal with the morning shit, and I wish him luck!

No word on the new building director. I just expect they will have the person show up in our office one day.

http://ars.userfriendly.org/cartoons/?id=20060108

The video featuring the Windows Vista team made me cry. Do they really have to make Windows crapper?

Unless you're familiar with OS programming algorithms and techniques, the video is pretty boring. If you do happen to be familiar with those concepts, the video makes you cry and sit in the fetal position.

I only snapped at Luke once today. He has been better than afternoon / evening than in the morning. Luke isn't lying when he says he can be a dick when he's ill.

I hope Luke feels well enough to go to Barnes & Nobles tomorrow.

The grades for Fall are in. I knew my master's project would be an incomplete (it will until everything is turned in). But the good news - I got an A in advanced operating systems! It brought my overall GPA up .2!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/12/08/airplane.gunshot/index.html

I would feel better about the whole thing if there was another witness regarding the bomb threat. Right now it seems to be the air marshall's word against the rest of the passengers.

Here's my day so far:

1. My professor told my project partner and me that we had the best project.

2. Finished my finals.

3. Evan joined another ET clan. (that's the best Yule gift Evan could have given).

The Washington Post has a story about some conservative Christian groups are pissed because the recent White House holiday card says "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

Look people, despite the fact Christianity is the majority religion in the United States, it does not mean it's the only religion in the United States. I am not Christian, and I do like the fact it's not always assumed I celebrate Christmas.

The Bush White House knows there are other religious groups - the Bush White House!

So this will be a rare statement for me, but the President has the right idea - about greeting cards.

Someone in Luke's ET clan wants two non-member accounts closed because these two individuals sent some offensive messages to him on MSN.

Shit, if this guy gets his way, I will ask for his account to be closed.

Now I don't think the accounts will be closed solely based on non-website content. The reason is simple, you can't prove that type of shit.

I noticed Evan still lists me on his friends page. I am asking nicely for him to remove me. I will remove myself from his list if I must, but I am asking nicely.

As pointed out, I can post whatever I want in my journal as a public entry.

Here's the reasons I dislike Evan (I don't like to use the term hate since it's a very strong word). Disclaimer all of this is my opinion, hence why I am using words like "think" and "feel."

1. I think Evan has backwards attitudes toward women. Evan seems to like to make jokes about women's "role" in society. I have been informed by some international students at my Uni, that there is a significant portion of British men who are not progressive and modern in their thinking about women. I have dealt with too much shit in my life to be polite about this type of attitude. I don't tolerate this attitude in other women either. Though in some situations I have learned to sit and smile, but if I don't have to - I won't.

2. I feel Evan is cocky. Most of his attitude I attribute to his age. Maybe someday he will learn no one has the world by the balls.

The rest of this list is related to his behavior I observe in the ET clan directly. Laffer is aware of some of my opinions about his ET clan, but not all.

3. I feel Evan has discouraged members from joining. People could say I have done the same, but again I try not to post on ET clan business. I do hear Laffer's opinion on potential members, but that's about it.

4. It seems everytime I glance over and see Laffer playing ET with Evan (especially in a match), Evan is not trying. I sometimes think Evan is just waiting for a better ET clan to recruit him.

5. I think Evan cost FG the extra ET server. FG would have lost the match even if Evan had actually played and not fucked around. However there was a very good chance if FG had a good showing, FG might have won a smaller ET server for second place. I feel Evan destroyed this chance and his behavior reflected poorly on himself and all of FG.

Just remember I can write I want, and pretend that my comments do not hurt real emotions or have any consequences. I can pretend that I will not offend a real person, instead I am referring to an unfeeling beast. Therefore I will never have to apologize for hurting this "beast", because beasts do not have feelings and cannot be hurt.

I am having a horrible time. This wedding is getting worse and worse. To make matters worse I found out there will be 250 guests. I am not a fan of large weddings.

My aunt Linda brought one of her friends. I expect to see the woman at events for my aunt's family, but not at extended family events. Grrr...

My uncle Fred is here with his wife and granddaughter. Long story, but my uncle is taking care of his granddaughter. The baby is so cute when she screams, throws her food on the floor in restaurants or uses her cup to make this loud annoying noise.

My room is next to the elevator, and the people in the room above me have a small child who likes to scream and stomp. It's great.

I am bored, tired and rather out of it today. I've had a muffin and half a cup of coffee. Nothing is really helping.

I am rather upset this morning that I must miss the funeral on Friday. Even though a funeral and a wedding on equal in importance, I would rather attend the funeral.

John's death hit me harder than I expected. I feel very depressed today. Partially I know I won't be able to attend the funeral. Funerals help me greatly in the mourning process. Basically I will be having a horrible time at wedding when I much rather be sad at home.

IME engineering students on the whole are dumber than rocks.

I inform the students their class has been cancelled. Now on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, most undergrads would have their stuff packed and be out of the door before I could finish the sentence.

NOT IME STUDENTS. The dumb shits want to stay. Yes, stay especially considering the roads are getting worse.

Engineers (especially industrial ones) are stupid.

I received my graduation audit and my graduation date is set for April.

This Onion story reminds me of the Blizzard lawsuit.

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/28331

Well either way I will have an assistantship next semester. Most likely my appointment will be renewed for next semester at the CAE center. However I do have a plan B, I was offered an assistantship at the library.

If I'm offered the position at CAE center, I will keep it because I don't want to re-learn a job for one semester.