HOLA (ala U² tune "Vertigo") all,

"New Guy", here - Ready for my "life's story" (heh) & a regular "collage"? Since this is a "getting to know you" kind of thing?? I thought it'd be appropriate to be THOROUGH!

So... that all "said & aside" - Here goes, since this is a "get to know you" type thing:

----
"STARTING ENGINE":
----



My real name's Alexander Peter Kowalski, & I am from the United States of America. I am a multiply degreed (MIS/Comp. Sci.) + multiple time internationally published professional software engineer of 15++ yrs., professionally (Network Administrator/Software Engineer) by trade, & I love the internet (changing the way people THINK, & COMMUNICATE!)

----
"ENGAGING CLUTCH" getting 'into gear':
----

Me, having FUN (celebrating)



Myself & one of my ex's "3 sheets to the wind" on New Year's Eve! LOL, what a nite... I think I had a hangover for 2 days after (I mean, lol, look @ my eyes! Red as stoplights - Dracula had NOTHING on me that night, hehe!)

----
"SHIFTING GEARS" now (1st gear):
----

I like F A S T cars too, & this is my "latest ride":



&



& this was my ride before it, below (God rest "betsy's" (named after the Harold Robbins novel no less) soul - cuz this car? SHE HAD "SOUL"... lol, @ least before I BLEW THE MOTOR (ticked me off large))



(Sure - I'd like to be able to afford the new Jaguar XKR series, but, that's a "wee bit beyond me" lol, @ least for now, gimme a couple years more)...

----
"SHIFTING GEARS" again (2nd gear):
----

I also am a huge fan (& former collegiate NCAA starter/player) of the sport Lacrosse!

(& I come from one of the best, IF NOT THE BEST, places in the world to learn it):

The Central N.Y. State area is currently home of the:

• NCAA Division I champs 10x now, as of today (1983,1988,1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2004, & 2008) Syracuse University

• NCAA Division II champs 3 yr. in a row & iirc, 4x (2007, 2006, 2005, & 2004), & my old 'AlmaMater', Lemoyne College who JUST fell short THIS year, as runner up

• NCAA Division III former champs (& last yr. runner-up) Cortland State

(Here was my last year there, before I got injured & could not play anymore my junior year (I still "lettered" though)):

http://www.lemoynedolphins.com/sport...story/1985.HTM

& that's me, 3rd row on right from bottom - with the "CHEVELLE" T-Shirt on (love hotrods - I had one then in fact 1972 SS Chevelle) + arms folded, & mirrored sunglasses as a sophomore in College:



& these 2 old friends/acquaintances of mine are a couple OF THE GREATEST athletes I have ever known as well below in this sport!





(& I've been exposed to quite a few, All-Americans & the like - these 2, stoodout above the rest, bigtime... & we all grew up together in a town called Camillus N.Y. (suburb of Syracuse) -> Mr. Todd Curry #16 of S.U. & Mr. Tom Korrie #24 of S.U. (& both are formerly from from W.G. Highschool, mentioned below (both are World "Hall of Fame", All-American, you-name-it)))

IN FACT - One of the PROUDEST moments of my life, was scoring against their team as a FRESHMAN player no less! I had in highschool before (I ended up @ a diff. school than W.G. later, because my parents got divorced), but, this was a different level of play - on the collegiate level.

(S.U. is the 10x United States NCAA Lacrosse Champ, & also in 1983-1984, the year we played them in a scrimmage between divisions)

That was @ Coyne Field in front of my parents, my sis, but most importantly in front of my "little bro", Captain John Kowalski, USMC (a hero in his own right - then, he was only 8 yrs. old or so though)!

(@ the end of the game, though we hadn't seen one another in years, Mr. Curry said "GOOD SHOT AL" (they KILLED US, 21-1, but... I got that 1, & stopped the "shut out"))...

LeMoyne (my alma mater) has NEVER been "shut out" in that sport either... & I wasn't going to let THAT happen all those years ago (1st yr. there was a "varsity" team there for this sport no less, & NCAA membership etc.))... that was 1 of 2 times I stopped that (the other was vs. RIT).

Heh, & I absolutely HATE to lose (especially if it's nobody's fault but mine)... I truly do, but that time? I was actually proud anyhow (losing to them was NO dishonor, they were THAT good, legendary in fact!) - It made me realize 1 thing in this life: I can PLAY WITH THE BEST OF THEM, in anything (confidence is key, to success) when I put my heart & soul into things!

I originally come from where even this nation's best highschool team for it (where I initially learned it, kids play it in the neighborhoods there even, vs. baseball & such) is located:



The West Genesee "WILDCATS" High School (ALMOST 24 state championships in a ROW, in one of the hardest league states in the union, a world record) is, in Syracuse N.Y., U.S.A.!

See - I guess my point in showing others in my post here is, that in my life IS that I feel I've been fortunate, in having been exposed to + had around myself, some TRULY great people ("world class", all of them - athletes, computer scientists, educators, & more... God's been GOOD to me, in this respect - people like them? INSPIRE YOU, to do great things (or try to @ least))

(YES - I am very proud of this sports stuff above &, to this day - It was an accomplishment that between good grades & doing ok in highschool sports got me a scholarship all those years ago - it changed my life - Can't have "sound mind" w/ out "sound body" (I must be insane & a physical wreck, right? Hehe) - because of that stuff, I am still an avid fan of being in good shape: It does help you think better too!)

---
"SHIFTING GEARS" once more (3rd gear):
----

My best little buddy is my little niece McKenna (we are going to the zoo today in fact (Sunday - 05/25/2008))



(She is a joy to be around, only 6 yrs. old, but makes me "smell the roses" (that's her saying the word "FLOWER" for the 1st time when she was 1.5yrs. old, after I taught her it, checking out bees, & ants + other stuff kids love) when we go out to play (which is nearly ALWAYS outside, lol) & makes me realize the world's NOT SO BAD, after all!)



And, "There she is", with her pal "Rusty" (whom @ the time, lol, she called "Ru-Tee", she was only 1 yr. old or so!)



She's even my co-worker when I clean (LOL, a rarity - remember, I am a SINGLE guy!) This is my FAV pic of her, & here is why: I was cleaning & lost track of her while I vacuumed... I looked around, & saw here "helping", lol, with the pushbroom! Hilarious, to myself @ least... had to catch her in the act, for posterities' sake & memories!



& here she is getting ready to sleep (after I read her a story of course!) - Can you tell, I really LOVE her? Absolutely... (she's not only my niece, but a wonderful little person & my PAL too!)

---
"SHIFTING GEARS", nearing 'overdrive' (4th gear):
----

My best pals are:

Jack (a private investigator who "keeps me in line" lol & whom I raise hell with on occasion (with him though, gotta watch it, he's a MONSTER @ over 350lbs.!!!))

&

My Tenant @ my home in the lower apartment, Jim (whom I play chess with, he's great (@ least a 1,000 games the past 6 yrs. now, split down the middle, great competition), & whom I "raise hell" with too, lol)... This fellow has one of the greatest personal philosophies I have ever encountered, & that is whomever he meets that day, he aspires to make THEIR day, better...

---
"SHIFTING GEARS", hitting 'overdrive' (5th gear):
----

I also love:

• GREAT Food (one of the simple pleasures in life)

(& am even a 1/2 decent cook (for a guy))

• Great films

"IRON MAN" ruled recently, & Tony Stark's one of my heroes since I was a boy (into comics then), go see it!



It was truly, "inspirational", funny & great action + Special FX... & moreso than just that, it showed that Robert Downey Jr. is BACK (god bless him, the man deserves it, in overcoming adversity... only CHAMPIONS imo, can "pick themselves up off the floor", & overcome adversity!)... perfect guy for the role, & he even LOOKS like the comicbook version of Tony Stark, no less!

(Good film is a "big entertainment" for myself (call me escapist, I don't care, lol!))...

• GREAT TUNES!

Listening to "INXS" & their songs "Never Tear us Apart" & "MYSTIFY" from the "KICK" album, as I edit this... good stuff - too bad their lead singer passed away, just as they were hitting the "top" of their game!

---
"SHIFTING GEARS", (downshifting, & into neutral dropping the clutch, & the "turbo spools down"):
----

And, of course, I love F A S T Computers too... Due to the inspirational qualities of 1 of my "Technical/Intellectual personal Heroes" portrayed EXCELLENTLY by one of you brits (the great David Bowie) no less? The Legendary NIKOLA TESLA (father of radio, the Tesla Coil, & the TESLA TURBINE):



I aspire to be THAT great, but... I am not made of THAT calibre mental material imo - Like sepulchre said below (editing now) "one of the greatest minds there ever was" &, he was. The once in a 100 yrs. mind/per generation imo! Also, Per the film "IRON MAN" above? "Well, I'm NOT Tony Stark"... but, we try!

Anyhow - that's me below "Dreaming in Digital" (a forums board member did this for me, years ago, & I still have it):



"GHOST IN THE MACHINE..."/"Deus Ex Machina..."



* So... anyhow/anyways, There 'tis! Pleased to make your acquaintance - I have stayed off forums boards (for roughly a year now) in order to keep all my time devoted to making money & discharging other of life's duties, but You all can thank (or, lol NOT thank) Cat-Tranz for getting my attention & getting me into YOUR forums here...

APK

P.S.=> Also - during my stay here so far, I have noted that many of you I have are from the UK, & my fav. so far? Cat-Tranz... she's really nice! Plus, you Brits? Well - you have one of my "screen heroes" as one of your major BBC1 shows, in "Doctor Who" & that all said & aside?

I also do freeware development for a hobby! Here is my "latest creation", in honor of the longest running Sci-Fi (big fan of this genre, often called "THE LITERATURE OF CHANGE") series on the planet, which is again, Doctor Who (1962-present):

================================
APK Doctor Who ScreenSaver 2008++
================================



http://www.drwhodaily.com/community/...st=0#entry1550

================================

It's 100% free, & of fairly 'advanced' design!

• Multithreaded coded engines (2-6 threads depending on its stage of operation)

• "1 moving part only design" single .scr executable structure (via internal resource storage of the animation it plays (the new series 3d intro) as a memory accessible resource!)

• It is even self-checking vs. virus & corruption (in other words, binary viruses CANNOT affect it without it knowing & shutting itself DOWN to stop 'spreading the disease')

... & it was developed in the FASTEST combination of code I know possible - Borland Delphi 7.x highly optimized by compiler & by profiling by hand (via hi-res multimedia timers), Win32 API calls, & Inline Assembler code.

If you like Dr. Who? You may like this one - It was MY tribute to that show & I've loved it since I was a young boy, the concept's excellent, + is always a good "morality play" & the world today needs MORE of that (do the right thing type stuff)...

======

PLUS - I am only a 'sort of a "brand new guy"' here, because around 6 months ago here? I put up a guide onto your forums here:

-----

HOW TO SECURE Windows 2000/XP/Server 2003 & VISTA, plus make it "fun to do", via CIS Tool Guidance:

http://www.thenewtech.com/forums/ope...03-vista-3550/

-----

That was part of my "New Year's Resolution" to "DO A GOOD DEED"... & so far, that's gone pretty well, here & elsewhere online! It got me paid $100 even (the "lord works in mysterious ways"), QUITE unexpectedly, & that was a surprise over @ PCPitstop.com, - but, not unappreciated!

(All in all - The guide was to help others stay as SAFE as possible online, on their Windows machines (2000/XP/Server 2003 & VISTA even))

So far, "worldwide", across 20 computer-oriented forums? On 15 of them, that guide has been made an:

• "ESSENTIAL GUIDE" (5)

• "STICKY/PINNED THREAD" (5)

• Rated "5/5 STARS" (5)

I was "just doing my part", to stop the misguided scum that make us computer programmers look bad - virus/spyware/trojan/rootkit creators - & thus, SO FAR, judging by the results?

Well - I suppose I got my New Year's Resolution accomplished by the looks of it... (& this, is good + what "went around, came around" in getting that prize from PCPitstop (was nice surprise, for doing what I felt was "the right thing"))!

(Thus, you KNOW I'm into computers - I do them both for a living & hobby (been fortunate to have found a career I enjoy is all, & I thank God for that @ least))... apk

Nice to meet you, Alexander. (Do you prefer Al?) It seems that not all of you photos are here, but those that are are cool. Sharp ride! Gotta love Robert Downey Jr. I do want to see Iron Man as well. Great shot of David Bowie from The Prestige, too - another excellent film. Yes, Tesla was one of the greatest minds ever to have lived, I think.
Good to have you here!
Ken ~

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Nice to meet you, Alexander. (Do you prefer Al?)

Ah, we meet @ last (I saw your name, VERY classy, good word... In fact, I noticed you in the forums JUST BY YOUR HANDLE/NICK here!)

Likewise/My Pleasure... & APK or Alex will do fine!

Originally Posted by sepulchre

It seems that not all of you photos are here, but those that are are cool.

Well, they're about the "great times in my life" more-or-less... doing a post like this? Well, it really got me thinking & appreciating existence thusfar!

( & things/situations/places + GREAT people in various areas, that helped ME, become me... could NOT have done it w/ out 'em! )

This post, I've NEVER done one like it - again, it TRULY got me to "think over my life" & realize, it's been good so far...

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Sharp ride!p

Thanks, just got it in LATE 2006, & only put 15,000 miles on it so far... way under the yearly avg. of 13k/yr....

(Keeping it in GOOD shape, because I told my little niece Kenna above it would be hers one day (10 yr./100,000 mile warranty, best in business? I'll make it!))

Why? Well - SHE LIKES CARS TOO, bigtime... which I think is great!

When we drive together? LOL, she likes to help me "shift" (std. stick, the "ONLY WAY TO FLY") which is good to see imo! Learning early... which is good, because she'll probably end up being a great driver one day.

Hey - I've had it up to 140++ mph before... spooky what they can do with 6 cylinders nowadays.

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Gotta love Robert Downey Jr. I do want to see Iron Man as well.

Isn't he cool?

He truly has TONS of "range" (ability to be absolutely DIFFERENT people in his roles, the mark of a great "thespian" imo @ least). & I am happy to see he has overcome his adversities, because he IS a great one...

(We all stumble, now & then in this life, in 1 way, shape, or form... but trick is? HOW MANY OF US CAN PICK OURSELVES UP OFF THE FLOOR??)

Absolutely - DO go see it!

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Great shot of David Bowie from The Prestige, too - another excellent film.

It is!

I call that screenshot above (Yes, LOL, giving it a name): "Tesla comes walking in from another dimension"

It is from my fav. scene in the film... that, & what transpired afterwards (where Tesla warns Angiers to "go home, forget this thing... I can recognize an obsession: No GOOD will come of it!")

... & he was right.

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Yes, Tesla was one of the greatest minds ever to have lived I think.

I agree, 110%... & what Edison did to him? MONSTROUS... just because he could not STAND there was someone better & smarter than HE was...

(It just goes to show you what egos + monies do to people... that is the type of stuff that makes me sad to be human, & think that "DOGS ARE BETTER PEOPLE THAN PEOPLE" @ times!)

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Good to have you here!Ken ~

Cool, nice to meet " U ² " ...



APK

Hiya Alex Welcome to TNT "like reading your posts on MS Windows, not my fave OS but each to there own", hope you enjoy yourself hun

Originally Posted by Cat-tranz

Hiya Alex Welcome to TNT

Hey there... (Do I know you? Kidding around (of course I do - you're my fav. person here))



* OH - by-the-by: Have you tried that HOSTS file yet? Let me know @ some point your thoughts on it... thanks!

Originally Posted by Cat-tranz

"like reading your posts on MS Windows, not my fave OS but each to there own", hope you enjoy yourself hun

Heh - I actually liked doing a "human being oriented" post (for once, hehe) better... Instead of my usual "completely computerized ones", lol! (Hey: I need a break from computing ones once in a bit... I keep those up? I'll end up a BORG from Star Trek, OR, a Dr. Who 'Cyberman'!!!)

APK

Hey Alex/APK! It's nice meeting you. That's one of the most intense intros that I've seen on a forum. I've seen longer ones, but not interesting. Thanks for sharing.

When I first saw LaCrosse, I knew I was going to play it. My parents bought me a "stick with a net" as they called it and my best friend and I threw a ball around all the time. Then I found out when we moved that there were no schools in this area with a team, nor even a notion of what it was. When I went to college, it was in the books, but not on any programs. So alas, I was resolved to baseball all my life until I got into volleyball in HS and then in college. I still love watching it. It seems like a great game of skill and finesse, not to mention endurance. But I only got to watch it on TV.

I used to watch Dr. Who, the old series; he was the man! And I love a lot of British actors and comedians. Maybe it's because of the funny way they talk (just kidding for Cat and Ian).

BTW, I've seen Ironman twice and I really enjoyed it.

Thanks for sharing.

Dave

Lunchbreak almost over, back @ home now (reported in to work in person this a.m. @ 9:00, & that's outta the way now, so back home):

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

Hey Alex/APK! It's nice meeting you.

Likewise... you also "got my attention" in a "pm" (comment on a post) to me, also (so, it was NOT just Cat that did so here on your forums). Sorry about the "tiny mishap" today too...

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

That's one of the most intense intros that I've seen on a forum. I've seen longer ones, but not interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Well, like I state in my opening? I figured "Why not? Be thorough & complete", which I like doing anyhow... details, matter, in most things! I never did a post like it before, & it was a good thing for me, & got me to "look over my life" thusfar, & great folks that influenced me.

Too bad it is considered a 'downside' nowadays - the world wants "instant info." but, is often willing to overlook "details/fine points" & in doing that? Well... "one slip, sink a ship".

Mgt. especially NEEDS it, in this field: What is sad is, MOST mgt. I have had have NEVER DONE THE JOB THEMSELVES... they NEED the detail so they are informed, if ANYONE does... screwed up world today (leaders leading others who have not done the jobs of their subordinates themself... something is fundamentally WRONG with that concept).

I see TOO MUCH of that in the 'business world' (haven of snakes imo, lol)... way, WAY too much of it.

"Brevity" is NOT possible (or rather, ADVISABLE), in a field (computers) of detail, imo... because it is a complex world, w/ MANY facets. Miss one step, blow your system in other words.

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

When I first saw LaCrosse, I knew I was going to play it. My parents bought me a "stick with a net" as they called it and my best friend and I threw a ball around all the time. Then I found out when we moved that there were no schools in this area with a team, nor even a notion of what it was. When I went to college, it was in the books, but not on any programs.

It's been around since the United States was formed (& before that, as Native Americans often used it to settle tribal disputes, better than WARS, by far... imo @ least). In some ways? Those folks were FAR smarter than we are, today.

I wonder how many wars we'd have, if the politicians kids were out on the front line getting shot @ as my brother had, you know?

Oh, editing: You seem to be into "martial arts" by your profile... I grew up next to a 6th dan blackbelt, & fighting was BIG in my neighborhood (boxing & the like)... he used to use me as a "punching bag" in his basement, but know what?

I learned a TON from him in that capacity... maybe I got beaten up pretty badly @ times (he rarely struck back though, thank goodness), but it was a GREAT way to learn more about it, hands-on. His name was DAVE too, ironically!

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

So alas, I was resolved to baseball all my life until I got into volleyball in HS and then in college.

Those are GREAT games... I love volleyball personally! If there was a route to it for scholarship I would have pursued it personally (perhaps there was, but... I wasn't aware of it @ the time in those days).

Heh - funny story (about baseball):

My former H.S. Quarterback (I played that also, football) was GREAT @ it, & he became a pro w/ the Cincinnati Reds in fact (iirc, pretty sure though it was THAT team)...

Funny part is, when my friend Mike got "cut" for making the team as a Junior? CJ came over to him, & said "Man, I HATE baseball... if I could give you what I know/have in it, I would!"...

The ironic part is, that game carried him (CJ) to a career in professional sports!

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

I still love watching it. It seems like a great game of skill and finesse, not to mention endurance. But I only got to watch it on TV.

It's fun... & it is what you state!

I had to change from midfield (what I played in highschool) to attack (less running as an attack, lol, I got sick of that quickly (it's tiring, no matter what kind of shape you're in) & scored FAR MORE as an attackman) but, was moved once more to midfield by my Sophomore/Junior years again (man, I hated that)...

We (LeMoyne) 'acquired' some "high power talent" my sophomore year from other schools, & they were considered better than myself (two guys, & they WERE great, I admit - I meshed well enough w/ their style of play (my school's basically, which was move the ball to the attackmen as much as possible)).

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

I used to watch Dr. Who, the old series; he was the man!

LOL, this is certain: Plus, he is THE MAN, with the ladies too (love his sidekicks generally, usually attractive ladies, lol).

He's funny, smart, & cool! I love David Tennant as the NEW Dr. too... he's great! Best ever imo!

If you have a chance? Catch it on "the Sci-Fi Network"... or others that may have it now in the states.

Recommend the episodes "Doomsday", "DALEK", & "The Satan Pit", highly!

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

And I love a lot of British actors and comedians.

BENNY HILL ROCKS! LOL, I love it when he "slaps the old bald guy on the skull"... & of course, there is the GREAT Sean Connery! Loved him as Ramirez in "The Highlander"... & "The Untouchables" too.

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

Maybe it's because of the funny way they talk (just kidding for Cat and Ian).

I like British accents, they're "classy" sounding, sophisticated... especially on girls (a REAL "turn on" for me, by all means)...

They're a HARD & tough people too (I mean, hey - an ISLAND took the planet, via "Iron Men in Wooden ships" & there is NO arguing with success). Plus, their pound is stronger than our dollar now!

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

BTW, I've seen Ironman twice and I really enjoyed it.

As did I - I went one night w/ my niece (pictured as a baby above) but, it was SOLD OUT for the 7 p.m. show & I had to tell her:

"Honey, tomorrow we will go, but earlier"

Which hurt MY feelings, worse than hers imo!

(So, I bought her a toy instead & icecream)...

She has to sleep early & all that, so NO 'late shows' @ the mall for her, period.

HOWEVER - Next night though? In a way, I was GLAD to not have her with me first round - I got to see if it was "appropriate" for her & if it was good too!

(LOL, I covered her eyes when Stark is with that reporter chick, lol, whom Gwyneth Paltrow "kicks to the curb" next day... great job on her part, as an actress too, imo!)

Originally Posted by DaveMo~

Thanks for sharing.

Dave

Thanks for commenting... whew! I really "pushed" my 120wpm on this one...

APK

P.S.=> By the way? Have you tried that HOSTS file I sent your way yet?? You won't be disappointed, promise...

It WILL do everything I noted, & more (with LITTLE upkeep for speed, but SOME for "perfect security" (no such thing, just like there is NO perfect software - it's an evolving process, & the malware makers like the RBN never stop!))... in fact, I am going to amend my security posts today on forums @ some point, with sites that tell folks WHAT servers are serving up malwares, so they can BLOCK OUT BAD SITES, themselves (cake, via notepad.exe)... apk

Dr Who? - Viva Tom Baker! (the new ones are good but I think old Tom was the best)

Originally Posted by sepulchre

Dr Who? - Viva Tom Baker! (the new ones are good but I think old Tom was the best)

He's my 2nd fav. & anyone that actually "hung out" w/ the late Jim Morrison (of the band the DOORS)? Had to be 1/2 way cool!



APK

Ariston.