Vendor / Client Relations

After working in IT for a while, I have occasionally been asked to really press a vendor for a better deal.  I never enjoyed this part of the job, so it’s nice to see how it must seem from the vendor’s point of view.

Tags: client, negotiations, vendor

Free Networking Tools

Earlier today I was over at the Cisco Learning Network and in a post someone was asking for a good (free) Telnet program (other than Windows HyperTerminal).  It got me thinking about all of the free tools I have over time and taken advantage of when I didn’t have any money left in the budget.

Telnet/SSH programs:
PuTTY
PuTTY Connection Manager (great GUI for PuTTy, with tabs!)
TeraTerm

Various Networking Tools:
Solarwinds Free Tools (A few of their free tools include: NetFlow Analyzer, Subnet Calculator, IP Address Tracker, TFTP Server and lots more… check these out for sure!)
The Free Country (There are TONS of free tools on this site, I can’t even start to list them all… so don’t be lazy, just go check it out)

While there are lots of other tools out there, I thought I would post these and I’ll have to remember to come back and make a more exhaustive list.

Tags: Free Tools, Networking, Solarwinds, SSH, Telnet

It’s a PC!

I’m getting a little tired of the “It’s a PC” laptop commericals.  I think this is a nice twist on those commericals (and maybe even a bit more honest).

Tags: it's a PC, laptop, microsoft

So long Bookpool… it was good to know you

A few days ago I found myself needing a new Tech book, so I headed to my favorite site for such things… Bookpool.com. Instead of finding the usual front page of Top sellers and Monthly specials, I found a Network Solutions page. It appeared as though the entire site had disappeared and all that was left was a simple placeholder left by the domain registrar.

After doing a little research online, I ran across one message board where someone mentioned that they recently visited the “brick and mortar” storefront and found most of the shelves empty and the fixtures being sold.  It looks like Bookpool is another victim of the recession and I for one will really miss them.  Here is hoping that one day they may return, but I seriously doubt it.

Tags: bookpool.com, closed, recession, website

Obama is Depressed about the end of Battlestar Galactica

It looks like even the leader of the free world was deeply affected by the series finale of Battlestar Galactica.  I’m glad it wasn’t just me that felt this way!

Tags: Battlestar Galactica, Depressed, Finale, Obama

Looks like I picked the wrong week…

Some days the emotional rollercoaster of life can really kick your ass.  But at least there are still some things that always make me laugh!

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to take a minute and say Merry Christmas to everyone out there!  That also means that starting tonight there will be 24 hours of “A Christmas Story” playing on TV.  No matter how many times I see that movie I can’t get enough of it.

Updated Star Trek trailer released!

The other week the second trailer was released for Star Trek, well today Paramount decided to update that trailer and added a 3 second clip at the end with the original Spock! The original story and links to the full trailer are over at Ain’t it Cool’s website. But if you can’t wait, here it is:

Fett’s Vette Music Video

So over the weekend I went to see Kevin Smith’s “Zack and Miri..” and loved it.  As usual Kevin Smith managed to find the perfect music for his movie.  One song that caught my attention was MC Chris’ “Fett’s Vette”.  Anyone that enjoy’s Aqua Teen Hunger Force will recognize MC Chris’ music.

Preparing for 2009

When I looked at the calendar today it just really amazed me to think that we only have 2 more months until the year is finished.  At the first of the year I wrote out a small “to do list” for 2008.  This was the first time I really sat down and made a list of things I wanted see see happen, but to be honest it was probably the best thing I could have done.  As I approach the end of the year and look back I am realizing that I accomplished a good deal (although not everything I would have liked).

As I find myself quickly approaching another new year and I start to mentally put together a 2009 list, I thought I would try and recap some of the larger things done this year:

• I enrolled in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) and was brought into communion with the Catholic church during the Easter vigil.
• My wife and I got married in the church (after being civilly married for several years).  She had always wanted a Catholic wedding.  Since we were already legally married, this is called a Convalidation.
• I finally found a primary care doctor that I liked and got a check up (this is something I have needed to do for years, but have been to stuborn to do).
• I ended up changing jobs just about a month ago.

There are many other smaller things that have happened through the year, but these were the major things that I have done.  When I look at those few thing it really puts into perspective that I have spent the year really getting my personal, spirital and professional life in order.  Now it is time for me to start thinking about how I’m going to finish off this year and make next year a more successful and productive year!