Crazy Kevin's World

I'm better now....

2006-10-13T15:31:00.000-05:00

Don't worry, I didn't take my Schick Quattro to my wrist last night. I feel much better.

Now, on with your regular blog. :)

Until next time... I'm out

A dead end

2006-10-12T21:49:00.000-05:00

man i've really be on the downers lately. it seems everything is going wrong. everybody makes fun of me. i know i make fun of people, but i usually do it lightly until they make fun of me. school is all going wrong and i'm having problems at home. everybody calls me fat and girls ignore me

this isn't a joke post. i'm serious

i don't know what i'll do.

until next time, i'm out

Suicide

2006-10-10T17:38:00.000-05:00

Nothing makes me feel more suicidal then breaking something expensive (I'm recovered from severe clinical depression disorder, by the way).

Christmas 2005, my mom got me a beautiful digital camera, HP Photomark M407. It was amazing, but I didn't use it that much.

Now I found it, the little shutter thing is broken sideways, and turning it on shows the HP logo for a few seconds before going gray, before shutting down. I called and told my mom.

"WHAT? That camera cost $300... etc. etc. etc." and now she's really mad. I feel so sick to my stomach. Its a good thing we don't have guns...

Until next time, I'm out.

PS: By the way, I'm working on some essay type stuff to put here, you know, like stuff I'll do research on. A really blogger, perhaps.

I've got a timebomb on my hands.

2006-09-28T19:57:00.000-05:00

No, don't call homeland security. This timebomb isn't physically dangerous.

I got a YouTube account a few weeks ago. YouTube is a free web service that allows users to upload their homemade movies and share with others. Copyrighted material is banned, but to take copyrighted material down, YouTube's staff has to see the video, and then take it down. YouTube is a small Web 2.0 startup, they only have 60 on staff, it takes a while.

I uploaded clips from the movie, Pirates of Silicon Valley, a unofficial movie about the rise of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. My clips got a few hits in the beginning, but are now starting to gain traction, and lots of it.

I recently got 4 honors on my videos. Honors are automatic little awards that you get for "Most Watched" or what not. One of my clips from the movie is "#89 Most Watch This Week for Technology videos."

Ok, not really impressive, but, it does mean I'll get more and more views, and maybe even, a YouTube staffmember. Then, they'll take all my videos down, and maybe ban my IP. Then where shall I look for videos of idiots talking infront of a webcam pretending to be a celebrity, or people putting mentos into diet coke or a cat on a little wheel or a car crash from a F1 race in 1983.

Well, I'll keep you updated. In the mean time, call the bomb squad.

Until next time, I'm out.

Dr. Maclove

2006-09-17T20:01:00.001-05:00

Or How I Learned how to stop being a bigot and love the Mac....

My my my... how times have changed. Two years ago, I was a full-blown Microsoft fanboy. Didn't matter if it was a Playstation 2, a iPod, or Linux, I hated EVERYTHING that wasn't made by the mighty M$. What changed? Ever since the release of iTunes 7, and Steve Jobs' special event, I've been going nutty about Apple products.

What in the hell happened? Honestly, I have no idea. It all started two weeks ago when we had to use iMacs in my graphic arts class. Typically, I didn't even know how to turn it on, and I saved embarrsement by pretending that I had forgotten something at my desk, and quickly abandoned the quest (as usual, there was some good looking girls in the next iMac over, lest I show I don't know how to turn the computer on infront of them!)

Well, I knew somewhat about Mac OS X, and what I had seen was really impressive, but I didn't know much. Then, sitting next to me two freshmen started cursing the Mac because they couldn't right-click to copy and paste a picture they needed.

Now, I knew it was control + click to right-click, but he didn't care. His anti-Apple rant made by blood boil, and I started to think... I may be a Apple fanyboy. I went home and started thinking about my own PC I'm going to build (see previous blog entries, I know I haven't written a clear cut entry on it yet) and I think, Maybe after I build this PC (when I should save up for a car) maybe I'll get a MacBook... ya know... just because I could use a laptop.

Well, then Steve Jobs' thingie came where he announced movies on iTunes (the iTunes name is slowly and slowly becoming more and more improper, CNET's Buzz Out Loud podcast said it should be called iUnes... hahaha) and now I want to get an iPod....

Well, I figure I'll still get my Core 2 Duo PC system... then who knows? I have no idea whats next, but I'm punchdrunk-in-love with Apple. The Mac is my god, and Steve Jobs is my savior.

Until next time, I'm out.

"I learned to type before I learned how to write cursive"

2006-09-12T18:03:00.000-05:00

How true. Those words, spoken by Cory Doctorow, ring very true for me. Doctorow is a science-fiction writer and tech world journalist (and a socialist.... *gag*), and he was a guest on this week's edition of "This Week in Tech".

There has been a computer in my house since I was five years old (since I was born if you count my dad's Commodore 64 in the basement). I've always feel completely comfortable with a computer, and like Doctorow, I could type on a QWERTY keyboard before I could write curvisve.

Doctorow went on to say that he finds writing with pen and paper "painful". Well, I wouldn't say that writting with a pen (or more often, pencil) "painful" I do find it... unconfortable, maybe even difficult, but not painful, not yet anyway. I do find writting a list or something on paper unconvenent ("What do you mean I can't copy and paste?")

This makes me ponder... in the far, far future, will standard writing be replaced by everybody typing? Computers and becoming more and more common in schools, will writing be replaced forever? Just some things to ponder.

Until next time, I'm out.

Post-script: and the funny thing is, you can tell I depenant on word processors. Look at all thoes spelling mistakes. ;) Until next time...

Post-post-script: coming soon is my review of the newest verison of Apple's iTunes, which if you use that program, you'll notice she bothered you to update. I stopped listening to music for 10 minutes and let her update, this on the day of Apple's new world-wide annoucment. Am I surprised, no. Stay tuned to this channel for more information. Until the next time... (or the next post-script)

God Bless America

2006-09-11T15:44:00.000-05:00

God bless all those who lost their lives (and their families) on 9/11. Never forgive, never forget.

I was home 'sick' the day of 9/11, and I was watching CNN when the second plane hit live. (And for you assholes, yes I was positive it wasn't a replay) and it is an image that will live with me for the rest of my life.

Until next time, I'm out.

The Kmart Saga Contiunes....

2006-09-08T16:19:00.000-05:00

I managed to turn in my Kmart application. The Indian American woman (by that, I mean she's from India... not a native American) at the desk said to me, "Looks good, I'll give it to the right people." So I left. Thats all... heh heh.

Until next time, I'm out.

Girls, girls, girls....

2006-09-07T19:31:00.000-05:00

Back to school... fresh air and sun outside, got me thinking about all the lovely girls at school. Hahahahahaha. Well, ok. On to a more suitable topic.

I finally got my application to Kmart... should fill it out tonight and hand it in tomorrow. Hopefully everything will go good. It says if you don't have any work contacts, you can put personal references, so some of you may be on my application. Hahahaha....

Anyway, maybe I'll get enough cash from this two-bit job and save up for my new super PC I wanna get. Hopefully I'm not a cashier... I hate that job. I wanna stock shelves... simple enough.

I'm writing this blog entry with a dog on my lap. Good puppie. By the way, have you all seen, Kitten War? I'm not a cat person, but that is a fun website... and actually a complex social experiment.

Thats all for me. Until next time, I'm out.

Post-script: I'll also be telling of my experiance at the US nationals, two words... AWE-SOME! ;)

School Tomorrow, away at the US Nationals, while witnessing the features of Windows Vista, on a new computer.

2006-08-31T12:06:00.000-05:00

Long time no blog.... a few short notes today.

I start school tommorow. Look for my internet time to be cut by 70%. I'm excited though, seeing old friends, lot of computer classes, getting my job and of course, girls ;)
After that, I'm being sent away to the US Nationals, the super bowl or world cup of professional drag racing. Its in Indy, about a 5 hour drive from here, and I'll be gone all weekend (plus monday, thank you labor day).
I've been reading about the features of Windows Vista, and it seems REALLY cool. I might have to get it for my new computer.
New computer? Oh yes, I've already dumped the idea of getting a 360, I'm going for a new PC now, with everything top of the line, including the Core 2 Duo E6600. ;)

Until next time, I'm out.

Weekend Update

2006-08-13T02:29:00.000-05:00

"Hello, I'm Kevin Schram, and welcome to Weekend Update. Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead."

Meh, a little SNL reference to get the update going. Anyway, its 02:24 here and I'm tired... so here goes, rapid fire: on.

Today I was supposed to go golfing, didn't happen. :(
Later today, I went to the Wisconsin State Fair, which happened to be the 149th year of the fair. Wisconsin is known for being a farming/dairy state, so there was a lot of cows on display, and prized milk and such. They have cheese stands where you can buy almost any food item relating to cheese. I'm pretty 'cheesed out', but thinking about all that great cheese is making me hungry again. However, I bought a cowboy hat whileI was there, and it was kind of expensive, and I don't have any need for it. Well, it looks cool and I wore it the rest of the day. I'll try to snap some digital pics.
I watched The Greatest Game Ever Played, a Disney biopic sports movie about Francis Quimet (pronouced, We-Met). Its a good story, about how 20-year old Quimet beats professionals and wins the US Open of Golf. He came from a pesant family and had nothing. There is also a subplot involving Harry Vardon, the father of modern golf. Vardon invented the golf grip that everybody uses to hold their clubs, (called by some, the Vardon grip). He was the first golfer to wear formal clothes (by formal, I mean suit and tie), which earned him the name, The Stylist. Vardon won a few British Opens, went to the US, dominated in the US Open, and returned to Britian a "conquering hero" and was given good press coverage about the loyal British subject who went to the US and returned with their only impressive golf championship, so in effect, Vardon became the world's first golf superstar. Vardon is one of my idols, has he grew up in poverty on the Isle of Jersey, and fought his whole life to do what he did: play golf.
I'm already planning things to buy with my future paychecks. If I don't get that job, or get payed less that I'm planning, I'll be SOL. :(

That should be enough for your weekly dose of Schram.

Until next time, I'm out.

The Day in the Life of Schram

2006-08-11T18:27:00.000-05:00

12:00 = Wake up, brush teeth, take dog out, other morning things.
12:10 = Check e-mail, check basic subscriptions on YouTube
12:30 = Eat breakfast
12:50 = Watch Fox News Channel and/or ESPN
13:10 = Return to Computer, e-mail, YouTube, surf.
14:30 = Move to Xbox, play some games
16:00 = Return to PC, more games or maybe more internet
16:47 = Friend calls on phone, conversation starts
17:10 = Phone convo done, reutrn to PC
17:30 = Dinner done, go and eat. Yum yum.
17:51 = Post dinner jog around the block with my dog.
18:00 = Play time with my dog.
18:10 = Watch DVD with mom and dog.
20:31 = DVD done, return to PC
20:40 = Run down to friend's house for an inpromtu game of Halo 2 multiplayer
22:02 = My mom calls and makes me return home. She ruins all the fun. Get on Xbox and play my own Halo 2 so I don't suck so bad.
23:00 = Watch Fox News/ESPN to catch up on te days events.
23:30 = More playing with dog.
23:40 = Return to PC.
01:00 = Think about going to bed, but don't.
03:00 = Finally tear myself away from PC. Wonder if I'm wasting my summer like this.
03:15 = Go to bed.
12:00 = Wake up, brush teeth, take dog out, other morning things.

Until next time, I'm out.

I can waste money

2006-08-10T20:35:00.000-05:00

If you read my first entry about getting a job, you'll know that I'm getting a part-time job so I can afford the game, Dead Rising. Well, I had $15 bucks to burn, and in my unlimited wisdom, instead of saving it, I used it to buy the Strategy Guide for the game. I don't even have a frickin' Xbox 360 and yet, I bought the game guide.

I don't know what I'll do with it. Maybe I'll look at the pictures and maps. Anyway, that isn't the main point of my post today. I ordered it on August 7th (yet through the magic of blog writting, you thought I ordered it today, didn't you), and I got next-day shipping. I ordered it after business hours so I assumed it would arrive on the 9th of August. The Amazon.com estimated shipping date confirmed this.

Then, on the 9th, I get an e-mail from Amazon, saying "We're sorry, but your item will now ship on August 16th through 23rd. You'll receive it on August 17th through 24th." Well, that pissed me off, and when I return to the page for that book, it now says "Item ships in 11 days." For the life of me, I don't understand what could take them so bloody long. The book came out on the 8th, I could of gone to the store and bought it.

I'm a big supporter of online shopping, but this is stupid. I hate waiting for packages, but I hate going to stores and dealing with the other odd people that seem to inhabit them. I hate super discount stores like Wal-Mart (or K-Mart, where I'll work soon enough) because the people their seem to be high-school flunkies (oddly enough, my future?) and they don't have a good video game selection, and don't know what I'm talking about when I ask for a new Xbox game, or a new DVD.

Video game speciality stores are the opposite. The people actually play video games, and know a lot about them. Maybe TOO much about them. They treat you like your stupid. I remember I went to my local EB Games and bought Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on the day it came out (launch day). Two different store lackies asked me if I was sure I wanted it, it was a role-playing game and a stupid teenager like me couldn't possibly want that.

So, when I finally get a job and get the money ($$$$$) to buy a Xbox 360, Dead Rising, the VGA cable, etc. etc., I don't know if I'll go to a K-Mart (I'll have an employee discount card at K-Mart when I work there), a EB Games store (I'm sure they'll have it, but I might not be in the mood for the sazz) or order it off the internet (delivery time).

I know, I've got such a hard life . Well, that wraps up this entry. I've got some new concerns about getting a job, but I'll talk about those has I get closer to getting my job. Probably just general nervousness about getting one's first job, I suppose. So, stay tuned to this teenage drama that is my life. I know you can't tear yourself away. ;)

Until next time, I'm out.

Apologies

2006-08-09T21:05:00.000-05:00

I had a double review post here where I reviewed both the movie, Shaun of the Dead and Taco Bell's new little burrito meal, the Nacho Crunch Wrap, but like a fool I kicked my PC's power cord and it shut down, so you won't get the full review of both, which actually may be a sign of relief to some of you. Here are my minimized reviews of both.

Shaun of the Dead: I know its two years old, but I just saw it. It spoofs zombie movies, and I'm a fan of zombie movies and games, so I thought it was pretty good. My mom was pretty entertained by the few romantic comedy bits. I give it 8.5 out of 10 stars or points or something.

Nacho Crunch Wrap: Well, first, I'd like to say that the shell wasn't really crunchy, it was a soft tortilla shell. It was pretty good though, it had steak, nacho cheese, little nacho chip crunchy bits (maybe thats the crunch part) and sour cream. The sour cream wasn't advertisted on the TV commerical, but I didn't mind because I like sour cream on my tacos, but if you don't, be advised.

Anyway, it was a pretty decent portion size, and it was pretty good tasting, however, it had some werid juice that tasted funky that didn't taste well, and its fast food too, which lowers it score. It came in a combo deal with nachos and cheese. The nacho chips were gross, but I guess it was only a side. I'd get it again in a pinch, but it isn't my favorite thing at Taco Bell. 7.0 out of 10 stars.

I rented Shaun of the Dead along side the movie The Greatest Game Ever Played, a Disney biopic about Francis Quimet, a young amatuer golfer who ended up winning the US Open in 1913, he's supposedly one of the greatest golfers ever. I'll watch that and write a review. I'm also thinking I should review the PC game, Star Trek: Bridge Commander, which has caught my attention lately. Also, stay tuned to future developments about my life.

Until next time, I'm out.

Oh noes, K-Mart will never be the same again.

2006-08-09T15:10:00.000-05:00

The end of my blissful teenage existance is coming to an end soon, has I'm forced (by myself) to get a job. Yeah, I know. The days of me sitting on the PC all day, looking at YouTube, stealing copyrighted material on mininova, or writing some awesome Star Trek stuff are over. Of course, I'm in school 10 months out of the year, so my days of coming home at 3 pm and sitting on the PC, looking at YouTube, stealing copyrighted material on mininova, or writing some awesome Star Trek stuff are over as well.

What caused me to go down this path? Well, I've been watching some sweet videos of the new Xbox 360 game, Dead Rising and it looks sweet. I've always been a sucker for horror movies or games, and specially zombie movies. A few years ago, the remade the movie Dawn of the Dead, and the remake was set in a fictional town in Wisconsin, in the county where I live. Anyway, its an Xbox 360 only title, and despite my existance has a HUGE Xbox fanboy, I don't have a 360, mainly because of the price tag, and my parents are trying to "spoil me less".

Anyway, because they refuse to get me the new Xbox for Christmas or my birthday. I've been forced to get a job, a part-time one at least. I'm thinking I'm going for the job at the old K-Mart that I pass everyday on my walk home from school. I've got a few friends that work there, and I can just stop in at 2:50 pm on my way home from school.

Anyway, I've done the math. Minimum wage for workers who are minors in the state of wisconsin is $5.90 an hour. Take away .25 for taxes (I'm estimating), and I'll make at least 5.65 an hour. Now, if I work four hours a day (another estimation), I'll make $22.60 a day. Not bad. If I work four weekdays (yet again, another estimation) and that means $90.40 a day. According to my friends, they get their paychecks every two weeks, so that means $180.80.

Now, the 'premium' Xbox 360 is $400. The game I want, Dead Rising, is $60. Now, since I'm going out to be a working joe to get this, I figure I might as well splurge and spend the extra bucks so I can play my new Xbox on my 21" LCD Monitor I got a few weeks back when my old monitor exploded. The Xbox 360 comes out of the box standard with the composite video connectors. What does that mean? You've seen them, the yellow plug, the white plug, and the red plug that you never plug in, then don't understand why when you are watching the Lords of the Rings that you don't hear anything from the right side of the action.

Just kidding. I'm sure all my blog readers know to plug in all the composite things. Anyway, my LCD monitor has both a DVI input (currently being used by my PC) and a VGA input (currently not being used). The Composite -> VGA adaptor for the Xbox is another $50. A bit pricey, but what am I gunna do?

That brings my grand Xbox 360 total to.... *drumroll* $510. If I make $180 every 2 weeks, then I should have enough money for "Kevin's Xbox 360 Package of Doom" in 5.6 weeks. Not bad.

I'd like to say that "After I have enough money for this, I'm going to quit working at K-Mart so I don't have to interact with those savages," but I probably won't. Why not? Well, 360 games at $60 each ($50 for Microsoft-made titles), which I'll need to buy once I finish Dead Rising. I've wanted to upgrade the RAM in my PC for a while.

So, case in point, I guess I'm going to become a working stiff, even more stiff than those damn zombies. I was the last of my friends to get a job, and everybody says I'm a spoiled rich child. Now I guess I'll be a un-spoiled poor child, who works at the K-Mart. I just hope I'm not a cashier. I'd like to stock shelves, but I don't know if I have much of a choice.

I'm going away on Labor Day Weekend, (September 2nd through September 4th), I'm going to the US Nationals, a professional drag racing event in Indianapolis, Indiana. I'll blog about that in a upcoming entry, but I'm thinking I should apply after that trip.

Anyway, I'm going to try to update this blog twice a week, hopefully. I've got a bad habit of forgetting about blogs, but with getting a job, and school starting again, who knows how much I'll update it.

Until next time, I'm out.