I know that you may not have heard of the bills I am talking about, so let me try to help you out. Now, I could spend some time trying to explain what it says and what it could do, but there is a great video I found for that. Watch it below, and then continue reading.
PROTECT IP Act Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.
Okay, now that you have seen that, I hope you understand what I'm afraid of. While the idea behind these bills isn't too bad, the poor wording of the bill means that the powers it established could easily be abused. That could mean the effective shut down of any website the government chooses. We cannot allow that to happen.
What I want all of you to do is to write/call your Congressperson. Let them know that you are a voter, and that you do not want this bill to pass. The folks over at AmericanCensorship.org have made a web form for shooting them an email. However, many believe that calling them is the most effective way to get yourself heard. You can find the numbers you need here.
I have written my letters and called my Congressperson, and I hope you will. This is too important for us to sit idely by and allow to pass unnoticed. Tell the Government that it isn't okay for them to censor the Internet.
]]>I have been reading studies for my classes, as well as watching numerous documentaries surrounding diet, and I feel like I need to go as extreme as I can stand to go. While I can't afford to go on a pure juice diet, like some have done, I think I can afford to go on a slightly modified vegan diet. For the uninitiated, vegan means that I would avoid all animal products. That means no meat, eggs, butter, milk, etc. However, due to my own reasons, I will continue to drink skim (fat-free) milk.
I also feel that this can only have real effects if I also change my physical life style. That means that I will need to start a true exercise program. That probably means going to a gym with other people, which makes me nervous. I'm not extremely self conscious, but I am a little. I hope i don't embarrass myself.
Given that the holiday season is coming on quick, I think that this project/experiment will have to wait until after the new year. Luckily, my incredibly loving wife has agreed to participate. We will iron out all of our details and I'll post more in the next couple months. Current target date is Jan. 1 through Jan. 30.
]]>I am still working multiple, although a couple of them can be easily slumped together. News blogging is a never ending cycle, it seems. Just as one story gets finished, another is waiting to be written. That isn't a bad thing, tho. It means that I can continue to pass along the news to my readers, and that always makes me happy. Luckily, I am working a set of beats that is always full of things to write about.
Unfortunately, with blogging comes trolls. I know that every blogger has to deal with them, and thats unfortunate. Sometimes I deserve to be trolled, and I will be the first to admit that. I will write a post with a very one-sided opinion, and that's not always the most popular thing. However, I do think that my opinions are always valid and truthful, and that's all I can hope to be.
It just seems like working in the spheres I do, I attract a large number of trolls. I suppose I deserve it for being an odd use case for most technology. I work on a MacBook Pro that runs both OS X Lion and Windows 7, I use an iPad daily, and I carry an Android phone. I'm like the uber-geek of consumer grade electronics, and that makes me an easy target. I just wish more readers would understand that I can use and love many platforms all while defending each platform's position.
Overall, my work serves its purposes. Sometimes it can be a real grind to sit in front of a computer daily, but that comes with any job I think. On the whole, I can truly say I love getting to work the way I do. My hope is to get to a point where blogging pays well enough for me to leave my "day job". I'm not sure I am cut out to be an office drone. That being said, I will keep going there as long as I need to.
I also know that I am ready for a break from my classes. I have essentially gone non-stop since sometime in March, and its getting a little tiresome. There are only class sessions left for this summer, and then I get a short break. I think I will use that time to pursue some personal projects, and to just be with my wife.
We are eagerly awaiting the return of our roommate, Zac. almost all of our things are out of his room, and I can't wait to have him here. He gives me someone to bounce my ideas off of, someone to have conversations with, and someone to waste time with. Not that I can't do those things with Tori, it's just not the same.
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So about the title. I start my job on campus tomorrow afternoon. I will be working two afternoons a week for the next few weeks. It's possible that the schedule will change after this class session. AS far as I know, I am going to be working with a computer the entire time. While that doesn't bother me, I think I'm starting to become jaded. I need to find an outlet.
I think one of my outlets is going to involve a computer, but something with some creativity involved. I am going to try and teach myself iOS development. While that sounds daunting (and possibly boring,) I am excited to give it a shot. I have downloaded a couple lecture series from iTunes, and will start going through them on the weekends coming up soon.
I am also trying to do non-computer things as soon as well. I have been trying new recipes in the kitchen, watching new shows, and even reading for pleasure at night. My next step is to start an exercise regime. I think that physical fitness would help me burn more energy, helping me to be a better blogger.
At the end of the day, I just need to help make ends meet. I'm thankful for the opportunities I have found. Both of the blogs I write for professionally have been great so far. I am enjoying the work, its really great. I just want to thank them publicly. I also want to thank my wife, Tori, and my loving family. YOu guys are being great right now, and I hope I will make you all very proud.
]]>I think that I need to find a better system for handling work days. I need to try and walk around more, or even get some sort of standing desk type thing. I'm not sure what I need to do, but I know that I can't keep just sitting all day. I know that it will change when I start my 'day job' in the next couple weeks, but thats still a little far off to be thinking about.
Classes are going well, all things considered. I am ready for my lab class to finish, and we are just about to do the longest lab sessions of the entire course. I keep telling myself that I can make it through the final two days. After that, its only lecture until Aufust sometime, and then I get a little break. I am certainly looking forward to that.
]]>The first of my projects is working with my University with the hope of first maintaining, and then later re-designing, the website for the School of Applied and Natural Sciences. I will be working under the Office of the Dean as a student worker, but my main duty will be content management and web design.
I am currently waiting on word to officially begin in the position. I know that I have a date to go for some simple training in their CMS (Content Management System) in the next couple weeks. I also know that I will officially begin work from within the office as of July 1.
Alongside my work with my university, I have also recently taken up my mantle as a freelance blogger. I have secured a position with Techie-Buzz.com, a computer technology site based in India. I will be working as a content author, with a focus area of web apps, web 2.0, design, and Mac.
After the Google Panda algorithm change, which effected a number of smaller content sites, I was relieved of my writing duties with Ampercent.com. I truly enjoyed my time with Amit and the gang, and now I look forward to working with more excellent bloggers.
As it stands now, I have two part-time projects laid out before me. However, even with the level of work, I will still need smaller projects to make the ends meet. If you have any internet-based commission work in the areas of content generation or web design, I would be willing to discuss my portfolio with you. Just shoot me an email at tony (at) tonysbrain (dot) com, or find me on Twitter as @tony_price.
]]>In the past month or so, I have taken a big step in my life as an adult. I have married the most amazing woman I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and her name is Tori. I have mentioned here in previous posts, but this is the first time that I have address her as my wife. I am still in some disbelief about being married, but we most certainly are.
We are currently renting a nice sized apartment in Ruston about a mile from Tech. We are both currently actively looking for work, not to much success however. I know that if we keep our heads down and keep hunting, we will make it work.
Any kind words of encouragement, job leads in the Ruston area, or gifts of the heart are welcome.
]]>On a related note, if you like to see my photos, then join me in pushing my loved ones to get me a real camera. I am pushing for a DSLR camera in the 450 - 600 dollar range. I would really enjoy posting more photos, but my point and shoot is showing it's age.
]]>The first issue is that we, as a country, have issues recognizing that there is anything wrong with our country as a whole. We are programmed to look at other countries as broken. The media refers to large parts of the globe as the "third world" and tells us that, without our support, they will never improve. With this mentality, we never step back and look at the issues that are plaguing the United States. Why should we look for hunger or homelessness in our country when it's so easy to find in the rest of the world?
The next issue is that, if we were to recognize issues in America, we would have to continue to work on fixing them. We would not get the feeling of 'doing our part' if we had to continually look at the problems. With situations like the disaster is Japan, we can make a single donation and feel like a hero. If we attempt to battle all poverty in America, we would not feel that way.
Another major issue that plagues charities trying to do good on home front is a problem that plagues many charities. As Americans, we are always looking for ways to do the most good with the smallest amount of financial responsibility. When it comes to charitable donations, there is a stigma that without making a huge donation, you don't make any kind of difference. This is almost never the truth. Anyone who has done charity work will tell you that every dollar makes difference.
Fixing the public image of charity towards American causes isn't an easy task. It will take time, patience, and a lot of luck. The process should start with a push against an obvious, universally recognized problem like homelessness. It won't be easy to permanently repair, but it is a flag that almost everyone will be willing to walk under, and that's what matters,
I want to take a brief moment to say that I am not advocating not supporting foreign relief efforts, like those for the earthquake in Japan. It is vital that we assist our fellow human beings in their times of need, in hope that they will reciprocate should the need arise. My point is to address a storm that I have seen brewing. Give what you can to what you feel needs it most.
]]>I will dump everything I have taken so far, and even throw in the shots I had saved up for posts. These will go up on my Picasa web albums, and I will get the link to that up soon. I am sorry for not being able to complete this in its original inception. However, I promise to keep taking and posting shots. I love photography and blogging, and will keep doing both.
Thanks for being a great group of readers and friends.
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