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New Home

I have imported all posts for this blog to a new address.  Please adjust your aggregators accordingly...those two people who may still read this...Peace!

T-Rex

DSC00534
Originally uploaded by bjmcdonald

Pretty Cool Huh??

Dell Finally Got It Right

This morning during my technology class...

Which by the way is full of technologically incompotant prople...

I decided to try to contact Dell again, in hopes of finding a tech person fluent in the English language. I was successful! I was put into contact with Andy, a tech support person from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Here is the transcript...My words in bold...

10:00:58 AM System
You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat
10:00:58 AM System
Connected with SLCg_Andy_172288
10:00:58 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Thank you for contacting Dell Hardware Warranty Support, my name is Andy. How may I help you today?
10:02:12 AM Bryan McDonald
Hello Andy...I have tried to have this conversation two previous times but have been disconnected...my previous session id was 20489949
10:02:51 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Looks like the notebook was dropped correct? The I1521.
10:03:02 AM Bryan McDonald
Yes...
10:04:26 AM Bryan McDonald
There are two parts that are broken...The FIRST is the clip that holds the screen to the base. The Second is in the bottom right hand corner of the base. There is a part where the grey plastic meets the black plastic...both of these base pieces are cracked/broken
10:05:03 AM Bryan McDonald
There is nothing wrong with the LCD...just the clip that holds it down
10:05:48 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Is the computer still functioning correctly?
10:06:55 AM Bryan McDonald
So, basically, what I need is a shipping label to send it in...or a location where I can bring it to have it fixed...Somewhere near Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
10:06:55 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Such as is there any error?
10:07:23 AM Bryan McDonald
The CD/DVD burner seems to be making some rattling
10:07:33 AM Bryan McDonald
NO error code as of yet
10:07:38 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Yes I can set up to have a tech come out and do this. It will be faster than sending it to us.
10:08:03 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Just to make sure I will replace that as well.
10:09:32 AM Bryan McDonald
What kind of time frame are we talking about?
10:10:34 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Well if the tech gets parts tomorrow that you could be done over the weekend. Worst case scenario is by Tuesday.
10:11:39 AM Bryan McDonald
Actually, I will be out of town starting tomarrow morning until Monday, July 21...Is there any way I can schedule it for anytime July 22-25?
10:12:51 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Yes you will need to contact us when you get back so we can set that up. Our tech can only hold on to parts for 5 days then has to send them back to us.
10:13:09 AM Bryan McDonald
Ok...Also, I have been having some trouble with Vista...and really have not been very happy with it at all...it is a huge resource hog even for my 2gb processor...is there any way to downgrade to XP without losing my data?
10:15:34 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
No, the only way you would lose data would be if you upgraded to vista. Then wanted to downgrade. But since the system came with Vista you need to back up your data for that.
10:15:49 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
wouldn't*
10:16:44 AM Bryan McDonald
Do you guys offer a downgrade package for customers who are not happy with vista or would that cost $$??
10:17:55 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
We do not offer operating swaps. You would need to purchase a retail copy of XP for that.
10:21:24 AM Bryan McDonald
So, I will contact you when I get back in town...By the way...where are you located?? Just wondering...
10:22:05 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Salt lake city, Utah. Is there any other question for me?
10:22:12 AM Bryan McDonald
Well, thanks, Andy...you have been most helpful. I will be emailing your supervisor with positive feedback!!!
10:22:25 AM SLCg_Andy_172288
Thank you for contacting Dell Hardware Warranty, have a nice day. I'll be sending a summary email with your case number in it.
10:22:30 AM System
SLCg_Andy_172288 has left this session!
10:22:30 AM System Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

"Hello, this is Dell, would you like a slushie?"

I don't really expect any of you to actually read this whole post...

Unless you have been under a rock lately, you know that most large companies out source much of their menial tasks to places that pay their workers less than $100 per month...Welp, Dell, Inc. is one of em...

If you are into reading, you should take a stab at The World is Flat, by Thomas Freidman. It is a book about globalization in the 21st century. Pretty informative read...

Tonight I thought, instead of contacting Dell through the phone, I'll try the chat feature. Maybe it will be easier to understand the written word rather than a thick Indian accent. Well, it was for me...but not him.

My part of the conversation is in bold...Note my anger...I withheld though...

12:02:49 AM System

You are now being connected to an agent. Thank you for using Dell Chat

12:02:49 AM System

Connected with SLCg_Benjamin_187319

12:03:09 AM SLCg_Benjamin_187319

Thank you for contacting Dell Hardware Warranty Support. My Name is Ben. How may I help you?

12:03:33 AM Bryan McDonald

I was just connected with a Bradley in session ID 20489906...but got disconnected from the dell server somehow...

12:04:32 AM Bryan McDonald

My service tag # is 3Q956D1 and I need to find out how to receive Complete Care warranty service...

12:05:16 AM Bryan McDonald

Yesterday I accidently dropped my computer bag and part of the clop that holds the LCD to the keyboard broke...

12:05:27 AM SLCg_Benjamin_187319

Ok it looks like you were working on replacing a broken hinge or something?

12:06:32 AM Bryan McDonald

Also, in the bottom right hand corner of the bottom section (near where the Vista icon sticker is located) chipped and there is a hole on both the gray plastic and black plastic

12:07:02 AM Bryan McDonald

Not really a hinge....more of a slide....the thing that clips the two halves together

12:08:08 AM SLCg_Benjamin_187319

Ok so you are just looking to get those parts replaced. Am I correct?

12:08:21 AM Bryan McDonald

Yes

12:09:08 AM Bryan McDonald

I also noticed on my warranty info that I purchased something called, "Next Business Day, Includes Nights/Weekends." does that mean that you guys pick up the shipping???

12:10:32 AM SLCg_Benjamin_187319

Ok and this sis on your Ispiron 1525?

12:10:49 AM Bryan McDonald

No, 1521

12:11:09 AM Bryan McDonald

Service tag 3Q956D1

12:11:21 AM Bryan McDonald

The 1525 is my wife's

12:13:14 AM SLCg_Benjamin_187319

Can you tell were the break is in the screen is it on the screen part the bottom part or both for the hinge.

12:13:21 AM SLCg_Benjamin_187319

Thanks

12:14:11 AM Bryan McDonald

It is just on the clip part...the screen itself is not damaged as far as I can tell....

12:14:18 AM SLCg_Benjamin_187319

Yes we pick up the shipping.

12:14:58 AM Bryan McDonald

Actually, it is only the clip on the right side...

12:17:30 AM SLCg_Benjamin_187319

So it's just the plastic on the bottom of the screen that is damaged. nothing on the base of the laptop.

12:20:04 AM Bryan McDonald

OK...There are two things that are damaged....

1. The Plastic Clip that holds the screen to the base. The screen is not broken or damaged, just the clip that holds it.

2. On the bottom right hand corner of the base. There are two pieces of plastic that come together...one is grey (top) the other is black (bottom). Both of these are cracked/broken as well.

12:20:41 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:20:44 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:20:49 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:20:56 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:21:57 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:22:13 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:22:21 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:22:26 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:22:30 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:22:35 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

12:22:41 AM System

Thank you. Your Dell Chat session has ended.

I guess he No Speak English...

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The Endof the Earth

I have been to the end of the earth. Literally. Hickman, KY is a small town. I mean there is nothing there. Wait. I take that back, there is a liquor store. Could not find a grocery store but saw a liquor store.

View Larger Map
The reason we were there is to drive by and see what we could of the New Madrid Fault Zone. All we found of the greatest earthquake to hit North America was this picture.


While in this lovely town we noticed a photo op (imagine that) and stopped. Apparently, the Army Core of Engineers were commissioned in 1996 to erect a huge retaining wall to keep the city of Hickman from becoming part of the Mississippi River backwater. 17 Million dollars later, the project was complete. I am really not even sure how to spell KY, that is why I have been abbreviating it (and I'm pretty sure Al Gore doesn't either) , so why on earth would I want my tax dollars to save this hole in the ground from falling in the rivers. I can think of 17 million different things that they could have done with that money that would have been more beneficial than to save a dying town. I mean, in the 1950's Congress bought out thousands of homes underneath Greers Ferry Lake to make that lake. Here, nearly 50 years later they are paying to keep them. What gives?

Anyway, we have been staying with Jenny's parents in their RV at Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee. It is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever seen. You can literally drive for miles and not see another sign of human life besides crops. I hope to come back here and hunt the area during duck season. Should be fun.

Love the wife, hate the dog

Let me preface this post by stating that I love my wife, Jenny, and that I have her permission to post about this.

It is 3:46 in the morning. I am working solo out at capstone and get a txt from Jenny asking if it is thundering. Capstone is less than 10 miles away from where we live. I was mid-sentence typing a response and the phone rings. Jenny is panicking on the other end saying that someone is moving chairs on the parch and the dog is going crazy.

Not really sure what to say or do (I can't really leave five drug recovering addicts alone in the woods) I ask if she is sure its not just trucks passing. By this time she is wondering if she should call (not the cops) Casey.

After calling Casey she calls me back. I asked her why she didn't call 911 and her response was, "well it might just be someone stealing the propane tank." That is exactly my point, I tell her. I mean, what is Casey going to do? For all we know, it is some meth cook who ran out of propane!

So, let's recap, Jenny home alone, doesn't have handgun purchased partly for such a case as this, hears commotion outside and calls Casey (not cops). I said, "maybe the dog broke off the chain." "No, absolutely not, it was someBODY," she says. By this time I am getting pretty scared myself. I really don't want to have to go to a (possibly two) funerals.

Casey drives up and you guessed it, the dog was off the chain. That is chain #4 and collar #6 that she has broken. Breck might disappear tomorrow afternoon.

Needless to say, thank you Casey, Sunday lunch is on me this week!

*In Jenny's defense, as a child, she was victim of a peeping Tom and had her window broken when sh was home alone.

A day (or week) in the Windy City

[Cross-Posted at Macs Class]
Chicago was a blast. Stressful, but a blast. We left around 11:00pm on Memorial Day and returned on Friday at about 11:45. I cannot say enough about the kids we took on this trip. They were polite and well behaved the whole time. Before this year, I could not have imagined taking eight students 600 miles away to a city of nearly 3 million people!

We got there on Tuesday afternoon and toured the Art Institute of Chicago. I have to admit, this was one of the things that I considered skipping to catch up on sleep but boy am I glad that I didn't. It was really cool to see some of the paintings that I've only seen in books. I was pretty ticked that I left my camera at the hotel because the pics that I got were on my blackberry. The first painting that I saw was Sunday Afternoon on the Isle of La Grande Jatte by Seuratt. It was unbelievable how BIG this painting is in real life! I'd say that it stood at least 15 feet tall. Maybe even 20 feet! Another painting that I really enjoyed was American Gothic by Wood. You see this done in parody everywhere and to see it in real life, up close and personal was real neat! Later that evening we went down to the Ford Oriental Theater and went back stage for Behind the Emerald Curtain and later to see the Musical, Wicked. Again, this was so cool! Without spoiling anything, the musical is based on the book, Wicked, and goes behind the scenes and takes a closer look at the characters, Elphaba (the wicked witch) & Galinda (the good witch) from the Wizard of Oz. If you are ever in Chicago, I highly recommend it, it is well worth the time and money! After the show, we walked around for what seemed like forever looking for Pizza Uno. Let me tell you, after eating there, I'd have walked twice as far to get it. It was amazing! Sandy ordered 5 pizzas and the waitress said, "mam, that will be way too much, you'll never be able to eat all that pizza." Well several of the boys took that as a personal slam against their manhood and said, "we'll eat all of it, in fact, order six pizzas!" Well, we did and took four of them out in to go boxes! No lie. The homeless of Chicago really appreciated us that night! The picture of this pie really doesn't do it justice. That pan is around 2.5-3 inches thick. Pizza Uno piles the cheese, toppings, and sauce on thick, and I mean thick! I ate all that I could (2 pieces) and was stuffed. Talk about feeding starving people, this pizza could feed a family of 6 easily.

Wednesday was not my favorite day. We spent most of the day shopping and walking and vice versa. We visited the Magnificent Mile and the Navy Pier. I wasn't very impressed, but Jenny would have loved it! I did get a pretty cool picture of the replica ferris wheel from the World Fair Expo with the sky line in the back. That night we went to Medieval Times dinner theater which was fun. The kids really enjoyed it.

Thursday was a fun day. We got to spend several hours in the Field Museum. It was really a good experience. One thing that I did notice at the museum was that there was a heavy emphasis on evolutionary thought. I mean, if that floats your boat then that's fine, but I assumed that the people at the museum would be free thinkers and not just go with the norm. I was wrong. And we also got to see the Cubs extend their win streak to 6. Of all the things that we did, I think that I enjoyed the seeing the Cubs play at Wrigley was the best!
One last thing...We did not have to take out a paper map one time during this trip! I downloaded Google Maps for my Blackberry and it worked wonderfully! I mean, All I had to do was search for the place that we were going and it gave me turn by turn directions and a map to go along with it. This was a life saver...especially during rush hour on Wednesday, but that is another post for another day!

WARNING: RANT

Most of you know that I am earning a masters in education (Educational Leadership). I feel very confident in my ability to get a job as a principal in the near future due to the fact that there are many, MANY people in the program who are, shall we say, incompetent to say the least. This semester we were assigned a budget simulation project where we took the state minimum salary schedule and our own school’s salary schedule and compared them. We were to complete a budget as to how we spent categorical funds, write a two page summary, and make a PowerPoint presentation displaying the data. Some of these “educators” (and I use that term VERY loosely) need to do a quick Google search and learn some better techniques for making presentations. Below is a shortened list of things that have annoyed me this morning:

1. Too many words

2. Hard to see color

3. Font too small

4. Graphs too small

5. USING ALL CAPS

6. Annoying clipart

7. Unable to open presentation from flash drive

…and possibly the WORST one of all,

8. Reading the entire presentation

Another pet peeve that I have had with this experience is the fact that I am paying for a master’s level education and professors are still assigning busy work.

Why assign questions at the end of chapters? Discuss them.

Why assign students to teach the chapter? That is why I am paying YOU $300+ to teach.

I truly feel regret for students and teachers who will have these future instructional leaders.

I should have posted about this months ago. Now you will have to take my word for it. Back in December I downloaded a bunch of the "Official Producers LOST Podcast.". I made the observation then that I thought they were homosexual because of the way they interacted both verbally and non verbally (it was a video podcast). I made the prediction then that we would find out that someone on the show was gay. Well folks, my prediction came true with the release of the most recent episode (which aired before the NCAA tourney got started. I have been kicking myself for several weeks now for not blogging about it sooner.

Snopes and Obama

I love arguing politics with people...especially with Wayne & Rhonda...especially Rhonda...because she gets so ruffled up!

One thing that particularly gets on my nerves though is when people (especially those who know my political views) forward emails to me defaming political candidates. I have received no less than 27 emails on subjects ranging from Obama's not pledging to the flag, to his values, to his campaign financing, to distorted family photos. The problem is most of these email forwards claim to have checked out on snopes.com, a website dedicated to determining the truthfulness of email forwards and other urban legends. However, when you actually READ the article on snopes.com the forwards are proven wrong...People, people, people...check your sources...nothing makes you look like a donkey's behind more than passing along these things. I like a funny picture, a joke, whatever, as much as the next guy, but please, for the love of Mike, the three of you that may read this, check your sources!

Terry, Spring Break, & The White River Flood of 2008

This man, Terry Thompson, is one of the funniest men that I know! Last week we stayed in a cabin with Jenny's parents and he was one laugh after another.

1. Sunday in church he filled out his attendance card as Harry Johnson. I thought he put it in the plate but Jenny said that he didn't.
   
2. One day fishing he began talking to a little boy at the boat ramp. The little boy did not respond. Terry said to Karen that he must be listening to his radio. The radio was, in fact, a hearing device, the boy was deaf! Karen was very embarrassed.
   
3. Another day fishing he waved to a blind man...

We went fishing at Anglers, near Mt. View, Arkansas. The flood damage in that region was pretty horrible.



The video was taken from the lodge where we stayed. The morning after this video was taken, This is what the White River looked like (see picture). I'd estimate that the river dropped over 3o feet!

Ode to Bill

I could not resist...This picture is hilarious! The guy reminds me of a guy of work named Bill. Bill works in maintenance at the high school. Come to think about it, I don't even know Bill's last name. I just call him Mr. Bill. (Note to Self: Find out what Bill's last name is.) Bill is like 60 years old and a laugh a minute. I wish all of my readers could meet Bill and spend a day with him, heck, even an hour with him! Then, I guess everyone knows someone LIKE Bill. Bill will retire within the next year or so, I will sorely miss him. Here's to you Bill.

King of the World

I have found, quite possibly, one of the most useful text messaging features. It is called Google Mobile SMS. It will help you with local information, weather, glossary terms, sports scores, movies, directions, Q&A, and more! All you do is send your request to 466453 (GOOGL). The best part is, it is free to use but I RECOMMEND AN UNLIMITED TEXT PLAN! I have been playing with it all day. It is soooooooooo cool! This supports my theory that Google will take over the world! This makes them one step closer to world domination!

[cross posted at Mr. Macs Class]

New Page Element

Thanks to phydeaux3 for the "Tag Cloud" to the left.

The Morning News: News : Officer Suspended For Shocking Cow

Apparently, this actually happened 2.5 years ago and is now going through the internal affairs but...this is too good not to share. I heard it on the radio the other morning and did not believe it until I googled it myself!

There are several elements to this story. First the mistakes of Lt. David Mitchell (who, incidentally, is running for sheriff).

First,

The city released the findings of the internal investigation Tuesday, and it showed an off-duty Mitchell fired a Taser-brand stun gun at two cows while a friend of Mitchell's videotaped the results.

Why videotape the whole ordeal? What good can happen as a result? I wonder if it is on You Tube? I would search and post an embedded video but my internet is S L O W ! !

Second,

He and the other man, who is not a Rogers police officer, went after church to property Mitchell owned to carry out the plan, the investigation found.

So much about this sounds wrong. Can't you see it. Song, song, prayer, song, Lords Supper, song, offering, song, sermon, song, prayer. What part of that sequence did he and his friend get the bright idea of tasing a heifer? Must have been a great sermon!

Third,The cartridges Mitchell used were defective and had been taken out of service. Mitchell's first attempt to hit a cow failed and he and the other man were shocked instead...The second attempt struck a different cow and it appeared to be mildly affected by the shock. The probes quickly fell out of the animal's skin, Mitchell told the investigator.
Okay, if the cartridges were marked as "defective," why mess with 'em. Use some good ones.

Fourth,

Several people, including Helms (Mitchell's boss), other high-ranking members of the Police Department, a deputy city attorney and a deputy Benton County prosecuting attorney, saw the video in the months following the incident. Mitchell sought out Helms to show him the video. Helms said Tuesday he found the video humorous but it didn't occur to him at the time that Mitchell had broken any law or violated any department policies.

Showed it to his BOSS? I can hear THAT conversation:

Retard Cop: Hey boss man, check out this You Tube video.
Boss Man: Man, that is (expletive) hilarious, where did you get the cartridges?
Retard Cop: From the dumpster.
Boss Man: Why did I promote you to Lt?
Retard Cop: Because we are cousins...and you owed me for that Meth...

Fifth and finally

The incident came to light when the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Helms, Womack and City Attorney Ben Lipscomb saying it had learned from a source affiliated with the police department that Mitchell had shocked a cow and videotaped it as a joke.

Helms said defective stun gun cartridges are sometimes used for training, and he will implement new policies to better track the use of cartridges deemed unfit for street-duty use.

Wait, WHAT? When did PETA come into play? Who called those freak shows? Oh, that's right, You Tube! So, according to them it is NOT okay to use defective taser cartridges on COWS but it IS okay to use it on HUMANS? What the crap? Is this not backwards?
And here is the quote that makes the story,

"The joke was on Lt. Mitchell and his friend getting shocked, not the cow being Tased," Helms said.

In other words, man, why didn't he call me so I could see the action?

Snow Days & Jury Duty

Between snow days and jury duty, I will only have been in school for 2 days this week. We had a snow day on Tuesday and will likely have one on Friday (see image below). Today I had jury duty and will likely have it on Tuesday of next week as well! I am very excited.

Google Me!

So, I have been using this url to host my blog for a little over a year now. I haven't been quite as active as I have wanted to be but hey, what can ya do when your employer blocks Blogger? Anywho...today I was browsing Site Meter and finding out about who is looking/reading my blog and came across some interesting things from google...The following are things that people typed into google to find me!

ACTAAP scores and Little Rock school district

Loucretia sucks

Joseph Bresnahan

Cracka from da hood

Guy dies trying to steal copper wire

Oldest man to have a baby

Photo of mouse poo

Arkansas Benchmark test (2007)

Frank Warren, bio

Facebook birth mother found "bryan" "birth mother"

Bryan McDonald baseball

Inconvenient Truth in B C schools

To give credit where credit is due...I have had several hits from over at Marks place, as well as others (Andy, Rhonda, Jenny, and Facebook).

I would do a regular monthly post to this topic but I hardly get as many hits as Elrod does in one hour!

Did I mention, Google is/will take over the free world, and I love it! And don't forget, you heard it here first!

Offended?

Back in January, in my seventh grade classes we discussed the reproductive system. The state frameworks are very vague on this subject but they say that they need to be covered.

LS.2.7.6 - Identify human body systems:

• nervous
• digestive
• circulatory
• respiratory
• excretory
• integumentary
• skeletal/muscular
• endocrine
• reproductive

I searched our districts personnel policy book and found nothing relating to the issue. I then went to talk to the assistant principal to discuss what should be covered in the unit. She told me to stick to what is covered in the book that was approved on the state adoption list. In the past, at the end of the previous unit, I would allow students to write anonymous questions on a piece of paper (or type it if it made them feel better). I would then type the questions (editing them for appropriateness and vocabulary, obviously) and categorize them. I ran this idea by the assistant principal and she said that that would be okay and for me to just run the list by her for approval. I agreed and went on about my way.

Keep in mind that 7th graders range in age from 12-14 (sometimes 15).

Fast forward 2 MONTHS:
At parent/teacher conference I was approached by an upset parent. The parent thought that I should have sent home notification to the parents about the upcoming week long unit. Her main complaint was that students were exposed to images similar to the following:



A few questions for my readers:

• Are/should these images be offensive to a parent of a 13 year old?

• Should schools send home an opt-out letter to parents before state approved curriculum?

• Aren't kids already exposed to this information (albeit, in a misguided manner)?

These are my thoughts, what are yours?

I almost died today...

I was going to West LR this afternoon during my lunch break to purchase a thank you gift for a family member. I was eating on the way back and took the wrong exit from 630 to 30 and got off on 9th & 15th street. BIG MISTAKE! I was the only "cracka in da hood." I got some weird looks and saw several upstanding citizens with their 9's in hand! I was very scared, alert, and very light on my feet (truck). I am thankful to be alive!