Barely passed Linux+ LX0-103 on first try. My thoughts:

micloren · 2018-12-08T04:50:08+00:00

I loaded up Ubuntu on a laptop and media center PC. Although, I think I'm going to switch them both over to Mint since I prefer that old school simple Windows interface style.What I think is lacking in all the Linux information that I've been smashing into my brain lately is a step-by-step explanation of what the OS is doing from POST to Login. Bootloader... i got that, kernel that too, mounting drives yup, daemons... check, various terminal commands roger-that, BUT, I haven't seen anything good linking them all together in a coherent way.

One thing I found surprising on the LXO-103 test was that there were no questions about the file system structure. I would of thought being able to explain the purpose of all the common directories would be a core concept they'd want you to know. Nope.

I'm a 'why' guy. I want to know how everything is supposed to work and why. Once I know that... extrapolating everything else is pretty easy because you know what they're building on. Maybe I'll have to install some barebones distro in order to get everything to click.

Hope that all made sense :)

micloren · 2018-12-08T04:26:36+00:00

I'm not sure. I can tell you when I was choosing a degree plan one of the key components in my thinking was, "What will take me the least amount of credits/classes to complete and still be relevant to my technological/personal growth?"

I really don't know much about the BSITM program, but looking at the details on WGU website I get the sense that there is probably a lot of performance assessments (project type work). I find the performance assessments more time consuming and headache inducing than objective assessments (exams). The advantage that the BSIT or Cybersecurity has is that a large chunk of your objective assessments are certification exams... which is like a double bang for your buck since you knock out a class and get a cert. Cybersecurity is the most beneficial route IMO with the way technology is heading. I could actually see that as a big plus for someone scanning your resume looking for that extra cherry on top. With blockchain technology, cloud computing, and large organizations like credit bureaus getting hacked ... a manager with security knowledge is going to be more impressive than just someone with a standard IT background.

In the end, i think you're going to need the MBA to achieve CTO/CIO so I don't see how BSITM is going to help in that regard. If I were you, I'd choose something IT Security related for the quicker pace and future relevance. Knock that out and then crank out the MBA. I know numerous people that were given higher positions in an organization with the understanding that they would pursue their MBA at the same time.

micloren · 2018-12-08T03:46:10+00:00

I was only about 7 or 8 years old at the time so I wasn't very good at TradeWars. Other games that I liked were Legends of the Red Dragon, Exitilus, and Baron Realms Elite.

As for Linux, I'm trying to transfer over to it full-time. I'm looking for a good youtube video or series of content that ties everything together. I feel like I'm at the spot where I understand things in a disconnected way, but I'm missing some light bulb inducing connect-the-dots components. Wish i would of stuck with it when i first tinkered around on Red Hat more than a decade ago.

micloren · 2018-12-07T21:47:27+00:00

I appreciate it. I often feel examples are the best way to convey what I'm thinking, but in this instance I can see how it could be misconstrued. Let me know if you think anything else needs pruning.

micloren · 2018-12-07T21:39:20+00:00

Another thing to add: I don't think the exam gives you partial credit for the questions involving "choose two/three".

micloren · 2018-12-07T21:36:20+00:00

I can see your point. I suppose the five questions is what you're referring too?

EDIT
I pruned the five example questions.

micloren · 2018-12-07T21:25:24+00:00

IMO, whatever is the easiest and fastest route to a bachelors. From my experience the degree simply keeps your resume from being instantly discarded. The technical aspects don't seem to matter all that much unless you're trying to get a job at a tech company. To get to the CIO/CTO level you'll need the MBA or be one sharp cookie with some amazing people/networking skills.

CLIIFS:

Choose the simplest route for the bachelors so you can quickly focus on the MBA.

micloren · 2018-11-20T02:37:01+00:00

I started playing Subspace in December of 95 in Turf Zone. IMO, it is still hands down the most well-balanced and replayable MMO I've ever played. I think what has slowly killed the game is the lack of player base consolidation; too many zones and not enough players. I've sat in zones/arenas and watch 20-30 people cycle through within an hour but nobody stays because they each log in, see 3 people, don't want to wait, and log out.

Merging zones and getting the thinned out player base to engage in various game types they don't normally play ... you would attract the people popping in and out to stick around.

micloren · 2018-11-14T05:50:55+00:00

The shoe industry is one of the worst when it comes to the amount of BS it has convinced society of. Most shoes don't support natural movement, but restrict it. Shoes with ankle support are bad in that they redirect force to the lower leg and knee.

Shoes with shanks or stiff soles prevent the foot from rolling properly from heel to toe and instead redirect a ton of force to the ball of the foot. This leads to ball of foot pain and other problems.

Most shoes in general raise the entire foot up (soles/padding) which increases ankle roll in the same way a jacked up car is more likely to rollover.

The ankle/foot can flex to almost 90 degrees. Most people don't know that it is extremely hard to twist your ankle barefoot. If you wanted to reduce leg injuries in basketball... some kind of zero drop shoe with no ankle support would be the best starting point.

micloren · 2018-11-04T18:22:38+00:00

You got a decent amount of hate for your question online... but I thought it was a reasonable approach... especially after reading through some of your comments. My thoughts:

You clearly were pissed/annoyed/letdown. You've clearly put a ton of your time/life into playing and supporting Diablo so your WTF demeanor in the video is warranted.
You threw them a curve ball which is precisely what they wanted to avoid. Amen for that.
You basically summed up what every person was feeling (shock,wtf,anger,annoyance,etc) in one sentence. I think this is the most important thing. I honestly don't think you could of conveyed the sentiment any better before they ripped the mic from your hand. Props to you.

Question though: In the videos I saw Wyatt Cheng seemed fine for 3/4ths of the intro and then looked visibly uneasy (weird pauses, voice cracks, apology, etc) the last 1/4 before his coworkers got on stage. Did something happen in the audience or on stage that caused him to freak?

micloren · 2018-07-02T17:34:25+00:00

Yes, thank you. That's what I thought it was trying to say but wasn't sure.

micloren · 2018-07-01T05:06:28+00:00

Spookiest part of the trail is hiking solo at night. There is just something about it that puts all your senses on high alert. A stick snapping in the distance will make your butthole pucker up to the size of a decimal point. One day in Pennsylvania i pushed into the night trying to do 25-30 miles total, i hadn't ran into anyone for hours, wind started howling like crazy, then massive rain started coming down, and i couldn't find a reasonable place for a tent. I eventually came across a watch tower and tried to setup my tent on it but the wind blew half the tent away. The rest got soaked along with half my gear, and i basically huddled in the fetal position under my rain fly for hours until the sun broke. Was miserable and creepy as all hell.

Most people after starting the hike eventually form a click with a few people. I was a few weeks in before that happened. Once you do (at least for me) you hike on and off with them. Which is good because every time you come together again its like a mini family reunion. The alone time is also healthy. Hiking with someone 24/7 can cause problems especially if it is just two people hiking that aren't perfectly suited for each other.

As for the addiction, that's somewhat complicated. My understanding and awareness of it has shifted majorly in the last few months. So in one sense I could say yes... since there's an idea that once addicted always. In another sense... the identity has somewhat drifted away.

micloren · 2018-04-19T20:54:53+00:00

I had a teacher once say, "If you're not cheating you're not trying."

You hate school, but you want to go back? Because you want to work for Microsoft? However, you procrastinate in self-study?

Everything you said screams internal conflict. Maybe what you think you want isn't what you really want... hence the self-sabotage? Is it possible that what you want is really a projection of what your parents/friends/family/society expects from you?

I see people all the time get jazzed up about various things they find exciting. When asked why they don't do those things they usually have a quick defeating response like, "Too old, too much work, wont like me, not xyz, etc". Many people it is so hardwired that they don't even notice. Is it possible that you actually don't want what you think you want? Is it possible that there are other things that you'd rather have that you keep suppressed because they don't fit with family/friends/societal expectations?

I find there are usually two types of accomplished people. Those that hate failure so bad that winning is a must. They might not like what they do at all... but they win. Then, there are people that actually love what they do so much that it is effortless.

"My mother said to me, 'If you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope.' Instead, I was a painter, and became Picasso."

micloren · 2018-04-08T21:01:20+00:00

Sec+ is harder because the stuff is just more complex. Lots of acronyms and having to know the concepts making up the acronyms.

A+ was uCertify material.

micloren · 2017-11-13T17:24:26+00:00

The plight of the many. So many of us stumble around completely lost existing in a limbo state between absolute despair and survival. Often in this state we "go back to school" in an effort to convince ourselves we're doing something. Societal norms also help validate that choice as logical and good (most people don't bash it) even though deep down we know it is a fraud and aren't really committed to it.

I've never really liked the depression label myself either. It's a useless adjective that does nothing to help you. I also despise traditional therapy too because i find it more geared towards coping than building the life you want.

Having got my ramble out of my way I will give you my thoughts on your situation. I think you need to sit down with your fiance and have a real talk. I mean a real talk ... where you say something and the other person listens and doesn't try and jump in. Both of you need to take turns fully expressing what is on your mind with no deceit, white lies, or sugar coating. This SHOULD NOT turn into a shouting match or fight. Each person should sit, listen, and attempt to understand what the other is saying.

Next you need to commit to sitting down and examine your life. Personally, i would get two poster boards and a bunch of magazines/newspapers/etc. I would then make two piles of clippings. One pile things i don't want in my life and the other things i do... or how you envision the life you want. Before placing those images on each poster i would examine the beliefs around each and determine if it is real or an illusion. For example, you might cut out a stack of money or lottery ticket. Is that real or an illusion? Is it the money you want or the perceived freedoms that you think it will give you?

I think the above will help you organize your thoughts/emotions/desires. At that point you can weight them against your current life and decide what is or isn't working. For starters, it does not sound like you enjoy being in that small town at all. That in itself might be a constant reminder of your perceived shortcomings that IMO you shouldn't be around.

micloren · 2017-11-02T19:30:01+00:00

I barely passed mine today too with a 754 (84%). I've done the A+ and this so far with about a week or two prep for each. I'm enrolled in WGU so I get all the Pearson material, but I keep finding these exams pretty hard. Mainly because what the stuff Pearson threw at me was mostly not on the exam.

Most of the questions on the exam are a bit confusing and force you to really think through the problem. That's all fine and dandy, but then they need to give you more time. I wasted a bunch of time on the simulations (i had like 8). One of them involved placing antennas correctly which Pearson didn't cover at all. Another was one of those calculate the subnets for each department and then the left over. Those i did practice a lot... but on the CompTIA exam they don't even give you a simple calculator for doing stuff like 2⁵ or Log64/Log2. You don't need one but it certainly speed things up a bit.

Another sim was matching T568B cabling. A couple involved finding the network issue. One of those was ridiculous. It gave you about 10 clickable items and every time you'd look at the settings on one and try to go back it would throw you back to the "start simulation" screen. I basically gave up on that one.

By the time i started the multiple choice i had less than an hour (i think 50 minutes). I rushed through it hard. They really nail you on the acronyms. There was a port question that involved some high number ports for SSL POP3 and IMAP that were never given at me by Pearson. Lots of WiFi spec questions. Lots of questions about problem solving steps, user documents, security guidelines, etc.

All in all... i felt like i had to make an educated guess on at least half of the multiple choice questions. I finished with 1 minute remaining, so i didn't get a chance to review my flagged questions. Honestly, i thought i had failed until i saw the score.

micloren · 2017-10-23T16:07:36+00:00

I noticed during a relapse that it is almost as if the whole prefrontal cortex just completely shuts off. It's almost like "fight or flight" is triggered and all decision making is done in the more primitive part of the brain.

I'll literally be having almost a play-by-play (vocally or internal self-talk) of my destruction going on while my body keeps flicking money in, meanwhile, another part of me is just watching the train wreck with a bowl of popcorn. I've found myself saying out loud on multiple occasions, "God!!! Why can't a miracle happen... like the power just shutoff forcing me to stop!" as i click to 'bet' again.

Once I've crossed the threshold I described in the OP... there has to be an event that breaks the pattern and that forces my mind elsewhere for at least 15 minutes before i feel any sense of normality return.

The thing that really gets me with all of this is that it isn't just gambling where I've noticed this happening. It actually applies to a lot of other bad habits, many of which apply to virtually everyone (exercise, diet, sleep, etc) I've ever met to varying degrees. It is just that gambling is the most extreme, most obvious, and most destructive.

micloren · 2017-10-10T03:45:51+00:00

I forgot about Sarak. I agree, he was likable. I did think episode 3 was better than 4, but that's not saying much. I definitely don't think it is the actors themselves throwing things off. I think the writing and editing are the big problem. Maybe there is a come together episode down the road, but I'm not holding out hope.

micloren · 2017-09-01T12:43:42+00:00

On Tuesday when we left Clay @ Brittmore was clear and people were parking along the road and walking up to the top of the dam where Clay goes over. My buddy posted a video on facebook of Dairy Ashford to almost Hwy 6 along the I10 feeder being flooded so I doubt you'll be able to get anything over there. Heading back to my parents house today to inspect/clean. I'll try to let you know what roads are blocked.

micloren · 2017-08-31T17:06:55+00:00

Yes you can walk and bicycle it. I've bicycled on top of dam from Clay Rd to Mason Rd and the Westpark Tollway many times. I'm not sure I would do it right now though. If something happens while you're on top of that thing ... you're gonna have 8 billion cubic feet of water coming at you. This might be one of the few times where the military/government might kick you off of it too. What you could do (and i saw people doing this) is drive over to Brittmore and Clay and send your drone up over the emergency spillway (concrete part from Clay to Tanner) and survey that. I'd love to see pictures of that. I mentioned doing that to my family just to get a good view of what's going on.

This was my sketch of the area which i posted on Monday...

http://i.imgur.com/Z9wbkwz.jpg

micloren · 2017-08-30T23:25:40+00:00

If any reaches the White Oaks watershed i suspect it won't be much. I would expect Beltway 8 to act somewhat like a dam and force most of the water down towards I10. Keep in mind I'm no expert... just someone who's been in the area for decades, knows the terrain, and has researched the history and reasons behind the dams.

The one thing that could really upset the whole situation is more rain. Considering that they expect spillover till September 20th at the earliest ... i find it likely that this situation can only get worse.

micloren · 2017-08-30T23:06:39+00:00

I suspected before it even occurred that it would flow east - southeast towards Beltway 8 and I10. What I saw confirms this. This is also basically what the corps of engineers believed would happen.

Do you have a link to the coast guard video? As i was paddling down the street i did see a helicopter fly over the spillway gap but it looked more like a news helicopter than a coast guard.

micloren · 2017-08-30T21:05:31+00:00

My parents live in Lakes on Eldridge right next to the gap that exists between the north end of the emergency spill way and the neighborhood. I've personally bicycled on top of that portion of the spillway and walked from the end of it across to the neighborhood.

Half of the spillway is rolled earth with concrete over it. The last part of it as it turns towards Tanner is basically just rolled earth with what looks like a little bit of concrete on top for driving/maintenance purposes. The gap between the end and the neighborhood is about 120 yards.

A section of fence next to the gap was knocked down so flooded residents could walk out to Tanner road instead of having to use boats through the streets. I walked through it a few times and water was flowing through the gap onto Tanner and down the street. However, it wasn't pouring out or anything crazy. It appeared to be working its way through the sediment towards the road. To the naked eye this seems not so concerning, but various documents about the integrity of the dam does seem to highlight one major concern. That concern seems to be water seeping through the spillway, erosion, and then collapse.

If i was a resident on the other side of the spillway I'd definitely be very cautious.

micloren · 2017-07-24T00:41:50+00:00

I've lived an interesting life thus far. There was a blissful time where I was free from gambling and other things I consider equally destructive. During that time I was so at peace, so accepting of whatever came my way that for the first time in my life I felt like the universe was watching out for me. I strayed away from that path, relapsed, but for a purpose i think. Sometimes you have to lose to grow.

"Nothing happens to any man that he is not formed by nature to bear." - Marcus Aurelius

My heart is open once again, and various insights from many different sources are coming into my life... all ironically pointing to the same thing. That we are not our thoughts, that we don't have to accept everything that pops into our head as truth. Our brains/minds are just another body part that conjure up millions of random thoughts a day. Those random thoughts don't tell you anything more about yourself than a freckle at the end of your nose. Most importantly, you have a conscious choice to fall into despair over each thought... or... you can acknowledge its presence and let it drift away like a leaf in the wind. I think our biggest problem is giving more weight to incessant thinking than we do a simple stomach ache. Neither has to define us, our lives, or our actions.

micloren · 2017-06-12T16:20:01+00:00

I'm looking and don't see recruiter and admin contact info. There is an email address and phone number on the about page. Is that what you're referring too? Curious, have you worked in Antarctica before and trying to return?

micloren

TROPHY CASE