Urda's Blog

You Go Here... NOW!

2009-11-30T19:09:00.002-05:00

I am at a new home! Please visit http://www.peter-urda.com

Firefox Extension!

2009-10-29T14:22:00.001-04:00

A Firefox extension is necessary, or at least allow this sidewiki to use the "open in the sidebar" instead of locking up / failing.

in reference to: Sidewiki : Sidewiki bookmarklet - Toolbar Help (view on Google Sidewiki)

Liquid Nitrogen Into A Swimming Pool

2008-08-15T22:27:00.001-04:00

At Penguicon 4 in 2006, Nifty Guest Howard Tayler of www.SchlockMercenary.com took this video of Penguicon co-founder Rob Landley throwing a bowl of liquid nitrogen in the swimming pool, and the resulting billow of fog.

MANtage

2008-08-15T21:15:00.001-04:00

100% All American Man Beef

Gmail is Back Up!

2008-08-11T19:48:00.002-04:00

It looks like the Gmail team has corrected the Gmail 502 errors. This was posted on Aug 11, 7:35 pm in the "Gmail Help Discussion" Google Group:

Users who were temporarily affected by the 502 errors should now be
able to access their account. Thanks for your patience while we worked
to resolve this issue for everyone.
Thanks,
Gmail Guide

OMGWTFBBQ Gmail is DOWN!

2008-08-11T17:41:00.007-04:00

Looks like two of my Gmail account are down right now. It appears I can still IMAP into my accounts, but no new e-mail is posting to my Inbox. The Gmail Team has already noticed the issue and is working to restore service. Hopefully I will be able to get back into my e-mail this evening. This is the first time I ever have had any issues with my Gmail account, and I have been using Gmail for over 3 years, so I guess I can't complain for this downtime. After all, with only 1 day down in 3 years I have had about 99.91 percent uptime and I can't argue with that. Click the image below to see what the error looks like for users (including me) who are locked out right now.

I've Never Really Known Anybody to Die Before

2008-07-22T01:08:00.002-04:00

I have been meaning to post this for some time, while it has been up on my facebook for a while I think it is high time I added it to my blog. Here is my story about a good friend of mine...

Sure I have been to funerals; sure I have been to wakes and have paid my respects to others before. To be quite frank 3 of my 4 grand parents died before I was even born, and since then there has been no deaths in my family since then. However things were about to change, and it all started almost 2 weeks ago...

I will never forget Sunday April 27, 2008. It was a cool, early Sunday and I was going to work just as usual. I am usually the only person in the office at Bluegrass.Net on Sundays, and I opened up the building like I normally do. I sat down at my computer, and opened up my e-mail. I expected to see the typical tech support e-mail, or perhaps a funny office e-mail. That day was different, there were 7 or 8 e-mails that all said "Jon's Status" or "RE: Jon Status". These e-mails where about a fellow co-worker, and the weeks leading up to this day he had been battling cancer. He had undergone major Chemo Therapy, and that week he had finished up his first treatment and was allowed home. He was thrilled to be home with his 3 year old daughter and his lovely wife, and they enjoyed a week together. Around midnight on Friday the 27th Jon was asleep on the couch at home. When his wife tried to wake him up, she just couldn't. An EMS was called for and Jon was rushed to Baptist East. An emergency brain surgery had to be done to remove a blood clot from his brain. The surgery was a success, and it looked like things would get better. In the early hours of Saturday a 2nd clot turned up, and they had to operate once more on his brain. The results this time were not so good; the bleeding did not stop after the surgery. Pressure built up on his brain and started to cause damage, the surgeon said he could not risk going in a third time in such a short period. Jon was taken to the ICU to be stabilized, and the final e-mail I had in my inbox stated that things "did not look so good".

I had to finish up my shift at work before I could get to Baptist. There was nothing that could be done anyway, Jon was critical and in a coma. After work I drove to the Hospital. As soon as I got there I thought I had my calm. This however was not the case. I just ran, ran across the large parking lot and up two or three flights of stairs in the hospital. I ended up on the third floor, and turned the corner and looked down the hallway. It was getting dark, and the hallway was fairly long. At the end were two dark, double doors with "Intensive Care Unit" printed at the top. It was so silent you could hear a pin drop, at that moment I felt the deepest sense of fright I had ever felt before. Jon's Mortality and my Mortality became painfully clear, and it scared me beyond anything I had felt before.

At the ICU I sat with the Yarden family for 10 or 20 minutes, catching up on what had happened so far. Shortly after I got a chance to finally visit Jon. He was room 376, another thing I won't forget anytime soon. I had been told to "prepare" but I knew I couldn't just prepare for this. I walked in that dark exam room, and there he lay. Asleep and oh so helpless.

For the next week I visited Jon each day, usually right after school. I would sit there and usually start by reading the day's headlines to him. I would tell him that he needed to hurry up and wake up so we could get some Waffle House and so he could help me out with my programming back at work. During that week things started to degrade. Jon was still in a coma, and his reflex tests started to show him "posturing". When a person in a coma is "posturing" it is a set of certain movements during reflex tests that are known to neurologists as a sign of major brain damage. These tests indicated that there was major damage to the brain stem. Getting closer to Derby weekend things slowly got worse. The doctors had no better news; you just don't survive that much damage to your brain stem. The family waited to make a decision just a little longer

And now it is May 7, Wednesday. After I got out of school, I headed for work as usual. Once I got there I asked for the regular Jon Yarden update. The room got quiet, my boss Aaron said "They were supposed to take him off life support at 3. It's about 3:30 now and we haven't heard back yet". To make things simple, Jon was taken off life support at about 4:10 today. When the removed the ventilator he was expected to just die. Instead Jon started gasping for air, and all that could be done was make him comfortable. It is now about 8:44PM, and Jon is in Palliative Care at Baptist. He is still breathing on his own, barely but still breathing. This can take hours, days, or even weeks sometimes for patients. He can stop breathing at any point. Either way he is NOT going to wake up, he IS going to die.

The chemo that was supposed to save him has ended up killing him. The blood clots are directly related to this. The cure that was supposed to save him is going to kill him. I just ask for you guys to just pray for his family. I would really appreciate it if the Junior Retreat group I lead in November also pray for him. He is leaving behind a wonderful wife, and a 3 year old daughter. I would also like to thank Mark Koroluk and Patrick Beach for listening to my desperate phone calls from that hospital.

Before I finish up this note if there is anything that you take away from this, I want you to take away this: Nothing in Life is guaranteed, nothing. Jon Yarden, a healthy, fit man died just as easily as the rest of us and without warning. I hate to be morbid here, but we are all going to die at some point. So take every chance and risk, have no regrets in life. Tell your family that you love them; tell your friends that you care for them. You might not wake up and get the chance to say "I love you" to those that are important to you ever again. I know Jon Yarden told his wife and daughter "I love you" before taking a nap on the couch that Friday night. He will not get the chance to wake up and tell them that one more time.

Jon Yarden died at 1:20AM on Thursday May 8, 2008.

Rainbow Road

2008-07-21T11:11:00.001-04:00

lol, wut? This video is amazing :D

HaHa Oh Wow...

2008-06-29T16:21:00.001-04:00

TF2 - Meet the Sniper

2008-06-19T19:19:00.001-04:00

Meet the Sniper, one of nine playable character classes in Team Fortress 2:

Name: Sniper
Role: Support
Weapons: Sniper Rifle / SMG / Kukri

In his former life as a tracker of dangerous game in the unforgiving Australian outback, the Sniper would spend months by himself. Prolonged isolation taught him a valuable lesson: You don't have to rely on other people if you never miss.

A Fresh, New Web Comic

2008-06-16T20:00:00.005-04:00

I found a new comic strip which I quickly added to my Google Reader. The comic is based around Nintendo's characters Kirby, King DeDeDe, and Meta Knight. The comics are very simplistic, something you would expect to find abandoned in a notebook somewhere. However, they are very enjoyable, and I was stunned about how much I even liked them. "Never judge a book by its cover" never rang more true than with the Brawl in the Family Online Comic Strip. You should take a moment and check them out.

Ares 1x-V2.1 Test Flight

2008-06-12T09:48:00.001-04:00

First test flight of the Ares 1 rocket, as envisioned in a NASA CGI video.

Urda's M1938 Mosin Nagant

2008-06-07T15:27:00.001-04:00

Another great day at the Knob Creek Gun Range in Kentucky. My M1938 Mosin Nagant is one of my favorite rifles. The rifle was made in 1942 by the Soviet Union. The caliber is 7.62x54R.

99 of the World's Funniest One Liners

2008-05-17T00:15:00.005-04:00

Ninety-nine percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
Borrow money from a pessimist - they don't expect it back.
Time is what keeps things from happening all at once.
Lottery: A tax on people who are bad at math.
I didn't fight my way to the top of the food chain to be a vegetarian.
Never answer an anonymous letter.
It's lonely at the top; but you do eat better.
I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
Always go to other people's funerals, or they won't go to yours.
Few women admit their age; few men act it.
If we aren't supposed to eat animals, why are they made with meat?
No one is listening until you make a mistake.
Give me ambiguity or give me something else
We have enough youth. How about a fountain of "Smart"?
He who laughs last thinks slowest.
Campers: Nature's way of feeding mosquitoes.
Always remember that you are unique; just like everyone else.
Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.
There are three kinds of people: Those who can count and those who can't.
There are 10 kinds of people: People who know binary and people who don't.
Why is "abbreviation" such a long word?
Nuke the whales.
Save a tree. Eat a beaver.
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
A clean desk is a sign of a cluttered desk drawer.
Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
As long as there are test, there will be prayer in public schools.
Laugh alone and the world thinks you're an idiot.
Sometimes I wake up grumpy; other times I let he sleep.
The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the ability to reach it.
You can't have everything; where would you put it?
I took an IQ test and the results were negative.
Okay, who stopped the payment on my reality check?
We are born naked, wet and hungry. Then things get worse.
Be nice to your kids. They'll choose your nursing home.
DNA: National Dyslexic Association.
If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
Eat right. Stay fit. Die anyway.
DARE to keep coops off donuts.
Nothing is fool proof to a sufficiently talented fool.
On the other hand, you have different fingers.
Dyslexics of the world, untie!
I don't find it hard to meet expenses. They're everywhere.
I just let my mind wander, and it didn't come back.
Don't steal. The government hates competition.
Humpty Dumpty was pushed.
All generalizations are false.
The more people I meet, the more I like my dog.
Work is for people who don't know how to fish.
If you don't like the news, go out and make some.
For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism.
IRS: We've got what it takes to take what you have got.
I'm out of bed and dressed. What more do you want?
I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not too sure.
I can handle pain until it hurts.
No matter where you go, you're there.
If everything is coming your way, then you're in the wrong lane.
It's been Monday all week.
Gravity always gets me down.
This statement is false.
Eschew obfuscation.
They told me I was gullible... and I believed them.
It's bad luck to be superstitious.
According to my best recollection, I don't remember.
The word "gullible" isn't in the dictionary.
Honk if you like peace and quiet.
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?
Save the whales. Collect the whole set.
A day without sunshine is like night.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
Corduroy pillows: They're making headlines!
Gravity: It's not just a good idea, it's the LAW!
Life is too complicated in the morning.
We are all part of the ultimate statistic: Ten out of ten die.
Nobody's perfect. I'm a nobody.
Ask me about my vow of silence.
The hardness of butter is directly proportional to the softness of the bread.
The last thing on earth you want to do will be the last thing you do.
Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else get your way.
If ignorance is bliss, then tourists are in a constant state of euphoria.
If at first you don't succeed, don't try skydiving.
If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
Stop repeat offenders. Don't re-elect them!
I intend to live forever. So far so good.
Who is "General Failure" and why is he reading my hard drive?
What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
I used to have an open mind but my brains kept falling out.
Energizer Bunny arrested; charged with battery.
I didn't use to finish sentences, but now I
I've had amnesia as long as I can remember.
Bills travel through the mail at twice the speed of checks.
Vacation begins when Dad says, "I know a short cut."
What's another word for "thesaurus"?
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.
A flashlight is a case for holding dead batteries.
I went to the fights and a hockey game broke out.

Cleaning House!

2008-04-28T17:33:00.001-04:00

I am deleting old posts to basically re-set this blog for real use. Hanging on to my 9-11 tribute and that is about it.

My Tribute for Lawrence Veling, a 9/11 hero

2006-09-11T23:59:00.003-04:00

Today marks the 5 year anniversary of one of the most tragic days in American history. Exactly 5 years ago on this day, the World Trade Center Towers were struck by planes hijacked by terrorist forces. Taking with them exactly 2,996 victims of people trapped inside the building and rescue workers on the ground trying to save others, even if it meant their lives. This fateful day brought out the best of people all over the nation. People helping other people just because it was the right thing to do. Some rescue workers went so far as to die at ground zero to try and save just one more. Just one more dad, mother, brother, or sister they had to save. Driven by courage these workers ran into the falling buildings foregoing the fact that some of them will never step outside of them again.

Lawrence Veling was a 44 year old man who lived in New York City. He was apart of the New York Fire Department working on Engine Number 235. I am sure that he was a great fire fighter and he proved on that fateful day that he would be there to save someone. He had 3 children and a wife named Diane before his death. The weekend before the 9/11 events occurred he had almost moved away from his home. Maureen LaPorte wrote...

...The last time I spoke to Larry was when I ran into him the weekend before Sept. 11th. He was telling me how instead of moving out of the neighborhood, which he had mentioned to me once before he might want to do, him and his wife Diane were re-doing a house and staying in the Beach...the last thing I said to him before I got in my car was, "Well Larry, I'm glad you're staying"...

Lawrence will not be forgotten, and neither will the other 2,995 victims of that fateful day. I will also post other comments I found on a few memorial pages as more tribute to this great man at the end of this post.

So, what if it was you on that fateful day and you were faced with the opportunity to save others, even if it meant losing your own life to the tragedy? Would you have the courage to stand up and do what is right? I know Lawrence did, and we should all strive to be more like Lawrence. We should be kinder and more courageous when faced with danger and death. We must help achieve a better tomorrow, today! So please, all I ask to anyone who reads this or other posts of the 9/11 blogger project, to take 10 minutes out of your day today and reflect on the events from 5 years ago...

Comments on Lawrence Veling from September11victims.com...

Whitey Whitehouse on 12/31/2001 12:46:34 AM wrote...

I knew Larry from playing softball with him for the Log Cabin in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn. We also shared a few cocktails together in the same bar and others in the same neighborhood. He was a great guy and will be sorely missed by me. I had retired from Verizon and moved out to Las Vegas on Aug 31, so i was'nt around to hear of his death until recently. I could'nt believe it. Tragedy's like this really don't hit home until you know someone involved.
May God bless him, his wife and kids.

Maureen LaPorte on 09/12/2002 4:06:01 PM wrote...

I knew Larry for many years in Gerritsen Beach...I was sorry when he sold the deli he owned with his partner, because I didn't see him as often. He was always good for a laugh, with that gravely voice, and always asked about my son and how he was doing. The last time I spoke to Larry was when I ran into him the weekend before Sept. 11th. He was telling me how instead of moving out of the neighborhood, which he had mentioned to me once before he might want to do, him and his wife Diane were re-doing a house and staying in the Beach...the last thing I said to him before I got in my car was, "Well Larry, I'm glad you're staying"...I think of his wife Diane often, and his three children as well - if it was so heartbreaking for me, I can't even imagine what they feel...God Bless his entire family.

Sharon Veling on 11/10/2003 9:56:27 PM wrote...

In this vast beautiful land of Australia,all the Velings with this particular spelling are directly related,so to read of Larry's passing was devastatingly touching to all of my family.I would like his wife and children to know that they are in our prayers.God Bless You,all.

Annelise Tungvaag-McAuley on 08/31/2004 4:55:54 AM wrote...

I was the little sister of Linda who dated Larry many years before he met his soulmate in Diane. My memories consist of the generous,kindhearted,gentle giant(to a 6 year old ) who always showed up at the house with cherry-vanilla ice cream and whom I think I saw my first Rocky movie with.(of course I absolutely loved to tag-along whenever I could)
Long afterwards,I would see Larry in the deli with my huge pregnant belly and in his memorable voice he would comment in disbelief that the little girl he once knew actually was about to be a mother herself.
I can see he and my sister in cave-people costumes for a Halloween party and I want to grasp onto that image--that silly,fun image because to me that is what he embodied. I love you,Larry,and you of all people could never be forgotten. Thank You for the giving of yourself while on this earth.

Kurt Brown on 05/31/2005 8:39:18 PM wrote...

I did not know Larry but I wanted to past on something to his family. On 05/28/05, I was hiking in Tourne Park in Booton, N.J. when I came upon a small memorial at the top of a trail that was dedicated "In Loving Memory and Honor of the Victims and Heroes of 09-11-01" by the Copeland Middle School in Rockaway, N.J. on 10/21/04. Out of the corner of my eye, away from this memorial, were two small american flags and a picture of Larry nailed onto a wooden stake that was pounded into the ground. I snaped a photo of this setting and have submitted it to the webmaster of this site in hopes that he will include it on this page and share it with Larry's family. Larry was truly one of those Heroes. My thoughts and prayers go out to Larry's family.

-Urda

Urda's 2,996: A Tribute to the Victims of 9/11 Improved Badge Code

2006-07-22T22:07:00.001-04:00

As you may have noticed I have joined the effort 2,996: A Tribute to the Victims of 9/11. I soon added a badge to my blog honoring one of the 9/11 victims. The code was great, however I noticed with my page that if you have link CSS already, then the results can be kind of ugly. So I have cleaned up the code and set it up to where it has a red hue color for links and when you are hovering with your mouse it goes to blank underline text. I also removed the strong tags and used span with classes instead for better computability with browsers. Works on both IE and Firefox. So heres the code:

<style type="text/css">

div.buttonfor911
{
width:145px;
border: 1px #000 solid;
background:url('http://www.dcroe.com/images/adbg.gif');
}

div.buttonfor911 a
{
width:145px;
display:block;
text-align:center;
font-weight:normal;
color: #552704;
}

div.buttonfor911 a:link
{
text-decoration:none;
}

div.buttonfor911 a:active
{
text-decoration:none;
}

div.buttonfor911 a:hover
{
text-decoration: underline;
color: black;
}

div.buttonfor911 a:visited
{
text-decoration:none;
color: #552704;
}

div.buttonfor911 span.bold
{
font-weight: bold;
}

</style>

<div class="buttonfor911">
<a href="http://www.dcroe.com/2996/" target="_blank">
<img src="http://www.dcroe.com/images/2996mini.jpg" width=145 border=0>
I Remember<br />
<br />
<span class="bold">Victim Name</span><br />
<br />
Extra Text (Location, Relationship...) Goes Here
</a>
</div>

Over the next few weeks leading to 9/11/06 I will contruct a post that will be published on that date to honor Lawrence Veling.