TechBook

It's been forever since I last updated, but here's a scattering of what I've been up to to fill you in. In no particular order, here goes:

I've submitted my course request for next semester - I won't know results until the 26th, but I put in for Physics (E&M) + Lab, Econ (Micro), Public Speaking (here come the arguments over style with the professor), and Computer Organization II (the empire strikes back (and no comments about it actually being the 5th, I know, and I don't care)). Its a fairly light load because I'm also trying to do an Independent Study on common security vulnerabilities. So far I've got a "maybe" from one professor, and a flat out "no" from another. So we're keeping our fingers crossed for the "maybe" to become a "yes".

Next up - I've recently started trying to get Mari obsessed with Myst. If for some reason you're not aware of it, Myst is the most awesome series ever. The original game was the reason that CDs won out over floppy disks and other formats to become the media standard of the 90s. It was the best selling computer game of all time until the Sims. That said, the version of the original game that I have was updated for Windows 98. Well Windows has these wonderful compatibility modes you can set to run older software. Except they don't work. At least not for me. However, Wine (which is a program that allows windows programs to run under linux) runs Myst pretty darn well. Now I admit its not perfect (saving and restoring games in particular is bad), but its playable. Hopefully the same will hold true when it comes time to play Riven (the sequel to Myst), and other more modern games.

In other very exciting Myst news - Myst Online: Uru Live Again has recently launched. This is a MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) which takes place within the Myst universe, but is not directly related to the other games, and takes place some time later. Uru was originally released as a single player game several years ago. It was always intended to be multiplayer, and several evolutions of it aspired to do just that. They had varying amounts of success, but cash flow problems caused them all to shut down. So the new plan to is to bring online MO:ULagain, and when the developers can, they will release the code to expand it as open source for the community to take where they will. This is all very exciting, and I encourage everyone to try it out. If you like it, consider donating a few dollars to Cyan to help them release the code. For more info or to download the game, go to http://mystonline.com/en/.

In more VTech related news - I've been working with some great people to provide math tutors for the students of Blacksburg High School. Their gym collapsed about a month ago and we've been providing tutors 4-5 days a week so they don't fall behind in math. We haven't had a ton of people to tutor, but we've had fun just the tutors getting together and eating the food that the Student Engineer's Council kindly provides.

Also - I don't believe I've mentioned it on my blog yet - but I now have a Townhouse! Yay for a place to live next year! Also I'm excited to have a kitchen and have already cooked pasta, teriyaki chicken, and strawberry shortcake. No real furniture, but air conditioning and an air mattress make it a great place to stay on the weekend. News on the updates we'll be doing to it will come as we make them (hopefully).

Finally - Congrats to Princeton for being the most talkative school (no JMU doesn't count - the girlfriend is a special exception). So congrats Brian for skyping me - even if it was partially to look through some very cryptic code. You other schools *cough*WM*cough* should be ashamed... .

I'm sure I've missed things, but that's all for now folks!