Follow the white rabbit

The white rabbit was the first character Alice met when she was transported to wonderland. What followed afterward was a wondrous adventure. I like to think I have started my own adventure it even starts off with a white rabbit:

Pretty kewl, eh? I know it's not much. But I made that 8 seconds of animation with my own two hands (did you notice the Colbert reference?). I know I've been dropping hints about working on a video game and that I was going to keep you updated. Well this post goes towards that promise. In my last update I mentioned that I got a programming book for the Alice scripting language. Here's the cover in case you were wondering:

It's been sitting on my shelf since Eid-Ul-Fitr (I know I promised a post about Eid-Al-Adha but it was a typical day, went to prayers, chatted with family on the phone, and then went to dinner at my aunts) but I never got around to opening it and reading it. Mostly because I was catching up with CAPM studies (I fell behind because I had to work on the immigration case, but that's an entirely separate can of worms). Now that I am caught up I can spend some time on it. Last weekend I worked on the first chapter and came up with the above video. I was thinking of making another version of this video with a turkey in it, what with thanksgiving and all but decided against it (too much work).

I have the day off thanks to turkey day, nothing special planned (hey I can cook, but a 3 course meal, you got to be kidding me). I might spend some time with the book, learning new techniques with the scripting language. I hope I learn enough to get my ideas off the ground. I am planning to have more wicked cool content for you in the coming weeks so stay tuned.

UPDATE: Here's what I've been working on. Notice how I can make the characters do more sophisticated things. Revel in my genius!

My new toy...

...it's one of these:

A Vizio 19 inch LED LCD HDTV (is that enough acronyms for you). I've been TVless for the pass four months. You may recall the beginning of my ordeal in this piece. At first I tried to get it repaired but found it would be cheaper to replace it. But I didn't want to be left with a hunk of useless electronics waste. I tried selling it for parts but no one would bite, they already had to many busted TVs by that company (go figure).

With the holy month of Ramadan approaching I decided it was for the best, no TV meant more time for worshiping. Afterward I turned to the internet to quench my thirst for entertainment. I must admit there is a wide selection out there and people can and have discontinued their cable service because of this. I was contemplating the same until the fall season kicked in. All these new shows, shows that I follow starting up again. I was missing out. Plus the movie on demand feature helped me save on DVDs yet still allow me to view the newest releases.

I was getting desperate I had to get a TV. I was hoping what with my new job I could easily by a $300 TV. But a funny thing happened I realized I had no money for food. So I had to set aside a nice chunk of change for groceries. The second month, which happened to be this month, was a bit more forgiving. One I had enough money for food so I could spend money on wants. What's more the seasonal deals like Black Friday were gearing up. I was advised this would be the best time to buy.

I must admit I was apprehensive about getting knocked down by fellow shoppers in search of a good deal during the mad rush that is Black Friday. But lucky for me stores slashed prices early on. Now was a good time to buy. But there was just this one problem. No car. I didn't want to buy such an expensive thing online. The delivery guy could miss me and leave by my door tempting the neighbors. I didn't want to bring it with me in the train, NYC, muggings, you get the picture. So I had to rely on my family to help me out. I was meeting my relatives for Eid (separate posts in the works) my cousin was going to pick me up so I tipped him off to the fact that I desired a new TV and would love it if he could take me to a Walmart to get one. He agreed.

So that night we made our way to a Walmart close by to his house. Dinner was ready and we had only a half hour before the proverbial dinner gong rang. We made a beeline to the electronics. An entire wall filled with LCD TVs of all sizes and brands. I got the least expensive one had them add on extended warranty. With a final check of my receipt we were out the door. That night when I got home I was so excited I immediately unpacked and hooked up the ultra slim picture maker. I stayed up that night, even though I had work in the morning, taking in all the sights. A smorgasbord of programming I had almost forgotten.

But I don't plan on stopping there. My little lady will be coming over soon (we are very close to the end of the immigration process!) I want her to be happy as possible and if her desi soap operas make her happy then I am inclined to provide those to her. The beauty of living in such a diverse city is that it caters to every whim. Just go to Jackson Heights and pick up a cleverly named electronic device that will do the trick for you. I plan on getting that for her with the gift money (Eidi) I have set aside for her. But before that can happen I wanted to treat my TV right and bought it a nice stand to raise it off of the heat emitting cable box. That way it will last longer and you know...not burn out.

Mosh the Vote

I hoped you voted last Tuesday. I know there are many out there that think it is a waste of time. And that it doesn't make a difference. Or that it doesn't effect them and that the country will continue running without their vote. They may be right on many points. But that does not justify staying home and not voting. They should think what would happen if they did not have the right to vote? Or what would happen if there were no regular elections? Images of despotic third world countries should come to mind. I know my mind conjures up those images. In some cases even if they do have elections an atmosphere of intimidation and fear is created by the opposition. In that situation voting for the wrong party could cost you dearly.

But I would go even further and say that for citizens voting is not only a right it is a privilege. No matter how little, we the common man exert the tiniest bit of leverage over our leaders. Even this much leverage gives us power. The power to have our complaints listened to, the power of deciding where we want to go. This may not seem much compared to the kind of influence wielded by the elite. But imagine not having even this much power. To cower in the shadows, afraid of being pulled over, detained, deported.

I do not plan on cowering. I plan on standing up. Crying bloody hell! If there is an injustice I will call it an injustice. And if the perpetrators push back forcing me to call day, night and night, day then I will also push back with the truth. Fight for the truth and no man derived power on earth can stop you.

Two years ago we elected a presidential candidate on a wave of euphoria. We wanted change and we obtained it. The first black president, son of a Muslim man. Even four years ago that would have seem implausible. But it happened we persevered, we fought the odds and triumphed. What happened to that euphoria? It seems people expected miracles and when they got good governance and not supernatural feats they were disappointed.

Fickle is the word. Fickle expectations, fickle hope. And now the masses are going back into the very arms that screwed them over in the first place. Now I am not naive. I know the democrats are no different than the republicans when it comes to foreign policy. That is something set in stone. Where they do differ is domestic policy. They were doing something for the working class. Answer me this. Why is it okay to bust the budget with illegal wars (that maim and kill people) yet it is not okay to bust the budget with health care reform (something that can help heal people). As with any human endeavor it was not perfect. People should not be so fickle and should not expect miracles from their leaders. They should see them for who they are, men just like them struggling to do some good.

I sincerely hope the current president can go on for a second term. I know I will do my part in ensuring that and I hope you do the same.

I'll disclose my voting record, just so that I can get some of you to comment telling me why I made a bad choice ;) we'll try to be as civil as possible. And even if we do get nasty that doesn't mean we can't have our own election results jamboree...and the winners are (if my candidate won they will appear in green otherwise their red)

Governor: Andrew Cuomo

Senate: Charles E. Schumer (I do not like his track record with respect to "The War on Terror" he's to hawkish and seeks to induce fear to gain more power. I voted for Colia Clark a civil rights activist. That's the kind of person I want in office. That way when they have me step out of line at the airport I know who to write to)

Senate Special Election: Kirsten Gillibrand (She's the female equivalent of chuck schumer and also uses fear to get power. We don't like that, just ask Colbert. I voted for liberal Vivia Morgan instead)

House of Representatives(6th district): Meeks

Attorney General: Eric Schneiderman

Comptroller: Thomas DiNapoli

*source The New York Times

I don't care much about the position of State Comptroller I voted for the accountant person as that makes the most sense for that kind of work but I don't really care who wins. I voted Cuomo because of his dad and Schneiderman because those two go together. So that's that full disclosure, if you will.

Now for some tunes to chill out. A certain rap star sums up my sentiments on why I vote perfectly.