roboticsage: 16 years
sex: male
eyes: blue
hair: brown
height: 6'
location: norcal
I was in guatemala for the first part of march (until the 11th). I kept a journal which I have posted online
I have also put up some photos
:: blog ::
4.7.2003
Well, today was my first day back at school in 3 weeks and my fourth in 5 weeks. I have a bunch of work to make up, but the teachers are all being pretty cool about it, plus I have a week off next week that will make it a bit easier to catch up on. I guess everyone was glad to have me back, so that was encouraging, along with I found out that another kid at my school had gone to the same program a few years ago, so it was good to know I wasn't alone. I talked with him a bit and we shared war stories for a bit, and it was fun to be able to relate to someone about it. Anyway, after school I went to see my eye doctor and got some contacts, so I don't have to wear glasses anymore! It was crazy cool, but still weird actually TOUCHING my eye, if you know what I mean. I will get used to it.
Another big thing happened in my life today. Well, in the world of computers anyway. I registered my first domain name. I purchased www.stilldavid.com and got some hosting for it (thanks SO MUCH YellaT for all your help and all!). Expect my site to be moved there this week or as soon as we can work out all the bugs with the hosting and all. That was a big thing for me, so expect me to be writing crazy php for it (when I'm not doing homework of course). Well, I'm out. Homework...
Wow. The day after. I am home. I am still getting over it. It is the funniest feeling in the world to get back to the "normal" life if it really is normal. Doing every small thing I used to do, small things like, taking a shower for the first time in three weeks, typing on a computer, eating real food that I don't have to make on a camp stove. Yup, no more oatmeal or cream of wheat for me for a while. I had three breakfasts yesterday, one at the hotel, one from heaven on earth (one of their huge cinnamon rolls) and one at that restaurant in Mt. Shasta that everyone loves.
Anyway, I am sure everyone (?) is wondering how I am and how the trip was and all that. For starters, I am doing very well. I am alive, well, healthy, more in shape than when I left, etc... but I also had a change in mindset. It is one of those things that you can't really explain over the internet, because this is just a bunch of ones and zeros. If you really want to know how I AM, ask me in person. I could tell stories for hours, so watch what you ask for. I just want to get across that is was a good change. I feel more alive than I ever have. It's hard to explain, but I feel like a new person in a way. I can only say good things about the program. Although I was kinda the odd one out the whole time (like I said, ask in person), I still felt like I got a lot out of 'trek'. It was a great experience and the staff did an awsome job. I can only say good things about the program. (ain't that right, Peggy?) I think in the future I might post a little bit more of what actually happened as far as physical things, like what we did, ate, where we were, etc..., but I want to talk to Freer before I say too much. All I will say is that we were snowshoeing in Oregon for three weeks. No trail or anything, set up your own tent, cook your own food that kind of thing. I will see if I can post pictures (not of people, I would assume) of it and stuff like that, but that is all going to have to wait. Just know it was a good experience. Challenging, demanding, get that feeling like you don't ever want to see snow kind of good, but good nonetheless. :)
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4.6.2003
Phew, I am home. Actually at home. I just got out of the shower. I had three breakfasts on the drive down. Life is good. More later as I have a bit more time to decel. Pictures, I hope, and a short video of me walking into my room the first time. [deep sigh]. I miss home.
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3.14.2003
Okay, while I am gone, I put in a new page on my site that filters out all IP addresses that come from my parent's IP addresses. This is to stop them from looking at all the stuff I posted about that camp, plus, they were asking me about my site. The redirect added another ad to the front page, (thats 3 I think now...), but when I get back, my top priority is registering a domain name and getting some ad-free hosting. Anyway, I'm out for a few weeks...
Well, apparently I am a delinquent, because my parents are sending me to a "wilderness therapy" camp starting tomorrow I found out so nicely today. Why are they sending me to a 21 day backpacking trip on less than a days notice? School. Parents. Grades. I guess I don't have a very good relationship with my father, and that is manifesting itself in my schoolwork somehow (don't ask, it just does) so my parents want me to go to a wilderness camp [+] where I am going to 'reflect on my inner self' and that sort of theraputic thing. I won't be attending any school while I am gone, and none of my friends know yet. According to my mother, I am not to tell any of them goodbye, because "you don't do that sort of thing before a trip like this, because it ruins it" or something like that. So if you are reading this looking for an answer, that is why. I won't be at school. I won't be at home. I will be in the pacific northwests great outdoors (Oregon, to be exact) reflecting on my inner self. Crap, this is going to suck.
I put up a few (30) pictures from my trip to guatemala. They each have a little explanation, and have a really cool little navigation thing. [+]
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3.12.2003
Well, I am back in school today for the first time in a while. I just wanted to post the journal that I quasi-kept while I was there. It is kinda long, so read it only if you have a few minutes... [+]
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3.10.2003
Again, big wow. I have been in guatemala for the past week or so, so this is like the biggest thing that has happened in a long time to me. I have been keeping a quasi-journal since we got here, so i will post that when I get home and have the chance. This has been crazy for me to go, and i have some awsome stories of things that have happened to me, so yeah, ask if you have like a few hours to spare. well, just an update to say that I am still alive, because I am down to the last quetzal in this internet cafe, so i gotta go... wow. This is so awsome. BTW, i am in antigua, and was in tikal all day...
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2.28.2003
Wow, so much has happened in the past three days you have no idea. Lets just say that I am currently in Los Angeles, and am on my way to Guatemala, so its a long story. It gets longer. I can't go into details, because I am just at starbucks using their wireless network, but I am going on the same medical mission my parents are going on, because there was a free spot at the last minute. I wont be in school again, or at home again for that matter, until the 14th of March. Periodic updates as necessary, and when I can get a hold of a satellite phone... I will post my entire journal when I return, in *.doc format.
I wont even go into details about the guy my dad and his friend saved at LAX by doing CPR on him for a while...
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2.20.2003
Hey, its been a while. The lan was pretty lame (not the worst), i got my liscence, and still no job. Thats about all there is to say about now, other than i hate school even more. I should just drop out and get it all over with. But i get a laptop... :) Oh well, there are some sacrifices we make. My life is a bit kafkaesque at the moment, so don't mind me. I bet 88% of the people who read that will look it up. I know I did when I first saw it today. More later, im just beat. sick. tired. don't talk to me.
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2.19.2003
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2.15.2003
Having a lan this weekend. Tomorrow, actually. A few people coming over, nothing big. Should be fun, though. If you want to show up, IM me, or call me first.
Hey, watch 60 minutes tomorrow at seven, also. Good ol redding is gonna be on it, for you guessed it, the two doctors at redding medical center. I am recording it, so if you want a dvd copy, i could arrange it if you want ;) Funny, I've been online all day, and haven't blogged except for this once...
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2.8.2003
That is straight out of the Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary, tenth ed.
I have had to deal with this word alot in the past few weeks, as many of you know (and many, I'm sure, don't). The only two definitions I am worried about are the last two. I would like to consider myself a hacker, by definition number three. I ejoy programming a whole lot, and though I may not be considered an 'expert', I am getting there, learning; plus I enjoy 'solving problems' with computers. However, the definition I have been pestered with is the fourth one. The ONLY one that even mentions the word 'illegal' or 'sometimes' tampers with evidence. Whether I admit to being categorized under this definition or not is not my point; my point is is that you can be one, and not the other. When someone claims to be a hacker, especially in a newsgroup or bbs, think about which they are referring to, number 3 or number 4.
Which brings me to the next topic I wanted to shed some light on in this post: what makes someone a hacker (definition 4, the 'bad' one)? Well, you are NOT a hacker if you download warez, cracks, keygens, patches, etc... Hell, my mother could open up that little *.nfo file that has the ascii art someone labored over, look for the serial number, type it in, and 'unlock' the program. Programs as expensive as photoshop and maya can be 'bought' in less than 30 seconds. This, my friend, I hate to burst your bubble, is not hacking.
So now what, you ask? You probably think that I am going to claim to be a hakcer, a true hacker. No, actually, I'm not. For one, I don't nearly have the heart of a hacker. I crack under too much pressure. Plus, I would brag (as you may know...). A true hacker (definition 4) would only brag using a fake name on some bbs or ng out there. However, he is not hacking to get noticed. He is the one redirecting microsofts homepage to some linux site, or the one changing a headline on a unisys website claiming that anyone can create .gifs without having to pay a hefty fee (don't believe it?) So I gained unauthorized access into a school server for a few weeks. It eventually (as it was bound to do) came back to me, and I had no excuse. That may be considered 'hacking' according to americas definition, but I don't personally look upon it as anything like it. It is something I never wish to repeat (unless completely necessary, but I have learned my lesson :))
My grandparents had their fiftieth wedding anniversary yesterday. We all (the family; 12 of us) went to a nice resaurant where we had the entire back room reserved, so that was insane. My grandparents are the cutest couple in the world, its so funny to watch them! It was a great time to gather with family and all that, and went off without a hitch.
Yesterday I called and scheduled my behind the wheel driving test (at last) and so that is going to go down on the nineteenth of february at two-fifteen in the afternoon. It will be cool and all, but I still won't have insurance, or a car, so I will still be stranded. It's the thought that counts, eh?
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2.6.2003
day three.
Well, here goes day three of my three day suspension. A lot happened today, seems like. Well, my dad and I went to see the 'counselor' again. I don't know if it helps or not, but all I know is that i am beginning to hate people who study other people for a living. Its the way they look at you, monitoring your every move... but don't let me go there. I will be typing all night.
ANYway, we also went to a few places in preparation of my grandparents fiftieth wedding anniversary. Wow, that is a lot of years to be together. And it is tomorrow. Wow. We have this whole dinner planned at a fancy restaurant, and all that sort of fun stuff.
Also in the exciting list is we went to washington mutual to get me a checking account! I now have money, and a wannabe credit card that deducts from my checking account (or my savings account if i overdraw), so you know what?! I can manage my own money now!!! Who knows, maybe getting a job will not be all that bad anyway. Plus if i get that job at sunset, that will be way cool. We shall see.
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I am a sixteen-year old who lives in Redding California.
I made this website a few years ago, in an attempt to just make a homepage. Now I have made it into a set of pages about my life, the things I like, dislike, support, condemn, my hobbies, etc... Perhaps the item of most interest is my weblog, which was 'officially' started in December of 2001, and has lived on since then.
© MMIII david stillman