England earns the world's respect
After this article was published.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
The Senior Project
So today I am working from home again, Babysitting Anthony and trying to get things done around here. Basically, the next milestones to get through this summer are My Senior Project and the Internship in Minnesota. I plan on going up North as soon as I am done with my school work here in FAU. I still don't know if I passed my summer classes, it is going to be close. Which stinks, I don't like doing things this way but I had no choice this summer, I HAD to go to Military Annual Training, and I HAD to take these classes now in order to graduate in the FALL.
So, a little about the project, earlier this year I set up another blog to describe the development of the project, I was really enthusiastic, this being the rite of passage for Computer, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers here at Florida Atlantic University. Things started out good enough, the first of the two course series we are tasked with a mini-project in which your group members are chosen at random, and the project is supposed to be the implementation of a simple, straight forward solution to a simple problem. We were supposed to design a gadget that could shoot water to pre-determined grid block coordinates. We were given four coordinates a week before and an extra one the day of the competition. We were told that for the final Project we could choose our Teamates as long as there was at least one member from each discipline represented (one Comp.Eng., Electrical, etc)
Our Randombly chosen group got along so well, that we decided to stay together, but, the day we were supposed to turn in the list, the teachers threw a curve ball at us, we could chose anyone, as long as no-one in the group had worked together in the first project. We were mad! The least they could have done was warn us in advance. But, we moved on.
So we formed the new group. Majid, Chris, Jaime and myself. We are building a smart car seat. The idea behind it is to prevent negligent injuries caused by parents leaving their children unattended in their car, it happens all the time, a parent is having a bad day, leaves the kid in the car, it's 80 degrees outside, withing minutes the temperature inside the car is 110, and the kid just...well, it's not pretty.
So what we have is a regular car seat with some sensors hooked up, that will text message you if it detects that the vehicle is turned off and that there's a child in the vehicle at the same time. It will send the parent a couple of warning text messages, then if nothing happens it will call the authorities.
There are a lot of details left out, but this is the basic idea. We also have added a camera and an LCD screen so that the driver can see the child without turning her head around. A feature which my wife has "encouraged" me to add. Needless to say, I already have my first customer for this car seat.
Right now we have the car seat, we have the program that can send a text message, we have the camera and screen. All we have to do is put the whole thing together. I still have to work on the software that controls all of this. But I don't think it will take me that long. I wouldn't be surprised if we finish this week, wich will be sweet since the sooner I can finish this the sooner I can head up North and the sooner I get to come back and finish this long summer.
The one thing I look forward to the most right now is getting that College Degree, that's all I want, well, that and to keep my family of course.
Anthony is being the perfect kid this morning, no fuzz, he ate his morning bottle, took a nap, woke up in a good mood and he is sitting quietly in his high chair watching Baby Eistein, I hope it stays that way.
Ok Ya'll that was my morning report. Now back to your usual programming.
J.V.
Monday, June 26, 2006
World Cup Crazinnes
I have placed a bet among my friends from school, if Argentina wins the world cup, I will shave off all of my hair, and come to class wearing make up and earrings. Needless to say, I don't want them to win, in fact, I wish that Germany beats them 5-0 in the Quarter finals game coming up. If Brasil wins the World Cup, this Argentinan dude will do the same, a lot of South Americans like me are going for Brasil instead of Argentina because the Argentinans are, how should I write it? Well, they are nice people as long as you are not talking about futbol (soccer). Anyway, Just one thing I wanted to share.
J.V.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Wow!
So, it's been a rough ride. I am still here, busy as usual, I always think of things to write in here, and when I finally get a chance to write down my thoughts, I blank out.
I have been blogging for more than a year now, I started this to describe what it was like to be an intern at IBM Rochester/MN but, it turns out, there are a lot of things I can get in trouble for disclosing, and whatever I can talk about, it is immensely boring. Then, I started placing links to interesting things that pop up in the net every once in a while, I also wrote down my thoughts about the war in Iraq, since I was there and all, but this is not a war blog, lately it has been sort of a dairy, which is something I didn't really want, I don't want to be write too much about me, because, frankly, who wants to read about someone else's personal issues? Well, I do, if it's well written, but I admit, I am not a good writer. Anyway, my point is, this blog lacks direction, and consistency, there are many directions in which this blog can go, and I am not sure which one it will take.
Option one:
This is one that I hate and like the most at the same time. The Iraq Blog. I hate this idea because I hate to think about Iraq. I really do. When I came back from there I was wresteling with a lot of demons, When I went I felt that I was supposed to go to war, that it was my duty, and that I was going there for a just cause, I came back with my own doubts indenpendant of what the media was portraying, but I felt that it was not in a position to question, I still feel the same, but I have come in terms with myself for the most part. The more I think about it the more I am sure of it. The thing is, I really want to move on with my life, I hate being stuck in a period of my life which is over for me. I don't think that as one person I can make much of a difference in the public's mind. But on the other hand, if I had the talent to be an excellent writer, if I could write a story the way Stephen King does it, I could write a hell of a war book, I feel is a shame because my war memoirs would be an interesting read at worst, howevere, I know my limits.
Option two:
The internet is a vast sea of information, I can write about a story or website that catches my attention, and start a discussion, this has happened a few times, but I don't have enough readers to start a debate, and, well, I don't have that many readers. This is like a lazy option.
Option Three:
The Dairy, I don't like this one too much, because I don't want to write about mundane things that nobody cares about.
Option Four:
The technical blog. I would like to write about my profession, Computer Engineering, explain IEEE articles, comment on new trends and stuff, but this would actually take a lot of work, plus, none of my readers (or at least the one that leave commments) are Engineers, so, who wants to know about engineering?
Option Five:
A combination of all the above.
Oh well, usually I just write whatever comes to mind whenever I sit in front of the screen, this is my usual strategy, but as this blog enters it's second year I thought it would be nice to have a goal and some organization for this blog. My personal goal from this blog is to be able to improve my writing skills, one day I will write and publish my own book, the other thing is, I like to get comments and meet other bloggers. I think is cool that I know so many bloggers that are a lot better at this than I am, I learn from all of you, and I enjoy reading. I like blogging so much it makes my wife jealous. How can you be jealous of a blog? Those of you who blog understand.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Next week
This week is going to be a bit tough, I need to get paid, since the army's E5 pay is peanuts, so I need to work some hours, besides that, I have a Midterm I am making up Tuesday, A Final Wedsnday and Thursday a Presentation on Wedsnday and a Research paper due on Friday. But after that, all I have left is my Senior Project and that's the summer. I don't know why I am not freaking out, but today I had to spend time with the family, it is my first Father's day.
Being a Dad is awesome, but it is tough, it is defenetly hard to raise a family while trying to get trough school, I don't know why I am not somewhere having a nervous breakdown or a heart attack. Instead I am sitting here quietly in my computer, with let's see...1,2...9 different windows, I am going to finish writing that research paper tonight...or else. I don't know how I am going to cram up everyday for these tests while getting work done, but it's going to happen, i swear!
Ok People, Take Care, be good to each other.
J.V.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Back for the first time
After two weeks, I am back in the real world.
Too tired to write right now. It's been a long brake. I am posting a picture of my "office", all I can say that it was about 1000000000000 degrees hot, in the shade. The humidity made it feel ten times worse.
My wife bought me the new Nintendo DS lite, which is not really a wise thing. We are both addicted. Next week I have a A Midterm, Two Finals, a Presentation, and a paper due, Yet, I am not sweating it, I don't know why, I am numb I guess, I took my books with me, and studied almost everyday whenever I had some spare time. But I know I am way behind. Today I realized that I have not changed the oil in my car since January, I am surprised the thing still runs. My Son Anthony grew up so much in two short weeks, I am glad to be back, it felt like a vacation almost, but it made me want to be back here toughing it out everyday at school and work.
So, for the last two weeks I have been embracing the suck. I tried not to fight it, I just let it happen. However, It is getting harder and harder to keep my mouth shut, this is why the military is not for me anymore, I used to be a lot better about just doing what i am told, The way I am now there's no way I could last one day in the Marines. The thing is, I like to speak my mind, and people can usually tell what i am thinking by just reading my facial expression, this is not a good thing in the military, in there you just do what you are told, period, end of story.
So, It is good to be back, I missed you all, Thank you for waiting. I have so many things to write about. And so little time. Till the next one.
J.V.
Friday, June 02, 2006
OFF To Annual Training
I'm leaving today, just went to the office to tie off a few loose ends, I am taking my books with me, and my laptop, I don't suppose there is wireless in the middle of the woods in North Florida, but you'll never know.
So long everyone, I will miss you, I will return to the real world in two weeks.
I usually hate car commercials, for the most part they are dull and lack inmagination, unlike Bud commericals, but I thought this one was good.
J.V.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Pictures from two weeks ago
This are the some of the few pics we took when we went to Naples on our break. The weekend before the Summer term started, good thing we have this Monday off, next Friday I am off for my yearly Reserve Training, Two fun-filled weeks.. NOT!
Today some friends are supposed to come over to work on our HW, but so far they are all sleeping, I feel bad waking them up, but time is running.
Anyway, here are the pics, hope you like them.
Loralee, thanks for the comments, you didn't have to. But Thanks.
Ok Everyone, take care, be good to each other.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Is going to be a while before I post again
I know you understand, I barely have time, when the first half of this semester ends it may free me up a bit more, I was a little stunned with a comment an annonymous reader made in my post about Joel P Smith, could it be the guy that article is about? If I had more time I could get into that, but Joel does not need anyone to defend him, it comes with being a journalist I guess.
J.V.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Friday, May 12, 2006
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Joel Preston Smith
When I was in Iraq, I made an unusual friend, his name is Joel and he's a liberal journalist, he's as radical as they come, but we share a taste for literature and books, (Bushism intended) Anyway, he took lots of pictures of Iraq, he had the guts to go there before the ground war started, then about 5 months later he came back to Iraq,
if I remember right, he took a flight to Jordan, then took a cab to Iraq, he just showed up to our base, he was like, Hi, I'm Joel! so instead of just shooting him, we let him stay with us, we have kept in touch, he's a true friend of mine, even though we do not share the same point of view all of the time, he's an awesome person to carry a conversation with, this is why I'm happy to announce he has a blog now!
His blog is here, I will post a link to his blog, I hope is not all anti-war, let's burn Bush at the stake type of blog, there's also a rational side to him.
My wife updated!
After all this time! She posted some pictures and she talks about the work she's been doing in the house. Martha went on vacation last Sunday and she has been a busy bee, she painted the kitchen and the bathroom downstairs, made the house look really nice. I admit, she's the one with style and taste, when it comes to those things I have the sophistication of a caveman. Her blog is here.
J.V.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
So Effing depressed
I feel down, like never before, suddendly I woke today feeling lower than whale excrement, Can't seem to cheer up, maybe it is because:
My son was diagnosed with asthma yesterday, he has to use a nebulizer three times a day now. (seeing him like that really bothers me, I can't explain it)
My wife and I argue about stupid stuff.
My wife and my Mom will never get along.
Even though we make more money than ever before, we are more broke than ever before.
I have no idea how I am going to pay for college tuition now that the GI Bill and my scholarship ran out.
I suck at being a Computer Engineer working remotely, I used to be ten times more productive when I was at the office in Rochester instead of working from far away.
I guess I could keep going whining about every little thing that bothers me. But what's the point?
All those problems I mentioned have a solution, I am just reacting in a pathetic way. I need to pick myself up. I hate acting so lame.
J.V.
Monday, May 08, 2006
List of Countries I've lived in or visited
I don't why I feel like making a trite list like this. But I feel like doing it.
In Chronological order
1.Venezuela (born there!)
2.United States
3.Puerto Rico
4.Spain
5.Greece
6.Malta
7.Turkey
8.Romania
9.Ukraine
10.Italy
11.Albania
12.France
13.Croatia
14.Slovenia
15.Tunis
16.Ireland
17.Jordan
18.United Arab Emirates
19.Kuwait
20.Iraq
21.Germany
Funny enough, I've never been to Canada or Mexico. Also, I don't know Latin America.
I want to visit Brasil and Argentina, and the Andes Mountains, most of all I'd love to go back to Europe, especially England which, I have never been to, and would love to see it. Oh well.
Another thing, with the exception of The first two countries in that list, I have been to all those places thanks to the Military. That's the one thing I do like about it is all the traveling, even though it is never a five star experience, it is always interesting to say the least.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)