Big Mutant Blog

(or how I spend my weekends in Lewisburg, PA)

#LotusKnows this is not Lotus related, but it's the weekend so I don't care.

As the old saying goes "Be careful what you wish for... you might just get it", this holds true for what is happening in my life right now.

Back when my wife and I first got married we lived in a few small apartments were heard saying "Someday we will have a house of our own".

"Someday..."

Then in West Chester, OH we bought our first "home" (an apartment-style condo) where we lived for 11 years. During that time we adopted our dog and said "Someday we will have a yard where she run on her own".

"Someday..."

Then we moved to Atlanta, GA where I began working for Lotus 911 (YEA!) and we rented a house that had a smal lawn, no kidding, it only took me 10 minutes to mow with my little 8.5 hp Craftsman special. Then we said "Someday, we will have a big lawn where the dog can run and we can enjoy it".

"Someday..."

Now we moved to Lewisburg, PA and "Someday" has arrived we got the big lawn for the dog to run and us to enjoy.... but it is big and the back yard has a hill on it that I have to wear golf shoes in order to keep any kind of traction on it.

And now my lawn takes me all weekend to mow and work on to keep it looking nice (yes still with my little 8.5 hp Craftsman special) which leaves me huffing and puffing and sweating all over the place (Diane, my wife, won't even let me sit on the new couch until I've taken a shower, and I agree with her!). So this happens each weekend.... every weekend. Hopefully it will get my but into shape and lose some of this weight (hey that rhymes.... I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it but my feet show it - size 15 - …they’re Longfellows.)

So again I reiterate, "Be careful what you wish for... you might just get it".

I now return you to your regularly scheduled geekdom......Later Yellowsphere!

Found this tidbit of information today while troubleshooting a clients Domino 7.x server with one of my colleagues.

Here's the setup:

The issue our customer was having was that when the Domino server was turned on it was taking the Windows server a full 35 - 40 minutes to reboot. If the Domino server was off, it rebooted in a normal time frame. So we started the normal troubleshooting, checking corrupt databases, consistancy checks, debugging logs, etc. -- Nothing!

We could not find any errors in the Domino Log nor in the Windows Events Messages, nothing appeared to be going wrong except for the amount of time. Then we noticed this was all happening before the Domino Console even appeared, so the searching of the technotes began.

We found this technote (sorry, don't remember the number offhand Technote #1285795, Thanks Sjaak) mentioning that each time the Domino server starts up it scans all of the files and subdirectories in the html directory (\Lotus\Domino\data\domino\html). Upon checking that directory we found over 81 gigs of files in there (unbeknownst to the System Admin). The technote then states that if you change the attributes on those files to "Hidden", the server would not scan them. So we told Windows to do just that and it gave us a prompt stating that it would take 1 day and 12 hours to complete..... 30 minutes later it was done (Windows time calculations.... Sheesh!). We then rebooted the server and BINGO it worked like a charm.

Now the System Admin has the daunting task of finding out the owner(s) of the files and cleaning them up. I don't envy him.

Just a bit of information I thought I would pass along. Later.

This really should not be a funny subject but I could not help myself. My wife has injured her lower back recently (Herniated disks, L4/L5 - L5/S1), and she was talking to her mother on the phone last night about the upcoming surgery that she needs. Next is what I overheard:

The doctor said that if we didn't do the surgery now it would cause problems later because I am running out of disc space there.

Wait for it....don't get ahead of me.....

I whispered to her "Well should we just add a couple of gigs to it?"

Her mom must of thought she was grunting in pain but she was actually trying to stifle her laughter.

Just a little something to brighten your day!

I was browsing around the internet and came across this on FOX's website. Thought it was kind of funny (and relative).

Domino is Everywhere!

Enjoy!

OK, now that my break is over . . . ;-)

It has been a long time since my last entry and a lot has happened. A move to Pennsylvania, setting up a new house, etc. But I felt now was the time to re-enter the blogging field on the eve of Lotusphere 2009!

Now, unfortuanetly, I will not be attending this year but Lotus 911 will be there stronger, better, and a bigger presence than before! We are kicking things off right with a new design to our website and even a YouTube video. Go and stop by the Lotus 911 area (#424 - 427) at Lotusphere 2009 and check out all the new stuff.

When to Catch Lotus 911 at Lotusphere:

Lotus 911 is pleased to be participating in the following sessions this year. Be sure to add these to your schedule now:

I would also like to take this time to welcome back Nathan back to his blog after being dark for so long ('Go towards the light Nathan, go towards the light') ;-). "Welcome back Boss Man"

Everyone have fun at The 'Sphere and sing some karaoke for me!

Be seeing you in the funny papers.....

With IBM's announcement, Alan Lepofsky suggested that we should make August 11th "Yellow Day". With this proclamation YellowBleeders are encouraged to show their spirit in any way possible.

Some possible ideas that have been suggested are:
1. Wear something yellow to work.
2. Use the graphic in this post on your website/blog/email/whatever else. Or download a larger version!
3. Give your users a useful tip for the day.
4. If it's your thing, podcast.
5. Write a cool piece of software using Lotus technology and show it off.

Alan has also thrown down the gauntlet for Lotus 911 to do something to commemorate this, and we will. So stay tuned!

With the introduction of Carl Tyler's Sametime Wallpaper Plugin, I decided to make a few of my own backgrounds for the Lotus Community.

They are pretty simple, standard Lotus logos and as always, the BleedYellow Claws.

I also made one with the Lotus 911 logo, but sorry, that is for employees only. ;-)

So if you are so inclined, head on over to my Flickr page and download them. Also if ther are any requests, drop me a line and I will see what I can do for you.

Have fun!

Beginning in August, Lotus 911 will now have a representative covering the great state of Pennsylvania and surrounding areas.

Yup that's right, Pennsylvania will be invaded by the Big Mutant.... and it will never be the same.

My wife has accepted a new position and we will be moving to PA and I will work with Lotus 911 from the remote location of my home office (as well as some traveling). I want to thank Jimmy and Jennifer Bracco for allowing me this opportunity to work in this capacity, because this is the best company I have EVER worked. YOU ROCK!!

Lewisburg is a very central town in Pennsylvania so I will be able to reach many of our customers within a few hours. So, if anyone needs any Lotus Notes / Domino help in PA, just give us a shout.

IBM Certified Advanced Application Developer
Lotus 911
770.517.0092 x129 (phone) | 404.663.1058 (cell) | 678.594.6756 (fax)
http://www.Lotus911.com | http://www.BleedYellow.com

I am Joe Perry. . . . NOT!

It's Here! It's Here!

Activision™ has finally released Guitar Hero - Aerosmith© and it is awesome! My copy of the complete bundle (game, special guitar, etc) arrived on Thursday and I started playing it the next day. This is my first foray into the Guitar Hero© universe so I started off with the practice mode and found out.... I need a lot of it!

My wife is not that much into video games, Tetris and Centipede were the only ones to grab her attention, but she is now hooked on this, but that could be because she is also a huge Aerosmith fan as well. She picked up the controller and started playing and after a little a lot of practice, she's really getting into it. She is stating that it is giving her carpel tunnel syndrome, but she won't relinquish control of the game. ;-)

This version combines the band characters from the original games and Aerosmith, incorporated by using capture-motion animation from the guys themselves. The game also consists of interviews with the band themselves between the gigs in the form of cut scenes.

You start off as an opening act for Aerosmith and for each level you must complete a couple songs before Aerosmith comes out. Your band plays the music of Cheap Trick, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Run DMC and more.

For more information, click here

For ordering information, click here

I will let the video speak for itself.

I was going to embed this but it looks like Connections does not allow it and strips out the code. So click here to see a hilarious (and too true) Apple spoof.

OK, it's time for me to officially declare my status as a fanboy for YellowCast. Yeah, I know, they have only put out 2 episodes but it has really drawn me in (I'm their #1 Fan! - a 'King' reference for you T). Chris Toohey and Tim Tripcony have a great chemistry that makes it really fun to listen to.

I have known Chris Toohey since before I came to work with Lotus 911 and have always thought he has had a great sense of humor and in the latest episode of YellowCast (Episode #2: Vicodin and MonkeyButter), around 42:33, he described the love/hate we all feel for Lotus Notes and Domino...

Domino is the little brother. I can pick on my little brother, because he's my little brother and I can pick on him but no one else...

Domino will always be my little brother... If you come in and you're another Domino Developer, you're a part of my family, and you know what, you can beat up Domino. Because for all the crap that happens, you know that there's benefits, you know that even though my little brother might be stupid, he might be not the brightest one out there sometimes, but you do see that he is amazing in other ways. You see that as a family, but if someone is walking down the street and goes 'Look at that Motard', I'm gonna attack!

That's the little brother...Domino is the 'Little Brother' syndrome.

Beautiful!

(Mutant Note: Chris does state that this is no reflection on his actual little brother.)

Good job guys! And remember... "The Audience is listening"

BigMutant (self-declared YellowCast Fanboy) Out!

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iTunes download:

And it's name is..... YellowCast

The hosts of this podcast are Chris Toohey and Lotus 911's own Tim Tripcony.

Description from their site:

The official website and companion weblog to YellowCast - a geek-flavored podcast discussing technologies and other items of interest!

This is a place fo them to voice their tips, tricks and opinions of everything that is going on in the world of Lotus Notes and Domino. These two get geeky, funny and helpful and is a really good listen. So go get it:

Feedburner link:

iTunes download: