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1984

August 11th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Recently Read | #
1984 by George Orwell
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Delta Shield for Cell Phones

August 9th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

  So I was reading about this Delta Shield in the news the other day.  Supposedly, cellphones emit harmful EMF radiation that can cause cancer and otherwise.  That I have heard often enough, but the article here claims that the Delta Shield, a small sticker placed on the back of the phone, can reduce harmful EMF by 93%.

  Makes me wonder what would have to be in that sticker to cause such an effect and whether or not it would mess with your cell phone connection (otherwise, most phones would already have this sticker attached no?).  I’ve tried looking this product up on several sites already.  Google doesn’t bring up any reviews or information other than the main site and some duplicate news articles.

  Has anyone actually tried this item before? Scam yes, no?…[More]

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Back to Canasta

June 13th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

  I’m starting to play Canasta again lately.  For those who do not know, it is a card game - some say it’s similar to Rummy or Jin.  It’s one of the few card games out there that require skill and is still fun to play… I guess you could say it’s like a Real-Time-Strategy version of a card game.  Coincidentally, my test scores went up when I started playing again. :O

  I mainly play on Yahoo Games right now: 2 card draw and 2 canasta-out.  It’s funny how hard it is to start playing again.  Just loss 4 games in a row and pretty much crashed my rating (used to be above 1900).  I’ll get there eventually though. ^_^

  If anyone wants to play a match, let me know.  I always welcome a challenge.

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The Beanstalk

June 1st, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Stuck in My Head | #
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The Great Gatsby

May 16th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Recently Read | #
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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Ethan Frome

April 30th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Recently Read | #
Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
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Playing Piano

April 26th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

  Yay, I’ve gone from game design, to programming, to video editing, and now finally playing a few things.  Nothing big yet, but it’s not bad.  Added a new Music section to the site gallery.  Let me know what you guys think and how I can improve.  I’m not doing any sound editing yet, just plain keyboard piano, but maybe later I’ll look into it.  Some guides would be nice if you guys have any. :)

pftq Music

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Wonder Wall Cover

April 26th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Stuck in My Head | #
Wonder Wall Cover by Chronamut
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Life is Like a Mountain Climb

April 22nd, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Essays | #
     Life is like a mountain climb, a quest to reach the mountain peak.  Each stopping point represents the goal one sets for himself while each climb represents the journey to achieve it.  In the beginning, life may be long and difficult, but with each successful climb comes a fulfilling rest, the satisfaction of achievement, and of course, the grand view of the world below.  Aim too high and one may be in for a hectic climb, but aim too low and one may never reach the summit, the ultimate achievement which can only be as fruitful as the quest to attain it.

     In my climb towards the summit, my goals have often centered about fields of which I am familiar, with my satisfaction being the chance to prove myself and fully exercise my potential.  By focusing my goals and opportunities, I build on what I do best, expanding my base of skills and allowing each consecutive goal to lead to the success of the next.  While I may not always reach the...[More]
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Huckleberry Finn

April 1st, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Recently Read | #
Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
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The World At Hand

February 18th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Essays | #
  Day after day, millions of Americans worry over the most miniscule of problems.  From children to fully-grown adults, the average citizen just fails to concern themselves with significant tasks, fails to put more time where time is needed, fails to see the meaning of life.  As toddlers, they worry over troubling matters such as loss of candy or the horrors of having to share with fellow peers.  As children, they fight over the ownership of poorly-crafted plastics and cheat each other over debts of up to a quarter.  As teenagers, they stress for days over the look of their hair, cause the biggest fuss over the color of their shirt, debate with all their might over the quality of their socks, which they promptly toss aside after a day's wear.

  Upon reaching adulthood, these same individuals only double their attitudes; their issues remain more or less of the same importance.  Ownership can no longer be resolved in small quarrels;...[More]
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eBay Spoof Emails

February 18th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

Seems to be a lot going around lately.  Got another spoof email - this time pretending to be eBay.  Funny thing is it asked a question about something I was supposedly selling - but I never sell anything. :P

Subject:
Question from eBay member- eluxeauctions.

Hello,…[More]

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Passing of Times

February 17th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Essays | #
  I remember ever so sharply the more distant moments of my past.  I can remember far back to my first years of consciousness, perhaps 3 or 4 years old.  I could not comprehend even what age was at the time, but I could remember the finest details of our somewhat old and rundown, yet ever so familiar home.  I could recall the dreamlike sharpness of the silver faucet in our kitchen sink, the brownish tinge of the soft carpet beneath my feet, and the flare of the bleeding-blue sky outside my window.  There was the greatest satisfaction in the simplest of things, from the mere planting of a cornstalk to the feeding of ducks and fishes.  I cared less for the future and more for the moment.  Each day held a new surprise.  Baby birds would occasionally fall from the tree in the front lawn.  Frogs and crickets could be found in the backyard if one searched hard enough.  The world was unbounded.  One day I found myself finally able to ride...[More]
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A Day's Lost

January 9th, 2008 | Posted by pftq in Stories | #
  "Son! You need to get your grades up!" my mother exclaimed loudly.  She paced across the room and glanced repeatedly back at me, anxious to see my reaction but disappointed at my blank stare.  "You will become a failure! Nobody will give you a job!"

  I did not understand; I had almost straight As - perhaps one B.  I opened my mouth to protest, but immediately she thrust her finger into my right eye.

  "Son! Why do you have a scar on your cheek? Wash it off!"

  I stared...[More]
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Five Fingers

December 31st, 2007 | Posted by pftq in Essays | #
  "How many fingers am I holding?" he asked peevishly. He waved his hand madly in the air as if doing so would make his hand more visible.

  In broad daylight, it was easy to see that he held up all five fingers; whether he held them intentionally or he simply waved his entire hand carelessly, it was not clear. It did not matter what answer was given or if any was given to him at all. If I suggested five, he would merely insist the thumb was not a finger; if I suggested four, he would say otherwise. If I did not answer or I answered wrong, I'd just be blind.

  Sometimes people forget that I was once able to see just as well as any of them. When much younger and not ruined by misadvice and overwork, not being able to see was unheard of; it was inconceivable. Warned as we were, told to be on the watch for any signs of blur or fatigue, none of us could imagine the seemingly distant notion actually becoming reality. Seeing was a divine right, an...[More]
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Arlulu

December 25th, 2007 | Posted by pftq in Stuck in My Head | #
Arlulu by Sevanimation
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Pining Over Apples

December 19th, 2007 | Posted by pftq in Essays | #
   Fearless it was.  Covered on all ends with a stubbly patched but thorn-riddled coat, intricately yet thickly woven, it was protected, shielded, nothing could harm it.  Its smooth, lumpy coat, designed with elaborate earthly brown patches and forest-green rings, provided its camouflage to hide it amidst the wilderness.  Scattered about its coat, finely embroidered, leaf-like blades stood dangerously perked, ready to defend and retaliate.  Tall and proud it stood, towering over the fellow fruits, a frizzy batch of foliage attached sleazily about its top to further boost its height.  How strong it must have felt, ready to face the harshest of treatment, the worst of cruelty.

   How wrong it was.  With a heavy thud, it crashed and rolled about the tabletop, helpless on its side, rolling hopelessly without an end.  With a simple plunge of the knife, blade delving deep, the coat was split.  Restrained by nothing more than my bare hands, the leafy blades...[More]
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Deciding on New Domain Name

December 11th, 2007 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #

Trying to decide on another domain name… There won’t be any real purpose for the site yet, so I’m trying to keep it just catchy and memorable (nothing hard to spell).

Vote Here for the Domain I Should Use

I’m also trying to decide between Bluehost and Lunarpages for the hosting company, so if you’ve any experience with them, I’d be greatful on any insight of the two companies.

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Things to Think About

November 30th, 2007 | Posted by pftq in Blabberbox | #
- Don't hesitate over what you already know.
- To yourself, you are everything.  To everyone else, you are nothing.
- Go all out. Never hold back.  It's worse to do something part way than to not do it at all.  The worst that can happen is overdoing it and succeeding.
- There's no reason to do something if you don't intend to do it.  There's no reason to live if you don't want to make life worth living.
- Treat the world as if it's flat because most of the time it will be.
- Life adapts to its environment before trying to change it.
- Just because you aren't flawless doesn't mean you shouldn't try to be.
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Just Because You Aren't Flawless

November 6th, 2007 | Posted by pftq in Thought of the Day | #
Just because you aren't flawless doesn't mean you shouldn't try to be.
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