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Saturday, March 17th, 2007
1:31 pm - St. Patrick's Day
Once again, its that time of year (Life of St. Patrick).. now if only St. Patrick could chase the cold away it would be the perfect birthday.

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Friday, October 13th, 2006
1:23 pm
<td align="center"> Mike --
[adjective]:

Fuzzy to the touch

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com</td>

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Wednesday, September 13th, 2006
2:39 pm - Ovid you dirty, dirty bastard
So as some of you already know Dana (she doesn't have a livejournal, so I will leave it at that) and I are getting married this weekend. As we are getting married in a UU church, we are writing the service ourselves and waited to the last minute before tracking down a reading.

During my research, I tried to see if I could find some good ancient (secular) writers on the subject of love and marriage. As one would suspect, views of these subjects were different such that my search yielded no workable readings. However, if you are looking for slashy overly dramatic poetry to recite with your friends, be sure to check out The Love Books of Obid.

Some of what you might find includes:


A hundred motives compel me to be always in love. Here is a girl that drops her gaze demurely. That is enough, my heart catches fire and her modesty is the lure that ensnares me. And here is one that is out for booty. To her I fall a willing victim because she is no novice and because she bids fair to be keen and enterprising on a downy couch. And then, if I see one with an expression that recalls to me the Sabine dames, I forthwith tell myself that she has longings but knows how to conceal them. Are you a learned lady? I fall in love with your rare accomplishments. Unlearned? Your naïveté enthralls me. This one finds Callimachus a sorry poet compared with me. I please her, and lo, straightway she pleases me. This one finds fault with my verses and tells me I am no poet. Despite her strictures I fain would have her in my arms. This one walks languorously. Her gait enchants me. This one is prim. Peradventure, if she had a lover 'twould soften her. This one sings delightfully, and breathes from her soft throat the most melodious strains. I long to steal a kiss from her parted lips. Another lightly fingers the trembling chords of her lyre; where is he who could help adoring such skilful fingers? Here is one that wins me with her dancing. I feast my eyes on her seductive poses, on the rhythmic movements of her arms, on the swaying of her whole body as she moves in time to the music. But never mind me, whom anyone can set on fire. Let Hippolytus see her; even he would become a Priapus. You, my tall beauty, recall the heroines of olden days and the bed is not a whit too long for you. And you, my dainty little treasure; I love you, too, just as much.


... You all have some fun like Ovid - myself - I'm a married man now :-)

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Tuesday, July 25th, 2006
3:43 pm - I got accepted to MIT!!!
So as some of you know I applied a while back to the Advanced Studies Program at MIT - and today I was accepted! The ASP is a non-degree program that allows 30-40 professionals known as ASP "fellows" a year to take regular MIT graduate courses part or full time with "regular" MIT graduate students. Despite being a non-degree program, the application included everything from a personal statements to two letters of recommendations - so believe me, this is not exactly harvard extension.

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Monday, April 10th, 2006
10:18 pm - We got engaged:-)
Hello everybody,
just wanted to let you know we got engaged this weekend:-).
Greetings,
Mike & Dana

Ahojte vsetci,
chceli sme Vam oznamit, ze sme sa tento vikend zasnubili:-)
Vela pozdravov,
Mike & Dana
Picture of Us :-)



Picture of the ring

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Friday, March 17th, 2006
10:43 am
PATRICK OF IRELAND'S LIFE

Patrick was born in Britain. His father was a wealthy alderman and a Christian. Pirates captured Patrick at the age of 16, during a raid and sold him as a slave in Ireland. During this time, Patrick dedicated himself to religion. He was a slave for 6 years, and then escaped back to his home of Britain.
Patrick's experiences in Ireland made him driven by the idea of converting the Irish to Christianity. He studied in the monastery of Lerins, on an island off the southeast coast of France. Patrick also went to Auxerre, France, and studied religion under Saint Germanus, a French bishop. His religious superiors were reluctant to let him return to Ireland as a missionary, because of his inadequate education. But Palladius, the first Irish missionary bishop, died in 431. Pope Celestine I then sent Patrick to Ireland.

No one had ever preached Christianity in northern and western Ireland,so this is where Patrick began his work. He gained the trust and friendship of several tribal leaders and soon made many converts. Patrick founded more than 300 churches and baptized more than 120,000 people. He brought in clergymen for his new churches from England and France. Patrick preached in Ireland the rest of his life. Patrick was chiefly responsible for converting the Irish people to Christianity. He became known as the Apostle to the Irish. His name in Latin is Patricius.

Patrick wrote CONFESSION in his later years, an account of his spiritual development, to justify his mission to Ireland. This, along with his other writings, are the most important sources of information about his life and work.

His writings serve as the most important sources of information about Patrick's life and work. During his later years, he wrote Confession, an account of his spiritual development. Patrick wrote this book to justify his mission to Ireland.
Many stories about Patrick are based only on legend. One of the best-known tales tells how he charmed the snakes of Ireland into the sea so they were drowned. According to another legend, Patrick used a three-leaf shamrock to illustrate the idea of the Trinity. Many people believe the shamrock came to be the traditional symbol of Ireland as a result of this legend. Today, Irish Catholics throughout the world celebrate Saint Patrick's Day on his feast day, March 17.

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th, the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is a national holiday in Ireland. It also is celebrated outside of Ireland in cities with a large number of people of Irish descent.

In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is primarily a religious holiday. People honor Saint Patrick by attending special religious services, enjoying family and community gatherings, and wearing shamrocks.

St. Patrick's Day is primarily a secular holiday in the United States. Many people wear green clothing, and they hold parties and march in parades. The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in the United States was held in Boston in 1737. Today, more than 100 cities hold parades. The parade held in New York City is the largest.

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Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006
1:37 pm - Winter Trip Plans (2/24 => 3/5)
As you may or may not know, each year us Ahern boys have our annual winter adventure get away. This year we had to take a shorter trip (only one week) and leave a little later than usual (see above) due to conflicting schedules. Although, we were worried that this trip we might actually do something perfectly normal and stay in the continental United States, we instead opted - once again - to heave ourselves underneath the feet of peril and risk a minor international incident by crossing the border to the South. As always, i'm sure things won't go according to plan; updates and pictures to follow.

Keeping warm,
-Mike

Full Itinerary )

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Saturday, December 24th, 2005
9:15 pm - Holday Questionare...
I haven't done this in a while so here goes...

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30 - and yes I know it is saturday

2. Diamonds or pearls?
Neither.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
Syriana

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (overall). Nip/Tuck (currently) - although I am only on the first season on DVD

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Bread and cheese with a side of tomatoes and/or cucumber.. occasionally egg truffles

6. Favorite cuisine?
Lebanese - I could eat it every day.

7. What is your middle name?
Ian

8. What food do you dislike?
Shell fish & spam.

9. What is your favorite CD at the moment?
Donna and the Buffalo - Live from the American Ballroom

10. What do you want for Christmas?
Free time, to be with my girlfriend and my family, and a larger apartment.

11. Favorite sandwich?
Tuna.

12. What characteristics do you despise?
ignorance and intolerance

13. Favorite items of clothing?
My trusty brown sweater, my snazzy jeans that Dana got me, and my hiking boots.

14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be?
Thailand or Peru - especially this time of year

15. What color is your bathroom?
White and creamy green

16. Favorite brand of clothing?
Dunne's Stores (Irish equivalent to Target)

17. Where would you retire to?
Italy or Northern California (bay area)

18. What was your most memorable birthday?
12th-ish; D&D, pizza, and soda - good times.

19. Favorite sport to watch?
Baseball (but only the red sox), otherwise Rugby or Soccer with a pint of Guinness.

20. Furthest place you are sending this?
Antarctic - I think they have some sort of connection at this point

21. Who do you least expect to send this back to you?
I've no idea

22. Person you expect to send it back first?
Dave, but only because Dana is on a dialup.

23. Favorite saying? in English?
fuck that shit... pardon my french

24. When is your birthday?
March 17th

25. Are you a morning person or a night person?
night.

26. Pets?
Birds - Lilo & Stich aka The Minions, Olly aka "Devil Bird"

29. What did you want to be when you were little?
A submarine captain.

30. How are you today?
Well, but Dana- Chybas Mi! Otherwise good.

31. What is your favorite candy?
Reece's peanut butter cups.

32. What is your favorite flower?
The Lotus

33. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
January 10th, Dana gets back form Slovakia.

34. Where do you want to be right now?
Bratislava, Slovakia.

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Saturday, October 1st, 2005
11:41 pm
Your Seduction Style: Au Natural

You rank up there with your seduction skills, though you might not know it.
That's because you're a natural at seduction. You don't realize your power!
The root of your natural seduction power: your innocence and optimism.

You're the type of person who happily plays around and creates a unique little world.
Little do you know that your personal paradise is so appealing that it sucks people in.
You find joy in everything - so is it any surprise that people find joy in you?

You bring back the inner child in everyone you meet with your sincere and spontaneous ways.
Your childlike (but not childish) behavior also inspires others to care for you.
As a result, those who you befriend and date tend to be incredibly loyal to you.

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Monday, September 19th, 2005
9:53 pm - Not quite as nerdy as I thought :-(
I am nerdier than 84% of all people. Are you nerdier? Click here to find out!

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Wednesday, August 24th, 2005
10:15 pm - RIP Crispy Cream
In sad sad news today the Prudential Center Krisy Kreme closed its doors this week for good... I died a little inside. Krispy Kreme closes its shop in Prudential Center

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Wednesday, August 10th, 2005
12:48 pm - Off to Slovakia
In the interest of time I can't say much other than I am flying back to Slovakia tonight. In the middle of the night - my time - my girlfriend's father passed away. The service is being held friday, after which I will be flying back Monday.
-MIA

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Wednesday, July 27th, 2005
10:49 pm - Fun abusing compyrights...
Blatently abusing copyright laws I have decided to bring you this story from our friends across the pond - enjoy!


A foul-mouthed parrot previously owned by a lorry driver has been banished from public areas in a British animal sanctuary after repeatedly embarrassing his keepers, they said.

Barney, a five-year-old Macaw, is now kept indoors at Warwickshire Animal Sanctuary in Nuneaton, central England, when outsiders visit after abusing dignitaries with swearword-littered insults.

"He's told a lady mayoress to f..(expletive) off and he told a lady vicar: 'And you can f... off as well'," sanctuary worker Stacey Clark said.

Nor did the forces of law and order escape, she added.

"Two policemen came to have a look at the centre. He told them: 'And you can f... off you two wankers'."

Clark said sanctuary workers believed Barney either picked up the phrases from television or was taught them by his previous owner, a lorry driver who emigrated to Spain.

"He does say 'Hello, big boy' and 'Thank you' when you give him a biscuit," she added.

"But it's mainly naughty words and always to the wrong people. We're trying to teach him not to swear. Macaws are very intelligent birds."

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Sunday, July 24th, 2005
8:39 pm - On the edge of the dark side...
So I am a Dumbaldore- for the moment. Keeping in mind that I watched Ghandi today, changing the answer to one of the questions I was half-and-half on chaged my character completely... Needless to say, watch your back.

Pirate Monkey's Harry Potter Personality Quiz
Harry Potter Personality Quiz
by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

Pirate Monkey's Harry Potter Personality Quiz
Harry Potter Personality Quiz
by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

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Friday, June 10th, 2005
12:05 pm
a Knight Errant
You scored 3 Honor, 7 Justice, 6 Adventure, and 7 Individuality!

It's one thing to be a Knight. It's another to wanter the country side,
doing good deads and serving no master save justice and your own
Scruples! You would make a fine Knight Errant, gallant and lordless.

Saddle your steed and ready your lance. You're gonna do just fine.




My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 2% on Ninjinuity
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 81% on Knightlyness
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 38% on Cowboiosity
free online datingfree online dating
You scored higher than 71% on Piratical Bent
Link: The Cowboy-Ninja-Pirate-Knight Test written by fluffy71 on Ok Cupid

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Sunday, May 8th, 2005
1:50 pm - Mike vs Thesis: triple-slap.. flawless victory
So the thesis is finally done!!!

For those of you who have no clue what it is all about, in short:
Ever since the invention of the computer people have been fascinated by the idea of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Although general purpose AI remains science fiction, AI and Machine Learning (ML) techniques have been used to develop everything from autonomous Martian rovers to computers that drive cars. Although it is ideal to build physical systems to test algorithms often times costs constraints require initial development to be done using rich game-like simulators. Building upon this line of research, my thesis describes the automatic programming of simulated agents playing a “Quidditch-like” game using genetic programming.

Presentation: quidditch presentation (warning: 9mb!!!)

Video of the debugged run of the system here

Finally videos of the thing playing quidditch at the various stages of evolution:

Initial Run I
Initial Run II
Initial Run III

Intermediate Run

Later Run

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Monday, April 25th, 2005
5:32 pm - In retrospect, no suprises here...


Your Inner European is Russian!









Mysterious and exotic.

You've got a great balance of danger and allure.


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Friday, April 8th, 2005
3:39 pm - Mike vs. Thesis, Round 1
Mike 1; Thesis 0

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Friday, April 1st, 2005
2:04 pm - Hostile takover of Wikipedia
The headline of this article scared me until I realized what day it was...

Wikipedia:April 1, 2005/-2005 Britannica takeover of Wikimedia-

Happy April Fools!

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Thursday, March 17th, 2005
12:47 am
I'm 23 today... oh so old... not quite as old as I act (27), but like a year older than yesterday.

I also found $80, still deciding how to live it up- because, it's my birthday.

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