Take that Zurg!

We have just returned from Southern California with GLORIOUS news. During an intergalactic battle against the Evil Emperor Zurg, Space Rangers Ann and Paul defeated his robot army. Although there were casualties on our side, their sacrifice was not in vain. Rangers Ann and Paul boarded their Space Cruiser, took flight through the treacherous terrain, and blasted their way through enemy fortifications knowing full well that this could be their final moments together.

Undaunted and without fear they piloted towards their destination blasting away any and all that would stand in their way and leaving behind only broken shells of a once powerful mechanized militia.

"Good Job Space Rangers!", announced the proud Commander Buzz Lightyear over the intergalactic broadcaster.

Autopilot engaged and steered us towards the Flight Center and home. We walked down the boarding ramp of our Space Cruiser and exited the flight center knowing that the galaxy was, for now, safe from tyranny.

Entering into the sun we breathed a great sigh of relief. Civilians crowded the streets walking along without a care in the world completely ignorant of the war that was just raged. It is probably better that way. I fear to know the damage that would be inflicted upon the minds of the average person. It is not just anyone who can look into the eyes of death and not flinch. War can be hell, but battling Zurg is more worser...

Evil forces lurk in the darkness, but sleep well knowing that the Space Rangers are here to protect!

Cloud City

Cloud City. The home of Lando Calrissian. Magical floating mining colony on the planet Bespin. It's a great place to own and run. The Empire turns a blind eye to what you do and how you do it provided you pay your dues; however, as someone who relied on the safety and security of the Cloud...just ask Han Solo!

If you have not read the article in the Washington Post regarding T-Mobile's cluster-F with their Sidekick's data backup debacle, here it is---> Sidekick Doh!

Add to it the Carbonite (famed online backup system) who charges a reasonable flat rate of $55.00/yr to lose your data! I will make you a deal. I can guarantee to loose twice the data, in half the time, for one-quarter of the price! Sign up with NOW! This offer will not last!

Cloud computing: the latest and greatest pseudonym for having no control over your data, or access to it. The idea started just a couple of years ago with "mainframe computing", then "terminal computing" and, my favorite, "ROAMING PROFILES". The idea is that, no matter where you go, there you are. If you can find a computer with network access, then you can access your most intimate of files and needed of information. It does not matter which computer you are on. Trust me, your information and vital documents are safe with me! Oh! And did I tell you? I have a great home loan offer for you. No money down, don't pay a cent in principle, and before you know it, your house will double in value!

There is something to be said about the adage, "1 in the hand is worth 2 in the bush." Be smart. Be secure. Heck, be a little bit paranoid. Keep a copy for yourself!!!

...back to the office.

What happened yesterday???

I used the statement today, "Those who do not remember their history are condemned to repeat it." Who said that?

Well:

the commonly used expression, "Those who ignore history are bound (or doomed) to repeat it" is actually a mis-quotation of the original text written by George Santayana, who, in his Reason in Common Sense, The Life of Reason, Vol.1, wrote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Rooted in the philosophies of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and many others to follow, his biography (1863-1952) and more contemporary intepretations and observations about man and life can be found at Wikipedia by searching for George Santayana. Stanford University online also provides an outstanding and much more detailed background on this important and profound philosopher, essayist, poet and novelist.

Santayana's quotation, in turn, was a slight modification of an Edmund Burke (1729-1797) statement, "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." Burke was a British Statesman and Philosopher who is generally viewed as the philosophical founder of modern political conservatism.
- Wikianswers.com [http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_said_Those_who_ignore_history_are_bound_to_repeat_it]

Does that mean that George Santayana did not really know 'his' history as he quoted (almost word for word) Edmund Burke? Sorta apropo for today's economic climate, which is (almost word for word) of the 1920's Great Depression.

Anyways, I need to get back to work. My boss just walked by!

Total Eclipse of the Heart...Totally!

There are those songs that, no matter how often I listen to them, or read the lyrics, I can never get all of the words correct. Sometimes, I know all of the words, but mess up the order in which they appear in the song. Thankfully, someone much smarter than I (not very difficult to imagine) as created a very useful flowchart to take you through Bonnie Tyler's lyrics:



So, I am pleased to inform you that I now can follow the entire song. What is even more wonderful, is that the song has been translated using sub-titles and super-titles over the Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj-x9ygQEGA

It all makes sense now. Where was the internet(s) during my high school days! i'd have been so much more in the know!

Revelation of "The Matrix"

Quote from The Matrix:

Spoon boy: Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. Instead... only try to realize the truth.
Neo: What truth?
Spoon boy: There is no spoon.
Neo: There is no spoon?
Spoon boy: Then you'll see, that it is not the spoon that bends, it is only yourself.

What I have come to understand now, is that the Matrix is the Academic Computer world, Agent Smith is Apple Computers, the Spoon is the UNIX base system and Neo is just some dumb fuck who is trying to make the stupid workstation be flexible enough so that students, or the general public, can operate the thing consistantly and reliably without is throwing up some lame undefined operations error.

Smoke that one, Steve!

Lessons Learned in Reno, NV

Life has many lessons to teach. From the time we are small children and throughout our years we are offered many opportunities to expand our knowledgebase. As toddlers we learn that "no" means "NO", cats don't like their tails pulled, fire is hot, ants taste like pepper, and, just because you say "MINE", does not necessarily make it so. Adolescence brings with it it's own morsels. Curfew is midnight, due dates really mean something, mixing alcohols is a bad thing, and telling your parents "You can't tell me what to do!" is just a pipe dream.

During a recent sojourne to Reno we (myself and others who will remain anonymous) were presented with several life lessons:

• One 30-pack of beer does not last long with 15 guys
• Don't go on the freeway at 6pm on a Friday night
• Don't trust a taxi driver who bottoms out his car on the driveway
• Girls who snort when they laugh, should not tell AJ to shush
• Don't drink at the While Orchid
• Anyone can get a P.I. license in Alabama
  
• Beer Pong is a waste of beer
• Brett is not a happy camper when he is woken up at 5am
• Some Fridays last a LONG time
• Roll another blunt...it'll get used
  
• Everybody falls asleep in the recliner
  
• Some taxi drivers have nunchucks
  
• Loulou Belle's is the best place for breakfast
• In Placer County: Once on probation, always on probation

I am grateful for these lessons learned. Nobody was hurt in the process (except for the guy who DID have a drink at the Wild Orchid). Please accept these tidbits as fact and not fluff. Learn from them. Add them into your life's Do's and Don'ts List and be better for it.

Be Well.

An Apple a day...

I have heard, read, been told, and other-wise seen on multiple occasions the whimsical saying, albeit an old wives tale, that, "An Apple a day, keeps the Doctors away."

For the majority of my years I have had a certain understanding of this colloquialism - Eating an apple each day will help keep you healthy and away from the need of a medical physician. Today, I stand (sit at the computer) corrected. I now have a corrected, and much more accurate, interpretation of this saying -

...Doctors are smart enough to purchase PC's!

Macintrash, iCrack, Crackintosh, FUBAR, Macincrack...GREATEST COMPUTER IN THE WORLD CUZ IT IS SOO INTUITIVE...call it what you may...PC's may be prone to viruses and internet attacks, but working efficiently with an Apple computer is like making a left turn in San Francisco!..it simply cannot be done.