hello! yoshi

I wanted to point out a few things to those of you who might not have been around for a while and new here, or just plain didn’t know about this website.

1. Moderated comments. I don’t moderate comments. But if you’ve never commented here before, then your first comment will be moderated. I almost always approve them, unless you’re a spammer, in which case, I just send you to the spam box. Easy peasy. Also your comment will get moderated if you have 2 or more links in it. Just a precautionary thing.
2. Gravatars. If you don’t have a gravatar, your comment will show up with the default gravatar, which is the animated yin/yang symbol. To set one up, it’s easy, and it’s free! You just need an email address and an image you’d like to make your gravatar, then head over to the Gravatar Website. Sign up for a free account, and then upload your picture. It’s that easy! This website shows all gravatars except X-rated ones. My mom and Meesh both read this website and I don’t think they want to see those.
3. Top 10 Commentators List. Yes, I provide a link for my top commentators. It resets every month, so if you were at the top of the list, and find yourself now at the bottom, take note of the date. That’s probably why.
4. Chat with Me Page. Yes, I have a page where you can chat with me via Instant Messenger. This is in the event that you’re too lazy to view my Stalk Me page and not add me to your IM program.
5. I’m still working out bugs with some of the widgets and ads on the site. I’m also working on a new design (for the upcoming blogathon), and I’ll probably get rid of most of the ads when I do. For now, just bear with it. And while I’m on it, I’d like to just say something about the way Wordpress 2.5 does widgets. It blows. You used to be able to view all sidebars (I have 4) at the same time, and you could easily move widgets from one sidebar to another. No longer. So if you want to move a Text widget, then you better copy the text first, then remove it because if you don’t, it’s gone forever. Ok, I’m done with that.
6. I occasionally have polls. If you’re reading this site with an RSS Reader like Google Reader or Bloglines, then it’ll probably tell you that you need to visit the site to participate.
7. I like to include videos with my posts sometimes, but I hate to put them out on the front page. They just take up too much space. So I usually say “the video is after the bump.” When I say “the bump” it usually means the “continue to read more…” link. Or in the event of the RSS reader, it should say something to the effect of “There is more to read…” I like to do this because honestly, the videos sometimes breaks my design and I don’t like that. Yes, I’m picky. I’m OCD like that, gimme a break!

I think that’s it. I know this is a really boring post. But if nothing else, it’s semi-informative. seriously.

New Scientist has run an article mentioning that technology may prove addictive. In this day and age of blackberries and ipod and iphones, are we all susceptible to the lures of technology? Do we in fact get addicted to having to use a blackberry to call or text message or email someone when we could just walk over to their desk and talk to them?

Perhaps. Technology can be a personal and impersonal thing. I think we all take it differently.

I use technology to keep up with my friends. Most of my friends are scatter across the globe, and I can’t simply go to their house and hang out. But with the internet and IM and text messaging, I can keep in touch with them. It’s not quite ideal, but it’s how we do it.

Should we also tag computer software as addicting as well? Games such as World of Warcraft and Everquest are both games that are highly addictive. Just ask anyone who’s played it. They can’t stop playing it it’s so much fun.

I’ve lost the original point of this post, but don’t let technology run your life. Set aside one day where you step away from the laptop, or step away from the blackberrry and just enjoy life. It might surprise you.

Or you’ll get very very bored.

31. I LOVE ramen. I’m not sure you’re hearing me. I LOVE IT. I’ve been searching for the ultimate bowl of ramen for ages now, and someday I’ll find one. I love ramen so much, I eventually want to open my own ramen restaurant. It would be small, seating maybe up to 10 people. Nothing major. I just want people to enjoy ramen as much as I do. I love it so much, I made a video post on “how to eat ramen”.

I’m getting there with these facts. It’s tough coming up with 100 facts about yourself. Luckily I didn’t say 100 days in a row.

30. I might have mentioned this before, but I’ll try any food at least once. If it’s served to me, and I know I haven’t eaten it before and hated it, I’ll eat it. Sure. But I’m a hypocrite. Because there are certain foods I KNOW I will not care for, therefore won’t even try it.

One of those foods is cow tongue. I know, I know, there are a lot of you out there who think it’s awesome, and so good. No. No no no NO. I will not eat that. There is only one tongue in my mouth and no other tongues are allowed to be in my mouth to be eaten. That is just plain gross. If you’re gonna feed it to me, it better be hard to distinguish because I’ll know it’s not something I normally eat.

Oh yeah, another one? Rocky Mountain Oysters. Oh hell no!

What foods would you never ever eat?

Ok, I got a survey in the mail, and I saw an opportunity to make a post out of it. I decided to make this one of my “facts” for the 100 Facts meme. So Mark, here you go, here are my answers you are so anxious to read. (Was I the first to reply to this?)

1. What time is it: : 13:18 (that’s 1:18PM for you non 24 hour clock types)
2. What’s your full name: Yoshiaki Melrose (Yoshi is just easier for everyone to say.)
3. What are you most afraid of: Clowns. No kidding.
4. What was the last movie that you saw in a theater: I am Legend
5. Place of birth: Tokyo, Japan
6. Favorite food: Ramen! I love it so much I have to slurp!
7. What’s your natural hair color: Black
8. Ever been to Alaska: Yeap
9. Ever been toilet paper rolling: Nope
10. Love someone so much it made you cry: Yeap
11. Been in a car accident: Yeap
12. Croutons or bacon bits: Bacon Bits. Bacon makes everything better yo!
13. Favorite day of the week: Fridays.
14. Favorite restaurant: Right now? Not sure, but it could be Applebee’s.
15. Favorite Flower: Daisies, of course.
16. Favorite sport to watch: Nascar (wait. is Nascar a sport?)
17. Favorite drink: Diet Pepsi. I’m not much of an alcohol drinker.
18. Favorite ice cream: Strawberry. (yeah i’m boring)
19. Disney or Warner Brothers: Warner Brothers although I do like Pixar.
20. Ever been on a ship: Yeap
21. What color is your bedroom carpet: We have hardwood floors
22. How many times did you fail your driver’s test: Unbelievably, never failed.
23. Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail: Crockdaddy!
24. What do you do when you are bored: Play games. Like World of Warcraft.
25. Bedtime: Varies, but not before midnight unless I’m super tired.
26. Who will respond to this e-mail the quickest: N/A because I’m not sending this out.
27. Who is the person you sent this to that is least likely to respond: Again N/A, but feel free to do this if you like.
28. Who is the person that you are most curious to see their responses: N/A again. But if you do do this, then send me the link please!
29. Favorite TV show: CSI and Bones. Love those shows!
30. Last person you went to dinner with: Meesh
31. Who do you think will be President: /sigh this is tough. I never involve myself in politics really. But I’d say Clinton.
32. What are your favorite colors: Purple and Black.
33. How many tattoos do you have: None. But I might someday get one. But I’m just not sure.
34. How many pets do you have: We just have one cat
35. Which came first, the chicken or the egg: Chicken. I mean, the chicken had to evolve first!
36. What do you want to do before you die: Lots of things, but I think the biggest one is to get rich.
37. Have you ever been to Hawaii: Yes, but I was a teen and very emo, so I didn’t enjoy it.
38. Have you been to countries outside the U.S.: Yeap, only Japan and the Philippines.
39. How many people are you sending this e-mail to: Who knows? There could be a whole 5 people who read this post!
40. Time this survey ended: 13:33 (That’s 1:33pm for you non 24 hour clock types)

If you want to do this, then by all means, copy the questions and get rid of my answers.

BuyaMeter.org - via Kate

Mythbusters Jamie Hyneman speaks out on 7 Tech Headaches and How to Fix Them.

Did I hear it correctly? Did Jamie just endorse Linux Ubuntu over Windows? Now I definitely know he is cool. And somehow it’s not surprising that Adam Savage has all kinds of gadgets, including the “iPipewrench”.

This article is a pretty good read. What he talks about makes sense, such as universal power packs for powertools, and how cellphones, no matter how many cool things they have in it, should just work as a cellphone.

So as of late (since yesterday I mean), I’ve been hanging out at the USN - Together We Served website. What is this site? It’s a place for US Navy veterans (like me) and active duty to keep in touch with their shipmates. It’s great. I’ve found a few people with whom I’ve simply just lost touch with. It’s great. I’ve been looking for a few people and have found some of them.

Unfortunately, I can’t find everyone, since they haven’t signed up for the site. I just have to find them another way I suppose.

If you’re in the Navy, then you should check this out. If you were in any other armed forces, they do have sister sites for Marines and the Air Force. I know quite a few people in both the Marines (being a corpsman and all) and the Air Force (ex-AF brat), so I wish there was a way for me to add those people to “my shipmates” list.

Insomnic wrote an interesting article, It’s Easier To Hack You Than Your Computer, where he discusses the dangers of social engineering. If you’re not sure what that means, then by all means, Wikipedia has an article on it.

He raises a good point, and I just also want to touch on how much harm can happen if someone has too much information about you. One of my friend’s identity was stolen, and luckily enough she was able to stop a lot of the damage from happening, however, it was an ordeal. Companies are wary when you try to tell them that you’re not the one who bought so many computers. It’s crazy.

And let’s not forget the young girl who committed suicide because of “cybr-bullying”.

I digress from Insomnic’s original point however.

What it comes down to is the Internet is not quite as safe as it was before (if it was ever safe). Be careful with what you do online, and what you divulge. Remember, someone just might be watching you.