My Next Quest

YYYEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:34:00 +0000

YES! After a crushing loss in the third overtime of Game 5, the Wings brought their game to Pittsburgh and WON THE STANLEY CUP!!!

Tonight they would not be denied, despite some good, desperate play by the Penguins (and a little help from a horrid penalty call late in the third period).

I have to say the Penguins have proven themselves a great and capable team, worthy of respect. They have a great "never quit" attitude that will serve them well. I expect to see them hoisting the Cup within the next few years.

But, for now, it's the WINGS!!!!

GO RED WINGS! 2008 NHL CHAMPIONS!!

Is it June already?...and, 15 down, one to go

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:43:00 +0000

Well, semester break is over, and the summer session looks pretty bad already. Since it is 10 weeks rather than 15 everything is compressed. Yuck.

I can't believe it's June already. Halfway through 2008, it seems like it just started last week.

In hockey news, the Red Wings are currently up three games to one against the Penguins in the Stanley Cup final! Yes, if they win tomorrow night they will have their fourth championship since 1997. As a die-hard Wings fan, I am very happy about this.

Now, it's time for a nice dinner and a few minutes of relaxation before I start reading my next few chapters for school...sigh...

Break time!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:51:00 +0000

Semester breaks are awesome. Three weeks with no classes.

Grades are in for the semester just ended...I got A's in both classes, and maintain a 4.0 GPA for grad school so far. Yeah, I know it doesn't make a whole lot of difference, but it's a goal I've set.

Tomorrow night is Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, Wings vs. Stars. It looks to be a lot more difficult than the ice-wiping they gave the Avs. Still, I think they'll pull it out and go to the Cup final. Johan Franzen just might win it for them single-handed.

MTV HD is playing "This Is Spinal Tap" right now. What a totally classic movie. It just never gets old.

Busy week. Oh, and Happy Birthday to me.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:16:00 +0000

Wow, been busy this week (or two). Finished up research papers for both classes. I got one back, with a grade of 93.4%, not bad. Haven't gotten a grade for the other one, but I expect it'll be the same or higher, because it was a better paper.

The Wings' second-round matchup against the Avalanche is looking pretty lopsided, with the Wings up 3 games to none. They could wrap it up tonight, but that would be quite a chore since the Avs will be playing pretty hard trying to stave off elimination. I'll watch part of it, but the rest will have to go on the TiVo.

And, today's my birthday. I don't make a huge deal out of it, but we are having my favorite dry-aged steak for dinner (Yum!). Then I have to work on an exam. (Boo!) But it will still be nice.

Bye-bye, Predators

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 22:23:00 +0000

Ah, yes, game over, series concluded. The Wings advance in 6.

Osgood's been outstanding, and the guys in front have played well.

Lidstrom's 110-footer, echoes of 2002 vs. the Canucks. Fantastic.

Now they have a few days off before facing...???

Four down, 12 to go.

YEEEESSSSSS!!!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 02:29:00 +0000

Oh, boy, what a goal by Franzen.

3 down, 13 to go, and the Wings back on top in the series.

Of course, to end it in six games, the Wings will have to win in Nashville. That's a tall order, but I think they can pull it off, IF they stay consistent.

The big guns had plenty of good chances tonight, a few of which didn't miss by much. If those start going in, they'll get it done.

Next game is Sunday in Nashville. I hope they pin the Preds to the ice and don't let them up for the full 60 minutes.

I stayed up late for this?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:52:00 +0000

Nashville 3, Wings 2, and Hasek got pulled.

Sad, really sad. Now we're treading on all-too-familiar territory--another great regular-season performance, another embarrassing early playoff exit (potentially).

Of course, they're not any closer to elimination than Nashville, but, based on the first two games of the series, they should have finished them off last night.

There are, of course, worse places to be than in a best-of-three with two of those three at home, against a team that has never won a playoff game in your building.

Still, this should have been a five-game series at most.

Game 5, I don't know when, probably Friday at the Joe. I'm just a bit tired this morning...

That. Sucked. ASS.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:14:00 +0000

What else is there to say?

Preds 5, Wings 3.

The Wings need to remember...if you have a team on its knees, YOU DON'T LET IT STAND UP.

Two down, 14 to go

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:55:00 +0000

That was a strange kind of game. It was kind of a donut--all Red Wings except for a hole in the middle. Not that Dom could have been blamed for the freaky off-the-boards bounce that resulted in Nashville's first goal, but that followed by Lilja's giveaway shortly thereafter (he gets one of those per playoff, but this time it didn't cost them the series) had the boys looking down a bit.

Fortunately, Babcock took my advice and used his time-out at just the right moment, after which it was all Wings.

Next game is Monday in Nashville. If they win that one, it's all over but the shouting.

One down, 15 to go

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:00:00 +0000

The Wings secured their first victory of the playoffs this evening, defeating Nashville 3-1. Nashville put forth a decent effort, even controlling play from time to time, but in the third period the Wings dominated.

It's a good start, but we've still got two months before the Cup final, and the eventual champions will have to win 16 games to hoist Stanley. So, for the Wings, it's one down, 15 to go.

After that, it's the long, dark tea-time of the soul, until the teams return to the ice in early October.

Are You In?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:28:00 +0000

"Are You In?" is the Detroit Red Wings' tagline for this year's playoffs. As I am a Red Wings fan (in much the same sense as Bill Gates runs a software company), I am definitely "in."

So, for the next couple of months I'll be spending a lot of time glued to my new 40-inch LCD, following the Wings to what will hopefully be another championship.

The competition will be tougher than ever. The Wings start Thursday against Nashville, a team they have owned in the playoffs but which can inflict significant physical damage. (I'm not accusing them of thuggishness, but hey, if the shoe fits...)

After Nashville, who knows? It looks like San Jose is a good bet to be there all the way to the Western Conference final, and they're a team with which the Wings have had playoff troubles in the past. If there's a team that has a chance to dash the Wings' hopes, it's San Jose.

But, this being hockey, there might be a big surprise in store. Which Western Conference team could be this year's sleeper?

One thing's certain: playoff hockey is intense like no other sport can be, and it's a lot of fun to watch, so I'm looking forward to seeing as much of it as possible.

Go Wings!

UPDATE: Looks like San Jose got surpised by the Flames last night. Like I said...this being hockey, there might be a big surprise in store...

Is college "worth it?"

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:44:00 +0000

Via Instapundit, this rather interesting article on Inside Higher Ed:

College Isn't Worth a Million Dollars

Miller is particularly troubled by the financial situation in higher education, especially a financial aid system that he considers to be a byzantine mess that, especially as tuitions continue to soar, is ultimately failing to fulfill its primary purpose: expanding access to a college education to those who need it most. And not only do college officials show no serious signs of trying to fix the system’s flaws, he says, but Congress and others keep passing laws that just pour more money into it and even add to the complexity.

Part of the reason they do that, Miller argues, is because they believe college is such a valuable asset for individuals and for society. And they think that, in part, because of the widely embraced assertion that college is worth a million dollars in the bank. If a degree has that much value, how can we as a society not do everything possible to make sure everyone has a shot at the golden ring?

But what if the college premium doesn’t exist, or is greatly exaggerated?

I'll be the first to say college is damn expensive. Unless one has the GI Bill (as I do) or a really good scholarship (as my daughter does), one pays a lot of money for a very long time.

There are also jobs out there that do not require a college degree but pay quite well--for example, in my own field (telecommunications) there are many people earning well into six figures based on their training and certifications, regardless of whether or not they hold a college degree.

The main point this Miller fellow makes is that the often-repeated canard "a college graduate earns $1 million more over his/her career than someone with only a high school diploma" is incorrect. His calculations say the real figure is only about $280,000. ("Only" $280,000?!) Not a million dollars, certainly, but still not chump-change.

I didn't really need to go back to school. I've got a very well-paying job that I'd have gotten anyway, no need for a Master of Science degree. I went back to achieve a goal I set for myself a long time ago. For me, the "worth it" isn't measured in dollars.

Anyway, it's an interesting article, and raises some issues that hit close to home for anyone who has to pay for college.

Now THIS is funny!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:39:00 +0000

Anyone who started using the Internet in the mid-1990s can relate to this amusing little clip. It's well worth the five minutes.

24: The Lost Pilot (Dateline: 1994)

Added Links

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:18:00 +0000

I've added a couple of new links into the Link List.

First is The Blue Lobster, by my friend David. He writes on various topics, always interesting.

Second is Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide. Mr. Cowen is a professor at George Mason University, close to my home. He's put together a great collection of mini reviews of restaurants in the D.C. metro area.

Enjoy!

Hollywood doesn't know when to stop

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:42:00 +0000

Lately, it seems a Hollywood fad to re-make classic films of the past (as if the addition of lots of flashy CGI could improve on already-great films, even with today's often sub-par scripts and actors). So what if the apes were more "realistic" in the 2001 version of "The Planet of the Apes?" It still sucked in comparison to the original. Hell, even Tom Cruise couldn't rescue the "War of the Worlds" remake. But, they keep trying, and perhaps one day they'll get it right.

However, it won't happen with the upcoming remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still." This is one of my all-time favorite films, and Hollywood is getting ready to rape it.

First, they've cast Keanu Reeves as Klaatu. Are you kidding me? Is there any possible way that guy could begin to approach the poise and gravity Michael Rennie brought to that role?

Second, they've decided on a little plot change.

From the MTV Movies blog:

Fifty years later and Klaatu has a new message for humanity, but one with equally dire consequences should we choose to ignore it, Keanu Reeves, who is playing the alien in Scott Derrickson’s upcoming remake, told MTV News.

“The first one was borne out of the cold war and nuclear détente. Klaatu came and was saying cease and desist with your violence. If you can’t do it yourselves we’re going to do it. That was the film of that day,” Reeves explained. “The version I was just working on, instead of being man against man, it’s more about man against nature. My Klaatu says that if the Earth dies, you die. If you die, the earth survives. I’m a friend to the earth.”

While humanity still engages in a staggering number of international conflicts, the environmental message is one that, not only encompasses wars, and fights, and terrorism, but one that goes beyond constrictions to become a millennial message of “what we are doing and who we are as a species,” Reeves insisted. “We’re trying to reach beyond the idea of [just] environmentalism.”

Again, are you kidding me? Klaatu comes all the way to Earth to fight global warming?

From a commenter on the MTV Movies blog, with whom I wholly agree:

It’s amazing that someone is willing to take one of the first pioneering science-fiction movies and turn it, in the cheapest pornographic way, into a propaganda tool of the dumbest ideological fad of this decade. If I were a kid of the original creators, I would demand the execution of those who are humiliating the work of my parent in such a dramatic way.

Hear, hear. Sometimes the classics should be left alone.

Keanu Reeves Brings Different Message With Him In ‘Day The Earth Stood Still’

How sad

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 20:50:00 +0000

I grew up in the Detroit area and have many fond memories of trips to Detroit's "Greektown" neighborhood. For those not familiar, Greektown is a collection of good Greek restaurants (and a casino, now) in downtown Detroit. It was there that I first tasted saganaki, the Kasseri cheese flambe' (always accompanied by a lusty "Opa!" from the waiter as he set it afire).

Sadly, Greektown's 107-year-old flagship restaurant, the New Hellas, will be closing its doors. From the Detroit News:

On Sunday night, the last glass of wine at New Hellas Café in Greektown will be poured and sipped. The final "Opa!" will be shouted. And then the doors will close for the last time.

After 107 years in Detroit, New Hellas, the city's oldest Greek restaurant, will be only a memory.

Owner Gus Anton, 80, of Grosse Pointe said he can't keep up with the busy life of a restaurateur anymore and will shut down the popular business his father opened in 1901.

"I'm very sad, naturally," he said. "But at my age, what can you do? I'm old. I need the rest."

Hopefully, someone will come along to buy the restaurant, but who knows in Michigan's current weak economy?

Anyway, I and many other native Detroiters will still have fond memories of Pastitsio and Spanakopita at the New Hellas.

Here's the entire story: Detroit's Oldest Greek Restaurant to Shut Doors

Could be European

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:51:00 +0000

OK, when I was living in Europe I noticed the folks over there are concerned the environment, and the efficient use of space.

Well, via Instapundit, here is an apparent attempt to address both concerns...

Combination Washing Machine and Toilet

It might work in Europe, but are Americans ready for something like this? What if someone gets drunk and confuses the two...

Spring Break

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:12:00 +0000

Ah, spring break...the phrase conjures images of sunny beaches, drunkenness, and "Girls Gone Wild."

Not, however, for the 41-year-old married online graduate student. For me, it just means I don't have regular class assignments for a week. I've still got the two research papers and two group case studies to do.

So, I'll be taking advantage of the "down time" to catch up on those other four things. So much for sunny beaches...

Back to School

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 03:35:00 +0000

My second semester of grad school started this week. So far it hasn't been too strenuous. Of course, the first week rarely is. There were a couple of discussion-forum assignments, nothing too difficult, and one chapter from each textbook.

I'm taking Systems Analysis and Design and Information Systems Infrastructure. Of course, there will be research papers. This semester I'm not going to screw myself by waiting until the last minute. Fortunately, they don't have to be quite as long as last semester's.

Each class also has a group project. Ack.

I can't wait to be done with these IT core classes and get into the telecom-specific ones.

Election 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 03:31:00 +0000

I've been really agonizing over whom to support in the upcoming Presidential election. How does one decide between imperfect alternatives?

Well, I've made my decision:

Time does fly

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 21:16:00 +0000

See? As I said a month ago, not posting for a month does happen.

My first semester of grad school is done. Now, a few weeks of blessed respite until the Spring 2008 semester starts in late January.

I did end up with an A in each class (although by less than a point in one of them). Along the way I learned what it takes to do well in grad school. I may even be able to hold a 4.0 through the whole thing and graduate with honors.

My daughter is home from college for a few days. It's nice to have the whole family together for Christmas.

In other, important news:

	I received 100 credits on The Sci Fi Sounds Quiz How much of a Sci-Fi geek are you?
Take the Sci-Fi Movie Quiz canon s5 is

Been a while

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 01:18:00 +0000

So, I haven't blogged in a month. It happens.

I've been struggling with a couple of research papers that I waited far too long to start, but it looks like I won't have any problems getting them in on time. I just need to edit a lot...

Hard to believe tomorrow is Thanksgiving already. It's crazy to think 2007 is winding down and my first semester of grad school will be over in less than a month. (YESSSSS!!!!!!!)

Anyway, with the four-day weekend maybe I'll have time to put up a post or two.

In gadget news, I finally got a new wireless router/access point to replace my old clunky 802.11a/b access point. Amazing how much faster the web pages populate. Plus the new one has WPA with AES encryption. Good stuff.

The Red Wings game is on...maybe I'll treat myself and watch some of it. My son got hold of a can of Coca-Cola and is running in circles around the living room...

Charlie Foxtrot: Good War News....from Atlanta

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:57:00 +0000

Via Instapundit, milblogger Charlie Foxtrot (heh...great name) relates the story of a soldier's very positive experience on his way back to Afghanistan after his mid-tour leave.

Charlie Foxtrot: Good War News....from Atlanta

The war is not lost, and neither are the American people.

ack.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:23:00 +0000

So, I got my first midterm back, and I got an 87. I'm not happy. Mike does not get B's.

Fortunately, the professor is good with feedback and I'm pretty sure where I need to improve. I did send her back an e-mail with some additional comments I put on the exam. She'll get back to me next week, entirely understandable as she's got another batch of exams to grade.

I'll definitely be taking any recommendations. I absolutely hate anything besides A's.

Yes, I know apostrophes aren't supposed to go there, but they make things easier to read.

On Beauchamp

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 23:15:00 +0000

As a military veteran, I'm pretty sensitive to any unjustified criticism (or outright slander) of our men and women in uniform.

I've not posted on the whole New Republic/Scott Beauchamp debacle, mostly because it all came and went before I started this blog.

Until today, that is...

The Drudge Report had linked to some documents apparently showing Scott Beauchamp had essentially made up some stories published in The New Republic that asserted some serious misconduct by troops in Iraq. They were first published under a pseudonym; subsequently, Beauchamp came forward and claimed authorship.

There was suspicion from the beginning, and these documents seem to confirm what was suspected: Beauchamp fabricated the stories in an attempt to become "the next Hemingway."

His chain of command conducted an investigation and Beauchamp's punishment, whatever it was, is between them and him. His commander elected to keep him in the unit, and Beauchamp himself has stated he wants no more to do with the entire disaster because he feels it has harmed his fellow unit members, for whom he professes great love and devotion.

Too bad he didn't think about that BEFORE he slimed them.

Anyway, I don't have a whole lot to say about this. If his commander wants to keep him on, good for him. The commander certainly knows more about him and his attributes as a soldier than we do.

Maybe there's hope for Beauchamp, if he grows up and gets his priorities in order. I've known troops who were much like him, but turned out fine after they got a little more mature and a little less selfish.

And Beauchamp is doing his duty in Iraq, which, although he has screwed up, does mean something.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is that I kind of feel an odd mix of anger and pity towards the guy that makes me want to give him another chance; that maybe he's not a bad guy and he just had some asinine ideas and dopey notions.

One thing's for sure, though: after what he did, he'll have to make a career out of rebuilding trust.

UPDATE: Looks like Michael Yon feels the same as I do about second chances. I could hardly ask for better company.

http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/linking-policies-media-inquiries