17 January 2009

Well writing a blog, using twitter, and setup a facebook page, and have been using linked-in for a while.  Hummm, what next on my be social networking agenda?  

breath

Started playing with Adobe Air applications, TweetDeck and Agile Agenda, and love the installation and integration.  I think Adobe may have finally a light way platform which does what Java seemed to promise.  I am not bad mouthing Java, as I have written  many and used many more Java applications, I just think Adobe has done a cool job.

It does not hurt that tweekdeck is a great twitter interface and a good reason to install Adobe Air.

15 January 2009

Distractions of homework

Well it is Spring of 2009, and my GPS Positioning class has started at Purdue.  It is the first time with this instructor, Dr. van Gelder, so I am at the panic stage trying to figure out what and how he wants his assignments turned in.  So far the homework has been okay, a brief introduction so he knows a bit about the class and small MATLAB program to do 3D rotations.

So I have this little bit of programming to do, (the intro was already email out, as it was due today), so I could sit down get things done.  Well except, I go my 3D Connexion mouse today, and well I do have play with it a bit.  You know to verify it all works and all that.

Also, well to have better integration with the MS Word world I live in, I purchased Apple's iWork09  yesterday, and while it does not support my 3D mouse, it does have lots of pretty template and gee-wiz features to play with.  I did realized shortly after buying iWork, Google Docs or Open Office could be used as well, yet I would not get all the cool templates, then again it was a bit for eye candy.

Well what other distractions are there.  Well have not been in Second Life lately, and hey that support the 3D mouse.  Maybe I should spend some time verify it?  Hmm, well I only watched my Christmas present, Blade Runner, once.  Maybe I should study its awesome lighting a bit more?

Well I did need to update my blog, and well I guess I have almost finished that...  I guess after the Christmas break it is just hard to get into the whole school thing again.  Guess I am lucky that I only one class, well and the place I have go during the day to make money.

Oh can I start complaining about source control, but I did that all day at the office, and guess I do not want to do that again.

Hmm, homework?  Maybe tomorrow.

BTW a 80's nerd note, both  @levarburton  and @brentspiner are twitting now.  If you don't know who they are, well this message is not for you.

11 January 2009

1827 days

I know its 11 days past the beginning of the year, and that is when everyone takes a moment to look back, but five years ago our child move in to our home.  We are technically legal guardians, looking after an orphan.  A girl by the age of six had lost both parents to cancer, and was moved 800 miles from her home to start a new.  In all but legal title we are her parents, and are very proud of her.

It is amazing to see someone who has seen so much so soon be able to move on, worrying about friends, playing pokemon, and throwing fits about homework.  I am amazed at how well she and children in general can adapt.  

I keep my private life private, so there is not much more to say, except kids are exceptional, and full of optimism.  I guess they were not, the human race would have died out a long time ago.

Just remember, "pokemon, you have to collect them all"


07 January 2009

Trac



Yesterday I experimented with Trac, from Edgewall.org, and was I pleased. Installation on my windows PC was painless, using Python 2.5.4 and sqlite database, especially since sqlite is included in the Python distribution.

The actual configuration of the server took some time, as I seemed to miss the whole authentification of user step. Once I had that sorted out, using a .htpasswd file, andthen some of the normal foward vs backward slash issues on Windows. It started up and I was able to get to the admin page (hint: the first login for TRAC-ADMIN is created via the command line, trac-admin executable).

Once the system was up and running, configuration of milestones, tickets, severity codes was very easy. One the eaiser web interfaces I have used.

It worked so well, I am thinking that I could you it for my own project tracking, keeping track of all my to do and project list, from house repairs to some CAP website stuff I should do. I kind of like the whole dumping my random "I should" ideas in as tickets and building projects from that. Now I just need to find a free trac setup on the web, so I can access it from anywhere. I guess I could also just get a domain and a cheap plan from Webfaction. Hmm.

Time will tell if the company uses Trac, its not an issue of technology as much as office politics, but then again when is that not the case.

06 January 2009

spirit guide?

The raven or crow.  I ponder if either would be my spirtial guide.  Thanks to the Manataka American Indian Council for the reference material.

05 January 2009

If the robot's win, we will have to listen to techno

Catch line from Maldroid, "Heck No! I'll Never Listen To Techno", a cool video done all in light-brights.
I found it on babelgum, another tv on computer site.   So far, its pretty good, watch a old PBS show of Soviet Propaganda.  Wow the Soviet's new who to twist the truth.  I often wondered why a parent would fear their child.  Well the Soviet propaganda made me worry about. See the story of Pavlik Morozov.





 

03 January 2009

technically, it counts a working towards a resolution

Well what a bloody hell of a week, welcome 2009.   With stomach flu, a bunch of people out of their routines, and sitting two dogs, who one of our dogs appears to really dislike, this has been a long week.  Now a new year has started, so I guess its time for a fresh start.

As part of my resolutions, the one to be a bit more positive, got skype and my watcom table working on the new mac, Vikings are still in the playoffs (well they have not played yet, so technically, yes),  and my parents got a good laugh at the story of the dog sitting.  They did it last week.

Well I could write more, this just this small amounts counts towards my other goal of blogging more.