mike utech dot com

My father-in-laws computer died, windows protection fault any way you boot it.
While this usually translate to backup the data and wipe the drive, rebuild.
My mother-in-law asked me to price a new computer. I showed her a couple that were $299 and she just told dad to get a new one. So this afternoon just before the rain really hit, actually I think we drove just ahead of it, we ran over to MicroCenter and picked up a brand new PC for my dad. Now before the loyal macheads that read my blog/feed go all Wozniak on me a majority of the apps that he uses, bible programs, are PC only. And since his budget was $399 or lower, a mac wasn’t in his future.

His previous computer was as follows:
IBM Aptiva E Series 270
AMD K6-2 400MHz w/ 512K L2 cache & 100 MHz FSB
128MB RAM
8GB HardDrive
32X CD ROM
56K Modem
Originally had Win98 but about 2 years ago I “upgraded” it to WinME
YIKES!

Here are the specs on the new PC:
Compaq Presario SR1810NX
AMD Sempron 3200+ (1.8 GHz)
512MB RAM
100GB HardDrive
CD-RW/DVD ROM
10/100 Ethernet & 56K Modem
ATI Radeon XPress 200 Graphics
USB 2 & Firewire
Windows XP Home Edition

He is excited for me to get it all setup and ready to go.

HE IS RISEN!

MUHappenings for Friday, April 7, 2006
Take a look at what students, staff and faculty are doing at Miami Hamilton.
Students honored for excellence in education
The Student Scholar Symposium recognizes outstanding students and
provides the opportunity to explain to the campus community and
especially to fellow students how they achieved particular academic
successes at Miami University Hamilton. This year’s symposium, which
will recognize 8 students, will be held Tuesday, April 18, from noon
to 1:30pm in the Harry T. Wilks Conference Center.
Student Scholar Symposium Outstanding Students
…
Janet Utech, majoring in psychology, will present “The Role of
Attachment Styles in Social Anxiety.” She was nominated by Trish
Ellerson. Last year, Utech was selected as one of three outstanding
psychology students on the Hamilton campus. A mother of four, Utech
is about to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Part of an email that went to all MU students today. How cool is that!

Well I can add to my resume that I have been down sized.
Close to 100 people were “let go” today. Some of them with 25+ years with the company.
The new CIO/CTO thinks that his company will run better with fewer people. Based on his statements he expects you to work your 9 hour day and go home and log back in instead of “watching American Idol” and work until 11. So the ’standard’ was now a 14 hour day. Evaluations were also recalibrated, a mixture of meets/exceeds expectations was no longer acceptable. So everyone who didn’t have a 4.5 - 5 rating (on a 5 point scale) was offered probation or severance. I had a solid 4, lucky me. So my director and former boss, note former boss - as my current boss refused to participate in the whole ordeal because he felt it was complete baseless and unfair, gave me the option and I took it. My former boss would be the judge of my probation status and there was no way he would ever take me off probation. A number of people are very upset and very surprised that I got hit. That feels good, kinda.
But my focus is on the fact that 1) I have been unemployed before and while it sucked we did survive and 2) I still have my family - now I need to go spend some time with them!

Mango Habanero
My new favorite flavor.