Archive for November, 2006

I’m taking an open source software engineering class at PSU, and I have a presentation to the class about Embedded system programming, and how writing open source software for embedded systems is different than writing other types of open source software.

Many articles on the web introduce the Open Source concept to embedded system engineers, this presentation attempted to do the opposite: introduce embedded system engineering to open source advocates.

Embedded Open Source

Physics grade

Posted in Educationon Nov 29, 2006

It is already the last week of class for me here at Portland State. I just got my second mid-term back in my physics class, and I got a C on it, which compared to how well I felt that I did, isn’t that bad of a grade. It sends me into the final exam with a B in the class.

I feel that if I were to take this same class at BYU, the test would be more difficult and the grading also would not be so generous; so instead of sitting at a B, I would be struggling to find a passing grade.

I’m suspicious that perhaps classes at Portland State are easier, but because I’m only taking two, the sample size is not large enough to determine such.

More respect for the Cougars

Posted in Sportson Nov 28, 2006

With just a couple of weeks into this year’s basketball season, I think the BYU Cougars deserve more respect.  Although they only have played 4 games, their only loss has been to a team which is currently ranked first in some polls.

If the Cougars can stay diligent to winning for just a few more games, then I think they will find the respect that they deserve now. It is important to remember that BYU traditionally is a team which gets a lot better as the season progresses.  They are starting warm now, and I think they are going to end hotter than lava.

BYU, I lava you.

Life is a highway

Posted in Lifeon Nov 26, 2006

Some people write in secret blogs. Some people write so cryptically that no one understands what they are saying anyway. Tonight I hope to achieve both.

I love clean teeth. I mean, I love it when my teeth are clean. I guess I also like it when others teeth are clean, but that takes second place to my own teeth being clean. Fortunately, I haven’t come across appropriate occasion to share a life-saver.

I think I’ve gained some weight this week. Too many pies, cookies, and thanksgiving food. Too little exercise. Maybe the time is appropriate to enact certain plans to keep this putative weight gain from being a problem.

I mentioned a few days earlier that I think I’ve discovered my evil proclivity toward procrastination. I think I get some sort of adrenalin rush off of trying to do things at the last moment. As with many other addictions, there are side effects, and I think at times my addiction messes up my emotional balance. It also causes stress. Fortunately, I’ve gotten pretty good at dealing with this, but that doesn’t mean that over time it can’t wear me down if I don’t seek help in some way or another. It should be a red flag if TV commercials can cause allergic eye reactions. That is unless the commercial happens to be one of those LDS “family: its about time” commercials. They always get me. Actually, there is only about one thing that has a chance to get me, and it is displays of selflessness and love toward others. I’m off topic now, but the point is that I need to find some way to get myself off this addiction.

Sometimes living on a rainy island, isolated from the fears and tears, is worse than riding out the hurricane. Mixing metaphors like it is chocolate chip cookie dough, the seeds being to create new bridges between the worlds. When I reach the other side, will I recognize myself as the person who was worthy enough to harvest the crop? I once thought that I was missing something like crazy nothing, until I found that life-savers dissolve more quickly than one would like. Now I’m afraid to desire that which is departed with fears that I may find the well traveled path. Me and my gang were never enough to resolve the disputes between the heart, fingers, and eyes. Jumping off the train is always scarier than jumping on, but not any more severe than the fright of unknowingly staying on. Angels to comfort; seeing single rather than double; you can help. When I hear the song, I can’t help but to think what if you and I forgot that friendship on the cold night when stars fell from the sky. The most important thing to remember is you. Electrical pulses dancing on the lines, please show me the directions and show me the signs.

BYU beat Utah today with pull-over-mama fashion worthy of never being forgotten.

Why BYU will beat Utah

Posted in Sportson Nov 24, 2006

Because I won’t be there to see it. The last two times BYU beat Utah in football were 2000 and 2001, which were the two seasons that I served my mission in Romania. My freshman year, 1999, BYU lost.

This year I’m in Oregon studying, which means that BYU will probably win because once again I won’t be there to see it.

Gavinpants

Posted in Sportson Nov 23, 2006

I have some friends who are friends with BYU basketball player Gavin MacGregor who got some play time tonight. From the game recap:

Walk-on Gavin MacGregor made his first career appearance in the first half. In the second half MacGregor scored his first points as a Cougar. MacGregor also blocked a shot.

Now apparently these friends have taken to calling Gavin, “Gavinpants.” I’m not sure exactly why, but I remember being around these friends when Gavin called on the telephone only to hear them shout, “Gavinpants.”

One of these friends blogged about the game and cheering for “Gavinpants” (worth the read), and I thought I would like to hear at least the parts where Gavin played, and I excerpted those parts in this mp3 file (about 1 minute).

One thing that impressed me generally about the game is the second half dominance by BYU. I’ve watched so many games where the first half was commanding, only to loose the commanding lead early in the second half. That didn’t happen with this game, and I’m glad.

Is the logout button obsolete?

Posted in Technicalon Nov 22, 2006

I must be a nerd because web site security worries keeps me awake at night. Tonight I was worried about particular web site designs that might discourage users from logging out and I was curious about how many users were actually logging out.
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Converted all my SSL apps to Google App Engine. I didn't want to have to pay for my own SSL certificate any more, and App Engine allows for SSL sites with valid and recognized certificates (on their appspot.com domain) for free.
Mar 18, 2010
  • Jacob BYU won their first round game! I'm not sure what to do, this has never happened to me before. Mar 18, 2010
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