phattlmann, Author at Paul Hattlmann

That Time I Tried To Open For Myself

I’m not sure I’m even remotely qualified to talk about how things are today, but back when I started DJing things were very different. Before I ever got known, I was attending Durham College as some kid who’d just turned 19 years old, meaning I could drink. This would have been in the year 2000, just a hair after 9/11. I remember watching the second plane crash into the tower from this TV everyone was huddled around in the student centre.

I was in my first class around 9am when someone said “a plane crashed into the World Trade Center” and I didn’t really care. Then, we learned one hit the Pentagon, and I thought this was complete bullshit because there’s no fucking way this is happening. Yet, it did.

But this isn’t a story of 9/11, it’s something else.

Wayne Gretzky : The Great Once

They say you should never meet your heroes. I’ve always kind of had a weird relationship with who my heroes are. Most people think of celebrities, but I see celebrities as just people who got famous for playing a persona. It’s cool you’re a superstar in sports, or one of the greatest people on TV, but like.. that’s not who you are. It’s who you play in the public eye. I had a few moments of “celebrity fame” when I got recognized by a bunch of ravers in a foreign city during my DJ days. They asked me for my autograph, which was REALLY awkward for me. They seemingly idolized me as this big shot DJ (I really wasn’t), meanwhile little did they know that I’d just moved out of my mother’s house and was living barely above the poverty line with a roommate, working a shit desk-jockey job.

So, who are my heroes? My dad? He’s a terrible person. My mother? Well.. yes, in a lot of ways. My friends? Ya, a lot of them, actually. I look up to them. Someone who did something really cool which advanced society in a way I feel positive? Heck ya. The single parent who works 3 minimum wage jobs just to ensure the kids are fed and clothed, absolutely! Maybe it’s that kid who got bullied their entire life, was suicidal, and rose up above their childhood to live a prosperous and happy adult life – You’re incredible! However, there was a time when Wayne Gretzky was one of those heroes, and that’s totally OK.

Tesla Is Mass Surveillance

March 4, 2025
phattlmann
Rants
0 Comments

I know this may sound like a conspiracy theory to some, but if you understand cybersecurity, this may be one of those “oh gosh” moments as you realize the implications possible. I’m effectively going to lay out my argument that you should not own a Tesla vehicle, you should not interact with Tesla vehicle, and frankly, you shouldn’t have a Tesla vehicle within 1000′ of you if at all possible. In my opinion, this isn’t just a matter of your own personal safety and privacy, but that of your country, mine being Canada – a country that is currently under threat of our sovereignty being taken from us by the likes of Donald Trump, and Elon Musk.

The Future Of NHL Hockey Broadcasts

I was watching a video from a prominent YouTube personality on changes he’d like to see to the rules in the NHL Hockey League. I could probably talk at length about some of the ideas I have, but that’s not what this is about. One “bonus” segment he talked about was how he’d love to see some changes in the broadcast of NHL games, specifically that he was frustrated with a glowing overlaid circle on certain players to highlight them on the ice. He found that annoying, and I could only agree – but it got me thinking, what could the future of hockey broadcasting look like?

Let’s Make Some Stock

At work we had something of a “talent show” where some of my colleagues got to show off something they’re passionate about. I decided to throw my hat into the ring and hopefully teach some people how to make a pretty damn delicious chicken broth – the base of so many things when it comes to food.

It’s great to work at an organization that puts company culture on the forefront, so naturally I’ll give a quick shout out to TrueContext and all the fun we have. That said, the rest of this is going to be adapted from the 15 minute presentation I gave to my colleagues. It’ll include a step-by-step guide on making a mouthwatering stock, some tips I wasn’t able to cover in the presentation, and some helpful links for further learning.

I’ve Gone Virtual

January 18, 2024
phattlmann
Nerd Stuff
0 Comments

I doubt that few reading this will have much of a clue what I’m about to talk about, and fewer more may care, but it’s a lot of fun for me. It’s a story about learning, tinkering, and forever evolving. It really all started about 25 years ago when I built a couple web pages back in the early days of the Internet, and has culminated in me more or less having a small farm of servers running in my 676sqft condo. Along the way I’ve learned a LOT of things, and the beauty (or, brutality) of it all is that I have done it all on my own. Self taught. I’ve fallen more than a few times, but with failure comes an opportunity to learn.

Author: phattlmann