Cara’s First Hospital Visit, and More
Current mood: geeky
Category: Life

If you've been wondering why Isa and Cara have not been online much, here is a link to Cara's latest blog, where she explains most of it.
Visiting Friend, Trip to the ER, and Seattle Tattoo Expo

1:32 AM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Avoid Fanbox (SpamBox) like the plague
Current mood: annoyed
Category: Web, HTML, Tech

I post-dated this to make sure the word got out, hopefully you will link to it as well, and we can get these spammers to stop.

It starts out nice enough, you get an email where someone you may or may not know is asking to be your "loyal fan"
Woo, sounds good so far...

Then you click the link and it appears you are already logged in and ready to go.
You click around, and the next thing you know, 14 people a day are trying to become "your loyals spam".

Fanbox.com and other related sites should be destroyed. And I don't just mean taken off the internet. I mean obliterated, and then the people who designed them should be limited to using an Altair 8800. As an additional punishment they should be (I removed this).

People, if you get an email from Spambox(Fanbox) or SMS.ac or any of the other new spam kings, delete it, or better yet, if you can, report it as spam.
This will help others from being duped.
You shouldn't open suspicious email from unknown senders anyway.

Also if anyone has experience with the new VMWare virtual server environment with SAN, let me know.

6:37 PM - 3 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Sorry folks
Current mood: busy
Category: Life

Ok, so I've been away from myspace for a while.
New job has me very busy, plus taking photos for people consumes freetime.
As well, I try to find some time to relax, do my own stuff, and spend time with the Mrs.

Long story short, I'll come back to myspace soon, just have to get caught up on some stuff.
IF you're trying to send me a message and it's important, send it via EMAIL.
If you don't have my email, ask Cara for it, or post a comment here asking me for it, I will subscribe to the RSS for this blog and if you need my email addy/msn messenger, I will send it to you.
Peace,
'Isa

9:21 AM - 8 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Free Flickr Pro Contest
Current mood: energetic
Category: Art and Photography

Tell your Seattle Area friends about this:

Isa and Cara's Flickr Contest

3:25 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Isa’s Hidden Trail to Tub Lake, Washington. - Photoblog on Flickr
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Art and Photography

Today I decided to go to Tub Lake.
Then I realized someone, somewhere, may someday see Tub Lake on a map and go,
"Hey, I want to go there"
Then, they'll realize there is little to no documentation about the lake.
And they may further realize that they can't find a way to get to Tub Lake.
So I decided I would make a PhotoBlog and show you how to get there my way.

Here is the link to my photoblog on Flickr.
It's actually a Photo Set. But I've narrated it by putting descriptions on the images.
You'll start at a panorama shot of the lake. Hope you enjoy the tour.


Tub Lake info:
To be updated later.

5:26 PM - 5 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Just another crazy day in Renton
Current mood: overstimulated
Category: Life

Since some of you like to hear about the crazy madness that seems to follow me and Cara around, I thought I would share our Friday with you.

Started out typical enough, I got on my computer, did some things at the office remotely, fixed some minor issues for users and configured some routes for the new T-1 line to the new office.

I headed out for Jumaah, and went to go listen to the Khutbah.

When I returned, we decided to get our Sam's Club shopping done, and perhaps visit the park to get some photos, a nice relaxing day at the park...

Well, not quite.

As fate would have it, 5 minutes before we left a gang fight broke out between two groups of teens/young adults.
Bottles, bats, sticks, knives, meat cleavers, machetes and of course, guns.
Thank God, none of the guns were fired, because with their aim, all of the innocent bystanders would have most likely been shot instead.

As it was, one of the guys got hit in the face with the machete, so he's not going to be happy for a long time. Good for him, I say.
I'd rather they all just head down to the quarry after a rainstorm, and jump in with a bunch of weapons. Then when they're done killing each other off, we can throw a live current through the water at the bottom and fry the rest of the morons.

Honestly people, bottles, meat cleavers, and guns in a park where there are families and childern within 100 ft of you?!?!

What happened to the good ole days when gangs picked an alley in the middle of the night and fought it out like men?

Back to the story, yours truly stupidly started snapping photos. So of course I had to turn my digital card over to the Police.

Turns out it had some seriously good pics on it. Go figure since I had just swapped out lenses and was using my 50/1.4f instead of my Tele lens.

I felt most bad for Cara, because I forget at times that she didn't have the upbringing  that I did, getting stabbed, caught in drive bys, beat up by gangs, being in the military, etc. She was a nervous wreck, because she was one of the ones that saw the guy with the gun aimed on someone.

Freaky crazy stuff always seems to happen when we go to Renton. I'm thinking perhaps we'll have to find a safer place to hang out, like perhaps the slums of downtown Seattle.

I'd love to post photos, but since they are part of a current criminal investigation I will not be able to do so. Sorry.

1:47 AM - 12 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

Flickr Update
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Art and Photography

Added new photos, and made some Set changes.

Flickr Sets for MaplessInSeattle

This link opens to my "sets" page, which will allow you to search by subject better.

5:53 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Note to the loser who tried to post a message to my slide guestbook
Current mood: annoyed
Category: Blogging

Dear Loser,
I regret to inform you that your post to my guestbook which included this sick and f&@ed up image (link), was rejected for the following reasons:
1) Racial insensitivity.
    I mean really, in today's day and age, one would think you would have the common sense to know that posting an image featuring a nazi symbol would be rejected from anyone. However I took great offense to this, as I have a number of Jewish friends who would be appalled to see that image anywhere, but especially on my site.
2) Inaccurate Information.
    Your image states that "If Islam had to obey truth in advertising laws". I guess you are attempting to imply that Muslims hate Jews, or that Muslims or Nazis?!?
Since your intellect probably prohibits you from understanding the ramifications of your statement let me elaborate, and dumb it down for you. I am a Muslim, I have many friends who are Jewish, they are followers of the same G-d that I call G-d. We are at one with our Love and Respect of G-d, and we do differ on our approach at this, but we harmoniously rejoice in the fact that we all are followers of the teaching of the prophets, and therefore can call one another brother and sister in our collective faith. As to the Nazi thing, well that is preposterous, considering that would require me to believe that Jews are somehow inferior to me, and there are many a Jew that are better than me at just about everything. As well, how could one look at the inventions of the last century and deny the intellect of the Jews? Kinda silly don't you agree?
3) Rude and Childish
    Not only did you post an anonymous comment, in a way that cannot be traced back to you, but you did it simply to spite me, (I can only assume). You took something that I cherish(my faith) and you attempted(unsuccessfully) to slander it, and make it something it is not. My only guess is that you are a child, and that your parents failed to properly supervise you while you were on the internet. I hope that in the future we can avoid such situations by you simply asking your parents permission before you do silly things, like post ignorant comments on people's slide accounts. However, if you insist on doing so, I will be more than happy to keep deleting your comments.

Just a warning though, I would refrain from posting your offensive and highly inaccurate photos on my blogs, as I cannot control the actions of my readers, and many of them will pretty much rip you a new one. In fact, I'd venture to say that most of my female Myspace friends would be able to take you out without breaking a sweat. Just a warning, not a threat. I don't take kindly to people insulting me, my friends, or things that they have no knowledge of whatsoever.

I'd challenge you to a battle of wits, but I think it would be unfair to attack an unarmed man, so I will decline to engage you in such a futile endeavor.

4:05 PM - 21 Comments - 34 Kudos - Add Comment

Lots of new photos on my Flickr
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Art and Photography

I'm finally getting the hang of the whole "Flickr" thing.
Hope you enjoy the latest uploads.
Here is the link to my "Sets" page.
All of my photos are in a set.
If you don't want to view "sets" just click the photostream link on that page.

9:47 PM - 6 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment

Isa’s Flickr
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Art and Photography

My Flickr Page

It's still new, so check back often.

7:07 PM - 9 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Photography Question
Current mood: curious
Category: Quiz/Survey

So, Cara has been bugging me to upload some of my photography.
If I upload it, I will be using Flickr.
If I upload it, will you guys promise to come check it out, and comment some of my pics?

8:58 AM - 9 Comments - 16 Kudos - Add Comment

Are you linked in?
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Web, HTML, Tech

If you are, and you know me, feel free to make a connection.
If you need my email address, let me know.

8:34 AM - 12 Comments - 16 Kudos - Add Comment

Photos of the babies (Stick Insect Nymphs)
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Art and Photography

Flickr Photo Set - Stick Insects

Enjoy!

10:25 AM - 14 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

Isa talks about Vista Service Pack 1
Current mood: geeky
Category: Web, HTML, Tech

Since some of you may have Vista installed, you will soon be, if not already, installing Service Pack 1 for Vista OS.
Yes, Vista, the wonderful operating system that is feature rich with bugs galore.
It finally has an offical Service Pack.

What I will do here, is post some various informations and links about the Vista Service Pack 1.

Let’s get started:

Where do I get Vista SP1?
If you only have to update 1 computer, then you should use Windows Update, to install the service pack. If you are an administrator, or have multiple computers, or would like to download the service pack, to install on another computer, then use the following url:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/bb738089.aspx

What is Vista SP1?
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/b984ce70-701b-4565-868e-51d1ba47555d1033.mspx?mfr=true

Things you should know before installing Vista SP1:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsvista/bb968859.aspx

Where can I find a list of programs that are incompatible or cause problems with Vista SP1?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/935796

Why can’t I get Vista SP1 from Windows Update? This is usually due to a language, or a hardware driver issue. See the following article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948343

Microsoft is offering FREE Technical Support for Vista SP1:
Yes, you heard that right, FREE!!!!
Here is how you get it:
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/11732
Options are: Email, Chat, Phone.
I used this earlier to report that Kaspersky Internet Security can hang the installation if it isn’t updated, and disabled before the installation.
They are working with Kaspersky, and now Kaspersky has released the update that makes it compatible. They even called to thank me, awww how special.

None of the links in here are clickable. You will have to copy/paste them into your browser to have them work properly.
Remember to use Internet Explorer for the Windows Update site.

Hopefully this helps someone out.



 

4:40 AM - 21 Comments - 14 Kudos - Add Comment

To my Seattle and other Pacific Northwest friends.
Current mood: curious
Category: Pets and Animals

I have an odd situation.
I find myself having way too many Pink Winged Madgascar Stick Insects.
If you can provide a good home, please let me know.
No charge, I just want them going to good homes.

If you would like to see what they look like:
Here are some google pics of adults

This site has pics of eggs, nymphs, and adults

They are really fun, and especially if you have children.
If you can’t take any, but know of someone who can, let me know as well.

I CANNOT ship these guys, so don’t ask.
It is against USDA regulations for me to do so without a license.

The alternative, is I have to buy a Praying Mantis to help "control" the population.

I’d rather see them go to a happy home.

I have approximately 25 nymphs.
They don’t lay eggs until they have matured.
ALL are female, but they don’t need males to lay eggs, they are parthenogenic.
Think "Jurrassic Park"  Nature will find a way.
LOL

Containment: A vertical aquarium, or similar structure. Best is to build a small enclosure with wood, and line it with mesh.
Food: Brambles, Ivy, Rose. - These are their favorites, but they do eat others.
Climate: Room temperature is fine. They will adjust.

11:18 AM - 11 Comments - 16 Kudos - Add Comment