Homeward Bound and the Facebook Rant.

Hello internet!

Yes, it is official. I am travelling home to Calgary on August 27th, 9:00 am flight. I made the plans this morning and now it's all set. I'll be returning to Victoria on the 7th of September to start the school year on the 9th of September. I suppose I best go get my books now so I don't have to be rushing on those two days. Blah.

So it's even more official now. It's on Facebook. Facebook is a weird world of it's own I've found. Everyone these days makes the joke about relationships: "It's not official 'til it's on Facebook." Which I can see some truth value in, but don't fully believe it. I only recently changed my relationship status even though my girlfriend and I have been dating for almost 9 months now. She doesn't even have Facebook and we facilitate everything through me.


And when I say facilitate, I mean creep. Everyone who has a Facebook knows what I mean when I say creep. The checking people's profiles constantly, the staying on for hours hoping for something new, the viewing of pictures, seeing status updates but never commenting on it or making your presence known.

I do it. Ex-girlfriends, ex-friends, current friends, friends friends, people who add you who really shouldn't have because they are never going to talk to you but you still have anyway. I've found ways to find out that one of my old friends who fell out of my life in high school now has a tattoo on his back, and is still the complete douche bag I remember him being. I basically use Facebook to judge you on what you're doing(or not doing) with your life, kinda makes me feel better about my own! Knowing that I turned out better than so and so, and I'm actually a contributing member to society. (But, I know that there are some people with certain circumstances that affect what they are doing now, and this is not directed at you.) Via Facebook I don't even have to be in these peoples lives, but I still know what's going on in them. Hey! Kinda like this blog, which anyone can see! Anyways.

I also think it's a really bad thing in some ways. People in relationships go crazy on facebook. Hacking into accounts, viewing blocked profiles, seeing pictures of their ex with a new girl. It's a little ridiculous the lengths some people go to get back at, or spy on their exes, or even current boyfriend/girlfriend.

Furthermore, I think Facebook gives way for people to let go of friendships. I've had a few people drift farther away in terms of friendship. We rarely talk anymore, and when we do it's often just the standard questions and then conversation stops. Then the excuse comes up,"Just facebook me" or "check my facebook" and you don't even bother really talking to the person anymore, you just check their facebook and see how they're doing. I guess it goes to show you the people that really matter to you are the people who can maintain a friendship outside of Facebook.

I think it's weird that people just view you from a far and never comment on things. I've been trying to use Facebook more as what it's made for, commenting on stuff, kind of actually USING facebook rather than just watching everyone. Makes me feel involved in the bigger commuinty I suppose.

But then it makes you wonder who's viewing your profile and your pictures and such. Who creeps you on a daily basis? I know my profile is pretty restricted and only people who are my friends can see it. So not to many people can creep me. I think...


Facebook has given way to the instant world, where we know everything that's going on with everyone at anytime. It has it's good and it's bad. I've recently re-connected with a few of my old friends from high school, and it's nice to be in touch with them again. I also think Facebook provides a good way to network and promote yourself. Perhaps my future employer will see something on Facebook about me and be more inclined (or less inclined if pictures of me totally trashed at this party are up) to hire me. Applebee's is a huge supporter of Facebook, our resturaunt has it's own page, and they use it to connect with the employees, which I think is great, and an easy way to stay in touch and connected.

I think that's about all I can say on this topic. Hope you enjoyed! Leave me a comment on your thoughts about Facebook!

Later days,

- J

Internet Infamy

Salutations Internet,

I hope you're having a good Tuesday and that all is right in your world.

Just an update for you, my computer is still in limbo, I was informed yesterday that when buying electronics with Mastercard or Visa, they will automatically double your warranty! So technically my computer is still under warranty and thus can be repaired for free! This is good news. Now we just have to wait for the paperwork to go through and then the repairs can begin. In the meantime, I am still relying on my girlfriend and computer labs to get my internet fix.

I was talking to my brother last night about YouTube and stupid videos and people gaining fame. I showed him a few videos of people from YouTube that I know about, sxephil (http://www.youtube.com/user/sxephil) and Boxxy (http://www.youtube.com/user/boxxybabee) and Fred Figglehornhttp://www.youtube.com/user/fred?blend=1&ob=4). The last two are teenage kids who have become famous for making videos on YouTube. "Fred" has to be about 14 or 15, pretending to be a 6 year old kid, is the most subscribed all time, most viewed all time (comedians) and even appeared and won a Teen Choice Award. I never really understood this guy's appeal, but I will give him credit for his determination. He's got t-shirts and hats and has bascially become a phenom in the internet world. And all this for just acting stupid and then speeding it up on a movie editor. Sigh. I don't understand why people love this stuff. It has no substance to it and adds nothing to your life. If your attention span has dwindled down to that of a 15 year old screaming at a camera for 3 minutes about his imaginary friends, then I think it's time you changed your lifestyle a little.

It makes me wonder about my own internet infamy. I've got a blog and I write about nothing of any importance to anyone, and yet I'm happy when I'm over 200 total views. Everyone is wanting the world to look upon them and show themselves off. I know that I am dropping my URL to all my friends and being like, "Hey, check out my blog." Some of them I sincerely want to read what I post here, because I don't get to talk to them often and they have a way to know what's going on in my life, but others, I just want to click and bump up my view count. And why? I don't really know, I don't think I'm going to become any international success with my great blogs about nothing. The time for that has past. Maybe if I had started a blog in 1999, when I was nine and still playing Pokemon and stuff, then my blog may have been successful, but jumping on the bandwagon now means no success will come of this.

And why is it that we're always looking for success from everything we do? I should just be happy if the 10 people that read this whenever I update it actually enjoy it. And I hope that you do enjoy it! I've seen this picture before, and I think it's a really good representation of what the internet, and thus blogging has become. I've never been a fan of twitter or tumblr or whatever, I feel like that's just a quick way to get your two cents out and for everyone to see, "Oh hey look, So-and-so is doing this. I don't care." I appreciate blogs because it means the author and subsequentially the reader have to take time to read the blog.

Also. Frick. There is some stupid girl in the lab who is on ICQ, (an instant messenger for those of you who don't know) and the stupid little "Uh-oh" sound that goes off anytime she gets a message is really friggen annoying. I just want to go over there and hit the stupid mute button on her keyboard. There it is again. Frick.

Anyways, sorry for the tangent. I find this really weird this whole blogging thing I've started. I found myself lying in bed last night, thinking of things to write in my blog tomorrow. Great amazing interesting antecdotes about my life that people will like. But, alas I can hardly remember any of them. (Although, Brother, what about "Engineering Ingenuity" for your blog name?)

Also! Here's another webcomic for your enjoyment! My girlfriend and I found this a long time ago and couldn't remember what it was called! But now we found it again. So I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do! http://eqcomics.com/ I've attached the first comic of the series for your viewing pleasure.

I think that's all for today, I've ranted and raved enough. I hope you enjoyed. I'm off to break that stupid ICQ girls keyboard.

Later days,

- J

Mac Letter

So as you may or may not know, I have been having troubles with my computer, so today I decided to send the Mac people an email and let them know I am not happy, this is how it goes:

Dear Folks at Mac,

I have been a fan of your products for about 3 years now, and I was very happy when I bought my first laptop, a refurbished MacBook Pro. I was very pleased with the idea of getting a refurbished computer, and the 30% off was definitely a plus. But within the year or using my computer, I have not been so satisfied with it.

Within the first ten days, I had to get the a brand new CD drive installed into the machine, leaving me without my new computer for two weeks. Within 6 months, I had to get my battery replaced, because my original one was part of a defective batch that had been recalled. And now, a year and a half later, my logic board has stopped working, resulting in my computer becoming completely un-usable. I am now waiting to repair my computer.

When buying a refurbished computer, I understood the risks that came with it, but I was fairly confident in the abilities of your people at Apple to provide me with a computer that would not have these kinds of malfunctions. I am now questioning whether my next computer will be a Mac, and that has to do with my poor experience in owning my own Mac. I hope that in the future when you are putting on the shelf, ready to sell, that problems like this will not happen. Defective batteries and improper CD drives should not be happening in a computer that has been certified by your staff as ready to be re-sold. I think it would be wise to the customer to know what has happened to their computer that made it refurbished in the first place.

Thank you for your time and consideration in reading my letter.
I hope this helps you in the future in better customer satisfaction.

Jason C. Stasiuk
stasiuk.jc@gmail.com
Victoria BC, Canada

So following that, they give you a nice little blurb saying:

Thank you for your feedback on the MacBook Pro.

We cannot respond to you personally, but please know that your message has been received and will be reviewed by the MacBook Pro Team. If we need to follow up with you on your ideas for improving the MacBook Pro, we will contact you directly.

We appreciate your assistance in making the MacBook Pro a great computer.

MacBook Pro Team
Apple

Well ain't that just great. They're not going to respond to me. Then whats the freaking point of even sending in the feedback? I'm becoming less and less enthused about Mac's support.

Your Turn!

Well because my computer died, I've resorted to one of my most hated past-times.

Reading.

What are some of your favourite books that you think I should read?
Let me know in a comment!

- J

Sigh

So, here I am again. The Clearihue computer lab, sitting on an old Mac desktop with a full keyboard. I got the call this morning. My Miss Scarlett is dead. The video processing unit is shot and there is no display at all on it. All my data is fine as the hard-drive was not affected. But basically it costs me $1100 to buy a new one. So I'm looking to hock my old one for parts, I am currently looking on eBay how much I might be able to get for it. So we'll see!

On the bright side, this means I get a new one. But again, I'm looking at spending close to $2500 for it, which is money I don't have right now. Sigh. So for the next month I will be coming back and forth to UVic buildings to use their computers. Double sigh. I'm sure they're not going to like me coming in and out of here for hours at a time just to update my blog and such. Oh well.

I guess this means the album has been put on hold for another unforseen delay. Sigh. Maybe I'll go home and practice more. There's not much to be doing here without a computer. Maybe I'll get out and explore a bit. Convince my girlfriend to go to Sooke or something for a weekend. I really wish I could listen to music and review CD's but again, I need a computer for that. I need to go buy a discman or something ridiculous. Sigh, sigh, sigh. That seems to be all that I'm doing these days. Feeling sorry for myself. Blah.

Another note of positivity! I have beaten Tetris three times in the last two days! This being quite the feat for me considering I have never gotten past level 12 before this. Also, i have watched lots of movies, finished off "Undeclared." Started reading a book called "The Autograph Man." Might start a few others soon, depending on if I finish the others.

Man, without my computer, I feel so isolated. I don't get to read the news anymore. I just kind of exist in my own little bubble. The only things I really know of are within my bounds, UVic, my house, my roommates. Etc. It's kind of depressing. I don't have anything great and interesting to show you or talk about, because I don't know anything great and interesting happening in the world! SIGH. So, here's a comic I like. Click on it if you can't read it.


For those of you who don't get it, go read the Little Prince (Shout out to my girlfriend for reading it to me).
For those of you who like the comic, and don't already know it, go to http://www.xkcd.com

Thanks always for reading!

Later Days

- J

P.S. I just went on the globeandmail.com and found this article! I had read about it in the Times Colonist here in Victoria, and it's good to see that somebody tracked these people down. Good news for the day it is!

"Three young men charged with poaching ducks that were swimming peacefully on a Saskatchewan pond and then posting their grim exploits on YouTube were expected to plead guilty Monday."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/alleged-duck-poachers-to-plead-guilty-in-saskatoon-court/article1246940/

Recall and Recap

Hello again interwebs,

How are you doing today? I hope that your Saturday was eventful and productive. Unlike mine. Being computer-less really does suck in today's day and age. So, I sat around and watched 3/4 of an entire TV series. Hurray.

But over the past few days, I've been thinking and I realized something really weird. Since moving here, almost a year ago, I've slept in seven different beds, had three different rooms, and yet, it still feels like home. It really makes me wonder what living somewhere else would be like. Don't get me wrong, I love being in Victoria, and I plan on staying here for as long as it takes me to get my degree, but I don't think I will ever fully live in Calgary again. It's just not the same, the only thing there that is materialistic that I don't have here is my drumset. And I still talk to all my friends, well those who are still my friends and were my friends, and I've become closer with my brother and even my parents. Just from moving away.

It makes me wonder what my brother is going to go through when he goes to Edmonton in the fall. Will he have like it the same as I do? Probably not, we all know Edmonton is dreadful in the winter time.

Hopefully computer will be up and running by Monday. I am dying of boredom here. My girlfriend has been grueling over a research paper, and spent 9 hours on it today, she's finishing other homework now. So I spent most of today hoping I'd get to hang out with her. I really hope there's some time for me in between all the volunteering and homework.

Any ideas for what I should do tomorrow or the upcoming week? I'd be finishing recording my album, but no computer. Maybe tomorrow I'll get my guitar and just practice.

I can't think of much else to say. Hope your day was better than mine.

Later days,

- J

Your Turn:

Tell me something wonderful that happened to you today!

Leave a comment below!