John Turner

Wow, this week’s episode was a real rollercoaster ride!! I’ve been thinking lately that the show was getting kinda boring, not much action. There really hasn’t been any action since Tucco was killed or since Hank’s El Paso deal. And this episode looked like more of the same old boring stuff – but surprise!! And it was a nice surprise, too. I only wish there was more like it. I can’t wait until next week to find out what happens. And on a side note, I am embarrassed to admit that it took me 2.5 seasons to finally “get” the series title.

I deactivated my Facebook account today. As long as I don’t log in during the next two weeks, the account will be deleted. At least, that’s what Facebook says will happen. We’ll see. Why did I break up with Facebook? I’m not interested in letting Facebook pimp out my personal information for their gain. Article 1, Article 2, Article 3. Knowing me, Twitter and all of the other sites that a person of the 21st century allegedly can’t do without will follow. I’ll probably keep LinkedIn because I use it for work. Otherwise, I’ll pass. My new title: Social Networking Hermit.

This past semester in my MSIA program pretty much kicked my butt. It felt like I was writing a 10-12 page paper every week. In one of the classes, I spent almost 25 hours on the mid-term (I go online so exams are open book). I am just glad it is over and I don’t start up again for about 5 weeks. Final grades: Intrusion Detection and Intrusion Prevention = B, Cryptography = A. I had the grades in the IDS class, including a 96.25 on the final but got dinged pretty hard for lack of participation. Rats! I will do better next time. 3 classes to go!

Today is the last day of the spring term. I have one more 12-page research paper to turn in today, and then I’m free and clear (school-wise) until the summer term starts in June. However, my motivation level to finish the paper is essentially zero, and the distraction level is maxed out. Ugh.

On the good side, only three more classes to go for Master’s #1. On the bad side, still need 3 classes after that for Master’s #2. I just want to be done with school!!!!

Finally set my laptop’s Time Machine to back up to a FW drive connected to a Mac mini I’m using as a file/print server. Works pretty well, no muss, no fuss.

I don’t normally comment on pop culture tabloid stuff, but the recent ruckus over Jesse James’ alleged 11-month affair with Michelle “Bombshell” McGee is proof that life is stranger than fiction. Here’s a guy that was nobody who works his way to somebody and then basically does better than hitting the lotto by marrying an Oscar-winning actress, and he (allegedly) screws it up by having an affair with an (alleged) white supremacist tattoo model. Surreal. I guess I was right never buying into the West Coast Choppers/Monster Garage hype!!! And now he’s got Betty White pissed off at him…that is not something I would wish on my worst enemy!

If you’re driving, don’t drink. If you’re drinking, don’t drive. Simple.

Just watched the trailer for the movie “Lemmy“. Can’t wait to see it!!

Got the motorcycle out last week and rode to work. Temp was about 30 degrees F when I left in the morning. A little cold, but not too bad at all. I only have a short commute, about 11 miles each way, so it is not a problem in the cold. And while it may be cold in the morning, it is totally worth it in the afternoon when it warms up! I think I’ve got 4 or 5 days of riding in already for the season. Not too bad at all. Stopped riding last November about mid-month, and started riding again on March 8, so that makes about 14 weeks of no riding. But I got down to FL in January and rode about 850 miles, so really it has only been 7 weeks since my last ride. Hmmmm…maybe I need to make a riding vacation in January an annual thing. (note to self)

While doing research for my paper due in a couple weeks, I ran across this old web page from Microsoft: The 10 Immutable Laws of Security. It is amazing how many people, even so-called “I.T. professionals”, do not grasp even these simple concepts. Strike that…”amazing”? More like scary, considering that a lot of these folks are responsible for some pretty big and pretty critical systems.