Introduction 
Hello everyone. Well I've been here at Lightspeed for almost five years now and I love it. I was a user of the product for over 7 years as an IT manager with a local engineering company, beginning with the very first commercially available Lightspeed Software product, IP Magic.
Here at Lightspeed, it's likely I've spoken with you while I was in Support, or maybe as a trainer in our Professional Development Services dept., or now as a Installation & Implementation Specialist. If I haven't yet, I hope we will meet over the phone doing training, at one of the Lightspeed events, or doing an upgrade or new installation for you. We also offer a growing list of Training options. See our Training Center wiki page for more info.
Feel free to email me about Lightspeed, or relating to one of my hobbies. I'd love to go riding or shooting with ya anytime... 
-Wayne
P.S. Lightspeed is located in part of the original section of Downtown Bakersfield, CA. Bakersfield is an Oil and Ag city near the middle of California, located in the southern end of the San Joaguin Valley. Our Building is a historic turn-of-the-century building. It was originally build for Standard Oil of California, now known as Chevron. We love our building!
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| Our building | Bike parking @ Lightspeed | cira 1920 |
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What is the meaning of i.e and e.g.?
i.e. means "that is" - it's from the latin "id est"
- I like to eat vegetables ( i.e. I enjoy their taste )
or - Christians read their Holy Book, i.e. the Bible, everyday.
e.g. means "for example" - it's from the latin "exempli gratia"
- I like to eat vegetables ( e.g. carrots and broccoli )
or - There are many people who believe in God, e.g. Christians.
Windows and Linux - Install multiple apps at once without toolbars or clicking Next
If you build or rebuild PCs or Linux workstations this site is unbelievably handy. It gives you the ability to pre-select which common software you'd like to install, then run it once. Then "all" you have selected will be downloaded and installed for you in one unattended operation.
Also, I recommend you take a few minutes, maybe while you have nothing to click while this installs everything for you, and read their Blog entry on "How Ninite was named by a computer program" It's very interesting, and I'll bet you've never heard of this before. It also has a link to the code so that can do the same for yourself
Lightspeed's "safe" URL shorteners.
These shorteners will not allow Porn or Security related addresses to be created into a short URL, such as Proxys or Torrents. Read about it; here
or
SME = Subject Matter Expert
Each of the Software Support Engineers here at Lightspeed have been asked to add an SME page to our Wiki space. Mine is SPAM.
I love spam, or I love to hate spam. It intrigues me. As a network administrator, I spend a lot of time learning about spam, why it exists, why some users or addresses seam to get more than others, what works to block it, and now how to best use the Lightspeed TTC software to most effectively block it.
In this tab, I will primarily focus on the Lightspeed SMB. For a more general information on spam, please see my "Geek Stuff" tab.
Spam Basics for the TTC Administrator
The Number 1 thing to know; Blocking spam is NEVER a set and forget exercise. The large professional Spammers constantly change the methods they use to get past spam filters, therefore the spam filter must constantly be monitored and adjusted as needed to counter new methods.
Yes your TTC can automatically adjust for many of the changes, but that is dependent on a number of it's settings being set correctly too, but others require your monitoring, and reaction. Of course Support is always here to aid you for anything you are not sure of, or cannot get to work correctly.
Settings we see that are most commonly incorrect
Your DNS. Spam identification is VERY dependent on the DNS server(s) your TTC box uses. Many, many spam problems are caused by improper or poor DNS resolution.
Bayesian info:
We get a lot of question about Bayesian, largely because it is misunderstood as to what it is, and how it works
This is as good an explanation as I've seen that Laymen and the average admin will gain from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayesian_spam_filtering
I was a network administrator for an engineering company for 8 years, 9 years as an engineering and telecomm support tech for a trans-continental pipeline before that. An offshore oil platform support engineer for a year of start up, and an engineer tech for Getty Oil Co. after finishing my 4 year tour in the Marine Corps as an avionics tech, which included an Aircraft Carrier deployment wherein we were the on-station air support for the ill fated Iranian Embassy Hostage rescue attempt May of 1980.
As a Network Admin; user support, network security, and reliable up time were my primary objectives. Among other resources, using Lightspeed products contributed to that success. I have no words to describe how thrilled I am to now be able to work FOR Lightspeed.
Over the years, I've learned and collected some interesting and effective practices, many of which are applicable in the enterprise, and at home on your family computer(s). I'll share what I can here in this space:
Security
Spend some time and become familiar with what this guy has to say. He is noting short of a genius, and everything but his HD tool is free http://www.grc.com
This is another really smart guy, and his free solution. This will save you more grief on a home PC that anything you can buy, and it takes ZERO resources http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
My favorite PC newsletter. And it's free too, unless you want the expanded paid version, which, get this, YOU decide how much you want to pay for it. http://windowssecrets.com/
Another great site with a number of free resources http://www.auditmypc.com/
Here is a site that compares the top 5 "Best" AntiVirus programs. Notice Symantec (Norton) and McAfee are not listed. That is because they are big and well known, but are not that good
http://lifehacker.com/395046/five-best-antivirus-applications
If you want to see how they do compare, see this site, but it's a bit techy.
http://www.av-comparatives.org/
For an easier comparison, see the Lightspeed comparison page
http://www.lightspeedsystems.com/Compare/AntivirusComparison.aspx
Personal Info Security
Here is a site that allows you to keep passwords and other info you need kept secure and private, but need easy access to it from the internet, or a standard USB device. It's security is VERY good for both.
http://www.clipperz.com
SPAM
Oh yea..., I have a thing or two to say about spam. Return soon for my expose'
Here is some handy info about a free tool for Norton / Symantec users
Its known as the Norton Removal Tool or NRT
(for Windows OS)
Wikipedia page providing some info and describing what products it will work with Wikipedia Norton Removal tool
This is the link to Symantec's NRT page. On this page, you will need to select the product you have that you wish to remove, or that your Add/Remove program uninstall did not work for. NOTE: in nearly all cases where it does complete, Symantec is notorious about leaving items behind, even items that are still running. You may want to run the NRT afterwords anyway.
Or here is a link to just download the NRT directly, from Softpedia
Or if you still have problems try this site with step-by-step manual instructions. This may be of particular use for products not covered by the NRT.
Disclaimer: Use this at your own risk. This is not a Lightspeed product or an endorsement of the tool or process. This is provided only as a reference. You may research it further by searching for Norton Removal Tool in Bing, Google or your favorite search engine.
Advice from the Richest man in the world !
In Bill Gates' book, Business @ the Speed of Thought, he lays out
11 rules that students do not learn in high school or college, but should.
He argues that our feel-good, politically correct teachings have created a
generation of kids with no concept of reality who are set up for failure in
the real world. You might be interested in his list:
Rule 1:
Life is not fair, get used to it! (This should be on a bumper sticker. I'd
be the first to buy one!)
Rule 2:
The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to
accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.
Rule 3:
You will NOT make 40 thousand dollars a year right out of high school.
You won't be a vice president with a car phone, until you earn both.
Rule 4:
If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. He doesn't
have tenure.
Rule 5:
Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grand-parents had a
different word for burger flipping; they called it opportunity.
Rule 6:
If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault. So don't whine about your
mistakes; learn from them.
Rule 7:
Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now.
They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and
listening to you talk about how cool you are. So before you save the rain
forest from parasites of your parent's generation, try "delousing" the
closet in your own room.
Rule 8:
Your school may have done away with winners and losers; but life has not.
In some schools, they have abolished failing grades; they'll give you as
many times as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the
slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.
Rule 9:
Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few
employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own
time.
Rule 10:
Television is NOT real life. In real life, people actually have to leave
the coffee shop and go to jobs.
Rule 11:
Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one!
My LSS FTP link
ftp://download.lssys.com/wayne NOTE: must use ftp not http
Hobbies
When I'm not at work, camping with my family, or out with the scouts, you can find me riding motorcycles. Not those marketed to the wantabe biker crowd either, but something with a bid more of a challenge.
In Central California we can ride nearly year round. When it's too cold or snowy in the mountains, we ride to the ocean. The roads are world renound.
If you live or will be riding in So Cal anytime, let me know and I'll see if we can hook up... and I don't care what bike you ride, I've got good friends, and even relatives, who ride some of those other bikes.... lol
Come back often, I'll post more pics soon.
At the Track
And when I'm not riding with my son and our friends, we are at the track. No I don't putter around watching the lads speed by, but in fact I'm the one schooling them. No one but the best racers can put a wheel on me, and many of them I can best with my street legal ride, a 2002 CBR 954.
Everyone asks, how fast does it go...
On the track, I regularly hit 155 to 160.
But my son who is 50 lbs lighter than me, has hit 178, at a special place for straightline runs. So far I've only gotten 171 out of my red headed girl friend.
clicking on any pic will make it bigger.
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| Let's get Serious | Me and My son  |
My Red Rocket ! |
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My New Bikes, and My Track Bike..., or how I get my FAST on !
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| 2004 RMZ-250 | 2005 CRF450x | Life at 90...mph |
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Camping... Family Style
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| Where we camp | Campfire Smores | Whit N Ross | A ride with the kids |
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Scouting
This is only a fraction of the Boy Scout activities my Sons, their Troop, and I have done over the past few years. The Big news is yet to come; one son, Ross has his Eagle project completed and submitted. The other two, Reid and Rhett, have just begun their Eagle Projects.
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| My three sons and Me | Scout Camp 2007 - Camp Kern |
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Troop's annual Snow campout, and hike to the summit of Mt Pinos
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Annual campout in the desert - Red Rock Canyon
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Scouts experiencing a 'Mountain Man Rendezvous' in the spring - complete with Caber tossing and 'hawk' throwing, among many others
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Is there anything more American than Scouts with Guns!
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Once in a lifetime experience, 100 year celebration of Scouting - 2007 Jamborall
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Annual Fund Raiser Golf Tournament - Thank You to ALL our gracious Sponsors
Here are some high quality items I have for sale. Unless stated, all prices are negotiable... cash talks Email or call on my cell phone if you are interested, or would like more info. Thanks for looking.
Samsung ML 2010 laser w/ 2 year advanced replacement warranty
- Brand new, never even out of the box. Save: No Tx and no SH - $75
Windows Small Business Server 2003 - Premium Edition (Full Ed., not an upgrade or OEM)
- Brand new, never used, installed or registered. Includes: 5 CALs, plus - Outlook 2003 and Front Page 2003
- Make an offer $
'99 Honda Odyssey - $6500 obo (Pics to follow)
This vehicle we bought new when one had to be on a waiting list. It's been an absolute joy to own and drive. It carries 7 people in comfort and easy. It drives like an Accord, not a van. It gets up to 27MPG on the hwy, and can pass anything reasonable out there.
'84 Honda VT500 Ascot - $1800 firm
I love this bike, but I love my new one better, so something has to go, and my wife doesn't want to sell the other one that she doesn't ride either, (a YSR50), so this one gets the nod.
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'84 Honda XR500 - $900 obo
It's an XR500, what more is there to say. It's in good shape, but not great. It will climb anything, and as big thumbers go, not too hard to start.
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