Mike's House

Sitting in Aroma, using the wonders of wireless technology, yet again.

It’s been a hectic couple of weeks, and now’s time to rest a little. Over the next few days, I will be on vacation, and will be pretty disconnected from everything.

At work today I had a nice long talk with our chief systems architect, and I think I may have made an impact on the future. We shall see as events unfold.

Anyways, to all out there, have a great weekend, and if you observe, have an easy fast, and if you don’t, have a nice day off.

Technical Support Specialist

Description:

Responsible for providing reliable, responsive and appropriate resolutions to the most complex, critical or highest impact problems related to network and data storage systems.

Requirements:

• At least 3 years proven experience in networking (network switching and routing and knowledge of TCP/IP protocols), and/or high end data storage systems (knowledge and experience in storage NAS and SAN and IPSAN environments).
• Hands on experience with NetApp and EMC storage arrays – Advantage
• Native English (or equivalent verbal and written).
• Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Experience in customer service via telephone and web.
• Strong organizational and methodological skills.

If you are appropriate candidate, message me.

So on Sunday, Yos & I recorded a podcast, but due to hectic week schedules, I have yet to post it.
I hope to do so over the weekend, to allow you crazy sibscribers out there to enjoy the rantings and ravings of a few good men.

While trawling the net tonight, sitting in the guest room of a friend’s place (with a lovely wireless hookup, thank you!), I found an article on some Spaniards and their police training methods.
I do declare, this is one method that I think police everywhere should adopt, as it’ll educate them on how to properly get !@#$ed.

Another interesting article for all of you iPod owners out there, the new, the improved, the better-than-butter iPod Breathalyzer!
That’s right kids, you can be like daddy and take your own blood alcohol level, all in the comfort of your own home.
I can’t help but wonder whether or not this actuall has some practical use – like broadcasting over the FM waves “The driver of the ’67 Chevy is piss drunk, stay away from him!”

And all of this boils down to the Hoff himself. Watch and enjoy.

Ciao.

So as of late, I have become more aware of some of the more powerful aspect of using Linux as a desktop/server solution.

I have tried the latest release of a nice Debian-based distribution, named Ubuntu.
It’s fairly versatile and the sheer number of community users ensures a large support network, so chances are if you run into a problem, someone else may have had the same issue before.

So my colleague, David, points me to a parody site of a specialized installation of this operating system, geared towards the Christian community.

Now, obviously the parody site is hilarious, but what got me a little more is the fact that there is actually a real distribution out there.

So, a litte digging around helped me find this, a nice response from my Jew-boy brothers out there.

I hope you laugh as hard as I did.

So today I left the house, thinking all would be good in the world, and my bike doesn’t start.
So I fiddle with it, and try a few sifferent things, call my mechanic and he tells me to bring it in.

“How, exactly?” I ask innocently.
“Call this dude and he’ll come pick your bike up.”

So I do, and he does, and we go and I pay for “towing” (even though it was on a flatbed) to get to the garage.
Once there, a quick diagnosis tells them that there’s a busted mechanism for the starter and it needs replacing.

I head off to work.

I get a call, and am informed that the parts alone will run me a 1300 NIS bill (no VAT or work charges included, of course).

Augh. I thought I bought a beauty and I really got beast, that is slowly being transformed into a beauty.
But why do I have to foot the bill of this Raggle-tag tranformation?

So it turns out that there’s a promotional site up for the annual Israeli Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Roleplaying festival, Icon.
And amongst the lovely designs and information, there’s a little link to pictures of previous years.
Now, I’ve been known to be an active participant in many things, mostly behind the scenes and making sure certain areas function as they should. This has dropped off in recent years for a variety of reasons, but the memories remain.
I’ve been in newspaper articles, various web sites, and even on Channel 10 news, along with and another friend – the footage is somewhere online, go figure.

And then there was the time that a bunch of us did a Klingon opera. Yes, a Kilngon opera. In Klingon. In full costume, with rehearsals and fighting, and an ending as every good Klingon opera has – everyone dies.
So they have a picture of me (one picture of many others), decked out in the ring.

I never really thought how this would have an impact on me if I ever ran for presidency or something…

So to all those that placed their wine orders, it’s arrived!
You are more than welcome to coordinate with me for pickup and payment. No welching!

It’s lovely stuff, it is.

So today has been a long day.
It started out with ‘s and ‘s son finally acquiring a long name, one that he’ll have to grow into, eventually. The bris itself was great, and the ol’ pack got together and we sat around and chatted and such. It’s like sneak preview of what’s to come when and then & get hitched. Much fun to be had by all.

At work I suffered a defeat, as I had to pull it together and finally admit to myself, and then to my boss, that I couldn’t complete a major task within the scheduled time frame, after battling it for over a day and a half. To those that know my style, know I rarely give up, and I know that if I had just another day or two to spend on the problem, I’d be able to figure it out. Instead, I suggested to my boss that we bring in an outside consultant to help out with it, and after understanding the other options, he agreed.

I hate not being able to conquer something technological.
Technology was made by humans, some of whom I am smarter than, and technology is supposed to help us accomplish what we set out to do, in a more efficient manner than without. But when delving into a monster system, which is highly customizable, down to the last little checkbox – that affects everything else, it can get a little hairy at times. Chalk one up to the boys a M$ for making it too hard.

In other news, if you are in Israel and have a GPS receiver of sorts, and something to connect it to, check out www.freemap.co.il. It’s a cool open source project that is built on collecting data by people using their GPS devices and then uploading the data to their server, having the data edited, modified and verified by anyone who can, and then downloading the updated map to your device, to assist you in navigating to your next destination.
I think it’s a cool idea. Giving the power of knowledge back to the masses.

Anyways, I’m going to sleep soon.

News, news, news.

To start off with, we finished the run of the cursed Scottish play a few weeks ago, and I’m glad it’s finally over. It was somewhat a harrowing experience for me, as I have never particularly held any fondness for the works of the Bard, coupled with the fact that it is, in fact cursed. Our Macduff got slashed and bashed multiple times in dangerous places by our own lead man. “Lay on, Macduff!” Fortunately, he’s a tough man and managed to continue immediately to the end, bleeding and gushing on the stage, costumes, props and all.

It turns out that I get a nice break from theater now, as I auditioned and got turned down. I don’t mind, although it would have been a great part. I think it’s because I don’t exactly fit the physical image of the young romantic – they are usually a lot slimmer. I’m perfectly happy to continue with the funny, sarcastic, pompous and overbearing characters I like.
Instead, I am thinking of directing a play later this/early next year – a collection of short skits, all with a central theme and quite funny. Watch this space for further news updates on this subject.

I pretty much finished the editing work on the DVD for “She Stoops” and am now in the post-production phase, working on the DVD structure, extra content, etc. It’s quite nice, if I say so myself. You’re welcome to bring a couple of DVD-R’s and make a copy.

At work, I finally got my end of year review, and it had positive results, even though I’m working harder than ever – installing a couple of new systems, all simultaneously and each more important the next. No rest for the wicked, say I.

This past week a I met up with some of the other Israeli podcasters downtown Jerusalem – and I was a late arrival, so I missed the bulk of the good conversation and a few of the folks. I hope that I’ll find time to listen to these folks and their hard work, and who knows? Maybe one day we can cross-guest and some more chatter going? Incidentally, if you’ve never heard my show, check out http://feeds.feedburner.com/miketheman.

On the podnews, I’ll be looking for someone to assist me in setting up a site, typically to include (embed) my LJ, my podfeed, an image gallery, and some form of connecting a Blogging package, such as Moveable type or something else to connect and post to my LJ. I know did this – any assistance would be great.

Finally, I want to let everyone know that there is a great offer on the table, and not for long. My brother-in-law works for the Yatir Forest winery, and they have surplus bottles from their development process that taste absolutely wonderful. These bottles of Shiraz, Cabarnet Merlot blend and the fantastic Pinot Noir were made with specific tasstes in mind, and after aging properly, the experts use some to blend and make the best and award winning ones. The rest are left out to be purchased by those in the know (such as me). You can read more about Yatir Winery or some more general details in English here.
Anyways, these bottles are going like hotcakes for only 25 sheks a bottle. I’m taking orders for the next week or so, so email me with any requests – you can get individuals or a case of 12 (mixed or otherwise), all the same price. I figure that the price and the winery’s reputation speak for itself, but if you have any questions, let me know.

That’s it for now. Signing off.

So it’s been another while since I wrote.

In my interview post, a lot of people asked me to interview them, and I will do so when I get around to it. You have not been forgotten, only delayed.

Tonight is the penultimate performance of CST’s Macbeth, which I am in. It’s one of the last chances you’ll get to see it. Ever. The final is Saturday night, and after that, you will be stuck, weeping with the crowds and begging for an autograph, a recited line, or anything else you can get out of these wonderful actors.

Sunday marks the final audition night for another show, “Proof”, which I have read and seen, and figure I’ll audition for it, who knows what I’ll do after that.

In other news, I’m tired.
Oh so tired.
Ciao for now.