Author: Gary

UPGRADE!!!

I’ve moved from Movable Type to Word Press. Not only is Word Press way better, its free. Did I mention that its free?

I still have to work to do on it, especially with the layout, but there are a bunch of fun things I’ll be able to do with this.

When everything on your site expires, its time to update it. Here’s what’s new in the Garyverse:

• The fall semester didn’t quite meet my expectations, but it didn’t go horrible either. My worst grade was an A-, and there is really no reason why I couldn’t have gotten a 4.0 if I had just applied myself a bit more.
• Spring semester has now started. My courses are:
  • Honors Chem II
  • Petrology (that’s the study of rocks btw)
  • Vertibrate Paelontology
  • Geochemistry
  • Electron Microprobe Theory and Practice (similar to an electron microscope but with x-ray spectrography)
  • Field Geology Workshop

  From the looks of it, all but two classes should be easy. The other two will require some work.

• The trip is still on. Its just a matter of timing it with finishing up my stint at the U.
• I’m no longer coaching at Apple Valley. The new NFL rules on double entry really have taken the wind out of activity. I’m now focusing on school.
• During break I played a LOT of World of Warcraft. Its actually one of the best games I’ve ever played and much much better than EQ or other MMP games that have come before it. Its not perfect, but better in so many ways.

Here is some more information on my trip:

• I’m looking for a name for the travel website. Garaphernalia doesn’t cut it. Its going to be a seperate website and for the duration of the trip, this domain name will probably point to it. I’m going to change the web hosting service I use so I can get more bandwidth and host video. I’ll also have to find some software or modify MovableType. I really don’t anything too different than what MT has to offer. I’m open to suggestions for the name of the website.
• I’ve begun looking at video and camera equipment. I need a camcorder which is of a low end professional quality, not the tiny jobs you can hold in your hand for recording childrens birthday parties. I will also need a better digital camera for still photos. I’ll probably also be taking some classes on photography and video editing.
• In addition to the photography, I’m also going to get certified for SCUBA and get my extra class ham radio license. I’d like to take a small HF radio with me to talk to people, but I’ll have to research that more.
• I will probably need a new laptop too. Mine is OK, but I’d like an integrated DVD drive and more storage. I need it to be about the same size as my current laptop.
• Despite having just announced this, I’ve had several people willing to join me on some of the legs of the trip. I’m more than happy to have people travel with me whenever and wherever they can. Word of warning: I plan on traveling cheap and staying in cheap accomodations.
• There is a business side to this venture. I’d like to be able to use the material I gather (video, photos, text) and be able to parlay that into more than just the website. I have no big plans in this area, but even if it could pay for all or part of the trip, that would be enough. If it doesn’t pan out….oh well. I got to go around the world.

Ok, here is something which isn’t your idle chit chat.

In 2005 I’m going to be selling my house and taking a year-long (at least) trip around the world.

..and I’m not just going to travel around the world. I’m going to document the entire trip with video, photos, and a weblog. My goal is to travel around the world and visit as many countries as I can.

This is going to be an enormous undertaking. I have so much stuff to do to prepare for this it isn’t funny.

I’ll be posting updates on the site as I prepare for the trip. I got technology to buy. Routes to plan. Websites to make.

I also welcome any and all suggestion you might have on where to go, what I should see, and how I should go about doing it.

Wish me luck….

• Its over. Bush won. Nothing is even close to being Florida 2000 close.
• NONE of my hopes for this election came true. Bush became the first President since his dad in 1988 to get more than 50% of the vote. Ponder that for a while.
• The economic models that came out before the election were damn close in predicting the percentage of the vote Bush would get. The fact is, the economy isn’t that bad in historical terms.
• Who’s happy for this result on the democratic side? Hillary Clinton.
• The exit polls, like in 2000, were not very accurate. Polls taken in the first few hours of the morning don’t mean jack.
• The Democrats picked the wrong guy. Kerry might have been better than Lieberman or Gephart, but not as good as Edwards, Clark, or even Dean.
• Like the Republicans in 96, hatred for Bush might have gotten in the way. Most Americans don’t hate Bush, even if they may disagree with some things.
• I don’t think that undecided voters necessairly vote against the incumbant. Especially during a “war”. There is some security in the devil you know vs the devil you don’t.