uvageek

How often is it that we underestimate our capabilities and skills?  How often do we over anticipate the competition, not willing to push ourselves to jump to the next level and press onward.  How often do we find ourselves reacting to a catalyst and brimming over the edge, having a fusion-esque reaction experience where we begin manifesting more and more power, re-energizing above our wildest thoughts and desires.

I know personally that nine out of ten times I’ll play it safe and hold myself from attempting to go for the unrealistic goal - occasionally putting myself out there and working to mitigate risks.  However, something that I’ve found is that there’s definitely a time to shy away from things and yet all the same, a time to go for the gusto and pull out all the stops.

Ferris reminds us that “it’s lonely at the top.  Ninety-nine percent of people in the world are convinced they are incapable of achieving great things, so they aim for the mediocre.”  Looking at the professional world, this is quite true, individuals tend to adopt a virtue of mediocrity into work ethic, not wanting to rock the boat, simply going for the low hanging fruit.  Rather, what I take away from this is to push onward and reach for the skies.  I see this in the world of relationships just as well, the tendency to hold back and not work to get to know someone, regretting it and feeling mediocre for the next few months, continuing to question themselves as to how things could have turned out if they’d approached things differently.

“If the potential payoff is mediocre or average, so is your effort.”

More often than not, if I’m not being challenged, I won’t stretch and attempt to max out.  Granted at the same time, I’m not stating that you should push at your max at all times, but rather working somewhere between mediocre and max-out is the intended effort level which works to reach the unrealistic goals, rather than never reaching them at all.  If I have passion for a task, then much as Ferris mentions, “I’m prepared to do battle a dream that is worth dreaming.”

In the same way, finding what that motivation is, what that dream is sometimes takes a little time to hone and focus on.  Once we find what that is though, it’s more just working to find how to make them attainable.  “Doing big things begins with asking for them properly.”

When there’s a task at hand to lay out the framework, develop the architecture and implement what I’ve created, then I’m ready to work 12 hour days (yes this goes against the title of the book).  However when it’s just a task that robots should probably doing, then I’m ready to check out 15 minute later.  Keeping it exciting is the key to accomplishing the unrealistic and doing what they say can’t be done.

What’s that?  You’ve got a noisy workplace and you can’t seem to keep your focus because there is constant noise?  Pop in some headphones and tune up your auditory zen bliss over at SimplyNoise.  The site generates white noise to calm your nerves and soul.

It’s a no-frills interface with merely an orb to control white noise intensity and a feedback form.  If you need more than just what SimplyNoise can provide, LifeHacker recommends ChatterBlocker for Windows or Noise for Mac.

My only real concern - are they hiding messages in the white noise

So recently I had a minor issue with my BlackBerry Pearl 8130 on the VZW network where the BlackBerry device refused to clear out the missed call indicator.  I’d checked around here and there, most users of the BlackBerry stating that they’d saved a phone call some how and that they’d been able to find the phone call record and “unsave” it and thereby clear it out.

As for me, no, it required downloading the BlackBerry Desktop Software and actually clearing the log - on the flip side, the BlackBerry is now running a lot more cleanly.

Lesson learned - go and clear out logs on a more regular basis to increase the speed of the BlackBerry.

Now Playing - Michael Bublé - Call Me Irresponsible - The Best Is Yet to Come

So for those of you that have heard of the a Bacon Number then you’re familiar with web sites such as theKevinBaconGame.com, but something else that came across the radar for me at least was the “Oracle of Bacon” hosted surprisingly on a server at my alma mater (the University of Virginia).  So my question to you of course, what’s your Bacon number?  Mine apparently is 6…  Go ahead, take a chance

Now Playing - ABBA - ABBA - Gold - Greatest Hits - Take a Chance on Me

So I came across this site this afternoon and just started laughing - it’s basically like Grand Theft Auto the original, completely 2D, but what’s that, I can drive over buildings?  Oh yes.

So, the one thing that I can definitely say that I found out was that it’s amazing how hard it is to control an 18-wheeler at 200 km/h.  Yes, that’s right, you have four different automobile options to choose from

Check it out

http://geoquake.jp/en/webgame/DrivingSimulatorGM/

So I’m relapsing into “sappy” Dan.  Just finished watching the movie “The Bucket List” starring Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson and I have to say that it gives yet another perspective on life.

I’ve worked for the past seven years of my life and I have to say that I’ve worked hard, taking very little time for myself.  The movie (and sure it’s a movie) really gets at the heart of the matter that we need to take life by the horns and enjoy it - we only have one life to live.

If you haven’t seen it, I’d highly recommend it.

It’s been a while since we’re digested any of Ferris’ work, but I figured that with Summer starting that it was time to dive back in and start realizing just how far off my personal compass is from True North and to figure out what my pace count should actually be.

Chapter Four, titled “System Reset” has quite a bit of food for thought - hence the reason it’s taken so long to digest.  Of the two quotes that he begins the chapter with Ferris truly does make the reader think about the life that they live, their actions and their level of comfort.  Of the opening quotations, the following definitely makes one think.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself.  Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” - George Bernard Shaw, Maxims for Revolutionists

I read these words and my first though is that this is common sense, however what I’ve also come to find is that what I find as common sense ends up being above and beyond what commonality holds.  Granted, there is something to be said with relation to adapting to the world in which we live within.  This logic is reasonable and modern in thinking.  Taking the world and molding it to my own needs, using what is best for me, brings me to think in some way that George Bernard Shaw was a man ahead of his time living life as a post-modern visionary.

It is key to realize that being a master of one’s environment is what allows man to have an edge on those around him.  Adapting nature such that nature revolves around you and you are its master rather than being mastered and preyed upon by nature, in as much as the world.

As an Information Technology Consultant, it is very easy to work toward the mediocare and learn the basics of a system’s architecture, but by dissecting it and understanding the underlying functions and how it is tied and interwoven with the platform allows for creativity.  Understanding this relationship between functionality and method provides for the ability to modify the basis upon which the system is derived, allowing for true mastery to synthesize something new and outside the box rather than conforming to the determiniant of a matrix.

So I know that your first thought when you read “Land Shark” is probably in reference to the Saturday Night Live skit that originated during the first season of SNL with the voice of Chevy Chase as the land shark and narrated by John Belushi.

But no, actually I’m referring to something different that when served with a twist of lime is probably one of the best potent potables around.  Yes friends, I’m referring to Margaritaville’s Landshark Lager.

First off, let me say that I didn’t have my first alcoholic beverage until I was 21 years old and I am in no way shape or form advertising underaged drinking - follow the law, it’s there for a reason.  Nor am I stating in anyway shape or form that it’s okay to over-drink or binge drink as this only leads to further problems in life.

Nevertheless, not only is it one of the smoothest lagers I’ve ever had, it’s tasty with a lime and it doesn’t have a “mean” after taste.  So if you’re in the mood for something light and tasty, I recommend trying it out

Now Playing - John Mayer - Heavier Things - Wheel

Alright, so I’ve been doing a bit of thinking and basically what it comes down to is that there are many unfinished threads in my life right now and until I can reasonably say that I’ve completed those threads, I’m holding off on procuring the MBP.

From a financial standpoint, I’ve got the money to invest in the MBP, but from a usability standpoint I already what meets my functional requirements (wow, I’ve been a consultant for too long).

Nevertheless, current threads that I’m working to accomplish:

• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator 2003 - One more exam, 70-291, studying for it this weekend
• Finishing Analysis of Tim Ferris’ Four Hour Work Week
• Reading Andrew Connell’s Web Content Management Book
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer 2003 - three exams past the MCSA
• Microsoft Certified IT Professional 2008 Enterprise Administrator (equivalent of MCSE 2003) - three exams past the MCSE

Somewhat aggressive plans prior to MBP, sure, but I see this as a time of financial responsibility.  Who knows, maybe I’ll crack next week and go over to Tyson’s Corner and pick one up O:-)

Now Playing - Jack Johnson - Jack Johnson: Live In Japan - The Train to Osaka

Over the past few days my Netgear WNR854T Gigabit Wireless N routing device decided to kick the bucket.  It was two years old and had been in use for the past six months with fluctuating success.  Last night it stopped showing up in available wireless devices.  This evening when I checked on it and reset it, all that was lit was a single green light stating that it was powered, nothing else.

After several attempts at resetting the device it would seem that it is officially dead.  As it was two years old, it is not under any warranty with Netgear.  As we mourn the loss of this device, the question arises as to what to replace it with?

Now Playing - The Chemical Brothers - Push the Button - Close Your Eyes