New layout

While working on a new post that will be available tonight, I got bored of my old layout from 2006.  You may have noticed the new look and feel.  It isn’t much, really.  I only tweaked a WordPress themes layout a little and made a header from an image I took last summer.

I am off to do some domestics (cleaning, homework.) The I started on this afternoon will be up soon.

Brian McManus

More on Magic Valley Bank

If you haven’t read my previous post, read it first.

Magic Valley Bank, as expected, got back with me regarding my experience with them.  They added more salt to the wound, really.

My name was misspelled,  and of course he didn’t provide me with any information as to how they were rectifying the problems I experienced, how they would make it up to me (for example, letting me know I could still open an account), and they didn’t spell out if in fact the policy Stephanie stated is a business policy of theres, or if she had it wrong.

Read for yourself–

From: Jerry Smith <removed>
To: Brian McManus <bmcmanus@gmail.com>
CC: Curt Hecker <removed>, Robert Clancy
<removed>
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:32:07 -0700

Brain,
Thank you for your email. I have tried to contact you via phone, but have n=
ot been successful.  Your letter points to better training in attitude, kno=
wledge, and business practices is what makes or breaks successful businesse=
s is right on, and actually mirrors our customer experience strategy.  I am=
sorry we have lost your account, but gratified that we were able to assist=
you by bringing an awareness to you of the clerical error made by your pri=
or bank and that that error was removed from your records.   Thank you agai=
n for taking the time to write us and  let us know of your concern and poin=
ting out very good customer experience issues we learn from and train on.
Sincerely Yours,
Jerry
Bank President

Open Source Middleware for IPTV

<pimp project>

I would to invite any video geeks, telecom, open source IPTV geeks to join the project Toroid, an open source middleware for IPTV systems.

There is literally hundreds of commercial, and personal uses for Toroid..  People can use it to do digital signage within their company.  You can stream video and audio to TV’s in your offices, customer service desks, etc.  You can use it at a school to provide educational channels, and at your home as a hobbyist to stream multiple video sources and channels to your TV.

Telecoms will use it to provide a great user experience to cable tv (IPTV)  subscribers, at a less expensive cost!

So check it out, download it, and subscribe to the mailing lists!

</pimp project>

Things sure have changed, living in a new generation

I’m not going to spew the usual catch phrases and mantra about “It’s a new generation,” or say horrible things like “It’s an iGeneration.”  I’m late to the game, but I’m just so excited for Google Docs, and more specifically their live form service for spreadsheets.

Playing around today, I created the “Brians Friends and Family Birthday Registry.”  Give it a whirl, and try out your own Google Docs form!

Dear Blog Readers you are invited on a new journey

My blog is going to take a bit of a different direction.  Often times I blogged for others, or for myself but not very often.  I would whine or complain.  This morning I am changing this tool to something more useful– a notebook.   A journal of ideas, a lot of silly jots and rants.  So every few nights I will take my random thoughts through out the day.  Most of these are thought of, and then I elaborate on them later if I can recall them.  The largest trouble I have is recalling thoughts like these, I have mild memory imparement.

Keep in mind that at first these rants and details running through my mind might not seem to be fluid, well written, grammatically correct or spelled well.  That’s because they are fluid thoughts.  My writing expertise will improve and I will master this skill.
Without any further adieu–

Earlier in the day — 09JUL07

Idealist, realists.. Opportunists… and how this applies to business.

Managers often times adopt an idealist attitude — “Lets have goal x,” understanding less critical details than that of an employee (or technician in my case.)

Employees quickly become realists doing the every day mundane tasks, constantly working with every detail and day to day road blocks and problems that arise.  This is because they deal with minute details, not seeing the overall “grand” picture, perhaps a budget, a bad market, or the fact that the company may be facing very hard times if it does not migrate it’s business objective..

Neither are wrong (managers or employees), it’s just two seperate idealogies and perspectives.  The most common problem is that this may allow for a lot of miscommunication.

A symptom of this miscommunication may be that subordinates feel disempowered.  Espescially if they don’t feel part of a common goal.  To bring up morale and increase communication managers need to allow ideas to feel welcome, even if they seem incongruent with the common goals, or their perceptions.  At the same time, boundaries must be politely enforced, for example: “Every idea is a great idea… and I appreciate your passion regarding this subject but your suggestion has a better fit when working with ….x….”  But employees must not feel disvalued or as if the idea had no worth.

–Separate thought about miscommunication across company divisions because of intelligence differences?  although i’ve seen some idiots manage others.  “large corporations” may see this more and more as their hiring practices may be extremely critical and degree based, like Google for example and having mathematical doctorates as vice presidents.  I often don’t put a lot of weight on degrees (I think they are valuable, however, I see a lot of useless people having them.  Useless meaning they have no value to me or my path or my journey… I absolutely believe everyone has value.)

Tue 10 Jul 2007 12:57:44 AM MDT  ~ sitting outside thinking

I believe God’s existence is.  When he came to know himself he had to divide himself, once to see himself, and a third time to see how two parts of him look.  All three parts allowing themselves to autonomously see one another.  I’ve been formulating in my mind how we as physical beings do this … but I have been hung up on the third one (the first two were easy, being…)….and a potential thought came to me…

The third dimension to triangulating our “being” (mind, body, spirit) or seeing ourselves  besides reality (yourself, you, how you see yourself…seeing yourself in a mirror(which is seeing yourself through yourself)), and introspection (seeing yourself with your mind) is a third opinion– or outside data, how something else see’s you. so one way to put this maybe… “how you really are, how you see yourself, how something else see’s you.”  although that doesn’t quite seem right, i think i will find better verbiage for this.

I often see third opinions being derived from within yourself through the use of chemical modifications… Something else seeing you, a drug for example.  An alcoholic see’s himself through something else, another experience, a modification, a high.  A drug user can see himself through someone else using a drug.  This possibly isn’t reality, but seeing yourself through introspection and thought isn’t the reality someone else see’s, or the reality that REALLY is your being or existance.

I suppose most obonoxiously seeing yourself through something else  is commonly  through others (and this is perhaps even more parasitic).  this is how society is so acidic and cruel– we see ourselves through others.  “You’re fat, You’re ugly, you’re gay, you’re stupid…  don’t be so stupid…” etc.   when we could see our being through ourselves, or different means.

–Random thought: this thought or belief system that came to mind is espescially true if this “essence of being” or “i exist therefore i am” belief is adopted.

A letter to Mike Simpson

This morning I took a few minutes to scold my congressman Mike Simpson. I wish it was socially acceptable to say something like “I hope one of your gay sons or nephews gets beat up in school, and maybe loses an eye.” or “I work in the same city you grew up in, if you visit, I hope the majority beat s you to a bloody pulp, and they aren’t held liable nor are they able to help you because of your vote” At any rate I was blunt, and politically correct for a Tuesday morning without coffee…

Dear Mr. Simpson:

As your constituent, I am disappointed by your vote in opposition to the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. You turned your back on Americans attacked simply because of who they are. You turned your back on 230 law enforcement, civil rights, civic and religious organizations that endorsed this bill, including the National Sheriffs Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, 26 state attorneys general and the National District Attorneys Association. Over 73% of Americans support legislation like this, yet you opposed it – why?

Each year, thousands of Americans are violently attacked just because they are black, female, Christian or gay. According to the FBI, 25 Americans each day are victims of hate crimes – that means approximately one hate crime is committed every hour. One in six hate crimes are motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation.

I hope that in the future, you’ll do the right thing and vote against hate and against discrimination in all its forms.

Toilet Humor

It’s been a crazy few weeks.  Working. Romping. Dating. Drinking. Outting.  I’ve been spending a lot more time with my new friends Mike and Lynlea.  Speaking of Mike and Lynlea, we will be having a drag party in a few weeks.

Come one, come all.  Bring your wigs and alcohol… and guys… for me. Thanks

MMMM toilet humor!!!!
Brian McManus

Protected: heh

This is not my blog but a post about me from a friend. He refers to me as his best friend or other half. I am going to elaborate on this more later. I posted this quickly so a friend could see.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Brandi Carlile – Throw It All Away

Steve and I must be having the same experience.

—

When you’re near me I have no fear
When I’m untrue you see right through me
You know me as deep as the sea goes
Calm my head whenever the storm blows

When the stars and the moon and the sky fall through,
I throw them all away
When I’m hollow, deep as the sea goes
All I know is I would throw them all away, away…

In my restless hour I’m holding
Words you say that lay my soul to sleep
I dream of buildings that burn
The sky turns black, I toss and turn

When the stars and the moon and the sky fall through,
I throw them all away
When I’m hollow, deep as the sea goes
All I know is I would throw them all away, away…

This love branches out like an oak tree
Reach for the sky and roots to the sea
So when you’re shaking, down and broken,
Find your piece of my mind in knowing

I’d throw them all away
When I’m hollow, deep as the sea goes
All I know is I would throw them all away
When I’m hollow, deep as the sea goes
AllIi know is I would throw them all away, away

Christmas 2006

While friends, family, sons, daughters and parents are fighting in Iraq, we are spending unprecedented amounts on Christmas this year.  Cute!  Sure daddy lost his limbs but check out the Zune mom got us!