August 04, 2002
Endorphines
The scoop.
I went to New Jersey on Thursday night. Arrived at midnight after almost hitting a bear on the way down. Went to NYC on Friday to the German Embassy. My dad and I drove into the city to apply for my visa. I think it'll be approved, of course on the condition that I get health insurance to cover me in Germany.
Other exciting things in my life...hm...sold my keyboard and got way less for it than I was hoping, but the keyboard is slightly broken so I guess that's okay. Money has been a real problem for me in general. Stephen decided not to buy my car, keyboard got sold for less than I was hoping, the laptop I sold got damaged on its way. Someone is out to get me. Anyway I think I'll survive somehow. Keeping fingers crossed....
I've been pretty depressed about all that lately, and I haven't gotten enough excercise. I rode my bike 80 miles today though, and am way happier this evening about things. Pictures to come soon I think.
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Further back...
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Previous Trips...
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Hiking Mount Whitney, 2007 
Spring Break in West Virginia, 2005
New Year's in Paris, 2003-2004
Coming to America, 2003
Protesting in Berlin, 2003
Prague Bier-Tour, 2002
Dresden, 2002
Recent Reading
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Stealing the Network
I first bumped into the Stealing the Network series when reading the exploits of Joe Grand, one of the book's many hacker authors.
The 'Stealing the ...' series of books follows a rather disparate group of computer hackers as they help a former NSA spook (many of them unwittingly) gather the money he needs to retire.
The stories themselves are not fantastic fiction. The writing is uneven and choppy, the characters are stereotypical and not very well thought-out. What is fascinating about this book series is the technical accuracy of the exploits (at some points *too* accurate, with screen shots and step-by-step instructions).
It's a great series to read if you're a system administrator, or just getting into the wonderful field of computer security.
Rated 
by reid
on March 06, 2011
by reid
on March 06, 2011
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Close to the Machine
Ellen Ullman is one of those authors that somehow avoided my radar. Until now...
Close to the Machine is less a book than a collection of loosely related personal anecdotes from Ellen's time as a very rare thing -- a successful female bisexual independent computer programming consultant.
In the course of her work and relationship life, she learns hard lessons about programming, running a business, being lonely, and loving the wrong people. I found it particularly poignant being a crypto-nerd with difficult times in relationships and a more-or-less NDA'd, secret work life.
This book is a must-read for anyone into running their own business, programming, or anyone dating a person that is a business-a-holic or programmer.
Rated 
by reid
on November 23, 2009
by reid
on November 23, 2009
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The Long Trip Home
I had the joy of dining with the author in Florida. We went to a little Brazilian BBQ where he spoke with our waitstaff in (what I can only assume was) flawless Portugese.
Brian Wyllie spent 1969-1971 living in Brazil working for the Peace Corps. His recent book outlines his trip back to the United States via Bolivia, Peru, and the Carribean chain, by way of bus, train, and sailboat. The format comes spattered with observations from the modern day, and makes me think, "this must be what John McPhee's journal looks like."
The trip sounded like a fantastic one, but I was left wanting more detail...where did the gun (being snuck through customs in a variety of places, no doubt) come from? And how did Geneve's hair smell? Alas, we'll have to wait for another book to find the answers.
Rated by reid
on April 16, 2009
by reid
on April 16, 2009
Hey,
I just stumbled apon your site and I read through what you are going through.
Don't forget though, that no matter how much you grieve in this life that someone out there loves you and is looking out for you.
His name is Jesus Christ and Im sure you might have heard of him but if you haven't he died for your sins and mine.
If you tell him you love him your life will take a new course of events.
Mine did...
God Bless you whatever you do in your life..
I will pray for you and your troubles.
Posted by: a friend on July 10, 2003 08:19 PM