Beam Me Up....God....

Rest in peace, jimmy. Rest in peace.


'Star Trek' Star James Doohan Dies

Quick Update

Move = done

Apartment = nice

Callie = crazed

Me = sore

More Updates = Later

Comcast = Coming today to set up cable modem

Pictures and info = soon to follow

News not fit to print for liberals...

Strange, noone has brought this up lately in the lib media......

Wait...this is the NYT, though....*mass confusion*

Sharp Rise in Tax Revenue to Pare U.S. Deficit - New York Times

Update on Intel Based PowerMac Machines

Oh buddy. These are gonna be sweet.

"It's fast," said one developer source of Mac OS X running on Intel's Pentium processors. "Faster than [Mac OS X] on my Dual 2GHz Power Mac G5." In addition to booting Windows XP at blazing speeds, the included version of Mac OS X for Intel takes "as little as 10 seconds" to boot to the Desktop from when the Apple logo first displays on screen.

I want me one.


AppleInsider | Speed of Apple Intel dev systems impress developers

Happy Birthday!

Emily Claire Schlesinger, born July 11, 2005!

Congrats to Missy and Matt!

For pictures, head over to my dad's site, www.jdwaggoner.net!

Quick Update - Time Away

Ill be away for a few days, flying to Chicago tonite to start my new job tomorrow, and for the first time, not having a computer of my own while travelling. Updates will be sparse :P

Ill be back thursday night in time to finish up packing on friday so i can move saturday(since my new apartment wont be ready until then) and because of that, ill be staying with my parents this week.

Looking like my sister will be having her new baby girl tomorrow morning/afternoon depending on labor. How exciting! New job, new niece all in the same day. Wish her and me some luck, but more her!

In the meantime, I updated the nerd room page, check it out!



Nerd Room

This is a Long post, yall...pack a lunch....

Hello all -

Its been a while since I've posted something of major substance, so I figured today was a good day to do it. Alot has happened over the past month. DMB, my birthday, meeting a great new girl - Jami, and the biggest thing....preparing to move back to chicago. Yes, you heard me right, im moving back to Chicago. I got a new job downtown Chicago, and will be moving home in the next 2 weeks. Its bittersweet, because there was alot I liked about working for Crowe, but I felt it was time to move on. This blog isnt the venue to talk about it, but I am very happy with my choices, and I wish everyone I worked with the best of luck in the future. Im very excited to move back to the Chicago area since it is home to me, however, within the past month, I've met Jami, who is an incredible girl. Its going to be very difficult to leave here knowing shell be here, but I know we are going to do everything we can to make it work.

Today is my last day at Crowe, and next week I'm taking some time off to pack and get ready. Alot of my stuff is already packed, but there is still alot to be done. I start my new job on the 11th, however i dont move until the 16th because my new apartment in Willowbrook wont be available until then. So, for the first week, im going to stay with my parents, commute into the city with my mom. Its going to be interesting, I might even get to go overseas soon...but well see how that goes.

In other news, I finally got my holy grail. Ive been wanting a Powermac G5 for the longest time, and was finally able to afford one, thanks to my Crowe bonus. I got a Powermac G5 1.8 ghz, not the fastest of the G5 line, but they are phasing them out, it still had an ADC port so i could use my exiting studio display, but still had the horsepower i was looking for since my quicksilver g4 was starting to show its age. 2 downsides. It only came stock with 256 mb ram and an 80 gb HD. I had 1gb ram in my quicksilver, and 120 gb HD as well. I picked it over the iMac, because of the expandability options and the fact that i wouldnt have to find something else to use my really beautiful studio display with(since iMacs cant span and the powermacs that have been made over the past 6-8 mos dont use the ADC connector that my flat panel does, they all use DVI) It was the last single 1.8 they had left at the Easton apple store, and i picked it up. 1499 for it, i was pretty impressed, overall I think a good deal. Here are some pictures of it.



Here it is after bringing it home. Apple does a bang up job even with packaging of their products.



The sticker on the outside of the box telling the config of the machine....kind of hard to read....



Initial tease when you open the box...its just a cardboard image of a G5....



There she is...all safe and sound....



Out of the box and static wrap...



A shot of the back connections and the 2 big ass fans....



Using the settings transfer was pretty easy, except that the geniouses at the Apple store didnt install Tiger on this machine before selling it, so i had to upgrade it before i could transfer the data over from my old G4 to the G5. Not a big deal.



What did callie think? Not too impressed. Jealousy maybe, who knows.



This was a shock at first, but it only took about 90 minutes to transfer all 60 gb of my data over from one machine to the other. Not bad for a 400mbps firewire connection.



This could be a new nerd room shot? I need to update that page since i have this new silver beauty.



Here it is with the cover off. Installing the 2 512 sticks of DDR was really easy. Thing to remember...equal pressure on both sides of the DIMM....dont wanna snap the MOBO :P



All in all, im happy. The 1gb RAM kit i got for it came from crucial overnight for 100$ flat. Not bad. Once that kit was put in, this thing is a screaming monster. Im always used to using second hand macs for everything i do, and this baby is roarin. The real test will be when i begin to encode the new BSG episodes that come out starting July 15th. Dont worry, ill keep you all posted.

Other than that, today was my final day at Crowe....and it is done. Im getting ready to take Jami out to dinner and maybe to best buy for a little shopping. Have a happy 4th everyone!



Callie posed for you all as well, reminding you to make sure you take time for the finer things in life, such as sleeping in a sunbeam...

Happy 20 Years, Dad

Congrats on 20 Years at HCHS, Dad!

I wish i could be there with you this summer at the 4th, but you know I'll be on staff for marching band this fall!

:)


The Doings -Mr. Waggoner's opus: Band alumni reunite

Batman Begins

Im a fanboy, i admit it. From star wars to comic books, to babylon 5 and even star trek, i was raised on sci fi/fantasy, and have always loved it. I loved the first batman film. I even loved the second one. Both to me were very true to the story, the lore and the feel of batman. Gothic, gritty, dark, etc. The characters in those movies played the parts great. Michael Keaton was a perfect Bruce Wayne if i ever saw one, he had the part down perfect. Tonight i went to see Batman Begins, and i was less than thrilled.

This sort of stuff matters to me. Continuity in stories like this to me is the most important thing. Dont get me wrong, there was alot done with this new film that was very good. I think christian bale was the 2nd best batman that has been on the big screen. My problem revolves around 1 part of the movie, however, it is one of the largest parts in regards to batman lore.

It was set up that Jack Napier was the one to kill the wayne family after leaving the opera. jack Napier who then became the joker, so well played by Nicholson in the original 1988 film. Batman and the Joker are 2 hero/villain pairs that everyone will always remember. That relationship was set up at that point to show the history between batman/wayne and his nemisis. Now, in the new film. they make it some random thief who had minimal ties to some crime boss. That to me pretty much took a dump on the entire set up of the reason why wayne was so driven to fight crime. The "Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight" line was something to haunt him and make him to who he is. This movie tried to make him more noble, have more of a care for gotham, where his real drive to fight crime came from truly personal reasons.

I was fine with the backstory of him going to asia to learn about criminals. Im fine with the entire tibetan/liam neeson situation. But for the sake of the story, and dear old bob kane, why did they have to shred the single incident who made batman who he was. Changing it just so that they could turn it into a plot device for their NEW film took everything that was done before and simply tossed it aside. Tim Burton used that story in a perfect way. Showed gotham for what it was for batman, merely a venue to take down those who did wrong. Batman is not like other superheroes, where he feels compelled to do good because of the powers he has, he trains and becomes who he is FOR REVENGE. Napier/Joker is what he focused on to become the superhero. Once he was dealt with, that left him to change his MO to assist gotham, but in this new film, they turned it around.

Also, detective(the future commissioner) grissom played by gary oldman was way too noble of a character as well. In the original films, he was a flawed character as well. Doing good, but definately tortured due to the state of the city, and knowing how volitile the situations were. Caine was good as alfred, doing almost as good of a job as michael gough did in that part. The addition of Morgan Freeman as Fox was a welcomed one, definately showing where batman "got all his wonderful toys". Like i said, this movie isnt completely flawed, i think it just focused on making batman more real and more noble than the character really was. Batmans motives were originally selfish. He was obsessed.

Go watch the 1988 movie. Id love to hear some other viewpoints.

Try it, Bub.

Who Sleeps?!

Here i am, waiting for my 630am flight at Port Columbus, a long story which i might get into later. Heading home to chicago today for birthday and other festivities, should be a good time.

Last night was amazing. DMB was on fire, and it was a great way to end my 4 show run this summer, and for me to see my 24th DMB show on my 24th birthday(thats irony right there) Here is the set.

Wednesday Jun 8 2005
Germain Amphitheater

So Much To Say
#41
Dream Girl
Grey Street
American Baby
One Sweet World
Hello Again
Seek Up
Die Trying
#40[Tease]
What Would You Say
Crush
Hunger For The Great Light
Lover Lay Down
Stand Up *
Louisiana Bayou *

__________________

Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd
Warehouse

What a great mix of old and new tunes, plus a tease of #40 with the full band. RR on Stand Up and Bayou was sick as could be expected, and seek up was incredible. What a great show on my birthday, there wasnt much more i could ask for. I think sloka was close to passing out a few times, and i feel bad for his left arm, since i kept punching it whenever a song I was suprised to hear would come out. Insane i tell you...INSANE. Not to mention me and slooks screaming "MOM ITS MY BIRTHDAYYYY" during what would you say....i think the people around us thought we were crazy...and we probably were :P

Besides that, my birthday was pretty routine, Slooks and i nerded around the apartment in the morning, then caught some lunch at the new Ruby Tuesdays they put up on 23 by polaris parkway, then hit micro center and best buy. Alas, i didnt buy anything, but i was about 2 inches from buying a G5. Cant do that yet, i cant really afford to just go blowing close to 2 grand unless i have to.

We got home last night close to 12, were in bed by 1230(after some tasty taco bell) and up this morning at 4:30. Poor slobob has to drive back this early...at least i can just sit on a plane...hes gotta actually think. Hes a strong kid though, he can do it!

In other exciting news, Columbus Airport has gotten new seating for all its terminals....it was way overdue. This is a good thing, since i spend most of my time in this airport, its like me buying a new couch. Wish i could bring callie, though :(

I think thats about it for me, though. Thanks to everyone who wished me a happy birthday, and definately to sloka for a great couple of days.

/sleep

Jack Bauer Sez...

This week...Jack Bauer Sez....




HAPPY 24TH BIRTHDAY!


Yep, its true. Today is t3h 24st. Callie gave me a special whap on the face to wake me up this morning for my birthday. :P

Last night was a good DMB concert here in columbus. Robert Randolph guested on Bayou again, and also on Watchtower, which was sick. We also got to see the first Bartender of the tour, and another incredible Two Step. I took the time during crash to use the facilities and get a drink. Crash never changes, and i couldnt deal with screaming drunk girls right then. Overall, a good concert. I was definately happy. It also didnt hurt that It took us 10 minutes each way to get from the concert to home :) None of that 4 hour gaaahbaaage. Here is the setlist from last night.

Tuesday Jun 7 2005
Germain Amphitheater

Everyday
Improv Intro
Dream Girl
Rapunzel
Where Are You Going
Hunger For The Great Light
Out Of My Hands
Too Much
Bartender
Die Trying
Crash
Stand Up
Louisiana Bayou *
Steady As We Go
American Baby
All Along The Watchtower *

__________________

Smooth Rider
Two Step

Special Guests:
* Robert Randolph


Monday was fun too, hung out with slooks during the day, then hit a pirates game downtown pittsburgh at night. What a nice park, and slooks yeoinked some killer tickets from his work, and killer parking pass too. GOod times, good times. Drove back yesterday morning, got sloka hammered and headed to the concert. No big plans for today except going to the last of 4 dmb concerts, then getting ready to head to chicago early tomorrow morning.

Have a good week everyone!

Day 2!

Less traffic this time, and we definately had a good time grilling out/drinking/hanging out in the parking lot. Sloka, his ladyfriend and I got to the lot about 4:30 and tailgated untill close to 8pm, which was the 2nd time ive ever missed an opening band! This time it was robert randolph and the family band, but we still have 2 more shows to see them. They are incredible.

The show tonight was great. Great energy, great setlist, great mix. Heres the set.

Sunday Jun 5 2005
Post-Gazette Pavilion

One Sweet World
Rapunzel
Dream Girl
Grey Street
Smooth Rider
Too Much
Louisiana Bayou *
Lover Lay Down
Hello Again
Jimi Thing
Die Trying
So Much To Say
Stand Up
Two Step

__________________

Old Dirt Hill
Ants Marching

Special Guests:
* Robert Randolph

Bayou was sick with robert randolph, the best too much ive ever seen, and an incredible two step. It was an incredible show. I give it an A-

Good drive home, going through all my mix CDs and singing our lungs out to bad 90s music, i thought i was gonna die laughing! Tonight is a Pittsburgh Pirates game, if the rain doesnt kill it, then im back to columbus tomorrow for tues and wed concerts! Yes, its true, wed is my birthday as well...whoodathunk it?

Later all!

DMB Week 2005

Day 1 of DMB week 05 has come! I got to pittsburgh around 3, and we headed up to Burgettstown. The drive was terrible, a drive that should have taken us about 90 minutes took us close to 4 hours door to door. Sloka, a pitt naitive said he never had seen traffic that bad. After getting there and meeting up with his new ladyfriend and her friends, we got to our seats right as the show started, a first for me, as i always like to catch the opening band. Setlist as follows.

Saturday Jun 4 2005
Post-Gazette Pavilion

#41
Granny
American Baby
Rhyme & Reason
Out Of My Hands
Everyday
Dream Girl
Die Trying
Lie In Our Graves
Louisiana Bayou
Crash
Stand Up
Where Are You Going
Hunger For The Great Light
All Along The Watchtower

__________________

Steady As We Go
Warehouse


Was pretty good. In the 21 shows ive been to, i give it a B+. The new songs are actually pretty good, although Steady as we go and out of my hands were both kind of slow...but maybe they will grow on me.

Tonight is night 2, hopefully no traffic! Heading out the door as we speak. Blog later!

JAM ON!

Sith != Evil

There is a common misconception that the Sith access the Force through evil or that being a Sith Lord automatically means that you are evil. This is not true. Any extreme emotion can access the Force. The essence of the Sith's power is in passion, not evil. Passion can take the form of joy or love as well as anger or hatred. Sith are typically evil in that they are often blinded by their passion or corrupted by the power granted to them by the Force.

- How Stuff Works article on Sith.



Very interesting. Very very interesting.

Go HCHS Red Devil....hackers?

Yep. This is my old high school....the one where my dad still works. Ironic that I do network security, and the technology department that I worked in 5 years ago gets national news coverage?

Sounds like from what I've heard, it was more social engineering of a teacher's password than actual "hacking", but it still proves that everyone needs to take network security very seriously. If this issue started, or even continued based on some of the things i heard, some simple education on password management would have solved alot of their problems.

It also doesnt help that the school is (im sure) using older equipment that doesnt recieve the proper auditing and testing.


Slashdot | HS Students Steal SSNs to Prove They Can

My New Motto

In Heaven there is no beer
(No beer?!)
That's why we drink it here
And when we're all gone from here
Our friends will be drinking all the beer.

In Heaven there is no wine
(No wine?!)
So we drink till we feel fine
And when we leave this all behind
Our friends will be drinking all the wine.

In Heaven there is no fear
(No fear)
So we worry too much here
And we drink ourselves full of beer
To help us when we deal with the fear.

In Heaven there are no drugs
That's why we hang with thugs
And when the Lord pulls the plug
All the thugs will still be selling drugs, yeah.

Thugs and drugs
Beer...

In Heaven there is no sex
(Oh no!)
So let's do that next
And when our muscles no longer flex
Someone else will be having sex.

In Heaven there are no wars
Or cars, or movie stars
And when we no longer are
The world will probably still be having wars.

What the heck! Yeah!

Sex and war,
Bars and cars.
Drugs, thugs,
And delicious food.

What I Did All Weekend

My dad asked me what I did all weekend....a picture is worth a thousand words.




I play Star Wars: Galaxies, an online roleplaying game. This weekend was the weekend that after months and months of missions and flying time, I received my Imperial Pilot Ace mission, which was to take down a capital ship. The mission is so hard, it requires you to get a group of people to come assist in taking it down. But as you see...we did it.

Thanks to:
Malyce - for getting me through most of Tier 4
TPL Pilots - For helping me through Tier 1 and 2
Keldon - may he RIP.
ISB - Thanks to everyone in my guild :-D
The Corvette Assault Crew - Malyce, Awed, Mardius(in his pimp firespray), Radakk, And the guy with the name starting with U that i couldnt pronounce.

Last but not least. T3h Valn. j00 rock.


Ive been working on getting Pilot Ace since last october. It finally paid off. Go ahead, call me a nerd. I dont care.

BETZ. BLOG. EV4R.

The Darth Side: Memoirs of a Monster

As if I needed another TV show to watch...

This looks pretty slick. I just hope the new one on cartoon planet is an actual series, not just shorts that run at random times, that way i can Tivo them, and never miss one. Im pretty excited about the second one, sounds very, very interesting.


Slashdot | Lucas Confirms Star Wars spin-off TV series