Archive for January, 2008

ECU Finance Program Update

So, I’m a few weeks into my first class, and my first impressions is:

Man, is this ever slow!

I’m used to taking two courses at a time over eight week terms, so a single semester long class means that I’m carrying 1/4 of the load I’m used to. I’m doing well, though – I’ve received a perfect score on every assignment so far. I’m going to be working ahead a little this week, so that I’ll be able to leave the books at home when I go on vacation next week!

Why Aren’t Podcasts Distributed by BitTorrent?

Random thought, but why aren’t (more?) podcasts distributed by BitTorrent? It’s the perfect way to transport this type of content, which is heavily downloaded the first 24 hours after release, but only sporadically after that. Actually, why isn’t almost all static content distributed by BitTorrent?

Weigh-In: 367 Pounds!

Back on a downward trajectory, but only slightly. I did go clothes shopping this weekend, and fit into a mix of 3XLT and 2XLT clothes depending on brand. Nautica’s big and tall clothes run obscenely big, while Harbor Bay (which I believe is a dedicated B&T brand) tend to run small. Buying smaller clothes makes me feel better, even if I’m not going to lose more than 5 or so pounds this month. I’ll write more later.

Hello Livin’ La Vida Low Carb Readers!

Thanks to Jimmy for the link. Enjoy the site, please leave a comment if you find something useful (or not!).

Weigh-In: 368 Pounds

Stalled. I’ve basically been floating around 370 since the beginning of the year. I’m going to look more at what I’m doing this week, and see if I can figure out where and why I’m stalling. I’m taking a vacation in a couple of weeks, and I wanted to take momentum into it. At least the numbers aren’t heading upward.

White House Loses 473 Days Worth of Email Records

I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but every once in a while there is something in the news that makes me want to start working on my tinfoil hat. This Washington Post article is one of those things. The Presidential Records Act should not be news to the IT staff at the White House. It’s been in place since 1978. They had 23 years before the Bush administration started to get this right. There’s no excuse, which leads one to believe that there is something to hide.

Why the secrecy, anyway? The Executive Branch (and all of the government) exists to perform the people’s business. I understand that some issues are secret due to national security reasons, but some of the agencies that “lost” emails include the Council on Environmental Quality, the Council of Economic Advisers, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. I don’t have to tell you that these agencies are not the front lines of the “Global War on Terra ™”. The question is whether or not this is incompetence or some sort of fraud. The stonewalling we see from the Bush administration in the face of Congressional inquiries tends to make me believe it’s the latter. Read more…

Google Apps: Utility Computing Done Right?

Many companies have tried and failed to deliver a utility computing platform that is a viable replacement for the PC. If Google hasn’t succeeded, they’re close. I’m playing with Google Apps, and I have to say that I am impressed. Hosted documents, email, custom start pages, calendars, and more. The best part is that the standard edition is free, although ad-supported. I haven’t spent enough time with it to deliver a full review yet, but my initial view is favorable. As a long-time IT person, I’m both excited and worried by the possibilities of a platform like Google Apps. On one hand, the opportunity to remove day-to-day administration from my to-do list means more time to do the things that I got into IT to do – to create new products and services using technology that drive revenue growth for my company. On the other hand, outsourcing a lot of the things that are currently handled by desktop PCs means that fewer IT personnel are needed, which may mean lower IT salaries long term. On the whole, I am more excited than I am worried. I’ll do a full write-up after I’ve had a chance to spend more time with the platform.

Three Successful Months of Low-Carb Living!

Today is the three month mark for my new low-carb lifestyle. I’m feeling and looking better, my waist size has gone from a size 60 to a size 52, my shirt size from 4XLT to 3XLT and in some cases 2XLT, and most importantly, my weight has dropped from 435 pounds to 368. I have a long way to go yet, but I’ve made a darn good start, and I think it’s important to note that this blog is an important part of my success. Before I decided to blog my weight-loss experience, dieting and food have always been intensely personal things to me. I think part of the reason that I have failed in the past is that I have not been able to keep myself accountable, because I have never shared the details of my weight loss efforts with anyone. I’ve lost a few pounds here and there in the past, but this is the first sustained weight-loss effort of my life. More thoughts on weight loss, and an update on the metaphorical cross-country journey are after the jump.
Read more…

Textbooks Are Too Damn Expensive

I purchased the textbook for my real estate finance course (Real Estate Principles: A Value Approach, by Ling and Archer, for those who care) and experienced a bit of sticker shock when I found out the book was $125.00, or $95.00 used. Of course, there were no used copies available, because the book was just released in 2008. Students are being taken for a ride. This book has been updated every other year since it was released in 2004. Does real estate finance change that fast? And if it does, is the new material incorporated into the courses on the subject? Somehow, I think the answer to both questions is “No!” I feel sorry for students who are trying to get through school these days without burying themselves in debt – tuition costs are rising faster than inflation, and expensive textbooks just add to the misery. Eventually, the Internet is going to bury traditional publishers. I hope that day comes soon!

Weigh-In: 368 Pounds!

I’m not losing as fast as I was, but the numbers are still going down, which is the important part. I went to Sam’s Club yesterday to stock up on Atkins diet aids. I’m a big fan of the Endulge bars and the shakes and the breakfast bars and the peanut butter bars and the… you get the idea. I loved sweet stuff before I started low-carbing, and I use these treats as a crutch when I feel like cheating. I’ve needed them less and less as time goes by, but every once in a while, I absolutely have to have something sweet. Having the Atkins bars and shakes around the house keeps me from doing something stupid in a moment of weakness. Tomorrow, I’ll celebrate 3 months since I started my low-carb lifestyle. I’ve lost 67 pounds so far, and I feel fantastic. I wish I had done this years ago.