That about sums it up

We all know my joy of a good debate. Some people just consider me argumentative. Some people are thoroughly confused as to my real stance on issues due to my tenancies to play the devil's advocate in an attempt to foster meaningful and productive conversations (and because it leads to debates!!).
That being said my stance on DRM is not usually ambiguous.
I have long wished to join the music loving masses and enjoy the iTunes store but usually talked myself out of any real steps in that direction with a double headed argument based on DRM and my cheapassedness.
One of my favorite webcomics, XKCD, has very succinctly summed up the current stance of things for me.

(due to my laziness I am linking to the comic here instead of embedding the image, which would require me to either alter the author's work by resizing, or re-coding some of the template I am using.)


By all rights I should now be purchasing music on iTunes, so why haven't I?

Monthly update

I have realized this blog is only good for 1 post per month (I may have had this realization before but I don't remember it). When I started it I was really hoping for 2-3 posts a month at a minimum. Its not like I have nothing to talk about. On a weekly basis something will happen that makes me think "I should blog about this" but by the time I get home I have too many other things to procrastinate on.

The vacation was completely and totally awesome. It was a real change of pace and helped put everything into perspective. It also makes me want to be rich so I can afford the kind of personal service found on the cruise on a permanent basis. At the very least, a maid and a butler/personal assistant.
My wife posted most of the pictures on her flickr account. If you have access you should take a look. The rappelling in Puerto Vallarta made for some impressive pictures. If I get too bogged down in my homework and am looking for a distraction I may post some here.

E, e, and C came down for the superbowl. You know I like them a lot since it meant letting a known steelers fan STAY in my house. As you all know by now the Cardinals lost but I am still happy. We made it to the superbowl and the game wasn't a blow out. It was a close game that came down to the last few plays and the Cardinals showed the world that they do know how to play football. I just hope they can hold on to this team for another season or to and make some more play off appearances so that people don't call this season/team a fluke.

Little e is a pretty cool baby. He has good genes and I expect he will grow up to be a well rounded adult full of ambition, intelligence, and a slight loathing for the military-industrial complex (even though it is probably paying for his college).


I have a pretty easy semester on paper. Only 8 credits. I just wish the classes didn't take up so much of my time. One of them is an Individual Instruction project that is taking way more time than I though it would. I spend a lot of time researching material (papers and publications) for the class. I really wasn't expecting my instructor to say "go find the stuff that will teach you what you are supposed to be learning." It has led me to the opinion that our academic publishing system is flawed. There is a lot of crap papers out there. I never really agreed with institutions basing performance on works published by the faculty and the last few weeks have really strengthened that opinion.