I'm coding again in my spare time (ok, maybe even in my not-so-spare time). But I LOVE to code. I'm fixing functionality and debugging code for Fox MUD, an online MMORPG, (MultiUser Dungeon/Domain = MUD). It's a text based equivalent to Everquest or such things. In fact, Everquest is based on MUD techniques and technology. So, anyways, visit the link to see some of the Javascript and CGI stuff I've also been picking up on the side.

KPMG should know that I have a strict letter-writing policy. In fact, in order to write a letter or email message to me, you must FIRST call me on the telephone to let me know what you are writing and when I can expect to receive it. Failure to do so gives me the right to bill you $500. Oh, and it shall henceforth be against the rules to give directions to my home without my express written permission, even if you are giving directions to someone who has my address and is already in a vehicle.
Failure to comply with these directives shall be treated as an attempt to send me unauthorized mail, and since this notice is posted on the page that they will likely complain about, I consider them fairly warned that I did not welcome their communication.
Email, on the other hand, shall remain unaffected. Thank you for your time and patience.

A personal project I have been working on. I'm learning cgi/perl form processing and some javascript (dynamic table sorts and such). For a look-see, visit the Fox MUD Web Site.

Rest in peace, Security News Portal. Unfortunately, last month, someone decided to hack the machine holding this wonderful news catcher web site. The site decided they werent' going to fight the hacker (it was a low-budget web-hosting site paid for by an individual) and shut down. Of course, this means we have to search farther and wider for our news now. Just going on record to say, "What a shame."

I haven't written anything in a long time. I have been busy at work and busy with hobbies and studying. Currently, I am trying to self-study Calculus so that I can eventually get my degree out of the way. Of course, it is hard to concentrate on just one thing and I am not having very much success :-(. If you read this page to know how I am doing...I'm fine. :WAVE:

Paragraph #1 from Mike's List: ISSUE 23 * SEPTEMBER 13, 2001 goes like this:

1. Fight bigotry. In the wake of this attack, many in the United States and elsewhere will be unfortunately tempted to vent their frustration and anger on any nearby Muslim or Arab. This is wrong. Islam is a global religion closely related to -- and very similar in many respects to -- Christianity and Judaism. You'll find dramatic ethnic, racial, cultural and, yes, even religious diversity within the religion. The only connection between this act of terrorism and Islam is that the terrorists cling to a twisted view of the religion to justify their campaigns of mass murder. Arabs are simply people who happen to speak the Arabic language. Not all Arabs are Muslims. Not all Muslims are Arabs. Not all terrorists are Arabic-speaking Muslims. And more than 99% of all Arabs and Muslims are totally innocent of violent crimes. We should all vocally reject the use of this horrible tragedy as justification for anti-Muslim or anti-Arab bigotry. The punishment of a group based on the perceived crimes of members of that group is itself an act of terrorism

World Trade Center Survivor Database. If you want the status of someone who worked there, you can look them up here. If someone knows their status, they can enter it here.

Are you disturbed by the recent Fruit of the Loom advertisements with the kids grooming in front of the mirror in just their underwear? As a parent of a 7-year old, this commercial disturbs me on several fronts. Before I tell you why I'm upset, let me share with you what you can/should do about it if you feel like I do. You can Contact Them with this feedback form and tell them you won't buy their product specifically because of the advertisement.

The first reason I hate the commercial - Kids in their underwear is a taboo subject. Other people should not be allowed to view my child in his skivvies. No ifs, ands or butts about it. With that said, I do understand it is an underwear commercial...and for some reason, I don't have the same problem with diaper commercials...

The kids are posing in front of mirrors, getting ready for picture day. Pre-pubescent children should not be concerned with their looks. It only sets them up for dissapointment later in life. The extreme of this is the little kids they put on display like that Benet girl. Little children should not be posing at their age...and certainly not in anything close to a 'suggestive' manner.

The commercial forces the viewer into a situation where they are 'clandestinely' watching children pose in their underwear. The viewer is not a part of the action, and the camera angles are such to suggest a voyeuristic angle..lest the children be shy about their posing in front of mirrors, I suppose. This comes WAY to close to pedophilia for me. It's just touching the line....voyeuristically watching children in their underwear! I'll bet I get tons of search engine hits JUST for this paragraph alone...

Pull the commercial, Fruit of the Loom, pull it now, as fast as Calvin Klein pulled down their billboards. And while you're at it, fire your ad executives..

You know what's odd? I get lots of hits from web search engines. People looking for different things that I may discuss from time to time will hit on my web site up there in the search engine results. I don't use any tricks or anything special, either, like META tags or listing keywords over and over. One example, I got hits from people looking for info about the Magellan GPS mapping system. I talked about that device after we used one on vacation. I just find it really curious that search engines like aol, altavista and hotbot all score me so high on such searches even though my content may only make one or two mentions of the keywords. I'm glad to see the visitors, of course..but I still find it odd.

Now, here's a bold site for you! Don't click the link yet. Let's put this in perspective first. I caught a bug in my house. Looks like a wasp, but the 'stinger' has a large bubble [maybe an abdomen?!?] on it. I wanted to identify it. So I typed www.insect.com to see what I got. Imagine being greeted with this Welcome to Terminix! [Go ahead, click it now]. WAY BOLD! I don't think the majority of people who hit this site either on purpose or by mistake will ever get past that page. Click it, see what I mean? Talk about an ASSAULT!?! It's like walking into a hardware store and having the clerk stand in the doorframe and demand your address before letting you enter the store. Sorry buddy, wrong store...I meant to go to Home Depot next door. Whew!