Sarah Palin

People think she is smart. That is hilarious her so called awesome speech was written by someone else. So lets see her intelligence in action...

SHE SAID OTHER!!!!! Seems to me like another episode of Miss South Carolina. Or actually, reminds me of Billy Madison, the constant rambling broadens the question, but never answers it. Awesome. Let's get another idiot in office. And all the idiots can vote for them.

"What other Supreme Court decisions do you disagree with?"

"Hmmm... tsk... well, lets see. There's (sigh) of course... in the great history of America... there have been rulings that um.. there's never gunna be absolute concensous by every American, and um.. there are those issues again like, Row-v-Wade.... Going though the history of America, there would be others... but um..."

"Can you think of any?"

"Well, I would think of any again that could best be dealt with on a more local level... bla bla bla.

Palin actually thinks, that keeping the middle class taxes where they are, and giving tax breaks to Exxon Mobile, is going to help the middle class... and that Obama's plan to reduce the taxes of those that make under $250,000 and increasing the taxes of the rich hurts the middle class. Lets analyze this.

1. Middle class is under $200,000/year.
2. Reducing taxes means more money.
3. Sarah Palin is ignorant.

In case anyone doesn't agree with that, look it up. Besides, Obama wants to file criminal charges on Bush for war crimes. How can you not vote for him? that would the one single ray of light that would show the future fascists (McCain/Palin included) that they are not above the law.

Lets Talk Experience

Finally, someone comes out with it, and it is a big name

I love it when people say that they will not vote for Obama because he is Muslim. Those same people voted for Bush, why? It is time for something better.

haha hahahaha

Freakin awesome!!!

dark theme

I just made this dark theme thanks to the gimp. I was noticing that my use of the css on this site is horrible. I'll likely be re-writing the site very soon. I haven't updated much on my blog entries in a while. Still trying to get some things together. I'm not even sure if anyone reads this stuff. I should check stats later. anyway...

I have information for several projects that I have messed with recently, both failed attempts and successful. In some situations, the project we doomed from the beginning, but there is still useful information in the attempt. There are plenty of other uses for using the 'linux proxy arp/switching storm wonder'. More details on that later.

IBM video

Another awesome video... this one by IBM. This is an awesome explaination of the possibilities of Linux.

IBM ROCKS!!

my twitter

I decided to mess around with the twitter thing, since I am blogging now. Twitter is all about "What are you doing?" and since that is my favorite question.. I thought I should definately check it out.

You can see what I am doing to the right, and it updates when I make an update to my twitter. I have to admit, the word sounds funny, but whatever.

I haven't added the "Follow" thingy, cause I don't really see the point in it right now. Maybe later I will dig through the javascript that pulls the twitter information and see what all I can do with it, but that is for another time. I probably will update it about as often as I check my myspace.

reverse dns

I'm so sick of dealing with so called IT guys that don't know how to properly configure reverse dns for their servers. In order for an email server to resolve your email server, it has to be able to look up by ip address and resolve to a ptr record, which in turn matches an A record, in your domain zone file, pointing at the original IP address that is being resolved. People think I am making this up and tell other people that I don't know what I am talking about. That is fine, but let me post the first 2 paragraphs from RFC 1912.

Every Internet-reachable host should have a name. The consequences of this are becoming more and more obvious. Many services available on the Internet will not talk to you if you aren't correctly registered in the DNS.

Make sure your PTR and A records match. For every IP address, there should be a matching PTR record in the in-addr.arpa domain. If a host is multi-homed, (more than one IP address) make sure that all IP addresses have a corresponding PTR record (not just the first one). Failure to have matching PTR and A records can cause loss of Internet services similar to not being registered in the DNS at all. Also, PTR records must point back to a valid A record, not a alias defined by a CNAME. It is highly recommended that you use some software which automates this checking, or generate your DNS data from a database which automatically creates consistent data.

Now, I hope they read this, cause at work I'm not allowed to tell them to shut up. I can say whatever I want on here. My favorite is when they tell me how long they have been doing this stuff. I just want to ask "You have been doing it that long and still don't know what you are doing?" Anyway. It isn't that hard. Add the entry into your reverse dns zone file then add the same name as the PTR record to your domain zone file, pointing at the same IP address, just like everyone else is supposed to do. If you don't have the rdns delegated to you, get it delegated to you. That is the best way... but if not, you can still do it, you just need to tell your the provider that controls that zone to add the PTR that is the name of your server. Then, make sure your A record in your domain zone file matches.

javascript

Playing with a little javascript tool to make my page display less crap, and only the stuff people want to read. Check it out by clicking on the "show/hide" link just below this paragraph.

Ok, that works... and doesn't look too bad. I'm sick of people telling me about my spelling and grammer mistakes. I am just writing on here. I'm not going to grab a dictionary any more than I would give away my new Ferrari... ok, I don't have one. Anyway...

cool video

I remember seeing this a while back, but I really like it. RedHat has the best videos.. well, them and IBM. Still, good video, watch it. So, now I force it onto you.

Awesome.

expensive repairs

People who aren't knowledgeable with computers should beware. Some of the computer companies, in our nearby city, have been fully replacing customer computers because of minor problems. If these places are unable to fix a fan in a power supply, or at least replace the power supply, without flat out lying to the customer and building them a new computer because "You can't order a power supply for that Dell", then maybe they shouldn't be in business. I had a customer who had a noisy fan in his power supply and he asked me to look over the computer and tell him if he needed anything before he was deployed to Iraq. I personally looked at the power supply with my own eyes. It was and ATX power supply with a standard 20 pin pc main and an ATX12v. The fan could have easily been fixed, but since most of our computer repair shops in Lawton don't have trained technicians... they generally just replace the part completely. They should call their company a "Computer Parts Changer". At any rate, even this would have been fine as I'm sure the customer would have no problem spending the 40 or so dollars for a new power supply. Instead, the company told him he needed to get a new mother board, and with that a new processor, and since the mother board and processor are new, he needs the new memory, and with that a new power supply, and so with those, a new case.. and thus, a new windows installation. It ended up costing the customer over $600. This made the customer mad at me, at first. I explained to the customer that he got ripped off. On top of that, these companies take the old computer, that so badly needed replacing, and format them with the windows code installed and sell them as used computers to other people.

So not only did they take advantage of the customer, but then turned around and made even more profit on the system that they claimed needed to be replaced. So, then I'm pissed. I end up calling these people and asking what was so wrong with the computer that it needed to be replaced. Now, don't get me wrong. Sometimes people need new computers. Maybe their computer is older than Stonehenge, and needs to be replaced. I have to ask these companies, did the customer come to you and ask you if they needed to replace their computer? Did you check to see what the system is used for? Web browsing and email are not grounds for a new computer. Especially when the computer isn't even that old. If it already has a Pentium 4 and 512MB of ram, then maybe they just need some ram. Maybe they don't even need that. They damn sure dont need to be lied to and TOLD they need a new computer. If they do, what options do you give them? Do you just sell them what you have on your shelf that noone has purchased? People are different, it says so in kids books. Some people are so involved with computers that they need it to immediately start up 200 programs and run smooth. Some simply want to check their email and occasionally google some sports results, or dog foot fungus or whatever. Does this warrant you to give your so called "professional" opinion and take their money? They trust you to give them the best advice, how can you do that without taking the time to see what they need? If they do need something better, wouldn't it be a good idea to go to your favorite site and build them a computer customized for what they actually need? I hope these companies are reading this, 'cause I will bust them out.

Another recent event involved a customer having some problem and a shop in Lawton told them the motherboard and harddrive were both dead. Now, I'm not going to get into this one too much, maybe by some devine chance they both were completely demolished. Doubtful, but maybe. Now we have a new computer for that customer, and it isn't even that good. Then, low and behold, A MIRACLE! They have almost all the information from the customers harddrive on discs. This is awesome. So, I'm guessing they used a multi thousand dollar data retrieval system, right? Ok, maybe the harddrive just had a swingarm failure and was able to be temporarily fired up after a 48 hour nap in the freezer. This does work, I have done it. Now I'm left with this problem. If the motherboard and harddrive both are bad at the same time... this doesn't make since. A motherboard problem like this would likely be due to completely faulty equipment, a lightening hit, or possibly heat caused the capacitors to begin the long ooze downhill... Ok, the computer is pretty new, so I would go with lightening.. maybe heat, but since most new computers will shutdown when thermal levels are high (Intel systems actually modulate the clock down until it can't anymore, then shutdown.) so probably lightening. What about the harddrive, that is also pretty new? A swingarm failure is the result of wear over time. Lightening isn't going to cause a swingarm failure, and it doesn't make the harddrive age either. Perhaps it was getting some bad blocks as a result of poor manufacturing, I don't know, I'm going to step away from this one, but I am skeptical.

I'm not going to deal with names until I know outright what is wrong with a system before the customer takes it in. I will be testing these questionable repair shops. I might even cause a problem on some of my friends computers and have them take them in to see what "professional" verdict these shops come up with. When I know for a fact which placed don't know what they are talking about, I will splatter their name all over my blog... and I fear noone. Not only do I not have the money for anyone to sue me, but I am pretty sure that I am allowed to describe an actual event like that on a blog without any civil suit actually being heard in court. But you know who will hear it? The people that read my blog. I don't care what or who you are, I can soil the name of your company right here, and I will.

Luckily, there is one company that has always come through for me. ABC Computer Services on Lee is an excellent place for most people to take their equipment. The owner has been in business since 1981 (started with T.V.s) and is capable of giving a true professional opinion on what needs to be done with whatever problem. He probably has the parts right there to fix most problems, or make upgrades. I have been going to him for parts for servers as well as customer computer parts for a while, and I haven't had a problem yet. If you go down there and buy a $100 dollar computer, you are getting the best $100 dollar computer you can get... but it is still a $100 dollar computer. On the other side of that, I have purchased some motherboard and processor combos from him for under $150 dollars and they are still running the servers used in the office where I work. They have been great, and I didn't have to hassle with someone telling me what I "need". That is the only place in Lawton I would use for repairs, if I ever needed repairs. He is honest and willing to give you what you want, or a system that can do what you want.<< See that period?

for the ignorant

Since there are still some people that use the most annoying and insecure browser in the world, Internet Explorer, I have made changes to my style sheet to make the page display as close to intended as possible. Those people that use Internet Explorer should consider using Mozilla Firefox as it is better in every way than Internet Explorer. Need proof? The new release of Internet Explorer, IE 8, is attempting to do exactally what all other browsers have been doing forever. Firefox and Opera both had tabbed browsing for years before Internet Explorer 7 stole the idea. And now, Internet Explorer 8 is attempting to be standards compliant... something all other browsers have been doing for years. Maybe the compliance is a good move on Microsofts side, but to me, it is way too little, way too late. The security problems that go unfixed for years in Internet Explorer will always be around anyway. That is how Microsoft works. That is how it is going to stay. So even if they do somehow get a grasp on standards compliance, there will still be the endless problems with the browser. Not to mention, Firefox has so many features that Internet Explorer will never be able to reach. What's even better? Firefox is the most used browser in the world when you account for people that actually know something. The people that actually use their computer, for their own work, school, fun, whatever.. download and use Firefox because of its features and beauty. I have already proven this fact to several hundered of my customers, it is time for other people to open their eyes.

By the way, Firefox is about to break the world record on downloads in one day. There are details if you click on the image at the bottom of my site. More proof that Firefox is more used and better loved. I am not hating on Opera or Safari either. They are both beautiful browsers and have their own features over one another. Safari already has some support for CSS 3, and Opera is very lightweight and has a super-cool feature called SpeedDial. These are all great, and no doubt the new release of Internet Explorer will be a poor attempt at copying these browsers' features. Oh well... let the try. I don't even get mad at Microsoft anymore for stealing ideas, and then calling them "innovations" because they will mess it up anyway. They can't even properly take someone else's idea.

design complete

I think the design of my site is pretty much complete. I am looking for clean and professional looking, and I think I have that. Stephan has given me permission to proceed on.:) Now it is time to work on the back end. This is where I will be breaking the site now and then. As details are added, I will likely add features. As I add features, I will likely break things. It is the way it goes. Since I am not sure what I am ultimately going to use this site for, I have no way of predicting how it will mutate. It should be fun to watch and learn though.

This will be my first catalyst app. I have seen what catalyst is made of since we have had it running our apps at the office for a few years now. No problems/glitches/booboos/hiccups/furballs or anything like that. It is actually very gentle on the servers, which deserve more punishment in my opinion. It has been a great system and I can't wait to dive into it. It is just the PERL part that kills me. I am not much of a programmer, yet I know PERL is the voodoo of our generation. You tell it to do something, and it gets done... somehow. So, it will be fun to learn as well. Also, I am pretty excited about learning some Template Toolkit as it will make the usage of data on some of the sites I maintain at my job a lot easier. Instead of updating 6 websites everytime I change the mailserver or dns server, I can simply update the entries and let the toolkit grab them and barf them up on the site. It will be great.

I will likely be working on the gallery section soon. That one is raping my brain a little. I have made a few css galleries, and messed around with flash some, but styling really isn't my thing. I am liking how my site turned out, but you should see the prototypes... Anyway, I am not much of a designer so the gallery will just be built around what it is used for, just like this site. As I add features to the gallery, the beast will probably have offspring, and need some tender love from someone with artistic ability. I'll get to work on that. I'm thinking, slender blonde with gigantic... artistic ability...

about me

The normal routine is to give a little description of myself and the life I choose to live. So... my name is Eli Vaughan, and I live in Medicine Park, Oklahoma. I am work as a systems administrator and technician for Medicine Park Telephone Company. There are several aspects to my job. I install and service both the local telephone and dsl services to the customers, as well as build and maintain the servers needed for the growing network. I enjoy just about anything that is new and techy. For fun, my friend Stephan Ellis and I like to build and mess around with different ideas, which is the main reason for this site. Stephan is kinda my mentor in the IT world, though we sometimes disagree on how and when some things should be done. Our first project was using asterisk to build our own personal voip system. The project is just for fun, but working great. Stephan also works as a sysadmin/IT developer so it is nice cause we can rely on eachother for resources and answers to common problems.

Several of us, Stephan included, started a project called i3rd which was to be a way for us to use our ambition and knowledge to aid other people and companies in web applications and software to help maintain the systems they run. That has since been all but scrapped as Stephan was shipped to Iraq, and he is the programmer. Now, i3 is simply a name we use for projects we work on together and the site houses our largest web application, which is used to maintain nearly every aspect of the services offered by the servers. The site's design is far from complete, but its functionality is unbeatable.

I have many friends, but my true friends are great friends. I am in contact with lots of people on a day to day basis, so this creates a relationship with many people, however, I have a small circle of true friends that are kept close. They know everything about me, sometimes better than I know myself. They help me with moral guidence and keep my wit quick. There is no other type of friend to have.

I like to tinker with computers mostly, but I do enjoy crafts as well. I can't sit down and carve a tree into 1000:1 scale model of a Chinese temple, but I can youtube and google my way through plumbing, drywall, trim, and maybe even stucco. I have had my share of odd jobs working in restraunts, yard work, propane, remodeling, plumbing, and construction. IT is an ever-changing field and I am liking it. It is something that you can never say you know, only that you will find out. Just when you think you have it down, it changes. Back to school!

Although I believe google is the best school available, I am just about finished with actual school. I attend Great Plains Vo-Tech and will have completed my CCNA course in August. Promptly afterward, I will ace my certification exam and begin continued education on my own for the certifications that come after that. Though I believe Linux can do anything that is of this world, that statement means nothing coming from me alone. Now, if I am a Certified Cisco Network Associate and I say that... it has new meaning. I believe a company can save thousands and thousands of dollars in equipment costs and support by using open source software. Most people think (this number is falling rapidly as displayed my Microsoft's stock trend) that if a company has money, they are the best to use. This is proven not the case because, that company is taking your money by locking you into the belief that they [the company] are all that is out there. This is not the fact. It is a fud they [proprietary software companies] would like you to believe. In fact, several other countries have adopted the more flexible and more capable OpenOffice.org office software suite, not only in businesses, but in schools. These kinds of stabs should make vendors like Microsoft add features and compatibility to the software they build, but instead, they again try to lock you in with a new format that sometimes isn't even compatible with the software you have already purchased from the same vendor. Eventually, something is going to give. There is the same problem going around the office where I work. They will buy a $400 software suite just to use the word processor!?! IT IS A WORD PROCESSOR!! There isn't anything that Word does that the other 9 word processors out there can't do. In fact, due to competition, some word processors can do more than Word, and are even more compatible with Microsoft software, even though they are made by a competitor! Oh the ignorance of our people.

new website

Perhaps new isn't the right word. This is my first site that is mine. I will be posting articles and kinda my own mini-knowledgebase here. It will be my howto and whatdid site for my own notes on how I did things and what happened day to day. Logins will be for my friends and family and will feature things like comments and private image gallery. Everything will be private other than the main site. The resume section will be for me to post a resume, although it is for novelty since I am not looking for another job at this time. The resume section is actually what this blog/site is made for. My arguement is that if someone posts a resume online, and has a blog detailing the life they have that reflects the resume, then a possible employer could see how serious someone is at what they do. There will be more information on this later.

The gallery will have a css image gallery public with pics of projects I have worked on and will be categorized and synchronized with the blog entry. It will provide proof that the howto/article works, or in the unfortunate case... didn't work. It will be fun to work on the gallery section as I have always loved css galleries cause they are clean and usually pretty fast, if they are constructed well. I will try to keep images large and clear, while adding only a hint of artistic hightlights. A hint cause I am not artistic, but some digital camera pics can be just that. I want them to look good.

Once everything is moved to the MySQL backed system, there will be search funtions that will carry out search requests and hone in on topic and terms along with the gallery, which will all be displayed in the result page, and upon clicking, taken to dynamically created page that has the blog/article entry and gallery meshed together. I went into detail there for my own notes.