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Hi, This is Wayne. This is my site, my stuff, my blog, blahblahblah. The site itself is powered by WordPress and the Scary Little theme. I thought it was cool, and I still do.

send me your pepsistuff codes

As I use Microsoft Vista more, I’m impressed by some common sense things that finally made it into the Operating System.  And don’t you try to tell me how to spell hienie.

One of the things that bugged me for a long time was that I had to use third party tools, like sysinternals, to view details on what was taking up disk time, network time, memory, etc.  Task Manager was “ok” but lacked the real troubleshooting information I needed when I wanted to optimize my system.  (side note: Microsoft bought sysinternals a while back).

A Unix machine has no such limitation.  On Unix, I could use top, vmstat, lofs, tcpdump and many other command line tools to hone in and find EXACTLY what was going on with the system.  In short, I was Mr. BadAss Admin.

Now, Microsoft gives us the Resource Monitor:

vista resource monitor

Like the Task Manager, it gives us eye candy for CPU usage, Network utilization and memory consumption.  It adds a cool graph for Disk Usage.

More importantly, however, it gives you expandable sections for Disk and Network so you can see exactly what process is using the hard drive or network card, and the details of that access.  What file is being throttled at a million miles per second?  Which app is trying to talk out my network and taking up a ton of resources?  Which ship can do the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs?

The collapsed summaries themselves give useful information


I can see current usage and recent peak events

Even cooler that that- you can sort the columns and try to navigate your way to finding the anomalies.

For example, you might find that the search indexer is making your system crawl.  Outlook could be messing with a fragmented OST file.  The password crack program might be beating up your disk trying to brute force Obama’s website /etc/passwd file that was emailed to you by the Hillary campaign.

You can also narrow down network activity - who is woopra talking to?  What servers does trillian connect to?

About the only complaints I have about the tools it that you can’t right-click a process and *do* stuff with it like you can in Task Manager.  I want to be able to right-click and change process priority.  Or kill the process.  Or view the threads.  Or start a network sniffer.  Or tell it to get me a Pepsi.

Another refreshing thing (haha, get it?  it refreshes!  so it’s refreshing! HAHAHAHAHAA) is that Vista is actually *honest* about it’s problems.  It has a thing called the “Reliability Monitor” and it tracks all sorts of badness about your machine.

vista reliability monitor

YES!  It is actually advertising and tracking when failures happen!  On a timeline!  Woo-hoo!

How cool is that? I can see the dates when app failures happen, or actual windows failures, when I install or uninstalled software, and actually SEE WHEN THINGS STARTED GOING WRONG. 

Not only that, I can click on one of the red X’s and it will tell me which app crashed and the details

I applaud the Microsoft developers for putting this stuff in and making power users like me happier about the crashes that do happen.

I also can’t wait to smash the first Mac whore who says “the Mac had that in ‘84 and we didn’t even NEED a service pack and the smell of my own gas is pleasant to me.”

*stretttttcccccch*

I’m liking this Stuff you don’t want to MISC series - now that I’m in my 2nd year of doing it.  It’s like I’m a veteran!


2nd Amendment - A Win or a Squeak-By?

I don’t know what’s scarier - the thought of the government changing so quickly so as to take away my right to keep and bear arms within my lifetime, or the fact that the recent Supreme Court ruling squeaked by with just a 5-4 ruling.  And this is AFTER Bush’s appointments. (I got reminded of the 5-4 surprise from Such Is Life)

Having it be a 5-4 decision makes the choice for our next President of the United States even more important.

One dissenter, Justice Stephen Breyer, has words that, to me, are absolutely chilling.

In my view, there simply is no untouchable constitutional right guaranteed by the Second Amendment to keep loaded handguns in the house in crime-ridden urban areas.

If there’s anywhere where loaded handguns are needed by citizens for self defense, it’s in crime-ridden urban areas.  No?


Gratitude Campaign

Saw this over at Tug’s and wanted to share.  Thank a soldier.

gratitude campaign

There have been a couple of times where I’ve bought a meal for a soldier in an airport and at a restaurant.  The first time I did it they thanked me and I thought - I need to do this anonymously.  So the next time, I just told my waiter to put their bill on my tab and to just tell them a thankful patriot is in the restaurant.  I didn’t want the credit - I wanted them to know the public is behind them.


Jaden’s lost tooth

Jaden lost his first tooth this week, and then he actually LOST his first tooth.  He was brushing his teeth and then he comes running up saying “my mouth is bleeding!” and we look and um, yup, “Jaden. did ya notice you’re missing a tooth right up front?”  “oh yeah! my loose tooth!”.  [Slight confused look].  “Where did it go,” we asked.  “I don’t know!” he exclaimed.

So we go look in the bathroom and figure he either swallowed it while brushing his teeth (slim chance) or it went down the drain (high possibility).

We have a little “lost tooth” pillow for the Tooth Fairy to more easily identify any teeth that are intentionally for sale.  We don’t want her (assumed to be a “her”) rifling through all our belongings and thinking she can leave a quarter for just any old thing she wants to around the house.

In lieu of the tooth, we wrote a note:

Dear Tooth Fairy — Jaden lost his tooth this morning while brushing his teeth.  It slipped down the bathroom sink.  He has requested that you please search for his tooth tonight after leaving a quarter for him.  Thank you for your assistance. — Love, Jaden

 jaden's lost tooth fairy note

Jaden ended up getting a whole dollar (inflation?) and when he asked why it was a dollar, we brainstormed with him on possible reasons.  The one we ended up as the most likely explanation was that a dollar bill is a lot lighter than a quarter, and she wanted to reward him for brushing his teeth.


Best of LOLcats 

 

 

 

 

 

June
28
2008
6:38 pm
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I’ve been thinking recently about my blog’s name.  The “blog of whall.”  I’ve been the blog of whall for over three years now.  I took whall.org because the dot-com and dot-net variants were already taken.  I’d rather not have a dot-org for a couple of reasons - one of which you can’t have private domain registration and the other being you’re supposed to be non-profit - but I never took the time to brand myself on an available dot-com.

whall.org blog of whall brand logo

If there’s something I like about my domain, whall.org, is that it’s short.  It’s [mostly] easy to say (doubleyou-hall dot org).  I’m very used to typing it.  And, it’s an established brand, if you could call it that.

My brain, however, keeps diverting itself from thinking about important things such as work, family, breakfast tacos and Kirstie Alley and won’t let go of the idea of possibly changing my domain and blog name.  I weigh the disadvantages against the advantages; I wonder if I should go all-out on a real theme, logo, etc.

Some of the names I toy with include

  1. whall.us (I own)
    Possibly more appropriate for commercial use, and short.
  2. offthewhall.com (do not own)
    This is probably the one I think about the most - easy to remember, easy to say, and it’s a .com.  It’s also related to what I would consider my blog - off the wall.  Plus I love Michael Jackson.
  3. whall.name and waynehall.name (I own)
    Very specific to my name.  However, I’m not sure about making my blog about my name.  There’s something to be said about using a theme and moniker instead of my actual name.
  4. whallify.com (I own)
    I’ve used the name ‘whallify’ for a long long time.  It’s a verb meaning “to whall”. 
  5. 4mon.com (I own)
    Short domain name, but totally unrelated to what my blog would be about.  It will probably be a domain I keep for intending to resell.
  6. bitemy.net (I own)
    Snarky.  Maybe I should give it to Hilly.
  7. firewhall.com (do not own)
    Short, easy to say, but not necessarily appropriate to the blog.

I want to open up the discussion - let me know what you think!

First question is - keep existing or change?  Second question is - if change, which one?

Yesterday was an interesting day for me. 

It all started when I got a notice from HR a month or so ago that I *had* to take some mandatory company class.  I’m thinking “uh-oh,” another sexual harassment training or rah-rah session on goals, objectives or maybe a facilitator class.  I thought I left that all behind me when I left the Big M or the Big I or even the Big G.

I am not a fan of instructor-led classes.

They go too slow.  The classes are boring.  Most instructors are failures in REAL life, so they go around and teach.  There are enough other failures running government, so they send themselves to training as a requirement, and as a result the whole training process atrophies.  I fall asleep unless I contribute.  The content is material for a professional hypnotist to practice with.

whall wayne yawning

When I showed up to Creative Leadership for Managers, I ready for the same-old same-old.  At least the class was 9am-4pm, with a healthy 1hr lunch and not a lengthy all-day thing.  I might survive with nary a nap!

The instructor looked a little like Drew Carey, and made a point of coming around before the class and shaking hands, introducing himself, asking who we were, where we were from, and providing general chitchat.  I was positive that he was gathering intel for the onslaught of mediocrity that surely lay in wait for me.  So I decided I needed to bare my teeth and show I am not your typical prey.

creative leadership bill gordon

The class got underway and first off, I was unimpressed with the projector screen (booorrringggg!), as well as a mispelling in the workbook!

creative leadership fail mispelled word

Look! there even seems to be an extra space between “Leadership”and “Skills”.  If it’s one thing I cannot stand, it’s improper use of white space. 

I also wondered at the apparent insult my company lobbed at me from nowhere - what are they saying?  I’m NOT a creative leader?  I need help with this stuff?  What, I’m a clown to you?!?!?  What happened to the days when if you didn’t do a job, you just got fired for it?  Why do we have to hold everyone’s hand with everything, coach them and teach them, and help them to be the best them they can be (the preceding italicized words are meant to be said with a fake little girly voice, intending a high level of mockery.  It helps if you envision me doing fake quotes in the air with my fingers as I say each set.)

Fortunately, I was disappointed.  I loved the class!  The speaker rocked!  Or more accurately, the speaker turned out to be phenomenal, armed with fantastic content.  I picked up some great tips on leading vs managing, how to address conflict, stay on agenda, reward employees in more creative ways, and keep track of delegation better.

fred pryor creative leadership

So, as a result, today I informed one of my employees (leading) that he was to attend the next class for me (delegation).  When he objected and threw a fit (conflict), I informed him of the business impact to the company (stay on agenda), and I told him he could continue receiving a paycheck if he goes (reward in creative ways).  Win-Win!


If you’re looking for coaching or want excellent training to come to your company, I can’t recommend Bill Gordon highly enough.

Bill Gordon Bill is an experienced Certified Enpowerment Coach who is credentialed by the global International Coach Federation. He is an effective, well-seasoned trainer and facilitator who regularly receives accolades for life-changing experiences for learning participants. His generous spirit, sense of humor, and ability to connect with individuals within the learning environment make a sought-after speaker internationally.Bill is a Maine native living in Chicago, IL

I’m baaaaaAAAaaack!

note: the way I typed that above does not imply I’ve been gone very long.  It’s just how I type sometimes.

wayne's 3-minute ditl day in the life

(more…)

June
22
2008
4:13 pm
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It’s a YEAR!  A Year’s Worth of SYDWTM!  I’m glad I gave away stuff LAST week. I guess I should get on some of that…

This week, I’m doing what EVERYONE wants - an extra-long “Best of LOLcats”.

Best of LOLcats

lolcats i care about ur problems really
saw this over at Dawg’s and can’t believe I missed it the first time around in March!

 

lolcats revenge is tweet

 

lolcats take that, grass!

 

 

lolcats mini me biting your leg

 

lolcats out

 

 

 

June
21
2008
12:00 am
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in memoriam of the puppy monster
Cereal kisses from heaven, Dawg.
June
19
2008
3:05 pm
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I’ve decided to launch yet-another new series here on the blog of whall called “Learning is Fun!”  I figure if you have a decent story behind something, anything can be learned.  It might be technical, inspirational, or whatever.

So I wanted to combine some internet drama with learning something technical.  Follow along, will you? 

One facet of my immense geekdom is the ability to remember TLA’s - Three Letter Acronyms.  And I’m talking about USEFUL technical acronyms, not today’s vernacular, although that does remind me of a good joke I read over at Ajooja’s site.

A blonde texted her boyfriend with “What does idk” mean?
He responded “I don’t know.”
“OMG!” she texted back “No one does!”

(no actual blondes were harmed in the telling of this joke). 

My memory has a special ability to hold onto these technical acronyms.  I know PING is Packet INternet Gopher. I know CSMA-CD is Carrier Sense Multiple Access Collision Detection.  I’m anal that way - I *want* to know what makes up the acronym, and why.  I think it helps me understand the underlying technology better. 

That CSMA-CD thing I mentioned before?  That has to do with ethernet.  Networking.  Hubs, switches, 802.3, blahblah blah.  You probably don’t care how the electronic signals get from your computer to whall.org; you. just. care. that. they. do.

csmacd rj45 network cable

When you plug in an ethernet cable to a hub, everything on that hub is like a party line (remember party lines?)  Every port “hears” everything said to every other port.  If you plug four PC’s into a hub, it’s literally like four people are on a party line (Multiple Access). 

Let’s get into the drama.

If person A (Joan) wants to talk to person B (Jane), first Joan has to listen so as not to talk over anyone else.  Because oh by the way, only one person can talk at a time on ethernet.  So Joan sits and waits (Carrier Sense) until there’s a break in the conversation.  When she senses the opening, she blurts out “JANE!!! ARE YOU OUT THERE? IF SO, WHERE YOU AT, BEYOTCH!?!?” (this is known as ARP). 

joan and jane arp example

Remember, EVERYONE is listening to the party line.  They all agreed ahead of time that they would only respond if asked except in special circumstances, so Person C (Bob) and Person D (Tom) hear the request but ignore it.  Just like they did at TequilaCon, but this time they did it sober, which is inexcusable.

So Jane hears the request and responds “I’M RIGHT HERE IN FRONT OF YOU, MORON, AND HERE’S MY EXTENSION“.  This extension that she gives out is her MAC (media access control) address.  Now Jane writes down the extension and for the rest of that specific conversation, Jane prefaces her words with Jane’s extension.

If you’re following along, you might be thinking to yourself “wow, that is so fascinating.  But what happens with Collision Detection??!?

joan jane wayne thinking unusable hands

Well, here’s the deal.  Even though everyone is polite enough to wait for a break in the conversation to start talking, somewhere in between the nanosecond it takes for them to hear the silence, the nanosecond it takes to start speaking, and the ohnosecond it takes for that electrical signal to start going down the cable, there’s always a chance that there will be a “jinx, you owe me a Coke” moment.  Jane and Joan might both be waiting to speak, they BOTH decide “now’s my chance!” and they BOTH start talking _at_the_same_time_

joan jane gah talk over someone else

In real life, this usually isn’t a big deal for friends.  Some people can have a completely two-way conversation and both sides speak and listen and comprehend at the same time.  Others, when you attempt this, get mad.  For some reason, they think you’re not listening.  I think that’s what they said; I’m not sure.

But computers?  Electricity sent from one end of the cable hitting electricity coming from the OTHER end of the cable actually is NOT something that’s tolerated by the Ethernet Gods.  There is a physical collision - an explosion of sorts - that happens inside the cable.  A little “pop!” and everybody’s like “WHOAAAAA did you hear dat!?!?!” and then everyone gets in on the action and says “ooooooooh, don’t go there...”

david schwimmer ross don't go there

They detect the collision and they decide to back off of talking for some random amount of time before they start listening again.  This is equivalent to “oh I’m sorry I talked over you - you go first” but in a more robotic, unfeeling and really lame way.  It’s kind of like stopping blogging but not permanently. 

But we have a small recipe for drama.  Because in normal ethernet world, Bob and Tom can hear everything Joan and Jane are saying!  So if they wanted to (like with a packet sniffer such as wireshark), they could listen, write down all the bad stuff, collude (not collide) and then backstab Joan and Jane.

Enter the “switch”

You may have heard about hubs and switches right?  Do you know the difference?  Well, a hub is the above description - a complete party line.  A switch, however, adds the concept of direct-dialing-by-extension.  The part about asking for an extension still happens (this is known as a broadcast), but when Jane starts dishing the trash talk about Bob’s shortcomings in the romance department, as long as she’s prefacing her conversation with Joan’s MAC address, the switch conveniently keeps their conversation just between the two people, and Bob is completely oblivious!

side note: Tom, however, is a switch administrator and secretly mirrored Jane and Joan’s ports to his own so that he could still spy on their talks, and wrote down everything about Bob.  He plans on blogging it later, because it’s been a few days since the Internet imploded and besides, blogdrama makes for a good comment run, and who cares if someone gets pushed out or leaves the blogosphere - there will be at least a dozen new bloggers to replace them!

So Joan and Jane can continue their gossiping, what they’re going to do about their hair, and OMG did you see the Bachelor!

side note: Tom learns that Bob is engaged to Joan, but cried out Jane’s name in the bedroom this one time.  This is especially awkward because Joan and Jane are sisters.  And in watching the conversations between Bob and Jane, he finds out that Bob’s been telling Jane that he plans on leaving Joan and marrying her instead, but he’s been stringing her along for months and in the meantime, Bob gets a little sumfin sumfin from them both.  Also, Bob’s email to one of his buddies exposes his ultimate plan, which is to sleep with both of them together

Bob meanwhile is over off to himself, doing lots of instant messaging, emailing, blogging, commenting and generally staying away from actual work and he finds that hours go by and he hasn’t done a thing that could be considered productive.  He thinks about going to Alaska.

side note: Tom decides that it’s in the best interest of everyone involved, and would save a lot of heartache not to mention further awkwardness if he were to insert himself into the situation and help calm it down.  So he plans to blackmail Bob with this new information so he can rent an upscale condo on the beach for a week.  He will invite both Jane and Joan to the condo, show them the proof, tell the story, and then they will be mad at each other, then sob, then cry and will need a strong male to comfort them and hey, did you notice my new nice condo?  Have you seen the bedroom?

Switches are cool.  Switches help prevent drama (they cut down on collisions).

June
18
2008
4:14 pm
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No, this is not one of those Internet Quizzes that you take and then you get a badge for your blog telling you your coolness rating.  Although… that would be cool.

I’ve mentioned a couple of times my wife’s Patella injury, but not too often.  She’s private and I respect that.  That said, here’s a picture of her insides:

dislocated patella xray christy

Many have asked for an update and the short update is that she’s been mostly off crutches for the last few weeks, which means she only needs them a little bit during the day.  She does her 2-4 hours of daily rehab and has her hands full with kids home from school and our new puppy Luna.

During the last 5 months, we’ve gone through some rehab equipment - knee braces, immobilizer, stationary pedeler, etc and now I’m ready to sell them on craigslist.  Thing is - I have NO idea what they’re worth.  I definitely don’t want to keep it around in storage and I gotz billz ta pay, yo.

I start googling some of it and one description in particular caught my eye.

knee immobilizer

When would you NOT choose the cool version?!?!?!!

And why aren’t they advertising the “lightweight rigid posterier” more?  Seems there would be a WAY bigger market for that!

What would YOU want to come in a “standard or cool” version?

Maybe I should have a flash animation at the beginning of the blog so visitors can choose Standard or Cool Wayne.  (insert smart comments here).

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