Category Archives: Journal

Default – Self reflection etc.

Things That I Want…

In a sheer copycat post of Vanbergs’ most recent post, I have constructed a post to inform the entire world of my own most intimate desires.

Thus, behold the unordered list:

  • The Pioneer AVIC D3:
    Pioneer Avic-D3
    This aftermarket head unit features GPS 3d navigation, DVD video playback, Ipod integration, Divx playback, Satellite radio, and of course am/fm/CD/mp3. Not to mention, it fits perfectly into the scion tc. This ultimate piece of electronic equipment is about 1,000 dollars. We’ll see what happens.
  • Halo 3:
    Halo 3 is going to be an impossibly epic and undefinably perfect video game. It will be the best game of all time, and this title will never be overthrown. There really is no other way to describe this enigma. Long story short, when halo 3 comes out, vanberge is an xbox 360 owner; and a happy one.
  • DVD Burner:
    I need a new DVD drive/burner for my PC. Currently i have a DVD drive, but it fails to work approximately 80 percent of the time. Sometimes it’s not even detected as an IDE device on Bootup.
  • 24 Cancelled:
    Unlike vanbergs, I don’t want 24 to be good again. I want it to be over. I want it to be cancelled. My frustration with this television show has been incurably fueled and there really is no turning back. I no longer watch 24 because of how ‘good’ it is, or even because I like it; I watch 24 in its sixth season simply to punish my own being. I don’t even know what’s happening.
  • A new Camera:
    I’ve passed my phase of wanting a Digital SLR. But, I do want a new camera – and i want a good one. There are plenty of mid – level cameras that offer more than enough to satisfy my sporadic photography/gimp phases. If it has a 10x zoom and some forms of manual control, i’ll call that par for the course.

That concludes a pretty good representation for the material things that i currently wish for.

On a more trivial note, I’ve upgraded to Ubuntu linux 7.04. This install was simple, easy, and is a fantastic operating system. Ubuntu has built in the abilities to enable restricted formats, made it easier to get proprietary drivers, and made improvements in NTFS support. Combined with fresh icons, artwork, i’m really impressed with this operating system. I’m definitely never using windows again on my home computer. I haven’t booted windows since December of 2006 – so i think i am officially converted.

At work, I’ve been diving into Microsoft WSUS. We’ve been struggling with our current patch management solution, and I had heard some good things about the new version of WSUS. After installing it on an open server, it took about 4 days to download the almost 30 gigs of updates necessary to function. Then it was a matter of configuring some group policies to turn on automatic updates on clients, repoint the clients, and lock it down so that users can’t change the settings. I have to admit – WSUS is much better than I would have ever imagined. I don’t think i’ll use it for servers just yet, but it sure makes it easy to update 350 clients.

March Lunacy

Or “Madness” – This event has seemed to grip me fairly strongly over the last couple of years. The vast majority of the year goes by, and i dont watch basketball, play basketball, or even think about basketball.

Then the NCAA mens basketball tournament kicks off and it totally changes my life for a couple of months. It puts me in a ‘basketball phase’. I watch basketball (college and pro), i play basketball video games. I shoot hoops in my driveway. Its a very wierd scenario.

At any rate, this year i have a couple different options to capitalize on the mens basketball tourney.

1. If Kansas wins, i win an Xbox 360. I recently went to a Microsoft Sharepoint /Exchange / Vista / Office 2007 conference at the amway, and they had a sports bar drawing inside GP sports. Each attendee drew a team, and if their team wins, they win. I drew Kansas and the prize of Xbox 360. So, everyone please cheer for the mother effing jayhawks.

2. If Florida wins, i will probably win money through an ‘illegal gambling’ pool at “work”. Although i’d rather have the x box, cash is never bad. Cheer for the jayhawks first, but the Gators second.

Also btw i just upgraded my gallery to 2.2. I love gallery.

Vengeance

Vengeance (noun – 14th century latin origin):
1 – Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense
2 – Infliction of injury, harm, humiliation, or the like, on a person by another who has been harmed by that person; violent revenge

There are not very many things (if any) that are more epic than true revenge / vengeance. It is substance for great movies. It is inspiring… It defines heroes. It is human nature… A true gift.

An unordered list of one of my favorite tales of revenge follows with more detail:

  • Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche – In 1996, Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche layed one of the cheapest hits in NHL history on Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings (shown in this clip: NHL Cheap shots ). Kris Draper suffered a broken jaw, broken cheek bone, and concussion. He had to have re constructive surgery on his face due to the injuries. Claude Lemieux never apologized to Draper, or to anyone… Even though the hit was from behind, into the boards, and widely regarded as one of the dirtiest plays in the NHL…

    In the following season, the Detroit Redwings would seek their vengeance.

    On March 26th, 1997.. in Detroit’s own Joe Louis arena, the best game in NHL history was played. Words really cannot even describe it. It had to be seen. From the first drop of the puck, every Detroit RedWings fan knew it was going to happen. The score didn’t even matter. This bitter rivalry flourished. The teams were pushing, shoving, body checking at every chance… They hated each other. A couple fights came and went, but none involved Claude Lemeiux.

    Then it happened. Detroit’s Darren McCarty started the war with a single punch to Claude Lemieux. Lemieux fell instantly, turtled, and tried to cover up… Darren McCarty continued to strike him furiously – his fists powered by the relentless vengeance of every living Red Wing fan. Several Avalanche players made an effort to get to McCarty and stop the onslaught, but each Red Wing did their part and stopped the Avalanche players from interfering. Brendan Shanahan leapt into the air to hit Patrick Roy. Shanahan then grabbed another Avalanche player as Detroit’s Mike Vernon and Colorado’s Roy (the goalies) had their own blood soaked battle.

    As the smoke cleared and the referees finally pulled McCarty away, Lemieux’s blood was pooled on the ice and he had to be helped back into the Avalanche locker room… Ironically, he walked right past Detroit’s Kris Draper who was at the end of the Detroit bench…
    It was one of the most fantastic things I have ever seen. Darren McCarty was a hero.

    As the game progressed, smaller fights continued due to the bad blood between these teams, but it didn’t matter any more. Detroit had their revenge. The score of the game grew to a tie (5 -5) and actually went into over time. And in what can only be described as actual proof of divinity, Darren McCarty scored the game winning goal in overtime to give the Red Wings the victory.

    As Detroit celebrated, Darren McCarty shook the hand of every Red Wing as they made their way towards the locker room. As Kris Draper headed in, he stopped and embraced McCarty as if to say “Thank you”. It’s one of the most epic and powerful moments I can even remember seeing. This video does a fantastic job of telling the entire story in only 4 minutes, so I urge every living being to view it. RedWings vs. Avs

    Another longer version can be found here… but it isn’t set to “Filter – hey man nice shot”… http://youtube.com/watch?v=9N5xCY8be2o&mode=related&search=

    Literally, figuratively, seriously, and wholly epic.

Dress the Part

I try not to write about my job very often… But the fact is, my career has grown to where I now have a great deal of responsibilities.

I’m one of the more technical people in the I.T. department… So my job has morphed away from taking helpdesk phone calls and server setups being second (I still set up servers, yes). But now my time is spent managing the network, managing email, managing SAN storage, managing blackberries, basically I’m the “go to guy” for all high level technical stuff…

So, i’ve pretty much committed to being more professional at work. For instance I regularly interface with top executives, and I don’t really know if I like the image I portray. I think one of the biggest parts of that has been my wardrobe. I do wear a shirt and tie to work everyday, yes… But they don’t necessarily look “professional”. Some of my clothes had a quirky “I.T. guy” kind of feel. So, last week I invested like 300 dollars into an updated wardrobe. And not the total number of ‘dress clothes’ that I own are pretty shocking for me…

I now own 20 neck ties. I now own 15 different dress shirts (coutning collared long sleeve tie shirts – not counting polo, short sleeve, business casual), I now own 12 different pairs of dress pants, and finally I now own 6 different pairs of dress shoes. The only thing left for me are “suits”. As of right now, I only own one actual two piece suit… But after the next pay check that’s going to change. I’m going to at least buy two new suits (for staff meetings, etc.).

I’m trying to dress the part of a more professional person, because I could easily see somebody working underneath me very soon… and now Hopefully that keeps me on par for this course.

The best list

Vanbergs -> Japanese -> back to Vanbergs. Google Translator is the best thing ever. Read the real thing first. Obviously i removed the pictures.

“”With history of the cinema, it has in life for rejoicing our viewing, directly there are many siblings. Directly, as for most as for other things was created in order it destroys to burst humorous value, but it is epic. At the point where the sign of Marky of the ghetto the fan key leads the bundle splendidly the homicide person of the mother where they are employed and in order to coerce vengeance to the conspiracy leader, 4 siblings. Three Ninjas raw youth rocks are many and Tum of Tum learns the method of attaching the eye of the precision of karate of the 3rd yellow belt. Danny DeVito is not the Renaissance person, and as for Arnold the twins which do not rescue that prostitute of the daughter from the rescue person or the demonian of the chain mail. The VanDamme all movie where he bears double role.

Then the sibling dies and fights, or it helps, each other…Until it is and the video game it is discovered because 1 siblings become badness, the fatal opposition where 1 wins the hero simply is forced. The metal gear solid matter where the liquid and the solid matter have been attached,… I mean physical when two of the problems which feel the self-indulgent hatred of mutual one has differed completely seriously. Being vulgar for, the semen of the red ? being natural, until it covers mental kingdom, the spear and the building are complete and being holy agrees, you do not think, being vulgar, the red ? has sexual intercourse our entire planets seriously, always as for “the sibling”, is final partnership. The twins of Mario 1 it is high give a crushing blow, give a crushing blow, are older, fat quality eat shrooms, raise the meat kind of ball which burns very with goombas. The shadow of Colossus where the young sword brandishing/scattering [u] boy rides that hooved friend in unstable fight of 16 of the menace giants.

When these partnership and which of the lineage candidness the sibling of McManus slowly is not” – ness “it cannot compare. Aka Vanbergs of [kana] and [mahui] and Vanberge. In the same muscle, in the same way as my sibling and i. in continuance of other things, it is sent in order to cause necessary same muscular reaction by the neuron. As for them the enemy where they are most dangerous learns and being their fathers, the rescue person and the gorgeous leader, “il Duce”…. Exactly, as we make mickeyvb.

Vanberge and I was the sibling of McManus, that it did not prove what more from the time line which was in 2006 and rages. Inspect your jockstraps which is placed on your ear plug and cross your center…With you dying approximately it is.

I give: When being 10 majority on McManus 2006!

10. MickeyVB is our fathers, – that as for us because of the fact that really it is son one one day of our fathers, when is not, as for this probably is one which is close to 1st. As for Mickeyvb…We were borne. You verify sexual intercourse.

9. Metal gear solid opposite hello, – all arms it struggles between high fives…In addition there is a plural, “you I” being someone who can rely on the time was normal. This is the one of those just happenings. The video game is better, the immortal argument which is the epic product: Hello 2, metal gear solid matter 3. Clearly, that is MGS, but it does not recognize the fact that Vanberge the syrup soaks in that pancake of brain. Use less butter and asshole!

8. – I to be the high method of repelling the front part excessively, as for Vanberge…Health…It is Vanberge which is he. There is no law of physical gravity, the inertia or it maintains a, our functions which are completed should be matched corrects front revolution in the head. In yes ? thought, we who have had sexual intercourse do that, that is the pleasure. Choose that on Vanlandw.

7. You open Mongolian Barbeque still, – “the importance” which it can consider it to be possible, at least even with thing Mongo q of BD. Being considered because of festival model the car by the dinner which is bought with Vanberge, us you obtain mongo which is obtained. I us graduate mongo which is obtained. As for Vanberge you get married, us in that mongo which is obtained more…A little after diddy… r…

6. All weddings the wedding which is finished – which it makes pride, the joy and the damage of the fatherly approval which continues eternally Mickeyvb cry it is possible and is worthy of to the reputation above even with thing. I said, speech it was released, any ? things soaked with the earth and the pavement, the non- equal people valliantly tried the fact that it dances.

5. The celibacy separation party just of the man – as for me expressing all pleasures where we possess paintballing it is not uniform and going, or from the continuation to the hand you bet, or eat or or it is not driving. Actually, I express that you eat: The mongolian person bbq… Deathfest of Vanberge made that asshole which is equal to the nervous gas of Sentox of our hotels free. When CDC does not burn that yet in the land, 74 people now already experience the AIDS at least.

4. As for knockout agrees – problem…Victory of our one hours thing I who almost am 90% win, whether or not or Vanberge wins, the only thing. The only exception where Vanlandw turns victory happens when the tire of the quality of Vanberge and Vanbergs of the thing which increases championship high attaches the belt to match after the match.

3. The basket manual refuse, my companion McManus and as for me the oily [be] it is barage of sphere of green of the explosiveness which is full with those which are attached – between paintball of the celibacy separation party just of the man of Vanberge…It ran with full speed due to. Calling you obtained, that was not our typical in the afternoon of Thursday…That the basket hand. As for each one of our friends as for us it joined to our itself weaponless side scrolling video games, but that those was possible, the time when you shoot us of many paintballs in the same way and are limited was passed. So did we do what? We who have had sexual intercourse returning to beginning, walked with method. gauntlet.jpg

2. Month of continual specialist strikes the barking voice… which – Kathyvb looked at that. Mickeyvb looked at that. Me and Vanberge that had lived. First, I after receiving premonition, grasped the thing plastic ax which is the fair my time which is defeated the impossible song. Plural attempts, I achieved my delegation afterwards. Exactly we being holy, because strong unity is shared, Vanberge wore the controller of the guitar. For something which continues to see, even the majority the nerve wore out excessively. The star power which carries him very due to final 20 2nd of song there is no Vanberge with at month to bark, it was defeated voice. That is splendid, it enters as one of the industry product where the life where I am sad with history is largest.

1. – Vanberge?”. “You prayed as for me who have lived the fan which is obstructed while being filled at the sea of the intense heat of the thing which can miss the sweat to a certain place and to by your asked. Before the fair amount which is found me by your by others you being surrounded, however how doing, independently, as for me [deivuitsudo] Draimen standing in the stage the frontal stage where my sibling who approximately has been attached it could use my method. As for Vanlandw and Flo doing the baby-sitter of the woman it was in the midst of using, therefore vanhood the clamp, freedom, the slave it was to McManii which it should obtain as soon as possible in the band which the world where it rode is best with sphere.

Now small-numbered song, and I my rear of [mahui] McManus acquire spot to 4 lines exactly. How, doing, holiness, the existence where the people are beautiful, it bubbled, the tide tries the ocean that enters truly well with the shade, my valuable GE GE of the one which is close to that younger brother carries.

The fact that I face, direction on my right stand there, war of my all of a sweat is the sibling who is destroyed with my next door. I was moved as been private use [raian] which is very rescued in me. …

Obviously profound start RIFF of kicking praying the celebration song of vanhood which finishes the celebration song of all vanhood started in order to form with our surfaces to which the [ma] [me] uses the pyrotechnics of flame gushing officially. As for song the chorus, the oral [zu] rare it is in [deivuitsudo] to erupt, the sibling our lips is white, until it turned the choke, the most important song of our times of harmony you shouted once more. It ended song, when that and, being the majority of McManus 2006, it was born. And it has sexual intercourse because we is a shepherd. “”

Heavy is the head…

…that wears the crown.

For some time lately, i’ve had this sort of notion on my mind. It might be because of the TV and cinema that I view, it might be my employment standing, and it could just be one of my compulsive ventures that I partake in briefly before losing focus… But as of late I find myself appreciating that famous quote – “Heavy is the head that wears the crown”.

What am I even really talking about? I am talking about being a boss… An authority figure… Somebody that people look to and rely on… A leader.

As I said, this is most likely due to my recent interests in movies and television where this sort of thing is prominent. It’s “cool” to be the “boss”. But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. I find myself wanting to change things I don’t like. I feel the need to “do” in certain aspects and situations. Of course I’m mainly referring to work, but it spans further than that. I’m sure a part of it is my stubborn nature. If I don’t like something – I don’t really just go along with it. I am one stubborn asshole. I have a burning desire to make all things exactly what I want them to be… I’m not “Power Hungry”. I don’t have an “agenda”. It’s hard to explain. In fact I don’t even know if I can explain it.

What a ramble this is… But here are my current top ten leaders (mostly Ficticious):

I had planned on doing a top ten list of my current favorite “bosses”, but that seems to be too much work and i’m having trouble putting them all in order… So, here goes. Here are my favorite leadership figures currently in an unordered list:

  • Tony Soprano – Mob boss of The Soprano Family
  • “Stringer” Bell – Cool, calm business savvy leader of a Drug ring in “The Wire”
  • David Palmer – The best president ever
  • Bill Buchanan – Runs the quirky wierd department of CTU Los Angeles
  • Vic Mackey – Aggressive and in your face commander of “The Shield”s elusive strike team
  • Aragorn – The King of Man, literally… In “LOTR”
  • Mickeyvb – The King of Vanhood. Literally
  • Al pacino – The Godfather… in “The Godfather (II, III)”
  • Bob DeNiro – Samuel James (Ace) Rothstien form “Casino”
  • Russell Crowe – Maximus the Gladiator from “Gladiator”

All these real or fictional characters are bad asses… And each one has a charisma and leadership quality that permeates souls of humanity.

I had my chance once… I’m not going to pass it up again.