Free advice sought.

I thought I'd goof around with Xcode Tools, and see if I could use it to learn Java.

So I compiled Hello World. And it compiled fine. But running it did nothing -- it appeared to not run the main() function. The same thing happened with the DiveLog tutorial with all those GUI parts. I know there's something hugely simple that I'm missing, so what could it be?

I'd look for another tutorial, but it seems that tutorials like to point me to other tutorials on the front page, instead of pointing me to the next page of the tutorial.

House

I just lucked out.

I found some arrows pointing to an open house in my neighborhood, and I found what might be the perfect house for my current situation.

I won't go over all the pros and cons, but it's a sweet deal. It's well under $200K, has two bedrooms, and a pool. It's got desert landscaping so I don't have to mow it, and as I timed my walk, it's a few minutes closer to work.

Two things worry me about the whole deal, though.

First, to make the budget work out, I'd probably have to take in a roommate. This is something I've never done, and I don't know how that would affect my life.

Second, I'm apprehensive about setting down roots here. My situation in Arizona is OK, but buying a house might be a step in the wrong direction. My job pays well, and should provide more challenges in the future, but lately it's been filled with a sense of dread. And despite how well I've gotten along lately, this town is still pretty pedestrian-unfriendly.

As soon as I graduated from DeVry, the plan was to save up some money and find a job in a more moderate climate or a more pedestrian-friendly city. Then the job market dried up, and I became entrenched at my current job. I've got some money saved up, but I've been putting off that dream for five years; it seems kind of doubtful that I'm going anywhere at this point, so maybe I might as well take the plunge. Also, for those of you who don't know, I have albinism -- possibly the greatest risk factor for skin cancer apart from living in Arizona. So, in some regards I've kind of tempted fate by staying this long.

I also haven't looked at any other houses recently. But it's a seller's market, and I nee to act fast if I want the house.

Does anyone have any ideas that can help me cut through my clouded judgment?

location location location

The new house is less than a hundred yards from the Fry's supermarket.

Unfortunately, I'd have to walk about 300 yards to get there, because my house is in one of those corner-type things.

If we draw a straight line between the two, we find the house's seven-foot fence, a small gap, the shopping center's ten-foot fence, a four-foot trench, a railing, and finally the alley behind the shopping center.

If we instead draw a straight line to the 48th street sidewalk, we'd cross either one or two of my neighbor's backyards -- I don't know how they're laid out.

It's still a shorter walk than from my apartment. But still, every single day I'd be thinking about ways I wouldn't have to walk around those ten houses. Maybe I'll dig a tunnel into the trench or something.

(no subject)

I just crunched some numbers. (updated several times)

If I sold all of my stock, which is currently on the rise, and also liquidated the savings account I'm using as a safety net... I would be able to put forward less than 6% of the cost of the house as a down payment, and have about $2500 left over. It wouldn't last that long if I lost my job.

While it may be a good opportunity, it may also be a bit foolhardy. If I lose my job, I no longer have a nest egg.

It doesn't help that my apartment complex is also playing head games with me. Even though my lease doesn't expire until May, they sent me a letter telling me that if I renew by February 15, my rent will be $569, but if I renew by February 28, my rent will be $589, and if I go month to month, my rent will be over $750.

So, essentially, if I don't decide whether to leave my apartment by Tuesday, then I might not only lose the opportunity to buy the house, but I also lose $240 a year.

(no subject)

Pro-Life/Pro-Vegan?

Er, can I join the meat-eating pro-choice instead?