Get back on that horse!

I took, and passed, my CompTIA Network + certification exam on Monday. You might think that I was immediately elated, but that was not the case. I spent 6 months preparing for it, and walked into the testing facility with a certain confidence. From the very first question, though (and there were 90 of them) I felt like I was in over my head. I was quite surprised at how many of the questions threw me. I barely passed the thing and, in fact, had myself convinced halfway through that I had failed it. At the end when the screen came up with the message "Congratulations! You passed." I was very surprised.

I think I know what happened. That test is updated every two years (or so, depending on what CompTIA feels like doing). When I bought my study material it was based on the 2005 test standards, which I was assured was the most up-to-date material. When I scheduled the test, however, I noticed that it was the 2007 version. I didn't worry too much about that though because I had been assured by the study material people that I did have the latest study guides. I even researched the test on the CompTIA website. They confirmed that the test was updated every few years, but that if it was between updated years that candidates should study the last updated material (again, the 2005 version).

I don't know if CompTIA came out with a new revision (the 2007 revision) between when I bought the material, and when I tested. But that seems unlikely, because I bought the material in November 2008, and the latest news then was that the test was going to be updated again in June 2009).

Bottom line- I felt overwhelmed by that test. And I'm sure that I had not studied the latest material. So, while I should have been thrilled for passing the thing, I actually walked out of the testing center angry because my score was so low.

Now, I know myself pretty well, and I know that when I am angry it is best to keep my mouth shut and deal with the situation later when I have calmed down (it took me a looooong time to learn that lesson, but I did finally learn it). Anyway, as a result I have not called the company (yet) that sold me the study guides. I'm still a little too upset to do it just yet, but I will probably call them next week. I want to make sure it never happens again. 6 months is a lot of time to put into studying for a test, and then almost fail it.

I passed, though, and got my certification. Now today (after a few days of ignoring it) I started posting my resume again. It's been a tough few months, not just for me but the whole country, with the banks crashing and the unemployment rate shooting up so high. I feel like I need to be telling myself, "Get back on that horse!"

Glad I passed. Glad I have the opportunities that I do. Gratitude.

A little nostalgia, anyone?

Well, since this is officially my 101st post on this blog, I thought I’d make it meaningful. For two years I served in the US Army, in the 187th Infantry Regiment (“Rakkasans!”) with the 101st Airborne Division / Air Assault. Ironically, this was the same unit that my father did his early Army training with (way back when dinosaurs and dirt were new). So it has always had special meaning for both of us. I can’t see the number 101 anymore without it having significant meaning for me, so I thought I’d share that little tid bit with all of you.

God bless America, and all of our troops overseas.

For some reason, this is how I feel tonight.

"Ironic, isn't it Smithers? This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has just cost me the election. And yet, if I were to have them killed, I'd be the one who would go to jail! Well, that's democracy for you."

"You are noble in defeat, sir."

Okay, I have a big test scheduled for Monday. I just took a practice test, and barely passed. I guess that means I need to brew a big pot of coffee and hit the freakin' books some more!

(How's that for my 100th post, huh!)

PS... Happy Birthday to Melissa's liver. Love you both.

I need to put a plug in for these guys.

The Chad Vader series from Blame Society Productions is hilarious.

Well, it's hilarious to me. I suppose it might not be hilarious if you're not a die hard Star Wars fan. I showed it to a buddy of mine who was not a Star Wars fan, and he did not think it was funny.

Anyhow, they are all over You Tube if you just type in Chad Vader. They did a whole "season" last year, and have just started their second one. Every now and then they'll do a series of side bits, which are also very funny (again, if you're a fan of the series, I suppose).

You can watch the latest one here. It's Chad doing his versions of all the movies nominated for Oscars this year.

Enjoy!

Sat through it.

Well, couldn't find a friend interested in going to see the new Friday The 13th with me, so I went and saw it myself this afternoon. That's two remakes in one week! And a remake is what this is. The original Friday The 13th (released in 1980) had so many freaking sequels (countless) that it became almost a joke. Okay, it did become a joke. But this is not another sequel, this is actually a remake of the original first film. Technically, for you horror-geeks out there, this was a remake of the first two films, with a major emphasis on the second one (which was the first one with Jason as the main killer/character).

The one piece of genuine appreciation that I think this remake deserves is the fact that the first 20 minutes go by really fast. So fast, in fact, that I thought we were approaching the end of the movie, only to discover that it had been a pre-feature teaser (if you will) for the much longer second part of the film. That was well done. I didn't see it coming. Somebody (the director, the screenwriter, somebody) deserves credit for that.

I am a horror film fan, I have to admit it. And the Friday The 13th series was huge when I was a kid in the 80s. A few years later, in college, I worked at a Blockbuster Video between semesters in the early/mid 90s, and I made it a point of taking one of the films home each night until I had watched them all. Sometimes I would watch them alone, sometimes I would take them over to my girlfriend's place and we'd make out while watching them... The latter was always a much better scenario.

Honestly I lost count of how many sequels there actually were (and I think most people have). But I have watched them all, one a night, back to back, and I can tell you that they are pretty lame that way. There's no waiting or anticipation for the next sequel to be released, and the first 15 minutes of each film is always a recap of what happened in the last film. So, if you just watched the last film last night, it gets old pretty quick. Also, they stopped even trying to be creative with the many different ways that Jason comes back to life each time. Toward the end of the sequels, they were just ridiculous.

"But, Joe, those movies are ridiculous! All of them! That's what horror movies are all about." Yeah, I hear ya. But watch them all straight and you'll see what I mean. Ridiculous hits whole new levels you didn't even know existed.

There was a long period of time there where they didn't release any more sequels, and then one year they came out with one that takes place in the future, called Jason X. (I think the X was a reference to the new Apple MacIntosh operating system by the same name which had been released just before, and was all the "new" rage in computers that year, because they had certainly surpassed 10 sequels by that point). I honestly can't remember if I ever went to see that one in a theater, but I did buy the DVD and still throw it in from time to time when I want to laugh at the idea of squeezing what last few breathes of life there still might be out of a horror movie dynasty.

This remake was... Okay, I guess. I mean, it was horrifically violent. But then, back in 1980 when the original came out that one was considered horrifically violent, too. Although, if you watch the originals now you will undoubtedly laugh at the campiness. And, of course, they leave it wide open for a sequel, which is only fair, since it was this movie that really stretched sequel making to the breaking point. I mean, over a period of 25 years George Lucas only came out with 6 Star Wars films, which is piddly in comparison to what Friday The 13th did.

Will I go see the next one? Maybe. If I can find a friend who wants to go with me. But honestly, it just wan't fun sitting in that theater by myself this afternoon. And, another thing, there was a single guy sitting two rows behind me all by himself, too. And that kinda creeped me out. I couldn't help but think, "What the hell is that guy doing in here watching this thing all by himself?" Never mind the fact that I was doing the same thing. But I know I'm not creepy.

Maybe I'll just wait 10 years and then buy all of the sequels (the NEW sequels that is) on disc and have a Friday The 13th party or something. By then we'll all be ready to laugh at those, too.

I'm sorry, but this was just too funny not to post.

...click to view The Star Trek Love Boat

The Omega Man (1971)

Okay, you know how one little reference can get you thinking? For years?

Back in 1983 Bob and Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas of SCTV fame) took the success of their late night skit The Great White North to the big screen with Strange Brew: The Adventures of Bob and Doug McKenzie. It is one of my all-time favorite comedies. Anyway, there is a line in the opening that goes, "I was kinda like a one man force, like Charleton Heston in Omega Man. Did'ja see it? It was beauty." Well, I never did see Omega Man (excuse me, THE Omega Man as I've learned it is actually titled), and in fact never gave it much thought after that, except when referencing that amusing line.

In 2007 the film I Am Legend with Will Smith was released. I never did go see it in theaters. It just didn't seem like a flick I'd be into. But then somebody mentioned that it was a zombie movie, and I really dig zombie movies, so last year I rented it with a friend.

A few weeks ago another friend of mine mentioned in passing that I Am Legend was a remake of The Omega Man. This same friend is a pot smoking conspiracy theorist who says all kinds of wacky things, so I usually take whatever he says with a grain of salt. Anyhow, being fascinated with remakes, as I am, I eventually (tonight) decided to see for myself.

First of all, yes, it is. And apparently lots of other people are already aware of it. When I did a google image search to find a pic to go with this post I immediately encountered several other blogs and web sites dedicated to both films. Once again, seems like I was among the last to figure it out. That's okay, I don't mind being the slow guy.

Anyway, since there are several web sites already dedicated to the discussion, and since I literally just finished watching it for the first time about 15 minutes ago (and it usually takes several viewings before a movie really sinks in with me), I will avoid a deep analysis of the film at this time. I will say, however, that I liked it. So we can chalk up another 1970s Charleton Heston film to my list of favorites (including Planet of the Apes and Soylent Green).

Like Planet of the Apes and Soylent Green this was another view of what people in the past (the 1970s) thought the future would look like. It is yet another sci-fi epic from Heston, which makes me wonder what kind of actor did I really think Charleton Heston was, anyway? Growing up I knew he was famous for his portrayal of Moses, and Ben Hur, but I never saw those movies... Not true, I actually saw The Ten Commandments long ago as a kid. But all I remember was his famous descent down off the mountain with the tablets. The rest of the movie never stuck with me. But aside from that, Charleton Heston (to me anyway) was always the NRA spokesman and the guy who did all of those background narrations of The Bible for those books on tape series. I always had in mind that he was some kind of ultra right wing conservative old man, not a sci-fi action hero. (quick note: not that there's anything wrong with being an ultra right-wing conservative, but honestly could you see Rush Limbaugh as a sci-fi action hero?)

A quick glance at imdb shows that Heston is accredited with well over 100 films dating all the way back to 1950! So, I'm not going to analyse The Omega Man, or even attempt a half-assed movie review (not yet, anyway), but what I am saying is that I have recently discovered that I really dig Charlton Heston! I look forward to watching many of his other films now that I've discovered I really like him.

Anyone who has seen The Omega Man, and/or any other Heston film, and would like to make comment I'd love to hear them.

"Looks like we made it!"

(wasn't that Barry Manilow?)

hiking stud, and two hiking babes

Went up Camelback again this morning. Took the southeast Cholla trail this time. On a scale of 1 - 10, with 10 being the hardest (and Echo Canyon being a 10) this was about a 7. We made it to the top, but those photos are in Suzanne's camera... Will have to post them later. Thanks to Suzanne and Pearl for being my hiking babes!

(PS- Driving back afterwards we saw an awesome red motorcycle! LOL inside joke)

Touche, Seth. Touche.

Seth Myers concluded weekend update tonight by saying, "Well, today is Valentine's Day, so for those of you watching at home... Better luck next year."

But I digress....

Sitting on the floor sipping my morning coffee I decided to post something having to do with Valentine's Day. I'm in a funny nostalgic mood, so The Love Boat pops into my mind. I went on line looking for a good Love Boat picture to post, and found several on IMDB, along with this picture of Ursula Andress (who apparently was a guest on at least one episode back in the day).

So, I decided to kill two birds with one stone: since I have been lacking in my "babe of the month" posts (I know I already did Drew Barrymore this month, but hey, it's Valentine's Day! Can't I post two this month?) I decided to also include the pic of Ursula and name her my Runner Up Babe of the Month.

Now, I suppose some of you are too young to remember Ursula Andress, and perhaps some of you are too young to remember The Love Boat (although the latter's heavy representation in pop culture makes that one hard to believe). Ursula Andress was one of the many wives of photographer John Derek, who always managed to submit pictures of his wives in Playboy magazine back in the late 60s and early 70s (I told you I was feeling nostalgic).

Now, this photo of Ursula is probably decades old (since The Love Boat ran in the late 70s and early 80s), and you may not think she looks particularly like a babe in it- so I suppose a recent pic probably wouldn't steer any of you toward my conclusions, either (I don't know who I'm talking to here). But she's still a babe regardless of age because of who she is. So there.

For you youngsters who are interested in history, you can read more about the ground breaking, world-changing television show The Love Boat here: http://www.classic-tv.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=239:love-boat-the&catid=37:1980s-shows&Itemid=59

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Reality check.

Star Wars is now a 31 year old movie.

more geek-speek

Well, finally got my Linux and Windows machines "talking" to each other. There is a program called Samba (samba.org) that assists with inter-OS communications. I had been reading about it, but didn't fully understand it. I thought that I had to load Samba onto my two Windows machines so that they would see my Linux machine, but I had it backwards. I helpful guy on the Launchpad Help Forums page (launchpad.net) explained to me how it really works. Samba is actually a mask that Linux wears so that Windows machines think it's just another Windows machine.

I installed Samba on my Linux machine and had instant communication. Success!

Also, I went ahead and scheduled my Network + exam for Monday, February 23rd. So now I'm not just studying, I'm working toward a concrete goal of being ready to test in 10 days. Wish me luck!

moment of clarity

So, I'm sitting here on the living room floor in front of my new Ubuntu system, reading through news websites and blogs while I sip that first morning coffee. Referring to my own blog, I look at the "recent posts" and realize that back in August and September I posted more blogs in those two months alone than I have in the five months since (combined)!

Now, there's a reason for that. The whole reason I started blogging in the first place was because I was slowly dieing (sp?) inside as I sat in a dead end job for 8 hours a day, and I was looking for a release. I'm no longer in that situation, and the life force is starting to flow back into me. So, fewer hours in the day spent blogging.

But I like blogging, and I want people to participate in my blog. So, I thought to myself, "Self. What blogs do you read?" And the answer was the ones that are updated. Ergo- it's time for more frequent updates. Meaningless as this one may be, here we go:

Had a little party last night. A few friends came over and we watched movies, played games, and stuffed ourselves with pizza, cookies and Doritos. Afterwards we flipped on Saturday Night Live, and the guy hosting was some actor in that new film "He's Just Not That Into You." Who was he? Who cares. The point is, Drew Barrymore made a cameo appearance. And man, she is hot.

Here's to you, Drew! How's that for a meaningless blog entry?

We have... arrived?

This week I successfully loaded Linux Ubuntu on my third machine here on my home network. For those of you who are not geeks: Ubuntu is an alternative operating system (like Windows XP, or Macintosh OSX, for example) that is "open source" meaning it is not copyrighted (sp?) like Windows and Apple operating systems are.

Unix and Linux are often used interchangeably to refer to this operating system, which (since it is open source, and therefore can be changed/improved by anyone) is often released over and over in different versions called "flavors." Ubuntu is a flavor of Linux which has gained recent popularity because of its user friendly reputation.

I installed Ubuntu as an experiment. Since I am studying networking, and since a big part of networking is getting different operating systems to recognise and "talk" to each other, I thought it would be a great hands-on learning experience. I've had it on the machine just a few days now, and I have two initial reactions:

1) disappointed

2) impressed

Now, those two may sound like opposed reactions, but let me explain. i am disappointed because I was all hyped-up and excited to experience this "new" operating system which I thought was going to be like nothing I'd ever seen before. That was not the case. Ubuntu looks just like the Apple Macintosh operating systems that I used back in 2005-2006 when I worked for a company up in Utah that only used Macs. For those of you who are familiar with Macs, and their recent operating system releases, my initial impression of Ubuntu's look and feel is that it resembles a cross between OS9 and OSX. I think I have read that Apple's OS was based on Unix (I may or may not have that right, since I am new to Unix/Linux), but I can tell you that the similarities are obvious. So, having said that, I was disappointed to discover that there really wasn't anything "new" to see in this operating system.

I am impressed, however, in it's ease of use. I installed it in about a half an hour, and it immediately was up and running on its own with little need for any interference on my part. Not only was I surfing the internet and sending e-mail right away, I also discovered (to my pleasant surprise) that networking with it was a breeze! Everything that I had been reading in my textbooks on the subject of networking alluded to a difficult process I'd have to walk through before I could get these different machines to communicate with each other. My Ubuntu machine, however, immediately recognised the two Windows machines on my network, and (to my surprise) was pulling documents, spreadsheets, images and even video off of the Windows computers right away! Very impressive, Ubuntu!

My two Windows machines, however, have yet to "see" the new Ubuntu machine on my network.

So far this has been an exciting few weeks for me, what with fixing a broken computer that my Dad sent me, installing a new operating system, and getting the network up and running. I am certain that this experience will be a benefit to my studying, and look forward to learning more as the weeks, months and years roll on.

One more cerebral hurdle cleared.

2/3 of the way there. I finally got the motherboard working, and successfully loaded an operating system. Next I'll try to install Linux.

Long story short: removed the battery from the motherboard, effectively clearing the CMOS settings. Corrected some incorrect cable settings and jumpers, and told the BIOS to boot from the optical drive.

Result: broken computer working again! One happy (and proud) computer geek.