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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in screams and dreams' LiveJournal:

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    Monday, December 10th, 2007
    8:51 am
    Solution Request
     Yes, another.

    I am familiar with several methodologies to test installation, patches, configuration changes, etc. in the enterprise environment. What about on a small scale?

    How can I, for example, test installation cleanly on a laptop? I would want full rollback to alleviate the problem of leftover "junk" from install/uninstall (regedits that weren't cleaned, files that were leftover, etc.).

    I've toyed around with the idea of setting up my laptop to just be a host system with virtualization slices for real computing (which can be easily rolled-back with saved states), but this seems like overkill. Anybody use a simpler system?
    8:12 am
    Solution Request
     Assumptions:
    * 1 main music repository
    * 1+ mobile music repositories containing subset(s) of items from main music repository
    * rating system for each file

    I want a system that will allow me to select the best-rated songs from the main music repository, and easily copy them to one (or more) of the mobile music repositories. While listening to music from said mobile repository, it should be possible to re-rate songs, and then update main repository by synchronizing (or easily copying) those changes.

    Solutions:
    iTunes + iPod
    Zune Software + Zune
    Other: (this is what I am looking for)

    My specific case is that the main repository is my laptop hard drive at home, and my mobile hard drive(s) are USB flash and hard drives which I typically plug in to my work laptop. I would like to see if there is a way to accomplish this without buying a portable MP3 player, since this is mostly for listening to at my desk at work, rather than out and about.

    This has probably already been figured out by someone (or many someones). Anybody know?
    Monday, October 8th, 2007
    11:15 am
    Email Replies and Organization
     I don't know if there is any interest in what I ended up doing to solve my email organization issue, but here is what my partial solution ended up being.

    1) Group replies with original message
    2) Redirect all new incoming mail to "@Inbox"

    So, this handles many messages, but not all. Replies sent from a project or task folder stay where they belong. Replies sent from my fake inbox show back up in the inbox, reminding me that I need to file them (and likely should have filed the parent, too).

    The only thing that isn't still addressed is new messages. I still need to check my sent folder periodically for these, and move them.
    Wednesday, September 12th, 2007
    9:31 am
    Wanted: Outlook Solution for Sent Mail
     Wanted:

    When I press "send" (or the equivalent thereof), I want Outlook to ask me where to place a copy of my sent piece of mail.

    Alternatively, it could default to putting it in one folder, but I would have the option of triggering this upon mail-send to allow me to specify a different folder.

    This way, I do not have to periodically sort through my sent mail to put them in the folders for their associated projects (nor do I have to go to my "sent" folder immediately to move it, losing context, nor do I have to CC it to myself, which generates a second record).

    Any ideas? Does this even make sense?
    Wednesday, May 16th, 2007
    8:15 am
    w00t
     This is so exciting! Ron Paul came in second on post-debate polls last night.

    Could it be that there will be a large-party politician I can actually vote for, and has a chance to win?
    Monday, April 2nd, 2007
    12:59 pm
    Attention Netflix Users
     I am not sure when this functionality was made available, so you may very well already know this, but nevertheless, Netflix now allows you to view content directly from the interwebtubenets. You get as many hours per month as you pay in dollars on your subscription.

    Pretty cool. Note, however, that not all the content is available online, yet (nor do I know whether it all will be or not).

    I'm using my hours to watch the creepy stuff that my wife would rather not see, or for "on-demand" viewing when we are disc-less (or have discs that we are not interested in, at the moment).
    Wednesday, March 28th, 2007
    9:53 am
    Feature Request
     Wanted: a virtual server or virtual workstation system (or tweak to a current system) that will allow me to easily tab between windows within the image and windows outside the image. For example, I could be doing work in the VM, easily tab back to a reference on my host desktop, and then tab back to a configuration window in the virtual machine.
    Thursday, March 8th, 2007
    1:52 pm
    Secret Ballot vs. "Free Choice"
     From the WSJ:

      In a largely party-line vote last week, Democrats in the House passed the Employee Free Choice Act, a measure that rewrites the rules for union organizing by eliminating secret-ballot elections. The Senate is up next. And if you suspect this has everything to do with expanding union membership and nada to do with "employee free choice," we'd direct you to a missive sent to Mexico in 2001 and signed by 16 Democrats in Congress.

      The letter is addressed to government officials and concerns "democracy in the Mexican workplace." It reads, "we are writing to encourage you to use the secret ballot in all union recognition elections." It continues: "We understand that the secret ballot is allowed for, but not required, by Mexican labor law. However, we feel that the secret ballot is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that workers are not intimidated into voting for a union they might not otherwise choose."

      Five of the signers have since left Congress; the other 11 voted last week for the Employee Free Choice Act. And by the way, the letter's lead signatory is Representative George Miller of California, who also happens to be the lead sponsor of the House bill. Which means the same person lecturing Mexican officials on the primacy of secret ballot elections has been heading up the effort to end them for 140 million U.S. workers.

      Big Labor's problem is not that Americans aren't free to organize but that more and more are choosing not to. Today, just 7.4% of the private-sector workforce is unionized. That's down from 20% as recently as the 1980s. Reversing this trend is a top union priority. Labor leaders made it clear to Democrats that, in return for political support in last year's election, they wanted a vote on legislation that would make organizing much easier. House Democrats have now delivered, but don't let them fool you into thinking this has anything to do with "free choice."


    Needs no comment from me.
    Tuesday, March 6th, 2007
    10:04 am
    VA Scandals
     1) Take a look at all the VA scandals that have finally been making the news lately.
    2) Note that many of these complaints are common and have been happening for years. (Anecdote: My college roommate's father died of complications caused by the cancer he got due to service in Vietnam. Since the death was not from the cancer itself, the benefits were all denied.)
    3) Note that the average number of open benefits claims in the VA system is 400,000 and that the average response time is 6 months (numbers courtesy of NPR broadcasting yesterday).
    4) Realize that the VA system's elements of improper care, denial of service, and poor response times are a microcosm of socialized medicine.
    5) Realize that the system would only get worse when they implement it on a larger scale, due to several factors including management overhead, bureaucracy, entitlement, and government prioritization of citizens.
    6) Weep for what could happen to health care, innovation, and people in the next decade.
    7) Refuse to vote for people who think that some people are entitled to the fruits of other people's labor. Say "no" to slavery, mediocrity, and bureaucracy.

    Current Music: Anberlin - Paperthin Hymn
    Monday, January 29th, 2007
    8:38 am
    Mennonite
     As of yesterday, I'm officially a Mennonite. w00t!

    Current Mood: excited
    Friday, September 29th, 2006
    8:43 pm
    Dear [my name]
     Our records show that you haven't yet registered for the benefits of AARP membership, even though you are fully eligible.

    If you have already sent in your registration, please excuse this notice.

    If not, I urge you to register now so you may start enjoying AARP benefits and services with no further delay.

    You need only return the form above. Please remove and keep the card below as your record of enrollment. You will receive a new card and Membership Kit, with full details on your benefits.

    As a member, you'll have the resources and information you need to get the most out of life over 50. You'll have access to exclusive discounts. Dependable insurance programs and investment resources. Important health-related information. And much more. The 22 benefits shown on the back are only a partial list!

    I look forward to your joining us. I think you'll agree with our other members: AARP is one of America's very best values.

    Sincerely,

    [signature]

    William D. Novelli
    Executive Director

    P.S. Please send in your registration by the date requested. Thank you and welcome to AARP!

    Current Mood: old
    Tuesday, September 19th, 2006
    7:53 am
    Progress!
     According to the WSJ, the WHO is actually going to allow and encourage use of DDT in Africa to help fight Malaria! Yay for science and humanity triumphing over scaremongering!

    Current Mood: excited
    Current Music: WSJ 09-18-2006 Morning Read
    Tuesday, August 8th, 2006
    9:46 pm
    Seattle!
     My Seattle peoples:

    My wife and I will be in said city soon[0]. Where should we go? We have 7/2 days to experience the city and area, as well as 4 nights. We will technically be staying in Lynnwood.

    We will most likely visit the Ocean on one day, and will probably visit the Needle.

    I am particularly interested in finding a delicious place to eat fresh seafood, without having to give up hopes of ever buying a house.

    [0] Timing left purposefully vague out on these here Internet tubes.
    Tuesday, July 18th, 2006
    2:27 pm
    Memage
     Once you are tagged, you must guess at the question which inspired each of the following answers. Answer these questions yourself and post the results to your own journal, then tag 6 more people to join in the fun.

    1. I don't even remember.
    2. Brussel sprouts, by far.
    3. Blood In, Blood Out (Vampire: The Requiem Novel #2) by Lucien Soulban
    4. A black lab.
    5. "The presence of dusk does not mean night equals day." - Glen Whitman.

    Tagging: sdfjlkjfdsa, esotericara, crowemojo, kyledgoss, zowch, dayquilblue

    Wow, that first answer is really going to skew this for people. I would guess that in that case, you get to pick a new question? Or perhaps you go find someone else who did this and user their assumed question.
    Tuesday, March 7th, 2006
    2:57 pm
    Nohari
     Filling out Nohari windows is hard (and i might even say painful)!
    Monday, March 6th, 2006
    10:54 am
    Friday, February 24th, 2006
    12:32 am
    Tagged by sdfjklkjfdsa
     Four jobs I've had:
    1. Young Entrepreneur (ok, so I sold golf balls and lemonade in the back yard)
    2. Union Antagonist (aka Delphi Automotive Intern)
    3. Homework Hotline tutor/supervisor
    4. Information Security Consultant

    Four things I want to do before I die:
    1. Please God
    2. Stay together with my wife until said time
    3. Write my manifesto
    4. Be able to defeat a trained opponent in hand-to-hand combat solely by tiring him/her to the point of exhaustion.

    Four things I say a lot:
    1. "Wr0d!" (pronounced "whir-ODD"; said in a comic fashion)
    2. "Commie!" (or, if more appropriate, "Fascist!")
    3. "You're cute!" (to sdfjklkjfdsa, obviously)
    4. anything Engrish

    Four of my favorite foods:
    1. Shrimp (not fried)
    2. Steak (good, medium-rare)
    3. Potatoes (mashed)
    4. Anything (garlic, teriyaki, or wasabi)

    Four people I'd like to curse:
    This is kind of difficult, because i think the people i tend to dislike are the ones that i think are already cursed, so I'll name some that i don't think have already gotten their due (or aren't likely to get it 'til death).
    1. Democratic Politicians
    2. Republican Politicians
    3. Union Leaders
    4. People who don't drive in the rightmost-possible lane with respect to their current passing and turning requirements

    Four things I don't trust:
    1. Democratic Politicians
    2. Republican Politicians
    3. The Internet
    4. Clerks who don't want me to scratch out my credit card number from the receipt

    Four people from history I'd like to meet:
    1. Jesus
    2. Paul of Tarsus
    3. Thomas Jefferson
    4. Morihei Ueshiba

    Four movies I watch over and over:
    1. Seven
    2. The Usual Suspects
    3. Equilibrium (ok, i would if i owned it)
    4. Princess Bride

    Four people I'm tagging:
    1. dayquilblue
    2. greedyalgorithm
    3. kschuler
    4. angel_grrl
    Friday, February 10th, 2006
    12:21 am
    Whoa!
     I've actually been updating my blog recently.

    Current Music: Johnette Napolitano - Underworld Sndtrk - 10 - Suicide Note
    12:16 am
    Quiz via Esotericara
     So at first I was really confused as to how one could be Dooku and Yoda both, since it shows Yoda at the far end of the first spectrum; however, the spectra have nothing to do with the questions, just the character which the questions most identify. (Did that make sense?)

    You scored as Master Yoda. Yoda: The Master.

    </td>

    Count Dooku

    		71%

    Master Yoda

    		71%

    Qui-Gon Jinn

    		58%

    Darth Maul

    		54%

    Darth Sidious

    		50%

    Obi-Wan Kenobi

    		46%

    Luke Skywalker

    		42%

    Darth Vader

    		42%

    Anakin Skywalker

    		42%

    Random Jedi

    		42%

    Mace Windu

    		38%

    What Force User Are You?
    created with QuizFarm.com


    Current Music: Tool - Lateralus - 11 - Reflection
    Tuesday, January 3rd, 2006
    9:12 am
    Seriously Awesome Nerdiness
     Not only did I get to play d20 with my wife the other day, but her sister and father joined in as well!

    I am so lucky....

    Current Music: Incendio - Duelo a la Morte (tagged to Last.fm)
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