LAN PARTY TIME!

Ahhhh, love the smell of burgers n dogs grillin' in the morning. Yes, the delayed Labor Day LAN Party happens this evening around 6:00pm. It will last until, well, whenever. Folks will gather to play GuildWars, enjoy food with refreshing beverages, and share things most geekified. Forest Whistler is bringing a FreeBSD server that will be tweaked before your very eyes! Hiarnow Kharnak will be the master magician during this performance. Amazing, I must say.

Please remember, if you have had too many refreshing beverages you have no choice but to stay until capable of navigation to your homesite. Our Saltillo PD has NO tolerance for drunk drivers. We like it that way. That said, let's have a blast!

"At every party there are two kinds of people - those who want to go home and those who don't. The trouble is, they are usually married to each other."
-Ann Landers

Snappin Good Utility

Ever wanted to copy what's on the screen? For instance, here is what my desktop looks like on the SLI gaming machine:




Wanna see a personalized Google homepage? Try this:



These were done in just a few minutes with a wonderful tool called MWSnap. This is freeware provided by Mirek Wojtowicz. Though freeware, he does have PayPal available and will take donations. Donate! This is a super program so help Mirek out!

Later, my nerdlings.

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
-Ansel Adams

There's a Dumbass Spamming This Site

Vietnam Veteran here. Spent two years over there. Hated it. Folks I didn't even know were trying to kill me. When their effort was great, I killed them back. Came home a wreck and tried to put together a decent life. It was horrible. The Purple Haze years. Most of my fellow Vets that saw action are still a little crazy. With the help of a group discussion once a week for over a year my life actually developed some meaning. Just lost and crazy. Many of us have done this and it's nice to know that the killing stopped long ago and only appears in my dreams on rare occasions anymore.

Why admit all this now? There is a fool spamming my comments. I just want the no good son of a bitch to know that when Haloscan finds his ISP I might not be in a good frame of mind. I do have the means to travel and some of my government trained skills are retained. I have done nothing to you and deeply resent your childish pranks. God help you when I find you.

Okay, maybe all the craziness has NOT been cured. This is the last I will comment about it until I have the name, address and phone number of this jerk. This info will be published on this site. So there, and just keep doing it. I want you to do your dead level best and please use profanity or threaten me. C'mon and we'll see wins. You may not realize exactly who and what your dealing with... and no threat intended, just a promise.

"A fool often fails because he thinks what is difficult is easy."
-Collins

Morning Launch

First I lost the keys. After a nerve racking search they were found. Then clothes had to be washed. Just didn't have a thing to wear. The cell phone has been on the fritz. It locks up sometimes. Seems to be brought on by my need to use it for something important. To the car finally and one of the tires was almost flat. Out comes the mini air compressor. Come to find out all tires were low. Filled. That mini compressor rocked!

Then the phone started working and someone called complaining about my being late. This happened as I had keyed in their number to phone and tell them I was running a few minutes late. Then I discovered the batteries in all my devices were low. Okay, from some scary reason all the appropriate chargers were in the car. Whew! Now we're rolling!

Oops. What's that? My wallet wasn't in the pocket. Steering wheel is 180ed and wallet retrieved after a minimal search. Back to the car. Let's go. Let's go! And that's when I first saw the train across the road. While sitting several cars back sipping my coffee, a realization shook me. The cup's half full! Good go! Then I proceeded to spill the majority of it in my lap. See why I need your prayers?

"Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."
-Henry David Thoreau

One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingy

Cell phones are a necessary evil. Years ago my Bell South home phone was removed because they are liars. When the initial switch was made the monthly bill was supposed to be under $80.00 per month tax included. The Bell salesman even calculated. I know this because the noise of the calculator came over the phone. Hah! It averaged about $130.00 per month. BTW, they were not my long distance carrier. There is also the matter of a $200.00 cash rebate that never happened.

If you have a problem Ma Bell can't seem to find anytime or anyone to aid you in your communication fubar. They can sure find someone to call and inform you that your bill is due in a few days. Let's see, dunning someone for payment before it's due; there's a concept. So, they are evil.

The semi-functional cell phone is not much better. The signal comes and goes, the phones are not sturdy, the help department (Cingular anyway) pat answer is to pass the buck, they radiate microwaves and usually are hard to hold to the ear for an extended period of time. Yet, we just can't live without 'em. Momus has a good article about all this at Wired News

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
-Arthur C. Clarke

Idle Chatter and Immaturity

The server switch ended up past 11:00pm yesterday. Moving files of that nature just take time. The network is 10/100 and all equipment functioned properly. It's all good though. Eight hours invested plus several hours of bench time to actually upgrade the machine, format and install the OS and incorporate SCSI plus some ancillary software problems made for a longer than usual installation. The four phone calls made throughout the day assured me that the transition had been done efficiently and my precautionary remaining in close proximity could cease. Besides, I corrected some errors on the network concerning printers, security, etc., so boring it was not. I will say a prayer of gratitude before retiring.

It's obvious that a spammer has found this site interesting, at least the comments. Instead of using Blogger the comments are driven by a company called Haloscan. They contacted me within hours after receiving my complaint. Their usual cure is to have the person immediately banned from their ISP and other actions are taken to stop such idiocy. I was asked if the need arose would I prosecute? So keep tightening that noose. Just spam away and leave a trail. Ahh, the idle time of a childlike person. Gosh, wish my brain was that vacant and there were no time restraints in my life. Hey, there's a positive spin; some companies still care about their customers. You go, Haloscan!

"The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right."
-Mark Twain

Just Love the Sound of Server Whirrr in the Evening or Pass the Parsnips Please

Four hours of file transfer and the servers still aren't through. This is an unusual way to spend a Sunday evening. Of course it can't be interrrupted and the parameters for users, privileges, etc. will have to be done as well. Just another day in paradise.

Thank goodness Subway has come to Baldwyn, MS. Really didn't think I'd be this long. There's just something about cpa data that takes time. The sound of numbers crunching can be heard throughout the building. Other than that it's quiet.

As I sit awaiting the file transfer to cease, eating my Subway sandwich, it is intriguing to read articles about weight loss at eHow. Here's one that is interesting, but just a little too vegetarian - How to Understand Dean Ornish's Program. This is worth another look. Vegetarian? Can you imagine the grill flaming with me bent over it basting a head of cabbage or tofu burger? Hamboni the Seer says this is not in my future unless done as a joke.

Later y'all.


"It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts while eating a homegrown tomato."
-Lewis Grizzard

Heavy Eyelids

Sony was caught putting root kits in CDs, Mircrosft admitted it is spying on every Windows user that has downloaded the WGA update, Osama Ben Laden is still running free terrorizing the planet and all the news media can talk about is board room leaks at HP. Ridiculous and absurd. The world is indeed a strange place. You can read this "news" at ITWire, if you can stay awake.

Time to sleep, perchance to dream with the rain falling gently against the windows. Nighters.

"Beta. Software undergoes beta testing shortly before it's released. Beta is Latin for "still doesn't work."
-Billy Wobblynife

Scene from the Reservoir

Beagle sent this to me and I laughed so hard it hurt. Hope all my Northern friends see the humor.


Subject: A DIARY OF A YANKEE


Dear Diary:

May 30th:

Just moved to Madison, Mississippi...Now this is a City that knows
how to live!! Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. What a
place! Watched the sunset from the Reservoir lying on a blanket. It was
beautiful. I've finally found my home. I love it here!

June 14th:

Really heating up. Got to 100 today. Not a problem. Live in an
air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure
to see the sun on the water everyday like this. I'm turning into a sun
worshipper.

June 30th:

Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of
cactusand rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing lawn for me.
Another scorcher today, but I love it here.

July 10th:

The temperature hasn't been below 100 all week. How do people get
used to this kind of heat? At least it's kind of windy though. But
getting used to the heat and humidity is taking longer that I expected.

July 15th:

Fell asleep by the pool. (Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body.)
Missed 3 days of work. What a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson
though. Got to respect the ol' sun in a climate like this.

July 20th:

I missed Morgan (our cat) sneaking into the car when I left for work
this morning. By the time I got to the hot car for lunch, Morgan had
died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag and stank up the
$2,000 leather upholstery. I told the kids that she ran away. The
car now smells like Kibbles and shi ts. I learned my lesson though. No
more pets in this heat.

July 25th:

The wind sucks. It feels like a giant freaking blow dryer!! And it's
hot as hell. The home air-conditioner is on the fritz and the A/C
repairman charged $200 just to stop by and tell me he needed to
order parts.


July 30th:

Been sleeping outside by the pool for 3 nights now. $1,500 in damn
house payments and we can't even go inside. Why did I ever come
here?


August 4th:

It's 105 degrees. Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It
cost $500 and gets the temperature down to 85, but this freaking humidity
makes the house feel like it's about 95. Stupid repairman pissed in
my pool. I hate this stupid city.

August 8th:
If another wise ass cracks, "Hot enough for you today?", I'm
going to strangle him. Damn heat. By the time I get to work the radiator is
boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like baked
cat!!

August 9th:

Tried to run some errands after work. Wore shorts and sat on the
blackleather seats in the ol' car. I thought my ass was on fire. I lost
two layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs and ass. Now
my car smells like burnt hair, fried ass, and baked cat.

August 10th:

The weather report might as well be a damn recording. Hot and sunny.
Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. It's been too hot to do anything for 2
damn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next
week!! Doesn't it ever rain in this damn desert?? Water rationing
will be next, so might as well watch $1700 worth of cactus just dry up and
blow into the damn pool. Even the cactus can't live in this damn heat.

August 15th:

Welcome to HELL!!! Temperature got to 105 today. Forgot to crack the
window and blew the damn windshield out of the car. The installer
cameto fix it and said, "Hot enough for you today?" My wife had to spend
the $1500 house payment to bail me out of jail. Freaking South.

What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here?

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
-Henry James

Time is on My Side?

Received an email that has an excellent question: Why do some posts show up late in the day?. Thanks for the email, Cal. The answer is they are not actually showing up late. Usually, I try to post before leaving in the morning. This is not always possible. The time stamp at the bottom is when this post was initiated. Sometimes I get in a hurry and leave it up. Then in the process of testing a machine, I may edit and finish later in the day. It has nothing to do with my fine, fine host. Blogger is very prompt about posting and also very reliable. One of the best free services on the web . Google owns Blogger. Enough said.

Now for some self promotion. If you get bored or need something to pass a few minutes, please click on one of the archives. Thanks to all the great people that use Cybersouth-FTSBH as their home page. This certainly helps the count. Get a friend to check us out. There will be more possum lore soon and Hamboni is way overdue for an appearance. Got a question? How about a funny pet story? Or a snickering workplace goof? Email me.

"I like pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."
-Winston Churchill (smart man he was...)

Horse Sense, not Horse Ass

The last few weeks have been rough. Okay, make that months. My health has been an issue and this is never good for anyone. After several trips to the doctor the meds are now doing their job. The confusion suffered a few times is downright scary. My life has been graced with good health for the most part. There are some rocks in that road, but they are no longer obstacles. What worries me the most is the way that work has suffered. Just hard to go when your too dizzy to drive. That's changing, thank God.

On several occasions good friends have been there and helped, sometimes in ways not so apparent. They certainly don't need to read this article: How to Be an Awesome Friend. The four points made in the article are very good standards. The Tips and Warnings are just as important. This is not a long read and certainly not rocket science. It's also painless most of the time and can be downright rewarding. Besides, it'd be a damn site better world if everyone adhered to such principles.

"You know, it's nothing new
Bad news never had good timing
But then, the circle of your friends
Will defend the silver lining"
-John Mayer (well said Mr. Mayer, well said...)

It Feels Like Rain

And looks it too. Nice day to kick back, put your feet up and day dream about faraway places. A bit warmer than last week, but cool temperatures should be back tomorrow behind this front moving through. Enough with weather voodoo.

Slow tech news day. Gonna check the SEC scores and return to the bench for further repairs. Later.

"I like long walks, especially when they're taken by people who annoy me."
-Fred Allen

Teamspeak Server Revived

Teamspeak is back online at the beach house. Those who are users please use your search to find the new number, or call me, or email me, or...okay, if you have trouble - get in touch. This number may change one more time then again, it may not. Sorry for the inconvenience. The network is still undergoing changes. Much gratitude out for temporary use of the Morris unit. Y'all are da bomb! Also, here's an awesome site for Guild Wars addicts; go to GuildWiki.

"Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean there's NOT somebody after you."
-Billy Wobblynife

Wireless PC/Cell Phone Headset

Several people have asked about wireless headsets for their PCs. This makes it easy to move from in front of the computer to various locations without having to to worry with wires confining you. You know, like grabbing a refreshing beverage, seeing who's at the door, checking the snail mail, or other things. Logitech has a bluetooth solution for around 100 bucks. It will also double as a headset for your bluetooth enabled cell phone. It uses USB as an interface. Check it out at Logitech. Please look under the 'headsets and microphones' category. Logitech prevents direct linking to a product(wonder what dumbass thought that up?). It is the third item listed on the page.

"The road to success is dotted lotsa' tempting parking places."
-Billy Wobblynife

Dead Link and the #%!!!@%?&@ Server

Sorry about the link not working in yesterday's post. Hopefully it'll be displayed properly in the future, but it is certainly not a priority today. In the 3.5 years I've posted the links have always worked, but with this one there is failure. Sorry, human here.

After taking down the Teamspeak server for repair and revamping, several items in the field have decided to do the fubar dance. They take priority. Also the Teamspeak server has decided not to pass thru a double router/switch setup. It has existed on this network for years that way, but will not assume its old connection. Therefore, it is being dismantled, reassembled, formatted, and the operating system re-installed. Again, my units in the field come first and the Good Lord in heaven only knows how long that will take.

Can anyone tell I am frustrated? Yes, if you have experience with HP Net-Server Raid 5 arrays (6 10k spin SCSIs striped w/parity) and Small Biz SQL Server some help will be welcome.

"If you're going through hell, keep going."
-Winston Churchill

Stress Relief

Okay, my daughter that is in Louisiana and is pregnant, had a rough day at work. When relating all this to her husband tonight the good doctor prescribed an unusual remedy. Please turn up you speakers and enjoy this philosophical approach to dealing with stress in the workplace. If the word ass offends you might be a good idea not to listen. Wait, if the word ass offends you then you wouldn't be here, lol. Just click (EDIT: link removed due to malfunction), download this very small file, then open it. Windows Media Player or your chosen player will run it automatically. Might be a good idea not to let the boss hear this...

"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down."
-Lily Tomlin

Teamspeak Temporary Outage

Over the next few days the Teamspeak Server will be undergoing major changes as will the beach house network. Sorry for the inconvenience, but these efforts are being made to improve connectivity and security. If someone in our Teamspeak group has the bandwidth and wants to set up a temporary server it certainly won't hurt my feelings. Many changes are overdue and it is time to stop the small children that think they know how to hack from bombarding this network. As soon as we are back online it will be announced. You patience will certainly be appreciated.

"I don't mind coming to work, but that eight hour wait to go home is a bitch."
-Gray

Site n Life Update

Due to changes in medication and various other little goodies taking place my ability and desire to post have been lax. This should change in the next few days. If things go okay on Wednesday my next scheduled doctor's appointment will be in about 6 weeks.

Finally got all my VA stuff online done and some meds ordered again. I'll refrain from further comment at this time. Just glad it can be done online instead of that crazy telephone thing. My fingertips are just too fat, lol.

Please bear with me. I am behind on everything. Efforts are being made to arrive at my normal level of abnormal-ness. Hey, say a prayer for me. Heck, make it for all Veterans.

"Diseases of the soul are more dangerous and more numerous than those of the body."
-Cicero

Z Your Board

A ZBoard has been in use at the beach house for several months. This is a keyboard that accents gaming. My love of Guild Wars inspired me to buy this product. Since I have never played any other game online this is a somewhat biased review.

Zboard makes a full Zboard that has modules (called keysets) for different games. They also make one that can be programmed from software downloaded off the internet called the MERC. There's a "pad"version of this called the FANG. I purchased the MERC. It's the unit being used now. Several gaming sites and software companies endorse them.

Being lefthanded, it is nice to have many of the game function keys on the left side of the keyboard. I was not able to pull it out of the box, download the software and start using it. It took several weeks of practice to make my left hand use the appropriate keys. I am still learning. The buttons are strategically located, clearly marked, and a good size for most fingers. The keyboard proper is pretty much standard and does include Windows keys.

At first the feel was weird. Hey, a pre-windows user here so I learned on the old "clicker" keyboards. This keyboard has a softer touch, but after some use the speed is up to normal. It is a decent feel and I like the layout. Wish they had key overlays available, but you get used to 'what key does what' after a few days. The left keypad is offset in an ergonomic fashion and even though I dislike those keyboards this slanting is quite comfortable.

I recommend this product, especially to gamers. As a matter of fact the purchase of the full version for Guild Wars is on my list of things to buy. Hope this helps.

"They must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom."
-Confucius

Learning Aid

Got an email asking if the Video Professor is legit. Here's one opinion, Epinions. Here's another, Video Professor Scam. In all fairness I have personally talked to several people that have ordered tutorials from this company and they had a pleasant encounter and good results from the content. The Microsoft Office tutorials (Excel in particular) comes highly recommended. Apparently, if you get by the infomercial hype about being free and realize that you will pay for it then you may benefit from this software. This is neither an endorsement nor a criticism.

Hope this helps.

"Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold."
-Leo Tolstoy

Stingray?

Wow, Steve Irwin is dead. He was killed by a stingray not a crocodile as one might suspect. Internationally known as the 'Crocodile Hunter' he was always a hoot to watch on TV. He is survived by his Wife Terri and two children, Bindi and Bob. Seems that Mr. Irwin was a super family dude. Read more at New.com.au. Please pray for the family.

Enjoy a Monday off on this Labor Day. Getting ready to go bring a server online. Later.

"Those that matter don't mind; those that mind don't matter."
Dr. Seuss (via Red Dragon)

Never Moon a Werewolf

We are finally going back to the moon. Yessir-ree Bob! It'll be year 2014, but plans are being made as we speak. NASA just awarded Lockheed the contract to build a vehicle for said trip. Now folks, we all know we've been there, but there are some that seem to make that trip more often than others. Who you say? Let's see there's Al Gore, you know the dude from Tennessee that "invented" the internet. He was vice president during the Clinton years. There's also the Hillarybeast. Anyway, check the BBC article, Lockheed to build NASA 'Moonship'.

"Desdemonas building a rocket ship
Desdemonas going away
Desdemonas building a rocket ship
Blasting off today
Shes got a passion for cookies
A crew full of rookies
Its going to be a hell of a blow
Desdemonas building a rocket ship
And Ive got to go"
-Jimmy Buffett