russt

Author: russt

  • Dvorak Invasion!

    Dvorak KeyboardI have to say, Dvorak has to be my favorite composer. Well, okay… Truthfully, he’s my favorite composer because my favorite classical piece is one of his. So, yeah. That’s why he’s my favorite.

    But this post has absolutely nothing to do with that. I’ve officially decided that I’m going to learn how to type using the Dvorak keyboard layout, which is quite different from the QWERTY keyboard layout that we’re all so used to. I’ve just decided that I’m not very likely to increase my typing speed any with the QWERTY layout unless I actually set aside time specifically for practicing. But since I don’t want to do that, but I still want to type faster (if only for the purpose of typing faster in class), I’m going to be teaching myself how to type Dvorak style.

    If you don’t know the history, the QWERTY layout was designed specifically to slow down typists, because the typewriters of long ago couldn’t handle high-speed typing. But now, with computers, that’s not so much of a problem. We’ve just stuck with QWERTY because… Well, I suppose it’s just that we don’t like change.

    But I figure that it will be something like learning a new language. I hope that I’ll still be able to retain my QWERTY skills (even if they slightly diminish, I’ll still be happy) and still learn how to type Dvorak-ishly. Kind of how an English-speaker can learn Spanish and still retain his (or her) English-speaking skills.

    Anyway, that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. I’ll let you all know how it goes.

  • An Economy

    Dollar BillToday, in doing a part of the huge amount of reading that I have to do (for school, naturally), I’ve learned quite a few interesting things about the economy and how it works. I’m still pretty clueless when it comes to the recession that we’re facing today, but as far as how the economy itself works, I’ve learned quite a bit today.

    One of the most interesting things that I learned was how our economy today, being a ‘market economy,’ as my book defines it, is self-balancing. The cost of goods and their supply is largely regulated not by any person or organization, but by their mere existence. The fact that an item exists and is in demand results in a process of price changes until it eventually reaches a ‘price equilibrium,’ where the buyer and the seller are both equally willing to sell it for that price and to purchase it for that price.

    What’s more, with this type of economy, both the consumer and the retailer are benefited by the purchase of goods. It provides the ability to specialize work and therefore allow much more efficiency in the work and the yield produced by said work. With that said, I realized that I need to focus more on specializing what it is that I do. I tend to enjoy keeping my options open – being able to do many different things. I like a good many things, but it has become clear that having an effective career involving all of my interests is nearly impossible. It becomes more effective on both a personal and economic level to be more specialized, to be more specifically involved in one profession. Separation of labor is incredibly effective.

    That just makes it awfully difficult for me – because deciding on a profession where I will be content is a difficult thing. And though I’d like to experience all avenues, time is not always so kind. I guess that in the end I’ll have to realize that I don’t have to be personally involved in every aspect of what pertains to me.

    To conclude, I hope that made sense. If it didn’t, please disregard it.

  • My, the Time does Fly

    Books ThumbnailSo, in the last little while, I’ve meant to post several rather interesting things, though I just haven’t gotten around to it. I suppose that I just need to get in there and do the stuff that I should. But, you know, procrastination and whatnot are so tempting!

    You see, in starting school again, I’ve gotten busier than I was. Not to say that I don’t have any free time… I just have been too lazy to use it effectively.

    The worst part is that I even spent some time taking pictures specifically intended for use on here, to be interesting, like the one above. That one was so that I could complain about the ridiculous costs of books. I don’t know how much they cost before, but I know that my parents are apalled at the current cost of books (even the used ones). So am I. Anyway, they’re super expensive, and I think it’s pretty stupid.

    But yeah, other things currently going on include a full and complete redesign of this site. I’m going to totally reorganize the site, add my portfolio, and make it more interesting. You see, I’ve narrowed everything down to about three main categories that I post (or would like to post) about, but people interesting in one may have absolutely no interest in the others. So, I’m going to make those three categories pretty separate, so if you don’t want to read about one or two of them, you won’t have to.

    So, yeah. I’m working on that, slowly, but surely. One day, it’ll be up here. I’ll probably post some pictures of my progress coming up pretty soon. Then you can give me ideas, and life will be happier.

  • Makin’ Fun of Apple


    Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

    I just had to include this. It’s not that I’m totally anti-Apple (not that I haven’t ever been), but I thought that it was pretty funny. So, I figured that I’d share it with all of you. It came from the onion, which is always a funny site.

  • Don’t Kill Creativity

    I truthfully could not tell you how in the world this video ended up on my computer. As a matter of fact, somehow it managed to replace all of my old podcasts, like CNN’s daily news and whanot. Somehow, all of them disappeared, and this video (from over two years ago) appeared out of nowhere. So, while I haven’t the slightest idea where it came from, I decided that I should watch it, because it had an intriguing title, one that I had been in support of for quite a long time.

    The point of this video (entitled “Do Schools Kill Creativity?”) is all about how public school systems, though probably not intentionally, stifle creativity. I had been thinking that same thing.

    Anyway, it’s a really stellar thing to watch. The man is very intelligent and speaks qutie a bit of what steps could be taken to resolve that issue. Anyway, if you get the chance, I suggest that you watch it. No, really, do. Find the time.

  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Wow/100

    Mr. Smith Goes to WashingtonI love old movies. I figured I’d say that. I suppose that it’s just something about the fact that they uphold good ideals and yet, at the same time, were ranked well for their time. As a matter of fact, after we, as a family, finished this film, Mr. Smith goes to Washington, reviewed the list of Academy Award winners in recent years, and the number of movies that contain good ideals has greatly decreased over the last 20 years or so. But this movie, which won the Academy Award for best writing back in 1930-something.

    Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is about a man who is put into the Senate after the death of another Senator. When he arrives, he (obviously) assumes that Washington is a good place, that senators are honorable men (back in those days, it appears, senators were all men) who uphold the values of the people they support.

    But what he finds is very disturbing. His fellow senators are men who look more after their own interests, double-dealing and most certainly not seeking the interests of their people.

    He fights continually and is almost absorbed in a conspiracy to have him removed from the Senate. But in the end… Well, I’d best just leave it for you to watch.

    But the point is that I very much enjoyed this movie. It’s got good values, a good plot, and shows a strong dedication to a good cause. What better things can you have than those?

  • Yes Man – 87/100

    Yes Man - Screenshot

    I figured that I should write my own little review of a movie that I saw today. It was, overall, quite an entertaining movie. I was kept laughing through the majority of the film, and though that’s not the most difficult thing to make me do, it always makes a movie more entertaining.

    Aside from a few awkward moments (which I don’t suggest young children see), the movie was pretty clean, which is always a bonus. It’s just that those two scenes really are awkward. It wouldn’t have hurt them to completely cut them out… But doesn’t that just seem to be the trend nowadays?

    But the glorious part is that it has a surprisingly inspiring plot. I felt like becoming a “Yes Man” myself when it was over. It really is rather encouraging and does a good job motivating one to act – to do things that we normally wouldn’t, whether it be because they seem weird, awkward, stupid, or absolutely ridiculous.

    Anyway, I enjoyed the movie quite a bit. Especially the part with the (I assume) Australian boss that sincerely believes that Costco Memberships are incredibly exclusive and difficult to obtain.

    So, the point is, I gave the movie 87/100. Good stuff, though I would’ve preferred that it not have the little awkward parts. Without those, it would’ve acheived a higher ranking, and I would have absolutely no reservations in recommending the movie to anyone.

  • My Level of Green

    My Greendex

    I thought that you’d all like to know, pretty randomly, that I scored 55 (above average for the United States) on National Geographic’s Greendex test. I’m pretty proud of it, because being ‘green’ is trendy nowadays. I mean, everybody wants to be green, right?

    Anyway, I thought that it was pretty interesting, and I wanted to show off my lovely score. The average for the US (the lowest in the world, not surprisingly) is a lovely 44.9, while the average in India and Brazil, the two countries tied for first place, is 60.

    Anyway, National Geographic has provided this test for everyone, so that you can find out where you fit in. Plus, it gives you an idea of some basic actions that you can take to be ‘green,’ should you feel so inclined.

  • Google’s Hidden Treasures

    google_lego08I know that I’m not the only one that greatly admires Google. Since I first discovered Google in the eighth grade while studying for a paper in my Social Studies class, I haven’t looked back. I haven’t once turned to another search engine. As a matter of fact, on several occasions, I have been heard to say that Google has never failed me. And I stick to that.

    Before the days of simple, effective searches, I used to use Hotbot. Surprisingly, it still exists, though it now serves only as a portal to other web searches. In those days, I remember spending much time failing in my searches. Very rarely did I actually find what I wanted to.

    But since, Google has taken central stage. And that’s not just for me. I sincerely believe that Google has made many other people similarly happy in their lives. Heck, it even has its own verb now! (See dictionary.com)

    Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything.

    One of the greatest parts of that whole thing is that Google has maintained a great sense of humor throughout. So, in honor, I’d like to post a link to a blog that recently wrote about it. It’s got a list of 10 of Google’s ‘Hidden Treasures’, including some of Google’s April’s Fools jokes, a flight simulator built into Google Earth, and a few other random (yet interesting) things.

    So, I guess the point is, if you’re a big Google fan like me, it’s a fun thing to check out.

    Via MakeUseOf.

  • Life – Through New Eyes

    Well, I suppose that cameras really don’t have eyes. But lenses and light sensors and whatnot are kind of close to eyes, right? In a technological sense?

    Anyway, last week I made a somewhat sudden (though also somewhat premeditated) decision to purchase a DSLR camera. I had been looking at them for the last little while, and based on Consumer Reports’ information on the subject, I decided to purchase a Canon Digital Rebel XSi. It’s a stunning camera that takes amazing photos, and I can’t complain about having access to 12 glorious megapixels and the ability to snap 3.5 pictures per second.

    More than anything else, however, it’s made me totally unafraid to snap tons and tons of pictures. It’s probably not healthy for my hard drive, but it makes me want to take the camera everywhere (even if that may just be a result of the cost…), just to snap pictures.

    Anyway, I have to say that thus far I most certainly have not been disappointed, at least by the camera. It takes awesome pictures and I’ve been able to practice quite a few new things that weren’t even an option before.

    I don’t think that my family members are the biggest fans of my being able to take tons of pictures in rapid succession, especially my little brother, but I’m sure that he’ll get over it eventually. He’s always been a bit camera-shy, and so far he hasn’t been the most enthusiastic about my being able to take so many more pictures, but hopefully he’ll get more used to it as time goes on.