These have been around for quite some time, but, once in a while, I am reminded that they never lose their meaning or importance.  So often we believe we own our pets.  I will never “buy” a pet — I always adopt them, and they are always rescues.  These simple truths are some of the most important rules that anyone who loves their pet(s) can live by.

1.  My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years.  Any separation from you will be painful for me.

2.  Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3.  Place your trust in me — it’s crucial to my well-being.

4.  Don’t be angry with me for long, and don’t lock me up for punishment.  You have your work, your friends, and your entertainment.  I have only you.

5.  Talk to me sometimes.  Even if I don’t understand your words, I understand your voice when it’s speaking to me.

6.  Be aware that however you treat me, I’ll never forget it.

7.  Remember before you hit me that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones of your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

8.  Before you scold me for being uncooperative, obstinate or lazy, ask yourself if something may be bothering me.  Perhaps I’m not getting the right foods, I’ve been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak.

9.  Take care of me when I get old…you too will grow old.

10.  Go with me on difficult journeys.  Never say, “I can’t bear to watch it,” or, “Let it happen in my absence.”  Everything is easier for me if you are there.  Above all, remember that I love you.

First, let me start with this: whatever.

You read the title correctly — marketers (the PC term for spammers) have been so kind as to provide a discussion forum so we consumers can complain about spam filtering software filtering too much spam.  I laughed when I read it.  Am I to somehow believe that email marketing companies are looking out for my best interest when they decide to go fishing for complaints against software which blocks their ability to abuse consumers and steal digital storage space from Internet Service Providers and Internet users alike?  I must have missed the part where I see their concern for me?

I was shocked to learn recently that Microsoft may have released software, albeit beta, before it was ready to be released (note extreme sarcasm here).  Doesn’t this sound like their usual business model?  Perhaps someone can tell me why the majority of their products haven’t been pulled in a similar manner after release — at least until the first service pack was available.

A recent study by Reasoning has found that the TCP/IP stack in open-source Linux is superior to that of closed-source operating systems.  It seems the reasoning is sound in the research, and the results are impressive.  Microsoft will be quite unhappy about these results, given their negative attacks on open source projects.

You can read more about the research and its results here.

I thought I’d put my current strength training routine up here so you’d have an idea of what I’m doing. I’m certainly open to suggestion, critique, pointers, and other feedback.

I only do strength training Monday through Friday.  I take the weekends off from weightlifting in order to rest.

My normal routine is to get up at 4:00 AM each weekday, stretch for 30 minutes, then go through that day’s routine.  After my workout, I have a protein drink with my morning vitamins.  Since my morning vitamins contain 1000 mg of vitamin C, this is the best schedule (since vitamin C is important for repairing muscle tissue).

I also try to vary my workout each week by shuffling the exercises around.  Basically what I do is move the first exercise to the end of the routine each week, so it’s normally several weeks before I perform the same routine again.  My intention with doing this is to not allow my body to become accustomed to the routine and thereby stop working/growing.

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