SpawnPoint

Since January of 2007, I've been on a weight loss journey, starting at a peak weight of 239 pounds.

Since then, with lots of work, dieting, and walking several times per week, I have been able to drop my overall weight down to 202 pounds, as of this morning. For those of you that are not so good at math, thats 37 pounds lost, thus far.

Woohoo!

Yahoo reports that Microsoft will stop making HD DVD players for its XBOX 360 video game system after Toshiba Corp. ceded the HD video format battle to Sony Corp.'s Blu-ray.

Microsoft was one of HD DVD's main backers, along with Intel Corp. and Japanese electronics maker NEC Corp., and its support for the format was seen as a big win for Toshiba's format.

But support for the HD DVD waned as major movie studios — Sony Pictures, Walt Disney Co., News Corp.'s Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Bros. Entertainment — picked Blu-ray to distribute high-def DVDs. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. struck what seemed to be the final blow just over a week ago when it said it would only sell Blu-ray players and discs.

Read the entire story, and the continued demise of the HD DVD format. Do you have your blu-ray player yet?

GamePolitics.com is reporting on an acquisition proposal for Take Two that has now become public. In the proposal, EA is offering $26 per share for Take Two stock, a 60% premium over recent share prices.

An EA press release claims that it offered $26 per share for Take Two stock in a February 19th letter from EA CEO John Riccitiello (right) to T2 boss Strauss Zelnick (left). After Take Two management rejected EA’s offer, Riccitiello decided to appeal directly to T2 shareholders. The $26 offering price represents a better than 60% premium over recent T2 share prices.

Read the entire letter from John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts.

Shane and Steve approved another heavy development cycle for the next two weeks on SpawnPoint.com. Although this means very little sleep for me, or our development team - this does mean that there will be some serious functional changes made on the site.

I have some pretty indepth plans thusfar, which include new functionality, and design refreshes on various parts of the site.

HOWEVER, What is the SpawnPoint community anxiously waiting for? (I saw the Ladders thread... ;))

Over the years, I have coped with many frustrations with the Windows PC world. Stability, performance, and consistency has always plagued my working environment throughout my IT career. It just drives me crazy when things don't work, and I find myself wasting time, tinkering.

Back when I worked at the School District, I was an avid mac user, managing Xserv environments, and toting around a decently performing Powerbook G4 with me everywhere. When I began to work with the Supreme Court, I found myself in an exclusively Windows environment, not a Mac to be found. Over the years, I adapted, and ended up on PC - Windows XP, Windows 2003 as my primary work stations.

Since joining PHXX, my primary workstation has been a Dell Inspiron 9400, Core 2 Duo 2.0ghz, 2 gigs of ram, 100 gig 7200 RPM hard drive, 256 meg NVIDIA 7900GS - Windows Vista Business.

After dealing with Vistas crap for about 3 months (I "upgraded" from Windows XP) - I decided it was time for a change of scenery... maybe even a return to my roots...

I purchased my new machine last week. Simply put, it's a beautiful thing. Everything just works. More on my love affair with Leopard later.

Mac Specs:

24" Apple iMac Aluminum
2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Extreme
4GB memory
500GB 7200 RPM HD
256meg ATI Radeon HD 2600
8x SuperDrive
Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.2
Glossy Screen @ 1920x1600

Went out and cheered on the Vancouver Canucks last night at GM Place. It is essentially impossible to get tickets to any of the games, but somehow I stumbled on a pair while browsing ticketmaster.ca.

Game was alright, wasn't the best, but the Canucks came out on top against St. Louis, 3-2 after a shutout.

Yesterday I completed my 70-290 exam at the Prometric testing centre in Metrotown... the test was pretty clear, and I seemed to have answers for all the questions - I ended up passing the test with a 859; passing score is 700.

This most recent test introduced "Simulations," which essentially is a watered down version of the Windows 2003 Server operating system (just the functions you need), that allows you to complete tasks and requirements as specified in the question. Although I did enjoy this hands on approach to testing, I did find myself second guessing while working in the simulation - "What would Microsoft do?"

Two weeks before, I had passed my 70-270 exam, this exam is essentially about Windows XP, and client management. I passed this with a 899, passing score is 700.

Next Tuesday I am scheduled to complete 70-291 - this material (and exam) seem very similar to some of the work I completed in the Network+ exam, and I should be able to pull this one off without too much struggle. After the completion of this exam, I will be a "Microsoft Certified System Administrator."

It's time to set a new goal soon... since starting my "weight loss extravaganza" back in June of this year, I have lost a total of 25 pounds. That's 30 pounds if you go all the way back to January. w00t.

At the present, I currently file all my tracking and progress from Traineo and FitDay. I recommend that you check Traineo out - its a wonderful tool, and in a short while, they will be integrating the components and functions of FitDay for calorie tracking.

My Traineo Profile: http://labec.traineo.com/

I installed Windows Live Writer this weekend in an attempt to find an application that was similar to the LiveJournal 3rd party apps that I grew so fond of in my LJ days.... While digging tirelessly through the WordPress.org site (this should be easier to find) - I found an application list... this is where I located "Windows Live Writer"... love at first sight!

WLW includes a variety of easy to use tools, full WYSWIYG support, image and video upload, and template preview. Nice!

Check it out here...

Exhumed from Traineo... 09/30/07

Working on a 1800-2000 calorie for the most part. My progress has slowed a bit, I got a bit distracted when Liz got back from holidays, and started to slack off... working on getting back on track.

It's interesting... I didn't turn on the TV for more that 2 hours for the entire two weeks she was gone... I guess my computer addiction is much stronger than I thought ;). The problem is, Liz likes the TV and all the shows that go along with the TV... I find myself getting consumed in those once in a while... *cough* maybe a couple hours per night.

Exercise, I get out of the house everyday - I'm going on 45-60 minute walks in the fresh air. I usually do this directly after work (2PM or so). I am also trying to get in the habit of doing calisthenics, push ups and sit ups.

Still want to get back to the gym...

Oh, I forgot to mention the HARDCORE PAINTING and HOME WRECKING. Liz and I are painting the bathroom, all the trim in the apartment, as well as all the windowsills.

My dad is coming over on Tuesday to help me lay out a new laminate floor throughout the place. Aside from the painting, I have been busy ripping up the old floor, carpet, tile, carpet strips, and the perimeter trim that we are replacing. w00t.

Tony Bevilacqua says (12:42 PM):
but yeah, when my office is back togethor, I'll get back in the groove ;)
Shane Robinett aka Weaver says (12:43 PM):
I am revoking all of your server rights, btw
Tony Bevilacqua says (12:43 PM):
...
Shane Robinett aka Weaver says (12:43 PM):
You have broken the rules I set on spawnpoint for blog posting.  Its been 31 days since your last post
Tony Bevilacqua says (12:43 PM):
oops
Shane Robinett aka Weaver says (12:43 PM):
ya

So.

Shane wants to know why I am not working 24 hours a day in the last week or two... I am remodeling!

Included in the remodel:

• Brand new dark laminate flooring
• Brand new trim throughout the entire apartment
• New paint for the bathroom
• Painted all doors including closet doors
• Painted all door jams and trim

Tasks over last weekend:

• Remove all carpet strips
• Tear out old carpet and laminate floor
• Paint 50% of trim and door jams... 2 coats
• Paint all doors, two coats
• Prime the Bathroom
• Paint the bathroom, two coats
• Rip up all the tile at the front door
• Lots of cleaning and moving furniture

This is my office:

From the CTO of Red Lambda, based out of the University of Florida:

"As colleges and universities nationwide began installing broadband access to their dorm rooms and apartments years ago, they gave students convenient, at-home access to unprecedented amounts of information. The trend also played a significant role in opening the door to peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing networks, which were and are often used as a means to freely trade copyrighted material like music and movies.

Unabated use of P2P file-sharing applications on a campus network presents a twofold problem to a college or university. Students who use the networks to illicitly share copyrighted material put themselves at risk of serious legal consequences. Technologically, widespread use of the networks can put significant strain on the institution's entire IT infrastructure.

Outside of a college environment, P2P applications can even put a corporation's data security Webroot AntiSpyware 30-Day Free Trial. Click here. at risk through the inadvertent sharing of proprietary information. " - Read More...

Essentially what the technology does is this:

• Uses proprietary algorithms to detect P2P traffic, FTP, IRC, IM.
• Implements a tiered policy with a warning system and actions
• Automated shutdown of your dormroom switch port

The system allows the network administration to systematically shutdown your access to the university network and the internet. Depending on the policy, first an email is sent to your schools email account - if you continue to violate policy, the system will detect it, and shut you down.

Let the hate mail begin.

Lucas says (11:42 PM):
anyhow
Lucas says (11:42 PM):
i think im going to sleep
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:43 PM):
alrighty
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:43 PM):
have a good sleep.
Lucas says (11:43 PM):
ill probably have freaky dreams again
Lucas says (11:43 PM):
i had one about spawnpoint
Lucas says (11:44 PM):
that means im doing too much spawnpoint work.
Lucas says (11:44 PM):
=D
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:44 PM):
you had a dream about SpawnPoint?
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:45 PM):
what happened?
Lucas says (11:45 PM):
i was programming and then the site crashed and then the code started to grab me and i got stuck like quick sand
Tony Bevilacqua says (11:45 PM):
rofl
Lucas says (11:46 PM):
ive had similar ones though
Lucas says (11:46 PM):
where the code grabs me like quick sand

Dear SpawnPoint Community,

What additional features and optimizations would you like to see to the SpawnPoint blogs section in the near future?

Is there functionality that is missing, that is holding you back from posting more often?

Love,

Tony

ServerBeach, the iron man of dedicated server hosting, the host of SpawnPoint, is to credit for some interesting statistics today. WordPress, a client of ServerBeach, boasted some strong numbers for June of this year - WordPress has recently lit up some new hardware on the PEER 1 network, in the ServerBeach San Antonio TX facility.

In June, on the WordPress network:

• 122 thousand blogs were created.
• 135 thousand new users joined.
• 4,039 support requests.
• 1.7 million posts and 687 thousand new pages.
• 2.5 million comments.
• 28.2 million spam comments blocked.
• 2.2 million logins.
• 240.8 million pageviews on WordPress.com, and another 71 million on self-hosted blogs.

SpawnPoint.com - a partner of PEER 1 is hosted at ServerBeach in the Herndon VA data center. We current operate a variety of dedicated servers, at our core, multiple PowerLine 64D-2 servers.

Over the last few years, ServerBeach has proven themselves to be a premier hosting provider with amazing support, quality services, and the PEER 1 backbone - not to mention rock bottom prices.

This week I am out in Maple Ridge, BC - house sitting, and taking advantage of the amenities of my parents family home. Working on the internet definitely does have some perks, one being that I can basically work from anywhere.

In order for me to do business at "maximum performance", I usually only require a couple things - since I am out here for 7 days, I brought the following:

• My Laptop - Dell Inspiron 9400
• Portfolio with all active project, notes, contacts and backups
• Vonage - My connection has both numbers for Vancouver, BC and Orlando, FL (PHXX main office is just outside of Orlando in Longwood, FL)
• iPod - My music library is hosted on my server at home, since of the disc limitations on my laptop. The iPod allows me to take my entire library with me on the go.
• This week I am reading CheckPoint NGX - VPN-1 by Syngress. I am currently studying for a CheckPoint engineering certification.
• Also on hand, Foosh, Cell Phone, and various other accessories.

The best part about staying out here, is that I get to take advantage of my parents hot tub, gym, and decked out backyard. w00t.

Liz and I spent some quality time this weekend. I was able to get out of the house and head up to Gold Creek in British Columbia. This is just inside the Golden Ears Park area, and bit more secluded area than Alouette Lake.

Few photos for you:

Interesting movie I discovered a while ago - thought I would post it on the blog to share with you. Let me know your comments :-)

The development team is curious to know you thoughts on the recent SPAWNPOINT design refresh.

We have updated the site with a new header, and various changes to our homepage. We also launched a new feature called "SPAWN.TV"

Have you checked out SPAWN.TV? Did you like it? Did you install the client?

What do you think of the new header? What improvements can be made?

All of you blog readers, prepare to be rewarded... thanks for reading my blog! We have a large amount of SpawnPoint changes to enhance our community - we will most likely be pushing this out towards the end of Monday... I think you will be impressed with the changes, and the USER EXPERIENCE optimizations we have made as well...

Let me know what you think via comments, or better yet - blog about the new stuff!