blog by james

My Spring Break

2011-03-20T20:27:00.001-07:00

I should take spring breaks off more often, because my spring break was great. Here are some of the highlights:

House/Animal sitting for friends
Had dinner at new friends’ house
Took my wife out on sushi, movie and yogurt dates
Grilling a ton of meat with friends
Working out a lot to loose the extra meat and winter coat
Ran soccer drills with Brent at the park
Dropped almost a grand on new tires for the Avalanche
Spent a few days with my nephew John

Nerf wars with John and Brent
Playing soccer with Casey and John at the park
Riding the rail and visiting the Dallas Zoo with Casey and John
Ate way too much at a Chinese Buffet

Played XBox with Brent
Played more XBox with Brent
Fixed my busted sprinklers in between trips to Lowes
Dog sat for someone I didn’t know
Had dinner with old friends Mason and Brenna
Read multiple periodicals and a couple books
Helped Casey’s granny move and spent time with family
Attended first ever FC Dallas soccer game and firework show
Counseled a couple for 6 hours ultimately reconciling their weekend and separation desires
Grew a full beard
Rarely ever thought about work
Enjoyed lots and lots of time with my incredible wife

All in all, time well spent.

PCI Compliance

2011-02-04T09:26:00.001-08:00

Why

Complying to PCI defined standards is crucial for retail shops that accept credit cards. The PCI Security Standards Council is an open global forum for the ongoing development, enhancement, storage, dissemination and implementation of security standards for account data protection. The organization was founded by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide, and Visa Inc. Therefore, if you would like to work with the major credit bureaus compliance is, as I said, crucial.

How

The Council has has defined and published a standard called PCI DSS, which is the global data security standard adopted by the payment card brands for all entities that process, store or transmit cardholder data. It consists of common sense steps that mirror security best practices.

Build and Maintain a Secure Network

1. Install and maintain a firewall configuration to protect cardholder data

2. Do not use vendor-supplied defaults for system passwords and other security parameters

Protect Cardholder Data

3. Protect stored cardholder data

4. Encrypt transmission of cardholder data across open, public networks

Maintain a Vulnerability Management Program

5. Use and regularly update anti-virus software or programs

6. Develop and maintain secure systems and applications

Implement Strong Access Control Measures

7. Restrict access to cardholder data by business need to know

8. Assign a unique ID to each person with computer access

9. Restrict physical access to cardholder data

Regularly Monitor and Test Networks

10. Track and monitor all access to network resources and cardholder data

11. Regularly test security systems and processes

Maintain an Information Security Policy

12. Maintain a policy that addresses information security for all personnel

References

PCI Security Standards Council - https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/

How to Circumvent the IT Department

2010-02-26T09:27:00.001-08:00

Let’s be honest. Often times the corporate IT department just can’t get it done. Therefore, it’s up to you and it might as well be right? Your the profit center. Your the business unit truly on the cutting edge where it counts, in dollars that is.

In today’s world, many business units don’t engage their corporate IT counterparts because they have learned that lesson the hard way. Their needs didn’t get fulfilled, their ideas never grew to fruition, their performance suffered and in the end they’re held responsible.

Let’s get straight to the dirty stuff. How do you cheat on your IT department? We’re being honest right? That’s really what your doing. The need for IT doesn’t disappear. Your simply getting your needs met elsewhere.* In a time where internet statistics are measured in the trillions, you can guarantee the demand for IT isn’t going anywhere. In fact if your reading this and your not in an IT department, believe it or not, your likely already becoming IT. Yep, your being indoctrinated into the ways of the geek and no, we can’t talk about star wars right now. So what does it mean? Well your demand and lack of supply compel you to look elsewhere.

Let’s look at a common example. You are in a marketing department, your customer is a young tech savvy knowledge worker and you need to stimulate viral demand for your products. Utilize a micro-blogging service such as Twitter to inform your market of upcoming sales or last minute deals, which incentivize your potential customers to engage in a new channel specifically tailored to their interests.

As you can see the demand still exists and the needs are simply met by a third party IT, in this case Twitter. But what do you do when the IT or IT service doesn’t exist and therefore can’t be leveraged? Easy, engage those that really want to build it or do it and ultimately partner with you to meet your needs, the vendors.

There are numerous reasons why engaging a vendor makes sense. The most important being that they are ingrained with necessity to deliver. They also typically have deep experience, considerable drive, third party or competitive perspectives, industry best practices and the talent to succeed.

Wait a minute, did we just go to commercial break? Here’s the caveat.

I won’t pretend to have worked with all IT service vendors, but I’ve heard from those that do (yes pretend), most vendors have good intentions but fail to deliver or worse deliver later with a few more pretty zeros added on to the price tag. How nice of them. :(

Selecting the right vendor is absolutely crucial because there could be much more than the first need at stake. In reality the first need is the honeymoon of the marriage or should be considered so. In selecting a vendor, you are entrusting quite a bit.

Now let’s take it full circle and get back to the root of the problem. The IT department still has a role to play when vendors are engaged. A good vendor includes the IT department in their strategy because they know they will need them and at some point the IT department will support the solution thereby allowing you and the vendor to move on to your next idea.

I know what your thinking, I just brought you full circle and your forced to depend on the IT department again. Well this turn of the carousel is different. This time the carousel is being built by trained professionals instead of a tribe of carnies trying to throw something together and the operator has a manual instead of a death wish.

Now if your unsure which vendor you should go with bring in someone you trust or a really revered consulting firm to conduct a vendor selection for you. They will provide a third party perspective and help guide you through the process of selecting the right vendor for the job as well as all future jobs.

This may sound like merely a marketing piece especially coming from a consultant, but how do you think your competitors are gaining your market share and getting ahead of you? How are their ideas coming to fruition and how so fast? Why is it you always seem to end up playing follow the leader when you already have the ideas that could have led the pack?

If you can’t get it done internally, don’t accept defeat. You can’t afford not to look elsewhere. Carpe Diem!

*Don’t read too much into this style of writing. I’m in no way shape or form encouraging cheating on your wife or husband. I’m a strong believer in Jesus Christ and in Deuteronomy 5:18 God commands us to not commit adultery. I strongly encourage you to heed this command for the penalty of sin is death.

My Pariveda

2008-09-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

First off Pariveda is supposed to mean "the pursuit of complete knowledge," but I'm still trying to figure that out.

My pursuit of complete knowledge looks like:

Reading lots of blogs on all kinds of stuff
Rarely reading a book other than a book in the bible
Reading a lot of the bible
Conversations with my community in small groups
Lots of googling and reading technical websites on work related things such as the provider pattern, the membership provider and the role provider. Typically a lot of Microsoft technology stuff.
Watching videos and webcasts online

The thing about the pursuit though is I enjoy it, but it's an insatiable thirst.

Discontent

2008-08-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

Lately my heart has been discontent or perhaps disappointed.

Friday I asked if anyone wanted to go to the lake with me and much to my dismay, not a soul could. This inherently led me to question my life and where I was.

I wonder are we too busy these days to really live the lives we are meant to. This past week I put 60 hours in for the man and my wife put in 80. Are we to do this for the rest of our lives?

Sunday I rekindled my passion to touch lives and remembered God has me here for His glory. Yet I get so easily distracted with this world.

My heart yurns for the Lord to move and His heart yurns for me to move. God take from me what I need and provide me nothing but a strong faith in you.

I pray my life bring you glory above all else.

A Rough Workout

2007-08-16T13:59:00.001-07:00

Why? - 8/15/7

2007-08-16T06:06:00.000-07:00

God, why have you done this to us? How does this glorify you? What do you want us to learn?

This is a trying time for us and we need you to get us through this. Please provide a path out of this for us quickly.

New Project - 8/14/7

2007-08-14T15:27:00.000-07:00

Yeaa! New project. Its always good to start fresh. The weekend went well and I enjoyed waiting for Casey at church. I got to help out and worship in the back during the 7. My truck started doing something else strange. I really just want to trade it in for a new Honda truck, but I'm going to take it to a mechanic on Thursday after work. It should be expensive! Yeaa!

Defining Day - 8/9/7

2007-08-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

Nope, wasn't one, but I did spend some great time with my beautiful girlfriend.

Why is it so difficult for me to be emotional? Am I not? Occasionally, I have the desire to show strong emotions, but its hard to act it out.

The begining of my one-sentence journal

2007-08-07T10:34:00.000-07:00

Today is the day everyone finds out. I'm not looking forward to it, but at least I'm divulging it. It just goes to show I'm stumbling around in a fallen world.

Yea, i know it's more than one sentence. I'm just setting my own expectations low.

In the jungle...

2007-03-30T22:54:00.001-07:00

Disappointment? I'm a Disappointment!

2007-03-05T18:10:00.000-08:00

Recently I read my previous blog titled "Disappointment" to my roommate and brother in Christ and he pointed out that I embodied some of my own disappointments. He smacked me in the face with the uncomforting truth and called me out on my own trash. I felt just plain stupid and obviously disappointing.

16. James A. Davis

A Frightening Verse

2006-12-20T21:10:00.000-08:00

"Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way their fathers used to treat the false prophets."

Disappointment

2006-12-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

Lately I have become overwhelmingly disappointed in friends and coworkers.

They don't do things they say they are going to do.
They are lazy and do as little as possible.
They bail on their responsibilities as well as others and leave them to suffer the consequences.
They waste their own time with worthless efforts which in turn affect those around them.
They don't make their other more critical obligations known in order for those around them to adjust and accommodate.
They do not ensure their own responsibilities are carried out in full.
They don't answer their phones nor do they return calls.
They make excuse after excuse after excuse after excuse, to the point of expectation.
They continue to bring themselves to a point where people can no longer depend on them and then they have to work themselves back into trusting relationships.
They only think of themselves.
They don't realize the consequences of their not doing something on others nor do they care.
They change the subject and escape to humor.
They seek approval in the masses at the loss and insult of others.
They chalk it up to "o well."
They just don't get the pattern that they are establishing with those around them.

They let me down consistently and I'm getting tired of it and I'm almost to the point where I'm not going to put up with it anymore.

COME ON PEOPLE! Step up! Do I need to hold your hand or what? THINK! DO!

What I do for a living...(example one)

2006-07-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I write stuff like this...

-- Retrieve the EwaResponse_DMTrigger(s) that currently exist for P&G and store it in a temp table for later comparison --

CREATE TABLE #ExistingEwaResponse_DMTriggers (
EwaResponseID INT,
DMTriggerID INT,
UserID INT
)

INSERT INTO #ExistingEwaResponse_DMTriggers

SELECT
EwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID,
EwaResponse_DMTrigger.DMTriggerID,
EwaResponse.UserID
FROM
EwaResponse_DMTrigger WITH (NOLOCK)
INNER JOIN
EwaResponse WITH (NOLOCK)
ON EwaResponse.EwaResponseID = EwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID
WHERE
EwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID IN (

SELECT
EwaResponse.EwaResponseID
FROM
EwaResponse WITH (NOLOCK)
INNER JOIN
Users WITH (NOLOCK)
ON Users.UserID = EwaResponse.UserID
INNER JOIN
Site WITH (NOLOCK)
ON Site.SiteID = Users.SiteID
WHERE
Site.CompanyID = 474)

ORDER BY
EwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID DESC
---------------------------------

-- Execute spGetDMForm for all P&G EwaResponse(s) --
DECLARE
@EwaResponseID INT,
@UserID INT

DECLARE
LOOPYcursor CURSOR FOR

SELECT
EwaResponse.EwaResponseID,
EwaResponse.UserID
FROM
EwaResponse WITH (NOLOCK)
INNER JOIN
Users WITH (NOLOCK)
ON Users.UserID = EwaResponse.UserID
INNER JOIN
Site WITH (NOLOCK)
ON Site.SiteID = Users.SiteID
WHERE
Site.CompanyID = 474
ORDER BY
EwaResponse.EwaResponseID DESC

OPEN LOOPYcursor

FETCH NEXT FROM LOOPYcursor INTO
@EwaResponseID,
@UserID

WHILE @@Fetch_Status = 0
BEGIN

EXECUTE [dbo].[spGetDMForm] @EwaResponseID, @UserID, null

FETCH NEXT FROM LOOPYcursor INTO
@EwaResponseID,
@UserID

END

CLOSE LOOPYcursor

DEALLOCATE LOOPYcursor
---------------------------------

-- Retrieve the EwaResponse_DMTrigger(s) that are new for P&G --
SELECT
CurrentEwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID,
CurrentEwaResponse_DMTrigger.DMTriggerID,
CurrentEwaResponse_DMTrigger.UserID
FROM
(
SELECT
EwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID,
EwaResponse_DMTrigger.DMTriggerID,
EwaResponse.UserID
FROM
EwaResponse_DMTrigger WITH (NOLOCK)
INNER JOIN
EwaResponse WITH (NOLOCK)
ON EwaResponse.EwaResponseID = EwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID
) AS CurrentEwaResponse_DMTrigger
WHERE
CurrentEwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID IN
(
SELECT
EwaResponse.EwaResponseID
FROM
EwaResponse WITH (NOLOCK)
INNER JOIN
Users WITH (NOLOCK)
ON Users.UserID = EwaResponse.UserID
INNER JOIN
Site WITH (NOLOCK)
ON Site.SiteID = Users.SiteID
WHERE
Site.CompanyID = 474
)
AND NOT EXISTS
(
SELECT
EwaResponseID,
DMTriggerID,
UserID
FROM
#ExistingEwaResponse_DMTriggers
WHERE
#ExistingEwaResponse_DMTriggers.EwaResponseID =
CurrentEwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID
AND #ExistingEwaResponse_DMTriggers.DMTriggerID =
CurrentEwaResponse_DMTrigger.DMTriggerID
AND #ExistingEwaResponse_DMTriggers.UserID =
CurrentEwaResponse_DMTrigger.UserID
)
ORDER BY
CurrentEwaResponse_DMTrigger.EwaResponseID DESC
---------------------------------

-- Drop the temp table created --
DROP TABLE #ExistingEwaResponse_DMTriggers
---------------------------------

Truck Mod

2006-06-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

The greatest custom mod I could ever make to my truck.

A Painful Day

2006-06-05T09:14:00.000-07:00

Today it physically pains me to be at work and listening to the conversations that are going on.

1 Timothy 6:7-11

2006-05-31T22:10:00.000-07:00

"For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But thos who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang. But flee from these things, you man of God; and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness." 1 Timothy 6:7-11

Galatians 2:20

2006-05-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith and in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NIV - New International Version)

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered himself up for me." Galatioans 2:20 (NASB - New American Standard Bible)

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2: 20 (KJV - King James Version)

"With Christ I have been co-crucified; and live no more I, but lives in me Christ; and what now I live in [the] flesh, by faith I live of(in) the Son of God loving me and giving up himself on behalf of me." (Greek to English Translation - 21st edition of Eberhard Nestle's Novum Testamentum Graece)

Depressed

2006-05-20T23:22:00.000-07:00

Depression is creeping back into my life and struggles are it's companion. I've had many prior experiences that were rather fruitless, but I'm hoping for Great results. Faith and prayer are my hope.

One Flaw of Many

2006-05-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

Recently, I realized I don't really know how to be completely open.

I thought being open meant that you would honestly answer any question, which is where I was, but that's not what it appears to be. Being open appears to be, genuine, forthcoming and verbally conveying of all truths. "me saying it all without prompt"

It seems so strange that others would want to know, that it would help others and much less that it could help me.

I have so much to learn in this world, but perhaps I will not be permitted to do so. Carpe diem

Finny

2006-05-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

finny, strange little guy my mother gave to me. He's just perched on my right speaker. Thats all...

The Noble Path

2006-05-05T22:08:00.000-07:00

A man left work today for the last time. His reasons were quite admirable.

Some would say he was a man that made a great decision. Shall we venture to say he is a great man or shall we pray that this path leads him to be?

Some things are better demonstrated than discussed.

God bless this man and his path. God bless all men on such a noble path.

A ?

2006-03-20T22:06:00.000-08:00

Why do some lead such a rebellious life?

A little poetry I wrote a while back

2006-03-20T21:55:00.000-08:00

On September 18, 2005 at a Starbucks in Dallas I wrote the following...

A walk in the mall,
a thousand sub-cultures to buy in to,
a million lifestyles to live
and yet no purpose and no fulfillment
and in the end, no difference.

Doubt
Destroyer of my soul.
Adolescent of my mind.
Burden of my skin.
Hindrance of my end.

Heart
A fraudulent creation of man sold to many and known too few.

To Do:
Every waking moment an opportunity to do
an obligation to do
a need to do
a desire to do
and yet nothing to do
nor anything to be done.
Why is it we always strive to be doing?
Was man created with a restless heart?
Was a desire instilled within him to be achieving?
Where will it end or perhaps when will it be enough?

Going to work tomorrow

2006-03-02T21:45:00.000-08:00

I didn't think I would ever say it, but I don't really want to go to work tomorrow. Its a strange feeling really.

Kendra's Babe's experience

2006-02-26T13:46:00.000-08:00

Kendra's miny tea

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Lunch@Babe's

2006-02-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

me content with a Babe's dinning experience

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Confessions by James

2006-02-05T20:40:00.000-08:00

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

I have sinned and I do confess. I have verbally confessed my sins to my brothers, as have they; and we continue to pray for each other and hold each other accountable.

"See to it, brothers, that non of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness." - Hebrews 3:12-13

I have heard God's word and I know of the righteous path.

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" - Psalm 95:6-7 & Hebrews 3:7-8, 4:7-8

I continue to ask for forgiveness and rely on God's grace, but I do not test it.

"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed." - Acts 17:30-31

God has a path for me and each day I seek to pursue it.

"For in him we live an move and have our being." - Acts 17:28

Promoted?

2006-01-23T21:07:00.000-08:00

Recently I was promoted from C1 to C2 and given a raise, but for some strange reason after the initial excitement it became very depressing. If you have any thoughts on the matter, I'm interested in hearing them.

A weekend in October behind the wheel.

2005-10-09T20:02:00.000-07:00

Following a highly unproductive day at work trying to reproduce and solve something sporadic on Friday, I headed west for a weekend of thinking behind the wheel. Just Sandy and I. (FYI Sandy is my Avalanche).

First Stop: Tim's mansion in Colleyville
Tim, a member of my small group through the Village Church, invited the group and me over for dinner and whatever at his place. Tim is basically house sitting and repairing his parents' old house. They moved to some state that begins with a M, that I obviously forgot the name of. It's pretty empty, but it still had a dining room table and chairs invite us over for a great meal. Many thanks go to my brother in Christ, Tim.

2nd Stop: Grandmother’s – Sipe Springs, TX – Population
I arrived at Grandmother’s pretty late Friday night, but not before having a small run-in with the LAW. So, I turn off of Interstate 20 and decided to slow Sandy down to a reasonable speed to save gas and be better able to avoid farm animals, which the totals came to be 4-Dear, 1-Coon, 1-Skunk and 1-Cow. I set the cruise on 60 mph and turned on the brights. Something off in the ditch up ahead… a car… three cars… black and whites lined up next to each other. I pass still going 60 with no idea of the speed limit and the brights still on. Lights Flash! Sirons Scream! Cop says to me you go a license plate light out get it fixed and change your address on your driver’s license, and then I’m back on the road. Thank you God! That makes two lights currently out on Sandy. I’m going to get one of those rows of lights above the windshield like truckers have, and maybe some others somewhere else two. Sandy is gunna be all lit up and perty. I get to grandmother’s around midnight and she and grandpa didn’t wait up for me like I asked them to. Shower, set the alarm for 6 and head to bed.

October 8th 8:48am – Good Morning
Apparently I didn’t wake up at 6, probably a good thing I didn’t. I say howdy to the folks and hit the road again.

3rd Stop: Paint Horse Show – Sweetwater, TX
Thank Texas for road signs, otherwise it probably would have taken me longer to find the fair grounds. So, I head on in with my journal and Lornadoons and take a seat in the bleachers. To my right is the announcer’s table and show secretaries, and to my left a local FFA or 4H group practicing horse judging. I spent most my time in the stands eating Lornadoons, watching the riders and different classes being judged, and thinking through the specifics of my business idea, which is the major purpose for me being in Sweetwater. I soon realized the consumers were not present nor could I attract them, therefore the business would not succeed. So, I began to think further beyond my own adolescent idea, and opened myself up to other options. Lots of thinking, a little roaming around, Lornadoon crumbs, casual glances at the cute country girls staring at the horses and their notebooks. I looked up and Sweetwater was in the rear view mirror, and we were back on the road.

4th Stop: Overpass somewhere west of Abilene gazing off into the horizon
I had to stop to snap a shot of the wind mill generators on the horizon.

5th Stop: Flying J Truck Stop on I20
I stopped in to see if they had any of those steering knobs and left with two in hand. Everyone thinks it is strange that I have a knob on Sandy’s steering wheel, but few like it. So, now whomever likes it will be offered there own.

Last Stop: Sipe Springs, TX - Again
For the rest of the weekend I relaxed at Grandmother’s watching movies and golf, playing poker, loosing change money, drinking Corona’s, eating great food, talking to Fredda, grandmother and grandpa, teaching John (my youngest cousin) how to play soccer better, and sleeping in. It was great to be back on the ranch and even better to be back on the road with only my thoughts hindering me.

Thanks for reading this far, it means something to me. God bless.

Sunset Opposite Hurricane Rita

2005-09-28T21:55:00.000-07:00

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2005-09-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

Photo of Gordy

2005-09-27T20:57:00.000-07:00

Gordy asleep on a slot machine with a beer on his head

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A Memory of Love

2005-09-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

In a time so distant only feelings survived
I recall being whole, I recall being alive.
Not looking forward to the next, merely enjoying the now.
Feelings so deep, feelings so true
and I bid them all...adieu.