Book Ratings

Book ratings explained:

* I didn't like it | ** It was OK | *** I liked it | **** I really liked it | ***** I loved it

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

You go, girl!

cute pictures of puppies with captions
see more dog and puppy pictures

Urine turned into hydrogen fuel

US researchers have developed an efficient way of producing hydrogen from urine - a feat that could not only fuel the cars of the future, but could also help clean up municipal wastewater.


cont.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Neda, young girl brutally killed in Iran, becoming symbol of rebellion

BY Helen Kennedy
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Updated Monday, June 22nd 2009, 7:17 AM

Her name is Neda, which means "voice" in Farsi, and her death has become the central rallying cry of the Iranian rebellion.


cont.

Monday, June 08, 2009

My Resume

SUMMARY
Approximately 12 years experience acting as Great Plains Administrator as well as approximately 9 years experience acting as a Microsoft SQL Database Administrator.

SKILLS
Great Plains, MS SQL, DMI Compliance Suite, Crystal Reports, Windows network
• Maintained Great Plains, MS SQL, DMI CS, and Windows network security
• Installed, upgraded, and maintained Great Plains and MS SQL software, service packs and Great Plains tax updates on servers as well as client PCs
• Designed, developed, deployed, and maintained ancillary MS SQL databases including table design and writing stored procedures, views, and triggers
• Wrote stand alone Borland Delphi programs to perform department specific confidential functions
• Created and maintained several reports using Crystal Reports
• Modified several Great Plains standard reports using the Great Plains internal Report Writer
• Reviewed client requests and proposals for Great Plains enhancements and made recommendations
• Researched, reviewed, and made recommendations on Great Plains 3rd party software
• Network administrator with regard to scheduling and verifying backups, network security, and logical drive assignment
• Researched, recommended, and / or evaluated software and / or hardware to enhance Great Plains, MS SQL, and / or the Windows network
• Performed non-specific client training for use of PCs, Great Plains, various Microsoft Office products, DMI Compliance Suite

Software
• Database: Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, and Borland Paradox
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows NT, Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows 2003, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista
• Productivity: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint
• Web: Microsoft IIS, Macromedia Cold Fusion, Macromedia Dreamweaver
• Languages: Borland Delphi

EXPERIENCE
System Administrator 2005-2009
Kaneka Nutrients L.P.

• MS SQL 2000 database administration including security, backup, and restore.
• Great Plains administration including security, report modification, and non-specific user training.
• DMI Compliance Suite administration including security, Crystal report creation, electronic work instruction coding, order creation, problem investigation/resolution, and user training.
• Acted as primary help desk technician resolving various client issues.
• Acted as primary Windows 2003 network administrator with regard to network security, backups, and logical drive assignment.

Great Plains / Database Administrator 1997-2005
GSI Gulf States, Inc.

• MS SQL 7 and MS SQL 2000 database administration including database design, security, backup, and restore.
• Great Plains administration including security, ancillary view creation, report modification, and non-specific user training.
• Part of the team that migrated Great Plains from Btrieve to MS SQL.
• Converted, enhanced, and maintained an in-house mechanical estimating system from the IBM/36 written in RGP to a DOS based Borland Paradox system.
• Acted as a purchasing agent for IT department.
• Acted as secondary help desk technician resolving various client issues.
• Acted as secondary network administrator with regard to network security, backups, and logical drive assignment.

Data Operations Manager 1984-1997
Gulf States, Inc.

• Responsible for IBM/36 running CMAS software including supervising from 2 to 6 people working multiple shifts.
• Coordinated and scheduled data entry, job queues, print queues, and backups.
• Coordinated and scheduled monthly, quarterly, and yearly accounting processes.
• Part of team which migrated data from the S/36 to Great Plains.

Programmer / Data Entry Clerk 1979-1984
Gulf States, Inc.

• Helped design, code, and implement a mechanical estimating application on the IBM S/36 using RPG.
• Performed data entry functions for various accounting departments.
• Performed bank reconciliations.
• Created and posted correcting journal entries.

EDUCATION
Pan American University 1974-1978
Edinburg, TX
• No degree but studied General Business

Edinburg High School 1974
Edinburg, TX

ADDITIONAL TRAINING / STUDY
Course 2559: Introduction to Visual Basic .Net (2004)
Course 2073A: Programming MS SQL 2000 Database (2003)
Course 2072A: Administering MS SQL 2000 Database (2003)
Course 1026: Admin MS Exchange Server 5.5 (2000)
Course 832: System Administration for MS SQL 7.0 (1999)

REFERENCES
Supplied on request

Thursday, May 21, 2009

I thought it was Friday...

Spent the afternoon at the movies. Yes, I watched Star Trek again - 9th time - but I had to after watching Terminator Salvation. Have to agree with everyone whose comments I've seen that Terminator is an OK movie but nothing to write home about. For the most part, I liked it well enough except I really hated the end. It was so trite - ordinary - predictable.

Spock Kirk

Friday, May 15, 2009

Angels & Demons . . . not

I had every intention of watching this film when I went to the theatre this afternoon, but, when I got there, I found myself asking for a Star Trek ticket instead. And after I finished watching Trek for a sixth time, I went back and watched it for a seventh. I think it's safe to say that I like this movie.

It took seven viewings but I actually like Kirk. He's grown on me.

Spock Kirk

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Star Trek . . . one more time

I watched it a fifth time today. Still love it.

And yes, it was Vadar who was assigned to the Hood.

Spock

Monday, May 11, 2009

Star Trek . . . again

Yes, folks, I watched it a fourth time today. Just can't get enough of it. Even Kirk is growing on me. Seriously. I actually kind of almost sort of like him . . . kind of . . . maybe.

Got a question about the movie . . . Was that Vadar who was assigned to the USS Hood? (I think it was the Hood, but I'm not sure.)

Actually, I had an ulterior motive for watching the film again today. I have a friend who commented in an email that she didn't know if she could accept Quinto as Spock since he plays the especially creep worthy Sylar on Heroes. I'd never watched Heroes so I had no point of reference for her concern. So I did the only reasonable thing. I watched season 3 of Heroes on Hulu.com. I now have a point of reference and her concern is . . . well, it isn't one I would have had. If Quinto has the chops to pull off Sylar, he can certainly play Spock. And he does them both exceptionally well. I think I may have a new favorite actor to add to my ever growing list.

Spock

Friday, May 08, 2009

Star Trek

Go see the movie. That's an order.

(Watched it twice this afternoon. Still hate Kirk. Still love Spock. Crushing on Scotty.)

Spock

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Spelling mistake discovered in Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagogg- chaubunagungamaugg signs

In an embarrassing mistake, officials in Massachusetts have been forced to admit that some road signs pointing to Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg have spelling mistakes in them.

cont.

(No wonder the locals call it Webster Lake. Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.)


----------------
Now playing: Duke Ellington - The Mooche
via FoxyTunes

Sunday, March 22, 2009

BBC News | Science & Environment | Pink elephant is caught on camera

Family of elephants with a pinkish baby walking amidst them

A pink baby elephant has been caught on camera in Botswana.

A wildlife cameraman took pictures of the calf when he spotted it among a herd of about 80 elephants in the Okavango Delta.

cont.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

9NEWS.com | Retired barber promotes Christian salt instead of kosher salt

CRESAPTOWN, Md. (AP) - You've heard of kosher salt? Now there's a Christian variety.

cont.

There is one and only one response to this . . . No comment.

Friday, March 13, 2009

BBC News | UK | Military penguin becomes a 'Sir'

A penguin who was previously made a Colonel-in-Chief of the Norwegian Army has been knighted at Edinburgh Zoo.

cont.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

BBC News | Europe | Germany stunned by shooting spree

Germany is in shock after a heavily armed 17-year-old opened fire on pupils and teachers at his former school in a killing spree in which 15 people died.

cont.

See also: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7937650.stm

(It doesn't just happen here in the U.S.)

Lifetime Portrait Of Shakespeare Discovered

Professor Stanley Wells, Chairman of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, and one of the world’s leading experts on Shakespearian studies, today announced the discovery of a portrait of William Shakespeare, which he believes is almost certainly the only authentic image of Shakespeare made from life.

cont.

FOXNews.com | Secret Message Found In Lincoln Pocket Watch

WASHINGTON — For nearly 150 years, a story has circulated about a hidden Civil War message engraved inside Abraham Lincoln's pocket watch. On Tuesday, museum curators confirmed it was true. A watchmaker used tiny tools to carefully pry open the antique watch at the National Museum of American History, and a descendant of the engraver read aloud the message from a metal plate underneath the watch face.

cont.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

The Prodigal Son has committed car!

Dark metallic grey Honda Civic


(I'll try for better pictures tomorrow. Just got home a little while ago and it's already dark and the Prodigal Son is at work. Took this picture with his phone so it's tiny.)

Monday, February 23, 2009

If I were a band . . .

New meme: here's a totally random way to make your new random band's new random album and cover.

Go to “Wikipedia.” Hit “random” and the first article you get is the name of your band.

Go to “Random Quotations” and the last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album. (Go ahead and hit the button at the bottom. It doesn't seem to refresh when you get on initially.)

Go to Flickr and click on “Explore the Last Seven Days” and the third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.




Band: Joseph Beltrami

Album: Deep Delight of the Blood

Cover: Click here for photo

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Orion Nebula

Orion Nebula: The Hubble View
Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Robberto (STScI/ESA) et al.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Just a quick update

My doctor has taken me off my medications because they are interfering with my liver. I've been off the one since September and the other since November. Needless to say, the psoriasis is back with a vengeance and the arthritis has decided to settle in my hands - which is good since it isn't anywhere else in my body, but it's bad because, well, it's in my hands. I can't do much of anything with these iffy hands. Today is actually a good day. I can turn the doorknob without help and I can type - hence this post. But what I would really like to do is knit and I just don't think my hands would put up with that. Oh, well. Life goes on. I'm just trailing a little behind it right now.

Friday, January 23, 2009

At Amazon.com

No comment . . .



. . . mainly because the notion the world has come to such a sorry state we now have to ingrain distrust into our children when they play.

Thursday, January 01, 2009

!! Happy New Year !!

May the best thing that happened to you in 2008 be the worst thing that happens to you in 2009.

----------------
Now playing: Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

It snowed!

Snow gathered on my car
On my car window

Snow on the shrub beside my walkway
On the shrubbery at the front of the house

In the front yard
In the front yard


Unfortunately, the snow has turned to rain again so the bit on the ground has already begun to melt away. I haven't checked out the weather forecast yet so I don't know if there's more rain/sleet/snow in store for us or not.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Emotional extremes . . . sort of

At a southern university, students in the psychology program were attending their first class on emotional extremes.

"Just to establish some parameters," said the professor to the student from Arkansas, "what is the opposite of joy?"

"Sadness," said the student.

"And the opposite of depression?" he asked of the young lady from Oklahoma.

"Elation," she said.

"And you sir," he said to the young man from Texas, "what about the opposite of woe?"

The Texan replied, "Sir, I believe that would be 'giddy up' ."

Saturday, November 15, 2008

What's in a name?

The As are all done . . . as of this exact point in time, at least.

Two thumbs up for Amazon.com

I ordered the Microsoft Office 2007 upgrade from Amazon.com to load on my new computer. It arrived on Thursday and I tried to install it. It, however, did not want to be installed. It kept telling me the key was invalid. So I sent an email to Amazon about the problem. I expected to have to go through a hassle since I had opened the software to install it and nobody wants to take back software after the seal is broken. I also expected to have to wait forever to get any sort of response.

Well, color me one very happy and satisfied customer. When I got home yesterday there was an email waiting for me that directed me to send the software back to Amazon. It also included a link to a UPS shipping label for me to print out. So today I printed out the label and shipped the bad, uncooperative software back. And waiting for me when I got home was an email informing me my replacement software had shipped.

If I hadn't already been a very satisfied Amazon.com customer, I would certainly be one now.

Kudos!

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Telegraph.co.uk | Scientists make cat that glows in the dark

By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent
Last Updated: 6:01pm BST 23/10/2008

By day he is just a normal tabby but when the lights go out this ginger cat glows in the dark.




. . . cont.


----------------
Now playing: Loreena McKennitt - The Highwayman
via FoxyTunes

Saturday, October 18, 2008

I was a bad girl

I bought a new laptop today. My desktop is 7 years old and my other laptop is 6 years old so I decided a deserved a new computer.

I've spent the day uninstalling all the crap that comes preloaded on the unit and downloading and installing the stuff I really want to use.

This is the new computer's inaugural post.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Saturday, October 11, 2008

newsday.com | Palin uses her elected office to promote religious causes, at times with public money

Palin uses her elected office to promote religious causes, at times with public money

By GARANCE BURKE | Associated Press Writer
12:59 PM EDT, October 11, 2008

WASILLA, Alaska (AP) _ The camera closes in on Sarah Palin speaking to young missionaries, vowing from the pulpit to do her part to implement God's will from the governor's office.

What she didn't tell worshippers gathered at the Wasilla Assembly of God church in her hometown was that her appearance that day came courtesy of Alaskan taxpayers, who picked up the $639.50 tab for her airplane tickets and per diem fees.

An Associated Press review of the Republican vice presidential candidate's record as mayor and governor reveals her use of elected office to promote religious causes, sometimes at taxpayer expense and in ways that blur the line between church and state.


. . . cont.

The New York Times | Legislative Panel: Palin Abused Authority

Legislative Panel: Palin Abused Authority

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: October 10, 2008

Filed at 11:47 p.m. ET

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.

Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.


. . . cont.

baltimoresun.com | McCain's attacks fuel dangerous hatred

McCain's attacks fuel dangerous hatred

By Frank Schaeffer
October 10, 2008

John McCain: If your campaign does not stop equating Sen. Barack Obama with terrorism, questioning his patriotism and portraying Mr. Obama as "not one of us," I accuse you of deliberately feeding the most unhinged elements of our society the red meat of hate, and therefore of potentially instigating violence.

At a Sarah Palin rally, someone called out, "Kill him!" At one of your rallies, someone called out, "Terrorist!" Neither was answered or denounced by you or your running mate, as the crowd laughed and cheered. At your campaign event Wednesday in Bethlehem, Pa., the crowd was seething with hatred for the Democratic nominee - an attitude encouraged in speeches there by you, your running mate, your wife and the local Republican chairman.

Shame!


. . . cont.

The Associated Press | NY election mix-up: 'Osama' on the ballot

NY election mix-up: 'Osama' on the ballot

By RICHARD RICHTMYER – 22 hours ago

TROY, N.Y. (AP) — Who is running for president? In an upstate New York county, hundreds of voters have been sent absentee ballots in which they could vote for "Barack Osama."


. . . cont.

(How incredibly childish and petty and obvious.)

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

My Way News | AIG execs' retreat after bailout angers lawmakers

AIG execs' retreat after bailout angers lawmakers

Oct 7, 9:13 PM (ET)

By ANDREW TAYLOR

WASHINGTON (AP) - Less than a week after the federal government had to bail out American International Group Inc. (AIG), the company sent executives on a $440,000 retreat to a posh California resort, lawmakers investigating the company's meltdown said Tuesday.


. . . cont.

(And this comes as a surprise how?)

abc news | 'Tis the Season of Election Dirty Tricks: Scaring Student Voters

'Tis the Season of Election Dirty Tricks: Scaring Student Voters

Flyer Warns of Undercover Police Presence at Polls on Election Day

By AVNI PATEL

Oct. 6, 2008—

Election officials and watchdog groups are bracing for the wave of sneaky or suspicious phone calls, leaflets and emails that typically hit battleground states in the final 30 days of the presidential campaign.

Young voters at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Penn. have already been targeted, with students reporting that flyers have been posted around campus warning that undercover police will be at the polls on Election Day looking to make arrests.

The flyer reads like a friendly letter to fellow students relaying a warning from an "Obama supporter": "He informed me that on the day of the election there will be undercover officers to execute warrants on those who come to vote based on the anticipated turnout," writes the anonymous student in the letter which was later posted on the Drexel College Democrats website. "He advised me if I had any outstanding warrants or traffic offenses I should clear them up prior to voting."


. . . cont.

The Nation | Who You Callin’ a Maverick?

The Nation
Who You Callin’ a Maverick?

By JOHN SCHWARTZ
Published: October 4, 2008

“I’m just enraged that McCain calls himself a maverick,” said Terrellita Maverick, 82, a San Antonio native who proudly carries the name of a family that has been known for its progressive politics since the 1600s, when an early ancestor in Boston got into trouble with the law over his agitation for the rights of indentured servants.


. . . cont.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Rolling Stone| Make-Believe Maverick

Make-Believe Maverick
A closer look at the life and career of John McCain reveals a disturbing record of recklessness and dishonesty

By TIM DICKINSON Posted Oct 16, 2008 7:00 PM

This is the story of the real John McCain, the one who has been hiding in plain sight. It is the story of a man who has consistently put his own advancement above all else, a man willing to say and do anything to achieve his ultimate ambition: to become commander in chief, ascending to the one position that would finally enable him to outrank his four-star father and grandfather.


. . . cont.

Bill Maher Takes On Palin's Debate Performance

Tina Fey As Sarah Palin In VP Debate On SNL