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      RT @clacke did you watch Oppenheimer, the film about the moral implications of the things we create, starring an actor who also played a Gotham City psychiatrist who went insaneordid you watch Barbie, the film about the moral implications of the things we create, starring an actress who also played a Gotham City psychiatrist who […]
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System Administrator Appreciation Day — #SysAdminDay Challenge!

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 29th July 2020

Sys Admin Day (pink cupcake with a candle)Perhaps there’s no SysAdminDay Dinner for 2020, but there are still activities for SysAdmins in Waterloo Region!

Join the members of NetSquared Kitchener/Waterloo (AKA KWNPSA) in a SysAdmin Day Challenge to find the best five-word phrase that describes, in a positive way, the life of a SysAdmin or the the state of System Administration.

Join the Meetup.com event for the System Admin Appreciation Day Challenge, and leave your pithy five-word description in the comments.

As an organizer for KWNPSA I’m not eligible, but if I was, my phrase would be “System Administrators Are The Awesomest!”

Contest closes Friday, 31 July 2020 at Midnight (EDT), which is when SysAdminDay ends in our timezone.

And, although SysAdmins toil underappreciated for most of the year, there’s a prize for the best phrase!

–Bob.

Enter Contest

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Posted in Events, System Administration, User Groups | Comments Off on System Administrator Appreciation Day — #SysAdminDay Challenge!

No #SysAdminDayDinner for 2020 :-(

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 26th July 2020

SysAdminDay

SysAdminDay

A sad thing has happened: Without all the regular meetings of the local tech groups that I belong to (KWLUG, KWNPSA, KWVoIP) the entire thought of a System Administrators Appreciation Day Dinner has completely slipped my mind.

Think Ahead (illustration of a sign with the word "Ahead" broken into two lines) Of course, with the Covid pandemic still raging world-wide, and Waterloo Region still in the process of restoring access to things like meeting halls and restaurants, we wouldn’t be meeting in-person for a SysAdmin Day Dinner anyway. And while a virtual, on-line meeting isn’t quite as much fun, my lack of thinking ahead has scuttled even that for this year.

System Administrator Appreciation Day is this Friday, 31 July 2020. For all SysAdmins, please know that you’re appreciated, even if we’re not going out to dinner this year.

–Bob.

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#SysAdminDay Dinner, Friday 26 July 2019

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 8th July 2019

It’s settled! See you all at Star Wok in Bridgeport Plaza, Waterloo (Ontario). Map

I’ve got to blog more. In person I’ll talk your ear off about coffee, tech, or politics, but try to get me to write just a couple of paragraphs a year, and what you get is this blog. So, here’s this year’s paragraphs:

System Administrator Appreciation Day is Friday, 26 July 2019

SysAdmin logoOn the last Friday of July people around the world appreciate their System Administrators. SysAdmins get chocolate, or cake, or ice cream, and sometimes chocolate cake with ice cream!

But in some localities, people haven’t figured out SysAdmin Appreciation Day yet, so we SysAdmins have to show them how it’s done. And since they didn’t figure it out in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018, we’ll have to show them again in 2019!

Inviting all SysAdmins, SysAdmin Spouses, Significant Others, Partners, Friends, Family, and even complete strangers!

We’ve been to Abe Erb a few times for SysAdminDay Dinner, but perhaps we’d like to find a new spot? Make your choice, and feel free to leave comments.

This poll is no longer accepting votes

Where should we have our SysAdminDay Dinner on Friday, 26 July 2019? Add your own answer if you have a favourite spot!
4 votes · 5 answers
VoteResults

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Posted in Events, System Administration | 5 Comments »

#SysAdminDay Dinner 2018 at Abe Erb in Kitchener

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 6th July 2018

Sorry, no pictures from this year’s SysAdminDay Dinner. But you can enjoy some from the previous years’ collection in the gallery.

SysAdminDay

SysAdminDay

Every year, the last Friday in July is System Administrator Appreciation Day, or SysAdminDay for short (SysAdmins are efficient — why waste syllables?)

System Administrators manage the networks, configure the servers, and make backups for their users. On System Administrator Appreciation Day those users have the opportunity to appreciate their System Administrators by gifting them with chocolate cake and ice cream. But just in case that doesn’t happen, the SysAdmins in Waterloo Region take themselves and their spouses, friends and relations to dinner. Remember how SysAdmins make backups?

Join us at the Abe Erb Brew Pub and Restaurant again this year on Friday, 27 July 2018 from 6:00pm to 10:00pm, meet with other SysAdmins, share funny PEBKAC stories, and have some dinner and a beverage.

You don’t have to be a SysAdmin to come to the SysAdminDay Dinner — Everybody’s welcome! SysAdmins-In-Training, Retired SysAdmins, even people just curious to know what an array of SysAdmins looks like.

See you at the SysAdminDay Dinner!

What: System Administrator Appreciation Day Dinner
When: Friday, 27 July 2018 starting at 6:00pm iCal
Where: Abe Erb Restaurant at The Tannery
Location: 151 Charles Street West, Kitchener, Ontario Map

Leave a comment to let me know if you’re coming, so I can make a reservation at Abe Erb.

–Bob.

The Whole Gang (almost)

The Whole Gang (almost) — SysAdminDay Dinner, 28 July 2017

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Posted in Events, System Administration | 6 Comments »

Pictures of #SysAdminDay Dinner 2017 at @Abe_Erb

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 4th August 2017

The last Friday in July is System Administrator Appreciation Day, and SysAdmins from Kitchener-Waterloo went to the Abe Erb Restaurant and Brewery for dinner.

Abe Erb Brewing Company

Abe Erb Brewing Company

The Whole Gang (almost)

The Whole Gang (almost)

Infinite Beer

Infinite Beer

Having a laugh

Having a laugh

Beer Valves

Beer Valves

Jean and Laurel

Jean and Laurel

Beer Console

Beer Console

Beer Admin

Beer Admin

More SysAdmins

More SysAdmins

Beer Vat

Beer Vat

Empties

Empties

Ooh, The Shiny!

Ooh, The Shiny!

Something is funny

Something is funny

Acidulated Malt

Acidulated Malt

A beer thing

A beer thing

Tech Talk

Tech Talk

Wild Goose

Wild Goose

Such shiny things!

Such shiny things!

Having dinner

Having dinner

In The Brewery

In The Brewery

Twilight

Twilight

SysAdminDay

SysAdminDay

There are more pictures in the SysAdminDay gallery.

Pictures taken at the System Administrator Appreciation Day Dinner at the Abe Erb Restaurant and Brewery on Friday, 28 July 2017.

Pictures by Laurel L. Russwurm, used under a CC-BYCC BY 4.0 license.

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Planning #SysAdminDay Dinner

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 28th June 2017

It’s a go! Reservations made for Friday, 28 July 2017 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Abe Erb’s at 151 Charles St, Kitchener Map.

Abe Erb’s is popular too, they’re so busy on a Friday that dinner orders are taken at 7:00pm. But I suspect they don’t mind us staying longer and enjoying their beverages…

System Administrators at the Egg Roll King Restaurant, 29 July 2016

System Administrators at the Egg Roll King Restaurant, 29 July 2016

The year is rapidly closing in on System Administrator Appreciation Day, held every year on the last Friday of July, the 28th this year. In the Kitchener-Waterloo area that means System Administrators appreciate each other with a SysAdmin Day Dinner.

Egg Roll King

Egg Roll King Restaurant

Unfortunately, my favourite restaurant Egg Roll King is doing extremely well. So well that Tony, the Egg Roll King himself, is too busy to have dine-in customers on Fridays and Saturdays.

So, unless we want to sit on the sidewalk eating take-out, we have to find a new venue.

Let’s use this poll to figure out attendance as well as venue. On Monday, 24 July 2017 at noon I’ll count the total number of responses, then make a reservation at the most popular choice. Vote early, vote often, vote for your family members and friends!

Remember, SysAdminDay Dinner is for SysAdmins, their partners, children, friends, and anyone else who appreciates SysAdmins!

This poll is no longer accepting votes

Where should we have the Systems Administrator Appreciation Day Dinner? (Fri, 28 Jul 2017, 6pm-9pm)
11 votes · 0 answers
Choose
×

If you add a new venue, leave a comment to say why you like that place.

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Posted in System Administration | 3 Comments »

#SysAdminDay 2016 Pictures

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 30th July 2016

For the fourth year, System Administrator Appreciation Day is celebrated by the SysAdmins of Kitchener-Waterloo going out for dinner, once again at the Egg Roll King Restaurant.

System Administrators at the Egg Roll King Restaurant, 29 July 2016

System Administrators at the Egg Roll King Restaurant, 29 July 2016

An Array of System Administrators: Bob Jonkman, Laurel Russwurm, Kiwi Ssennyonjo, Jean Smith, Jeff Smith, Brian Bentley, Leo Pepitas, Barbara Izma, Steve Izma, Sean Howard, and Marc Paré at the Egg Roll King Restaurant for System Administrator Appreciation Day Dinner on 29 July 2016.

Willem Jonkman

Willem Jonkman

Willem Jonkman, photographer of SysAdmins

Sean Howard and Marc Paré discuss SysAdmin stuff

Sean Howard and Marc Paré

Sean Howard and Marc Paré

Jeff Smith, Brian Bentley, Leo Pepitas, Barbara Izma and Steve Izma watching a demonstration by Kiwi Ssennyonjo at the Egg Roll King Restaurant for System Administrator Appreciation Day Dinner on 29 July 2016.

Jeff Smith, Brian Bentley, Leo Pepitas, Barbara Izma and Steve Izma watching a demonstration by Kiwi Ssennyonjo at the Egg Roll King Restaurant for System Administrator Appreciation Day Dinner on 29 July 2016.

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System Administrator Appreciation Day Dinner — 29 July 2016

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 13th July 2016

SysAdmin logo

It’s July again, and System Administrator Appreciation Day is always celebrated on the last Friday in July. Although the SysAdminDay website indicates that SysAdmins are the happy recipients of cake and ice cream, for the last few years SysAdmins in Kitchener-Waterloo have been celebrating SysAdminDay by taking themselves to dinner, along with spouses, friends, and co-workers.

This year we’re teaming up with the Kitchener-Waterloo VoIP Users Group. While KWVoIP meetings are usually scheduled for the fourth Thursday in July, this month we’re combining the KWVoIP meeting with SysAdminDay. There’s an overlap between the KWVoiP members and SysAdmins — VoIP systems need administration too! As a bonus, we’ll get a presentation from Brian Bentley about his roaming experiments in the U.S.

Tony, the Egg Roll King himself, is a versatile host. Not only are the egg rolls and spring rolls the best in KW, there are vegetarian meals available, and ERK has some of the best fried chicken, fish & chips, and poutine in town! Friday nights are busy at the Egg Roll King Restaurant, so leave a comment to let me know you’re coming and I can make a reservation.

Date: Friday, 29 July 2016 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: Egg Roll King Restaurant, 85 Courtland Avenue East, Kitchener, Ontario Map
iCalendar: kwvoip-2016-07-29.ics

KWVoIP Topic: Brian Bentley – Roaming Profile Experiments

Brian Bentley has returned from a short trip to the United States. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to present last month, so he’s catching up this month.

In order to stay in touch telephonically, Brian used Roam Mobility for Data services. He tested Fongo (Canadian number) and TextNow (US number) for VoIP services. While in the US he tried to sign up for a Google Voice number. What worked? What was cheapest? Was it worth the bother? Come to dinner to hear Brian’s answers.

Cheese Wontons and Sweet and Sour sauce

Cheese Wontons for dessert!

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Posted in System Administration | 4 Comments »

System Administrator Appreciation Day Dinner, 31 July 2015

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 14th July 2015

Oh look! Pictures!
Oh look! More pictures in the gallery!

And the winner is: Chen’s Buffet! Reservations have been made; see you there on Friday, 31 July 2015 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

Chen’s Buffet Map
50 Weber Street North,
Waterloo, Ontario

+1-519-208-5688

System Administrator Appreciation DaySysAdmin logo falls on the last Friday of July every year, and is allegedly celebrated by users gifting their SysAdmins chocolate cake and ice cream. Hands up, those of you who have actually experienced that? Hmmm? I thought so…

Nobody appreciates System Administrators more than other System Administrators, so for the last few years I’ve hosted a Systems Administrator Appreciation Day Dinner in Kitchener-Waterloo. Last year we went to LaiLai’s, and previously we’ve gone to Egg Roll King.

SysAdminDay is on Friday, 31 July 2015, just over two weeks away. Where would you like to go this year? Potential venues must offer vegetarian fare, and be physically accessible. Leave suggestions in the comments or send me e-mail, then next week we can vote. If there’s more than one candidate on the list we’ll rank choices from 3 points (most favoured) to 1 point (least favoured), and I’ll add them up, post the results here, and we’ll all meet for dinner.

SysAdminDay Dinner is open to everyone, whether you’re a System Administrator, a SysAdmin Student, or a former SysAdmin who’s been lured to the dark side. And also their friends, family, and end-users. OK, maybe not the end-users. Unless they’re friends or family.

See you on 31 July!
–Bob.

Proposed Venues

Venue Votes
Star Wok 1.5
Lancaster Smokehouse 1
Chen’s Buffet (Bridgeport Plaza, Weber & Bridgeport) 5.5
A smattering of local sysadmins

A smattering of local sysadmins

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Posted in System Administration | 8 Comments »

Pictures: SysAdminDay Dinner 2014

Posted by Bob Jonkman on 28th July 2014

SysAdmin logoThe System Administrators of Kitchener-Waterloo got together for dinner on System Administrator Appreciation Day:

A smattering of local sysadmins

A smattering of local sysadmins

Two System Administrators, Laurel and John

Systems Administrators discuss Android Systems Administration

Chinese Restaurant Bills

The Bills

More pictures in the gallery

Pictures by Laurel L. Russwurm from Waterloo Region is Awesome and by Bob Jonkman, used under a CC-BYCC BY 4.0 license.

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