System i Addict

It’s not in my nature to like the company we all call Microsoft. I have been opposed to them for a very long time for what I still think are very good reasons. We all know them and have them. Microsoft has had it’s fair share of issues over the years.

I recently purchased a new XBOX 360, and backtrack a bit, I have owned the following:

NES
SuperNES
PS1
PS2
PSP GenII
Wii

I did not ever consider the XBOX since I have a “thing” with the company behind it, but all the people I work with have one and in order to play with decent and upstanding people I got one, plus they are far cheaper than the PS3 which is still over priced IMHO.

Today while my wife was taking some stuff to the Goodwill, she noticed an XBOX Wireless Racing Wheel in a box and called me and told me the box of stuff which has more than just the wheel was $60. A new Wheel is $90.

When she got it home I noticed it was missing the table clamp, so I started calling the local trade-in places and looking on eBay for it and none were to be found. Then I resorted to the XBOX.com web site and nothing there either. Damn, so I broke down and called the number in the manual that came with the wheel. I was able to talk to a person in Texas, not over seas, and she took all of the information from me about my new XBOX and the wheel and put me on hold.

I expected her to come back and tell me they have one it will be $49 + $15 shipping or something like that, but that didn’t happen. What did happen is she sent me a new one…..for FREE. What? I asked? What? Are you sure? She said it was no problem and they wanted me to be happy? Microsoft wants me to be happy? WOW!

I thanked her a lot and she said it would be there in 3 - 5 days. I then admitted that if I needed to pay I would and she said no, it was all covered.

Today for a short period of time I like Mircosoft. I like the XBOX division and really like the idea that they did in this case take care of me. I am happy with my deccision to purchase an XBOX 360 right now.

Thanks to Microsoft for the Table Mount.

I think all being very fact driven, if x = y then we know what x and y are, and that kind of thing. We don’t live in a land of maybe and guesses. I myself, when I argue use facts and such to respond to arguments, while I have found other people, managers and CIOs who are not technical or in some cases the least bit reliable use emotions and “gut instincts” to make decisions.

Those kinds of people should be driven out of the IT industry and over to fashion and home remodeling. Those are industries where emotions, and colors can help you feel better about your decisions. Not IT where things are very fact based and do not and should not have emotions in the process.

I also see people like CIOs and Managers who hate IBM and Lotus for no reason other than they are not what they grew up with, and would prefer a Microsoft or Sun solution because it makes them feel better. It could go either way. Microsoft like to dazzle the crap out of C level people with fancy colors and hugs, while I think IBM is a thinking company who would rather put it all on the table and respond to people with actual data to solve problems. C level people who run IT with their hearts and biases are doomed to fail because they irritate the smarter more fact driven IT staff they have to manage to the point where they will do anything to keep making choices with their emotions vs. listen to anyone they have hired use reason and logic to make decisions.

I think that is why you and I both get irritated with facts vs. crap.

I am sure you are wondering what I am talking about. The other day I noticed while eating that the crown on my left side upper (number 13) was a little pressure sensitive.  The dentist yesterday referred me a specialist about a root canal. Not that she thought I needed one, but she thought the tooth might have cracked under the crown and a root canal could solve the issue.

I was able to get into the root canal doc yesterday too and he did some digital x-rays, which is way cool, rather than having to developed the film, and it showed that I might need that root canal.

Most people hear the words root canal and think PAIN and SUFFERING! Which at this point, some 12 hours later I am OK. My gums are sore from the injections, but nothing to bad. I had to take a Tylenol last night just to make sure I was not chasing pain later in the night, plus I had a headache.

With that said I am sure there are some ROOT CANAL horror stories out there but so far mine has been pretty good. They showed a video before the procedure that was funny, informative and had a guy in it that I knew in the Navy.

My insurance paid for most of it, not a bad day $800, I would have rather spent that on my Volvo or other crap but teeth are important.

This is not the video they showed me, but it does explain the root canal process a bit and shows it’s nothing to worry about. I did not get a post and the Dr. had a big microscope that he could look into the tooth with which was pretty neat.

JC or Jezza, is an interesting man. He has lived what most of would call a lucky life. Being able to host Top Gear, driving all of those cool cars at any speed he like. I love the Porsches and I do admit they are wrong like he does, engine in the back and all. But I still love them, they are just great cars. I do wish they would just try at least once to put an engine in the front to see what happens?

Link to - Jeremy Clarkson - On Porsches and why he does not want one

I have mostly protein for dinner, hamburger meat and about 1/2 lb of chicken tenders all done on the grill. It was good and just what I needed.  I wanted Salad but figured I had better stay away, I have a tooth that is cold sensitive right now and going to get it looked at tomorrow.

Keep the kind words coming, and let me know what you did today or what your thing is that drives you?

KARTing!

I know, I know. Not going to lose any weight in 12 hours. I did check this morning just to make sure I had a good reading and I do.
I have 54 pounds to lose and then some…..I was recalling when I was in the Navy I was told by many people I was fat, and I thought to myself I was doing ok. So if I was fat then and I think I was around 190(-+3), then when I hit 190 I will still not be in the best shape of my life? Then what? Well lets get there first and find out. I am not doing myself any favors by eating at Zaxby’s at lunch, but I was having an urge and they are in fact hard to fight. I feel like crap now. It’s hard to understand why or what drives us to eat crap that makes us feel and look like crap?

I will try harder on Tuesday. I plan to get on the tread mill tonight or go for a long walk. I am in no shape to go running and it would only make things worse as I am to heavy and it kills my knees.

Rock On!

I am over weight. I am 54 pounds ( I weight 245) according to the doctors in the government say I should weight about 190, and according to Bob Bondurant’s book I am not going to go fast if I am over weight. For every 5 pounds it adds 2% to your time. So 5 pounds is like 60 extra pounds in a NASCAR, which is a lot. So right now I am a Nascar driver who gained 700 pounds in the off season. Not good.

So I have been working at it for a few weeks now and wanted to start posting about it, maybe it will help get the pounds of faster. I need to ge down to a good 190 before the karting season starts in 2009. Going to be getting some Easykarts and taking the family racing.

I love the fringe stuff like Bigfoot and Nessy. UFO TV shows are always interesting too.

Link to Story

“Two American hunters say they have a bit of a surprise in their freezer: a Bigfoot, or Sasquatch.

The pair, Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, say that they discovered the body of the mythical apeman in a remote forest in northern Georgia - USA not Eastern Europe - about two weeks ago.

They plan to present “DNA evidence and photo evidence of the creature” at a press conference in Palo Alto, California, tomorrow and an associate said that the body would be on show as well.

Mr Whitton is a Georgia police officer currently on leave after being shot in the line of duty while Mr Dyer is a former prison warden. The two men also run a Bigfoot tracking business.”

Could not have asked for a better rain storm to make everything green. It’s been nice a slow all morning long. It might not file the lakes but it’s watering the grass and I like that. Thanks Clouds of Rainy stuff!

I was reading about a performance shop in FL that does amazing things with already amazing cars and noticed that one of the Viper’s tags shows that they live in Savannah. Always like to feature and talk about people from my home town.

So if you see it know you have run up against some a pretty fast Viper. WOW. Thanks Gary Javo for sharing your pictures and your super car. You have to sell a lot of matresses to afford a car like that?

Link to Photos of Viper :: Letter of thanks from Gary the owner :: GaryJavo.com

Link-I hope this links it -LinkedIN’s Links are funky

WOW, this is amazing. I know there are more people out there and I want them all to join up. If you are on LinkedIN and a Lotus person please join up under the groups section. We would love to have you. Thanks to all who have joined. I now need to do soemthing to really make the group special and do something neat? Any ideas?

Someone I am guessing from here decided it was a good idea to sign me up for SocialistWorker.org, I don’t know if it’s to inform me or to get me used to what is coming but I appreciate it. Whom ever it is they may have signed me up for some other things as well. Super.I do find it funny and it’s all very amusing.

http://socialistworker.org/

I need resumes of people who are in the Charlotte/ Rock Hill area who would like to work on a contract basis and eventually go full time. Send me your resume or if you know someone please let them know we are looking for them. You need to be in the or around the area.

david dot vasta @ gmail dot com

I think moving forward I am going to stick to technology on the blog. I am working on a new web site to replace this blog. I  want and need some people to blog from time to time on a new web site. If you want details email me. I don’t care if you have or don’t have a blog I will help you and while it might not pay today, it may pay in the furture.

email me : david dot vasta @ gmail dot com

In the past I have been connected to Burger King via my wife. I got to know some of the owners all over the nation, and while I love a good, messy whopper from time to time I don’t think I will be going to this location in Ohio.

I am sure this is not the kind of press they want, but they could spin it and say, we have the cleanest employees and while we encourage hand washing, sometimes more is needed.

Link :: Video shows Burger King employee bathing in sink

This is not funny, but is funny all at the same time. Seems the Google Street view car captured a gent drunk on the side of the road or maybe he is just doing yard work?

Link to Daily Mail Post

I am 36 years old. I served in the Navy and handled guns and bad guys. In theory I should not be afraid of much, or so you think. Of course you can comment on being in the Navy being a tough guy. I can take it.

After my grandfather died my Grandmother, Martha, lived by herself for what I think was another 15+ years before she died from complications from Alzheimer’s. That was some 10 years ago, but let me get to the point.

My wife and son have been out of town for 2 weeks and left me home with the dog, Peaches, who if you have met Peaches the Bulldog, she is no watch dog. I have been keeping myself busy at night reading or watching Top Gear, but I don’t like going to sleep. I am still in a new house and it still makes noises that at times wake me up. I am not going to lie to you, on top of the house being pretty empty, and the fact that crime is on the rise in Charlotte I am scared stiff to go to bed, and it hip me this week that this is why my grandmother never slept.

You could go by the house at anytime after mid-night and she would be up. Once while I in the Navy stationed in Japan I called her in the middle of the night by accident and she was up cleaning. It was sad really but I never understood it until this week. She was lonely and scared. So to wrap this up if you have a grandparent who is left alone, go visit them so they can get some sleep.

“Theoretically, there is nothing that can stop the government from taxing 100% of income so long as the people get benefits from the government commensurate with their income which is taxed,” Obama Sr. wrote. “I do not see why the government cannot tax those who have more and syphon some of these revenues into savings which can be utilized in investment for future development.” -Obama

Link to Story

I don’t think I need to comment on that. I think the obvious is that no on wants to be taxed at 100% and we would revolt if they tried it, but the fact that Obama thinks it’s OK is just scary to me.

“Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Bourdais has found himself outperformed by team mate Sebastian Vettel at recent races. Bourdais, however, believes he is gradually getting a grip on the main cause - the mismatch between his driving style, and the handling characteristics of the team’s car.

Bourdais made a strong start to his rookie campaign, scoring at the season opener in Australia, but ever since the introduction of Toro Rosso’s new STR3 machine at May’s Monaco Grand Prix, the four-time Champ Car champion has struggled to match Vettel.” F1.com

I would disagree with Mr. Boudias. He is a marginal driver who from some reason continues to get rides from big sponsors. He is taking up a seat in a car that someone with actual talent could be using to get better. I realize that someone has to be at the bottom of F1, not everyone and be P1, but the truth of the matter is he stunk here in the US driving Champ Car and now he somehow worked his way into F1 and is still bad, and consistently bad.

““I somewhat regret the time I’ve spent over these last few weeks looking for grand ideas on how to adapt the car to my driving style,” he said. “Now I am concentrating on a few details, I’m taking small steps, and it seems to be paying off. But it’s still complicated. That’s just how it is… ”” F1.com

He used the same excuses in the states when he ran and then you ask how did he win the Championship then smarty pants? A couple of things happen, Paul Tracy who is a talented driver made mistakes and while I don’t think Paul could run in F1 either he does not try to. F1 and Champ Car are very different. The tracks are not the same, the cars are worlds apart and drivers who move from Champ or Indy to F1 don’t do so well.

Plus I think Champ car the years Mr. Boudais won were just years when everyone else was starved for money and parts. So many of the teams in Champ Car didn’t have sponsors willing to pay big money because they got no return. Again like in Karting if you have more money you win and beat those with less money. I think his Champ Car wins came from equally spend wads of cash. He was on the most well sponsored team in the league.

Lastly Mr. Boudias is a smug and always has his nose in the air kind of jerk. I am not going to lump him in and call him French, because that would be rude to the French. He does not like his fans, he does not like people. He does not interview well. None of the others drivers are “tight” with him and his just looks the part of a prick.

Maybe next year they will find a driver that can drive, not make excuses and let Mr. Boudais come run NASCAR where you only have to turn left, mostly. That would be fitting.

Link to Story on F1.com

NOTE: If you are going to post comments about the blog and such, make sure you are a real person, not some hack whiner behind a bogus email with a fake name, Race Fan! More like Coward! Oh and if you don’t like what I am saying make sure you actually have the “******” to post who you really are and not some fake name and bogus email address. How pathetic, oh and you and my 9th grade English teach now both know I can’t write….what a surprise!

I am tried of people having to apologize to China for noticing their horrible problem with pollution. Every American should have gotten off the plane with a mask on. The pictures are pathetic, and I don’t see me watching any of the Olympics, not because of Tibet or China being communist, but because we are all getting blamed for the lie that is “Global Warming” yet now one is holding China responsible for their contribution and we now can see it from the pictures.

Link to Article