What I'm Really Learning From College

Last week I was paying a phone bill online when one of life's major annyonances reared it's ugly head: Internet Explorer crashed. Why? I have no idea, I had just restarted my computer and wasn't using anything else. So after I screamed some choice profanities at my computer I resolved to ditch IE... because there had to be something better... there had to be a better way:

and I found it in a glorious beam of light from heaven called FireFox

So here's why you should ditch that bulky piece of shit browser you are using now and get FireFox


Tabbed Browsing

Tabbed browsing is a feature that simply rocks my world. Instead of having 60 windows all crammed in a group on your taskbar, you can open up how ever many windows of FireFox you want and put however many tabs inside those that you want. It probably sounds complicated if you have never used it before, but it makes your life so much easier... shit... even Homer Simpson uses it, and you aren't dumber than him are you?



Leaner, More Efficient Source Code

The install package for FireFox is only about 5 megs, whereas Internet Explorer is a bunch of bloated, bulky code built in to Windows. Furthermore, the source code for IE is proprietary, and only Microsoft can change and update it. FireFox, on the other hand, is the result of many man hours invested by hundreds of developers. In fact, because it is open source, anyone can make a change to the software to improve it, submit it, and if it is a good change, it sticks with it. The bottom line is FireFox has more people working on it, and is updated faster and better then IE can be.


Extensions

Extensions are these little add-ons for your browser that give you more info or help make your life easier. You can get an extension for almost anything, like a live status of whether or not Abe Vigoda is alive. For example, I have several extensions installed that among other things: eliminate the need for Weatherbug, Autofill forms, and uh, oh yeah...


Block All Ads

In addition to the more improved pop-up blocker FireFox has over IE, it also has better cookie management, so advertisers can't track your web habits. However, the most noticeable (and best) part of it all is that you can download an extension to block as few or many ads (I choose all) that you want. Every time you see an ad you just right click, hit Adblock, and block the source of the ad. After awhile you'll see your favorite websites have no ads at all... it evens works with those annoying flash ads.


Themes

Bored with the bland look of the browser? Just change it with a new theme.


Search Box Built Into Toolbar

A search box is built right into the toolbar, next to the address bar, so you can search Google, eBay, IMDB, or Amazon all without having to first open their original websites. Again, best of all, it doesn't compromise any screen space.


The Government Told You So

The United State Computer Emergency Response Team (a division of the Dept. of Homeland Security) recommends using a browser other than IE because of it's inherent security flaws. You're a good American... aren't you?


So there you have it, those are the biggest reasons you should just suck it up and get the Fox. You fear change... I know, I understand that. I was scared, too... I probably wet my pants when I removed access to Internet Explorer... but hold my hand and take the dive and you won't want to look back.

...no, really, I have a fever of a hundred and three. I swear I'm always fine until it'sright around the time to get a stress test again and BAM! I get a cold or something and that just doesn't help anything. Ah well... as they say....

"Same shit, different day" -Super Troopers

Jt came up with a brilliant plan to make me feel better today... get wasted with ridiculous movies and our old friend Rally's. That man sure does know how to flip my attitude around in a hurry. I think once I graduate it's going to be the little things like these nights that I will miss... just getting some bottles of beer, some good ol' Rally's and spending the night with one of your best buds.

Still not sure what I'm doing for Spring Break... I should get on that. Could fly down to Florida for a bit, maybe go to Canada or spend the time with a heck of a nice lady in Charleston... heck I really have no idea which to choose; I may even just stay here in cbus and work.

I feel like writing more, but I know I need to get to bed if I want to feel any better, or at the very least make it to Reporting class tomorrow.

Until then folks, this is CW... signing off

Today it occured to me that I could go over to the local BMV and get my new driver's license whenever I damn well please. I think this has been the first true realization that I'm getting old, or at the very least, actually growing up a bit. In just a few weeks I won't have my friends buying me beer at bars. No longer will I have to feel guilty about asking someone to go on a beer or liquor run for me... Nay, the tables will turn, it will be me doing those things for all my younger friends. That idea seems still seems so odd to me, I mean, this is completely contrary to everything I have known about drinking in cbus (with the exception of 4Kegs, where I am known as "Jason" and no one bothers to card me anymore).

Ahh, these old bones just ain't what they used to be =P

At the end of every quarter the Regstrar's office has a little thing called "The Grade Run." This happens the week after final exams and it consists of some poor son of a bitch running around campus to every department to pick up and deliver final grades back and forth from the office to be finalized into the marcs system (this is the computer system that stores whether or not you got an A or an E in Biology... and also a system you would think I shouldn't have access to, yet do).

This year, since I don't have any big spring break plans, I have been tapped to do the grade run. Most of the employees in the office look at this job as a huge pain in the ass, I however do not. Why? Two simple words:

Golf Cart

The person doing the grade run is given two days with a golf cart to go around to all these departments. If my experience with the Registrar's office has taught me anything... it's that if it takes a normal state employee to do this job in two days, I can do this job in 6 hours - and that ensures some good shenanigans. I've already invited JT to come ride around with me for the occassion. I'll remember to bring the camera and hilarity will ensue... just call me Van Wilder

Well after a long and failed bout with insomnia tonight, I have decided to revist ye olde blog.

What do I do during these mind numbing hours between restlessness and sleep? Mostly illogical things like taking all my facebook friends and throwing their screen names onto my buddy list... you know, for those times when a facebook message just isn't instant enough.

However, in my randomness of doing this, I came across one of the engineering guys websites and this promo for the ridiculous new show on BTV. Thursdays at 8.30pm - Channel 19 for you dorm kids out there. Andy and Adam will take most ridiculous requests you throw at them, I have no doubt.

In other news, my 21st birthday is now only 26 days away (March 14th). More and more frequently I keep hearing the question "What's going on for your birthday?" Well since my birthday has the good fortune of falling on the first day of final exams this year, I don't know. Granted, I will not actually even have any exams, but most if not all of my hard-working friends will. So stay tuned, maybe we'll hold off on it for a few days and do a St. Patrick's Day party.