tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65334002011-11-27T19:27:11.650-05:00A slice of life journal with no particular place to go.Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.comBlogger441100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-71386583703439836802010-09-28T22:45:00.006-04:002010-09-28T22:50:48.800-04:00<a href="http://wiki.cposc.org/_media/cposc2010-white.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="89" src="http://wiki.cposc.org/_media/cposc2010-white.png" width="200" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Coming up Saturday October 16, is the <a href="http://www.cposc.org/">3rd Annual Central PA Open Source Conference</a> to be held at Harrisburg University, Harrisburg, PA.&nbsp;&nbsp; Over 20 speakers are scheduled include 2 teammates of mine from the <a href="http://ubuntupennsylvania.org/">Pennsylvania Ubuntu Local Community Team</a>: Brian Stempin and Chris Teodorski.<br /><br />Brian's presentation will be on a topic that is of particular interest to me, Open Source Geospatial Technologies.&nbsp; I've been a big fan of PostGIS for a while, although I haven't had the time to play with it much.&nbsp; This will be really interesting, I am sure.<br /><br /><a href="http://planet.ubuntupennsylvania.org/images/logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://planet.ubuntupennsylvania.org/images/logo.png" /></a>Chris will be covering the Open Web Application Security Project's Top 10 list of vulnerabilities and using Mutillidae to examine how these vulnerabilities can be exploited so that web developers and security testers can help design more secure web applications.<br /><br />Tickets are still available for this exciting event, so buy one now before they're gone!<br /><br />Look for me there, I'll be hanging around the Ubuntu Table handing out goodies.&nbsp; I've met a lot of good people at last year's event, and am expecting to see more this year!<br /><br />We are looking to raise money for the Ubuntu Table at the event.&nbsp; If you can spare any amount, please click on the PayPal donate button on the upper right corner of this page.&nbsp;&nbsp; Every dollar helps promote Ubuntu and Open Source Software, so please give.<br /><br />A CPOSC afterparty at ABC (Appalachian Brewing Company) would be really fun, so if anyone wants to get together there, shoot me an email at freelancer317 AT gmail DOT com.<br /><br />I really can't wait for October 16th!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-7138658370343983680?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-22401156755792290462009-10-27T13:31:00.001-04:002009-10-27T13:31:57.742-04:00<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/malaclypse/4033648720/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2513/4033648720_290ac19b5f.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/malaclypse/4033648720/">IMG_0392</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/malaclypse/">lfaren</a>.</span></div><p>I had a great time at CPOSC. Here I am during the Django presentation. I'm the one on the right in the blue shirt with glasses in between the Brian (wearing the green shirt on) on theleft and the guy with the orange shirt on the right.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-2240115675579229046?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-6194674740307944032009-10-27T13:27:00.001-04:002009-10-27T13:27:02.730-04:00This is a test post from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/r/testpost"><img alt="flickr" src="http://www.flickr.com/images/flickr_logo_blog.gif" width="41" height="18" border="0" align="absmiddle" /></a>, a fancy photo sharing thing.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-619467474030794403?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-65421909315547526232009-10-16T02:19:00.000-04:002009-10-16T02:19:20.814-04:00<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.ubuntu.com/files/countdown/display.js"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-6542190931554752623?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-32448557086333393392009-09-28T11:54:00.000-04:002009-09-28T11:54:43.705-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodcasinorun.com/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yChK8Q_zZ04/SsDbPd6XpNI/AAAAAAAAAM8/hrZyfWcBWmI/s400/5kRun.jpg" /></a><br /></div><br />On October 3rd, I will be participating in my first 5k race, to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central PA. &nbsp;This is a great program, and I am really looking forward to the run. &nbsp;My time really doesn't matter (but I will post it).<br /><br />Cost to run is $25 until Sept. 30th, after that it is $30 for the 5k. &nbsp;There are other events including a kids fun run, a 2 mile run, &nbsp;and a 2 mile walk. &nbsp;I hope to see some friendly faces there!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-3244855708633339339?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-56549744609070330152009-09-16T08:14:00.000-04:002009-09-16T08:14:20.063-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs250.snc1/9720_133894538245_555073245_2729620_6954562_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs250.snc1/9720_133894538245_555073245_2729620_6954562_n.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-5654974460907033015?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-75747552664696280652009-08-26T10:28:00.003-04:002009-09-16T08:16:29.038-04:00<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">Congratulations to my friend and fellow Ubuntu Pennsylvania LoCo Team member Elizabeth Krumbach for being accepted as a speaker for the <a href="http://www.cposc.org/">Central Pennsylvania Open Source Conference</a> (CPOSC) on October 17, 2009! Her talk is on Participating in Open Source Projects, and I am really looking forward to seeing her in action. I'm hoping to meet alot of other team members there, and meeting up at Appalachian Brewing Company (ABC) after the event!<br /><br />Also this is a great opportunity for the PA LoCo to build community relationships, and foster greater adoption of Ubuntu. So I would like to raise money so that we can be a sponsor and have a table at the event. I have also requested a conference pack.<br /><br />The fee for a Bronze level sponsor (which will get us listed in the materials, website, etc. as well as get us a table) is $100. Since my employment status is currently in the "not" column, I'm going to ask for donations from anyone who can spare some money. I can't stress how much this will mean to the group, and to Ubuntu in the Central Pennsylvania area.<br /><br />I'd also like to see who will be attending CPOSC, so we can get together! So post comments or email me!<br />**** UPDATE**** We've raised the funds and secured the sponsorship! &nbsp;Thanks to everyone who generously donated!</form><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-7574755266469628065?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-59540374309053877432009-08-23T00:58:00.002-04:002009-08-23T01:23:15.426-04:00Just finished the last semester, and have kept up the string of A's since starting back to school two years ago. Two years ago. Hang on, that doesn't sound right... It sounds too long ago... Could time really have slipped by that quickly? Hang on let me check.<br /><br />Yes, it was Fall 2007 when I went back to school. I'm taking two classes right now, and then following that up with two in the spring, and that leaves one little class (which I'd like to test out of). So, cool, we are nearing the end of the first level of reeducation.<br /><br />Overall, I've been pretty fortunate. A little over a year ago, I knocked down a developer job with a small company in Harrisburg, that taught me boatloads. Recently, the economy and some internal decions at the company have forced them to make some cuts (read me), and now I am unemployed. Not entirely a bad thing, since I have picked up some freelance work which is really getting me more experience and applying a lot of what I have learned at school, and from one of my past careers in transportation management (freight traffic manager).<br /><br />The project is a light Warehouse Management System for a non profit that is doing 3rd party warehouse work for some manufacturers. I'll post more on that later. Right now I'm talking about school.<br /><br />So, on Monday I start two classes, Network Communications I and C Programming. Both of which will be very important classes. While I grasp the principals and worked some with networking, I haven't really had any formal training, so I am sure that I have a lot of "holes" which will be filled in with this class.<br /><br />The C programming is important in a different way. For one, I have fallen into the middle of programming. I've learned Visual Basic.NET, Python, a Visual Pascal derived language (C/AL for Microsoft Dynamics NAV (formerly Navision), and have always had to work very hard to learn them.<br />I didn't really learn from the bottom up. While this is not vital, by any means, for me I think that learning C will show me a different approach to programming.<br /><br />Ah regardless, I babbled on too much for right now.<br /><br />Upcoming post teaser: Ubuntu Developer Week, Ubuntu Global Jam, Warehouse Management project, and more!<br /><br />Stay tuned.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-5954037430905387743?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-89817148633057333222009-08-18T19:18:00.003-04:002009-08-18T19:27:57.567-04:00<a href="https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuDeveloperWeek" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yChK8Q_zZ04/Sos3e4vqdWI/AAAAAAAAAM0/3W2vVkCt5Zw/s1600-h/botonorange.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 117px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_yChK8Q_zZ04/Sos3e4vqdWI/AAAAAAAAAM0/3W2vVkCt5Zw/s400/botonorange.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371447984337352034" /></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-8981714863305733322?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-39215334420635747782009-08-11T21:32:00.002-04:002009-08-11T21:35:05.191-04:00Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am alive, but I haven't been active. Coming up I will be documenting a project that I am working on, how my running has been going, and what's up with the job search.<br /><br />Talk to you soon!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-3921533442063574778?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-85276223498342070712008-04-24T09:11:00.001-04:002008-04-24T09:19:18.269-04:00The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce Ubuntu 8.04 LTS (Long-Term Support)<br />on desktop and server, continuing Ubuntu's tradition of integrating the<br />latest and greatest open source technologies into a high-quality,<br />easy-to-use Linux distribution.<br /><br />Read more about the features of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS in the following press<br />releases:<br /><br /> Desktop edition <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu-8.04-lts-desktop">http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu-8.04-lts-desktop</a><br /> Server edition <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu-8.04-lts-server">http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu-8.04-lts-server</a><br /><br />Ubuntu 8.04 LTS will be maintained and supported for three years on the<br />desktop and five years on the server.<br /><br />Ubuntu 8.04 LTS is also the basis for the new 8.04 release of Kubuntu:<br /><br /> <a href="http://kubuntu.org/news/8.04-release">http://kubuntu.org/news/8.04-release</a><br /><br />8.04 brings a restructuring of Edubuntu as the Ubuntu Education Edition.<br />The education desktop and application bundle now installs as an add-on to a<br />standard Ubuntu desktop.<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.edubuntu.org/news/8.04-release">http://www.edubuntu.org/news/8.04-release</a><br /><br />The Ubuntu 8.04 family of variants, Xubuntu, UbuntuStudio, and Mythbuntu,<br />are also released today:<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.xubuntu.org/news/hardy/release">http://www.xubuntu.org/news/hardy/release</a><br /> <a href="http://ubuntustudio.org/">http://ubuntustudio.org/</a><br /> <a href="http://www.mythbuntu.org/">http://www.mythbuntu.org/</a><br /><br /><br />To Get Ubuntu 8.04 LTS<br />----------------------<br /><br />To download Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, or obtain CDs, visit:<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu">http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu</a><br /><br />Users of Ubuntu 7.10 will be offered an automatic upgrade to 8.04 via<br />Update Manager. As always, upgrades to the latest version of Ubuntu are<br />entirely free of charge. For further information about upgrading, see<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/upgrading">http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/upgrading</a><br /><br />Users of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS may wish to wait for the first point release<br />of 8.04 LTS, due in July 2008, before upgrading.<br /><br />We recommend that all users read the release notes, which document<br />caveats and workarounds for known issues. They are available at:<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/804">http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/804</a><br /><br />Find out what's new in this release with a graphical overview:<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/804overview">http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/804overview</a><br /><br />If you have a question, or if you think you may have found a bug but<br />aren't sure, try asking on the #ubuntu IRC channel, on the Ubuntu Users<br />mailing list, or on the Ubuntu forums:<br /><br /> #ubuntu on irc.freenode.net<br /> <a href="http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users">http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users</a><br /> <a href="http://www.ubuntuforums.org/">http://www.ubuntuforums.org/</a><br /><br />Helping Shape Ubuntu<br />--------------------<br /><br />If you would like to help shape Ubuntu, take a look at the list of ways<br />you can participate at<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate/">http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate/</a><br /><br />About Ubuntu<br />------------<br /><br />Ubuntu is a full-featured Linux distribution for desktops, laptops, and<br />servers, with a fast and easy installation and regular releases. A<br />tightly-integrated selection of excellent applications is included, and<br />an incredible variety of add-on software is just a few clicks away.<br /><br />Professional technical support is available from Canonical Limited and<br />hundreds of other companies around the world. For more information about<br />support, visit <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/support">http://www.ubuntu.com/support</a><br /><br />More Information<br />----------------<br /><br />You can find out more about Ubuntu and about this release on our website:<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/">http://www.ubuntu.com/</a><br /><br />To sign up for future Ubuntu announcements, please subscribe to Ubuntu's<br />very low volume announcement list at:<br /><br /> <a href="http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-announce">http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-announce</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-8527622349834207071?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-5018819131746447932008-04-01T16:52:00.001-04:002008-04-01T16:55:24.966-04:00<embed src="http://services.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f8/1348426473" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1482436596&playerId=1348426473&viewerSecureGatewayURL=https://services.brightcove.com/services/amfgateway&servicesURL=http://services.brightcove.com/services&cdnURL=http://admin.brightcove.com&domain=embed&autoStart=false&" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" swLiveConnect="true" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-501881913174644793?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-68321047831970122782008-02-21T20:12:00.001-05:002008-02-21T20:12:08.159-05:00<div>This is a new widget... And while I feel like I work for the same company as Dilbert some times, this is fun.<br /><br />Any other Dilbertheads out there, let me know!<br /><br />Bret<br /></div><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.dilbert.com/o/478bf96b7bf0b5a2/47be216696324079/478cddf3fcd52701/14f20f76/widget.js"></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-6832104783197012278?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-3862448937457634682007-10-25T21:21:00.000-04:002007-10-25T22:01:11.762-04:00Well, this has been an interesting week, and not in a good way.<br />My mother who is a young 59 year old who watches what she eats, exercises every day, and has a rather low <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cholesterol</span> level, had a heart attack Saturday.<br /><br />It completely blew my mind. It completely blew <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">every one's</span> mind! Nobody would have ever suspected that this woman, who takes such good care of herself, would be struck down by a heart attack.<br /><br />Turns out that it was only one artery with a blockage. She was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">catheterized</span> and they inserted two stents. The Doctor was rather surprised by how clear all her other arteries are.<br /><br />So.... Ultimately, she will be fine. The damage to her heart was negligible, and the shape that she is in will make the cardiac therapy extremely easy (Dr.'s words). But what an experience...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-386244893745763468?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-10305242211998433822007-08-18T00:49:00.000-04:002007-08-18T00:59:32.453-04:00After a punishing headache the night before, I dragged my butt out of bed this morning to take my son to ride bikes with my cousin and my parents. First off, let's clarify that while I am 39, my cousin, is 8. My son is almost 11 so the two of them are close enough in age to enjoy each other's company quite a bit.<br /><br />My cousin has not mastered the art of bike riding yet, so this was a joint multigenerational effort to help him get the two wheeler down pat. It was an hour and a half of very physical labor for everyone involved (especially Riley, who fell once to demonstrate to my cousin that a fall, while a bit painful, will not kill him).<br /><br />After a quick ice cream stop at the local Dairy Queen, we went to <a href="http://www.beaverbendpar3.com/">Beaver Bend Golf Course</a>, a par three course in Hummelstown. It's a great place to teach the kids about the basics of golf, without wearing them out completely.<br /><br />Although the bike riding had taken it's toll, so their energy waned on the back nine significantly.<br /><br />It is very nice to be able to spend time with family.<br /><br />Now to bed so that I can rest up for more biking tomorrow.<br /><br />-30-<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-1030524221199843382?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-8762734766499333692007-07-30T21:17:00.001-04:002007-07-30T21:30:03.272-04:00Coming soon to a town or city near you (hopefully), is Software Freedom Day. This year it will be Saturday September 15th, and there will be events all over the world to celebrate FOSS (Free and Open Source Software), and to promote the use and adoption of open source software.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_yChK8Q_zZ04/Rq6QTdpZ3TI/AAAAAAAAAC8/LOTb2fEllGk/s1600-h/sfd-07-small-web-flatgrey.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_yChK8Q_zZ04/Rq6QTdpZ3TI/AAAAAAAAAC8/LOTb2fEllGk/s320/sfd-07-small-web-flatgrey.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093166892652813618" border="0" /></a>What a great concept this is, a gigantic community moving forward to make great software, and to continuing to improve that same software. I am proud to be a part of this movement, and I look forward to seeing how many events are held this year. I am working with the Ubuntu Local Community Team for Pennsylvania and CPLUG (Central Pennsylvania Linux Users Group) in the Harrisburg and York areas right now. One of our teammates is looking into setting up at the York Fair, which would be rather amazing considering the thousands of people who go through that fair.<br /><br />Around Harrisburg, I am more interested in getting together a group of people to host a screening of Revolution OS, or set up cook outs at various busy parks or colleges.<br /><br />Also I am starting to assemble my media kit, and my "hit list" for the local media to be invited or for press releases.<br /><br />Stay tuned for more exciting information!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-876273476649933369?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-72038448823138241062007-06-26T23:43:00.000-04:002007-06-26T23:47:18.039-04:00We've done it! Below find the transcript from the event where the Pennsylvania Local Community was approved by the Ubuntu Community Council.<br /><br />Everyone on the team deserves a huge round of applause! I am honored and proud to be working with such great people.<br /><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="3"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:51</td><td><span style="color:#4d4d93;"><tt>jsgotangco</tt></span></td><td><tt>ok let's move to pennsylvania</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#4d4d93;"><tt>jsgotangco</tt></span></td><td><tt>yay</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#c668c6;"><tt>Ubuntuser</tt></span></td><td><tt>:D</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#4d4d93;"><tt>jsgotangco</tt></span></td><td><tt>Zic: i doubt he'll come today</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#6acaca;"><tt>cypherbios</tt></span></td><td><tt>Sounds really great! Thanks all!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#c8c869;"><tt>rpereira</tt></span></td><td><tt>:-)</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>That's us! I'm the team contact!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#76e0e0;"><tt>dholbach</tt></span></td><td><tt>congratulations :)</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>Our application page is <a href="http://wiki.ubuntu.com/PennsylvaniaTeam/ApprovalApplication">http://wiki.ubuntu.com/PennsylvaniaTeam/ApprovalApplication</a></tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#b86161;"><tt>Zic</tt></span></td><td><tt>jsgotangco: ok ... thx</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#4d4d93;"><tt>jsgotangco</tt></span></td><td><tt>Bret?</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>Congrats to Brazil!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#4d4d93;"><tt>jsgotangco</tt></span></td><td><tt>ahh</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#b86161;"><tt>pleia2</tt></span></td><td><tt>I'm here for pennsylvania too :)</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#5fb4b4;"><tt>AndreNoel</tt></span></td><td><tt>thanks!!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>That's me</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#6ed16e;"><tt>OgMaciel</tt></span></td><td><tt>:)</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#ce6c6c;"><tt>jedijf</tt></span></td><td><tt>pa here</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#c8c869;"><tt>rpereira</tt></span></td><td><tt>Thanks everybody. :)</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#6dcf6d;"><tt>Joe_CoT</tt></span></td><td><tt>I'm not from Pennsylvania, but i live very close!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#ce6c6c;"><tt>jedijf</tt></span></td><td><tt>congrats serbia and brazil!!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#818144;"><tt>lamalex</tt></span></td><td><tt>PA here</tt></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><tt>=== etank is cheering for pennsylvania \o/</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#c668c6;"><tt>Ubuntuser</tt></span></td><td><tt>this is begin... ;)</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#6e6ed1;"><tt>teddy-dbear</tt></span></td><td><tt>Pa here</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:52</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>Thank you for the opportunity to review our application to become and approved Local Community Team! First off we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the great people who have joined this team, and although I started it, without them, there would be no application in front of you now, nor would there be for a very long time.</tt></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><tt>=== andrew is here for PA</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:53</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>The US-Pennsylvania LoCo Team was established in March by freelancer317 (Bret Fledderjohn) with the assistance of Vorian (Ohio Team Contact). Since that time, we have grown to 51 direct members on Launchpad. We have also established strong bonds with active LUGs, had four successful events, and are building several ongoing projects and events which will not only spread the word about Ubuntu, but also (in many</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:53</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>cases) will help make our local communities better places.</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:54</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt><a href="http://www.meetlinux.com/">http://www.meetlinux.com</a> is our website.</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:54</td><td><span style="color:#76e0e0;"><tt>dholbach</tt></span></td><td><tt>what has the team been concentrating on in the last time? how did you find new members?</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:54</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>We've initially been working with LUGs and several Nonprofits</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:55</td><td><span style="color:#818144;"><tt>lamalex</tt></span></td><td><tt>We've been working with a lot of non-profits to help under priveleged people benefit from technology and free software</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:55</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>the forum and Launchpad have also been attracting alot of attention</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:55</td><td><span style="color:#ce6c6c;"><tt>jedijf</tt></span></td><td><tt>and with local lugs to cross-promote events</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:55</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>We had a joint installfest with the Central PA LUG and we had our own installfest in Philly</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:55</td><td><span style="color:#4d4d93;"><tt>jsgotangco</tt></span></td><td><tt>i see lots of activites with non-profits on the website</tt></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><tt>=== jwendell [n=wendell@ubuntu/member/wendell] has left #ubuntu-meeting ["Bye"] </tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:56</td><td><span style="color:#ce6c6c;"><tt>jedijf</tt></span></td><td><tt>that is an ongoing thing - now that we've started relationships, the projects flow from one to the next</tt></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><tt>=== myriam_rs cheers for US-Pennsilvania LoCo Team too!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#76e0e0;"><tt>dholbach</tt></span></td><td><tt>that sounds good - launchpad says you have 55 members - do you have a chance to meet often as a team?</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#b86161;"><tt>pleia2</tt></span></td><td><tt>thanks myriam_rs :)</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>We are also putting together a statewide media contact list, and will have a subteam working on distributing press releases and interacting with the media</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#818144;"><tt>lamalex</tt></span></td><td><tt>not in person as a whole team</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#818144;"><tt>lamalex</tt></span></td><td><tt>pennsylvania is a large state</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>dholbach outside of irc meetings, no</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#ce6c6c;"><tt>jedijf</tt></span></td><td><tt>weekly irc chats</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#818144;"><tt>lamalex</tt></span></td><td><tt>wednesday nights, 8:30pm est</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#ce6c6c;"><tt>jedijf</tt></span></td><td><tt>and active daily irc contact</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#4d4d93;"><tt>jsgotangco</tt></span></td><td><tt>yeah i saw the calendar</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:57</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>we have subteams that cover the different regions</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:58</td><td><span style="color:#5d5db1;"><tt>Vorian</tt></span></td><td><tt>Pennsylvania has been doing wonderful things in the name of Ubuntu. I strongly recommend them for a +1</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:58</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>Thanks Vorian</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:58</td><td><span style="color:#4d4d93;"><tt>jsgotangco</tt></span></td><td><tt>how is the team preparing for SFD?</tt></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><tt>=== etank agrees with Vorian </tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:58</td><td><span style="color:#ce6c6c;"><tt>jedijf</tt></span></td><td><tt>we are promoting a major event with PACS - phila area computer society -</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:58</td><td><span style="color:#818144;"><tt>lamalex</tt></span></td><td><tt>philly team is working with the philly area computer society for a large bbq/speech/party</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:59</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>Well, there is an event being planned up in the northeastern part of the state. Philly is planning a big thing with PACS, and Harrisburg is working with CPULG</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:59</td><td><span style="color:#ce6c6c;"><tt>jedijf</tt></span></td><td><tt>providing a speaker and demonstrations from 8 am to 3 pm</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:59</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>oops cplug</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:59</td><td><span style="color:#818144;"><tt>lamalex</tt></span></td><td><tt>:P</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:59</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>we hope to have an event in most major cities and towns in PA</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>03:59</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>Pittsburgh is in the infancy of developing the event</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:00</td><td><span style="color:#76e0e0;"><tt>dholbach</tt></span></td><td><tt>nice - the team looks well organized to me</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:00</td><td><span style="color:#818144;"><tt>lamalex</tt></span></td><td><tt>they are beginning to form in pittsburg</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:00</td><td><span style="color:#818144;"><tt>lamalex</tt></span></td><td><tt>there is interest, but it hasn't fully come together. Progress is being made and other regions are encouraging them</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:00</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>dholbach thanks! We've got a real good core group of people working to get this going</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:00</td><td><span style="color:#4d4d93;"><tt>jsgotangco</tt></span></td><td><tt>a lot of stuff looks solid to me as well, but i advice taking advantage of SFD to have a big get-together, should be fun, the bbq party is a nice touch, i give my +1</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:01</td><td><span style="color:#76e0e0;"><tt>dholbach</tt></span></td><td><tt>I'm happy to give a +1 for Pennsylvania as well</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:01</td><td><span style="color:#6262bb;"><tt>MikeB-</tt></span></td><td><tt>+1 for me</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:01</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>thanks dholbach and jsgotangco and MikeB!</tt></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><tt>=== georgia [n=georgia@pdpc/supporter/basic/Georgia] has joined #ubuntu-meeting</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:01</td><td><span style="color:#76e0e0;"><tt>dholbach</tt></span></td><td><tt>elmo?</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:02</td><td><span style="color:#67c567;"><tt>elmo</tt></span></td><td><tt>+1</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:02</td><td><span style="color:#76e0e0;"><tt>dholbach</tt></span></td><td><tt>congratulations! :)</tt></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><tt>=== lamalex throws his cap</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:02</td><td><span style="color:#76e0e0;"><tt>dholbach</tt></span></td><td><tt>ok, let's move on to member applications</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:02</td><td><span style="color:#5959a9;"><tt>myriam_rs</tt></span></td><td><tt>Congratulations from the SwissTeam to Pennsylvania LoCO Team!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:02</td><td><span style="color:#b86161;"><tt>pleia2</tt></span></td><td><tt>thanks everyone!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:02</td><td><span style="color:#76e0e0;"><tt>dholbach</tt></span></td><td><tt>bashelier: it's your stage</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:02</td><td><span style="color:#5d5db1;"><tt>Vorian</tt></span></td><td><tt>Yay Pennsylvania!!!!!!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:02</td><td><span style="color:#6bcccc;"><tt>freelancer317</tt></span></td><td><tt>thanks myriam_rs!</tt></td></tr> <tr bgcolor="#eeeeee"><td>04:02</td><td><span style="color:#5d5db1;"><tt>Vorian</tt></span></td><td><tt>Congrats!1</tt></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-7203844882313824106?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-23966009535890480342007-06-22T23:11:00.000-04:002008-04-01T16:58:22.984-04:00Here it comes... Ubuntu Community approval!<br /><p>Months of work by our group has culminated in our chance with the Ubuntu Community Council for approved status as an Official Ubuntu Local Community Team (LoCo). Tuesday June 26th at 9am EDT, at the Ubuntu Community Council meeting, we will be up for approval.</p><p><br />I have been very fortunate to have such a dedicated, motivated, and fun team to work with. Without them, this never would have happened, let alone this fast.</p><p><br />This is a very quick post, but I hope to go more in depth soon, as well as catch up with things that have been happening.</p><p><br />I have been busy as all get out at work, and we also have been working hard on getting a party together to celebrate my parents 40th anniversary (the party is Saturday June 23rd), so I have been extremely limited in my time.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-2396600953589048034?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-70115286380953301572007-06-05T20:13:00.000-04:002008-04-01T16:58:23.014-04:00Dellbuntu Experience from another blog<br /><p>I thought that this was interesting.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /><a href="http://www.marcelgagne.com/node/510/1060#comment-1060">Captain Tux's Blog</a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-7011528638095330157?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-57506868561397360312007-05-17T17:02:00.000-04:002007-05-17T23:42:15.539-04:00Central Pennsylvania Linux Users Group Installfest/New User Meeting<br /><p>Coming up this Saturday (5/19) at ITT Tech in Mechanicsburg from 10a-6p!</p><p><br />I'll be doing a short presentation on the different flavors of Ubuntu - Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, and Xubuntu at noon.</p><p><br />Everyone is welcome... Bring food. :-)</p><p><br /><a href="http://wiki.ubuntu.com/PennsylvaniaTeam/Harrisburg">More information is here.</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-5750686856139736031?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-29109726784499297942007-05-12T22:16:00.000-04:002007-05-12T22:28:31.648-04:00Rummikub, Sequence and Yahtzee<br /><p>Family game night! I love this. Riley, my eldest son, is here this weekend, which is always fun. We are playing board games, and at ten he is getting really fun with the games.</p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yChK8Q_zZ04/RkZ3SXfgmXI/AAAAAAAAABI/idqar-84a_w/s1600-h/Tennis_shake_hands_after_matchcc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_yChK8Q_zZ04/RkZ3SXfgmXI/AAAAAAAAABI/idqar-84a_w/s320/Tennis_shake_hands_after_matchcc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5063865988452227442" border="0" /></a><br />His tennis coach didn't show up for practice and game today. I filled in with another Dad. I have played competitively before and he had not even played so, I was the defacto coach. She hasn't been really teaching them much, more like getting them used to balls coming at them.</p><p><br />I don't think they have worked on grip or watching the ball everywhere it goes (although they are kids so that is a challenge) or even worked on stroke. So I didn't know what to try to do with them. Some of the kids have some real talent.</p><p><br />Regardless, it was a good time and I hurt right now... My hamstring is killing me.</p><p><br />Declan, our two year old, was red as an apple out there. I think it was the heat that did it more than the sun since he had sun block on. He fell asleep really early this evening, so I think the air and the sun (as well as the constant running around outside the courts) wore him out.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-2910972678449929794?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-49807631144906612162007-05-10T22:56:00.000-04:002007-05-10T23:01:07.103-04:00Well, Jono has indicated that it may be difficult to get approval without a listserv in place. Worse news is that our request could be delayed for an unlimited amount of time.<br /><br />We have some choices here. We can continue on and hope that everything that we have scheduled and done will qualify us, and per Jono that seems unlikely.<br /><br />Or we can set up our own mailing list somewhere else.<br /><br />Or we can sit and wait.<br /><br />It's a bit of a setback, but it shouldn't stop the Pennsylvania LoCo team from moving forward with our plans and continue expanding our programs!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-4980763114490661216?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-87017274061880901522007-05-09T23:36:00.000-04:002007-05-11T12:23:45.357-04:00Here it goes.... This week we go for Approved Status<br /><p>The Pennsylvania LoCo Team is going for approved status. I will contact Jono Bacon, the Community Manager at Canonical who will give us guidance as far as where we stand, and when we can expect to go in front of the Ubuntu Community Council to try for approval.</p><p><br />I think that we are looking good for approval. We have 39 direct members since our creation in March, many of which are active. We have a Feisty Release Party scheduled in Montrose for May 17th, will be working together with the Central Pennsylvania LUG for their InstallFest/New User Meeting on May 19th near Harrisburg, and there is an PA LoCo team Installfest slated for June 2nd in Philadelphia.</p><p><br />The PA LoCo website is up at <a href="http://www.meetlinux.com">www.meetlinux.com</a> </p><p><br />Our IRC channel is on freenode #ubuntu-pennsylvania</p><p><br />Our wiki is at <a href="http://wiki.ubuntu.com/PennsylvaniaTeam">wiki.ubuntu.com/PennsylvaniaTeam</a></p><p><br />Finally, here's our team site on <a href="http://launchpad.net/~pennsylvania">Launchpad</a></p><p><br />I feel good about this, and think that we are definitely on track to helping the Ubuntu Community gain market share.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-8701727406188090152?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-32179568825983461582007-05-07T09:30:00.000-04:002007-05-07T09:33:59.361-04:00Here's an interesting article. The Ubuntu deal may have been announced first, but Dell seems to be investing deeper into Linux. On Sunday, Dell signed a deal with Microsoft and Novell to offer Enterprise Suse Linux on servers.<br /><br />The full story by Elizabeth M. Gillespie of the Associated Press is here: <a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070507/dell_microsoft_novell.html?.v=8">http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070507/dell_microsoft_novell.html?.v=8</a><br /><br />While Ubuntu seems to be Dell's choice for the desktop market, Suse will take the server side.<br />I am curious to see how this shakes out. Comments are welcome here for this story!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-3217956882598346158?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-54687008493812859872007-05-06T23:32:00.000-04:002007-05-07T01:24:03.468-04:00Podcast for Ubuntu Weekly News (UWN)<br /><p>See the following link for the UWN. I am hoping to put together a podcast for this. I will start playing with it this week.</p><p><br /><a href="http://fridge.ubuntu.com/uwn">http://fridge.ubuntu.com/uwn</a> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-5468700849381285987?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-47899830339534877672007-05-03T22:13:00.000-04:002007-05-03T23:31:00.224-04:00Technorati<br /><p><a href="http://technorati.com/claim/bqc9f5riif" rel="me">Technorati Profile</a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-4789983033953487767?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-75142461454822220832007-05-03T07:04:00.000-04:002007-05-03T07:07:33.492-04:00Good news for the world of Linux and specifically Ubuntu. Dell will start selling computers with Ubuntu preinstalled.<br /><br />Check out this <a href="http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6180419.html?tag=nl.e589">article from ZDnet</a>.<br /><br />Now Linux may have more leverage with the hardware manufacturers for drivers... And going mainstream can only help Linux!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-7514246145482222083?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-28880688758397560292007-05-02T00:29:00.000-04:002007-05-02T00:42:09.941-04:00I've started the Pennsylvania LoCo Team to help promote the spread of Ubuntu!<br /><br />As of March we've added 37 members and have already coordinated an Installfest in Philly, are supporting a speech to the Pennsylvania Computer Society in Philly, and participating in the Central PA Linux User Groups.<br /><br />This is pretty exciting stuff and it will only gain momentum. Check us out at the <a href="http://www.meetlinux.com">website</a>, the <a href="http://pennsylvania.ubuntuforums.org">forum</a>, the IRC freenode channel #ubuntu-pennsylvania, or the <a href="http://wiki.ubuntu.com/PennsylvaniaTeam">wiki</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-2888068875839756029?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-79417123584232393652007-03-17T01:03:00.000-04:002007-03-17T19:44:45.519-04:00I have been having a blast listening to these guys! Jono Bacon, Matthew Revell, Stuart Langridge, and Ade Bradshaw are the presenters of the podcast and all I can say is, wow!<br /><br />First off a quick warning to the faint of heart. If off color language and content puts you off, then this is not the program for you!<br /><br />Discussions range from open source projects through licensing and bodily functions through sexual practices and all points in between. Even though this has two Canonical employees on air, I think that it is pretty successful in not being an exclusive Ubuntu advocacy forum.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong, Ubuntu is brought up regularly, however when there is something that any of the presenters find not up to snuff or inappropriate they do not hesitate to give Jono (one of the Canonical employees) a "good kicking."<br /><br />Regardless of who is on the receiving end of a kicking, it seems that they give as good as they take! I haven't heard these guys do a podcast I didn't like yet.<br /><br />On the negative they do focus a bit much on the technicalities of open source licensing for my taste. Perhaps its because I am relatively new to Linux?<br /><br />Check these guys out at <a href="http://lugradio.org/">http://www.lugradio.org<br /></a><br />Their podcast is listed in ITunes or you get get the RSS Podcast link off of their site.<br /><br />That was a quickie. More coming soon!<br />-30-<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-7941712358423239365?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-26318593164374544602007-03-07T01:05:00.000-05:002007-03-07T01:14:06.262-05:00Well, It's happened again!<br /><br />I haven't posted in forever. Kids Job and home repairs strike again! We just had to replace our boiler (steam heat and hot water heater) just before Christmas. That was a great way to celebrate the holidays, let me tell ya!<br /><br />Anyway, I've been messing about with Ubuntu and some other Linux distros. Look for more about that. I am thinking of doing a series of posts of the plusses and minuses of my experiences with Linux and Open Source, as well as a very interesting podcast to which I've become addicted.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">There's a cliff hanger for you... What podcast could I possibly be on about? I'll leave a quick hint and fill in later... Jono Bacon. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yChK8Q_zZ04/Re5XqmmBF2I/AAAAAAAAAAk/VA20bOt8J1I/s1600-h/bacon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_yChK8Q_zZ04/Re5XqmmBF2I/AAAAAAAAAAk/VA20bOt8J1I/s320/bacon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039061422500288354" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />That's it.... More tomorrow.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-2631859316437454460?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1163861259472601762006-11-18T09:47:00.000-05:002006-11-18T09:47:39.516-05:00It's not even Thanksgiving, yet...<br /><p>It's getting cooler out, and we are all spending a leisurely morning in the living room and sun room. We're feeling very cozy, and my wife and I were talking about Christmas and what gifts we still needed to buy.</p><p><br />A little smile suddenly appeared on my wife's face and she went racing over to the cds and dug through and grabbed some Christmas cds and popped them into the cd player.</p><p><br />We are sitting here with Christmas music playing, the kids playing, and even though it isn't even Thanksgiving and there isn't a scrap of Christmas decorations up, it really feels like Christmas.</p><p><br /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-116386125947260176?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1163435546665404562006-11-13T11:32:00.000-05:002006-11-13T11:32:26.740-05:00There and back again... And Again...<br /><p>Here's an interesting bit... I've gone back into radio. Yes, I left radio in the summer of '05, but I have been drawn back in, and I am thrilled!</p><p><br />I love putting together the ideas, working with the talent, and working with businesses to put together marketing campaigns that work.</p><p><br />There will be more news coming, you can count on that!</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-116343554666540456?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1145587742907729142006-04-20T22:35:00.000-04:002006-04-20T22:53:19.443-04:00I've been hearing them in the early morning and just around dark.... The skittering of little feet as they make their way into the house to find a nice, safe place to curl up and sleep the night away.<br /><br />This weekend it will stop. The vent that they are getting in through is going to be sealed with wire mesh. In the not so early morning, while they are out foraging, I will be secretly stapling the door closed behind them. No more rodents in the house!<br /><br />My wife has been terrified of them since she had a run in with a dead squirrel at her apartment. Apparently, the varmint got stuck in the walls, dug his way through a wall and into her apartment, only to expire in a stack of nice clean towels.<br /><br />Needless to say, she has not been fond of the squirrels since that moment.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Important Local Interest Issue...</span> </span><br /><br />I found out that I missed an opportunity to sign a petition to return a road from a one way road, back into a two way street. Franklin Street, in Lower Paxton Township, Colonial Park. It joins Route 22 and Locust Lane, and since it is one way, it has been pushing traffic onto a little alley that shouldn't see but 10 vehicles a day, and is currently seeing probably several hundred throughout a normal weekday.<br /><br /><br />There will be a rant posted on a different blog about this.... <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.pennlive.com/weblogs/lowerpaxton/">Lower Paxton Journal</a><br /><br />Talk to you soon.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-114558774290772914?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1144204883856324272006-04-04T22:24:00.000-04:002006-04-04T22:51:40.183-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7801/356/1600/grey-squirrel-eating.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7801/356/320/grey-squirrel-eating.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">I've returned...</span><br /><br />I have suspected in recent weeks that squirrels have established a nest in our attic, and sure enough, yesterday I went up into the crawl space, and sure enough, they were there.<br /><br />Mother squirrel bolted when I stuck my head into the attic, however she stopped in the hole that she had gnawed in the vent screen. Her tail was all that I could see. I saw a large pile of insulation that she had crafted her nest out of... I don't know how squirrels can do that with out getting itchy... It's a mystery of nature.<br /><br />At that point I wasn't sure if she had a litter of... what would you call them? Squirrelettes? Pups? Anyway, I gently kicked some of the insulation away and sure enough there were at least three little ones in there... Their eyes were open, and they had their fur, but the tails weren't bushy yet. They wouldn't run, they just sat there and looked at me.<br /><br />According to online sources, they are apparently 5 weeks old. At 10 weeks they are on their own and are kicked out of the nest.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Plan of Attack</span><br /><br /></span>Squirrels are diurnal, so I will get up there in 5 weeks one early morning and scare off the mother if she is there (however she should be out and about gathering food) and repair that hole with a heavy wire mesh.<br /><br />I'll report back how that worked...<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-114420488385632427?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1120963850063629472005-07-09T22:48:00.000-04:002005-07-09T22:57:15.483-04:00Here's some new stuff.<br /><br />Check out my new blog, Lower Paxton Journal on Pennlive.com! This will be a local interest blog for Lower Paxton Twp and surrounding areas, geared to entertain, inform, and start good healthy dialogue on the Pennlive forums, as well as at the local Dunkin Donuts or Borders.<br /><br />Other new things.... Baby is now walking and talking.... Well, not really, but he is growing really fast. I swear he will be a big ball with little arms and legs sticking out soon! He has passed three months now, and I simply cannot believe it has been that long. Time has been flying.<br /><br />Also, we have moved to a new house.<br /><br />Also, I have taken a new job.<br /><br />Well, that's about enough major life changes for a few months span!<br /><br />Let's explain how this all came about, shall we?<br /><br />I had been going about my business, waiting for Declan to be born, and working hard to increase my straight commission income, knowing my wife would be off for maternity leave and that we would need the money.<br /><br />Anyway, Declan was born on Easter, and shortly thereafter new neighbors moved in next door. More on the neighbors in a moment. I sent out emails to co-workers and former co-workers letting them know that Declan was born, and was healthy.<br /><br />About a week after I wrote the emails, I received an email from my former boss and he said that there was a job opening, he thought that I would be perfect for it, and asked if I was interested in talking about the position.<br /><br />Explaining that I was very happy where I was, I said, sure we could talk about it. Anyway, they offered the job to me with a nice steady larger paycheck (no more straight commission highs and lows) and gave me the opportunity to advance.<br /><br />I took it.<br /><br />I the meantime, the new neighbors moved in and the first night in the house there are six police cars and an ambulance over there. After several hours of yelling and swearing, the man called the police on his girlfriend. Not knowing the situation, I can not elaborate, but it was not a nice night, and it shook my wife around pretty good.<br /><br />We started looking at houses the next day.<br /><br />And then we found one. Put quickly, there was haggling, we didn't quite get the price we were looking for there, but did get close, so I can't complain.<br /><br />We haven't sold our old house yet, so if you're looking for a nice duplex, make us an offer!<br /><br />So there you have it... You're caught up to date with my life, and I hope it wasn't truncated too much, but otherwise it would have been a book (and you have to pay for those, by the way!).<br /><br />There will be more stuff posted on a regular basis here, since my life is settling down a bit. There is now actually time to breath, next comes time to do fun stuff again. Maybe.<br /><br />Thanks for reading, and stayed tuned!<br /><br />Bret<br /><br />-30-<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-112096385006362947?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1118113473961400712005-06-06T22:57:00.000-04:002005-06-06T23:04:33.966-04:00Alot has been going on, and I will be posting soon. I apologize for everyone I have not replied to, but things have been flying fast and furious!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-111811347396140071?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1112306020111788962005-03-31T16:40:00.000-05:002007-07-30T21:42:49.032-04:00Here's a quick note to let everyone know that my son was born on Sunday. His name is Declan Parks Fledderjohn, he was born on Easter Sunday, March 27th at 7:33am. He weighed 7lb 2oz, and was 18.25 inches long. Declan is pronounced dek-lan.<br /><br /><br />He's a bit jaundiced right now, but besides that, both baby and mother are doing well.<br /><br />-30-<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-111230602011178896?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1111456165274283712005-03-21T20:44:00.000-05:002005-03-21T20:49:25.276-05:00Here's an article by Jesse Kornbluth on ten deadly sins of grammar. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and as a side note, mediabistro.com is a very valuable site for writers and other media professionals.<br /><a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a4028.asp"><br />http://www.mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a4028.asp</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-111145616527428371?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1111183276924940882005-03-18T16:59:00.000-05:002005-03-21T20:50:47.736-05:00Here's my latest article from the Patriot-News.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1111141455253090.xml">http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1111141455253090.xml</a><br /><br />My thoughts on agriculture, Londonderry Twp., and proposed developments will follow over the weekend.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-111118327692494088?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1111032068697769442005-03-16T22:00:00.000-05:002005-03-17T18:18:16.916-05:00I had a great time earlier this evening, and rather than work on the article which is due tonight, I figured that I would report on the meeting rather than work on the article... How's that for priorities?<br /><br />Actually, I am going to only write a quick entry here to say my impressions.<br /><br />I really enjoyed meeting everyone (and some for the second time Alan and Sara). Unfortunately, I think that I may have led the meeting a bit off track by talking more about PennLive and the Patriot-News more than blogging. That's kind of 20/20 hindsight, and I hope that I didn't offend anyone.<br /><br />Ross and Nathan, I hope you don't feel that I moved the meeting the wrong way. However, I did learn more about blogging, so the slant on the tools involved in blogging was enlightening.<br /><br />Alan Hayakawa is a past customer of mine when my family and I owned the Mail Boxes Etc. store on Rt. 22 in Harrisburg. As I run into past customers, I miss the business. Did I make a mistake by not buying the store out from my father when I had the chance? Yes and no. My divorce from Star could have demolished the business, so I would say that it wasn't a mistake, but perhaps I would like to go into that business again, who knows? Boy, I never thought that I would say THAT!<br /><br />Sara Bozich's father, Frank was a customer of our Mail Boxes Etc. in Etters.<br /><br />Considering that Alan works for the Patriot-News, Sara has a column with the Patriot, and I freelance for the Patriot, we have a HUGE amount in common considering the Patriot and out Mail Boxes Etc. connections.<br /><br />It's very interesting how worlds collide, or better yet, how small the community really is.<br /><br />Coming soon! Entries based on my conversations with Ian Rankin (Scottish Mystery Writer), Larry the Cable Guy (comedian), and John O'Connolly (Irish Mystery Writer).<br /><br />Any feedback on who you want me to interview and write about, let me know! I'll try my best, but will respond to everyone regardless of whether I can get the interview or not.<br /><br />Bret<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-111103206869776944?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1110850402997839772005-03-14T20:33:00.000-05:002005-03-14T20:33:22.996-05:00<a href="http://breadthofreality.blogspot.com/">I Dreamt of Unconsciousness</a> <br />Why are Mondays always such a struggle? It takes every fiber of my being to hoist myself out of bed and wrestle my body into clothes. <br /> <br />The drive to work makes me feel like a man on death row moving slowly down the institutional halls on the way to the electric chair. <br /> <br />It doesn't help that the very first event of the day is a long, drawn out meeting. After an hour, and frequently more, of mind numbing boredom, we make a break for the coffee machines desperately seeking out the stimulation which will move us forward into the day. <br /> <br />Today the topper was an hour teleconference. It was a grim feeling of deja vu, as I strained to understand the people on the other end. Through the noise, I did gain about 15 minutes of good information, which is actually a fantastic meeting. <br /> <br />There ya go. I'm just floating down the stream of consciousness without a paddle. <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-111085040299783977?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1110514926944597072005-03-10T22:53:00.000-05:002005-03-10T23:22:06.946-05:00<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, hello again!<br /><br /> There has been a ridiculously long gap in posting and it looks like I am starting back up with another update dealing with pregnancy. What can I say... Life changing events are worth writing about.<br /><br />We are in week 34. Since the way our last pregnancy ended with Lincoln, Mary Jane is being watched like a hawk. Right now she is going once a week for a non stress test on the baby (a boy, Declan will be his name) and once a week for an ultrasound physical profile of the baby. Also, she is taking two shots of Heparin in her stomach per day.<br /><br />But the ends justify the means, I suppose. In the end, all looks well with Declan and we have been tentatively scheduled to be induced on Good Friday, March 25. Stay tuned for updates.<br /><br />On other fronts, I am now selling advertising for a large broadcasting company (radio) in Harrisburg. On the freelance writing scene, I have also had the privilege of interviewing some very interesting people.<br /><br />I'll talk more soon.<br /><br />Bret<br /><br /></span></span></span></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-111051492694459707?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1077814039347441312004-02-26T11:12:00.000-05:002004-02-26T11:50:09.590-05:00Today my wife and I are going to the hospital to have some tests done on her and to talk to a genetic counsellor. Fun stuff, huh? <br /> <br />Here's why.... In December we lost our baby, Lincoln. He was 35 weeks along, and everything was pretty much textbook. On December 16th, MJ (my wife) was worried because she hadn't felt him kick all day, and he had been fairly active. After calling the Doctor, we were told to go to the hospital, just to make sure everything was ok. Fear gripped my stomach with an icy hand as my wife and I went in, praying all the way. <br /> <br />Upon getting put in a labor and delivery room, a nurse came in and attempted to find Lincoln's heartbeat. She could not locate it, and in the past his heartbeat was loud and clear. There was something definitely wrong. <br /> <br />They sent for an ultrasound machine. The machine was so cloudy and murky, they could not get a good view so they sent for another. This one also was not acceptable, so they called down to radiology to get a better machine sent up. <br /> <br />Every second that clicked by was like an eternity. We sat there waiting in dread waiting for a result that we did not want to hear, but knew was going to come. <br /> <br />The machine they brought up confirmed our worst fears. His heart had indeed stopped. He was dead. <br /> <br />My wife was saying such things as, "Oh my God. This can't be real. Wake up Mary Jane, wake up!" <br /> <br />Words were rapidly leaving her lips in between raging outbursts of tears. <br /> <br />Numbness was the first reaction I had. My emotional mind disconnected a bit and my logical problem solving mode kicked in. I had to make sure that my wife was ok, and I needed to get the details for what was going to happen. I would have time to react emotionally plenty later, although I would say that the night of the 16th was the worst few hours of my entire life. <br /> <br />Instructing us to come back at 7:00am the next morning, they sent us home with some sleeping pills for my wife. <br /> <br />Calling relatives with this kind of news sucks. Although we are blessed with wonderful families and great friends, yet again, this was more awfulness. <br /> <br />The next morning we dutifully went in to be induced. <br /> <br />Lincoln was born at 5:50pm. He weight 6 lb 9 oz, and was a beautiful baby. Holding him in my arms at that moment was when the pain broke through in a torrent of tears and great sobs which wracked my body. It all poured out of me as I thought that he was never even able to draw a single breath, that he was never able to seen to sun or a blue sky, that he was never able to play, even once. <br /> <br />Upon examination of Lincoln, the doctors said that there were no outward signs of why he might have died. We consented earlier for genetic testing and a autopsy, which they processed afterwards. <br /> <br />At the end of January we got the results.... There was no conclusive evidence as to cause of death. <br /> <br />This leaves us with trip to the hospital today to see if they can find any issues that my wife may have with clotting or diabetes (she tested fine during the pregnancy, but they may want to do a more in depth test). Then we will be going to genetic counselling (even though there was no chromosome problems). <br /> <br />I just got a call from MJ. Before the testing begins, we will be getting Lincoln's ashes from the hospital (we let the hospital cremate him, and we will have a memorial service later). <br /> <br />What a wonderful day we have to look forward to. <br /> <br />On the bright side, at MJ's last OB/Gyn appointment her doctor said he was pencilling her in for a February delivery.... So, at least at this point, it doesn't look like there is a problem with trying again! <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-107781403934744131?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6533400.post-1077721057804225422004-02-25T09:39:00.000-05:002004-02-25T11:04:41.996-05:00This is the historic opening of my first blog. <br /> <br />As I write this my stomach tightens in panic. Will I be interesting enough for people to actually read this? Am I ready for the commitment? Will I have a reuben on rye for lunch or a hamburger? <br /> <br />In regards to my worries, who knows? I am willing to take the first step and write, and you are interested enough to still be reading this, so at least we are both going in the right direction. <br /> <br />Some background on me.... (I like those trailing off sentences, but I will try to control myself.... Oops! Did it again.) <br /> <br />I was born and raised in and around Harrisburg, PA. My childhood involved a lot of running around in the woods and eventually on a golf course that my parents managed. <br /> <br />After graduating high school, I went to college, dropped out after a year, joined the army, was stationed in Germany, moved back to Harrisburg area, went to work with my parents in two retail franchises they owned, bought a house, got married, had a baby boy (Riley), got divorced, worked in trucking, got remarried (learned from my mistakes, married a woman perfect for me this time), and now here I am. The end. <br /> <br />Well, not quite the end, but I have to leave something to write about in future installments, now don't I? <br /> <br />Hey, you're still reading this, so thank you! I look forward to continuing our one sided conversation in my next post. <br /> <br />Regards, <br /> <br />Bret <br /> <br />breadthofreality@yahoo.com<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6533400-107772105780422542?l=breadthofreality.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Brethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09448312457027316962noreply@blogger.com0