Seven Degrees off Bubble
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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "Misha" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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12:11 am
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The Wisdom of Teh Misha
So, here are just a couple of random tidbits I've added to my personal mottoes of late.
First off, for all you budget conscious people out there:
"Dinner out is cheaper than therapy, whiskey is cheaper than prescriptions."
And from a recent conversation with T. where we were discussing someone NOT ONLY stealing ALL of a fast-food place's free condiments, but then complaining to management to that they needed to refill the condiment bar.
T: "Well... that takes balls."
Me: "No, that doesn't take balls. That takes a dick."
You may now return to your regularly scheduled blog-reading, already in progress. :-D
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01:02 pm
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The problem with Facebook
So... I don't really do much with Facebook. Yes, yes, I do actually HAVE a Facebook account. If you're unaware of this fact, it's probably because A) as mentioned, I don't do much with it, and B) it's under my more-or-less legal name, which doesn't really come up in conversation much. Anyway, I digress. I don't do much with Facebook. Yet there it is, in all it's information saturated glory, sitting in my history, waiting for me to go back and troll through it. Which I do, on occaision. But I've got some significant problems with the idea.
Problem #1) Everybody and their third cousin that I have EVER met have since found me on Facebook. I'm only somewhat kidding about that. My life has spanned alot of geography, both on physical maps, maps of the mind, maps of the soul, the whole enchillada. I've been alot of people in that time, lived alot of places, done alot of things. And people from that entire spectrum have found me... on Facebook. People I went to Kindergarten with have found me on Facebook. People I went to church with have found me on Facebook. People I LARP with have found me on Facebook. Friends that I have and used to have have found me on Facebook. And I don't necessarily WANT to keep up with all of them, or have them keep up with me.
Problem #2) Information-overload-a-palooza. As far as I can tell, Facebook really breaks down to 60% quiz results, 20% Mafia/Vampire/Pirate/Ninja/Chartered Accountancy game blips, 15% Twitter-like "I'm at X now, doing Y, feeling Z about it." touchings of bases, 10% photo/status updates and 5% cross-postings from other sources. Yes, I realize that's 110%, but that's because it's 110% of the USRDA daily recommended information input ALL BY ITSELF. Add in Twitter, LJ and other news sources, and you quickly get Information Rickets. Or Scurvy. Or whatever a suitable "You're getting too much of a given nutrient" disorder applies. I dunno. ANYWAY, the point is... I just don't care. I try to, but I can't. I don't care what color soul belongs to someone I haven't seen since High School. I don't care what Disney Princess some guy I went to High School is. I don't care how well you know Rocky Horror trivia or which poker chips you need to "win" Mafia Wars or who turned who into a vampire. And while I appreciate the gift of this "generation's" flavor of Tamogochi, I ignored the last 15 I got and they are all languishing in the neoPet adoption center, making sad digital eyes while sad digital Sarah McLaughlin begs people to help them out. I don't care that you just got into the airport and are tired and ready to be home. I didn't know you left!
Problem #3) Cross-posts are becoming the bane of my daily information trawl. Most of the people I *DO* care about in the wide, digital universe are kind of a big digital deal. As such, they need maximum saturation of their message. I understand this. I've played the game of getting the word out on the web (mostly in my head, but still...) and that's just playing to win. However, in my day to day trawls of various journals, tweets and social networks, I have a kind of rule-of-thumb: "If I've seen this particular piece of information before, I am at the end of the new info. Move on." This gets particular frustrating on Facebook (although it's not limited there, but I'm talking about Facebook right now) when I start seeing cross-posts. Because I get to the blurb in Facebook that you crossposted from LJ and my brain clicks and says "Seen it. New information depleted. Move on." Only I haven't seen it *ON FACEBOOK* before. I saw it on LJ/Xanga/Twitter/Stuff-on-my-Cat about 3.26 seconds ago. There's actually a wealth of quizzes, wars, neoPets, "I'm home from the place you didn't know I left for"s and context-lacking song lyrics below that that I HAVEN'T YET SEEN! Several pages of them most likely.
I don't blame the cross-posters. I blame Facebook. Or rather, myself that I am an underling. But I prefer to take it out on Facebook. It's just easier.
So where does that leave me? I could drop the majority of people that have "befriended" me on the site that I just honestly don't care about, but that would alienate people who - with the best of intentions - wanted to keep tabs on how I was doing. And I hate feeling like a heel. But that would leave the people I *DO* care about, most of whom are major cross posters. I could drop the cross-posters as well (they would probably be MUCH more understanding about it), but that would still leave me swimming in a sea of non-content content that I don't much care about, albeit a smaller sea. Perhaps a lake. Or a very large pond. Plus, it would only leave me with about 4 people.
Of course, I could just DELETE my FB account, or just not check it... but then I might miss something important! And let's face it... that's really why we sign up for most of this stuff to begin with. S'true for me, atleast.
*le sigh*
The conundrums of modern technology.
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11:29 pm
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Trust Me. I'm a StoryTeller.
(DISCLAIMER: No, I'm not talking about any individuals or individual incidents in this post. This is not about you or him or her. It says neither more nor less than what it says.)
This R not Serious Writer post. First off, because I R not Serious Writer. Secondly because... well, because it's not.
This is a post about games. And not the games where you move plastic pieces around an arbitrarily marked out board. Not even games where there are clear winners and losers. This is a post about role playing games: games with THAC0 and 20-siders, games with paper-rock-scissors and Hot Topic clothing, games with foam weapons and enough grease-paint to drown in. The games where a group of people sit down (or stand up, or run screaming) with malice aforethought for the sole purpose of collaboratively making a story of blood, sweat, heroism, magic, high-tech high-jinks and/or firmly buckled swashes.
Admit it. You know EXACTLY which games I'm talking about.
All of these games have atleast one thing in common. They all have - and REQUIRE - a specific role. Some of these games call that role the "Game Master." Other, trade-marked games call it the "Dungeon Master." Others call it the Guide. Others, the Narrator. Some even use the name that is at the root and core of all the other names: The Story Teller.
Trust me on this. I'm a Story Teller.
Now, some of these games almost require an antagonistic relationship between the more "mundane" players and the Story Teller. They foster - intentionally or unintentionally - the feeling that the I am all things evil, all things antagonistic, all obstacles to be overcome, all enemies to be defeated. To which I respond: What's wrong with antagonism? I regularly go out in the morning to buy a cup of coffee and a newspaper. No-one stops me. In fact, if I have to coin of the realm, most people actively try to help me in my quest. And when I rise victorious, paper and coffee in hand, no trumpets blare fanfares. No-one chronicles my victory to be retold around campfires and gaming conventions for ages to come. Because it's not HEROIC. It's not EPIC. Antagonism makes the fight worthwhile. Overcoming great obstacles gives the victory MEANING. Without these things, your tale is even more boring than everyday life. There's a reason there are no RPGs called "Advanced Chartered Accountancy and Parallel Parking."
Trust me. I'm a Story Teller.
However, even in the best intentioned games, this antagonistic relationship can still be seen. Sometimes it's because the players identify too heavily with their characters PERSONALLY, instead of seeing them as part of a larger story. Sometimes it's because the players are just bloody, inflamed assholes who can't stand the thought of "losing." Sometimes it's because the Story Teller him/her/itself is a bloody inflamed asshole who can't stand the thought of not lording his god-like role over the players. To the latter, I say "Good gods, WHY are you playing with that particular storyteller again?!" To the two former, I offer this change in perspective:
As a player, you have a character to play. You have appropriated this characters stats, you have written up this characters back story, you have crawled inside her head and know how she feels, what she thinks, what she loves, what she hates, where her soft-spots are, how she's tough as nails. As a Story Teller, I have a character, too. That character is "The World." Everything that's not your character is mine. Ever villain, every car on the street, every drop of rain that falls. And I play my character for the same reason you play yours - to build that epic story that will have people sitting in Denny's at four o'clock in the morning five years from now, telling it again and again. *IF* you trust me to play my character.
Please. Trust me. I'm a Story Teller.
We work together in this. And the rules *ARE* there for a reason, I agree. But the rules are part of my world. I play within them, but I also play with them. When I am really on my game, I can even use flagrant breaking of "rules" to the greater advantage of the story. Is it frustrating when something doesn't fit your expectations, even when you've memorized every rule in the book? Yes. Does it suck to lose, when victory was so close in sight? Yes. Does it hurt when you have to work harder than you ever thought possible for a small victory? Yes. And that frustration and fear and agony is called "drama." It's what makes the later victories THAT much sweeter. If you want to be prepared for every situation that might arise, go play Candy Land. And remember to stack the deck.
Otherwise, trust me. I'm Story Teller.
Because you COULD argue with me. You could point to chapter and verse of the DMG as to why something I just told you couldn't POSSIBLY happen. You could point out that the 1984 Air Guitar World Championships weren't actually held in Helsinki. You could waste all of our time drawing diagrams for where you had everything stored away in your bag of holding. Except that I don't care. And neither do most of the other players. And my job is primarily done setting the scene, giving you the info. It's done with time and revelation, emphasis and stress, and bogging it down with heavy emphasis on game mechanics hurts the story MUCH worse than it helps game balance. Just let me play my "character." My character, the world. I'm not suggesting what would have happened due to some rule set. I'm not offering a vote. I'm telling you *what* *just* *happened*. If it's against your expectations, double check your expectations.
And trust me. I'm a Story Teller.
Because in the final analysis - unless you REALLY screw the pooch - the hero is going to win. (Unless you're playing Call of Cthulu, in which case, all bets are off.) Because that's the way the narrative goes. But there will be trouble along the way. Things won't go as planned. The protagonists will suffer and bleed. There will be loss. There will be grief. You will face down creatures that make your blood run cold, villains that scorn at your moral compass, antagonists who pervert your every good intention into harm. And you will win. And the sweetness of that victory will be magnified by every drop of sweat, every ounce of determination you show in the face of outlandish odds, every grief and pain you've borne to achieve it. Because that's my job. I give you that pain to make you immortal. I provide the reagent in that strange alchemy that transforms some scribbled stats on a piece of paper into the stuff of glory and legend. If you let me play my character. If you let me do my job. If you let me Tell the Story.
Just trust me. I'm a Story Teller.
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07:53 pm
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Recipe: Chicken with Brocolli and Red Pepper Flakes
This is primarily for ME, as I can never remember EXACTLY how I made this last time. However, if there are any neophyte cooks out there who want a fairly easy recipe to test your wings on... well, let's just say that if I can make it - and make it EDIBLE - *THREE* *WHOLE* *TIMES*, then I'm fairly certain ANYONE can do it.
For any of you non-neophyte cooks out there, if you want to try it out, improve on it and let me know, I'm all ears.
Chicken with Brocolli and Red Pepper Flakes
3-4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts (or 5-8 Chicken Tenderloins).
1 cube of Knorr Vegetable Bouillion.
1 Teaspoon of Roasted Red Pepper flakes.
1 cup of raw broccoli (just cut the fluerettes off a stalk of brocolli).
1 cup of uncooked Couscous.
1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil (or enough to coat a 12-14" skillet).
1/2 Tablespoon of butter.
Heat a 12-14" skillet (preferably non-stick) over Medium heat and coat with Olive Oil. Sear your chicken breasts (3-4 minutes per side) over medium to medium-high heat. While the chicken is searing, lightly steam the broccoli fleurettes. (We use a rice cooker for this, but a great quick-and-dirty way is to put the broccoli in a Pyrex measuring glass, cover with a squeezed-out, wet paper towel and nuke for a few minutes.). MeanwhileMeanwhile, Measure two cups of water into a small pot and bring to boil. Add *HALF* of your bouillion cube to the water, stir, and remove from heat. When your chicken is browned on both sides, add your veggie stock (from the bouillion, remember?), the broccoli, and Red Pepper flakes. Turn the skillet onto high heat and let cook UNCOVERED, turning the chicken and stirring occaisionally. Meanwhile, add ONE cup of water and the other half of your bouillion cube to the small pot (rinsing isn't necessary) and return to a boil. When your NEW pot of water is boiling, stir, remove from heat, and add your cup of couscous, stir once, and drop a tablespoon of butter in. Cover the couscous and let sit 4-5 minutes before removing the lid and fluffing with a fork (making sure to move the butter around while doing so). By this time, most of your veggie stock should have either boiled off or be soaked up by the brocolli. Remove from heat and serve over the couscous.
VIOLA! A tasty, tasty dinner. Try it tonight!
(As I said, suggestions, corrections, or improvements are welcome.)
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02:31 pm
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Earth Friendly Workplace: UR Doin It Rong
As I walked into Panera this afternoon, I was very to see this notice posted on the gas fireplace (bolding is theirs):
"We have chosen to Turn Off the Gas to our Fireplaces for the Summer of 2009 in an effort to conserve our natural resources."
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Panera Bread has chosen to do it's part for the environment by not running a gas-log HEATING element during the ENTIRE SUMMER. In Cincinnati. Where - almost a month from the start of summer - we're expecting highs of 87.
Congratulations, Panera, on your leadership in the cause of eco-consciousness. Perhaps you can follow up on this move by turning the A/C off this winter.
(Just an idea.)
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09:21 am
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Suck it, Palm Inc.
So, I got a rebound phone last week. I'm still heartbroken by the loss of my iPhone, but it seems her final loyalty was to the person paying the bills (what a 'ho) and I couldn't afford the data plan, anyway. So I called up Verizon and bought a 2-yr contract and a Palm Centro. I figured "Why not?" I've always liked Palm devices, my first PDA was a Palm device and I really *LIKE* the Palm OS. Plus, it was cheap, and - even without the data plan - I could sync it with my laptop and keep up with Calendar and e-mails and such.
Only not so much.
Before I go into Tech details, let me say this. Don't bother calling Palm technical support. Ever. For anything. First off, the people there have NO idea what they are doing. Secondly, the only tech documentation they seem to have access to is the same KB articles you can get on Palm's website. Third, they will blatantly LIE to you about their escalation processes.
To summarize as best I can, the problem boiled down to my laptop being a tablet. Now, their website says that "Palm Desktop by ACCESS" (whoever THOSE assholes are) won't install on "Tablet Editions of Operating Systems." According to Palm Support, this means "any tablet hardware. Ever. Period. Seriously." But we'll gloss over that. We'll also gloss over the 3.5 hours of "technical support" that we went through before they came to that conclusion.
However... I can't just let technical problems go unresolved. It's not in my nature. Also, I've been a little bored recently. So I worried at the problem, gnawed at it. I pulled the MSI installer files out of the temp directory and ran them through MSIEXEC in logging mode and checked the logs. I finally determined that the problem was not that the PROGRAM wouldn't run on tablet PCs... but that the INSTALLER wouldn't run on a tablet PC.
So I downloaded Microsoft Virtual PC, grabbed a free emulation file for Windows XP Pro, then signed up for a free trial of Wise Package Studio 7. I installed Virtual PC with the emulation file, logged into my "new computer" and transferred the Wise Studio installers. Install Wise Studio, start a Installation Package Capture, and install the Palm software on my "new computer." Finish the install, stop the capture, compile. Move the newly created WISE installer package to my ACTUAL (tablet) computer and install.
It worked like a charm. The only hitch was that it didn't recognize it as being installed under my actual USER. So I ran the regular installer again, and - since it already recognized it as being installed on the system - it breezed through it.
Yeah. Now, why can't Palm Inc package it's installer through WISE, instead? I don't know. But my next phone/PDA/Palmtop computer? Will *NOT* be a Palm device.
Palm => EPIC FAIL!
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12:33 am
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Musings on the Nature of Heroes
So, there's been much recent discussion around Triumph recently (and a small kerfluffle on the forums) about the nature of Heroes and whether (or which of) the protagonists of said game deserve the moniker. I had a though tonight which may - or may not - be relevant.
Comments are both welcome and appreciated:
Everyone wants to make the world a better place. The only thing distinguishing among the various peoples wanting to make the world a better place are:
1) How much ability they have to ACTUALLY effect change for the "better" in the world.
2) Their definition of "a better place."
3) The ends to which they are willing to go to see that change effected.
Discuss.
[EDIT: Actually, everyone, I was just pointing out the commonality of the impulse and how the three clarifiers could be used to seperate the mass out into various components (Heroes, Anti-Heroes, Superheroes, super-anti-heroes, villains, super villains, et cetera.) While the debate in Triumph had the thoughts in my head, it wasn't specific to there.]
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07:20 pm
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Still the weirdest work-breakup EVER...
So I called my boss this evening. I was supposed to meet with him this morning and give him back some old hardware, sign off on some Non-disclosure/CYA documentation and arrange for severance payment and such. Unfortunately, my new wonky sleep schedule trumped my memory (never a difficult task) and I *FLAT* slept through it. Anyway, it worked out because he didn't really have time this morning anyway.
ANYWHO... I'm talking to him and we cover the topics at hand, re-schedule for Wednesday morning and discuss a few business prospects I'd considered he might want to check out. And I finally just out and ask how he's been holding up for the past week. Not only is he run ragged - neither of us working at more than 75% recently, but that means he's now at 150% - but he's still raking himself over the coals about having to let me go.
I really do feel for the guy. However, it feels REALLY strange, trying to console your boss for firing you. o.0
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01:53 pm
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New Phone
So, after poking around at plans and providers a bit last night, I finally decided to console myself over the loss of the iPhone by going with Verizon and getting a Palm Centro (no data plan, though). Still, I can synch it with my laptop and atleast keep my OLD e-mails and such on it for easy reference. Still, this still feels like a step backwards for me, and not just because of the OMG-I-Have-Plug-It-INTO-Something?! Long, long ago, me and my little Palm Zire got along just fine without having to worry about the higher-end techno-gadgetry in the big, bad world. Now... I'm effectively going to have a newer, nicer Palm Zire built into my cell phone.
Not a HUGE step back, but still.
If anyone wants the new number, kick me an e-mail at misha@cheshire-grin.net (and possibly identify yourself... I'm HORRIBLE at keeping track of LJ-names with faces) and I'll reply as soon as the phone arrives.
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10:52 pm
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Giants in the Playground FTMFW!!!
Long, long ago I complained about a webcomic creator who posted quite publicly on his blog that he didn't want to put a tip jar, but did so anyway "because the fans wanted it."
Yeah, yeah, good for you.
Today, I'd like to offer praise where it's due in the opposite direction:
On the 5/08/2009 "rant" over at Giant in the Playground, the creator (I'm assuming Rich Burlew) is discussing their new server move and the eventual multi-server move and says:
Note that none of these issues are contingent on money at this time, so as always, if you have money you wish to donate, pick a charity and send it there.
That, ladies and gentlemen? That is CLASS. Possibly not the best business sense, but HELLA class. Sir, I doff my non-existence hat in your general direction.
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10:15 pm
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A call to Arms...
So I finally watched Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, and I'm desperately wanting 1) a $100k budget, 2) a high-end HD camcorder, 3) an almost unlimited supply of free-time to figure out what the hell I'm doing, 4) a horde of geeky friends to enlist as cast and crew and 5) a workable script.
Who can help me out with 1 and 2?
Com'on people! I've already got 3-5 fairly well covered! We're 60% of the way there!
[EDIT: Yes, I know. I have no idea how to go about doing a web-series. And I rake myself over the coals about that constantly. However, tonight I realized... I used to say that about webcomics, too. And while Cheshire-Grin was never a huge success... it t'weren't half bad.]
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10:31 am
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A Suprisingly Drama-Free Firing
First off... yes, I'm okay. I'm fine. Good, in fact. The title of this little missive does not lie. Now, with the disclaimers disclaimed, on to the news.
I've been fired.
See the need for the disclaimers now?
It's hardly surprising. Last Thursday, my boss got a call from one of our bigger clients wanting to have an "IT Status meeting." Strange, given that they haven't had an IT status meeting in YEARS, so he was understandably concerned. He called me - since I've done most of the groundwork there in the last several months - to see what might be the issue. I had no idea. But it didn't stop me from worrying. I was in a funk all that afternoon and well into the night. Yesterday, the meeting actually materialized. The verdict? They didn't want me providing service for them anymore. Mr.XConsulting was still in their good graces, so long as *I* wasn't the one showing up. Which, considering I'm the only employee, doesn't leave my boss alot of options, but whatever.
Anyway, this is - unfortunately - not a new thing. They are not the only client to have made that request. Some of it is my own fault, from getting overwhelmed with too much info to getting sloppy trying to get a job done in the least amount of (billable) time. Some of it is the clients fault, from not telling ME when they were having an issue to just not wanting to understand what I *DID* tell them. Some of it is my boss's fault, from not managing customer expectations to sending me to a site with insufficient info and expectations. In the final analysis, though, it doesn't matter. Because the entirety of the company's existence was formed around 1) me, 2) my boss, and 3) the customers. And among the 3 of us, we couldn't make it work.
So, with multiple clients who don't want to see my face for whatever reason and the business we have steadily shrinking, my boss just couldn't justify keeping me on. I felt bad for him, really. He lost sleep over this last night, and it showed. At our meeting this morning, he almost couldn't bring himself to say it. It was more like a really sad breakup than a firing. I finally had to tell him, "Dude, if your letting me go, do it. It's really okay."
And it is. I like my boss. He's a good guy. He is hella easy to work with. But not easy to work FOR. He has said himself that he wants to just be "one of the guys," that he "doesn't like being The Boss." Unfortunately, when the company grew bigger than 1, someone had to be. He didn't want to and I couldn't, so we wound up with two techs and no bosses and it just didn't gel. Meanwhile, I take my job home with me every night, worrying about it, thinking about it, stressing about it. All the stress and guilt and concern of a small business owner without the bigger paycheck or equity. I'm actually relieved right now. I would love to do work for this company again in the future, but it will be as an independent consultant, where I can demand project plans and work scopes and expectations before I agree to show up.
So anyway, we sat there for an hour, talked about how things went down, tried to pull our lessons from it. I offered him a few observations of where he might want to shore-up his weaknesses before he looks at hiring anyone else on. He offered me a months pay as severance and I asked to take my work laptop in lieu of several months of insurance he never had me covered with. We shook hands, agreed to meet tomorrow for me to give him back external HDD and the USB keys (and the phone... my beautiful phone... *sob*) and we went out separate ways.
And I came home. Utterly... perfectly... at peace. I'm not worried about what's happening at our clients offices. I'm not concerned about whether I did things right today due to bad info or what-have-you. I have no dread of seeing Vinny tomorrow, wondering what he will find to tell me I did wrong this time. I looked into unemployment last week and I am eligible and I can EASILY get by on my benefit amount. I'm as relaxed as I've been on a Monday for a very long time. It's nice.
Later, there will be gearing up. I have an opportunity in front me, dammitall, and I *WILL* be taking it. I will use this time to write more. I will use this time to exercise. I will use this time to sit down with my hopes and dreams and figure out where I should go from here. It's past time I got out of the Tech Support sector anyway. And - counting the unemployment benefits and the severance - I've got almost 28 weeks to do it.
For now, though, my Nintendo and I are just spending some quality time.
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03:48 pm
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Just another day in the IT mines...
That was the ugliest bunch of Win Hacking I've ever done... but holy CRAP, I think it's going to WORK!
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01:46 pm
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Gods DAMN you, HP!
Dear HP Brain Trust,
I, tech support guru that I am, am addressing whichever of you has been entrusted with the brain today. When I purchase a license for a piece of software from you - especially an OPERATING SYSTEM - I expect to be purchasing a *LICENSE*. Which, by necessity, means that I now own the license KEY. In fact, the license key is - effectively - the PROOF of my ownership of that strange bit of proprietary rights that we like to call "a license." Now I know that you would much PREFER that I use your restore CD to return my system it's pristine natural state (read as: "loaded with enough bloatware to kill a mid-range PC more than 2 months old), but I would, in fact, rather not. Because it is MUCH easier (and FASTER!) for me to reload the OS from a scratch XP SP3 OEM CD (which requires that I actually HAVE the license number that I PAID YOU FOR) and then manually load your drivers than it is for me to use your craptastic restore "technology," then install SP 3, and THEN *UN*install all of the worthless BS HP-branded bloatware/annoyware that you felt the need to inflict upon me the FIRST time.
No Love,
An Angry IT Business Purchasing Decision Maker
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11:33 pm
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More updating ME than YOU...
Had to sit down and take a bit of a personal inventory tonight. It's just been one of those... erm... "times" recently, I guess. A funk. The Mean Reds. Nothing really WRONG, per se, but nothing really going RIGHT. A tendancy to stare at computer screens or blank expanses of wall. Large chunks of time going missing from my consciousness of "The Present." That kind of thing.
It happens. To me, atleast.
Anywho, felt the need to sit down tonight with a legal pad and a pen and see what happened. Unsurprisingly, I made lists. Lists are generally what I do when I get into these circumstances. They are usually lists of action items. Sometimes just lists of What's Wrong. Sometimes they are overly-ambitious lists of projects. This time, there was a bit of all three. It basically came down to "What's Wrong/What's Not Right?," "How Could it Be Better?" and "What do I Need to Do in the Short-term to Get Me Headed That Way?"
Unsurprisingly, it broke the rut and gave me a bucket of hope and a cup of motivation. It almost always does.
Another unsurprising observation: The things I WANT to do, the things I actually NEED to do, the things that make me whole and sane and complete... are - without exceptions - the things I always find the most convenient excuses not to do. So, the things that I *NEED* to do - not because of some outside, arbitrary requirement, but because I NEED these things to make me WHOLE - can be easily identified, because they are the things I am conspicuously NOT doing.
This honestly deserves some study onto itself and SEVERAL LJ essays on the topic...
But that won't be happening tonight. Nor probably in the near future.
Hey, I said I got a CUP of motivation from all of this. A *CUP*. I've got to be sparing with it for a while. :-D
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12:47 pm
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One Small Step for Iowa
One Giant Leap for Rational legislation Worldwide.
Iowa Supreme Court unanimously declares Gay Marriage Ban UNCONSTITUTIONAL
I won't lie, I even found myself perusing the entire 69-page judgement and being taken aback by the soundness of the verdict. I mean, SERIOUSLY! It was solid, tight and well-written. I'm no lawyer or anything, but... wow. I think this really will be a history-making case.
One thing does get me, though: While I expected all the quotes from the social conservatives along the lines of "This sickens me," or "This will cheapen marriage," and even the ridiculous "NAO I CAN MAARY MY CAT!" comments, I was totally taken aback by the repeat of the call "This is not what the average Iowan Wants!"
...
And when it was first brought up, I'm sure most white voters were against black suffrage. And school integration. And WOMEN'S suffrage. And yet... we now have those and the world didn't end. And most of those STARTED as Court challenges and rulings. Because *THAT* *IS* *HOW* *OUR* *GOVERNMENT* *WORKS.* We have an elected body to make laws that shape the direction of our state in the future, reflecting the will of their constituencies. We have a single elected official (and his staff) to deal with the day-to-day stuff within the framework of the laws already passed. And we have an ENTIRELY appointed body to make sure that those day-to-day decisions are in keeping with the spirit on which the state (and the Republic) were founded. Flexibility, the will of the people, and the idealism of our founding all very neatly balancing each other.
And if the "average Iowan" is opposed to the ideals espoused in the Iowa constitution... then I don't think the problem lies with the court.
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04:26 pm
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Words we can all live by:
Direct to you from the instructions on a Device(tm) from work:
"if plug-in the connect incorrect, may cause damaged."
It's either brutal Engrish or the most profound Koan I've never understood. YOU be the judge!
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09:24 am
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Spyware, Spyware everyware and all the men did shrink...
Okay, I have been seeing TONS of spyware/virus issues in the past few months. Now, I understand that this is mostly because of my line of work, which involves primarily looking at diseased/injured computers all day. And I fully imagine that most of my tech-savvy, FireFox-lovin' Friend's List will be largely immune from this problem. However, on the off chance that someone here is getting pop-ups telling them they have spyware and where to go buy the "cure" for it, or if Google is redirecting you to e-commerce sites when you search for "Zebras" or - gods help you - your computer freezes as soon as your Antivirus tries to load... I want to let everyone know what to DO about it.
Preventative Maintenace:
- First off, don't run IE. I usually try to avoid the Browser wars, but I feel confident in making this assertion. IE has some sterling qualities, I'm sure, and I know that quite a few sites use IE extensions in their code that can only be viewed in IE... but don't run it unless you have to. Considering that Windows patches the HELP sub-system into IE and that Outlook pulls IE to display HTML e-mails, you already probably use IE more than you think you do. Try something else for browsing. If nothing else, MS Internet Explorer is just one big target for hackers to exploit, and MS has given them a big, fun target to play with.
- Secondly, Check your Service Pack level. Right click on "My Computer" (or "Computer" in Vista) and go to "Properties." If you don't have atleast XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) or Vista SP1... GO GET THEM NOW! *ESPECIALLY* XP Service Pack 3.
- Thirdly, stay up-to-date on your updates. Turn on Windows updates and set it to run automatically. Yes, you will get annoying "Office Live!" crap, but it's worth the hassle. If you just REALLY don't want to turn on Auto-Updates, then make a habit of opening IE, clicking on "Tools" (or pressing Alt-T, if you're in IE7) and clicking on "Automatic Updates" and follow the prompts.
Once the Horse is Out:
If by some misfortune this info is arriving at your doorstep late and you are already infected... then I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Because cleaning it is a pain. But, I'll break it down for you as simply (and comprehensively) as I can.
- On some OTHER, un-infected computer, download the MalwareBytes (www.malwarebytes.org) and SD-Fix (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/files/sdfix.php) and save them to a USB storage drive.
- Boot the infected computer in *SAFE MODE*. If you're quick, you can press the F8 key between your computer manufacturers boot-up screen and the Windows boot-up screen. If you're not quick and the Windows logo boot-up screen pops up, just hold down your power button until it powers off. Then power up again; you should be prompted for which mode you want to boot into. Safe Mode for this step is actually 100% necessary for those poor PCs that are freezing when the AV loads. Once logged in in safe mode, click on "Start," click on "Run" and type "msconfig" and click "Okay." On the main screen of MSConfig, select the radio button for "Selective Startup" and uncheck ALL check boxes and click "Okay." This is called a "Clean Boot." When prompted to reboot, reboot.
- Log in under the Clean Boot. MSConfig will probably prompt you that MSConfig has been run and blahblahblah... tell it to go to hell. Put your USB disk from step one into the USB port and run the installers for SDFix and MalwareBytes. MalwareBytes will prompt you to launch when it finishes installing. Do so. The it will prompt you to update and - if you can - update it and let it run. Most computers don't have network support in Clean Boot mode, though, so just let it run without an update. This will take a while. Go get a sammich or something. It will probably find PLENTY of spyware. When it's done scanning, it will ding and pop-up a window to let you know. Click on "Show Results" and clean out everything it's found. It will probably prompt you to reboot. Just let it.
- As your computer is rebooting, boot BACK into Safe Mode. Now browse to whatever directory SDFix extracted to (probably C:\SDFix) and run "RunThis.bat". This will also take a while. If you are still full from your last sammich, go for a walk or something. Enjoy the evening air. Call your mother, she misses you. Whatever, SDFix will run for a time, then prompt you to reboot. Always follow the advice of your Anti-Malware software. So reboot, already!
- Your computer will boot back into Clean Boot mode (because you never told it to stop) and the second stage of SDFix will run automatically. Let it do it's thing. You could possibly squeeze in another short walk or some light calisthenics at this point. Either way, when it's done, it will free up your computer to go to the desktop. Click Start again, click "Run" again, type MSConfig again, click Okay again. This time, though, select the Radio button for "Normal Startup," let MSConfig make its changes and...
- Reboot.
FIN! You're done! Spyware go bye-bye and your computer acting normally again (or whatever passes for Normal for your computer). Check back in on the Preventive Maintenance section up top to see how to avoid it in the future.
Unless... it isn't clean. Neither MBAM nor SDFix are infalliable, and Spyware is mutating LITERALLY every day (sweartaKRIST, if I had a nickle for every variant of Vundo I've seen in the last three months...). And some of them are getting PARTICULARLY clever about not letting themselves be deleted. However, if these steps didn't take care of the problem for you, your next best step is to A) reload from scratch or B) call in a professional. And, honestly, as much as I hate taking away work from poor working schlobs like me, I'd suggest just reloading unless you have a REALLY compelling reason not to.
And no, your three-year archive of Lion King Furry Porn is *NOT* a compelling reason. :-P
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02:55 pm
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Random Observation
I left my personal USB-storage key at home today. Am quickly realizing that all of the install files that are fairly worthwhile for this company exist on that USB key or as HUGE downloads on the internet. This is problematic. This should be rectified.
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11:04 am
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This? This is why I hate you, Business World
In the elevator today, I overheard two Business-y types discussing a book titled "Never Eat Alone" and immediately hated it. I looked it up on Amazon as soon as I got back to my desk and it was more or less what I expected. How to Win "Friends" and Influence People and ZOMG rake in TONS O' CASHOLA by building "deep and meaningful" relationships with people at conferences and other Business-Class Circle Jerks(tm).
Fuck.
That.
Shit.
Meals are sacred. Relationships are sacred. Come to think of it, I have a tendancy to eat most of my meals in company, but it's not so that I can go eyeball to eyeball with some other schmuck in a Power Suit and convince him to throw business my way. I do it because I want to earn the business of more of that person's company, to hear their stories and laugh at their jokes, to have my own stories and jokes heard and laughed at in turn, to be shaped - spiritually, mentally, emotionally and socially - by interaction with their minds and spirits. To commoditize that simple ritual does more than piss me off. In fact, any anger or rage I feel about it is completely distant because my mind simply refuses to comprehend a world that includes it.
So remember, everyone: Never Eat Alone while Making Friends and Influencing the People Who Moved Your Cheese from Beneath Your Colorful Parachute. Because if you do - IF YOU DO - you might expose yourself to a moment of actual spiritual insight or genuine human interaction.
I feel the need to go read some Wordsworth to feel better about the world. And I *HATE* Wordsworth!
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