Hanging with Feisty Fawn

No, I'm not talking about some weird cartoon porno. Feisty Fawn is the newest distribution of Ubuntu Linux, one of the more popular Linux offerings. I upgraded my PC last week and I've got to say that this is by far the best Linux distribution I've ever used.

Now, I know everyone has their own flavor of Linux. Uber enthusiasts and power users tend to congregate around Debian and Gentoo. There are a lot of purists who seem to like Slackware. But if you want a system that just seems to work with a minimal amount of tweaking then Ubuntu is for you.

That's not to say that you can't tweak Ubuntu. You can and I have. But a majority of users out there don't want to fiddle with an OS to get it to work. When the average person hears Bourne and Daemon, they think of a movie based on a series of Robert Ludlum books. These are the people you need to reach if Linux ever has a chance at mainstream adoption. Joe User could care less about the philosophy of open source or the performance benefits of Linux.

While Ubuntu 7.04 has taken a giant leap forward in terms of the "just works" factor, it isn't quite ready for the masses. For one, Ubuntu is capable of looking just as sexy as Vista or OS X but getting it to look that way takes a bit of know how. Also, there are some codecs that still aren't installed by default. While there may be legal reasons for this it still annoys me.

One thing above all else convinces me that the world is almost ready for Ubuntu. I've finally got my wife using it. Check out the his and her Ubuntu Desktops below:

My Fate In The Hands of a Panini?

So, I check my email and what do I find? A recommendation from Experience.com to apply for a job with a company that I've already applied for. This company, which shall remain nameless turned me down for a position when I interviewed with them.

I don't think I ever told you the real reason I didn't get the job. First a little background. I've got 5 years of healthcare informatics experience. I have consulted for the 2nd largest hospital system in the United States. I have great references. I recently received my Master's in Computer Science and graduated with a 4.0. I apply for a software development job with this company (it's the only Healthcare Software company in Madison, WI). I'm a shoe in, right?

Wrong! I get a call a couple weeks after the interview letting me know that I have been passed over. WTF? I'm perfect for the job, all my interviews went great, and my background and experience are dead on. None of this is a match for the Panini I ate for lunch during one of the interviews.


This Panini came straight from the Devil's Kitchen, cooked in the Satanic Fires of the innermost level of hell. The bread was harder than calculus. I bit into it and the Panini broke into bread needles that sliced the hell out of my mouth. I taste blood and I'm pretty sure that my interview just took on a horrifying turn for the surreal when I see the interviewer staring grotesquely at my mouth.

At that moment, one of the biggest decisions I'll ever make was decided for me by a Panini. I didn't get the job. I ended up taking another one that turned out to be a much better opportunity. Years of experience and a perfect academic record mean squat when compared to the powers of ordinary events to alter your life in surprisingly powerful ways.


On a less philosophical note, I broke down and bought Crackdown last night. I'll admit, I bought it more for the Halo 3 Beta invite than for the game itself but it's turned out to be a pretty fun game. Here's a description I found at an online retailer which pretty much sums it up:

"In Crackdown you must bring order to a corrupt city by defeating gangs, using superhuman power given to you by an Agency. You can also throw cars."

Eliminating My Carbon Footprint... And My Enemies

Well, I've done it again. I've been neglecting you. In my defense, it's been quite a busy month. As I mentioned, I got a new job and moved to Arkansas. It's just now beginning to warm up which means camping and floating soon. I can't wait. The Ozark Mountains have some amazing outdoor activities and I'm excited to begin exploring the area.

I'm happy to say that Angela and I have officially "gone green". We took the first step by beginning to replace our incandescent light bulbs with CFL's. We bought 16 CFL's and plan to buy more with my next pay check. They are definitely more expensive than regular bulbs but the energy savings and environment impact are more than worth it.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, if every American swapped just one conventional bulb for a CFL, it would collectively save them more than $8 billion in energy costs, prevent burning 30 billion pounds of coal, and keep two million cars worth of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere. That's with just one light bulb! Most people who begin using CFLs see a noticeable drop in their electricity bills, something I'm also looking forward to.

In addition to switching out the light bulbs, we've turned down our water heater and plan to start recycling. Ideally I'd like to reduce our carbon footprint as much as possible so if anyone has any suggestions I'd be happy to hear them.


My carbon footprint isn't the only thing I've been reducing. I've also spent some time lately reducing my enemies to their bloody, constituent parts. No, I'm not the Butcher of Bella Vista. I've been playing Gears of War and I'm happy to say that I've raised my skill level from utterly pathetic to merely inconsequential. That game’s hard and there are definitely people who play way too much but I'm slowly beginning to show an aptitude.


If you have an Xbox 360 and don't own Gears of War my only question is why? The single player campaign is breathtaking and the online multiplayer component is a visceral pleasure. I really can't say enough good things about it. Get it.


Master Chief and I have also been hanging out. I didn't have an Xbox when Halo 2 came out but I'm making up for it now. Sure, the graphics are dated especially after being spoiled by the visual delights of the 360. Nonetheless, no other game of the genre even approaches the gameplay of Halo 2. Even though the title debuted in 2004, the online community is still thriving which speaks volumes about the games lasting appeal.


I'm now biding my time until Halo 3 comes out. The release date is November 1st. I don’t think I can wait that long. I watch the Halo 3 announcement trailer several times a day and with each viewing my anticipation grows like a malignant tumor. I'm hoping a slot opens up in the beta so I can play before then but that's highly doubtful. Looks like I’m just going to have to wait to FINISH THE FIGHT!

Moved and Settled

It's been a while since I've made a post. I just moved to Arkansas and hadn't had internet until a couple of days ago. But don't worry Bloggie, I didn't forget about you.

The new job is turning out well and I'm completely happy with the new house and the region we've moved to. The house is surrounded by a forest and already I've seen a fox and a coyote. Angela mentioned that she saw some deer when she was walking Ellie.

In addition to the wildlife, I can actually see stars now; not the fake, occasional points of light you see in Tulsa but an entire kaleidoscope of color lit up like fireworks frozen in time. I've decided to get an inexpensive telescope and pick up amateur astronomy as a new hobby.

One thing I was surprised to discover is how close I am to Missouri. In fact, it's closer for me to drive to Missouri for gas and groceries (about 3 minutes) than it is to drive to the shopping area of Bella Vista.

Missouri, it seems, suffers from none of the paternalistic laws forced upon the citizens Oklahoma. I can buy cold 6 point beer and I can buy it on Sunday. Gas stations and even Wal-marts have fully stocked liquor stores. In fact, once you pass the state line, the rivers flow with Scotch and Vodka rains from the heavens.

Why is this so important? Well, it means I can once again enjoy my favorite beer, Fat Tire. Cheers!

Monkey Steals The Peach

My brother-in-law actually owns this book. From what I hear, he has studied it intently and has indeed acquired the dark ninja powers it promises to teach. These abilities range the gamet from mind reading to mental suggestion to monkey steals the peach. So, if you know Connor and run into him, please relentlessly ridicule him and then flip him the bird as hard as you can. Who knows, you may even get to see him use his ninja magic on you.

Let Me Off This Ride

Well, it's been a roller coaster of a day. I got turned down for the job in Wisconsin but the other two companies I've been interviewing with made me offers; within 10 minutes of each other. I was on the phone with one company when I got emailed with an offer by the other.

So, my decision is clear. Choose between a company with a lot of advancement potential or a company with some interesting profit sharing options. Call me old fashioned but corporate advancement trumps private stock options any day. As such, I'm happy to say that I've decided to take the position in Arkansas.

Angela and I are taking a trip to the Ozark Mountains tomorrow. We hope to get some ideas about housing and assess the region in general. From what I hear, the entire area is perfect if you are an outdoor hobbyist. Everything from camping and hiking to boating and biking are accessible within only a few minutes drive from where we'll be living.

I'm excited about the entire prospect. It looks like Angela and I are going to begin a new adventure together.

I Did My Best... I Did My Best

If you've ever seen Dane Cook's "A Viscous Circle" then you'll understand the title.

I called the company in Wisconsin this morning and it appears they've decided to pass on me. I would be lying if I said that my heart wasn't broken. With my experience, grades and achievements I thought I was a perfect candidate. Apparently they didn't think so and what's worse is they won't tell me why.

My confidence is a bit shaken and I'm going to have to start looking for consulting positions again. I'm really hoping the Tulsa job makes an offer soon. The thought of making weekly plane trips to client sites and spending more time in hotel beds than in my own depresses me. But if it's my only option then I have to go with it.

What's fun is that the further I get from graduation the less likely it is I'll ever get a development job. So, if I take a consulting position I pretty much sign the death certificate on my software career.

All I can do is have a little faith and hope things get better.

Wake Up to the King Baby

No, not that one. The other one.


You may or may not know this but I'm a huge Stephen King fan. In the 6th grade I picked up a copy of Misery and couldn't put it down. I spent two late nights consuming pages until I had finished it. I was hooked and began reading more.

At some point I picked up a copy of the unabridged version of "The Stand." This daunting piece of literature weighed in at over 1100 pages. For some reason I got about 500 pages into it and then stopped. I don't remember if there was a new video game that stole my interest or a school project or what but I never ended up finishing that book.

From time to time I think about picking it up again. On Friday I did just that and I've spent much of the weekend drinking coffee and reading this masterpiece. Stephen King's ability to set a mood and describe in great detail events and characters is nothing short of brilliant and this book showcases his abilities.


The basic premise of the book involves the accidental release of a weaponized flu virus that quickly spreads across the country decimating the population. Those lucky few with immunity are left struggling to survive in this dangerous new world devoid of structure and authority. Most are lonely. Some go mad. But slowly people begin to find one another again and begin to build new societies.

I haven't gotten much further than that but I am somewhat familiar with the later plot details. Two groups of survivors develop. The good group forms an idealized democratic commune and plans to rebuild society learning from the mistakes of the former civilization. The other group is lead by a being of pure evil (a man named Randal Flagg who appears in many of King's novels) and wants to herald in an era of chaos, hedonism, and death to all who oppose them. The rest of the book deals with the conflict between these opposing groups.

Anyways, the book is great and if you are a King fan or have never read a book by the author I would highly suggest picking it up. If you like the book, I would recommend moving on to King's mangum opus: the Dark Tower series. The seven books are the greatest I've ever read and the story is both epic and haunting.


The amazing things about the series is that it encompasses the entire Stephen King megaverse. Characters who have died in other books reappear in Mid-World (the setting for this set of novels) and strange "thin" spots allow the characters to travel between Stephen King novels. During the later books, the characters actually enter our world and confront King himself. The plot is nothing short of genius.

"The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed."