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System Center Operations Manager 2007 is great, don’t get me wrong. But it does have it’s oddities - and one of those are messages such as these:

Details:Health service ( A63BAA7B-20B1-D6C0-75B9-8A8CE3DD7E02 ) should not generate data about this managed object ( 021971E6-1EFB-E123-7E2A-452ADB511016 ).

Now, we know that Health Service ID is referring to a specific agent, but which one? Luckily, this is fairly easy to figure out. Just hop onto the database server and run the following query:

It should return the DisplayName property of said ID, which is the agent you’re looking for.

In fact, to go a step further - if you have many queries like this, you could write a PowerShell function to simplify things for you - here’s a real rough outline:

Like I said, the script is fairly basic and assumes a trust relationship with the database. It also expects a valid HSID - I’ll clean it up later. Edit the script, entering in your SCOM DB and DB Name if necessary, then add it to your $PROFILE. Then it’s as simple as Get-AgentByHSID “long health service guid” and it does all the heavy lifting.

Digging through an older hard drive, I found a play I had written awhile ago. It was meant to be in the Fringe Fest, but things didn’t work out. So for you, gentle reader, I’ll post some of it here. I actually think it’s fairly good for a first attempt, no? Forgive the formatting, it isn’t very easy to format a play inside of a blog post, but I’ve done my best. Perhaps I’ll post more, if it is received well. Oh, and Queen Achtland is from an Irish Myth.

Dating Achtland

A play by Jeremy D. Pavleck

Cast of Characters

Achtland - An urban harried mid/late 30s divorced mother. Intelligent and stressed.
Felicis - The ‘manic’ personification of Achtland, as seen by Dante
Tristis - The ‘depressive’ personification of Achtland, as seen by Dante
Dante - a 28 year old man, intelligent but scared of what 30 will bring
Animus - The mind, or analytical side, of Dante
Pectus - The heart, or emotional side, of Dante

The play takes place over several months in various suggested settings of Minneapolis and St. Paul

SCENE 1

At RISE:
(A coffee shop somewhere in St. Paul. Early evening. Light shines
through dirty windows. Local art for sale hangs on the wall.
Hipsters man the counter, one hand grinding coffee - the smell permeates.
DANTE is sitting in the corner opposite the door, a large glass of
coffee in front of him. He fiddles with a camera he has brought,
attempting to make it look as though he isn’t waiting for someone)

DANTE:
(Sighs loudly. Beat)

(Lights dim, Animus enters left, spot on. He approaches center with an
aggitated gait. He runs his fingers through his hair and paces a moment
before facing the audience)

ANIMUS:
(Spitefully)

Ah! And there we begin. Look at me. Sitting there pretending to pay attention to that camera.
I’ve been here forty-five minutes already, my own damn fault for leaving so early. I was so
broke, I had to cash in my change to buy this flower for her. Hell if I would of known then
what I know now I’d –

PECTUS (Off):

You’d what?

ANIMUS:

I would have stormed out of there and saved myself a lot of frustration!

(Pectus saunters in right and stands before Animus)
PECTUS:
(Calmly, soothingly)

You would have done no such thing. I wouldn’t have allowed it to happen.

ANIMUS:
(Hotly)

And who the fuck do you think you are, that you can tell us with such certainty that we wouldn’t leave.
You were the one most affected by this whole thing, and yet here you are, saying you would do it again!

PECTUS:

Indeed, I was. And indeed, we would. My friend, as intelligent as you are, some lessons are better learned
by actually doing, as opposed to actually reading about it. In time, you’ll see it my way.

ANIMUS:

That’s such utter bullshit!

(Produces a notepad, flips through several pages)

Just listen to these grievances! I’ve written each one down in detail, and you would be a fool to continue on
after but a third of this list has been read!
First and foremost, she –

PECTUS:
(Holds up his hand palm out towards Animus, Chuckling)

Ah, mon ami, you know as well as I do that I don’t listen to such things

(Pectus Off. Animus off. Lights rise as Dante sets the camera down
and begins to drum his fingers habitually against the table)

ANIMUS: (Off)

There is still time, let’s end this before it starts!

PECTUS: (Off)
(Reassuringly)

Hush, old friend. It’s time you let me take over. Here

(SFX: Rustling bag)

take this.

ANIMUS: (Off)

Oh! A rubik’s cube! I can handle this no problem!

(Dante stops drumming his hand against the table. He straightens up in his chair,
and a look of quiet confidence comes over him)

So far it’s been a fairly busy week, so I haven’t written. The ‘cool’ thing I was working on was another Twin Cities time-lapse and, although it’s done, it isn’t quite like I like it. I plan on getting more footage and making it more interesting.

Also, tomorrow morning I’ll be shooting some photos for the Twin Cities annual “Bike Walk Week“. I’ll first be in south Minneapolis to get some of the Commuter Convoys, then I’ll head back to St. Paul to grab some shots of the Rich Wieber’s Bicycle Stunt Show. If you’re curious as to just what goes on at a bicycle stunt show, you’re in luck, there’s an over-exposed video below which highlights what it is.

Hope to see you out there!

Oi, time flies when you’re having fun, right? I tried to have the Friday Link-O-Rama, but some days are busier then others and, well, it doesn’t get done. I wish I could maintain the same butter like consistency JACC has with his Friday Random Ten. Some day, Jeremy. Some day.

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I was supposed to be shooting BarCamp Minnesota tomorrow, but alas it seems like it won’t happen - I was informed of a prior engagement. And I tried to setup Joomla on my tech site, but that failed me too.

Anyway, I’ll be writing up a little something for you crazy cats tomorrow or later this evening, depends on when I get some work related things out of the way. And I have something that I hope ends up kind of cool, another time-lapse attempt, but this time with more cowbell.

But have a few drinks for me, k?

It’s that time of the year again, when the Solstice Film Festival descends upon downtown St. Paul, turning the Fitzgerald theater and the surrounding area into a hub of entertainment, showcasing films from the up and coming film makers from all over the world!

And, even more importantly, it’s a great time to drink! Yes, I missed it last year but I won’t this - it’s the 2nd annual SFF pub crawl and look-a-like contest! Starting Saturday, June 14th, 5:00pm at Moose Country Press and ending… well, who knows - it’s bound to be the most incredible evening you won’t remember. A lowly $30 buys you an SFF All Access Pass, transportation to all the pubs and specials on the drinks!

The only bad part? It’s limited to 180 spots. So hurry up and sign up for it, come see me, Mishka and friends get stupid drunk and talk about films! Click on the Google calendar link to be whisked away to a GCal event all filled out and ready for you to click ‘Save’ - it couldn’t be easier!

Guilty of being a romantic. No, not the flowers kind, the other. The one that’s defined as “a soulful or amorous idealist”.

I read books with characters I can relate to, ones I associate with. Bean from Ender’s Shadow, with his high intelligence and deplorable life. Shadow with his quiet intelligence and cool, calm demeanor. Hiro Protagonist from Snow Crash, with his weird ability to be in the right place at the right time - always “this close” to being the next big thing, yet somehow messing it up. And my newest love, Bukowski’s hard-drinking, fighting, womanizing alter-ego of Henry Chinaski.

I read those stories, and romanticize them. I can feel what they are going through - I know what they feel. I was them. I am them? I know of a life of hard times - living in my car, in a dumpster behind a carpet factory. I know the thrill of being rick on paper, then squandering it all away due to lack of foresight.

I know what it’s like to live hard. My father died when I was 6 weeks, raised by a bipolar mother who refuses to get help or acknowledge her problems. I know what it’s like to have to beg for $20 to be able to buy antibiotics for a double pneumonia from not taking care of yourself. I know what a soaring high, were you feel in control of everything. And crushing lows, where the only sensible way out if a bullet between the eyes.

Read the rest of this entry »

Well, the Bent Festival is over. It was an amazing event, I met a lot of awesome talented people, and took a metric ton of pictures - over 1700 in all. Here are some of my favorites, starting with my absolute fave!

Albino Ghost Monkey from Rice Lake, WI

Tim Kaiser from Duluth, MN plays his homemade instruments

The custom hacked and bent keyboard played by Albino Ghost Monkey

Closeup of one of the hacked synthesizers connected to a stationary bicycle

Hacked Nintendo, used to display odd visuals of classic games

DJ Tendraw from England gives us his hardcore renditions

Memory Selector from Chicago/Minneapolis plays a chill set

Creme De Menthia of Illinois waxes his bending skills

Mike Rosenthal of “The Tank” cooks for the group at the Bent BBQ

Datura 1.0 and Tim Kaiser discuss their art over Bratwurst

Ronald Schleper teaches a drum machine bending workshop

Beatrix*JAR pumps up the audience at the end of day 1

There really are to many good pictures - it’s hard to choose. If you’re feeling brave, feel free to look at the over 750 shots at my Flickr set.

Really looking forward to next year! And thanks to Wired’s GeekDad for asking me to shoot it!

There’s a lot of neat things going down in the TC this weekend, and here are some choice ones to check out!

The Bent Festival - Happening yesterday until Saturday, the 5th annual Bent Festival makes it’s last leg stop here in Minneapolis. Check them out at Intermedia Arts, on 28th and Lyndale. You’ll meet & greet and listen to some of the most interesting music in the world of DIY circuit bending. From soft soothing melodies to a brash jarring cacophony of sounds - you can find it there. At $10 per concert, it’s your best choice for 6 solid hours of music, and on Saturday there is a wealth of workshops to show you how to do it yourself and a barbecue to help you keep going! Please Note: They don’t like credit cards, so bring cash. And some of the workshops have a fee, so keep that in mind.

Studio Bricolage’s First Friday - A lot of people know about Leonardo’s Basement, an organization that helps boys and girls from 6 - 16 expand their minds with the help of music, art, robotics and more. But did you also know they hold an event every First Friday of the month at Studio Bricolage? Studio Bricolage is the adult oriented version of Leonardo’s Basement. For only $10, this month’s session will teach you how to melt plastic toys into bowls, crochet plastic bags together, create your own inflatables and a whole lot more. We’ve been here a few times, and it’s always a great time¹

Black Dog Exhibit Opener - If you’re not doing anything at all tonight and you’re in the St. Paul area, check out the Black Dog Coffee & Wine Bar for the opening night of their “Limitless Energy” exhibit - showing the energy that resides within the artist. Cost is free, and you can see some of my stuff! And maybe, even, buy it!² And remember, my art comes JACC approved, for that extra goodness!

And now for a few shots from last night’s Bent concert

1. Really looking forward to their Arduino workshops in June! [↩]
2. Yes, I’m a shameless whore. I’m learning that’s just the artist’s way [↩]

Just a quick remind, the 5th annual (2nd annual in MN) Ben Festival starts tonight, 7pm @ Intermedia Arts. If you’d like more information, check out my post earlier this week about it. It’s sure to be a blast, and I will see you there!

I’ve been testing out the different places that print photos. The most recent one was MPIX.com

What’s MPIX? From their “about us” section:

Mpix… The professional online digital imaging lab for both the professional photographer and the advanced amateur.

Mpix is a division of Miller’s Professional Imaging. Miller’s was founded in 1939, and is the largest professional photography lab in the United States. The company has production facilities in Pittsburg, Kansas and Columbia, Missouri.

The swift evolution of the digital photographic industry prompted Miller’s to respond to changes in the marketplace with Mpix.com…a high quality online lab for all photographers.

With Mpix, a photographer is able to upload images to a secured website, store and share images in albums, and order professional prints, professional finishing services, and specialty products.

I’ve known about them for years, and have had an account there for almost that long - but I’ve never actually developed anything there, until recently.

I had submitted my work to the Black Dog months ago and had essentially forgotten about it. As such, I forgot to get the pieces I submitted printed. Imagine my surprise when I got a big “Congratulations!” email a couple of weeks ago. Opps, now I need to actually print this thing.

I’d always envisioned it to be a larger piece, 20″x30″ or so. So I decided to give MPIX a shot. I uploaded the photo, chose a 20″x30″ print, lustre coating¹ ,double matted and framed. All together it came to $80. Overnight shipping via FedEx was a very reasonable $9.75, so I opted for that as well - had it sent to my office. This was about 11am.

That night I received an email saying my package had shipped, and to expect it the next day. I eagerly awaited the email from the shipping department at work (God knows, don’t you dare show up until you get that email!) and hurry over to the other tower and pick it up, all aflutter. Get back to my cube, open it up - it’s stunning. They did such a superb job on the printing² - blacks were very black, subtle colors shone through and the tiny nuances I was attempting to capture came through loud and clear. All in all it was about as excellent as I could have hoped for - except I didn’t seem to get a frame.

So at 12:36pm I sent a quick email to customer service saying that “Hey, looks like you guys forgot to include a frame - can you just send it along, or how can we take care of this?”

At 12:46pm - only 11 minutes after I send out my email, I received this response:

Jeremy,

I apologize for this. I will have the order reprinted, framed, and shipped out to you ASAP. Thank you!

And damn it all, if they didn’t come through. An entirely reprinted, rematted photograph - this time with frame - arrived at my door the next day. They went above and beyond the call of duty to help resolve this issue, and I couldn’t be happier. Instead of just sending a $30 frame, which I would have been happy to get - they went above and beyond and ate $90 to send it all out to me again. Needless to say, they now have a customer for life. Thanks again mpix, and now I’m spreading the news!

1. Lustre Coating, according to the site, is an environmentally friendly, non-flammable coating which protects against UV light, finger prints and dust. Please note: Our lustre coating is not visible. It does not change the look of the image in any way. [↩]
2. They use Kodak’s professional Endura surface paper printer via laser photo printers which print using visible light laser to expose silver halide photographic media [↩]