So I did some work on the truck this weekend and installed a K&N to make the aireflow go way up but most importantly, I had my exhaust installed.
I decided that the dual exhaust thing was not my bag and not worth the price for me ( to each their own ) so I did a dump with a flow master 40 – end result is below:
I’ll have some more modifications coming for my truck in the next few weeks, but figured this was a great start 
I needed to create a backup for a site that I run today on another server and decided to automate it.
That’s how this script came into being: http://dev.larmeir.com/scripts/server_backup.sh.txt
This script is stupid simple and you can look at the comments on each line of the script and modify it for your own purposes.
I was going to write rotation logic into it but got tired and wanted to go to bed lol! But hey, it’s functional.
You can set this up to be a cron job and it will backup your websites, tar, gzip them, and scp them off to a remote server. It also does the same for your mysql databases.
To make this work, all you have to do is have a passphrase-less key on the remote server using key based auth.
Hope someone else finds this useful as well! – Dustin
Earlier this week I picked up a 2005 Chevy Silverado which will be my hobby/project vehicle.
I’m a computer geek by trade so wanted to do find a hobby that had nothing to do with technology and figured mechanics might be a great relaxer.
Here’s my plans for the Truck over the coming months:
Install a new Radio – I’ve already pulled the dash and loosened the connections so this will be easy when I do this in a couple of weeks.
Performance exhaust system – Not sure which direction I’m going with this one yet, but plan on install a bolt-on performance muffler and possibly dual pipes depending on the deals I can find.
Cold Air-Intake – I’m going to install a air intake to increase horse power and fuel economy.
Exterior Customizations – Not sure what I’ll do with this but may install custom grill, better headlights, a towing hitch, etc.
I think the end results will be pretty satisfying
One of the fundamental challenges of being a manager in IT is being able to retain your skills and keep up with the cutting edge technologies that constantly evolve.
Being a manager of a cutting edge support team myself, I’ve come to realize that there are several things you can do to keep yourself from falling behind and to keep your skills up.
Listed below are some tips that I’ve found useful in my own professional life:
1. Let go of your technical ego – Yes, that’s right. As a manager your role has shifted into leadership. This means that the people who work for you will more than likely know a lot more about the technologies than you do – It’s OK!
2. Keep yourself engaged with technical projects – If you’re slipping behind, get involved in a technical project related to the technology that you want to understand better. If this is not a option, take some time outside of work and study up ( I.e. read up on it, build a working lab, etc.)
3. Don’t be afraid to ask – If you’re unsure how something works then ask someone who knows! This is related to letting go of your ego and letting your subject matter experts fill in the blanks.
4. Do the work as often as possible – I get on the floor and work with the team as much as I possibly can. By doing the work when possible, you’ll be more familiar with the latest technologies and processes, you’ll earn the respect of your team, and you’ll feel good about yourself!
5. Love what you do – If you do not have a passion for managing and want to do the technical work, get back into it. If your managing and not doing so with passion you’ll negatively impact the team and create a miserable experience for yourself.
6. Decompress – Take some time and get away from technology for a bit ( I.e. Weekend fishing trip, vacation, hobby, etc.)
These tips work well for me but may not be a perfect fit for everyone – I do hope that someone benefits from my experience though!
- Dustin
My grill brings out the cave man in me - Nothing better than cooking some meat on the open flame!
Shown above are seasoned/marinated crosscut ribs with a nice char on them. Sooooo tasty
