donteatpoop.k-state.edu

Among the many things I do as a Unix Systems Administrator at K-State, is doing updates to our DNS server. And, from time to time see the stuff that comes across our internal listserv for DNS requests.

Today, we got the request for the 'top-level' name of "donteatpoop"....it fits into the 4 usual suspects of with and without 'www.' in front of it, and with both ksu.edu and k-state.edu as the domain name.

Kind of a strange name to request, considering where it redirects to, etc....and being an ex-Canadian, it hasn't escaped me that its also a .ca site....

I don't however take care of the web content, so it is kind of strange looking redirect, etc.... Which only stood out because earlier this morning (while getting ready to leave home for work) I happened to do some googling on web redirection. Though I was looking on how to best implement the masked variety. Because the library would like to have a nicer domain name than the current exposed host name, port number and long (application revealing) URI that currently shows for one of the many growing digital content related stuff that the library now offers.

I have two approaches that came up to try, only somebody else should decide on what the 'nice' name should be....

This is a test

Well, this is only a test to see if I can post to by Blogspot blog via my Sprint Blackberry, which for reasons unknown doesn't generate plaintext Emails... Which my other mobile blog won't accept.

This does also serve to be that somewhat more substantial test of typing on my new Blackberry. The learning curve does exist, but it isn't as bad as what I went through with SureType. It is mostly about the differences from that, though there are some adjustments from a 'real' keyboard and from what my fingers seem to expect for placement and feel.

Anyways, we now return you to....
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You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

this is the samaBlog » 888-322-2785

I was thumbing through my caller ID the other day...and noticed this toll free number had been calling me, while I've been at work. And, not leaving any voice mails.

Good thing I turned of Simulring, because it was costing me every time somebody called me whether I answered the call or not. Mainly because of a bad circuit at AT&T...kept dumping calls to my landline into noise. Even though its just a basic local only service, so when I don't answer...nothing else should.

Anyways...just got the call again...decided to see if Google would shed any light....usually it doesn't for these kinds of calls.

But, looks like Discover is phishing again. I wish they'd stop....

The last time I answered a phishing call from Discover...the pitch person said because I have never missed a payment and always pay my card in full each month...for completely free and no charge, I could have credit protection on my account. I didn't sound right, but he offered to send me the information in writing. So, I agreed to that.

The next month...I found charges for credit protection, etc. I called and yelled at Discover about it. They claimed that I had said 'yes' to getting the service, though they don't really record any of their calls....that's just a legal disclaimer incase they did. So, there's no proof that what I said 'yes' to was to get information in writing. Which I didn't get on the following week.

And the credit protection service assumes you won't pay, so they can make money off of the people that never miss a payment and always pay in full...to cover themselves against the people that use the service so they don't have to pay them.

I wish I had a recording of the pitch conversation....then I'd have evidence to back up a complaint against them. But, that's probably why they don't really record any of their calls for quality purposes....

Tough Enough to Wear Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So, for this month I've been wearing my 'special' badge lanyard...its light blue with pink ribbons all over it.

And, there's this polo shirt in my collection...though I won't be wearing it this Friday, since I picked up a "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" shirt...but perhaps one of the other Friday's this month.

For me...its because I had an aunt....

What is my local calling area?

Or more importantly, is 785-304 in my local calling area?

Why is it that this kind of information seems absolutely impossible to find. Can't seem to find it via Google. Can't find it on my phone company's site (AT&T)....there was a localcalling form on an SBC site, which I found using Google, but it refuses to accept 785 as a valid area code.

I suppose the obvious thing is to try calling the number from a toll restricted phone and see if it works. Though I don't currently have access to one....the one on my desk here at work still doesn't work.

But, it would be nice to find out if the number that T-Mobile assigned me can be reached from work, without being blocked for being non-local. Since it is kind of the point of why I switched my T-Mobile number from the Columbus, Ohio number I was using.

It is one of the strange backward things about landlines these days. With my cellphone and VoIP, I can call anywhere in the US...as easily as locally. And, VoIP extends my reach further....

But, a basic local toll only phone line from AT&T is double the 500 minute plans from Lingo or Vonage. And, way more than the Broadvoice's BYOD-lite plan. Though I'm probably gonna easily exceed the 100 minute allotment that it gives. While I've had trouble exceeding the 500 minute allotments.

I suppose what I might look at is the use of simulring or call forwarding. Actually, this sounds like a good thing to test selective call forwarding on...and I wonder if there's a limit on how many different numbers to selectively call forward. IE: all my co-workers and all the different numbers they might call me from.

Hmmm....

Microsoft wants to buy back my shares

I've gotten two letters and at least 4 urgent emails telling me that Microsoft wants to buy back shares...and that I need to respond if I want to get on this deal, or just ignore if I don't want to.

Well, obviously I'm going to ignore the offer....they are like only offering $24-22 a share in the buyback. And, my basis is $30 a share.

And, I don't need the capital gains loss this year...since I just made a major relocation for a new job....(and not to work for Microsoft, who had recruiters calling me regularly to ask if I'd come work for them....and then never hearing back, except to hear from people that were at Microsoft that it wasn't unusual to be interviewed and then not hear back for over a year....)

Actually, there was a time where I thought that if they dropped to $20...I might double my position (to bring my basis down to $25 ;D)....but it never got that low and now I don't have the disposable income to do it.

Meanwhile, I'm still slowly catching up on my email backlog....in Outlook I'm up to July 20th and there's more than 1700 messages ahead .... It is worse in Thunderbird, because there are things I skipped over that I intend to go back and read....like "This is True" and "DNRC" newsletters....that history goes back to when I was first informed of my lay off.... I also hope to someday make some gain from the employee stock that I had acquired.

Is it really August already?

In as many times these past few days...I keep writing 7 or 07 instead of 8 or 08 for the month.

Strange how time just seems to be sliding past lately. Must be the whole living in a new city, working a new job, etc.

Or maybe I'm just trying to avoid facing the crunch of projects that need to get done before the students come crashing in....

Let's have a reunion....

Actually, my 20 year High School Reunion will be on September 9th. I had said I would attend, though that was before I transplanted myself to Manhattan, etc.

But, at least I told my boss about it, so it is still a possibility.

Meanwhile, feeling accomplished....I went to Yahoo! and created a couple of groups related to this. One for SWC86 and the other for Zoo90 ;D

Click to join SWC86

Click to join Zoo90

It is always in the last place you look!

I've been here a week, and I've yet to have a decent cup of morning coffee. Been using bags from an old box of "Maxwell House Coffee Single" that I had come across while packing, which I had set aside incase I didn't get the coffee maker set up or it didn't survive the move.

Well, it did survive, so the only thing missing was my coffee container and, more important, coffee filters. So, this morning I made it my mission to find these elusive items, especially since finding out that I had bought the wrong kind during a recent shopping expedition (if you don't know, I don't drive...not since the accident, where as I laid in the second ambulance trip, to a bigger, university, hospital... unable to move, I heard some people talking about some concern around C4! But later I was able to walk, more or less, out of the hospital... :).

Well, I tore through every single box in sight and started looking in boxes that I had labelled as clearly not what I was looking for. I should have specifically labeled this box as having the coffee stuff, but I got sloppy at the end. :o I didn't find it, started to wonder if a box had gotten lost... settled on having another Coffee Single morning. :'(

Later when I was sitting on the toilet, which having my morning coffee does. :p. I notice a box I had missed sitting by the washing machine, I recognized that it was a found box (having run out during the packing process) and realized that it was a box I would have labeled 'FOOD'! Well, there they are! Unfortunately, something in the box didn't survive the move and everying was kind of sticky. Apparently, a packet of instant miso soup had ruptured. The movers seemed to like turning my boxes upside down, even the ones plastered on which way was up! They also stacked boxes in whatever orientation they wanted, even boxes that shouldn't (like boxes with handle holes containing stuff that was loose...did probably lose a few loose items this way.)

The only bad thing is that I don't recall coming across the box with my extra AA batteries. Guess I'll once again have to buy some more, even though I should have tons somewhere.

Well, I was planning on making two more expeditions today....
--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Desperately seeking a...

...phone cable!

The bad thing was during packing, I was finding so many that I was just throwing them out at the end.

But the new place doesn't have a wall jack, so I need a cord for my phone.
--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Small problem...

...among other perhaps more important ones.

But, my new living room is either too big or my 43" DLP RPTV is too small! :o

What is more pressing is how should run things for my internet access. :?
--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

The movers are here

And I haven't worked out where everything will go yet.... :o
--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Now on final for Manhattan

With the flight into MCI being so punctual, and my bags being among the first to hit the baggage carosel... I was able to make the call to KCIRoadRunner and get out for (almost) immediate pickup to be on my way to my new home!

Otherwise, I was expecting to hear that there might a couple hour wait before the couple of hours+ to get through to Manhattan and home.

Still haven't any idea what I'll do there yet...for things like supper, etc. Wonder how much will be open tomorrow for other shopping?

Guess as long as I can work a nice crash in... getting some curtains would be nice, to this end. :o
--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Good thing I went to the airport really early

As I was waiting for the shuttle to the airport, I got notification that my flight would be delayed an hour already.

I did already have a guess that there would be major delays at ORD.

At check-in they put me on an earlier flight via DFW. :)

Should also get into MCI earlier!
--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Bad weather today....

It seems just about everytime I need to fly now, the weather is bad....wonder how badly I'll be affected this, my final flight, to Manhattan (MHK) from Columbus (CMH)....via ORD.

The stumping game...

Looks like I just played the stumping game, and won!

The game is where you pay a bill with a clearly significant amount, which implies "keep the change". And, the waitress can't figure out how much change to give you back...

IE: today's bill came to $25+change, and I left $31. ;D

Done!

Now to call a cab, so I can go some where nice to crash.

--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

Uh Oh

There's trouble brewing!

Three more pieces to go, but they are rearranging the load....

When will this day end... I'm in need of a shower and bed .z.z.z. And a few Advils would be nice as well. 8-)
--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

End in sight?

Looks like we are coming up on the home stretch. They have wrapped my mattresses up in plastic. This something no other move has done, maybe there's a future for this company... ...except as I already said, I don't plan on there ever being another move for me! ;)
--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.

I hear fireworks!

I guess somebody else here in Ohio is a Canadian!

Meanwhile, I just watched the movers push their truck out of the way of blocking somebody in! Now to see if they can get it back, and finish the load.

Seems the truck requires a push start!?!
--
You may be a dreamer, but I'm The Dreamer, the definite article you might say!

Sent wirelessly via BlackBerry from T-Mobile.