Studying again

I am preparing to take my CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) in the next few weeks. I've been preparing for this for about 60 days now, and with summer coming up I'm feeling the pinch to do other things besides sitting in front of this computer with emulated routing and switching labs. But this needs to be completed soon, so I'll bear with it.

Right now I'm using a really excellent study tool called GNS3, and this is a real money saver. It's an emulation environment for Cisco IOS that runs actual IOS images as opposed to running simulated IOS. I found that, although some other router sims were quite good, they lacked in flexibility and completeness of the IOS command set. It is good to follow a canned lab, executing the required commands and nothing else. It's a whole other thing to set up a lab yourself and emulate a real-world environment. I have a number of labs created that I'm planning to put the finishing touches on and upload to GNS3-labs, which has been a really great tool for learning how to make GNS3 perform at its highest.

I'm in the final days of cramming, as I"ve already been thorough the majority of the material. I'm hoping to blog here about my topics of study to clarify what I'm learning for myself and perhaps to assist others in their own attempts. I find that there is a lot of material on the web pertaining to the CCIE, but not as much for the entry-level certs. (For that matter, I'd recommend not using Paul Browning's web site, book or racks. His material is lacking depth, his book is full of errors and his racks didn't function well. When I asked for a refund, he became condescending, insulting and childish. I'd be happy to show my correspondence with this unprofessional individual should anyone care to see it).

So, at any rate, on to the books and a little WAN theory tonight.

Straight, No Chaser

Miles Davis...that guy is amazing!

I remember learning this song when I was in music school, and thought it was real cool. Today I'm listening to a version on "Milestones" and just wanted to let you all know that Miles is a guy you should really check out.

He brings new levels to the adjctive "cool, man, cool."

And still, hope

I've meant to get here for some time. I've meant to say a few things about spring and new life and hope. It's been one thing after another, though, and Im just now getting here.

We've been sick. It started with the kids and ended with me and finally Sandra. That took about a month to leave the house and we're just now getting back to normal.

Our yard was flooded, and we feared the same destruction that took place two weeks after moving into this house. The yard was under about 6 inches of water for a good part of the last month. Thankfully, the drainage system we put in place 8 years ago held true and our basement was dry.

We're reeling from medical bills. Sometimes I wonder how we'll pay them.

But still, I'm glad to say that we are hopeful. I think it comes less from the stimulus package or from the sunshine that has been far too elusive. It's from more than our desire for things to get better, or from our improving health. It comes from deep inside - from those places that only seem necessary when you're in dire straights.

It's from knowing without question that all this is temporary. Knowing that the economy is only a means to an end, as are the water-soaked basements and never-ending envelopes asking for money. It's in knowing that when all is said and done, we have fought the good fight and done our best - and in exactly Who gave us the strength to fight it.

Praise the Lord, He is faithful and true. His lovingkindness endures forever.

Keep the change

I've been pondering what the economic stimulus package is going to do to the country, vs. what it will do for the country. I'm afraid that the depth of relief given to middle-class Americans is a little too little and a little too late. Being one of them, I believe my monthly paycheck will see an increase of $25-40. Well, that's enough to buy my family an extra pizza each month, but it doesn't do anything to help ease the burden of my mortgage or credit card bills (and, for what it's worth, I'm not in a position where I fear losing my home or overwhelmed with credit card debt).

So Wall Street billionaires make millions more, Fannie Mae comes out smelling like a rose and the auto industry tags along. After years of financial mismanagement, corporate America gets bailed out and our children get the shaft. I say our children get the shaft, because if we take an honest look at the situation we'd see that our kids are the ones who are going to end up sorting this mess out - but after how much suffering?

I realize I'm not offering anything constructive and I'm just a pawn in the game here. I don't claim to have a clear understanding of economics from every perspective. All I can say is this: If I were to take the lead of our government, I would run out and charge every credit card I have to the limit and beyond. I would take every offer mailed to me every day and max those out, too. Then I'd buy my kids an extra "Big Mac" each month telling them not to worry about the financial ruin I'm leaving them.

Sound economic practice dictates that we not spend more than we earn - and that we even spend less than we earn. Why does sound economic principle not hold true for governments?

So, US Government, I'd say keep your "change." We can do without an extra pizza, but you could use the help.

Maybe I'll spend my "tax relief" on this.

PS - I realize that the economic stimulus is *supposed* to give us each enough to piddle away and not enough to actually make a difference in our own personal lives. The government does not want us to be free - they want us to be indebted to them and the banks in which they are about to take a major stake. We owe our souls to the company store, Brother...

And while we're at it, get rid of the FDA too

You gotta love this.

"Mercury Found in High Fructose Corn Syrup
January 28, 2009
Quantities of mercury have been found in high fructose corn syrup, the ingredient that has replaced sugar in many of our processed foods. Reports have also come out that the FDA knew about traces of the toxic substance in food, and sat on the information. This news comes out just as we've learned that the peanut butter factory responsible for the salmonella outbreak has a storied history of health violations."

"Mercury is toxic in all its forms," said IATP's David Wallinga, M.D.,
and a co-author in both studies. "Given how much high fructose corn
syrup is consumed by children, it could be a significant additional
source of mercury never before considered. We are calling for
immediate changes by industry and the FDA to help stop this avoidable
mercury contamination of the food supply."

========

So tell me, who is the FDA protecting? It certainly isn't you or me. It appears that the processes and fees paid to the FDA is simply in place to generate income - because too often they "approve" of foods and medications that are harful and not fully tested. Then, when they *do* get information like mercury in corn syrup, they sit on it until someone finds out.

Let's get rid of them along with the Dems and Republicans. I'm beginning to sound like an anarchist, I know. But if these are the people we've put in place to protect the public well-being, I'd suggest our well-being is not doing so well.

PS - I'm a little disappointed nobody fired back at my last post. Are we all waiting for Obama to save us?!

How's that for change?

According to a USA Today article:

"All six of the law and accounting firms hired by the Treasury Department to help manage the $700 billion financial bailout have clients who received the federal money, contracting and regulatory records show."

I don't know about you, but I'm sure welcoming the change.

Bah. Kick 'em all out - Republicans/Democrats. There ain't a dime's worth of difference between 'em...

It's only -4 degrees

I woke up this morning and thought "Man, this house is cold." I poured a cup of coffee and dreaded having to go outside to start my car this morning to get to work, and wished the long winter was over. This is probably one of the most common feelings for anyone who lives in this frozen waste/wonder-land called Minnesota in January.

But I was happy and somewhat encouraged to look at the thermometer outside and see that it was only 4 degrees below zero. I thought "Eh, that's not so bad, I must just be extra warm getting out of bed today."

That's when I realized that I was truly a Minnesotan. Four degrees below zero is officially "not that bad" from my perspective. Oh man, I need a vacation...