Garden Update

I've been eating radishes (in salad) , grilled squash and pole bean casserole for the last 2 weeks. I still can't get myself to try the sauerkraut even thought it's good when I try it by itself. I even bought 2 bratwursts to cook for it.

Fermentation Experiment

Sauerkraut is 2 weeks old and definitely getting "sauerkrauty". Plus I'm going to give fermented radishes a try. I have no idea if they will be good.

Summer Garden

Sauerkraut

Poker is Good For You

David Sklansky and Allan Schoonmaker - Poker is Good For You: "

Pole beans and radishes

YouTube - Chili in a Spam bowl,,

YouTube - Chili in a Spam bowl,,

First Principles - Praising the Puritans

First Principles - Praising the Puritans: "- Sent using Google Toolbar"

Make this guy the President! Lt Col Allen West.

YouTube - Make this guy the President! Lt Col Allen West.:

CCIE Update

This week I think I've seen definite progress. My first 5 labs from INE Vol. 2 I scored as 0 points. I scored myself like a real lab where even one minor omission means no points awarded for the whole section. However, on Saturday I finally broke that barrier! On Lab 6 I got 27/50 points in the "core" sections which is all I am attempting at this point per my study strategy. Whether this was a fluke or not it's a much needed motivational boost for me. Probably 10-12 more points involved only minor omissions of configurations. Only two sections did I totally miss. One was port security where I configured a mac access list and the other I totally blanked on involved OSPF sham links for MPLS PE-CE VPN's. I am reviewing those tonight and tomorrow.

Mot likely I will start Lab 7 Wednesday night although I might wait until Saturday again and use the week to do mini-labs or video training.

I'm hoping this is the point in my learning where the non-linear study strategy supposedly pays off. Things will just start making sense and i will remember them easily. I've got about 2-4 more weeks and then non-core training starts. This will involve more INE Vol.1 and completely reattempting INE Vol.2 labs 1-10 with the aim of completing the whole labs( core + non-core) to pinpoint my weak spots. Then the final push will be Vol. 2 labs 11-20 and all troubleshooting labs. This will probably be in Dec/Jan timeframe. At that point I will assess my readiness and schedule a lab date.

CCIE Study Tools

I've been trying to cover all the angles in my study process since I believe (based on my experience) that even a little every day will add up to something over 6-12 months. So far this is what I'm using:

INE Advanced Technologies videos
INE Workbook 1
INE Workbook 2
INE Audio Bootcamp Week 1
Apple IPOD - for my jeep to listen to above

I recently bought CCIE R&S Short Notes. I finally decided to get them based on my knowledge that I am a horrible note taker. It's just not going to happen. So I'll gladly substitute someone else's well thought notes for the ones I'll never do anyway.

Future purchases? I'm not sure but most likely INE Workbooks 3 and 4 but only if I feel I need them.

Right now I think I'm on track but per the strategy I'm using it's very very frustrating right now. I "almost" can do many things but I'm not to the expert level in any yet. I still think it's a better fit than deep diving each separate subject and forgetting 75% 6 months later once I finally hit multi-protocol labs.

Florence and the Machine

Not really my type of music but wow what a voice.


Florence and the Machine "DOG DAYS ARE OVER" Music Video on Vimeo

CCIE Studies

Even though it's early in my studying I can already see some things I need to do in order to help myself.

1. Break every technology into a process. I tend to look at a technology as a whole and that's always worked because I can always Google some examples if I get into trouble in a production environment with any particulars. Not so with the CCIE. Process first. Connectivity last.

2. Don't get frustrated. I usually pick up on anything at a really fast rate. However the sheer amount of different topics all configured in short order really means I can't get stuck on something. Work something diligently and if I don't COMPLETELY understand everything at this point I need to let it go. Just trust the process of studying and labbing over the next 6 months will eventually get me to where I need to be. I realize this is different than some would recommend but I think it's best for me.

3.  Mention studying and labbing as little as possible at work. Just quietly continue moving forward and progressing. Most people even inside IT just don't or can't comprehend the level of dedication and learning that you must do over 6-12 months for this. At best they won't understand and at worst they will be actively hostile to your dedication. Neither is helpful in any fashion for you. Just continue quietly.

CCIE General Preparation

Here is my time plan so far to prepare for my first CCIE.


First of all the strategy is straight from this document. I thought it laid out a clear and effective plan I can use. I like mastering the basics and slowly adding bits and pieces until I am ready while keeping my skills up by constant labbing. I'm still in the process of doing Step 1 but am almost ready for the "basic" full scale labs.

Actual time breakout is

M-F -2 hours/day

Saturday - 6-8 hours

Sunday - 3 hours

Now of course those times will move up significantly as I get closer to my anticipated date where especially Sunday will be a full day also. But I don't want to burn out too early. In practice so far this ends up meaning I watch videos, listen to audio and read during the week with labs on the weekend. I think I will maintain this throughout with full scale labs every weekend and mini-labs/extra reading during the week. My vague goal is to finish all the INE Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 labs before attempting the real thing.

I plan to buy vol.3 for my weekly mini-labs and hopefully I can afford to squeeze in a formal bootcamp near the end although that doesn't look likely right now.

My CCIE lab setup

My virtual home away from home for the next 8 months!

Vegan Anarchist Garden of Insurgent Nihilist Agriculture

First vegetables from my garden (and yard)

Onions, radishes and dandelion greens ready to stir-fry.

LOOK AT YOURSELF AFTER WATCHING THIS

YouTube - LOOK AT YOURSELF AFTER WATCHING THIS.mp4

The Gervais Principle

Masterful. In my workplace I can easily see myself as almost the purest loser with a couple others right behind me, two almost pure clueless and one sociopath who is no longer there. A general summary:

Loser: Self-aware slacker who gives 50-100% effort. Probably the happiest of the three. Finds meaning almost totally outside of work.

Clueless: Gives 100-110%. Loyal. Promoted to mid-level positions. Requires a distorted view of reality to maintain self-image as a winner.

Sociopaths: Gives 0-25%. Fast-track promoted without any effort. High ability to make cold decisions.

Read to truly understand these categories.

The Gervais Principle

Well worth the effort to read especially if you watch The Office and understand all the references.

First Strawberries

Now I Assume My Gay Attire

Get your minds out of the gutter!

“Now every field is clothed with grass, and every tree with leaves; now the woods put forth their blossoms, and the year assumes its gay attire.” -   Virgil