Targus Sport II Laptop Backpack from Walmart revisited

A few days over one year ago I posted about my backpack dilemma and how I finally purchased and switched to a new one. Here's the original post. After one year of use, this is the state of the Targus Sport II Laptop Backpack.

This bag obviously has not held up as well as my Jansport that is over 20 years old! This is just from normal wear and tear. Nothing extreme. Just packing it in the morning, walking to work, taking out my laptop if I brought it, leaving it on the floor while I work, putting the laptop back in it if I brought it, walking back home, and then putting it on my dining chair until the next day unless I get my laptop out and use it for the evening. Now occasionally it may be considered slightly overstuffed but it didn't seem to harm my Jansport. That's the difference between canvas and vinyl/synthetic fabrics people! Again, this was only like $12 and for that it lasted a year. I guess that's a good investment. But now I have to look for another bag even though I'm graduating I still like to carry random shit in my bag...you could call it my murse. I'm thinking I'm going to invest in another Jansport under $100 but hopefully at least half that or more!

Sky writing in Dallas

I don't think I've ever seen planes sky write in real life. I've seen it in the movies and cartoons but never in person...until last Sunday afternoon.

This was the scene my kids came yelling for me to come see mid-afternoon. I forget what it fully said but the end of it said, "Visit MyrtleBeach.com." It was pretty cool to see in person. Very impressive. It looked like the entire message covered at least a 1/2 mile or so. The wind made it cross the sky while they were "writing" and it was gone almost as quickly as they produced it. The planes flew in parallel and did a great job with the timing of the smoke to spell the words. Pretty cool thing to see with or without but especially with the kids!

Almost there...almost there...

Today was my last official class day of my undergraduate career. Now it's finals weeks. I have one next week then one the following week and then finally graduation day! I CANNOT WAIT! As I think I've posted plenty of times, it's been a long, LONG journey!

I look forward to sleeping in because I will no longer have to go into work early to make up the time I'm in class. I look forward to not having to slightly stress about the assignment/homework that's due.

I wish I would have an entire summer off like most "normal" undergraduates but it's not going to happen for someone at my age! I do have three weeks off planned during the summer but that's based on vacation time earned from my job and not just for being done with schooling.

What does the future old for me next? I'm still going to work. I'm still going to be a husband and father. I just have a degree now. I'd like to change careers but I'm not leaving my current employment until I know what plans my children have for college. I wouldn't mind remaining working at my college job but not in the same position. I would like to move to another position on campus but it'll have to be a good opportunity for me to give up the semi-cush job I currently have. I'm just done with information technology and would like to expand my knowledge and experience as much as possible before I hit mid-century age!

Sara Jean Underwood

There has been quite a few posts referencing Sara Jean Underwood. Most of the time it's about her in the most scantily glad outfit she could find. Not a problem in my book but there are some haters out there...even some of them are male. WTF kind of males, I don't know but they are there. My thought is to just enjoy the hotness while it lasts. Reminds me a lot of when Megan Fox hit the "everything hotness" links on the Internet. Also, I'm sure the Attack of the Show program is loving her bringing viewers in even if it's just for her.

So, here's a link to today's images courtesy of Egotastic. These are for Men's Fitness Magazine. Funny thing is I don't consider her "fit" in the sense of what most people consider fit: tone, muscular, aerobic, etc., nor is she a man so WTF is she doing in Men's Fitness? Again, I'll enjoy the photos but anything else is just on the side of ridiculous.

I predict within the near future she will pose fully nude for free or for Playboy. I don't really care which. In fact, I'd be happy if someone hacked her phone because I know she has some self-shot nudes on it! Ha!

UPDATE: Well, shit! A quick search on Egotastic and I found these and these.

Spartacus: Vengeance (a Starz original series)

Spartacus: Vengeance. I just finished watching the final episode of this series and I feel empty. I feel like I want to continue the series now and not wait until whatever comes next!

Overall I think this chapter of the series was pretty good. I'm addicted to the complete series so far but sometimes I wish they were consistent with the "reality" of war. There were times where I was like "WTF?" and others when I was like "What BS!" A few things in particular irritated me.

First, I have no idea how Ashur is still alive after the first "Blood and Sand" since "Gods of the Arena" was technically a prequel. He was a sneaky, wounded weakling of the House of Batiatus' ludus in "Sand" and didn't do much fighting in or out of the colosseum during "Arena" as a gladiator or anything else. Then in "Vengeance," he become this force to be reckoned with in the art of fighting. How many times he had "almost died" moments and others when he was kicking ass and taking names of not only Roman soldiers but some of Spartacus' army. To that I say, "Bull-fucking-shit!" He's a mouse...keep him as such. [Spoiler alert!]: I'm glad Ashur finally got his head removed, literally, but it was too damn late to finally happen in episode 10.

Second, the consistency of how quickly someone is killed by a sword one time versus someone else another is lacking. I mean how many times have we seen Spartacus, Crixus or one of the other "free" slaves slice a Roman soldier through their armor through their gut and they are near dead or dead afterwards. But then certain characters last a little longer when the same style of slicing and dicing is used on them. For instance, Crixus was captured and was to fight for his life (and ultimate death) in the arena. He is sliced and looks like stabbed a few times where you think he is a goner but then Spartacus and his crew show up to rescue him. Crixus fights his way out of the arena on his own two feet...miraculously recovered/cured. There's another scene in episode 8 or 9 where there's this Egyptian hired hand working with the Romans who survives such a strike...twice. First, Oenomaus/Doctore is fighting the Egyptian and he slices and dices this guy pretty well. As he should, because he's a former gladiator and trainer of winning gladiators such as Gannicus, Crixus and Spartacus. All of a sudden the Egyptian fights back and stabs Oenomaus in the hand then follows through to push the knife to his eye. Oenomaus doesn't die but he is now wounded. A few weeks pass and we're in episode 10. The final all-out-attack on the Roman camp by Spartacus' army. Oenomaus and the Egyptian meet again. Oenomaus once again does well against the Egyptian. Some scenes later and the Egyptian impales Oenomaus in the gut with a sword. Gannicus rages. Gannicus slices the Egyptian in the abdomen, he's not wearing armor, and the Egyptian is still able to fight back strong enough. Again, this is not consistent with when they slice and dice the Roman soldiers through their armor and they are totally/mostly incapacitated. I'm just asking for some consistency.

Thirdly, more spoiler alerts: Mira is killed near the beginning of episode 10. She's impaled by a battle axe thrown by one of the Roman soldiers during a failed attempt by some not-so-smart members of Spartacus' merry men...and women. Before her death, she's learned to use a bow fairly well. The consistency falters when she can hit some guys in whatever place she choses in other scenes with no problem but then others she mishits in an arm or overshoots or some shit like that. She supposedly has fairly good eyesight because she's warned many of the army of people about to attack but somehow she missed the big, fucking battle axe that is thrown at Spartacus. Spartacus dodges out of the way just in time to see it impale Mira in the upper left chest to shoulder area. That's gotta suck!

Anyway, I obviously overlooked things like these because I watched the entire series and the other two. It's just, damn, I wish sometimes the content editors would do their freaking job!

For some reason, I feel like Liam McIntyre/Spartacus is not masculine/manly/battle-torn enough to come across as a true gladiator compared to Andy Whitfield/Spartacus. Maybe it's because Andy was first but who knows.

Anyhow, I recommend the series purely for the graphic nature of the storytelling.

Dishonored - Video Game Trailer

This looks pretty damn sweet. Just like the comments say, it's a mix of many games. Hopefully, it turns out as good as the animated trailer.

Tuna looks like "tuna"

Sent by Super Jay from his HTC Evo Shift on the Super Jay Network from Sprint!