I’m blogging for Geeksquad.com now, which is pretty sweet. I guess I’m an “official” blogger now or something. Whatever that means. I’m not particularly looking forward to negative feedback from the public, but it goes with the territory. I’ve been blogging now in one way or another for around 8+ years now. It’s kind of weird to think about it, time goes by so fast.

I’ve taken the Linux plunge. That is to say, I’m trying it out as my main desktop now. I’ve used it fairly extensively for server work, mostly web-based stuff, some enterprise. I’ve been a firm believer for quite some time that Linux was not ready for the desktop. That’s not to say I didn’t think it couldn’t be used for the desktop, just that an average user wouldn’t feel comfortable picking it up. It’s pretty close now. There’s so much choice in what you can do, which is phenomenal, but that’s a double-edged sword. I’m trying out Linux Mint, which is a derivative of Ubuntu, which is in turn a derivative of a distribution that I’m fairly familiar with, Debian. I’m enjoying it immensely. I’m hitting a few snags with Wine, but I’ve gotten around most of them. So I’ve conquered Windows (and it’s many ugly relatives), and Mac OS X… now on to something bigger and better.

I think I’m going to start some graphic design again. It’s hard to explain, but I get an itch… somewhere in my brain, something that needs fulfilling, and art is the only thing that does it. So yeah, I’m gonna re-awaken the Beast.

My manager and DCI investigated to see what the company could do for her, but as she has not been employed for a year or more, she does not qualify for bereavement time/pay or assistance from the company through the Dick Schulz fund.

This is one of the reasons that I work for the Geek Squad, we’re a family. So we’re pulling together outside of work (this cannot be organized or affiliated with GS or BBY), and we’re going to help. We’re going to scrape together whatever money or assistance that we can to help her. If you would like to help in any way, shape or form, please contact me at mattgolsen@blackheva.com

I’ll post more details soon.

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I’m attempting to drink some hot cocoa due to the cold weather outside. I forgot how much of a pain it is. It’s either too hot, scalding yor tongue, or it’s too cold and grainy. Ahh if only this was the extent of my life’s difficulties.

[audio:Ballad_Of_The_Beaconsfield_Miners.mp3]

Here’s a song off of the new Foo Fighter’s album, written for a couple of miners that when trapped in a cave-in were asked what they wanted to tide them over until they could be rescued. Their answer? An iPod loaded with Foo Fighters songs. So Dave Grohl wrote them this song, and sent them tickets to his show, and dedicated it to them. That’s such a cool gesture, very heartfelt. So enjoy the songs, and think of those guys rocking out to Foo Fighter’s while being trapped miles underground.

Idea Festival was phenomenal. From the different speakers, events to being able to meet other Agents from around the US. I worked primarily in the Do Tanks (instead of Think Tanks.. get it?), helping the contest winners develop their winning ideas into a more mature and usable product/concept/thing. Unfortunately all of their names escape me right now, but they were all incredibly interesting individuals. All of the ideas centered around green technology, or at the very least the impact of technology and our life style on the modern world. Here’s a hint.. Technology loves to sucker punch Mother Nature.

I believe it was an important event for a number of reasons. Primarily, I think it shows that you don’t have to be a “tree hugging hippy” to understand how we impact our world, and our responsibility in fixing the problems that we create.

I love the fact that a tech company, Geek Squad sponsored it. Not just because I’m an employee, and I was chosen to go.. That’s all well and good. It starts a trend. If Geek Squad can make the first step in showing the general public, other companies will follow.

I spent the past 3 days downtown at the Idea Festival. Did some interviews, helped some people shape some ideas. It was a lot of fun. All at this super cool hotel, 21C on 7th and Main. I’m going to post a more detailed err.. post about all the stuff I did. No pictures though, unfortunately I wasn’t able to bring my camera. Check out the hotel’s website here.

It’s strange. I’ve always had the mindset of mind over matter. All I could focus on when it was happening was the pain, and not losing it in the middle of work. It felt like everything inside me was being compressed, like I was deep underwater. My temperature shot up, I started sweating profusely, and I could hear my blood pounding in my ears. It took every ounce of my will to walk.

Am I willing to go under the knife to have it removed? I don’t know. Part of me wants to be done with it. Yank out the eye that offends and all that. Another part of me wants to deal with it, attempt to rehabilitate it. I know it’ll never be how it used to be, unless I get it removed. It’s there for a reason though. It has a function. Not to mention gall stones can still form even after your gall bladder is removed. Yay.

A lot of the stress can be attributed to work, money, things like that. It just agitates me. I have a hard enough time keeping a lid on my emotions. There’s so much I could do at work if there wasn’t so much red tape.

It’s hard adjusting to corporate life.

I’m determined to make it work though. I can handle anything thrown at me. I’ve been through much worse and come out a better person. Is it worth it though? All the lessons, and management books? I’d like to think so. If I’m wrong, well I’ve learned a lot of important lessons there.

When life gives you lemons, you punch life in the face, because you’re damn tired of making lemonade.

I told my DCI it didn’t matter what I had to do to get in there, I would do it. If I couldn’t get in with the company, I’d take the time off, volunteer and buy passes. Ray Bradbury is going to be there. He’s been a lifelong favorite author, and his stories have always helped me through the good and the bad.

Wozniak, Michio Kaku, a film/conversation with Hunter S. Thompson just to name a few. It’s like all the different influences in my life have converged in one place.

It’s my life mission to be there.

My last experience with Sharepoint consisted of setting it up, creating some test pages, leaving work for the day and the next day the entire server had crashed. So yeah, not much faith in it. I guess there’s the possibility that I may have done something wrong on the setup, but nothing was logged

The next few days are going to be busy what with Mother’s Day this weekend, Floyd’s 50th, cookouts and such.

That’s about it for now, I’m off to write some code.

So my new diet is going well, it’s hard getting used to not eating what I want. It’s a bit depressing. There is a definite difference in consciously choosing to not eat something, and not being able to. Although while technically I’m able to, I’ll pay for it at 4 in the morning, screaming in pain.

Work is going well, I’ve been chomping at the bit so to speak to get going on some projects. Flow has been down a little bit this week, mostly due to the summer. I’ve been really pushing hard on a lot of different fronts, trying to improve myself at work. It’s odd being in an environment where people give you good, solid feedback on the progress you’ve made. None of the places I’ve worked at have done that.

At any rate, I’m going to go. Gotta wander around on the internets for awhile.