SaigonNezumi.com

Hard to believe it has been one week since I last posted.  The last week has a lot of meaning for me.

The US Marine Corp’s birthday was on Nov. 10th followed by Veteran’s Day (Nov. 11th) and the day I entered Marine Corps boot camp (Nov. 13th).  Do not forget, I was discharged on Oct. 21st a couple weeks before.  This year a lot of memories of the Corps came back.  I think it was primary spurred by my return to the weight room.  I want to get in the same physical condition as I was in the Marines.  My 30 minutes – 2 hour per day workouts are showing some results, I have lost about  6 kilos (13 pounds) in the last 3 weeks.  I got another 8 kilos (18 pounds) to go and I think I will reach it in about two months.

The drama with EVN still continues.  Last Thursday they came to my house, unannounced and turned off my electricity.  They did not even ring my bell before.  The bill for the last two months, even the one in question, was paid but EVN refused to send somebody out to turn it back on at my house.  They wanted some “coffee” money to turn it back on.  This is one of the most corrupt companies in Vietnam and I plan to continue to fight them.  A consumer protection agency will help me, a friend will set up an appointment for me.

Facebook is blocked again by both Viettel and FPT.  You can still view Facebook with VNPT and the mobile phone carriers.  This is a huge response to this by the Vietnamese Internet users, they are passing around DNSs to get past the newly dubbed “Great Firewall of Vietnam”.  OpenDNS will become popular with Internet users in Vietnam in the next coming weeks.  Twitter, and some fear, LinkedIn, may be next.

Lastly, some of you may be surprised, I am using Windows again.  I fell in love with Windows 7 last Saturday.  It is amazing.  It is one of the best Desktop Experiences I have had in a long time.  Microsoft listened to their customers.  Even Linux users, such as myself, like it.  If Microsoft plays it’s cards right, Windows 7 will be a “Linux Desktop Killer”.  One question I would like answered, though, is how much open source code went into Windows 7.  I suspect a lot.

Well, time for my evening workout now…

November 11, 2008

Happy Veteran’s Day to all my colleagues and friends who have served their country around the world.  Today we honor you with all our hearts.

Today is the 233rd Birthday of the US Marine Corps.  On November 13, 1990, I started my basic training with the Marines down in San Diego, California.  It would change me for the rest of my life.  I miss the Corps at times but deep down in my heart, I will always be a Marine.  Once a Marine, Always a Marine.  Semper Fi!!!

View GoDaddy’s tribute to the Marines: Happy 233nd Birthday to the United States Marine Corps!

(Pvt. Kevin Miller – Feb. 8, 1991)

Happy Birthday to my fellow Marines around the world!

It’s hard to believe that nearly 12 years ago, I was a still a US Marine.  Nearly 18 years ago I was in boot camp.  I still have dreams of my drill instructors, the last one being just last week.  I always find myself back at MCRD San Diego meeting up with my former drill instructors.  The dream is usually a good dream which is odd.  How odd is my dream, well just look at the below YouTube video:

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I did learn a lot from my drill instructors.  Being a Marine teaches you the ‘Can Do’ attitude that help in your life even outside of the Corps.  Below is a nice inspiration Marine Corps commercial to illustrate the point:

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And of course, this is still one of my favorite Marine Corps commercials:

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Ooh Rah, Semper Fi