Your One-Stop Zombie Superstore

2003-12-13T16:42:00.000-05:00

The name, which I had apparently not noticed for at least a month, compelled me to post here. Props.

Also, winter break will be fun. Do stuff. It's good times.

2003-11-03T14:39:00.000-05:00

Heh, I wonder if anyone even reads this anymore...

2003-07-29T10:13:00.000-04:00

Anyone who reads this, and pretty much anyone who wants to go, is invited to a viewing of Terminator 2: Judgement Day at my house, tomorrow (Wednesday, July 30) at 7:30. This is in response to the generally positive reception of the previous Terminator, shown at my house this past Saturday. The second film, released in 1991, is widely hailed as the best, and it is also one of the truly revolutionary films in special effects history. It was the first major film to make effective, realistic-looking use of computer effects and morphing technology. It also gave the world the catchphrase "Hasta la vista, baby", soon to be used in the California gubernatorial election. The film also contains copious gun violence, male nudity, and robots, much like its predecessor. Possibly, I might follow this up with an outing to see Terminator 3 on Thursday, which I have somehow not yet seen.

2003-06-30T14:58:00.000-04:00

Hello all. I think I shall attempt to revive my blog. So go read if you want.

2003-05-16T23:02:00.000-04:00

Hey, all. I've returned to my blog after a three-month hiatus. If you want to read a lot about the Iraq War or anything else that pops into my brain, visit www.eyebrow.blogspot.com/. Or the "David" link on this page.

2003-04-24T14:21:00.000-04:00

I second the mootion.

2003-04-23T20:01:00.000-04:00

Moo.

2003-04-19T14:26:00.000-04:00

Mmm, dismemberment. And all that... ska?

2003-03-22T00:29:00.000-05:00

Nick, if you add "and all that jazz" to anything else, I'm going to come home specially to dismember you.

2003-03-12T20:29:00.000-05:00

Mmm, freedom. And all that jazz.

2003-03-11T21:37:00.000-05:00

I suck toooo

(well, it's not like cartooning pays well)

2003-03-08T10:56:00.000-05:00

Like Cygnus X1

2003-03-06T16:09:00.000-05:00

Iraq sucks.

2003-02-26T17:22:00.000-05:00

I disagree with Paul. Point by point:

1. The technological strength of the United States Military, as demonstrated by all our post-Vietnam operations (and Vietnam ended almost thirty years ago), is so dramatically superior even to that of our European Allies that it renders conscription obsolete. We already have more than enough troops in the Gulf Region to win the war, without any allies if necessary. There will not be a draft in our time, and probably never again in this country.

2. A very low probability of failure. As you note, a military victory is easy. A political transformation of Iraq and the larger Arab world may be difficult, but that is no reason not to attempt it. If successful, the world will (or at least ought to) be grateful. If unsuccessful, there will nonetheless have been strategic benefits to the war. And most of Iraq is desert. In fact, the ancient "Fertile Crescent" has receded dramatically in the past few millennia. It's true there is a large fertile plain in the center of the country, which is home to three or four major metropolitan areas. But I fail to see how this makes our mission so dangerous. Iraq is not a jungle, like Vietnam, and while there are mountains, they're all on the border with Iran, where we won't be attacking. In other words, the entire war will be fought on flat terrain, where guerilla warfare, the only force that has ever stopped the US Army, is next to impossible.

3. Iraq is not a nuclear power. A major motivation for this war is to try to take out Iraq's ability to become one. The Israeli Government has encouraged us to attack Iraq, and the Saudis and other neighboring countries have been passively or actively supporting us. While there is a chance Saddam might attack a neighboring city in a fit of rage, if he does so it will confirm that he really was a regional menace and needed to be dealt with preemptively. Also, Israel has the world's only operational missile defense, and the capacity for a nuclear response.

4. A majority of Americans support the war, actually. This has been consistently true for some time. Precisely what other country has a say in whether or not we fight a war with Iraq? I suppose Iraq might, but good luck conducting an honest and fair opinion poll there. And if you go country by country, you'll find that the reasons for opposition to the war are generally not especially compelling. France, Germany, Russia, and China, the most prominent opponents of the war (actually, China doesn't really care either way, and even France and Russia haven't absolutely ruled out support), all have billion-dollar oil contracts with Saddam. The US and Britain do not, by their own choice. Nor do their surprisingly numerous allies, which include Spain, Italy, Australia, Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, and almost every country in Eastern Europe. Here's a shocking thought: in the international arena, it's the anti-war movement that is motivated by oil greed, and the pro-war movement that is motivated by politics, security, and possibly even a humanitarian impulse.

2003-02-24T23:05:00.000-05:00

I disagree. All sortsa potentially bad things are in the works if we go after Saddam. Point #1, non pointlessness, how long until you turn 18? (or are you 18 already....) Point #2, distinct possibility of failure. A military victory is easy to acheive. A military victory without a political rout is very difficult to obtain. Furthermore, I would like to point out that Iraq IS NOT A DESERT COUNTRY. It ain't called the Fertile Crescent for nothing.... Point #3, NBC is not just the acronymn for a broadcasting company. When NBCs land in Tel Aviv or Riyadh, or wherever, it ain't gonna be good. Point #4, nowhere is there a majority of the people supporting a war....

okay enough ranting for now. Maybe I'll provoke a response or something...

2003-02-21T16:16:00.000-05:00

The entire debate is stupid and pointless. There, my two cents.

2003-02-19T22:43:00.000-05:00

Let's talk about Iraq.

I'm anti-war (currently). I bet most of you are too. However, we need to talk about problems with our side. Particularly, stupid arguments. I don't think there was a single unadulteratedly good point in that article, which disturbs me, because Emi, who I regard as an intelligent person, thought it had many good points. If you disagree with me, you can see me whine on my blog and Emi's blog. We need to avoid sophistries and focus on real arguments. Please, even if you agree with someone you see's conclusions, talk to them about their methods. Because the way they get there is just as important as where they are.

You may be saying, the conservatives have just as many stupid arguments. Probably more. Why aren't you chastising them?

The answer is, I don't know them. I'm not exposed to them. It doesn't affect me. And, as you all are liberal, I doubt you've believed their arguments. People, unfortunately, tend to see all the holes in the opposing arguments and none of the holes in the supporting ones. Both can be wrong. Try to see both sides of the issue.

2003-02-19T22:42:00.000-05:00

Hello all. This hasn't been updated in ages. But it is now. Let's talk about Iraq.

I'm anti-war (currently). I bet most of you are too. However, we need to talk about problems with our side. Particularly, stupid arguments. I don't think there was a single unadulteratedly good point in that article, which disturbs me, because Emi, who I regard as an intelligent person, thought it had many good points. If you disagree with me, you can see me whine on my blog and Emi's blog. We need to avoid sophistries and focus on real arguments. Please, even if you agree with someone you see's conclusions, talk to them about their methods. Because the way they get there is just as important as where they are.

You may be saying, the conservatives have just as many stupid arguments. Probably more. Why aren't you chastising them?

The answer is, I don't know them. I'm not exposed to them. It doesn't affect me. And, as you all are liberal, I doubt you've believed their arguments. People, unfortunately, tend to see all the holes in the opposing arguments and none of the holes in the supporting ones. Both can be wrong. Try to see both sides of the issue.

2003-01-26T15:56:00.000-05:00

ALERT: Server disruption tonight, should be fully resolved by Tuesday.

2003-01-08T17:18:00.000-05:00

Further note: When telling me about your summer availability, please let me know when you will be returning home from school, when you have trips and/or family vacations planned, and when you will be returning to college (if it is exceptionally early and might conflict with a planned beach week). Thanks

2003-01-07T19:06:00.000-05:00

On the subject of the beach trip.....

Gpaul and I (Tara), are organizing this year's beach trip, or trying to. While we've made some plans, the next step is to determine when this can take place. After we get through that, we can worry about renting and logistics.

Sooo, to that end, I will be creating a spreadsheet to find out which week is convenient for the most people.
If you are on the list below, you have expressed interest in attending this trip. If you are on this list, please contast me ASAP (I mean this, please, as quickly as you can. Or I'll start bitching about it.), and let me know which weeks you are not available, during the summer. Email me, or IM, whatever. If you are potentially interested in this trip, but are not on the list, please talk to me. Any questions, again, ask me. Thanks.

Ben, Joe, Tara, Lil, Sims, Deb, Dyanne, Deb, Amy, Diane, Gpaul, Natalie, Emi, Michael, Paul, Jess, Plotz, Emily, Erica, Sharon, Eric, Seth, Liz, Nick B

Let me know.

2002-12-19T18:32:00.000-05:00

update:

The bivalves are back in cyberspace at our proper domain!

IF YOU USE BLOGGER, MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE SETTINGS TO BIVALVES.NET. Bivalves.student.umd.edu will NOT work AT ALL for the next 5 or 6 weeks.

2002-12-19T09:06:00.000-05:00

server going down around 3:30 today.... coming back late in the evening.... domain should be happy by tomorrow morning...

in other news. check out the stats!

If you haven't switched the URLs and links to bivavles.net yet, you may be in for a rude awakening.

2002-12-12T20:51:00.000-05:00

So, secret santa. It is happening, gift price limit is around $15. I am doing the drawing, and will inform you as soon as possible of your secret santa name.

If you are on this list, you are included in secret santa. If you want to be off this list, or aren't on it and want to be, let me know please.

Dyanne
Ben
Joe
Emily
Deb
Amy
Emi
Nick b
Sims
Tara
Michael
Jess
Lil
Gpaul
Paul
Alex
Sharon
Eric
Natalie
Plotz
Elissa
Veronica

2002-12-10T12:38:00.000-05:00

Given that I don't have mad organizational skills, the Secret Santa thing isn't working. So, unless someone with mad skills wants to take over, I suggest we do the drawing at New Years' and everyone gets their presents mailed Febuairy first as a back to school treat. Questions, comments, objections?

2002-12-09T23:51:00.000-05:00

I believe the New Year's photos work now...

2002-12-03T22:08:00.000-05:00

So there is a God....

The server is back up and several hours early to boot!!!!!!
bivalves.net and bivalves.student.umd.edu should both work now!!!

2002-12-03T10:48:00.000-05:00

I'm going ahead and buying some people presents already, regardless of Secret Santa, just cause everyone's getting their shopping done now.

And Nick, Ben announced at Deb's that he would host this year. Which means the party is only ten minutes from my house! Hurrah! So I won't be monstrously late like I always am. No wait, I probably will be anyway.

2002-12-03T09:46:00.000-05:00

But if we're giving out gifts at New Years, we have to have our people chosen earlier.
Or...suppose we assign people at New Years and send the gifts a month later so everyone can have a back to school treat?

2002-12-02T22:02:00.000-05:00

AND there is no better place for a Bivalve Secret Santa than at a...

BIVALVE NEW YEAR'S PARTY!!!!

...somebody have one? Please?

2002-12-02T14:24:00.000-05:00

I hate UM bueracracy.... Mid day wednesday until server, barring divine intervention.

I will pop online using the campus wireless before then during the evening hours, though.

2002-12-02T12:23:00.000-05:00

Secret Santa: anyone want? If we do, my idea is that I'll talk a friend of mine into drawing names and emailing all you people with who you have, unless someone has a better idea for getting all the names out w/o anyone knowing and making sure no one gets himself.

2002-12-01T22:39:00.000-05:00

Hey, you're not allowed to make Windows jokes!

2002-12-01T22:22:00.000-05:00

so the server is down.

NOT MY FAULT ERROR IN MODULE SERVERDOWN.DLL

my dorm has no internet at the moment... grrrrrrr.....probably back up at some time tomorrow

2002-11-26T23:27:00.000-05:00

http://68.50.211.146 (for web access, temporarily, it will be back to bivalves.net by late tomorrow)

2002-11-25T17:47:00.000-05:00

Bad news. Several hours of server outage Tuesday evening. Watch this blog for temporary links during the transition to a temporary IP in the afternoon/evening tomorrow.

2002-11-15T14:07:00.000-05:00

you guys keep me holdin' on

2002-11-11T13:13:00.000-05:00

We are now bivalves.net! Now you can replace "bivalves.student.umd.edu" with "bivalves.net" in any url linking to the server.

2002-11-10T13:39:00.000-05:00

Top level domain purchased for server! Details once it finishes propagating!

2002-11-04T17:01:00.000-05:00

An idea. Would any of you be up for trying to create a loser web page/blog in the manner of Puffy's fake blog? It might be amusing. We could have lots of angst, Questioning, bad grammar, (maybe some Deep personality tests) and all that other stuff that's really scary.

2002-10-23T00:45:00.000-04:00

When I have free time, I will write a script that keeps all files on the server with correct permissions. (that could be a while, but...) Once I do, email me the name of any new directories you put in. Mail it to root@bivalves.student.umd.edu In fact, email there for any server problems. That way I can keep track and fix them.

2002-10-20T15:55:00.000-04:00

hrm. I set the permissions on that folder so they should work...i was able to access it in my browser. I don't know too much about permissions - I'll talk to Paul and see if I did it right.

2002-10-19T18:28:00.000-04:00

Nope, not yet. I wonder if there's any way to fix the permission problem generally without creating security issues. We don't care if random people see anything on the server; we just care if they change it, right?

2002-10-19T18:20:00.000-04:00

Photos from the New Year's 2001-2002 party are here. I think the permissions thingy is working in our favor now...go for it.

2002-10-16T11:33:00.000-04:00

BTW, I have college internet space as well. If anyone has a good guide to how to create blogs or webpages without using additional internet programs, or suggestions on which internet program to use, I'll think about making one :)
Thanks!

2002-10-10T10:05:00.000-04:00

There will be a scheduled outage of the bivalve webserver from 7-8AM tomorrow. This is the last bivalve server news to be posted here. Future news will be posted at

http://bivalves.student.umd.edu/news/ for those it may concern.

2002-10-09T18:04:00.000-04:00

No, I think all the Bivalves came unhinged looong ago.

2002-10-09T13:09:00.000-04:00

Bivalves don't have joints, but they have hinges.

2002-10-08T21:47:00.000-04:00

Yayfor New Years!! Paul will be here! (not surprisingly, considering I'm working down town over break)

2002-10-08T14:17:00.000-04:00

I'll probly be in town. Long winter session here.

But... bivalves don't have joints....

2002-10-07T13:44:00.000-04:00

I can't wait for the bivalve New Year's party! We'll probably all be back. :)

2002-10-06T22:26:00.000-04:00

I love how everyone is too frigging lazy to do anything about the font.

2002-10-06T11:50:00.000-04:00

Hey folks!

Who's going to be around MoCo for New Year's? We want to have a Joint Bivalve New Year's Party, like we have had in previous years.

Just thinking ahead, you know.

:)

AND CHANGE THE STUPID TITLE FONT!

2002-10-06T01:48:00.000-04:00

And he shall be missed. I actually love my palmer... as much as it was a chore to read because it was assigned, it was a pretty damn good textbook. I have some textbooks now that just bore me to death. Palmer never really did...

I'm very sad I don't have my palmer with me now.

2002-10-06T01:20:00.000-04:00

Elissa posted this on her blog first, but just to help get the word out,

Palmer is dead!

2002-10-05T15:54:00.001-04:00

and look, i remembe my blogger login and pword! woo me!

2002-10-05T15:54:00.000-04:00

I tried having a blog for awhile..

like a week ;) It falied miserably.

But if anyone motivates (or helps) me enough to design my webpage that going under rpi.edu/~gitnia, then I might put a weblog on it and I might post.

But right now, I still have to decide what field of engineering I'm doing, how to apply for undergraduate research, have to plan for my next two years or classes, whether I'm going to do an econ dual, what the hell i'm going to do with myself...

And and trying to keep in touch with three different groups of friends.

I miss having one huge group that just did different things :(

On the other hand, caving rocks my world. Wooo verical caves!

2002-10-03T16:25:00.000-04:00

Yayfor your home county being in the national news.

Boofor it being because of a shooting rampage.

2002-10-02T22:09:00.000-04:00

Observe that Amy is the only name still on the blacklist.

jooin us, amy....

And all the blogs are actually active. it's amazing.

2002-10-02T21:11:00.000-04:00

I used to be the King of Cynicism. Now I'm a total romantic. Dude, what happened to me?

Heh, Allie happened, kids.

Love scars.

2002-10-02T18:40:00.000-04:00

So am I.

In Malex's pants, that is. (The "a" in Malex shouldn't be capitalized. It just shouldn't.)

Actually, I'm not. Just for the record.

2002-10-01T10:40:00.000-04:00

http://eyebrow.blogspot.com/

My blog, almost a year old, finally has actual posts on it. Come and enjoy my angst at your leisure.

2002-09-29T13:31:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm in MAlex's pants.

Just, FYI.

2002-09-28T00:24:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm in Takoma Park.

Just, FYI.

2002-09-22T18:35:00.000-04:00

Well, you must understand that I am clinging to the delusion that Plotz is in California. Please do not ask me why i think this, but I do.

2002-09-22T03:41:00.000-04:00

I'm not sure I see the connection between the point you're trying to make and the dialogue, but I agree with the point and it was a good conversation. And hey, Baltimore to NYC is a very long distance... I guess. Vaguely. Ok, it's closer than home. Whatever.

2002-09-20T23:50:00.000-04:00

All over the country! You two have no idea...

2002-09-20T16:01:00.000-04:00

Just in case anyone doubted the ability of us to remain close friends despite being all over the country:

EaseBadger: Exactly.
EaseBadger: What would you have done if gunmen seized a holy site?
comradeHowley: blown it the fuck up

This has been a public service AIM quote. Oh, and I _was_ joking.

2002-09-17T21:50:00.000-04:00

What's up with the server, Paul?

2002-09-17T14:55:00.000-04:00

Spread the word. I am now at http://bivalves.student.umd.edu/~butterfly/dork.html

2002-09-13T19:34:00.000-04:00

Hey, I think we should try to get a FreeCiv game going on Paul's server sometime - might be a relaxing way to spend a Friday night. Don't worry, there's clients for OSX, Linux, and Windows. Anyone else game for this?

And yes, it works, I just tried it. :)

2002-09-09T21:03:00.000-04:00

Mmyeah. Paul, let's talk about migrating it - wanna give it its own user, or what?

2002-09-08T21:14:00.000-04:00

Oh wow, I hadn't. I thought I had. Sorry. c'est done.

2002-09-08T13:15:00.000-04:00

Alex, change the link to my Blog on your Blog, mkay?

So, what do people think about moving the Bivalve Blog to the Bivalve Server? Joe, you're our Bivalve Blog webguru. What sayest thou? Paul, you're our Bivalve Server webgod. What sayest thou? General Bivalve populus? Random other people? Speak!

2002-09-08T13:14:00.000-04:00

Hey frosh, post your winter break schedules so that a party acceptable to all can be planned.

i assume you're all coming back for winter break (i hope!)

2002-09-08T11:45:00.000-04:00

Given that Ben now has a blog, I vote that we add him to this one.

and nick, you should change your link.

2002-09-04T21:21:00.000-04:00

Just for the record, I've actually been posting on my blog, so go comment.

2002-09-03T20:00:00.000-04:00

What do you say we move the Bivalve Blog onto the Bivalve Server?

2002-08-31T15:42:00.000-04:00

No worries!

Hey guys, from now on, please use comradehowley instead of namamup for aim'ing me - I want to stop using namamup for good, soon.

2002-08-29T20:31:00.000-04:00

ooh, hell. Sorry, Joe. I had a feeling you were going to do that. >_<

2002-08-29T18:06:00.000-04:00

Could those of us who are Seniors and thus are not in the database have access to it, too?

2002-08-29T17:17:00.000-04:00

Er, excuse me for tiptoeing out of propriety bounds here, but I deleted some of your post for security reasons, Emi - we don't want usernames and passwords floating around on webpages like this. :)
And Sims, it's just that directory - no individual ones.

I will be emailing everyone who's in the db when I've polished some of it off, probably this weekend. Fear not, and thanks for the reminder!

2002-08-29T15:30:00.000-04:00

GOGOGOGOGOGOGOGO!!!

The server liveth!! And permanently!! that URL will always work for a long while!! I'm working on a top level domain! IM me for a log in!

Oh, and y'all can put your blogs there!! Store pics etc all in the same place as the rest of the blog!!

2002-08-29T13:34:00.000-04:00

That's great, but what's my directory?

2002-08-29T12:11:00.000-04:00

The database is up: http://www.sameperson.net/bivalves

2002-08-28T14:17:00.000-04:00

Hey Joe, when are you going to have the database with email and stuff up?

2002-08-27T21:13:00.000-04:00

Hey Paul-Paul, when you get settled at UMCP, would you be willing to take out books to help us with our Horrid Research Projects? Please please please?

2002-08-26T13:54:00.000-04:00

update on server: subdomains, me will work on. It is down right now. Predicting full and continuous server functionality by evening friday.

2002-08-25T15:14:00.000-04:00

Guys, I've got my webcam set up in my dorm now. :)

2002-08-23T14:49:00.000-04:00

Hey Paul, howsabout subdomains? :)

2002-08-22T20:44:00.000-04:00

Yello. Thanks to the T. Rexcellent Paul, i have returned those old bivalve photos to the web. Now with easy to decipher file names.

2002-08-22T13:45:00.000-04:00

Accessible until at least 11:00 tonight, the server!!

http://66.44.14.182

Mail isn't up yet because I need to register the domain. But webserving and ftp and ssh should all work just dandy.

2002-08-21T12:33:00.000-04:00

Oh, Paul, if you can get MySQL and PHP on the server, then we can migrate my contact database (in progress I SWEAR) onto that server! :)

2002-08-21T12:25:00.000-04:00

Basically a way to connect directly to the server to log in and play with files and stuff.

Paul, you're setting up your own box? That's way cool. Any bandwidth concerns? Other questions - does "bivalve chatting" mean an irc server (that'd rock)? I assume FTP access to accounts? Is that nethack 3.4? Can we run a freeciv server? :) (i bet plotz would like that) What about MySQL?

Also, what domain name? Just curious.

Anyway, this rocks, Paul. Any help you need, just let me know.

2002-08-20T20:26:00.000-04:00

SSH stands for Secure SHell. It's basically an encrypted telnet. The basic reason for using it is that it prevents important things like, say your password, from being intercepted in transit. It's considered standard security practice these days to disable telnet access in favor of ssh.

2002-08-20T17:44:00.000-04:00

What's ssh?

2002-08-20T15:14:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, I have been mentioning for a while setting up a webserver and email for all bivalves. I post here today because I am one step closer to realizing that dream. As of this morning, all that remains is for me to buy a domain name and configure the server so my laptop can connect through it. There is about 28 GB worth of space for web hosting available. I don't plan on limiting people unless space starts being an issue.

Sort of things it can be used for:
Email account
blogs
photo collections
non-copyrighted mp3s or (short) movies or freeware/shareware software
your wonderful writings (EEs, IAs, whatever if you want the public to see it)
a backup of important files
bivalve chatting
nethack, tetris, and other addictive games accessible through ssh

PROHIBITED:
COPYRIGHTED MP3s or MOVIES or software --- my computer will be easily traceable and they do enforce!
porno (not that any of you guys would do that, but just to cover all the bases)
telnet connections - use ssh instead, there are several free programs out there that'll do it, I'll probably have copies of them on the server once it is fully online

I need to get the computer online at Maryland and then it is set. IM or email me if you are interested. Subvalves and other bivalve associates also qualified, of course! :)

2002-08-17T17:22:00.000-04:00

"Circuit Judge Jerry O. Terry ordered Brown to avoid contact with the horse."

Eee.

2002-08-11T22:53:00.000-04:00

I'm on that list too, now ;P

2002-08-10T16:47:00.000-04:00

Yeah, but it was the religion that imposed the social moral wackness. Sigh.

IN OTHER NEWS, IT IS WALL OF SHAME TIME. Or wall of un-shame. Or, um, er.
The people who have emailed me info for the contact database are: David (first! cookie!), Amy, Eric (don't ask, he wanted to), and Jess.

If you are not on that list YOU ARE A BAD PERSON and the clowns will get you.