Returning Home, Using a very slow Internet connection.

[Omega Amen]

Tomorrow, I will be going through the commencement ceremony at Georgia Tech, which is to signify my completion of my undergraduate curriculum as a computer engineering major. Then that afternoon, I will be driving with my parents back to my home in Florida and stay there during the summer.

While I am at Georgia Tech, I enjoy probably one of the fastest and most reliable Internet connections in the United States. When I return to my home, my Internet connection will probably one of the poorest in the United States. It is a poor phone line connection that cannot even reach 28.8 kbps. (This has to do with the poor lines, and the fact that our local phone switch has not changed for... 50 years?) At home, my parents also use a free ISP that only allows connections of up to two hours at a time. (In other words, every two hours will require a re-dial and login.)

Am I complaining about this setup? Definitely not. I have actually felt fine with this Internet connection setup for several years, and I still do.

Do not worry. I will still be participating here on a daily basis, but obviously, due to a change in Internet connection quality, I am more limited in what I can do.

This is just a notification for everybody in this community. Apparently, I created somewhat of an impression here. Thus, I felt it was my duty to create this thread.

I expect my Internet connection will return to being superb when I return to Georgia Tech around August 9 - 16, since I will be returning to start my Master's studies (non-thesis).

Finally, do not post a bunch of goodbye messages. That would be inappropriate since I am not leaving this community. I will participate consistently and noticeably, but now I will temporarily have a slower Internet connection.

[uc pseudonym]

Being a member who participates on a number of terminals ranging broadly in connection speeds, I understand your issue. A slower connection does limit what one is capable of doing, though less so if you are posting fewer times in longer segments (if you are not already a user of the Lite skin, I would suggest becoming one). I look forward to continuing to read your contributions here, and commend you for not complaining about this set up.

Finally, do not post a bunch of goodbye messages.

Goodbye.

[Rev. Doc]

It is a poor phone line connection that cannot even reach 28.8 kbps. (This has to do with the poor lines, and the fact that our local phone switch has not changed for... 50 years?) At home, my parents also use a free ISP that only allows connections of up to two hours at a time.

I understand if you hook your line up to your bike and peddle really, really fast you can get that up to about 32.7 kbps. Just a suggestion...

[Ingemar]

Chao.

[Mave]

It takes getting use to, I suppose. I use dialup at home and Ethernet connection at my workpalce. Since we'll still see you around, it's all good. You still have to vote for the contests, OK? XD

The dialup in my home country is even slower. But my parents don't seem to mind. It kills my computer/Internet saavy brother though. LOL

Congratulations on your graduation! Awesome, computer engineering too, wow...I can't do that. Hope you wear a cool black or dark robe unlike me when I got my B.S. degree 1 1/2 years back. We had to wear this shiny green robe. >_< Can't wait to wear black again this December when I get my Masters. Heh

[Ashley]

Congrats on graduation! In about a month, I'll be announcing something similiar. ^^

[Hitokiri]

bye Omega!!

Im kidding....sorry to hear bout the internet connection thing (maybe you convince your parents they need a faster connection )

Cobgrts on your graduation

[Omega Amen]

Well, I returned home late Saturday night, and I had several things to do yesterday. I made a few posts last night. As for today, I would like to share some observations (for the younger members of the CAA), and a few concluding remarks.

First, this was my first commencement ceremony. I did not attend my high school's commencement ceremony for several reasons I wish not to mention. Naturally, I was wondering what is the big deal about this ceremony, and after attending it,... I am still wondering is the big deal about this ceremony. Ah, regardless, I did want my parents to see their only child go through a commencement ceremony so that they have something to remember.... I did it mainly for them (even though they also still wonder what is the big deal about the commencement ceremony).

Some interesting observations for the younger members who will attend their commencements in the future.

1. To make it easier for you to spot your relatives in the stands, ask them to bring something large/unusual. For example, a family wore those fake glasses with large bushy eyebrows and mustaches. Another family brought letters signs that when put together said, "ROB IS A PIG" Of course this measure is not necessary, I was able to find my parents who simply sat at the highest seat in Alexander Memorial Coliseum and were waving their hands.

2. If your family likes to make noise, tell them to bring horns. It is deafening, especially to the other attendees around you.

3. Commencement is a long ceremony (and many find it boring). So pray for a commencement speaker who will keep the speech short and witty. Fortunately, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue was actually quite entertaining with a short and witty speech, "The only thing standing between you and your diploma is a politician in front of a microphone."

4. Make sure you clap when parents go up the stage to accept the diploma of their child posthumously.

That is all that stands out in my mind. And now for some remarks.

Congratulations on your graduation! Awesome, computer engineering too, wow...I can't do that. Hope you wear a cool black or dark robe unlike me when I got my B.S. degree 1 1/2 years back. We had to wear this shiny green robe. >_< Can't wait to wear black again this December when I get my Masters. Heh

Our gowns and caps were completely black. (Fortunately, black is my favorite color.) The tassel was gold and white. I wore an honor cord that was blood red and gold to signify my membership to the Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society, Eta Kappa Nu (HKN).

sorry to hear bout the internet connection thing (maybe you convince your parents they need a faster connection ]My family has used the same free ISP for over ten years, and it still satisfies their Internet needs. I see no reason to convince them to change. I do not foresee a change in this setup while I am at home during the summer.

Goodbye.
I understand if you hook your line up to your bike and peddle really, really fast you can get that up to about 32.7 kbps. Just a suggestion...
Chao.
bye Omega!!

....

*mutters something about the CAA's residential comedians, but then stops... and slowly a small smile forms.*

*chuckles a bit.*

[uc pseudonym]

*mutters something about the CAA's residential comedians, but then stops... and slowly a small smile forms.*

*chuckles a bit.*

I believe that would be called reform, Omega Amen.

I am glad to hear your commencement went well. Furthermore, I enjoyed your list and sincerely hope it was meant to be enjoyed.

[Technomancer]

Congratulations, and glad to hear everything went well. The formal ceremony at McMaster is held in June, which is when I'll do my own convocation for my M.A.Sc.

Out of curiosity, do you do anything like the equivalent of Kipling? Also, what is the focus of your planned Master's?

[Mave]

Naturally, I was wondering what is the big deal about this ceremony, and after attending it,... I am still wondering is the big deal about this ceremony.

heh, I couldn't care less about commencements myself, but I know it means a lot to my parents. I think "seeing all the joy and pride in my parents' face" is a good enough reason for putting up with it.

bring something large/unusual. For example, a family wore those fake glasses with large bushy eyebrows and mustaches.

I think I'll ask my family to wear afro wigs. LOL

*mutters something about the CAA's residential comedians, but then stops... and slowly a small smile forms.*

*chuckles a bit.*

*glomps all the residential comedians including the reformed Omega* Pardon me, for being so happy today! XD

Rev. Doc, you crack me up!

[Omega Amen]

I believe that would be called reform, Omega Amen.

I believe the real test is when I come back to Georgia Tech for graduate school and see if I can still "lighten up." I will be honest with you. I am still a little stressed since I do not have the real diploma which should be mailed within six to eight weeks. A lot of things can go wrong, but my parents dismissed that as my typical paranoia (and I must say I tend to agree with them).

Regardless, the posts made by you and the other "comedians" did make me chuckle a bit.

Furthermore, I enjoyed your list and sincerely hope it was meant to be enjoyed.

Yes, they were four events that actually took place during the commencement. The fourth one was fairly emotional. Seeing two parents holding back their tears as they receive the diploma from the dean of their child's school and shake the president's hand.... It gets to you. Parents go to these ceremonies to see their child on the stage, not to receive a scroll since their child has passed away....

Nevertheless, I think these are four events that are worthy to share with the younger members of the CAA.

Out of curiosity, do you do anything like the equivalent of Kipling?

????

The more people get to know me, the more they realize that I am really a hard-working yet ignorant man. I have no idea what you just asked there. Kipling? Could please explain/elaborate?

Also, what is the focus of your planned Master's?

Since I accepted an "National Science Foundation - Scholarship for Service" scholarship to completely pay for my education so that I can study in network security/information assurance... that is what I plan to do. There is no research requirement (as I currently understand it), and the point is that I get a high quality education in information assurance so I can immediately work for the federal government in that area.

heh, I couldn't care less about commencements myself, but I know it means a lot to my parents.

Actually, my parents were not that enthusiastic about the idea at first.... I went ahead and did it because I did not want them to miss out on an occasion that most parents experience. They seem to be pleased now.

*glomps all the residential comedians including the reformed Omega* Pardon me, for being so happy today! XD

*restrained by a glomp-hold.*

....

*still restrained by the "Mave's Marvelous Glomp-Hold."*

Anyway, a few further notes. When I am at home, there really is no source for me to see new/more anime (no cable/satellite, no store/rental place with good selection). Also, I simply cannot play effectively in Curveball with this connection. So for the next few months, you can say "The Hunt for Omega Amen's Curveball Score" has begun. Do realize when I go back to Georgia Tech... I will return back to the Curveball arena with a vengeance....

[Technomancer]

Kipling? Could please explain/elaborate?

Kipling's a Canadian tradition that I understand has lately spread to some schools in the US. Basically it describes an item, a ceremony, as well as general hijinks. The item is an iron ring given to graduating engineers to remind them of their obligations, and the ceremony is the actual receiving of the rings. The hijinks refers to the practice of the graduating classes pulling a variety of pranks on campus and off the night before receiving the ring. It's called Kipling because the actual ceremony was written by Rudyard Kipling.

Since I accepted an "National Science Foundation - Scholarship for Service" scholarship to completely pay for my education so that I can study in network security/information assurance... that is what I plan to do. There is no research requirement (as I currently understand it), and the point is that I get a high quality education in information assurance so I can immediately work for the federal government in that area.

Cool. The course-based Master's is an option at most engineering schools here as well, although most students take the thesis option. Usually though some kind of project is also a requirement for graduation, albeit not as extensive. It sounds interesting though (I'm afraid I know little about networking, having specialized in signal processing).