Dell + Fedex = FTW

I got an Outlet Laptop from Dell this past weekend.  I was amazed at the speed of the whole process.  It took roughly one day for to be I guess inspected and repacked or whatever it is they do for their certified refurbished items.  Then it went out Monday night to Fedex and this morning it is out for Delivery.  Now the cool thing is it came with free three day shipping, of course, that means three days after processing which would have been on Thursday instead of Today.  So now at some point today I will get my Laptop one day early and get to configure it, wrap it, and put it under the tree!

I am having a baby, well not me, but you get the idea

So, I haven't really mentioned it much yet, but the news is true.  Chelsea and I are expecting a child.  We don't know the gender yet, but will find out sometime in January.  I am actually looking forward to being a father, I am not sure why I am not even the slightest bit hesitant or afraid.  I think its going to be alright.

User Error

I have determined that most issues are the result of user error.  More specifically user error is the result of ignorance and impatience.  Users don't understand what the problem is, can't explain how it happened, when it happened, or in some cases what happened at all.  In addition they are too impatient to figure out what happened, before calling the help desk or sending in an email to RT.  I don't get it.  People, look, not everything is an emergency. We'll get to your problem when we can, but until then calm down.  It isn't my fault that you don't have a clue.  I am just saying.

Tired

I find that I am more tired recently.  I think it has to do with the changing light, either that or I am getting sick.  I don't really know which.  I just hope this stops soon.

Your Call Is Important To Us

So, we had a help desk extension.  It used to be a person, or a small group of 4 people actually.  One main help desk person and a few others to pick up if it got busy.  However, now we have a call handler, which was news to everyone, except the person implementing it.  I fear Monday will be a day of retaliation or at the very least rerecording.  No one wants to hear an expedient rough man's voice when they call in somewhere. I suppose that is why most prerecorded messages are a woman's voice.  Oh well I guess we'll see what happens.

Its Not Robust Enough

The funny thing about being in office with two other people is you get to hear their phone conversations.  Well, earlier today, a disgruntled customer at one of our school districts called in to say their Internet service wasn't robust enough.  Now, I have heard the term robust to describe many things, but never Internet Connectivity.  I mean pasta sauce, yes, but not in how long it takes me to get to Google.   In either case, this infuriated a co-worker, who was hoping to hear a more technical term.

I am going to start blogging about work

I was at Region 7 Education Service Center in Kilgore Texas.  A lot of stuff goes down here.  I work IT.  Let me explain something to you, IT in East Texas - well its crazy and strange and doesn't conform to the rest of the world, as far as IT is concerned.  At Region 7 we provide we services to schools and part of those services include being an ISP which unfortunately also includes emails services.  Not to mention content filtering and crap like that.  In either case, it sounds boring, but believe me, its not.  Some days are so stressful you can feel the tension and fear for your life.  Other days are so hilarious, especially with the witty and sometimes asinine exchange of words between co-workers.  Anyway this is the beginning, of what will no doubt be a long and stupid series of rants, but also funny stuff.

Interesting Read

Allegations of copyright infringement by the MPAA

In 2007, English software developer Patrick Robin alleged that the MPAA illegally used his blogging platform, Forest Blog, which is distributed without cost under a linkware license, whereby users must link back to his site. To remove these links, one must secure a license, but Patrick Robin claimed the MPAA removed them without purchasing a license. The MPAA responded that it was only testing the blogging platform and that the blog was "never advertised to the public in any way."^{[citation needed]}

On November 23, 2007, Matthew Garret notified the MPAA that it was in violation of the GNU General Public License (GPL) for distributing a software toolkit, based on the Xubuntu operating system and designed to help universities detect instances of potentially illegal file-sharing on school networks. Garret alleged that the MPAA violated the GPL by distributing a derived work without making source code available. On December 1, 2007, Garrett notified the Internet service provider for the MPAA that, in accordance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, he was requesting them to disable the offending distribution web site. The MPAA subsequently changed its site so the toolkit was no longer offered for distribution.^[22]

New Look

I decided to change up the place; That is new background and flow.  I hope you like it.  I am thinking this will make it easier to read, but don't really know.

Work and Cars

I still don't know what is wrong with my car.  I have been not wanting to look at it.  I did however watch PBS last night.  It was different.

Work has been good these past few days.  Things are getting done, but there is always more to do.  I am coming up with ideas of how to properly implement folder security, but at the same time don't want to actually take the time and effort into implementing them.

More to come...

Okay, so I haven't posted since the 14th

What can I say I've been busy. Busy doing nothing I should say.  I still have not figured out what happened to my car.  I didn't have a chance to look at.  Well I should say I would've had a chance, but more appropriately I chose not to look at it.  You know when something dies and you don't want to be near it or have anything to do with it, that's how I feel about the car.  I mean I know its a car and it isn't dead, but a the same time I've been driving it for a while and I just like that car.  Oh well.  Tomorrow I am taking off work.  I need some personal time to care of some personal business.  Don't worry I will potentially fill you in. 

So I have been watching this show on NBC, The Event, and I find it interesting.  However with the news of that whole NBC, Comcast merger I don't know how I feel about the future of this show and other shows on NBC.  I am not saying much will change, but given Comcasts stance on net neutrality I am not inclined to believe the change will be good for NBC or the other current NBC/Universal Netowrks including USA and SyFy. 

That's all I have right now.

My Car Had a Heart Attack

My car had a serious problem today.  I won't be able to diagnose it until the weekend.  Going to have to drive the wife's car, very carefully.  I will know more this weekend and will let everyone know.  Possibly with pictures.

It has been too long

So I have determined that I haven't posted in far too long a time.  Well no more.  I will now try to post on something everyday. We'll see how long that lasts, but we are going to try anyway.

Work Work Work

Work is fun, when work gets done.

Diet: Attempt ... oh why the hell do I even bother anymore?

So the scale and I are at odds again.  325.1.  Seriously, what kind of a number is that? I can't stand it, I am 24 years old, almost 25 and I wiegh so freaking much.  Anyway, I am going on a diet and excercise routine, yet again.  We'll see how long this one lasts.  Not long I can assure you.

Toy Story 3

It was good.  Saw it at a matinee this morning.  Have to say 6.50 for a matinee ticket is a bit high Carmike.  Anyway it was a pretty good movie.  It does make one feel old.  I remember I was like 10 or so when the first one came out.  I have to say though what disappointed me were the previews.  Now being a kids movie all the previews were children oriented, but what bothered me was everything was "IN 3D".  Seriously shut up with the 3D noneses.  Not one of these films was shot in 3D.  They all have a few scenes of 3D rendering but should hardly be worth the $3 3D surchage I have to pay at the theatre.  If you're going to label a movie as "3D" I want EVERY SINGLE FRAME to be in 3 Dimensions.  Not just when something is flying by or jumping or blowing up.  By the way I saw Toy Story 3 in its non 3D version and I thought that was adequately sufficient. I don't think I really missed anything.  I have to say the story was pretty good and the little Night and Day Featurette at the beginning was cool. 

Warehouse 13

Syfy did a good job with Warehouse 13 this season.  Can't wait to see what happens.

Shut Up James

There I made a new post

:)

Time

Time is a funny thing. Its always there. Even if we forget about it, it doesn't forget about us. Even if we lose track of it, it certainly doesn't lose track of us. True, our concept of time is based on our experience here on this planet, in this solar system, in this galaxy, in the universe - but without it we'd be lost. Never knowing when anything is or was or will be. We can't try to live without it, because something always reminds us. Whether it is the sun, the moon, the stars, the sleepiness that overcomes you after being awake. Its always there. For some of us, time is so important. "Have to make every second count." "Time is money." "I don't have time for this." "Stop wasting your time on that." Yet for others time is as meaningless as they can make it. "I've got all the time in the world." "However long it takes." Time is the one thing that keeps us equal. The one thing that makes us sane and insane. Time is what we use to know when we were born. Time is what we use to know how long we've lived. Time is what they'll use to know when you died. Time is what they'll use to know how long you've lived. No one escape time. Eventually time catches up with you. Or perhaps you just catch up with time. Time is inexplicable sometimes. Some people have impeccable timing. Some people have terrible timing. Still others have no sense of time at all. Time is what we make of it. Time keeps us going. Without time, we wouldn't know if we were out of it. We wouldn't know if our time has come to end or our time is just beginning. Time gives things meaning, or maybe that is just the rationalization that we make ourselves believe, over time. The time we have is short. We should cherish the time we have. Some have an easier time than others. Others have a horrible time. Only time will tell if these are good times, bad times, times of war, times of peace, times of prosperity, times of joy, times of grief, times of hatred, times of love. Time is fleeting. Time is never still. Time marches on. All things must prove the test of time, but not all will pass, most will fail. Time is cruel. Time is every little moment you have. Even time will have an end, just as it had a beginning.

Arizona

WTH?

So now you're requiring people to carry Birth Certificates on them? Seriously? This thing is going to the Supreme Court I am sure and its going to get thrown out.

Now look I understand the whole immigration thing better than most, and frankly I don't care for illegal immigrants I think they should all be removed from the country, and do it the right way. Like what I am trying to do. However, at the same time, is this the best way? I mean all you're doing is going one step closer to creating a police state. A totalitarian regime that wants to control who lives in their land.

There has to be a compromise. I don't think this works and I for sure as hell don't believe in Amnesty. I say, if I am going to have to pay for this and do the paperwork, then hell so should they. Stand in line, fill out the forms. I think they're available in spanish. Me I have to read the English version.

This is a tricky subject and can only end badly. For the record, you're idiots. This might be an election year and the fact is the people you're ostricizing can't legally vote against you anyway, but their legal friends, relatives and neighbors sure can and I hope they do.

My Hamster is Fat

and I mean really Fat. He has a double chin, so Chelsea says. He got stuck in a tube earlier today and I had to disassemble his cage. Now I don't know what to do. What if he gets stuck in the middle of the night? I mean he could die in there. Of course then we'll just pay $10 for another so what does it matter?

Is it strange to like having a hamster as a pet? I mean there fairly easy maintenance, but only in that they don't do much. Of course my dog would much rather eat him, for reasons I don't quite understand. Also the hamster is about 1 and a half years old so how much more time can he have?

Oh well, until that time arises, I'm sure I'll have to rescue him again. Hamsters, they're hilarious. Buy one, but take care of it. Give it a good home.

Well I read through Chaper 1

I finished Chapter 1 the first day and haven't ready any since then, well I did read half of chapter 2, but fell asleep before I finished. I have to say I didn't learn too much I didn't already know, but there were a few small things in there that I didn't previously know, but well there are lots of things I don't know, so it isn't too much of a suprise is it?
For instance you can make any directory or directories locally or on a network share into a library for all files or any specific file type. Its actually pretty neat.
The other interesting thing is VHD boot. You can add a line to the bootload to load a VHD file as though it were a locally installed operating system. This could be useful for lab environments.
That was pretty much it for Chapter 1. I think I'll get through chapter 2 today and post what I find sometime later. So far I like this book. I just don't know if every chapter will be easy to read without yawning.

Jimmy Fallon sucks

I was watching Jimmy Fallon for the first time after Leno this Friday and I don't understand why he has a show. He sucks. Was he just having a bad night or is he normally this bad?

Folding@Home

I have decided to fold again on a small scale for 33258 Motherboards.org. It has been a while since I last did anything related to folding, but I finally have something stable to run it on. So for the forseeable future I'll be doing it again.

Windows 7 Resource Kit

For my job, I got a copy of the Windows 7 Resource Kit. I am going to start to delve into the book and get all my deployment kinks out of the way. Additionally I hope to learn more about security and power shell 2.0. I don't really know what to expect from this book. Its a Microsoft Press offering. I have read books from Microsoft Press before. Some of these books are terrible, while others are great. Of course I suppose it all depends on how technical and useable you want your books to be.

I for one am very happy with Windows 7 so far. I've been using Windows 7 since December I think. At this point I have no major complaints. Although I think the sysprep process could've been made a little easier. I mean you went from a plain text file or technically an inf file in XP to this XML monstrosity. Of course I can't complain, because now that I've been working with it I appreciate its complexity. It is extremely granular and you can almost preconfigure every system and profile setting, making it much easier to deploy systems. Of course I've only used it for 7 deployments. I have yet to pre configure a Windows Server 2008 R2 system, mostly because we have so few servers running that OS. Thus far most everything is still running various forms of Windows 2003 and unfortunately some servers are running Windows 2000. Anyway, I digress.

Back to the book. Microsoft, not including the index this thing is over 1600 pages in length. Granted its littered with illustrations, but give me a break. This could've been split into a multi volume work, or the page size could've been larger, like an 8.5" by 11". Of course thats just me griping. I am sure by the time I read through this the spine will be thoroughly cracked and there will be many dog eared pages. I am also looking forward to using the included CD. I undersstand it has example powershell scripts and even an e-book copy. Now if only I could get an e-book reader, but seriously I still prefer paper to screen.

Anyway, as I read on I might post some stuff I find useful or informative and of course any and everything I think is wrong or don't understand. Of course that may lead to way too many posts. We'll see.

My plan is to go through section 1 tonight, section 2 tomorrow, section 3 on Saturday and section 4 on Sunday. This is pretty ambitious, but I've got some free time. Of course realistically lets say I'll finish the whole thing by the end of the month. That sounds more likely. We'll see.

Personal Status Update

You know its been a long couple of weeks. This week has been good though. Got my car back, after a minor spat on the road (no one was injured, just a little shaken). All moved in to my new house. Keeping my head above water. Its all in all really good. I think for the first time in a while everything is going good and going track. Additionally the job is going well, although my shift keeps changing, not that I mind leaving early. All in all its good. Now I just need to get my second car repaired, which should be happening soon. Oscar, thats my dog, is adjusting to this really well too, although he doesn't like going in the back yard by himself so I have to walk out there with him. I think that however is a small sacrifice, over all. There is something nice about home ownership.

FYI, my wife is awesome and I am not just posting that because she wanted me to.

FW: U.S. Mint Redesigns Penny

Feed: The Consumerist
Posted on: Thursday, February 18, 2010 5:47 PM
Author: Chris Walters
Subject: U.S. Mint Redesigns Penny

Here's the new design for the back of the 2010 penny. Instead of the Lincoln Memorial there's now a shield, or maybe a tiny badge that you can flash whenever you want to announce, "I have jurisdiction over your pocket change." No, I'm pretty sure it's a shield. You might be one of those people who thinks we should do away with the penny altogether, but that would mean taking away one of the more entertaining ways to annoy a business: "8800 Penny Prank Takes Paying In Cash To Extremes" "Upset With $350 Electrical Bill, Man Pays In Pennies" "Paying With Pennies Lands Middle Schoolers In Detention" "The Lincoln One Cent Coin—2010 and Beyond" [U.S. Mint via Boingboing]

View article...

snow, shmo

Issued by The National Weather Service
Shreveport, LA
5:32 am CST, Thu., Feb. 11, 2010

... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM CST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SHREVEPORT HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THE ACCUMULATION OF SNOW AND SLEET... WHICH WILL BE EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM CST FRIDAY.

THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.

LIGHT SNOW AND SLEET IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS MORNING OVER THE AREA AND BY THIS AFTERNOON AND OVERNIGHT BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD AND HEAVIER AT TIMES. TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL REMAIN MAINLY IN THE 30S AND THEN DROP TO NEAR OR BELOW FREEZING OVERNIGHT. GROUND WARMTH WILL HELP MELT THE INITIAL SNOW AND SLEET... BUT AS MORE SNOW FALLS... AND READINGS DROP... ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD START TO ADD UP.

THE PRECIPITATION WILL END WEST TO EAST FRIDAY. TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 2 TO 3 INCHES WILL BE COMMON. THERE MAY BE HIGHER AMOUNTS ACROSS PARTS OF NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA.

THE MAIN ROADS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN WET OR SLUSHY THROUGH THE EVENT... HOWEVER BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES AND RURAL AND SECONDARY ROADS THAT HAVE LESS TRAFFIC MAY BECOME SNOW COVERED LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF MAINLY SNOW... POSSIBLY MIXED WITH SLEET... WILL CAUSE TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SLIPPERY ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES... AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING... ESPECIALLY ON THE BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

&&

More Information

.AN UPPER LEVEL STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE TOWARD THE FOUR STATE REGION TODAY AND THEN ACROSS AND EAST OF THE AREA TONIGHT AND FRIDAY... HELPING PRODUCE WIDESPREAD SNOW AND SLEET.

Screw the diet

That idea was dumb.

New Diet - Day 1 Hour 0

So, I've decided to do it. I am going on a diet. This will be part of my rest of the new year resolutions, albeit technically its my only. I am going to try with the aid of sparkpeople to consume 1500 calories or less daily. This is roughly equivalent to half my current intake. Of course I don't expect it to be easy and I am sure I will complain along the way, but it needs to be done. I don't want to go through the rest of my twenty's weighing over 300 lbs. The goal ultimately is to also start some exercise regiment and hopefully by year's end I will have lost 50 lbs. This isn't too hard a goal, I mean I am not going to go on a Biggest Loser style 24/7 weight loss frame of mind, I am sure I'll have my slips along the way. Regardless among the things I won't be partaking anymore: Soda, I know thats going to be a bitch. Additionally I am going to try to forgo my late night eating habits just before bedtime. I mean I don't have to eat, but I just do. So basically I am going to really try to get my 8, 8 ounce cups of water and probably continue drinking my V8 Fusion and that will be the extent of my drinking. I will also try to limit my meals to 400 calories, which is possible, but I will have to institute some sort of portion control. Man this is going to suck.

Weather - what else can you hope for

So, we are having a tornado watch/warning in this area.

I love watching the weather guy, it is so funny how bad they are on the spot.

Hope all turns out well.

Crazy Idea

So I have a crazy idea and I think I've talked about it before, but I want to bring it up again. This is 2010, an election year. Specifically, if you know anything about how the house of representatives works, which you probably don't because many americans are totally ignorant of the American political system, all the member are up for re-election. That is ever 2 years all the members of the house are re-elected. Now this is what I want you to do. Its pretty simple, but really far out there, as very few people advocate this. Don't re-elect any incumbent represntatives. An incumbent is the person who currently holds the seat for their state. That is don't vote for the person who currently holds the seats. I want all 435 members of the house to be brand spanking new. I think we need to shake up the whole political system.

Biggest Loser: Why Fatties are Funny

Ok, so for lack of even trying to sound professional at all. Fat people, especially the obese and morbidly obese are hilarious. I should know, I am pretty damn fat. That's besides the point. I was watching the Biggest Loser on NBC, and this show is SO damn stupid. I mean I know, America is fat country. I live in Texas, there are a lot of fat people here, but is televising our problem really helping? I mean maybe 1 out of a 1000 viewers or hell one out of 10000 viewers will be motivated to do something, but overall, I doubt it makes a difference. These people are hilarious. I mean they compete to lose weight, but in the end, they'll probably just gain it all back. Anyway I think its hilarious that they take it so seriously. I would never do that. I am a content fatty. Although everyone probably knows I have had my own struggles with weight loss, but go on TV? No thanks.

2010

I am not sure what's going on here, but Its been well over a month since my last post. Sorry guys. Not much new here. Living with the in-laws, and its okay. I mean I still gripe and complain, but wouldn't you if you shared a three bedroom 1 bath house with 7 other people? In case your wondering, the dining room is now a bedroom. However not all is bleak as it would seem. Those bank types finally got back to me and said, hey you actually improved your credit. As though somehow there should be surprise that things were paid off on time, but that's beside the point. Although I do wonder why we paid of our bedroom furniture which is sitting in storage. Of course I am sure it had something to do with the 24% interest rate that would've kicked in. Oh well. Anyway now we're looking at houses again, albeit in the Whitehouse area. I don't really have a problem with Whitehouse, even though I joke around, but I sometimes feel that area is snobbish or other times just distasteful, because although most of the city is zoned well, sometimes you see a trailer next to a home or things like that. Of course at this point we've been living at the in-laws for a good 6 months. Longer than either of us had planned, we were hoping to celebrate Christmas in our new home. I sometimes feel bad that I couldn't make this happen sooner and wish I could have done something else, but I don't know what I would've done differently. Of course I just really want my wife to be happy. She deserves a home all her own, even if the in-laws will be with us for a while. Yeah, basically because we've been with them a while and they're in a rent house, which won't be a rent house much longer, we're going to let them stay with us for a while, upwards of a year, but hopefully this will allow us to save money, pay of more debts and after they leave upgrade the house. Honestly I think we should be a little thankful for this opportunity, because beggars can't be choosers. However I for one am already looking forward to them never living with us, or hopefully even near us, ever again. I mean a nice 1 to 2 hour drive would be great. The job is going well. Although my commute will go from 15 minutes to 50 minutes. Another reason I am not looking forward to the move, but its only fair since my wife had to drive about the same to get her current job. Things are getting better that is all that really matters...