Songs I think should have been in a guitar hero game:
Disclaimer: I haven't played rockband so I don't know what songs may be contained within
in no particular order.
-Thunderstruck, AC/DC (hell any AC/DC song...)
-Until the day I die, Story of the Year
-Don't Start a Band, Reel Big Fish (if but for the irony only)
-Tell Me Baby, RHCP
-Do What You Want, OK Go
-Crownless, Nightwish
-Born to Lead, Hoobastank
-Deny, Default
-The industrial Strength Hoedown Extravaganza, Jon Finn
-more DRAGONFORCE
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Patuxent Patriot
Another week another trip for some BS meeting I really don't need to be at. This time we go to Patuxent River MD for a NAVAIR briefing on the project Im working on. Travel monday all afternoon into the night, then 2 meetings tuesday then travel all tuesday afternoon back to NC
Something Interesting I noted on my way to MD was that both flights had female pilots. This has never happened to me before to my knowledge. Not that its a sexism issue I would just tend to think that aviation has historically been a mans passion, so its a unique occurrence to even find one female commercial pilot let alone two in a row.
Such was not the case on my way home. Oh well, observation will continue.
Something Interesting I noted on my way to MD was that both flights had female pilots. This has never happened to me before to my knowledge. Not that its a sexism issue I would just tend to think that aviation has historically been a mans passion, so its a unique occurrence to even find one female commercial pilot let alone two in a row.
Such was not the case on my way home. Oh well, observation will continue.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Christofone
Hi Im Christopher Schaller, Founder and CEO of Christofone. It is my vision and goal to provide to you, my loyal customers, with unprecedented cell phone service. It begins with our most basic of plans. For 20 bux a month you can make a call every once in a while from our dilapidated old cellphones with batteries larger than the phone itself.
For an extra 10$ though you can upgrade to the classic flip phone...with an LCD display only found on the fanciest of calculators.
But the real strength of Christofone is our Rape-you-in-the-ass hidden fees. Did you know that it costs you 5cents just to turn the phone on? Yep thats good old fashioned service right there.
With Christofone, you're going to like how thick our bill is...I guarantee it.
Annnnnd Scene.
I had just woke up when I saw one of those tracfone commercials and was inspired.
if you buy a cell phone from Dollar General its time to take a good close look at your life.
For an extra 10$ though you can upgrade to the classic flip phone...with an LCD display only found on the fanciest of calculators.
But the real strength of Christofone is our Rape-you-in-the-ass hidden fees. Did you know that it costs you 5cents just to turn the phone on? Yep thats good old fashioned service right there.
With Christofone, you're going to like how thick our bill is...I guarantee it.
Annnnnd Scene.
I had just woke up when I saw one of those tracfone commercials and was inspired.
if you buy a cell phone from Dollar General its time to take a good close look at your life.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
On Birthdays
It was to say the least, uneventful. No cake, and everybody is sold out of Ds's despite being full up 1 week before Christmas.
Birthdays usually get me thinking about my own life in the days immediately following..and this usually doesn't end well for me. To say the least I'm not in a good mood today.
There are a lot of things that are bothering me at this point in my life...most of which stem from the same core issue. The crushing loneliness of being 800 Miles from my closest friends is really starting to get to me. It has been 6 months since I've seen face to face anybody I'd ever had a connection with and beyond that there are friends that I haven't even spoken to in a year maybe.
and if anybody starts that "oh omega's gettin emo again" just shut the fuck up.
This is not a "give me sympathy post" I don't really want to see my inbox full of "hope you feel better" stuff. Im writing this here because it's the easiest way to get shit off my chest.
Anyway I hope everybody out there reading this is doing well. And I mean that.
I kinda feel better already.
I'm disallowing comments for this post...for obvious reasons.
Birthdays usually get me thinking about my own life in the days immediately following..and this usually doesn't end well for me. To say the least I'm not in a good mood today.
There are a lot of things that are bothering me at this point in my life...most of which stem from the same core issue. The crushing loneliness of being 800 Miles from my closest friends is really starting to get to me. It has been 6 months since I've seen face to face anybody I'd ever had a connection with and beyond that there are friends that I haven't even spoken to in a year maybe.
and if anybody starts that "oh omega's gettin emo again" just shut the fuck up.
This is not a "give me sympathy post" I don't really want to see my inbox full of "hope you feel better" stuff. Im writing this here because it's the easiest way to get shit off my chest.
Anyway I hope everybody out there reading this is doing well. And I mean that.
I kinda feel better already.
I'm disallowing comments for this post...for obvious reasons.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Super Stallion
No the title doesn't refer to my sexual stamina.
It is the military nickname for the CH-53 Helicopter, Sea Stallion if you're nasty. The workhorse (pun intended) of the Navy and Marine Corps is a heavy lift heli built by Sikorsky in the late 60s...and it is still in heavy service today by both the US and its Allies and will probably continue to be for the next 15 years.
This is the chopper that I pretty much dedicate all my work time to, the two projects focused on making the aircraft lasting as long as possible.
Its a beautiful piece of aerospace tech even if it was built during the dark ages of engineering, 3 beastly engines that give a total of 15,000 HP and enough carrying capacity to tow a Humvee, with a cadre of marines in the trunk. Oh and that huge prong on the nose? Mid air refueling boom.
Sorry, I like to gush about aircraft.
But for serious, I thought somepersons may care to know what I'm working on...thats basically all I can tell you in specific though, this being public domain and all.
I have had the opportunity to learn about some exciting technology working on these projects...like the cast aluminum with 100% improved strength properties but similar density and ductility characteristics, or the fact that transparisteel may be viable in the near future...you read that properly...transparent steel
So anyway tomorrow I celebrate the anniversary of my birth. I plan to bake a cake of some sorts and purchase a DS.
That is all
enjoy your afternoon
It is the military nickname for the CH-53 Helicopter, Sea Stallion if you're nasty. The workhorse (pun intended) of the Navy and Marine Corps is a heavy lift heli built by Sikorsky in the late 60s...and it is still in heavy service today by both the US and its Allies and will probably continue to be for the next 15 years.
This is the chopper that I pretty much dedicate all my work time to, the two projects focused on making the aircraft lasting as long as possible.
Its a beautiful piece of aerospace tech even if it was built during the dark ages of engineering, 3 beastly engines that give a total of 15,000 HP and enough carrying capacity to tow a Humvee, with a cadre of marines in the trunk. Oh and that huge prong on the nose? Mid air refueling boom.
Sorry, I like to gush about aircraft.
But for serious, I thought somepersons may care to know what I'm working on...thats basically all I can tell you in specific though, this being public domain and all.
I have had the opportunity to learn about some exciting technology working on these projects...like the cast aluminum with 100% improved strength properties but similar density and ductility characteristics, or the fact that transparisteel may be viable in the near future...you read that properly...transparent steel
So anyway tomorrow I celebrate the anniversary of my birth. I plan to bake a cake of some sorts and purchase a DS.
That is all
enjoy your afternoon
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Predilictions
Yesterday I got back from my business trip to Pittsburgh, if you've never been its a lot like New York, just less drab and much less...square.
It was snowing pretty much the whole trip and it got me thinking about how much I miss the northern weather. I've always preferred colder weather, its just something thats been in my blood forever. Down here in NC the weather is so temperate its almost painful to me. This winter, we've had at least five days at 70+ and then the next day it'll go down to maybe 40...
I miss snow...
It was snowing pretty much the whole trip and it got me thinking about how much I miss the northern weather. I've always preferred colder weather, its just something thats been in my blood forever. Down here in NC the weather is so temperate its almost painful to me. This winter, we've had at least five days at 70+ and then the next day it'll go down to maybe 40...
I miss snow...
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
wind sleet snow hail
Rainy, windy. A miserable day dawns on New Haven's Tweed regional airport. As I prepare to fly out I am greeted with interesting thoughts regarding my day spent at the Sikorsky plant. It was not my first trip but this one was different. I guess I was able to look at the place of legends with a more critical eye this time around.
There was the standard annoying check-in procedure for visitors. It looks like it will keep the place safe but if you look like a contractor, the armed security guards rarely give you a second glance.
Then there was the trek through the plant to our contacts desk area. A grueling 7 minute journey through the bowls of the plant. As I walk this path in my hot jacket and bum toe I can't help but wonder if Sikorsky hates their employees.
We arrive at our 'scheduled' Conference room. Though apparently its been assigned to somebody else. A minor verbal tussle ensues. Our contact is vehement about kicking out the standing meeting that was about to start (of about 10 more people then we had) because she registered the room. The conflict was resolved when the rooms schedule was checked. We were in another room altogether, and not too far from where we were.
The rest of the day was a fun adventure into learning how to do the analysis we needed to do.
Much like law, the world of the aeroindustry I am quickly coming to realize is based almost completely on precedent. We must do it like it has always been done, and be slow to change with the rest of the industry appears to be the mantra. While the advent of modern computing tools may have made the process more efficient, and more accurate, there are people in the industry that are paid to check everything by hand. Sikorsky's procedure for signing off on a new technology takes nearly a year of testing and analysis, and the process for approving/certifying new vendors even longer.
This should disturb me. But it doesn't. Probably because this industry stands atop the shoulders of giants like Igor Sikorsky. There is a reputation associated with that name, as there is to Boeing, Lockheed, and Airbus. There is a legacy to preserve in the Aging Aircraft industry and no force of nature will likely change it in a timely manner.
On previous visits to Sikorsky I got to take a peek at Igor's office, kept perfectly since he died in 1972. It dawned on me as I was traveling today that while it may be annoying as hell to youngins like me, if it aint broke, don't fix it is the mantra for the present.
There was the standard annoying check-in procedure for visitors. It looks like it will keep the place safe but if you look like a contractor, the armed security guards rarely give you a second glance.
Then there was the trek through the plant to our contacts desk area. A grueling 7 minute journey through the bowls of the plant. As I walk this path in my hot jacket and bum toe I can't help but wonder if Sikorsky hates their employees.
We arrive at our 'scheduled' Conference room. Though apparently its been assigned to somebody else. A minor verbal tussle ensues. Our contact is vehement about kicking out the standing meeting that was about to start (of about 10 more people then we had) because she registered the room. The conflict was resolved when the rooms schedule was checked. We were in another room altogether, and not too far from where we were.
The rest of the day was a fun adventure into learning how to do the analysis we needed to do.
Much like law, the world of the aeroindustry I am quickly coming to realize is based almost completely on precedent. We must do it like it has always been done, and be slow to change with the rest of the industry appears to be the mantra. While the advent of modern computing tools may have made the process more efficient, and more accurate, there are people in the industry that are paid to check everything by hand. Sikorsky's procedure for signing off on a new technology takes nearly a year of testing and analysis, and the process for approving/certifying new vendors even longer.
This should disturb me. But it doesn't. Probably because this industry stands atop the shoulders of giants like Igor Sikorsky. There is a reputation associated with that name, as there is to Boeing, Lockheed, and Airbus. There is a legacy to preserve in the Aging Aircraft industry and no force of nature will likely change it in a timely manner.
On previous visits to Sikorsky I got to take a peek at Igor's office, kept perfectly since he died in 1972. It dawned on me as I was traveling today that while it may be annoying as hell to youngins like me, if it aint broke, don't fix it is the mantra for the present.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Magical Mystery Tour
I write to you know from the Philadelphia international airport, Terminal F gate 12. Also known as
"The Planes To The Middle of NOWHERE" terminal awaiting my flight to New Haven Connecticut. This journey started for me at around 6AM this morning when I awoke from an odd night of sleep. I reached the New Bern "Airport" at roughly 8 am for my 9:30 flight. If you have never been to EWN (New Bern City code) allow me to describe it for you. 2 gates: 1 used by USair that runs 5/6 flights per day to Charlotte, and one for Delta, who runs 1 flight/day to Atlanta. 90% of the 'airport' lies in front of the security "checkpoint" which is newer than the rest of the place. The people that run the ticketing counter also are the ground crew, and the baggage handlers.
Back to the story. I arrive at 8am for my 9:30 flight. There two lines, longer than 20 people each stacked up in front of the USAir desk. In an airport whose flights carry a max of 15 people, this is bad news.
Turns out that the two flights to Charlotte afore mine were cancelled due to bad weather. Took me 1.5 hours but I got to the front of the line to reschedule my delayed flights. After checking my baggage and getting my new tickets I sit down to check my morning email. Five minutes later an announcement rings out over the terminal. My flight has been cancelled. Joy. Rapture. These are the emotions of a stranded passenger.
So I get back in line. There are still people there from when I arrived this morning. Oi.
Turns out I cant get to New Haven today from New Bern. Good news! They'll taxi me to another shitball airport in Jacksonville so I can do the standard Charlotte, Philly, NH route.
Fast forward to Jacksonville. Im Flagged for special screening...guess I was the lucky ticket that day. Im not on any watch lists that I know of and I work for a government contractor so this is an unusual treat for me. Unfortunately I forgot to take my leatherman out of my carryon...there goes 60 bucks. The one redeeming feature of Jville airport is that the Marines use the tarmac as a training area for their H-53 pilots so while waiting for my new flight I got to watch a chopper take off and land a few times.
The shortcut to where I am now is that I had a mad dash in Charlotte, they closed the doors right behind me and a comfortable layover in philly. Needless to say its been a long day. And I still have a flight on an old Dash-8 prop plane (I call them Bumblebees) to contend with before Im done.
I never have easy travel days...its part of the magic of living in a city where I have to connect to get anywhere and usually going to places I have to connect to get too. Good news Is Im racking up miles and legs for personal travel.
And Im not done travelling yet. Still have a trip to pittsburgh a week from today and another short hop to Pax River MA in a few weeks
So for now I say bon nuit
"The Planes To The Middle of NOWHERE" terminal awaiting my flight to New Haven Connecticut. This journey started for me at around 6AM this morning when I awoke from an odd night of sleep. I reached the New Bern "Airport" at roughly 8 am for my 9:30 flight. If you have never been to EWN (New Bern City code) allow me to describe it for you. 2 gates: 1 used by USair that runs 5/6 flights per day to Charlotte, and one for Delta, who runs 1 flight/day to Atlanta. 90% of the 'airport' lies in front of the security "checkpoint" which is newer than the rest of the place. The people that run the ticketing counter also are the ground crew, and the baggage handlers.
Back to the story. I arrive at 8am for my 9:30 flight. There two lines, longer than 20 people each stacked up in front of the USAir desk. In an airport whose flights carry a max of 15 people, this is bad news.
Turns out that the two flights to Charlotte afore mine were cancelled due to bad weather. Took me 1.5 hours but I got to the front of the line to reschedule my delayed flights. After checking my baggage and getting my new tickets I sit down to check my morning email. Five minutes later an announcement rings out over the terminal. My flight has been cancelled. Joy. Rapture. These are the emotions of a stranded passenger.
So I get back in line. There are still people there from when I arrived this morning. Oi.
Turns out I cant get to New Haven today from New Bern. Good news! They'll taxi me to another shitball airport in Jacksonville so I can do the standard Charlotte, Philly, NH route.
Fast forward to Jacksonville. Im Flagged for special screening...guess I was the lucky ticket that day. Im not on any watch lists that I know of and I work for a government contractor so this is an unusual treat for me. Unfortunately I forgot to take my leatherman out of my carryon...there goes 60 bucks. The one redeeming feature of Jville airport is that the Marines use the tarmac as a training area for their H-53 pilots so while waiting for my new flight I got to watch a chopper take off and land a few times.
The shortcut to where I am now is that I had a mad dash in Charlotte, they closed the doors right behind me and a comfortable layover in philly. Needless to say its been a long day. And I still have a flight on an old Dash-8 prop plane (I call them Bumblebees) to contend with before Im done.
I never have easy travel days...its part of the magic of living in a city where I have to connect to get anywhere and usually going to places I have to connect to get too. Good news Is Im racking up miles and legs for personal travel.
And Im not done travelling yet. Still have a trip to pittsburgh a week from today and another short hop to Pax River MA in a few weeks
So for now I say bon nuit
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Bachelor Gourmet
Since I knew I would eventually be moving out of my parents house I began to learn how to cook at the beginning of junior year. Now that I live alone, I have the opportunity to expand my culinary skills and its been quite fun. Here is a selection of "reciepies" (more like variations on a theme right now) that I would put in a cookbook called "the bachelor gourmet" If you try them I want to know what you think. Comments, Emails, AIM is all accepted tender.
Chicken Variation:
Use in salads, sitrfry's, basically anything non-baked.
Boneless chicken breasts sliced to strips.
Marinate for at least one hour in a bowl with "Barbecue" Seasoning (a spice blend in your grocery) and Teriyaki sauce. To conserve resources, use less sauce and toss regularly.
Cook in skillet till done. Just before plating or using, toss the rest of the marinade in the skillet and let it cook onto the chicken
Roasted Potatoes:
Roast one head of garlic by slicing it in half horizontally and wrap in tinfoil doused in oil with salt and pepper (roast in oven at 350 for about 45 minutes)
Cut potatoes into quarters or smaller
in a large bowl toss the potato pieces, some oil, barbecue seasoning (its really this awesome) and the roasted garlic (after a good smashing)
roast in oven at 350 for about an hour, +/- 15 mins.
you can also cut into smaller pieces and fry in skillet, I haven't nailed down the timing yet
Mock pepper steak:
Use top sirloin cut and slice into fairly thin strips
Marinate in a combination of Worcestershire and Teriyaki sauce
Slice one (or one half depending on size) of a vidalia (sweet) onion and a pepper (any color but green)
fry onion and pepper in oil till onion is translucent
Add meat and cook till done
Omega's beef stroganouf:
Top Sirloin cut into thinish strips
Slice one onion and cook in a pan with butter till translucent
at the same time cook a package of mushrooms (I like sliced baby portabello's best) in butter, cook until significantly reduced
combine meat and mushrooms in main pan
once meat is cooked turn heat off and empty one 8oz of sour cream in main pan
toss until evenly distributed.
serve on top of cooked egg noodles
thats all I have for now, I'll edit this post if I come up with more, I tagged it "cooking" for easy future reference
Chicken Variation:
Use in salads, sitrfry's, basically anything non-baked.
Boneless chicken breasts sliced to strips.
Marinate for at least one hour in a bowl with "Barbecue" Seasoning (a spice blend in your grocery) and Teriyaki sauce. To conserve resources, use less sauce and toss regularly.
Cook in skillet till done. Just before plating or using, toss the rest of the marinade in the skillet and let it cook onto the chicken
Roasted Potatoes:
Roast one head of garlic by slicing it in half horizontally and wrap in tinfoil doused in oil with salt and pepper (roast in oven at 350 for about 45 minutes)
Cut potatoes into quarters or smaller
in a large bowl toss the potato pieces, some oil, barbecue seasoning (its really this awesome) and the roasted garlic (after a good smashing)
roast in oven at 350 for about an hour, +/- 15 mins.
you can also cut into smaller pieces and fry in skillet, I haven't nailed down the timing yet
Mock pepper steak:
Use top sirloin cut and slice into fairly thin strips
Marinate in a combination of Worcestershire and Teriyaki sauce
Slice one (or one half depending on size) of a vidalia (sweet) onion and a pepper (any color but green)
fry onion and pepper in oil till onion is translucent
Add meat and cook till done
Omega's beef stroganouf:
Top Sirloin cut into thinish strips
Slice one onion and cook in a pan with butter till translucent
at the same time cook a package of mushrooms (I like sliced baby portabello's best) in butter, cook until significantly reduced
combine meat and mushrooms in main pan
once meat is cooked turn heat off and empty one 8oz of sour cream in main pan
toss until evenly distributed.
serve on top of cooked egg noodles
thats all I have for now, I'll edit this post if I come up with more, I tagged it "cooking" for easy future reference
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
First!
Welcome to 2008. I didn't do much to ring in the new year....mostly played videogames and watched the various coverages on the various networks. Fallout Boy on fox was worth it...but most of their audience wouldn't appreciate/know that they didn't write the song "beat it." For the countdown I traditionally watch Dick Clark. I remember last year the poor man could barely keep up with the countdown...this year was definitely better in that respect though he still has some speaking issues from the stroke.
Today was spent in bed for a good portion, the rest gaming and cleaning up my office area.
The game of choice was Disgaea, I was lucky enough earlier this year to find a copy online (new) that wasn't unjustly expensive. I have about 15 hours logged but I'm only on chapter four. I've been spending my recent time grinding out levels and mastery levels. Believe it or not its actually quite fun. The game is so damn complex the player is constantly learning what is possible and how to maximize their characters.
Well thats pretty much all I can think of for now. I don't plan to write everyday...just hope to at least once a week. I do know that my next entry will be cooking related though so stay tuned
Today was spent in bed for a good portion, the rest gaming and cleaning up my office area.
The game of choice was Disgaea, I was lucky enough earlier this year to find a copy online (new) that wasn't unjustly expensive. I have about 15 hours logged but I'm only on chapter four. I've been spending my recent time grinding out levels and mastery levels. Believe it or not its actually quite fun. The game is so damn complex the player is constantly learning what is possible and how to maximize their characters.
Well thats pretty much all I can think of for now. I don't plan to write everyday...just hope to at least once a week. I do know that my next entry will be cooking related though so stay tuned
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