Diary of a Network Geek

For some reason, I seem to be preparing for a siege.
Yesterday, I spent $296 on food at Sam’s Club. My freezer is packed so full, that things lean against the door! I have mass quantities of all kinds of staples. So, for the next three months or so, all I should need are short-term perishables like milk, eggs, and yogurt. Everything else, mostly, I have jammed into my pantry and upright freezer. But, my siege mentality goes further than that.
I’ve taken to locking the door behind me when I get home. I have a double-key deadbolt, so I don’t have a little toggle handle to lock the deadbolt on my back door. Instead, I have to actually use a key on the inside, too. That makes it difficult for anyone to smash a window and then open the door from the inside. It’s kind of weird, really, since I have no reason to be like this. I mean, it’s not like I’m actually afraid that someone is going to try and kill me or anything, but, still, I’ve been a little paranoid.
My .357 is still loaded and in the key-code gun safe next to my bed. I have candles in every room of the house, so I can find my way when the power goes out. But, the power hasn’t gone out in ages and I don’t remember the last time I heard anything about any kind of violent crime in my neighborhood. Still, I’m ready should anything happen. I don’t know, maybe it’s just that I’ve been living alone for a bit now and I’m just preparing to take care of anything, no matter what it is, all by myself. Certainly, that’s some of what motivated the food hoarding.
Everything I bought at Sam’s is convenient food. For me, at least. Soups and ravioli and single-serving macaroni and cheese. Hot Pockets and White Castle Cheeseburgers. Frankly, everything I make these days has to be quick and easy or it’s not worth it! I’m just too busy! All the running around with H.O.P.E. and doing pro bono computer work for a non-profit organization and church and therapy and support groups and just everyday life keep me really busy. And, even with all that, I still manage to lose weight. Of course, it fluctuates, but I bounced off 170 this weekend. It’ll be back up tomorrow, but still, I’m keeping trim in spite of eating relatively “fast” food.
Wow, I got tired just thinking about all that. Off to bed for me. I need my rest!

I’m sure most of my loyal readers have already seen this, but…
Just in case you don’t read Slashdot as compulsively as I do, they recently ran a story, or link to a story on PCPitStop, about a guy who got $1000 for reading the End User License Agreement (EULA) for a little piece of software he installed. I have to confess, I hardly ever read the damn things myself, since they’re mainly boilerplate legal agreements, but maybe I should start! The folks who made this particular piece of software included instructions for claiming a $1000 “consideration” for actually reading their EULA. Pretty cool. And, almost worth reading those long, boring EULAs everyone has. Almost…

Hey, here’s another reason to be proud of my adopted state!
The State of Texas is sueing one of the world’s top four spammers. Apparently, the company, or companies, is based out of California and is already being sued by MicroSoft, but the State of Texas is joining in. The suit itself is based on the CAN-SPAM Act, which was such a big deal when it was passed. I have to admit, at the time, I never thought we’d actually see any of these bottom-feeders prosecuted in any way, but it looks like the CAN-SPAM Act may be actually doing some good! According to the article, the two spammers who run this company could face “penalties of $250 per violation, up to a maximum of $2 million.” Wow. That’d hurt!
Apparently, the Texas Attorney General is bringing suit against these guys under Texas law that “cover electronic mail and solicitation as well as deceptive practices. Those laws carry fines of up to $25,000 per day and $20,000 per violation…” Dang! You go get ’em!
Let’s hope it does some good!

No, that is not some kind of euphemism!
This morning when I’m drinking my coffee and praying, which is how I start every workday, I see something splashing about in the back of the square pond. At first, I thought it was a bird taking a little bath. Then, I thought it might be a squirrel that fell in and was dragging itself out. But, finally, it occurred to me that the weather was nice, the water was getting warm in the sun, and neither squirrels nor birds are generally bright gold and white, at least in my neighborhood. So, yes, Spring is springing here in Houston. The fish are feeling frisky and, well, “getting it on”. My only disappointment is that it’s the comets not the koi. Comets are cheap, but baby koi are anywhere from $50 to $300 a pop!
Of course, what that really all means is that I have to get out there and work on the ponds. Time for Spring cleaning. And, Spring water gardening. And, this year, a whole lot of repair work on the round pond’s waterfall. Right now, if anything blocks the waterfall even a little bit, it starts to overflow out the back. That’s a Bad Thing, in case it wasn’t clear. Not sure how I’ll get that done, especially alone, but I’ll manage somehow. I always do.

That’s just an expression!
Oh, for Pete’s sake, it really is just an old Marketing expression that means, “use our own product”. In my case, I should take my own advice. I was reading something I posted on someone else’s blog some time back, where I was telling her “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hold on.” Good advice, and I should take it.
Things have not been going quite so well. After my heroic efforts last week, everything fell apart on Monday. I had to start all over, yet again. Well, that was a Bad Thing and it resulted in The Talk. I think it was meant as a pep-talk, but any time the phrase “it won’t mean your job. Yet.” gets thrown around, I’m anything but encouraged. Look, I know I haven’t been performing to my fullest capacity, but I thought I was doing better than that!
I just wish I knew where I was going to live month to month. I figure I’m going to have to sell the house for the money, no matter what happens thanks to almost $35k of credit card debt from my year out of work. (Or, as I call it, My Year From Hell. Though, that may become this year!) Ironically, when I lost that job, I was about a year from being debt-free, except for the mortgage. Now, well, now, I don’t see how I can survive without declaring bankruptcy.
My therapist said that the unconditional love of the animals at H.O.P.E. is probably a Good Thing and that I should continue to do that. I wish I knew what my living situation was going to be so I could decide about adopting a dog. I’m not even sure that I won’t get my Hildagard back at this point! I don’t know much of anything about my future. Frankly, that scares me. I don’t even know enough about what’s coming to try and plan anything.
I’m coming down with a cold. Again. And, I’m working late, again, on the stupid images.
Oh, and I got a flat tire this morning without a spare in the trunk.
So, do I tie a figure-eight knot or a monkey’s paw? Which is easier to hold onto at the end of my rope? (Donations and/or ad clicks welcome.)

Advice from your Uncle Jim:
"There's more than one way to do it"
   --Unofficial PERL Coder's Motto

Oh, but I’m going to anyway!
I have seen the coolest computer desk with a computer built into it. These are the most incredible, fantastic, and beautiful creations I have seen. In a way, they are the ultimate case-mod. “They”, in this case, are Truvia Luxury Computers, as seen at Gizmodo. I mean, the desks themselves are just gorgeous, but to have built in computers… Now, if I just had a spare $55,000. Right, anyone want to donate one to a good cause (ie. ME)?

Click on the link! It’s Friday and the boss isn’t looking, so go for it!
(And, here are the rest of the Commandments, just in case…)

I went to church for the first time in years tonight.
It was a little different than I remember church being, but then, I expected it would be. It was nice, though. It’s a program called Mercy Street, which is part of a larger Methodist church. I was raised by Baptists in the Methodist church, because there wasn’t a Baptist church close to where we lived. (That’s sort of like being raised by wolves, but you’re not allowed to dance, BTW. My Father loves that joke for some reason.) So, it wasn’t too far off from services that I’d attended before. But, it was unusual in that the entire service was designed to appeal to people that have been, well, somewhat disenfranchised by organized religion. I always got tired of the money campaigns most churches had, so, I fall into that demographic. Well, I do for other reasons, too, but I won’t go there tonight. The cool thing about this place for me is that they never “pass the basket”. Not at all. There’s a “Carpenter’s Box” in the middle of the room and people who are called to give, can and do. To the tune of, roughly, $240, 000. All with no pressure and no passing the basket. Oh, that’s with under 400 members, but with an average of over 475 people attending. Yeah, more people attending than actually belong. Sort of different, isn’t it?
Anyway, it was good. Church has been something that I’ve missed, so, I think I’ll be going back. No, I know I’ll be going back. I’ve been needing something more in my spiritual life and church is it, I think. Regular church services and regular contact with a like-minded faith community. These folks seem like they’re headed down the path I would like to follow. So, yeah, it was comfortable being there. What’s more, it was comforting being there. Yeah, I’ll be going back.

And it would have been in time for my anniversary…

Ah, well, perhaps I celebrate some other event. I’m talking about the Macallan Whisky Weekend – Friday 4th & Saturday 5th March 2005, of course. A little tasting event sponsored by the Macallan Distillery. Among other things, the event includes “a Macallan Masterclass with Bob Dalgarno, Whisky Maker at The Macallan and recent winner of “Industry Leader of the Year 2004″ at WhiskyFest in the U.S.”
But, that’s only the start… Of course, the event is in Scotland, but you also get 2 nights accommodation in a Classic bedroom; Full Scottish breakfast each morning; A three course dinner with the group, with wine, in The Terrace on Friday night; An insight into ‘The World of Whisky’ on Friday night including the opportunity to taste six different whiskies; A four course Gala Scottish dinner in a private room with the group, a different whisky will be included to accompany each course (or wine for those who would prefer), on Saturday night; and, most importantly, A bottle of The Macallan 12 years. Of course, it runs about $1300, for two, plus airfare, but it would have been worth it. Hmm, it’s only $900 for a single. Maybe it’s worth the deep, deep debt….

Well, not this time around. Maybe if they’re still doing it in a couple of years. It sure looks like fun, though, eh? (Aw, go on, you know you want to click on the Macallan link. It’s Friday, you deserve it!)

Wow, there’ve been a lot of stories about Novell in the past two days!

Let’s see, where to start…. First off, Novell whupped Micro$oft to the tune of $536 Million, according to this press release from the networking giant. Apparently, Novell and Micro$oft agreed to “settle potential antitrust litigation related to Novell’s NetWare operating system in exchange for $536 million in cash.” Hmm, not a bad deal. I wonder what that will do to their stock? What’s even more interesting to me, is that Novell also announced it will file “an antitrust suit against Microsoft in the United States District Court in Utah seeking unspecified damages in connection with alleged harm to Novell’s WordPerfect application software business in the mid-1990s.” More cash? One can only hope.

In other Novell news, my favorite Open Source company has released a “new” Linux desktop. Yes, that’s right, they’ve got a Linux desktop, with the option to purchase support. I guess there really are advantages to living way out in Orem and not having anything else to do during the winter months but think! If you follow that link, by the way, you can download a free trial. I know I will be!

Yea, Novell! You go!

Gee, what a novel idea!

According to this article on the IEEE website, Today’s Engineer, an IEEE member has finally convinced the US Congress to take a somewhat more dispassionate look at the effects of outsourcing. Specifically, the House of Representatives approved a “mandatory” appropriations bill that coughs up $2 million for an “independent study of the effects of offshore outsourcing on the economy and employment” in the US. What’s frightening to me is that this hasn’t been done before. With all the hoopla on both sides, doesn’t it seem obvious to have an independant, unbiased agent of some kind look into what effects off-shoring is having? Um, DUH!?
Of course, I’m a little biased because I know a number of people who have been directly effected by the outsourcing/off-shoring trend of the past few years. Still, while I am willing to admit that it makes sense in some cases, no one has proven that it’s a “good thing”, as Martha Stewart used to say. I certainly don’t think that it’s the cure-all that so many executives seem to have thought it was for the past five years. And, they may be finally waking up to that fact, too. On the other hand, they don’t seem to have snapped to that at my old company. Yet, anyway. Well, at least some folks are starting to do something about it!
It’s an important subject, I think. Especially for our industry.