I'm Shocked! Again...

In April, 2009 I was asked by a client to update their database software.  I was surprised to learn they were running on such an old operating system that it could not be updated!  I gave them the minimum specs of what they needed, which they passed on to their 'computer support guy'.

Now, twelve months later (March, 2010), I am on-site to update their database. Their computer guy finally got them a free Windows 7 computer with, unfortunately, all the usual junkware on it (stuff that gets included on Compaq consumer models).  I was surprised to see, however, that he didn't update the system for them!  There were 42 updates to be installed!

In addition, Office 2007 is unlicensed.  He told them to just ignore the license key entry window when they start up.  Even though charity licensing is only about $70!

I am shocked at what so many are willing to live with when it comes to computer support.  And, considering that those we are honored to serve have the most important mission on earth-- the spreading of The Gospel, I'm glad we provide such a high-quality level of support.  Nonetheless, I am-- once again-- shocked.

Mac Office 2008 Critical Update Released Today-- CAUTION!!

Today Microsoft released a critical update for Mac Office 2008.  If you run the Web Services Edition (Version 13.0.3-- click the Entourage menu option and About Entourage to find out), DO NOT RUN THE UPDATE!

Because it was critical, I ran it, then spent the next few hours bonding with my friends in Microsoft's India support facility as we reset things back to where they were before I ran the install.  They will test it (don't you think they shoulda done that before releasing it?) and let me know tomorrow what they find.

In the meantime: STOP!

Discouragement

Yesterday was probably the most discouraging day I can remember.  It had its victories and accomplishments-- and a couple of great conversations, but a couple of issues were so overpowering that I truly felt like I wanted to quit-- my job, my family, everything!

Coincidence?
Just the day before our pastor spoke about how one of Satan's schemes is getting us to the point of wanting to quit and how to deal with it.  I sat there thinking, "I've never wanted to quit... that must be as low a feeling as there is.  I'm glad I've never felt that!"  Little did I know what I would deal with the next day!

I was so overwhelmed with the feeling that I didn't want to spend time or talk with anyone.  I kept to myself.  I took myself out for a meager dinner-- alone.  I came home and read, then went to bed at 8.

Today I hope to keep in mind whose team I'm on (the Lord's) and get over it.  I work for him, live for him, and love for him.  And really, he has blessed me so big!  That feeling was way out of line!

The Bible says "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the ...spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph 6:12, NIV)  When things seem that overpowering, recognize they may not be from your own thoughts or feelings... they may be from unseen dark spiritual forces.

For those who deal with that level of discouragement, now I get it.  I'm so sorry you deal with that.  God loves you; he loves me.  He has great things in store for us!  And even though there are situations in our lives we wish were different, he cares.  The key, I think, is to remember that, and to press on.

New Article on Computer Data Cleanup

It's Spring, and to many of us that means "Spring Cleaning". Computer data is one of those areas that needs constant grooming, and the payoff is big! But to some just thinking of it feels like a chore. In this article I'll help you organize your data and delete unnecessary files easily.

Cloud Computing Reflections

In November I posted an entry about an article I wrote about Cloud Computing; that it proves Solomon was right that there's nothing new under the sun.  As I've been thinking about Cloud Computing and what it's evolving to mean (server-based computing to minimize traffic and hardware requirements), the following struck me as... interesting!

• When engineering Novell Netware networks in the mid-1980s using programs like WordPerfect, we engineered them so all software ran from the server where the data also resided.  Microsoft decided to enter the word processing game and did so in a big way, eclipsing Word Perfect.  But their solution, Word, was so inefficient they recommended running it from the local hard drive.
• Microsoft decided to enter the network game and did so in a big way too, eclipsing Novell.  They did their best to achieve Netware's reliability, even adopting Novell's strategy of using a database called a directory to manage the network.  But things were often unstable and services conflicted with each other, so they developed the strategy of running many servers to minimize service conflicts and to further distribute the network, pushing as much data and programs as possible to the workstation.  With today's hypervisor technology we're finally able to engineer Microsoft networks with very few server 'hosts'-- part of Cloud Computing architecture.

So, more than a dozen years later we're finally able to do with Microsoft Windows networks most of what we were able to do with Novell Networks.  Congrats to Microsoft!

Airport Security FAIL

There's a lot about U.S. airport security that doesn't make sense to me.  Today I was put in a holding cell to await a 'pat down' because, they said, I was wearing a long sleeve shirt over a t-shirt.  They didn't require others with two shirts to go through a pat down.  I just got lucky, I guess.

Political Landscape Shifts Again!

Yesterday political history was made again when Scott Brown, a Republican, won the Massachusetts Senate seat vacated by the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy.  Senator Brown won by 5 percentage points, or 120,000 votes.  Former Massachusetts Republican Governor Mitt Romney told Fox News, "To have a Republican senator, that's unheard of. ... This is monumental. This is epic."

37% of Massachusetts voters are Democrats, compared to just 12% who are Republicans!  And President Obama carried the state by 26% in his 2008 election!  This marks a definite swing.

On 7/19/2009 I posted a blog entry about why I needed to stop following the news:  the direction of politics and the way they are running the country was making me so angry.  I think many Americans feel like me, that most in the two main political parties are watching out for their self-interests and those of large contributors; they are not watching out for the American people and doing what is best for our country.

The mainstream media likewise seems to have an agenda, and it's not about what is best for the United States of America.  Rather, it's about what they'd like to see happen in the U.S. to correct wrongs-- whether accurate or not-- against the environment, less fortunate countries in the world, minorities, and special interest groups.

The American people are starting to revolt!  And it's about time.  We want our country back!  We want it back so we can fix the wrongs recently done by politicians and make this country a true world leader again!  It's time to take back the power we've given to lawyers and news agencies... those that look with disdain on the citizens of this country who are speaking out against the current tide of political elitism.

Yesterday's election in Massachusetts gave me hope.  I think that's true for many.  I pray that the U.S.A. will again become the world's beacon of hope; a place where all are equal and where the government and the press respects citizen's rights and perspectives.