The Thoughts of Cory LaViska

I finally delved into the owner’s manual of my F150 an realized that yes, you can disable the annoying seatbelt chime without altering hardware or adversely affecting other warnings/indicators.  It’s right in the manual, which is the last place most people will probably look (at least, it was for me).  This is said to work on other Ford vehicles, as well.

Temporary, One-time Disable

After you have started your vehicle, buckle and then un-buckle your safety belt.

Permanent Disable/Enable

This is a multi-step process, so read it over before you get started.  Before disabling/enabling BeltMinder, make sure that:

• The parking brake is set
• The vehicle is in park (automatic) or neutral (manual)
• The ignition is off
• All doors are closed
• The driver’s safety belt is un-buckled
• The parking and headlights are off

Then, follow these steps in order.

1. Turn the ignition switch to on, but don’t start the vehicle
2. Wait for the safety belt warning light to go off (about 1 minute)
3. Within 55 seconds of the light going off, buckle and un-buckle the safety belt 9 times, ending with the belt un-buckled
4. Wait for the airbag light to flash on, then back off
5. Buckle and unbuckle the seat belt one more time
6. If done properly, you will see the safety belt warning light 4 times per seconds for 3 seconds indicating that the enable/disable is complete

Now, just because I told you how to do it doesn’t mean you should do it.  I am also not encouraging anyone to not wear (or wear, for that matter) a seatbelt.  This information is provided as-is for anyone who is simply wishes to disable the BeltMinder feature in the way that the owner’s manual suggests.  Your vehicle may vary, so for complete instructions refer to your owners manual.  For my 2004 F150, this information can be found on page 119.

I’m finally giving up on my home-built computer.  After a new motherboard, new memory, two new video cards, and a new operating system, it still freezes at the most inopportune times.  I’ve concluded that this is not a software issue and I can’t seem to pinpoint what is wrong/broken/incompatible with the hardware.  So, after hours of rewriting tedious JavaScript code that was lost in the freeze (along with other equally annoying data losses), I decided to trash the idea of building another system myself and just order a new computer online.  With so much reliance on my desktop these days, instability like this just can’t be tolerated.

So I did what anyone who has lived in Round Rock, Texas would do…I ordered a Dell.  Here’s a few of the specs:

• Intel Core2 processor (2.40Ghz Quad Core, 8MB cache)
• 4GB DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz
• 256MB Radeon HD 2600 XT (with dual DVI)
• 320GB SATA2 Hard Drive (7200RPM)
• 6X Blu-Ray and 16X DVD+/-RW
• Media card reader with BlueTooth

I maxed out the processor and RAM for this system.  And, of course, I have another SATA2 hard drive that needs to go in there, but I’m sure that this will last quite awhile.  I hope it doesn’t freeze up on me :(

I used to hate when people would call my phone and leave a voicemail message telling me to call them. First off, I know you called. It said so when I pressed ‘ignore’. Second, it’s kind of a no-brainer that, when someone calls, you call them back. Lastly, I really don’t care anymore anyways because I have Visual Voicemail, which means I can delete your message without even having to hear it. So go ahead, leave a message. It’s not my time you’re wasting. (Note: rant does not apply to informative, interesting, or otherwise useful messages.)

Levi and I came up with a real-life equivalent to the Document Object Model (DOM).  It’s called the Global Object Model (GOM), and it can be used to organize, reference, and manipulate elements around the globe using simple JavaScript statements.

Where the DOM limits you to window and document, the GOM opens the door to bigger and better things.  For example:

var idiot = world.countries['USA'].currentPresident();
alert( idiot.approvalRating() ); // outputs 3%

The GOM supports event handling.  The following code would guarantee that I alway have Taking Back Sunday tickets as soon as the band goes on tour:

world.musicians['TakingBackSunday'].onTour = function() {
world.people['cory'].buyTickets();
}

Error catching is easy with the GOM:

try {
world.people['cory'].fartInPublic();
} catch {
alert('Excuse me!');
}

I’m even working on a jQuery port so we can minimize the amount of code and the time it takes to write said code.  Now, you can reference multiple people, places, and things with simple CSS selectors.  To make it snow in Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Albuquerque, we say:

$('#las_vegas, #phoenix, #albuquerque').weather('snow');

To invoke uproar in every U.S. city simultaneously, we could use:

$('#USA .city').pandemonium();

Standard jQuery functions still work:

$('#reportCard').hide(); // for kids with bad grades

$('.breasts').show(); // at Mardi Gras

$('#g_w_bush').replaceWith('#mr_t'); // a better choice


And, of couse, chainability.  Here’s how I would wake up every morning:

$('#cory').onWake( function() {
$(me).shower().brushTeeth().getDressed().goToWork();
});

And, in case you’re wondering, within a few minutes I’ll be doing something like $(‘#cory’).sleep();

Sometimes I just want it to be dark forever. I want to feel the cold air inside my lungs and walk aimlessly through the night. I need to feel like it’s out there…like it’s really out there and that I can get to it. I need to know if what I need is really what I seek, and if what I seek is really what I need.

It’s been a long time since I could feel it…that gut feeling that what I’m doing is right. That deep down feeling that isn’t there anymore. I need to know where it went. I need it to call out to me so I can be reassured that it’s not a lost cause. I need to feel alive again.