Pestilence!

So the party on Friday night was really great. I met a bunch on nice people and had a very good time. However, I brought something back with me. Every second person you meet is sick with something more exotic and dangerous than the last person, and I picked up a couple of germs in the fancy Cuban themed lounge that was packed with people.

I was very annoyed when I realized that I was going to get sick (I know a few hours in advance because my throat starts to tingle), but thought I could easily fight it by overdosing on vitamin C and other voodoo medicines. Unfortunately, by late Saturday afternoon I knew it was going to be a killer (figuratively). On Sunday morning I woke up with terrible stomach pains, so I asked my cousin to take me to the hospital. The doctor put my on anti-biotics (as well as some other pills that I'm not exactly sure what they do except that they make me drowsy...) I was booked off for three days: I can't remember when was the last time I was booked off. Even when I had accidentally cut my right wrist open at school I was back virtually the same day (even though writing was kind of difficult). Anyway, I returned to university today even though I am still technically booked off, because there is work I simple have to do. It was a mission, but it seems like I survived the day. The whole being sick thing is bad in the sense that I have to do work (I have two big tests next week for which I still have to start studying) but I am unable to do almost anything except lie on my back and watch dust float through the air... I got a bit of reading done (recreational, mostly), but soon it's going to have to be crunch time for studying.

Everybody is sick! Stay away from them! People use to get sick with colds and flu, but now its flu, intestinal virii, bronchitis, feningites and other nasty things... It's almost the start of spring, but that usually means it's still going to be a month of cold weather. Stay indoors away from people and study!

Surely You're Joking Mr Murphy!

I don't win many competitions. Because I don't enter competitions very much, this is understandable. Nikki's family, however, enters a lot of competitions. In fact, they enter all the competitions the come across. This increases their chances of actually winning something and, indeed, they have won competitions on numerous occasions. So, when I visit her and stay with her family, I get caught up in this practice to a small degree. She'd tell me to keep a movie ticket, because if you SMS the ticket number to the ticket line then you are entered into a draw and then the next time I'd do it automatically.

On Tuesday, my cell phone rang in a Computer Science tutorial period. Luckily it was not on silent, so I could actually hear. Not recognizing the caller's number, I assumed it was a wrong number (again). I was quite surprised when the voice asked to speak with me. He then cordially explained to me that I had won a hamper in a competition (the one with the movie tickets) and asked when I could come pick it up. The trick is that I had to go to the cinema where I had seen the movie – in Johannesburg. This is a problem, because I live in Cape Town and was only in Johannesburg on holiday (the sounds wrong to say, but never mind). I explained this to the well spoken gentleman as well as the fact that my girlfriend could go pick it up for me. However, the completion rules stated that I had to retrieve my prize personally, but the kind gentleman said that he would speak with his superiors and try to arrange something and then phone me back. He never phoned me back.

So, I won a competition, but in the end I have nothing to show for it. But so is life.

Going to that party tonight. I'm really looking forward to it, although I don't know how many people will be there that I know. But I know a few friends who are going, so it's cool.

Two Fingers!

Happy birthday August-Inspiration! Today, two years ago, I started posting my thoughts here. I don't always carry through with projects of this nature, but I'm glad that, after two years, I'm still here and kicking! I don't read other peoples blogs much and I don't really go out into the net looking for them either, but of those that I have stumbled across are rarely past the two year mark, so I'm glad mine is still up.

My celebration is not a big surprise party with lavish decorations and decadent gifts, but rather more like humbly extending a cupcake, with two party candles on it, out into the direction of where the server is actually situated. At the moment the site doesn't look as good as it should and even though I have made some improvements and revisions, that (this) project is on hiatus as university as fully taken over. One day, however, I'll get it up, but not this August.

The site has already had a few server and address changes with extra content added and removed as I tried (try) to define the paradigm of this site. However, the basic functionality, theme and feel remain the same. Even though I'm working on some major changes for the site, it's all internal and little will change visually. I have no desire at this time to change the look of this site, but I'm not saying that I'll necessarily stick with it for ever.

Its weird how, tonight, I was taken back in past of my creativity. When I was in primary school, I use to think up and draw a lot games (adventure, sport, mystery, etc.) on A4 pages which I will then have any willing classmates play. It was never a big thing, but the creative process, at least, was fun and kept me busy. Because I virtually never throw anything away, I still have most of these games and drawings. Looking at them, I have to wonder if we ever did anything in primary school; the teachers were hardly ever in the class! Ah, so far removed from university... Anyway, I have a 21st on Friday of someone I was at primary school with and the other day she mentioned that she still remembers these games and would like to see them again. Being at a complete loss over a gift for her, I decided to bundle her some of the pages and give that as a present. Hopefully she'll like it, but maybe I should get a back-up present just in case:-P .

Looking through all of these pages and digging for more sent me on a massive nostalgia trip. Luckily it a very deep dig wasn't needed, so I didn't have to go completely back to the future. But it was nice... the last part of primary school wasn't what I would call a particularly happy part of my childhood/growing up, but it also wasn't without its good times.

Every time I dig through old papers of mine, I come across a quote or a piece of wisdom I'd scribbled on a paper somewhere and forgotten about over time. Studying (sciences) at university teaches you how little you really know. You are thought to seek out more knowledge, only to eventually match your tiny knowledge base against the vast enormity of knowledge that is out there. At some point, I guess you start to look at your past, when you where still ignorant of all this new knowledge, with some contempt. However, all these scribbles periodically remind me of what I did in fact know back then and, more importantly, felt and believed. Sometimes I become jealous of who I was then and of who I am now.

Happy birthday August Inspiration; may you someday know the joy of ignorance and innocence!

Lodge a Formal Complaint

One of my main character flaws, I reluctantly admit, is that I tend to complain a lot. In fact, this post is a complaint. I know sometimes it gets to people and it doesn't always have merit. However, it is something that I am aware of and that I'm working on. Sometimes people complain because it is a mood they are in, but other times the complaints are substantial and significant. However, a distinction can still be made between people who only complain about something and people who complain about something, but who are planning to do something about it.

I, however, am not the only one who can complain a lot. Other people can also make a very big fuss about the littlest of things. As an example, I'm going to take you into the realm of computer science, software development and general geekiness.

Someone once said that a programmer loves the first two, maybe three programming languages he (or she) learns, but then hates everything he has to work with after that. I first programmed in Pascal and I absolutely loved it. I was apprehensive when I had to move on to C, but I learned to appreciate its raw power and flexibility. Then came Java and I learned to appreciate the rapid development of big projects it provides. Then I moved on to PHP, which I love as a friendly server side language. Next I want to move on the Python...

So, all these languages that I love, but they each have their flaws. Pascal is a great learning tool, but I wouldn't easily attempt a big project in it. Writing something in C from scratch can be a nightmare. Java runs on a virtual machine, and hence is slower in execution than the native code generated by other languages and also takes the object-orientated paradigm to ridiculous levels. PHP is fantastic for server side programming, but I haven't really applied it otherwise. Python also doesn't compile to native code, but I still have to yet learn it fully (it uses yet another programming paradigm).

Moral of the story? I use whatever is suited for a particular task. Same with operating systems: I dual boot Windows and Mandriva Linux (although I think I'm going to switch over to Suse soon). Windows supports drivers and games that Linux doesn't, but I prefer to do any development in Linux. Again, I use what is best suited for a particular task. Sometimes I do complain about Java applications being slow, but when I have to write threaded client-server programs for my Networks course, I am very thankful for the Java API.

Other people, however, hate irrationally. They are part of a geeky “Pepsi Generation”. The idea of the Pepsi generation is that people prefer one brand to another for whatever reason and refuses to support or endorse “the competition”. Examples abound: Coca-Cola or Pepsi? Mercedes or BMW? Windows or Linux? I'll admit that I am a part of the Pepsi generation. I given a choice, Coca-Cola all the way. Definitely a Mercedes. I grew up with “the idea” of these brands, I guess, and I support them. I am part of the Pepsi generation because I choose it, either because I like arguing with the people who support the competition or because I genuinely and blindly believe I support the “better” product. But when it comes to certain things, I use a bit more rationality and objectivity. Linux or Windows? Depends on what I want to do. C or Java? Depends on the task at hand.

I write this after stumbling across yet another fantastic piece of writing on the Internet I didn't read entitled “Why Java is better than C”. I got the result in a Google search, but the one point I read was completely idiotic. There are thousands, perhaps millions of articles like these out there on the web. People who complain about one language and spends considerable time, resources and effort doing so. This is sad and, more importantly, annoying and useless. These people resent something for simply existing. That sounds familiar, but not in an IT context... Anyway, the same goes for the Linux or Windows debate. In total, decades of man-hours get lost each year about people arguing with each other over these matters. Of course, nobody convinces everyone, which makes the entire exercise very frugal.

People, please, really, grow up. If you want to write an argument down, send a letter to a local politician or something and try to better your community. Or you can spend the time mowing the lawn or practise breathing less so you reduce carbon emissions, anything constructive!

I'm not saying stop complaining. On some level, it might actually be healthy and constructive, if done in moderation or appropriately. I also indulge in arguing over how useless, say, an Apple Mac is to an intelligible person. That’s more Pepsi generation, however, because I honestly can't think of a single use for one...

The stars are countable

I'm reading Simon Singh's new book Big Bang. I'm almost half-way through now. It’s interesting to read about the history and methodologies that is behind the alchemy that is cosmology. Its very tantalizing to read about the telescopes people built themselves and the descriptions of the hordes of stars the saw with them. It takes me back: I remember there was this one night in particular that I looked up at the night sky when I was young. We were still living in the country and the very small town meant that there wasn't much light pollution. There were millions of stars. Billions. The Milky Way stretched across the sky like a waterfall and everything else were just drops that had spilled over its edge.

It was truly magnificent and awe inspiring. Cosmology (well, star gazing, at least) is one of those things that I think just about everyone wants to do, much like etymology. Just stick a telescope into someone's hands or give them a book full of rich anecdotes about their family's history and then they are happy.

However, these days things are different. The city, Bellville/Stellenbosch, has much more light pollution and you can't really see that many stars. They do seem pathetically countable now. Indeed, sometimes I wonder whether whether more than the planets are visible on some evenings. That, coupled with my degraded eyesight, make me wonder whether I'll (soon) see such a spectacle – a sandy beach in the sky - again.

This week I've been a bit sick with the flu. On Thursday I felt terrible, but since then I've been systematically getting better. I'm still not 100% well, but it’s not as bad as it was. It does, however, provide a convenient excuse for slacking off (and complaining, unfortunately) the past week and weekend.

Last week I hosted a 30 Seconds evening at the flat. It was really nice and I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. On Tuesday I had a gambling evening at a friend's. The boys played dress-up and donned their leather and/or Sunday bests to try and win the pot. We played Texas Hold 'em, but I'm not as impressed by the whole ESPN World Poker Tournament thing as other people are, so I don't care and just went to enjoy myself. Needless to say, I guess, I was the first one out. Unfortunately no-one won the whole pot and it had to be split. Plus a couple of guys got really very drunk and the host was not terribly pleased about that. Ah, alcohol...

This coming Tuesday I have a bowling evening with the Mathematics class. It was really random being invited, because I'm not even in that class, but the class is very small by the third year and I guess I'm just adding variety. Again, bowling is not my greatest strength, so again there is going to be no expectations, only self-measurement. It should be fun though.

Today was a gorgeous day! I almost went for a jog again, but I didn't because I still have a bit of flu stuck in me. I starting to feel more and more compelled to start jogging again, so maybe, one of these days, when I'm better and its not too cold, I'll set out again on the road. Anything to keep the old hart beating... Anyway, like I was saying, it was a great day and I wish I could've capitalized on it and escaped somewhere with someone and just enjoy the day away from the home. Last week was just as spectacular: I don't know, it just had a feel to it! As I was driving back to the flat in the afternoon, I nearly skipped the Stellenbosch turn-off from the highway and just kept on driving into the day until night fell. But I had to go get ready for the evening, so it wasn't too bad going back to Stellenbosch. I felt very good and was singing along to the music in the car, but as I passed the prison (there is a minimum security prison a block away from the flat where I live), I saw something I didn't expect at all. It was a mother holding a small child standing by the fence of the prison, crying. Obviously it was a wife or a girlfriend and a child of one of the inmates. There was no joy to be found on that fantastic day. Instead there was mourning for the absence of a loved one. It was really one of those moments that made you stop and think, because I always use to look at the inmates working in the vegetable garden and thinking “good riddance, they are paying their debt to society!”. But even they have loved ones and are missed, despite of what they might have done. There is always more than one side of a story.

So ends another day. I have a feeling this week could be a hectic one, so good luck to you!