I went to bed last night around 12:30am. I sat up reading from 10:30 til then. Just Sci-fi.
Anyway I got up at 6:30 to take my brother back to the Hospital downtown Detroit, so he could see the specialist again. We got there at 8am. He went up the elevator with our mom, and after parking I took the stairs.
12 flights.
I hadn't eaten yet, and by the time I got to the top, my legs were burning, and I was tired, and breathing heavy. 238lbs up 12 flights of stairs. Now the funny thing is, 2 weeks ago my legs didn't burn like that.
After his appointment it was 12 flights down, still with not eating.
I ate around 9:45 or so. Bagel, egg, and bacon. Then rushed off to work. I forgot my backpack but that's besides the point. I'm tired and fogged out.
Watch for a couple of posts later.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
AT&T U-Verse Did something right.
*Edit: If you found this page on a search engine while looking for info on AT&T blocking port 25 go to this post
I know the title surprises me too. Even more since this was going to start off as a huge rant about them.
As it says on the side bar, I work as a Network Engineer. I won't say where, but I'm the senior technical resource in the department. Security, design, repair, etc all fall under my position. That includes fixing misconfigured servers and trouble shooing problems (so we can know what needs to be fixed).
Yesterday we (the system administrators) got an email from someone not able to send us email. From what we could tell it looks like their problem, is on their stuff. Not ours. While looking into that problem, I saw another one. The company's email servers were listed on some Real Time Black Lists (RTBL). Which are used to block emails from spammers.
Looking into why we were on the list, one of our mail servers were listed as an open relay which means that spammers could send mail through our mail servers. The easiest and fastest way to check, is to login to the servers via telnet and see if they will send the mail. So, I bounce to my box at home (from work via ssh), and try to telnet to port 25 on the mail server. Not working. Can't telnet to port 25 anywhere else either. Luckily a friend was able to let me use his linux box to trouble shoot the problem, and it wasn't blocked from there. We fixed the configuration on our mail server this morning.
But I still couldn't get to the server on port 25 to re-test remotely. So I took note, and after confirming stuff was fixed, I started to look into why I couldn't telnet from home. My budy doesn't have a problem leaving my account on his box, but that doesn't mean I want to have to rely on his box being up.
After hunting around, it turns out to try and cut down on spam, ISPs are blocking port 25 outbound. It is, what it is. And I think it's a bad idea, to a point. People like me, who need to test are the smaller subset of people that need to use the port, while the spammers are the bigger group. Blocking it from everyone does prevent zombies and spammers from using the port to send spam. But it also prevents us from being able to fix our systems. The better idea would be to start blocking the mail servers that are found to be open relays. Although blocking port 25 prevents finding open relays that haven't been blocked yet. It also cuts down on some traffic (the hunting of open ports).
So I started looking into AT&T and the blocking of the port. The article I found, on their help site, said that they're blocking port 25 for Dial up and Dynamic High Speed internet customers, and doesn't affect people with static ip address, or dedicated connections (Frame Relay, T1, T3).
But wait, I pay 15.00 a month for 8 static ip addresses. So I called ready to raise hell. I fought my way through the automated system, it took several tries and they had to remotely "test" my connection, before transferring me to a live person. I told her the deal, I'm a network engineer, I need to test my mail servers at work remotely, and port 25 is being blocked. She couldn't unblock it. So off to tier 2 I go. The guy there was a lot of help. Re-explained the situation, he looked up my account, confirmed I do have a static ip address (although he read the read column the first time), and unblocked the port for me. he noted the account that I requested it unblocked and why.
Seriously I was expecting to jump through a bunch more hoops before getting things resolved. I wasn't happy at the start of the call, but was by the end. And now I can get to my servers at work the way I need to so I can make sure they're not open relays the next time I find us on a black list.
Is there a better way to block the spammers? Yes. Will it happen? no. I can think of several ways. The biggest is to take the profit out of it, like they did when they ended prohibition. Re-writing the standards so relaying is changed, and being and open relay can't happen. (There has been some work in this). will it be easy to fix the problem... not in today's world.
I know the title surprises me too. Even more since this was going to start off as a huge rant about them.
As it says on the side bar, I work as a Network Engineer. I won't say where, but I'm the senior technical resource in the department. Security, design, repair, etc all fall under my position. That includes fixing misconfigured servers and trouble shooing problems (so we can know what needs to be fixed).
Yesterday we (the system administrators) got an email from someone not able to send us email. From what we could tell it looks like their problem, is on their stuff. Not ours. While looking into that problem, I saw another one. The company's email servers were listed on some Real Time Black Lists (RTBL). Which are used to block emails from spammers.
Looking into why we were on the list, one of our mail servers were listed as an open relay which means that spammers could send mail through our mail servers. The easiest and fastest way to check, is to login to the servers via telnet and see if they will send the mail. So, I bounce to my box at home (from work via ssh), and try to telnet to port 25 on the mail server. Not working. Can't telnet to port 25 anywhere else either. Luckily a friend was able to let me use his linux box to trouble shoot the problem, and it wasn't blocked from there. We fixed the configuration on our mail server this morning.
But I still couldn't get to the server on port 25 to re-test remotely. So I took note, and after confirming stuff was fixed, I started to look into why I couldn't telnet from home. My budy doesn't have a problem leaving my account on his box, but that doesn't mean I want to have to rely on his box being up.
After hunting around, it turns out to try and cut down on spam, ISPs are blocking port 25 outbound. It is, what it is. And I think it's a bad idea, to a point. People like me, who need to test are the smaller subset of people that need to use the port, while the spammers are the bigger group. Blocking it from everyone does prevent zombies and spammers from using the port to send spam. But it also prevents us from being able to fix our systems. The better idea would be to start blocking the mail servers that are found to be open relays. Although blocking port 25 prevents finding open relays that haven't been blocked yet. It also cuts down on some traffic (the hunting of open ports).
So I started looking into AT&T and the blocking of the port. The article I found, on their help site, said that they're blocking port 25 for Dial up and Dynamic High Speed internet customers, and doesn't affect people with static ip address, or dedicated connections (Frame Relay, T1, T3).
But wait, I pay 15.00 a month for 8 static ip addresses. So I called ready to raise hell. I fought my way through the automated system, it took several tries and they had to remotely "test" my connection, before transferring me to a live person. I told her the deal, I'm a network engineer, I need to test my mail servers at work remotely, and port 25 is being blocked. She couldn't unblock it. So off to tier 2 I go. The guy there was a lot of help. Re-explained the situation, he looked up my account, confirmed I do have a static ip address (although he read the read column the first time), and unblocked the port for me. he noted the account that I requested it unblocked and why.
Seriously I was expecting to jump through a bunch more hoops before getting things resolved. I wasn't happy at the start of the call, but was by the end. And now I can get to my servers at work the way I need to so I can make sure they're not open relays the next time I find us on a black list.
Is there a better way to block the spammers? Yes. Will it happen? no. I can think of several ways. The biggest is to take the profit out of it, like they did when they ended prohibition. Re-writing the standards so relaying is changed, and being and open relay can't happen. (There has been some work in this). will it be easy to fix the problem... not in today's world.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
I'm starting to think that AT&T hates hockey
I have to double check when I get home, but it looks like I couldn't watch hockey this year if I wanted too.
I don't remember ordering the sports package, which is the only way I can get FSD (fox sports detroit, the local station that shows the red wings). I also don't get CBC (the other channel for hockey in this area).
If this is the case, why have I not canceled ATT tv yet.
Like I said, I have to double check when I get home. but since my pay has been cut, and the money sites say cancel cable when you're in debt... Well. I think I found what I can cancel.
EDIT::::::
Checked when I got home, I do have FS-D. Think I might watch some Hockey this weekend. I miss it. Haven't watched any games this year because the Red Wings Organization refused to sell more than 2 tickets to people on opening day.
I don't remember ordering the sports package, which is the only way I can get FSD (fox sports detroit, the local station that shows the red wings). I also don't get CBC (the other channel for hockey in this area).
If this is the case, why have I not canceled ATT tv yet.
Like I said, I have to double check when I get home. but since my pay has been cut, and the money sites say cancel cable when you're in debt... Well. I think I found what I can cancel.
EDIT::::::
Checked when I got home, I do have FS-D. Think I might watch some Hockey this weekend. I miss it. Haven't watched any games this year because the Red Wings Organization refused to sell more than 2 tickets to people on opening day.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
well now, that hurt
So while positive thinking can get your through a lot... it can't get you through pain.
My ankle has been messed up since January 15th... When I hyper extended it at martial arts. Not as bad as my brother's knee (which he dislocated and broke)... but still.
This morning, because I didn't want a heavy work out before eating, and wanted to do mostly grind stuff, I grabbed my 2 16kg kettlebells, and did thrusters. My plan was 3 sets of 10.
My ankle did not like, even after putting the brace on it still did not like.
But then again, it didn't care for the 10 prisoner squats I just did either.
Also added a new tag. Injuries (went back and tagged the ankle post with it. I'll tag new ones with those so I can go back in time and look at them.
My ankle has been messed up since January 15th... When I hyper extended it at martial arts. Not as bad as my brother's knee (which he dislocated and broke)... but still.
This morning, because I didn't want a heavy work out before eating, and wanted to do mostly grind stuff, I grabbed my 2 16kg kettlebells, and did thrusters. My plan was 3 sets of 10.
My ankle did not like, even after putting the brace on it still did not like.
But then again, it didn't care for the 10 prisoner squats I just did either.
Also added a new tag. Injuries (went back and tagged the ankle post with it. I'll tag new ones with those so I can go back in time and look at them.
Monday, March 2, 2009
positive thinking
So the end of a book I was reading, was about positive thinking and the sub-concious. The book was "The Fighter's Body". It's a nutrition book for fighters. It was pretty good over all, reminding me things I forgot, agreeing with things I learned in the past, etc. The last chapter was talking about Doing positive mantras before bed, and first thing in the morning. Things like, I will lose more weight, I will do this, I will do that, etc. The point is to help you stay on course through it all.
2 posts ago, I was whining about not getting the workout I wanted done. I typed "We'll have to see", and something inside me clicked. It was literally like being hit. I heard my voice in my head sternly tell me "YOU WILL DO THE PUSH UPS TONIGHT". Which is what lead to the rest of the line.
Not bad for one night of thinking positively as I was going to sleep. I didn't even do it this morning.
Even typing this up, I feel better about myself, and what I have to do. I'm looking around the room, and seeing books I have to read, and the thoughts are "oh yes, they will be read", and things are falling in on how they will be read.
My head feels like it's going to explode with all the positive thoughts going through it right now. Some of the things going through my head are starting to scare me, and I'm smiling....
2 posts ago, I was whining about not getting the workout I wanted done. I typed "We'll have to see", and something inside me clicked. It was literally like being hit. I heard my voice in my head sternly tell me "YOU WILL DO THE PUSH UPS TONIGHT". Which is what lead to the rest of the line.
Not bad for one night of thinking positively as I was going to sleep. I didn't even do it this morning.
Even typing this up, I feel better about myself, and what I have to do. I'm looking around the room, and seeing books I have to read, and the thoughts are "oh yes, they will be read", and things are falling in on how they will be read.
My head feels like it's going to explode with all the positive thoughts going through it right now. Some of the things going through my head are starting to scare me, and I'm smiling....
That's probably going to hurt.
Just one more thing on me that will.
I trimmed my nails a little while ago. My toe nails. On my left foot, the smallest toe... about half of the nail is gone now. I didn't realize it was cutting it... I just lined the clippers up like normal, and clipped. But when I looked down (something I can't do when trimming), I noted that too much went with it.
I lack the flexibility to see and trim at the same time on that foot. It's improving, but slowly.
Did my push ups...
Week 1, day 1, column 3 of the 100 push up challenge. I hate starting over, YET AGAIN, but such is life. I did them slow today. Usually I pump through them quickly. I decided I want to try and do a slower pace this attempt.
Push-ups, with 1 minute rest between each set.
10
12
7
7
15
By the way, I hurt. Neck, shoulder, left arm at the elbow and wrist. slept on it wrong late last week.
I trimmed my nails a little while ago. My toe nails. On my left foot, the smallest toe... about half of the nail is gone now. I didn't realize it was cutting it... I just lined the clippers up like normal, and clipped. But when I looked down (something I can't do when trimming), I noted that too much went with it.
I lack the flexibility to see and trim at the same time on that foot. It's improving, but slowly.
Did my push ups...
Week 1, day 1, column 3 of the 100 push up challenge. I hate starting over, YET AGAIN, but such is life. I did them slow today. Usually I pump through them quickly. I decided I want to try and do a slower pace this attempt.
Push-ups, with 1 minute rest between each set.
10
12
7
7
15
By the way, I hurt. Neck, shoulder, left arm at the elbow and wrist. slept on it wrong late last week.
my plan
Here is what I want my work outs to look like. I actually have it writen down, and now putting it here. But so far I'm made of fail. All I got done today, was the yoga, and I even had problems with that.
M: ETK, 100 Pushups, Yoga
Tu: ETK & Martial Arts
W: Pushups, Fit Deck, and Teaching Self Defense classes
Th: ETK & Martial Arts
F: ETK & Pushups, some grease the grove pullups.
Sa: Martial Arts, some grease the grove pullups.
Su: Kettlebell DVD, some grease the grove pullups or rest depending on how I feel.
I could do some modding this week and see if I Can salvage it by starting a day late.
We'll have to see. Screw it, I'm doing the push ups tonight, and I'll do the ETK one day off this week. Its not fail, unless I sit and suffer in my self pitty and do nothing.
M: ETK, 100 Pushups, Yoga
Tu: ETK & Martial Arts
W: Pushups, Fit Deck, and Teaching Self Defense classes
Th: ETK & Martial Arts
F: ETK & Pushups, some grease the grove pullups.
Sa: Martial Arts, some grease the grove pullups.
Su: Kettlebell DVD, some grease the grove pullups or rest depending on how I feel.
I could do some modding this week and see if I Can salvage it by starting a day late.
We'll have to see. Screw it, I'm doing the push ups tonight, and I'll do the ETK one day off this week. Its not fail, unless I sit and suffer in my self pitty and do nothing.
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