So, this summer I decided I was going to try to learn some new things and update myself to some of the newer stuff out there.

So PHP 5 added a whole slew of new features to PHP, but I’ve been stuck in PHP 4, so I figured I’d learn some of that.  I’ve also been stuck to relational databases (and that’s usually what they teach at school), but I’ve started to see some of the sites I know and love switching to non-relational databases.  So that was also something I wanted to learn how to work with.

I went online to search, and the three major contenders seem to be Cassandra, CouchDB, and MongoDB.  I decided to go with MongoDB since it seemed like the easiest to use and setup, and I liked the idea of document-oriented storage.  CouchDB can be ran on webFaction as well, but I’m not too sure about Cassandra (I’m guessing you can with effort).

So here’s my guide on getting it setup and ready to run.

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Posted in: Hosting, Internet, PHP, Tutorials

For those of you who don’t already know, Jem is a blogger/programmer/breast feeding activist/a lot of other stuff.

I already stalk her on twitter and subscribe to her blog.  Lately, some big issue came up about breast feeding in public.  I for one support a mother’s decision to feed their child when the child is hungry, whether it be breast feeding, bottle, injections, or whatever.  Breast feeding in public is probably the most loving thing you could do for your child, so take a picture and show it too them when he or she is older because when your child grows up, they’ll probably appreciate it.

In the argument, someone was arguing that Jem was a bully.  What a shocker.  Jem has her “pants” award (last one given out in January 2009)…  She rants and raves about everything, but she does it in a way that grabs you and hooks you into reading.  She’s actually quite entertaining, but back on topic!

People kept bringing up “Freedom of Speech” and “Cyber Bullying.”

Jem is in the UK, and those “targeted” were in the USA.  I’m not too sure about UK laws, but there’s not a lot of Federal laws in relation to cyber bullying (at the moment).  Currently, if Jem threatened to kill, kidnap, or injure someone, then she’d be in violation of USA Federal laws.  If she were to commit slander or libel on someone, then she would also be in violation of the laws (and I think the UK has a similar law about online content and Internet Service Providers about it?).

In terms of harassment online, several states have laws against it (not too sure how that plays out internationally), but there is currently a bill trying to become a law.  H.R. 1966 makes it if you harass or intimidate someone online, then you can face some jail time or a fine.  I understand the point of the law, but I personally think it’s too vague as it is.  An online argument would get you fined or jailed, but a verbal argument wouldn’t?

So Jem currently has nothing to really worry about.

Some of the other people have something to worry about.  Freedom of Speech does not cover inciting riots or acts of violence.  So be careful, because this could be considered illegal soon.

The target (not jemjabella above) of the alleged attack was complaining about how she would respond and keep getting more and more replies.  Lesson 1 in keeping web site visitors and traffic, maintain good communication.  If you want people to shut up, don’t reply.  If you want attention and conversation, keep on replying and writing about it.  Jem provides a wonderful example of this.  Jem has written 4 blogs posts around the topic of breast feeding and she has over 116 comments on those blog posts.  That’s good communication.  Jem is my hero.

Don’t start thinking I condone or encourage cyber bullying, I don’t.  Jem is defending her right to breast feed her child in public to someone who publicly voiced their opinion on the issue.  (Facebook and Twitter are public by the way, I mean, if the privacy settings let it be seen).  If you’re going to voice your opinion, prepare for the backlash from the masses.  Hope for the best, expect the worst.

So who do I think was right in this whole argument thing?  No one really.  I just think it’s something fun and interesting to read.  If you can’t handle the arguments or criticism, then turn off the computer.

As for breast feeding in public, go for it.  Don’t flaunt your stuff, but if the baby needs food, the baby needs food.

In other news, my mom raised twins, and I know she breast fed them.  I’m wondering how that worked out in public when both were hungry…

Posted in: Internet, Life

So my junior year is done and over with.  One more year to go before I graduate with a B.S. in C.S.

This semester was fun and challenging.  I took the hardest math class offered for undergrads and passed (I won’t say with what though).  My GPA for the semester was a 3.5.  I made a ton of new friends, did some fun new and exciting things, and had a blast all along the way.

Some of my highlights from this semester:

• Did the Spring play, “While the Lights Were Out”
• Participated in “Humans vs. Zombies” which is a massive game of tag
• Made a tons of new friends
• Got a Nikon FG SLR (which takes awesome photos)

And yeah…

Enough about the good stuff though, the semester was great overall, but this summer was supposed to be more productive, but it won’t be due to some people who lack communication skills.

I originally wanted to dual major in Computer Science and Mathematical Sciences.  So I filled out the form and turned it in.  At the end of the semester, I was told they lost the form.  I was also told that courses they said I was exempt from, I wasn’t exempt from.  So I signed up to take summer courses.  I called the school I was going to take summer courses at and asked if they offered the courses I needed to take for the summer.  They said they did, I went online to register, but the courses weren’t listed.  So I called back, and this is how the conversation went down

Me: Hello, I called earlier and was told you offered Biology and History for the summer?
Them: Yes, we do offer Biology and History for the summer.
Me: Well, I checked online and they aren’t available for me to register for.
Them: Oh!  That’s because we aren’t offering them this summer.

If someone calls to ask about courses for the summer, which summer would they refer to?  I guess they technically weren’t lying, but in the first conversation it was something like “Do you offer History and Biology for the summer?”, “Yes”, “Is it too late to register for summer courses”, “No, please fill out the form online”, “Alright, thanks.”  They didn’t say the courses weren’t being offered this summer then…

So next semester, I need to argue to get exempt from a few courses, and then I need to convince some people that I can handle 21 credits a semester if I still want to dual major.  I might just switch it to a minor and see if that works out.

So how did your guys’ schooling go this year?

Posted in: Life, Rants