Move over McDonalds, there's a new quisi-American Embassy

[00:40] calvmari@gmail.com: we found starbucks
[00:41] calvmari@gmail.com: for a brief moment while I ordered my java chip frappacino from the fluent english speaking barista, I forgot I was in brazil
[00:41] calvmari@gmail.com: in that moment, I was so happy, I almost shed a tear
[00:41] calvmari@gmail.com: (no offense against brazil)

and they gave me a metal spoon instead of the cheap plastic spoons they give at uci too

Submitted first real paper!!

Alright, so my first real paper is off to be published!!! The writing process was crazy. The first paper I wrote with Alex was mostly layed out by him, and we worked together every step of the way, so it was really a good bit of hand holding. This paper was a bit tougher, but much more entertaining. I'm a bit sorry towards friends for neglecting them for the last week, but hopefully things will come back together in a bit. I can't wait until I can build a good bit of strategy so I can write my own papers by myself. It's a bit unbelievable how much my own writing gets changed after I send it to Andre. Seems he takes the nugget of my idea, and spits out a torrent of words that flow like a river (at the best of times). To get to his point I need to build up my own corpus of information and story telling strategies. In good time =).

For now, I'm doing my happy dance and keep taking my car on drives. My god it's so beautiful. Part of me is really happy I switched vehicles, but the sad truth is I'm totally responsible for the truck going down hill. It's so sad, it's been so good to me, and in a critical moment I didn't sense that it was in need of help. Had I taken it to the deal when my instinct told me to I'd still have a truck. Had I immediately stopped when the engine light came on, I would still have a truck. The poor thing and I have been through so much. We got through two bachelors together, was along for the ride for several first things I did, and was with me every day I went to the beach. For a long stretch of time it was just me and the truck going places. Just me and the truck staring out into the ocean, just us cruising through foresty roads where the overhanging trees form a tunnel with the road, and just the two of us singing bad karaoke while stuck in traffic. It was just a short time, but it's been a wonderful 5 years together with it. It breaks my heart to sell it away to a junk yard where it'll get gutted up. Thanks Tacoma, you've been there for me in the best of days, and endured the worst of days. I'll always remember this summer as the halcyon days. Heading to the beach 4 times a week, surfing for hours, and laying on the beach with food being the only thing on my mind. There isn't much that can top it, I can't wait to head back to that life style. Unfortunately, I think my life is taking me elsewhere. For now, there is no person I'd rather be than myself right now =). Tacoma, this is how I will always remember you...

Anyhow, on to current times!! I've got a new car that I've fallen in love with. It's my first stick shift. It was a hard choice between this and the scion box car. I almost did go with the scion box car, but the reality was I really liked the original scion box car that a friend has, not that wannabe PT cruiser that the xB is right now. Also, the little zippy car I got has more personality in person, better fuel economy by 5 mpg, and handles like a dream =). I'm finally getting used to the stick shift, I should be zipping around corners in no time. I hope the monthly bill won't be too bad. I'm not looking forward to taxes this year. The university doesn't take taxes out of my check, so this is going to hurt pretty bad. Ah well, I've got a car harrr.

Now, for the immediate reason to celebrate: I've put out my first paper!! I'm sure this one is going to get accepted. It's really well written compared to what we put out before. The theory has matured and the software has actual functionality. I think it's time to celebrate!

Happiness =)

Ungardia Leviosa!

So while working on an ICSE workshop paper, I decided it was time I learned how to levitate. What follows is a documentation of what could rock the way we perceive this world.

We're going for a launch!

Hooooold it!

Ahhh, we've achieved lift off.

Might as well rock out while I'm up here.

Isn't life grand.

Take a chance

Sometimes you've just got to take a blind jump and see where your feet land.

What if...

Wouldn't it be trippy if millions of years in to the future man created a technological civilization that operated autonomously and expanded on its own? It knew how to land on new planets, harvest minerals, and replicate itself. It'd be nice if this technological civilization we create was charged with the task of exploring and indexing all parts of the universe.

Man may die out in the future from natural catastrophes, but robots have the potential of surviving all climates if we can design them to. Then there shall be... Transformers, robots in disguise!

Just realized

The majority of my accomplishments these last few years come from intuition. The madness!

Day 4: Don't quite remember

I'm kind of too tired to write. Here's what I think happened, although I feel like more happened that I don't remember. I'm probably going to head to bed again.

Visited Martha.
Ate vegetarian food.
Some stomach troubles.
Visited Raul Sasias, spoke to his daughter's English class, made friends with a brother and sister.
Took it easy at Rita's. Went to the Arcade.


Chau.