A short while ago I posted mycurrent reading list. Well, I finished "The Holy Road" and "Odd Thomas". Both were excellent reads. I got Goblin to listen to "Odd Thomas" and now he's totally hooked and is trying to acquire the next three books in the series via ebay!
Sadly, my physical reading is now reserved for the "CISSP All-in-One Exam Guide". Intriguing, no? Over eleven hundred pages of riveting non-plot! But, it should help me in my pursuit of the CISSP certification (first attempt at the exam should be in late September).
Next up for my commuting pleasure: Terry Pratchett's "Wintersmith", one of the Discworld-lite novels. I haven't read any of the Discworld novels yet, only the Tiffany Aching series, which I adore. Maybe I'll take the plunge after this. Then again, I have another Pratchett in my queue, "Johnny and the Bomb". I read (listened to) the first two Johnny Maxwell books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I discovered Pratchett only in the last few years. Sadly, he's had some health issues. Hopefully, medical science will keep him healthy and productive for years to come.
P.S. This is actually my 501st post to this blog!!!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Summer's half-way over?
It probably seems irrational, but I feel like today marks the halfway point of summer. To me, summer means June-July-August. Therefore, halfway through July is halfway through summer.
Grendel didn't even finish up with school until the third week in June. Then again, he starts back before August is over. For those of us with children, the definition of 'summer' is the warmest part of the year where our kids are not required to be in school So, at the most optimistic the mid-way point for the school-year version of summer is in a week from today.
I guess what I'm saying is that I really don't want summer to end this year. Last winter was hard in a lot of ways (weather-wise and work-wise, as well as family dynamics). Plus, I've set myself a personal goal for professional development that I'm under-inspired to pursue.
I really REALLY need to take the exam for the CISSP at the end of September. It's an arduous test. If I want to move to the next stage of my career, I need to get the certification. However, I've never been overly fond of certifications. Plus, I really feel like I need some down time this summer. And, I don't want to try to study for the test while I'm actively involved in school, which starts back up in mid-September (and won't really be done again until June 2009).
I want to read fluff books! I want to watch stupid movies. I want to continue to organize my house. I do NOT feel like studying the ten domains of the CISSP. ... Oh, bother.
Grendel didn't even finish up with school until the third week in June. Then again, he starts back before August is over. For those of us with children, the definition of 'summer' is the warmest part of the year where our kids are not required to be in school So, at the most optimistic the mid-way point for the school-year version of summer is in a week from today.
I guess what I'm saying is that I really don't want summer to end this year. Last winter was hard in a lot of ways (weather-wise and work-wise, as well as family dynamics). Plus, I've set myself a personal goal for professional development that I'm under-inspired to pursue.
I really REALLY need to take the exam for the CISSP at the end of September. It's an arduous test. If I want to move to the next stage of my career, I need to get the certification. However, I've never been overly fond of certifications. Plus, I really feel like I need some down time this summer. And, I don't want to try to study for the test while I'm actively involved in school, which starts back up in mid-September (and won't really be done again until June 2009).
I want to read fluff books! I want to watch stupid movies. I want to continue to organize my house. I do NOT feel like studying the ten domains of the CISSP. ... Oh, bother.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
M$ Conspiracy Theory
If you are a ZoneAlarm user, you may not be able to read this today. Micro$oft issued an update this week which turned into a ticking time bomb for ZoneAlarm users. I had been having issues with ZoneAlarm on my primary Windows XP machine. So, about a month ago I uninstalled it, with full intention of reinstalling it shortly. Shortly still hasn't happened. Which, for me, turned out to be a VERY good thing. On Friday, I got an email message from ZoneLabs warning me "Installation of Microsoft Update KB951748 may result in loss of Internet connectivity."
I didn't think anything of it. My husband's copy of ZoneAlarm had expired, and he was having issues reinstalling the new keys. (Sense a theme here?) My son's computer is turned off for the next month while he's away with his grandparents. So, I shrugged it off and figured Micro$oft or ZoneLabs would put out another patch and all would be right with the world.
Then, late this morning, my old Windows XP system lost Internet connectivity. I didn't think much about it at the time, since I was about to go out, and I sometimes have to reboot my router. Then, this afternoon, my husband complained that he couldn't get to the Internet. So, ZoneLab's warnings of gloom and doom, "Microsoft Update KB951748 - Workaround to Sudden Loss of Internet Access Problem", finally did impact my household.
What I find odd is that I thought KB951748 hit Windows XP systems on Tuesday (or Wednesday at the latest). So, why did it take until Sunday for our systems to lose connectivity.
Also, you just gotta love the fact that ZoneLabs sends people an email to tell them that they could lose Internet activity, particularly since the email was sent after the patch was deployed.
Now, here comes the conspiracy theories. Aside from some minor glitches we've had in our household with ZoneAlarm lately, we are True Believers. ZoneAlarm has been the most reliable suite of tools to protect Windows systems from the big bad Internet. One has to wonder if Micro$oft didn't cause this situation on purpose. If you don't have ZoneAlarm, the Micro$oft patch will only help you, not hurt you. On the flip side, maybe the quality issues we've seen the last few months with ZoneAlarm have made the product more of a security hinderance than a security helper. Maybe Micro$oft is trying to tell us something: 'ZoneAlarm should not be trusted. We don't trust it, therefore we won't let you get to the Internet if you are using it.'
And for the final conspiracy theory: Maybe KB951748 is one of those patches from Micro$oft that actually introduces more vulnerabilities than it patches. Maybe THAT's why ZoneAlarm won't let you to the Internet after you've applied the patch.
The solutions offered thus far by ZoneLabs: Lower your Internet Security settings from High to Medium or Uninstall KB951748.
Decisions, decisions, decisions... (Note: My husband lowered his threshold to Medium. I now have two systems with no ZoneAlarm installed... really need to work on that. Maybe I'll back out of KB951748 and reinstall.)
Ultimately, I'd pretty much made my next big decision related to all this. My next Internet-facing computer is going to me a Mac. I'll keep the Windows systems around for the software that I use that only runs on that OS, but I will not be reading email and doing general surfing on those systems. I won't be pulling the trigger on that decision until 2009, unfortunately.
Update: ZoneLabs has come out with a patch to their products that allows them to work with the Microsoft patch. Joy.
I didn't think anything of it. My husband's copy of ZoneAlarm had expired, and he was having issues reinstalling the new keys. (Sense a theme here?) My son's computer is turned off for the next month while he's away with his grandparents. So, I shrugged it off and figured Micro$oft or ZoneLabs would put out another patch and all would be right with the world.
Then, late this morning, my old Windows XP system lost Internet connectivity. I didn't think much about it at the time, since I was about to go out, and I sometimes have to reboot my router. Then, this afternoon, my husband complained that he couldn't get to the Internet. So, ZoneLab's warnings of gloom and doom, "Microsoft Update KB951748 - Workaround to Sudden Loss of Internet Access Problem", finally did impact my household.
What I find odd is that I thought KB951748 hit Windows XP systems on Tuesday (or Wednesday at the latest). So, why did it take until Sunday for our systems to lose connectivity.
Also, you just gotta love the fact that ZoneLabs sends people an email to tell them that they could lose Internet activity, particularly since the email was sent after the patch was deployed.
Now, here comes the conspiracy theories. Aside from some minor glitches we've had in our household with ZoneAlarm lately, we are True Believers. ZoneAlarm has been the most reliable suite of tools to protect Windows systems from the big bad Internet. One has to wonder if Micro$oft didn't cause this situation on purpose. If you don't have ZoneAlarm, the Micro$oft patch will only help you, not hurt you. On the flip side, maybe the quality issues we've seen the last few months with ZoneAlarm have made the product more of a security hinderance than a security helper. Maybe Micro$oft is trying to tell us something: 'ZoneAlarm should not be trusted. We don't trust it, therefore we won't let you get to the Internet if you are using it.'
And for the final conspiracy theory: Maybe KB951748 is one of those patches from Micro$oft that actually introduces more vulnerabilities than it patches. Maybe THAT's why ZoneAlarm won't let you to the Internet after you've applied the patch.
The solutions offered thus far by ZoneLabs: Lower your Internet Security settings from High to Medium or Uninstall KB951748.
Decisions, decisions, decisions... (Note: My husband lowered his threshold to Medium. I now have two systems with no ZoneAlarm installed... really need to work on that. Maybe I'll back out of KB951748 and reinstall.)
Ultimately, I'd pretty much made my next big decision related to all this. My next Internet-facing computer is going to me a Mac. I'll keep the Windows systems around for the software that I use that only runs on that OS, but I will not be reading email and doing general surfing on those systems. I won't be pulling the trigger on that decision until 2009, unfortunately.
Update: ZoneLabs has come out with a patch to their products that allows them to work with the Microsoft patch. Joy.
Job application fool
Things at work really aren't too bad since I got back from vacation. However, it could just be a lull in the insanity that I was noting the month or two before I went on vacation. Plus, I still really dislike the length of my commute.
So ... this morning I applied for three different jobs at an organization that would shorten my commute by about ten minutes (not significant, but it'd be a step in the right direction). Plus, the place is on several "best places to work" lists.
I also applied for a job with Fairpoint Communications, who are in the process of taking over landline communications in NH from Verizon.
If I get any nibbles from my applications, I'll be sure to let everyone know.
Note: Goblin is also applying for jobs these days. Sadly, his 25-30 minute commute will probably have to more than double for him to change jobs. But, he really does need to move on from his current position for a boatload of reasons. He is going to see an actual career counselor next week. He's not constantly looking and applying for jobs like I am, so he could use the hand-holding.
So ... this morning I applied for three different jobs at an organization that would shorten my commute by about ten minutes (not significant, but it'd be a step in the right direction). Plus, the place is on several "best places to work" lists.
I also applied for a job with Fairpoint Communications, who are in the process of taking over landline communications in NH from Verizon.
If I get any nibbles from my applications, I'll be sure to let everyone know.
Note: Goblin is also applying for jobs these days. Sadly, his 25-30 minute commute will probably have to more than double for him to change jobs. But, he really does need to move on from his current position for a boatload of reasons. He is going to see an actual career counselor next week. He's not constantly looking and applying for jobs like I am, so he could use the hand-holding.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
More vacation pictures
Here's me considering the thrill of using the shipboard facilities on one of the historic ships we saw in Mystic, CT:
Here's Goblin as we're about to enter the shipcarvings' building in Mystic. It was our favorite exhibit. Notice the cool cat carving on the side of the building. We were not allowed to take photos inside, or I'd have taken tons:
Here is the restaurant in Mystic where we ate lunch. The trip to Mystic was inspired in large part by a review I heard of this place. The clear broth chowder was fantastic!
When we got back to RI from CT, we found our fifteen year old son passed out on the porch of his grandparents rented house. Wonder how a teenage could be so exhausted in the middle of the afternoon, especially one on ADD medication (basically: amphetamines):
No, he did not drink the beverage next to him, but it does make for an incriminating photo, no?
Here are three generations of D-family males collaborating over grilled meat products.
And here's an awesome photo of some of the great fireworks we saw on the 4th (courtesy of my father-in-law's intrepid attempts to capture the show):
My next lengthy vacation probably won't be until next April, at least not one that involves traveling. I may take a few extended weekends where I don't go anywhere. C'est la vie! (Appropriate phraseology considering that the April trip will involve Paris.)
Here's Goblin as we're about to enter the shipcarvings' building in Mystic. It was our favorite exhibit. Notice the cool cat carving on the side of the building. We were not allowed to take photos inside, or I'd have taken tons:
Here is the restaurant in Mystic where we ate lunch. The trip to Mystic was inspired in large part by a review I heard of this place. The clear broth chowder was fantastic!
When we got back to RI from CT, we found our fifteen year old son passed out on the porch of his grandparents rented house. Wonder how a teenage could be so exhausted in the middle of the afternoon, especially one on ADD medication (basically: amphetamines):
No, he did not drink the beverage next to him, but it does make for an incriminating photo, no?
Here are three generations of D-family males collaborating over grilled meat products.
And here's an awesome photo of some of the great fireworks we saw on the 4th (courtesy of my father-in-law's intrepid attempts to capture the show):
My next lengthy vacation probably won't be until next April, at least not one that involves traveling. I may take a few extended weekends where I don't go anywhere. C'est la vie! (Appropriate phraseology considering that the April trip will involve Paris.)
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