Category Archives: Journal

Default – Self reflection etc.

My thoughts on religion.

Although being a “west michigander” is almost synonymous with various stems of Christianity, I find myself really being further than ever from any real kind of faith.

I grew up Christian (with vanbergs), my parents took us to sunday school, my mom taught sunday school, my dad sings in the church “choir”. With that recipe, how could it be possible that I’m not a religious person? I’m not saying that I do not believe in some higher power, I’m not saying that Jesus H Christ didn’t exist. My point is, there is no way of knowing. I don’t know what I believe.

In school, everyone learns about greek mythology. how they had “gods” for everything. But, notice how it is called “Mythology” currently? I can’t help but wonder if some furthered civilization is going to be reviewing our culture calling it “American Mythology” at some point. Religion is a touchy subject for many people, and something that many people believe very strongly. With that in mind, the proceeding comments are genuinely meant not to offend anybody. Seriously, couldn’t Jesus have been a normal man with quick hands? A magician perhaps? David Copperfield can sure do some cool things with “slate of hand” or whatever it’s called. How does anybody even know that the writings that make up the bible are “Non-fiction”? I’m sure this has been researched, debated, etc. But I don’t know much about the history on this specific topic. And there are just numerous scientific points that tend to sway me away from religion. For example, how come there aren’t any religions that referr to anything prior to their conception? God made man in his own image?? Where the hell did dinosaurs come from then? The world started from Adam and Eve?? How do we go from that and get different skin colors? I guess that would probably have to be evolution or adaptation. Everything that exists must have been created. It can’t have just “been here”… Something must have made us. Something must have made the planet. “What” might have done so, is far beyond my understanding. Even so, it’s hard for me to say “God did” and believe that wholeheartedly.

Basically, it’s hard for me to blindly believe in something. Even harder to “live my life” by it. Am I against religion? Absolutely not. I really just don’t know that it’s for me. I dont know when I’ll know, or what I’ll know. But I do know this: If there is a god, there are alot of things I want to ask him/her about…

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Doogie Howser, MD.

Ive definitely noticed a severe decrease in the amount of time and frequency i have spent writing in this. I almost feel that im losing interest. At any Rate, I’m going to try to make it a point to journal something much more often. AT LEAST once a week. I want to do this because i am inspired by Doogie Howser. If you think about it, Doogie Howser was actually the worlds first Blogger, ever. Well, not technically because he didnt publish his posts on line, but I dont even think Al Gore had invented the internet yet.

My point is this: Doogie Howser did it… I’m going to do it. Even the small things and thoughts are important. Once it’s written, it’s never forgotten. Don’t forget about me, Doogie Howser.

Though I wonder, why did Doogie Howser not buy his own computer? He was after all a Doctor.

Nerd Vol. 2

Yesterday I finally found a digital camera that I felt OK spending money on. I purchased an Olympus D589. The lower end 3.2 megapixel olympus camera is usually 229 at Bestbuy and Circuit town… This ‘step up’ model was on sale at office max for 199. I got a 128 meg xd card, so I’m pretty sure im going to take pictures of everything that exists. I’ll be adding albums to the gallery in rapid succession

Continuing with my latest nerd venture: Python. I have been downloading program examples, reading up on Python, just trying to get the jist of it. I still dont know why, as I have no interest in doing any real programming. But, I found out through some article that alot of Google’s engineers use python.

That said, my ‘vending machine’ has made some progress. Vending Code

Tidbits: Dont make reservations at Carraba’s– still waited 25 minutes. Take student ID’s to see movies from now on. If your not a student, wait to rent. Im so sick of being price gouged. 7.75 i believe was the ticket price to see “Constantine”. I absolutely HATE price gouging. “You cannot bring your own candy into the movie!” — I wonder why they have that rule. Probably so you will pay 2.50 for a box of raisinets, and 3.50 for a soda. It seriously should be illegal. One of these days the world is just going to push itself off a ledge. We continue to ever so slightly nudge it in the back and smile.

i am frowning.

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Definitely…. A nerd

If anybody ever had any doubt that i am a total nerd, please review the following:

This weekend i spent 50 dollars on a Cisco CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) self certification library. This includes two official Cisco textbooks, as well as a router emulation software that simulates various networks and allows you to “virtually” configure them. Basically, it is step 1 of getting Cisco certified. That’s nerd point 1.

Next, for some completely unknown and unseen reason, i have started to learn a programming language called python. This is even more shocking because I really didnt like programming when i was attending good ol’ gvsu. I had always heard about the language, and its especially easy to use with linux/unix. So i just started doing some on line tutorials to gte the feel of it. Now, I am re-creating my CS-162 project of creating a “vending machine”. Although in the very early stages, i did write all this from scratch. Check out my code!! SourceCode. During this, i experimented around with some ‘hacking’ on my friends websites. Not really successfully, but some of you can be telnetted to port 25 😉

As far as work goes, im still loving it. I got my “official” business cards today. “Eric Vanbergen: IT Technician – Server Support”. I’m still kind of on a high from this whole thing… I feel like im finally “here”. And that its downhill from now. Things feel like they have all just fallen into place.

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didnt cut it

apparently, if you dont take immediate care of a cold…. it can and will turn out to be “walking pneumonia”. I have encountered this, but only in my right lung.

I have stayed home from work for 2.5 days so far, and that is really not my style. I have also gone to the doctor, paid 50 dollars for 5 pills, and slept for about 12 hours each night. But, i am nearly all the way better. I tried going to work today but started to feel myself get weak and begin coughing. I decided probably 1 more night of rest was needed.

I oddly find myself wishing i could go back to work. This is not a feeling i am used to, but it definitely gets pretty boring pretty quickly when you are home for 5 days straight with nothing to do. Frank Black got me through it so far… I’m anxious to get back to work, because there is alot of cool stuff going on that I’d like to be a part of. Anyways… Im sick, and Im tired. Im too lazy to add comments for this post.