I am less of a beast now.

Self-improvment is masturbation.

So lately I've been playing BioShock, which is so far the most atmospheric game I've played since Doom 3, and quite a bit of fun. In this game, your character can obtain plasmids which modify your body to give you super powers. Naturally, I wanted to get me some of that.

After a small amount of research, I discovered that real plasmids do not work that way. However, I still like to improve myself inside and out, so today after work I stopped by the local eye doctor to watch a live LASIK surgery. The whole thing took 10 minutes, and the patient seemed to be enjoying a healthy dose of Valium. The biggest thing I'm scared of is the whole cutting into my eyeball while I'm awake thing, but the guy said he didn't even feel it.

So, I've scheduled an appointment for the 15th to find out if I'm eligible, and if I am, to get preliminary scans for the operation. It will be nice to see outside while it's precipitating and look into borescopes without adjusting them.

Xbox 360

I got me an Xbox 360! First and foremost, let me answer the questions you, my only reader, must surely have.

• Why now?
• I haven't had a console system since my Sega Genesis, and having skipped two generations of video game systems, I figured I was due for a new one.
• Why not the Wii? The Wii is fun and cheap!
• More of my friends have Xbox 360s, and the games I want are on the Xbox 360.
  
• Why not the PS3?
• The PS3 is an overpriced box of shit.
• BUT IT'S MICROSOFT!
• I want the best system for my money, and there is no free gaming alternative (other than an expensive PC and a lot of work with WINE.)
• Aren't you bothered by the DRM, or the fact that modding an Xbox 360 may get you banned from Xbox live?
• Nope. I don't tolerate DRM on my computer because it does my thinking for me, and I demand that my computer obey me. My gaming console is just for fun. I don't have a problem with modding restrictions on Live either, because I just want to play an online FPS again without aimbots and wallhacks.
• What's your login on Live?
• Explodicle. Email me or leave a comment if you want me to add you to my friends list.
• You've got Oblivion, right.
• Obviously.
  

Upgraded!

Ok, I've finally upgraded to Blogger 2.0. In keeping with the upgrade spirit, I'll shamelessly copy Jeff and start posting more often.

In case anyone actually cares about what I've been up to, here's the whole story:

• Work: You know how in Dilbert, the boss promises the moon and the burden falls on his employees? That actually happens. I'm due for a raise soon, and if it's not enough, I'm going to start looking around. I'm getting kinda sick of Hartford anyways.
• School: HORRIBLY FAILING MISERABLY. Perhaps I should have said to myself, "hey, maybe computer and systems engineering master's degrees are intended for people who know anything whatsoever about computers or electronics." If/when I flunk out of grad school, I'll look into distance learning elsewhere, which may better suit my addled mind.
• Physical: I'm still as fat as ever, and am only going to the gym twice a week or so. I've been eating low-fat/calorie food, but in high volumes it doesn't help as much. I think the problem is that I spend so much time sitting in front of the computer and not running around. Since I'm unwilling to part with the internet, I'm thinking about:
• Switching to a gym that has treadmills and Wi-Fi. Might be tough, since not many people are both nerds AND care about fitness.
• Stealing my parents' treadmill that they have in their basement and collects dust.
• If I ever use this, my laptop, and my bluetooth headset at once, my apartment will look pretty much like this.
• Chicks: Tara and I broke up a while ago, but we're still getting along very well, and we're still going to Bonnaroo in about 100 days.
• I'm really looking forward to this: my vacation last year in Colorado was the bomb, so I'm hoping Tennessee kicks ass as well. We've got elite VIP tickets, which allow us to shower and generally act like we're better than the other hippies.
• Tool is playing. Anti-drug laws are practically unenforced. Enough said.
• No, not enough said. DRRUUUUUUUGGGGGSSSSS!!!!!
• Now that I'm single again, I'm playing the field as ineptly as always.
  
• Pet Projects: Lots of almost started projects, little actually done. Just like I like it.
  
• I'm working on a script to automatically record internet radio with streamripper and then load it onto my iPod with GNUpod every night, providing me with a constant supply of new music.
• I still lie awake at night dreaming about how awesome the Codex project could be if I did it well. Doing so will take a lot more time and effort than I originally thought.
  
• Oh yeah, scelest.us. About that. I... um.... I'm waiting for Ubuntu 7.04 to come out before I mess with my server. Yeah... that's it.
• I've been using the ZCorp Spectrum 510 3D printer extensively at work, and am trying to think of a better method for solid freeform fabrication with common metals.