My bout with the bugbear virus is over with. I had a minor set back when I tried to format and reinstall xp pro. But that was fixed by downloading a few utilities to check the disk and partition it and format it. Nothing like a clean install of an os. Now I just need a bit of luck and I should be all good.

Well I got hit by the Bugbear virus that’s been making it around the net lately. This is the first time I have ever got this kind of virus. This page has a lot of info on this little bastard.

This thing spreads by sending out e-mails to all the people in your address book. To make it even worse it also will disable the popular anti-virus and firewall programs. It also infects a number of popular programs.

And of course it gets even better. This thing also creates a backdoor into your computer so hackers can do whatever it is they do. This is the part that makes me nervous. Here is a list of things they can do with this backdoor this virus creates:

• get information about infected computer
• upload and download files
• start files
• delete files
• terminate processes
• get process list
• start keylogger
• start HTTP server on a selected port

Did you notice the keylogger entry? Yeah that’s just great. Here are the specifics on the keylogging feature of this bug:

It saves user’s keystrokes into a file with a random name and DLL extension located in Windows System folder. The worm periodically sends this file to a randomly selected e-mail address from the list of addresses stored together with the corresponding SMTP server names inside the worm’s body.

I don’t know jack about these kinds of things. But this virus sounds like it’s a clever piece of software (or whatever it’s classified as). I just hope my pc is clean now. I downloaded a few different programs to try to make sure this thing is purged from my pc. As a last resort I’ll just reformat and reinstall my os. I’m not going to dick around with this thing. I’m due for it anyway.

This post regards the mmorpg Dark Age of Camelot. I have been playing the game since after a few weeks of it’s release. I have one character that I’ve been playing since that time. Turk Shakespeare the Mercenary. I play over on the Bors server on the side of Albion. When I started playing I wasn’t very social. In fact I was pretty anti-social.

I used to tease people that played these games and got into them heavily. I joined a guild not to soon after I started playing. The guild is called the Acolytes of Destruction. I didn’t really know the people in the guild that well. I didn’t try to hard to get to know them either. I just kept to myself and did my thing.

That of course has all changed. I run the guild site (not the guild) and I happen to know a lot of the people that are in the guild. The whole reason for this post is that I had received some shit from a real life friend about playing the game. About how far I had got into it. I tried to explain that it’s not a bad thing, playing this game and getting into it.

He even commented about how it’s like a 3d chat client. Not in those words per say, but he was close enough. I suppose it is. But the thing is, I consider these guys and gals I play with all good friends. Sure there are some I don’t know so well. Sure some of them I don’t know on a real name basis. But that’s not the point. I enjoy the company of these people in this virtual world we play in.

My real life friend didn’t mean anything by the comments. I know that. He likes giving me shit and that’s ok. Given the chance he would get into as much as I have. But his comments did give me the idea to write about all this stuff.

One of these days he may get the chance. I have a second account and it’s just sitting there at the moment. So maybe one of these days I can get him to pop on and say hello to all these guild buddies of mine. And maybe, just maybe he will get into it as much as I have.

So it’s been pretty quiet as of late. Which is a good thing. But it makes updating the website hard. Work continues to sap the life out of me. I’m stuck working the weekends now for no good reason. The only thing I can guess is that they don’t want the other guy working when it’s busy.

No more has been mentioned about me doing a website for the hotel. I assume they are unwilling to meet my demands. Which is ok because I really do have to get to work on the library site. I’ve been putting it off because I was waiting to see what the people at the hotel would say. But no answer translates into a no. And that’s ok.

The library gig is going to be a challenge. The server they have is a Windows based system. This will be the first time I messed around in that kind of environment. It shouldn’t be that bad. But I’m just a little nervous and maybe a little excited about it. It’s going to be a good experience.

Other than all this I’m also trying to get my main character in Dark Age of Camelot to level 50. I’m sitting at 42 right now. And I only have about a bub to go. With the newest patch that introduces the free level 20/30 characters I’m kind of anxious to get in and try some different stuff. Also player housing may be introduced here at the end of the month. Which will be neat depending on how it all works out. Of course cost will also be another deciding factor in how neat housing really is.

So last night the hotel had an Employee Appreciation Pool Party. I know it just sounds like a shit load of fun doesn’t it? Well I didn’t get in to the party until the last hour, so I can’t honestly say how it was.

I did grab a few shots of some co-workers. These pictures are of only really three people. My favorite target Stan “Is going to fucking pay for the dog remark” Lee, Jay, and Matt. Stan has been mentioned before on this site. Jay and Matt are the hotels only two regular set up guys and they are both long timers.

The only comment I will make is this. After everyone left I made my way to the frontdesk. Two of the party goers had just come back from te bar across the street. Dave a security guy and the Prince (best nickname I can think up). Part of the reason I went in to the party was to see if the Prince and his buddy (not Dave) would be there. I wanted to get a chance to converse with the guy and get to know him. To see if maybe I was wrong in what I thought of these two people.

So were are all standing at the desk and the Prince asks Dave if he would come join him in the hotel bar. Now I was standing right there. I would have gone down and had a drink with him, if asked. But I guess I’m just not good enough to drink with the Prince.

Oh well. I’m not going to lose no sleep over it. But it just confirms what I think about these people. So it goes.

Man I hate having to repeat myself. But since this time it was the Owner who brought up this subject I’ll be all nice and polite. Three demands have to be met if I’m going to do a website for the hotel.

1. I need a decent pc out at the frontdesk. Because I will not come in any other time. Third shift is when I work.
2. I need a raise.
3. I need a internet connection for at work, paid by work.

Pretty simple. But it is all of these or I can’t help the hotel. It’s that kind of deal. The Library gig looks to be back on track so I don’t have time to dick around with you people at the hotel.

Also you (the hotel) want my help. I don’t write proposals. And I don’t audition. You need to know what it is you want and you need to put it on paper. Not the other way around. Sophisticated? Again you tell me what it is you need and I’ll tell you how sophisticated it can be.

But this is all a moot point if the above demands can not be met. Don’t waste my time with this hotel website business until these above items are resolved.

I’m the kind of guy who likes to learn new things. I never said I was the smartest guy in the world. I don’t think I try to portray myself this way here on my website.

So it’s pretty neat when I’m introduced to new ideas. I like new ideas. as I said, I’m open to learning new things. I learned something new today. For example today I learned about something called a False Dilemma (defined below courtesy of The Don Juan).

A limited number of options (usually two) is given, while in reality there are more options. A false dilemma is an illegitimate use of the “or” operator.

Putting issues or opinions into “black or white” terms is a common instance of this fallacy.

My problem (I guess) is that I do see things in “black and white”, I always have. But of course that is a simple way of putting it. I would have to point you to the Yin and Yang from Chinese Philosophy if I had to put a label on my way of thinking.

The universe is run by a single principle, the Tao, or Great Ultimate. This principle is divided into two opposite principles, or two principles which oppose one another in their actions, yin and yang. All the opposites one perceives in the universe can be reduced to one of the opposite forces.

It just kind of makes sense to me. But of course what the hell do I know?. Of course old Willie could answer the question of me being either an l33t H4x0r or a f4g0t ñ00b. Shit maybe even Willie’s way of thinking has shades of black and white. I guess it’s all a matter of your point of view.

Of course another favorite Philosopher of mine summed it up the best. “Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one” said the great Harry Callahan. And that’s all of this boils down to. Think what you want. I’m not going to be able to change your mind. And I won’t even try.