Ker plunk

This past weekend resulted in a very comical scenario (unordered list):

The Short:

  • I have now have a new cell phone.

The Long:

  • I currently have a motorola V710, and its a great phone. But its a big phone (almost annoyingly big), and the battery life is abysmal. Its been losing its charm day by day, and I really became fed up with it overall.
  • Sunday morning came, and I started talking about wanting to get a new cell phone. Playful arguments ensued, and the determination was made that I could not get a new cell phone at this time.
  • My parents were coming down to visit and grab some wedding pics, so I started getting ready. Ate some quick breakfast, showered… Then, I grabbed my V710 (Still wrapped in Towel)
  • I delicately slide my V710 onto the bathroom counter… The V710 continues to slide, nearly stopping at the edge of the counter, but ultimately diving off the counter.
  • The V710 bounces off the wall mounted toilet paper roll…
  • The V710 bounces on the rim of the toilet seat…
  • The V710 submerges itself completely in the water of my toilet…
  • I grab the V710, flip it open, and watch the screen display an assortment of torrid colors before fading to darkness.
  • I pulled the battery as soon as I could, but damage was done… Even nearly a week later, the phone’s buttons do not work (although, it will boot up correctly).

So, I am now the proud owner of a motorola razr V3m. And this phone is phenominal. It has EVDO (which, apparently stands for EVolution Data Optimizer) – Basically, my cell phone is pretty much broadband speed. I haven’t found a speed test that will work on the browser, but it is light years past my V710’s internet speeds.

This RAZR also maintains all the functionality of my V710 – It plays mp3’s, it plays 3gp videos, it has a MicroSD slot, it has a 1.3 mp camera (which the quality is much better than the V710 as well). Not bad considering that it was 80 dollars vs. almost 160 for my V710 over a year ago.

Overall, it was a very funny situation. It’s not every day your phone ends up in the shitter.

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.

Alltel’s Problem

This post is also serving as a test to wordpress 2.1. I upgraded a few days ago but haven’t had a chance to utilize it yet. Not really much different. IMO – wait for 3.0

The world of wireless providers is a dark and sinister place. Hidden fees. Overages. Dropped Calls. 2 year contracts. Automatically renewing contracts when making a plan change. Hideously stupid assholes who call themselves ‘tech support’ or “customer support”. It’s got to be a tough market to get into, much less be a successful provider.

Alltel almost has it pegged. Their customer service has always been very good. Plan options are extremely affordable. For example, i added a data internet plan for my phone and it’s only $5 a month. I don’t get charged out the ass for text or picture messages. I make changes to my plan and my contract is NOT automatically renewed for an additional two years. When i “Roam”, i don’t pay any money extra for that. I can call 10 of the people closest to me from any network without even being charged.

For the most part – one must admit… Alltel has their shit together.

Then we come to it… the single most frustrating piece of this entire wireless pizza. Alltel has about as many phones to pick from as any local “big lots”. I mean seriously. It’s almost driven me to switch carriers and deal with all the bullshit from paragraph 1. They do not have any ‘cool’ or ‘innovative’ devices available. No Blackjacks. No iPhones (not that i’d want one). Their collection is stale. It’s literally horrendous. How about the cool new UTStarcom 6700 ? Hmm… sprint had that like 3 years ago and stopped selling it last year. Way to be on the ball…!

Wait… seriously the Motorola Q is coming out in March!! Hmm… apparently Verizon hasn’t had that for almost a year. GG Alltel. Just now they finally got the Razr V3m with an expandable memory card, which can be purchased in flaming gay red or Bright silver. hmm. Meh. heh. etc.

Then they take their lack of a phone selection, and they further cripple it. Alltel’s phones are all “Brew” based. Apparently this means that it is impossible to download, use, run, or even think about seeing any sort of java application on them. Can’t use Google’s new gmail app… Can’t use google maps. Can’t download java games that are steadily gaining popularity. My phone’s browser can’t even save bookmarks. Think about that. My phone can watch a full feature film (The Boondock Saints is on there, as well as all three of Vanbergs’ Heroics videos), but it can’t even save a bookmark.

Alltel, What the hell are you thinking. If you could get your shit together with phone selection and functionality, you’d be the #1 Cellular provider in this country by far. Get some new phones with the JVM, and until that time… enjoy being #5.