Boredom

Not that I'm bored or anything, I just noticed I need to get in a "blogging" before August runs out...looks like a close one.

Things have been crazy this month 'round here at work. All the staff came back, grumpy computers being off for 3 months. I had two with power supply issues, many with errors between the keyboard and chair, and not to mention the "Boss's boss" decided all Admin were to switch over to Outlook/Exchange, in less than 2 months. It seems like not too long ago I was waiting for August so things could pick up, be careful what you wish for.

Movie Theater Gripes

Went to the movies yesterday, to take the kids and go see the latest "Pirates of the Caribbean". First of all the movie was ok, but waaaaaaay too long 2.5 hours of uncomfortable seats and sticky floors was to much to bare. My complaint however isn't about the movie, it's what happens BEFORE the movie. Let's do a little math.


Arrived at theater: 2:45 p.m.
Showtime: 3:30 p.m.
From 2:45 to 3:30 useless ads on screen.
From 3:30 to 3:40 Movie Previews and TV COMMERCIALS!

When did they start showing TV COMMERCIALS in the movie theater??! I can handle the movie previews, it's good to see what sort of crap is coming out, but TV COMMERCIALS?! Hell, I don't even watch them at home! I either DVR the shows/movies I want to watch and skip through the channels or mute/pause them when they come on. CRAP! CRAP! CRAP! And have you ever noticed they turn the volume up at least 5db on the commercials? Time to write my congressman...yea right! No wonder I don't go to the movies much anymore, after dropping 27.50 on tickets (matinee) and no soda or popcorn, hell I would rather rent movies on PPV or at the movie store.

--end of rant--

Welcome to my world!!

This says it all...Tech Support

For the Safety Minded

This falls under the "What were they thinking" category.

I saw this today and had to snap a pic with my camera phone. Makes you wonder where the fire extinguisher is and what they are doing to it.

"Hey Ralph, the trucks on fire, grab the fire extinguisher" "Sorry Bob, I already drank it".

iPod, You Pod, everybody iPod

Ok folks after my long time of putting off getting a better portable music player have come to pass. I finally plunked down the $$ for an iPod, and I'm glad I did. I bought the iPod-video 30 Gig and all the bells and whistles that come with it. But allow me to back up a little...

I have a Sansa 512Mb Mp3 player, and it's a great little player but it doesn't hold all that much. So I decided I needed something bigger. I did my research via internet and decided that a Creative Zen Video 8 Gig would do the ticket without breaking the bank. So I got one, took it home, installed the software on my XP machine, plugged in and got ready to make with the music...nothing, absolutely NOTHING! So I went to the "Help" section on their website, found that I wasn't the only one with the exact same issue. They had a fix, but the fix didn't fix it, so much for a "fix". So I thought, why not try it on another PC? So I did the same install on another XP machine...same thing. What a piece of CRAP!!!

So the next day I took it back, and got the iPod. Got it home, installed the software, plugged it in and WOW, it actually worked! Now it has taken me a little time to get used to iTunes and how to transfer, etc. (remember I'm used to thinking "Windows"). So if you're looking to expand your listening horizons, buy into the hype and buy an iPod. My only gripe with the iPod is the ear buds...not bad, but they could be better.

Now onto finding ear buds! After doing MUCH internet research it came down to a few brands, but I had a price range in mine, around $100.00 or less. Granted there are many for less than one hundred bucks, but you get what you pay for. And if you want to pay more, there is many more to chose from.

I saw that Apple had some in-ear headphones, and I thought they can't be all that bad and I can get them locally. They aren't bad but they had a hard time staying in my ears, I tried all 3 sets of ear "fittings" that came with them, but to no avail they still fell out.

I considered the Shure brand of ear buds, but then I remembered a local company called Westone that makes in ear monitors for the big touring bunch. Sure enough they make a set around one hundred bucks (UM-1) and I can pick them up locally, and I have a couple of buddies that work there that I haven't seen in years. Got 'em to day, plugged them into my iPod...WOW very cool. Great fit, sound great, isolate everything in the outside world, and come with a cool little case extra ear fittings, a wax "loop" (for digging your ear boogers out). I highly recommend them.

American Idol

Well, it's all over folks and thank God it is!! I got suckered into watching it this season, I usually just like to watch the really bad auditions and then move onto something else. I'm not going to go on and on about who should of won, and who didn't because I really don't care, really I don't. But I'm glad to see a guy in his late 20's with gray hair and who's been slugging it out in the bar scene get a shot at doing something big. But let's face it, it wasn't his voice that got him the win it was his stage presence and the lack thereof from McPhee.

Personally I think the whole American Idol thing is a joke, they take so-so talent dress 'em all up and put then in front of a camera to sing other peoples songs and we suck it down like it's our last meal. The really sad thing is I know Taylor Hicks has a Blues/Soul background and they are going to have him singing every candy ass song there is just to try to glom a few $$ outta him before his career burns out.

There is so much undiscovered/unsigned talent out there and they never get a chance to have thier "voice" be heard. And then there are the millions of other idiots out there who think that have talent. Personally I'm glad Talyor Hicks won, I like his style, I would gladly have him front my band anytime.

And would someone please tell me how Bucky got so far in the competition? Sheesh!

Mexican Food

Just a couple of thoughts on Mexican food. I like it, but it doesn't like me. But then again I don't like McDonalds, and it doesn't like me...no love lost. Why is it whenever something sounds good for lunch you usually regret eating it shortly after? Well, I guess that's enough for today...as you were.

Insomnia

Well it's 11:13 Mtn time, and I'm having a bitch of a time getting to sleep. 5:45 sure is gonna come early...shouldn't of drank that Vault about 4 hours ago...sheesh!

Day One-pt II

Interesting things these blogs. I can see how they can become addictive. When you have a mind like mine, that always seems to be in the "on" position there is always something to be said. Things are a little slow at work, but when situations do arise there is never a short supply of id.10.t's to fuel my fire.

I find myself wondering how many people get through life "faking it". I grew up with out Compact Disc's (CD's), a computer (at home or in school), and all we had for silicon entertainment was Atari. Now given todays state where a computer is just about as common in ever home as a microwave or TV you would think more people would know how to use them. Especially if their day to day work depended on it. I am constantly amazed how some folks still refer to the monitor as "the computer".

I even had a call once where a person was inquiring on what ink they should purchase for the office printer. Ok, a genuine inquiry...(what part #, brand, etc.) Then the question that came up was "should I buy both the color, and black cartridges?" My response was of course "yes", along with the part #, brand, etc. And then as a joke I said be sure to get the "white" ink too...keep in mind this conversation was via email. A few hours pass and I get another email stating "I can't find a part # for the white ink cartridge"... need I say more.

I guess the moral of this story is, yes we (I.T.) folks are all smarter than you, and yes there IS such a thing as a stupid question. When in doubt...RTFM!


BTW if your VCR is still flashing 12:00, sell everything you have and move the hills, there is no place for you here.

(((exhale)))

Day One

Stop the madness...blog-day one.

Well here I am in all my glory. I can't understand why anyone would want to read the claptrap that spews from my brain, but I guess everyone needs a good laugh now and then.

Lately I've been exploring alternatives to help break free of the clutches of the evil empire also known as Microsoft. I will be the first to admit, Windows has carved it's niche in the work place (by force) and yes, it's very easy to use...but I've become bored. So I've entered the realm of LINUX. I have experimented with many distros as of late...Ubuntu, Fedora 5, Suse, Slackware, etc. Coming from a Windows background and education I can see the good and the bad to both sides of either OS.

I heard it once said that Windows is like a car with an automatic transmission, and Linux is like that of a car with manual transmission. These words are very true. You can sit back and meander your way with Windows, or possibly learn something with Linux.

I'm basically a Linux newbie. I took Unix in college and barely passed, I mean barely...I was still in a mindset of "automatic transmisson", aka Windows. And it was my last class before graduation, and not to mention a self study class. At any rate, as time moves on I will continue to explore the world of "non-Windows". Hey, it's something to do...