So, the one thing that I can definitely say that I found out was that it’s amazing how hard it is to control an 18-wheeler at 200 km/h.  Yes, that’s right, you have four different automobile options to choose from

Check it out

http://geoquake.jp/en/webgame/DrivingSimulatorGM/

I’ve worked for the past seven years of my life and I have to say that I’ve worked hard, taking very little time for myself.  The movie (and sure it’s a movie) really gets at the heart of the matter that we need to take life by the horns and enjoy it - we only have one life to live.

If you haven’t seen it, I’d highly recommend it.

Chapter Four, titled “System Reset” has quite a bit of food for thought - hence the reason it’s taken so long to digest.  Of the two quotes that he begins the chapter with Ferris truly does make the reader think about the life that they live, their actions and their level of comfort.  Of the opening quotations, the following definitely makes one think.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.  Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” - George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionists

I read these words and my first though is that this is common sense, however what I’ve also come to find is that what I find as common sense ends up being above and beyond what commonality holds.  Granted, there is something to be said with relation to adapting to the world in which we live within.  This logic is reasonable and modern in thinking.  Taking the world and molding it to my own needs, using what is best for me, brings me to think in some way that George Bernard Shaw was a man ahead of his time living life as a post-modern visionary.

It is key to realize that being a master of one’s environment is what allows man to have an edge on those around him.  Adapting nature such that nature revolves around you and you are its master rather than being mastered and preyed upon by nature, in as much as the world.

As an Information Technology Consultant, it is very easy to work toward the mediocare and learn the basics of a system’s architecture, but by dissecting it and understanding the underlying functions and how it is tied and interwoven with the platform allows for creativity.  Understanding this relationship between functionality and method provides for the ability to modify the basis upon which the system is derived, allowing for true mastery to synthesize something new and outside the box rather than conforming to the determiniant of a matrix.

But no, actually I’m referring to something different that when served with a twist of lime is probably one of the best potent potables around.  Yes friends, I’m referring to Margaritaville’s Landshark Lager.

First off, let me say that I didn’t have my first alcoholic beverage until I was 21 years old and I am in no way shape or form advertising underaged drinking - follow the law, it’s there for a reason.  Nor am I stating in anyway shape or form that it’s okay to over-drink or binge drink as this only leads to further problems in life.

Nevertheless, not only is it one of the smoothest lagers I’ve ever had, it’s tasty with a lime and it doesn’t have a “mean” after taste.  So if you’re in the mood for something light and tasty, I recommend trying it out

Now Playing - John Mayer - Heavier Things - Wheel

From a financial standpoint, I’ve got the money to invest in the MBP, but from a usability standpoint I already what meets my functional requirements (wow, I’ve been a consultant for too long).

Nevertheless, current threads that I’m working to accomplish:

• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator 2003 - One more exam, 70-291, studying for it this weekend
• Finishing Analysis of Tim Ferris’ Four Hour Work Week
• Reading Andrew Connell’s Web Content Management Book
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer 2003 - three exams past the MCSA
• Microsoft Certified IT Professional 2008 Enterprise Administrator (equivalent of MCSE 2003) - three exams past the MCSE

Somewhat aggressive plans prior to MBP, sure, but I see this as a time of financial responsibility.  Who knows, maybe I’ll crack next week and go over to Tyson’s Corner and pick one up O:-)

Now Playing - Jack Johnson - Jack Johnson: Live In Japan - The Train to Osaka

After several attempts at resetting the device it would seem that it is officially dead.  As it was two years old, it is not under any warranty with Netgear.  As we mourn the loss of this device, the question arises as to what to replace it with?

Now Playing - The Chemical Brothers - Push the Button - Close Your Eyes

So for those of you that are avid XKCD readers you may have come across this.  Needless to say, I’ve been in this situation before, the only difference being that I didn’t jump through the window

Now Playing - Charlie Haden - Land of the Sun - Solamente una Vez (You Belong to My Heart)

What to do… Thoughts? Recommendations?  I know, go read a forum and make my own decision, but those are coming from folks that I don’t know

Now Playing - Charlie Haden - Land of the Sun - Sueno Solo Con Tu Amor (I Only Dream of Your Love)

Nonetheless, a friend of mine returning from a few weeks across the Pond in Europe popped me a note to see if I could provide transport from the airport to home, sure no problem - I would hope that someone would do the same for me if I asked.  So like a good friend I figured that I should be on time and check the flight status.

…so, in much the same way that you can query Google with various parameters to bring back pre-filtered results, for instance the term “Weather in Washington, DC” brings back what you might see in iGoogle as your local weather, you can do so for flights.

Simply put in the flight identifier and the results are displayed there in Google’s search page with the departure and arrival times and cities - quite handy.  But wait, the mashup of information… so you click on the link and are brought to FlightStats.com which draws in information from a few different sources.  But wait, there’s more, click on the “Track this Flight” button and all of sudden you have a mashup that includes Google Maps integration.

Good show Flight Stats!

Now Playing - Michael W. Smith - Healing Rain - Healing Rain

Look no further than the Lightning plugin for Mozilla Thunderbird along with the Win32 Provider add-on for Google Calendar for Lightning / Sunbird.

So how do I use them all together?  Check out this blog entry…

http://bfish.xaedalus.net/?p=239

Note that there are updated providers for Lightning and Sunbird… for the latest, check out http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/

I’m using the 0.4 version of the provider for Google Calendar with Lightning integration in Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0.0.14 with Lightning 0.8 and so far I’m liking it.  The only thing that I’ve found isn’t working is the Invite Attendees functionality - otherwise, pretty tight integration.

Now Playing - Relient K - Mmhmm - When I Go Down