She’s Here!!!

On December 20, my daughter Reese was born!

More pictures here.

Welcome to the new home for Ben’s Blog!

I have recently abandoned the old blog over at blogspot.com, and have migrated to wordpress.com — which gives us, in my opinion, a richer experience.  That, and I think it just looks better.

I’ve gone to some lengths to make sure everything works the same on your end — let me know if you can’t get to something you need!

RAM for Sale!

received this e-mail from Keith Simpson, a former student:

Hey Ben, I bought a 1gb memory stick on ebay that’s not going to work in my computer. My motherboard will support 1gb of memory, but it has to be (2) 512mb sticks. If you know of anyone that’s looking to add more memory to their system, maybe what I got will work in there’s. The specs of mine are:
1GB PC2700 333MHz DDR Memory Module for AMD/Intel
I’ve checked at Best Buy-$126.99
Computer Plus- 79.99
All I want is my money back! $50 will buy this memory module. You have got my e-mail address if anyone is interested.
Keith Simpson
MCP

E-mail Keith @ parman at insightbb.com

The Last Day of School

Here are Liz Heller and Duane Doyle, Career Services and Student Services Coordinators, jamming out to some Guitar Hero on the last night of school.

How could I *not* love this job?

MS Exchange – 12/4/2007

Here are the lyrics to a song by R.E.M. The lyrics are largely irrelevant, but what the hey, I’ll post them anyway.

That’s great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes,
an aeroplane – Lenny Bruce is not afraid.
Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn,
world serves its own needs, dummy serve your own needs.
Feed it off an aux speak,, grunt, no, strength,
The ladder starts to clatter with fear fight down height.
Wire in a fire, representing seven games, a government for hire and a combat site.
Left of west and coming in a hurry with the furies breathing down your neck.
Team by team reporters baffled, trumped, tethered cropped.
Look at that low playing!
Fine, then.
Uh oh, overflow, population, common food, but it’ll do.
Save yourself, serve yourself. World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed dummy with the rapture and the revered and the right – right.
You vitriolic, patriotic, slam, fight, bright light, feeling pretty psyched.

It’s the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.

Six o’clock – TV hour. Don’t get caught in foreign towers.
Slash and burn, return, listen to yourself churn.
Locking in, uniforming, book burning, blood letting.
Every motive escalate. Automotive incinerate.
Light a candle, light a votive. Step down, step down.
Watch your heel crush, crushed. Uh-oh, this means no fear cavalier.
Renegade steer clear! A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies.
Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline.

It’s the end of the world as we know it (It’s time I had some time alone) and I feel fine.
(I feel fine)

The other night I dreamt of knives, continental drift divide. Mountains sit in a line
Leonard Bernstein. Leonid Brezhnev. Lenny Bruce and Lester Bangs.
Birthday party, cheesecake, jelly bean, boom!
You symbiotic, patriotic, slam book neck, right? Right.

It’s the end of the world as we know it (It’s time I had some time alone) and I feel fine.

Good luck guys, I’ve had a blast with you!! Don’t be strangers — stop by often.

A+ Hardware/Software – 12/4/2007

Since every last one of you clowns did well enough to not have to take the final, today was a very quiet day for me. I got a lot of work done, and Nathan Addison came in and helped me wipe some hard drives in the afternoon (thanks Nathan!)

You guys have about five weeks to relax, and please make sure you that you do. You’ve busted your tails this quarter. Next quarter, which begins January 14, will be just as intense (just in a different sort of way). I’ts a lot of fun though, and I can’t wait to guide you guys to your XP Pro and Server 2003 certifications. These are two classes in my “more enjoyable to teach” list!

Homework:

• Enjoy your time off, and rest up for Winter 2008!
• Happy Holidays!

Server+ – 12/3/07

Guitar Hero was here when I got here. It must be the last day.

Oh, and Liz Heller rocks.

Homework:

• Eat, drink (but not too much) and be happy! Merry Christmas!

MS Exchange – 12/3/2007

It’s OOOOOVERRRRRR!!!

Homework:

• I barely gave any homework while the class was going on, do you think I could give it when it’s over?

Strategies for Success – 12/3/2007

The last day of class.
The classroom is empty.
All students are gone.

Homework:

• Have a safe, happy Christmas break. We’ll see you all on January 14!!!!