Advogato blog for Phoon

7 Jan 2002

Mon, 7 Jan 2002 08:52:39 GMT

name change

Well, I've decided that my account name just isn't cool anymore. I'm still using it on IRC, but I realized that I want the things I do on this forum, and indeed in most places, to be associated with me, not with someone I pretend to be.

To that end, I've created an account under my usual login name: bgeiger. If you've certified this account, please transfer your cert over to that one.

I'll be copying my diary entries over soon.

Update: If I had certified you, the new account is currently certifying you. I did not change any... yet.

2 Jan 2002

Wed, 2 Jan 2002 03:58:17 GMT

Afternoon.

music for thought

o/~
So what would you do if you wake tomorrow
There's no more sorrow, your dreams came true
So knock on wood and cross your fingers
Now count your blessings, it might be you
What would you do if you wake tomorrow
And all your gray skies have turned blue
How many days do you think you're given
So get on living, it's up to you 
o/~     -- LFO, "Life is Good"

happy new ears

2002 years ago... nothing happened. (The best authorities on the subject claim that Christ was born somewhere between 4 and 6 BC.)
Anyway, it's a time for celebration. I spent yesterday at Epcot. It was simultaneously a fun and painful experience: fun because I enjoy being there, and painful because I now have at least five fairly large blisters.
I have a small Trip Report up on my LiveJournal.

projects

Still none. I really need to get off of my butt and get that weblog system done.

diet

It's starting again, soon. My New Year's resolution is to lose 40 pounds by the time I graduate, May 3.

radio

One of my favorite radio stations, WJRR, just changed its name, and apparently its format as well. The rumor is that they fired their entire staff of DJs and stopped playing much of their older collection, focusing instead on current songs.
I hope it's not true; if so, they just lost a listener.

games and networking

I'm still trying to figure out why my network doesn't cooperate with network games. I'm tempted to create a crossover cable and see if running full duplex can improve matters.

cleaning

I need to clean up my room again. Oh, joy.

"Where do you think you are, Disney World? Get your strollers in gear and hustle!" -- General Knowledge, "Cranium Command", Epcot, Walt Disney World

28 Dec 2001

Fri, 28 Dec 2001 17:39:52 GMT

Noonish.

ho ho humbug

I'm still bummed that Christmas is over.

disney (again)

Another trip to MouseWorld a couple of days ago. Started out in Epcot, stayed for a half hour or so, then hopped over to the Contemporary Resort to visit the arcade.
Beat the snot out of my friend in air hockey.
Played a boxing game that senses your movements. You grab these huge red glove-looking things, and actually swing at the screen. Thing is, though, I forgot to take my vest off, and it was hot anyway... I played through two rounds, until I mercifully lost, then I staggered over to a seat and tried to regain control of myself. I'm sure everyone's felt nauseated after overexerting themselves; thankfully, I was able to will myself back to normal.
Finished off the day in the Magic Kingdom, but left before the fireworks.
All in all, a mostly decent trip.
In other news, I'm probably going to be at the Adventurer's Club at Pleasure Island this Saturday.

gifts

I received some nice gifts this year, not the least of which are a JamCam digital camera and a portable CD player from Mom and a Premium Annual Pass to Walt Disney World from Dad.

new year's eve

If all goes well, I'll be in Epcot for New Year's. I was there for the past two, but it's likely going to be more difficult this year.
First of all, my primary advantage, access to the Cast Member overflow parking lot, has been blocked. This means that I'll have to join the crowd and wait in line. Actually, I'm not worried as much about getting in the park as I am about getting out. There are always traffic jams long into the morning. If you're going, remember to fill up your car, because people actually run out of gas while waiting for the jam to clear.
Also, I'm bringing a friend with me. This ought to be interesting.

certs

Apparently OpenSourcesJapsEye certified me. Is there any way to reject a certification?

later

Gonna go run some errands.

like a slinky on an escalator

23 Dec 2001

Sun, 23 Dec 2001 09:02:24 GMT

Very Early Morning.

dsl or lack thereof

Holy crap, this has been a frustrating week.
In the past week I've recieved no less than three separate telemarketer calls claiming that DSL is available in my area. The first two have been from Verizon, who provides my phone service.
I was wary at first, knowing that I had been too far from the CO the last time I tried to order DSL. So I specifically asked the sales droid if my phone line was close enough to the CO to receive service. Of course, she said yes.
However, I called back the next day to see when my installation was supposed to take place and the guy who answered (after many trips through their automated system and a long hold time) told me that I was too far from the CO. So not only was I bummed, I was angry that I had been lied to.
That wasn't enough to stop the telemarketers, though. Verizon called me again to advertise their service. Then I called Time Warner, to check on the availability of Roadrunner. Of course, I live in the one part of BFE that doesn't have digital cable yet.... and of course, they call to advertise.... and sent junk snail mail.
Today, DirecTV DSL called about their DSL service. I explained to the sales droid, as patiently as I could, that I was too far from the CO to receive DSL. "But we use a different set of signals than Verizon!" she said, trying to convince me that it would, in fact, work (and probably earn a commission).
I kept explaining to these people that yes, I would sign up for their service if I only could....

diz-nee

Thursday, I went to Downtown Disney. I soon found out why that was a bad idea.
Unbeknownst to me, Thursday night is a sort of traditional "gay night" at Pleasure Island, Disney's nightclub area. Disney is famous for being very pro-gay, and there are many gay Cast Members. I, however, am straight. At least it was fairly discreet; I saw a lot of same-sex couples holding hands or dancing, but nothing that a heterosexual couple couldn't do without offending people. It's not like most people make it out to be.
Anyway, I spent most of the night in the Adventurer's Club. Everyone should spend at least an hour in there, just to get the hang of the place... it's a laugh riot if you're in the right frame of mind, and pretty damn funny even if you're not.

gifts

Dad and I have been exchanging gifts gradually; we're both too impatient to wait until Christmas. He had already given me the Disney Annual Pass. Recently, though, he let me unwrap a new bookbag and a mirror. ("Uhh... thanks?" I'm kidding, I actually needed a mirror. It's one of those things you don't typically think about, but comes in handy.)
He had given me a variety box of Jelly Belly jellybeans, but ate about half of the licorice ones. When I realized that they sold them at Pleasure Island, I bought a small bagful of licorice and cherry ones for him... so he wouldn't keep eating mine. ;-) I also got him some Old Spice. I think he knew that one was coming because he didn't buy any when he ran out.

jerks

Sad news. Dick's father passed on recently. I think I'm just going to forgive him... even assholes don't deserve this much punishment.
However, I'm not deleting the evidence I already have, just in case. I just hope I never have to use it.

recent events

The constitution signing slash holiday party was a success. Lots of food, lots of camaraderie, and no one messed up while signing the constitution.
People loved the pickle wraps I brought... I made them because the dinner was potluck and I have absolutely no skill at cooking.
For your hors d'oeuvre-creating pleasure, here's the recipe:
Ingredients:

Dried beef
Cream cheese
Kosher dill pickles
Toothpicks
Directions:

Slice a pickle into quarters lengthwise. (You can buy them presliced but this is cheaper.)
Spread cream cheese on a piece of beef.
Wrap a quarter of the pickle in the cheese-coated beef. (The cream cheese should be on the inside, touching the pickle.)
Insert two toothpicks and cut pickle in half.
Repeat steps 2-4 for the remaining quarters of the pickle.
Repeat steps 1-5 until you run out of something.
Mom taught me how to make these, a long time ago. Thanks, Mom!

projects

I haven't even touched the weblog project yet. I did, however, write a tiny script to turn Advogato's diary.xml files into long HTML files, almost suitable for printing. The fact that each entry is already in HTML made things a lot easier.

school

My Chemistry 2 class got cancelled. Luckily, they moved me into one of the day classes, since they realize that this is the only class I need to graduate.
However, the class goes from 10:00 to 10:50 AM, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the lab is from noon to 3:00 PM on Wednesday. My job is scheduled from 11:00 to 11:50 AM Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, on that campus. (It's the same time, Tuesday and Thursday, on the other campus.)
That simply means that I'll have to haul ass from place to place three days a week. I think I'm up to it, and I'm sure my Chem professor won't mind me showing up a few minutes late to lab if necessary. The two days I'm on the other campus, I have at least an hour to get from one campus to the other, a fifteen-minute trip, max.

arrangements

I rearranged my room a little bit recently. All I really did was rotate my bed 90 degrees and raise it up about 6 inches. However, it makes a huge difference in the available space. Hopefully I can find a decent desk to set one of my two workstations on, so I can get it out of the kitchen.
Why do I keep using my lowly 350MHz when I have a 1.33GHz? (Answer: all my files are on this box, and the OS is already set up nicely. Linux is a bitch to configure, but once it's set up, it stays that way perpetually.)

network woes

For some strange reason, my LAN doesn't like games. The client always seems to get disconnected rapidly. Also, when the player on the server fires a rapidfire weapon (in UT, think minigun or pulse gun), the other client can't communicate with the server.
It's a simple 100Mbps network, with a hub and three connections: two workstations and a firewall/gateway. All three boxen can communicate with each other under normal conditions.
I'm really getting confused, and no one I've spoken to has been able to make heads or tails of it.

trolls

OpenSourcesJapsEye: People like you are the reason I suggested negative certifications.
I don't want to say, "I don't believe he deserves certification", I want to say, "I believe he does not deserve certification." There's a subtle difference there, but a difference nonetheless.
By the way, you're not funny. You're simply disgusting.

car

Took my car in for its scheduled maintenance. Turns out my lower engine mount had broken, my front brake pads were down to less than 5% of their original thickness, and my wheels needed to be balanced.
Well, replacing the engine mount fixed a problem I had been having with the car "bucking" when I shifted into drive or reverse, and the mechanic machined the rotors, eliminating the pulsating brake pedal problem.
However, my car still hops at about 55 MPH. With a vengeance. Maybe it was originally this bad, but since the engine mount was broken, that absorbed the shock?

sleep

Sleep is good.

God's last name isn't Dammit

16 Dec 2001

Sun, 16 Dec 2001 06:10:35 GMT

Night.

school

Woohoo! The semester's finally over!
I have my grades. I got a B in Wellness Concepts (for some reason, nobody does well in that class), a B in Calculus 3, and an A in Spanish (although I could have sworn I was headed for a B in that class too). I currently have a 3.800 GPA at my current school, and a 3.235 overall GPA. I'm finally recovering from all the goofing off I did at my first college.

work

I think I have a job for next semester. It's just a few hours a week, but it's easy work, and it's right on campus.
Basically, one of the professors is teaching Calculus 2 as a "telecourse", meaning it's sent from one campus to the other via dedicated video link. Anyway, she needs someone on the other end to do things like give out and collect tests, answer questions, etc. Since I'm done with Calc 2 (and 3), I figure I'm as qualified as anyone.

events

Today, I went to a Phi Theta Kappa picnic.... only about seven people showed up, including the two advisors.
Tomorrow, the PCC International Circle is having its Christmas party slash constitution signing. I'm basically under strict orders to attend, or else. ;-)

gifts

Man, have I been lax.... I haven't really gotten anyone anything. I got my dad some Old Spice, and my mom something (I can't say because she reads this). I already know what I'm going to get my brother, if I can find it.
Dad gave me one of my gifts early; it's a Premium Annual Pass to Walt Disney World. Basically, it's an unlimited admission ticket for a year (plus 100 extra days, due to a special they've been running). I also get admission to the water parks, Pleasure Island, and DisneyQuest.
I'm pleased. ;-)

projects

With the long Christmas break, I hope to finish my weblog system for PCCIC.

do not taunt happy fun ball

4 Dec 2001

Tue, 4 Dec 2001 21:36:47 GMT

Afternoon.

certs

CryoBob: As far as I can tell, self-certification is so other people can see what you consider your community status to be. For example, I certified myself as 'Apprentice', because that's what I consider myself.
Because of how the trust metric works, self-certification has no effect on your actual rating.

food/spanish

Hoy, iré a un restaurante para un examen para mi clase de español. Podré hablar español solamente. No creo que sea fácil, pero...

projects

Things aren't looking good for the new website design. People aren't catching on to the power that PHP would bring, nor do they realize how much it'll be easier for everyone involved, not just for me, if the new system is installed.
Honestly, if we can't figure out a way to automate this process somewhat, I'll be forced to resign my position, just because of the time pressure. And I really don't want to do that.
I just had an epiphany... we can have the people who write event reports upload them directly to the website. However, since the advisor must approve anything being posted, the message will be held until (s)he can look at it and approve it. This should cut down the time needed, and reduce errors in transcription.
Ain't I just a genius? :-P

pills

One side effect of these ephedra pills (Metabolife knockoff) is an incredible amount of sweating. And I mean incredible... I very rarely sweat, and not nearly so much during such cool weather. However, I'm practically dripping right now.

school

I need to speak to a bunch of people about a bunch of things. I think I'll get started.

o/~ You could hear some reindeer on your rooftop, / Or Jack Frost on your windowsill, / But if someone's climbing down your chimney / You'd better load your gun and shoot to kill... o/~ -- "Weird Al" Yankovic, "Christmas at Ground Zero"

3 Dec 2001

Mon, 3 Dec 2001 04:11:27 GMT

Night.

music

Green Day - International Superhits

skewl

Registered for classes for next term today.
Yes, I know it's Sunday. Somehow, someone at my school became enlightened and created an online registration form. Small miracles.
Anyway, I'm taking General Chemistry 2, Second Year Spanish 2 (aka Spanish 4), and "JavaScript Fundamentals". That last one actually sounds interesting... from the description in the catalog, it might be more than just JavaScript:
COP 2800 JavaScript Fundamentals
3 hrs., 3 credits. Prerequisite: COP 1006 or CGS 1555
This course introduces scripting languages used to enhance Web documents. Focus is on the use of scripts and how they relate to the Web environment. Students will develop applications using a scripting language such as Visual Basic, JavaScript, or Perl.
I hope I can do a lot in Perl... I'm already reasonably competent in it. Also, I wonder how much PHP I can use.
Anyway, I have about a month to learn JavaScript... I like to enter these classes already knowing the basics of the language, and preferably most of the specifics. (Stumping the teacher is fun. Helping other students with problems that have stumped the teacher is even more fun.)

graduation

So far so good... the only class I have to take is General Chemistry 2, and I'm signed up for it next term.
Yee-haw.

diet

olandgren: I only weigh about 130... kilograms. Heh. (For the metrically impaired, that's about 285 lb.)
I've decided to try the lose-weight-by-taking-stimulants idea. I got a bottle of "Metab-o-Lite", a ripoff of the famous Metabolife 356 supplement. Basically, it's "speed lite"; it's ephedra, a stimulant, which is supposed to burn calories by increasing metabolism... but it increases metabolism by making you bounce off the walls. Yay.
But, it's worth a try. Hey, it can't hurt too much... and if it does, I'll quit taking it.
(They say it's "thermogenic"... I've noticed that I'm warmer than usual and have been sweating a bit more. Hopefully that means it's working.)

hair

Bought mousse yesterday. Maybe that'll help my hair stay where it's supposed to be.
If not, it'll be time for the "bulletproof head" hair gel solution. But I'd prefer to stay away from that if at all possible.

documentation

I'm up to seven full binders of documentation, plus a handful of hanging folders with tiny printouts (less than about ten pages or so per printout, too small to justify binding).

jerks, redux

Remember Dick? Well, he's still at it.
Hmm.... I have his fiancee's email address... I'm tempted to use it.
Also, on one hand, I don't want to hear him bragging about how far he's gotten with Jane... but on the other hand, it's evidence.... and fuel for the fire.... maybe if I get mad enough I'll actually send the email.
Actually, here's my plan... Since he insists on telling me about his bedroom exploits (over AOL Instant Messenger), I'll just use an AIM client that supports logging. Boom, case closed.
Yes, it's personal.

routing

For some reason, my OpenBSD firewall/NAT box kept scrozzling its routes. Now I clear and reinitialize the routes before starting my PPP connection. (Yes, I have a firewall on a dialup. So sue me.)

food

Subway's running a deal down here... 2 foot long subs for $7, in the evenings and all day Sunday. I bought two today; I ate one and am saving the rest for tonight or tomorrow.

phi theta kappa

Apparently the botched article was simply a misunderstanding on the part of the editor. They'll print a retraction in the next issue and everyone's hunky-dory.

o/~ Question everything / Or shut up and be the victim of authority o/~ -- Green Day, "Warning"

29 Nov 2001

Thu, 29 Nov 2001 10:20:56 GMT

Very Early Morning.

hi mom

Apparently my mother reads these now. Hi Mom!

irrelevance

DjDanny: I don't give a shit about your ability to take one. Nor do I find your attempts at humor funny.
PLEASE GO AWAY.
Thank you. (Sheesh, even as annoying as mirwin and compiler are, at least they connect their posts to Open Source...)

books

Stopped by the public library and picked up Samurai Chess and Applied Cryptography.
Samurai Chess is really interesting... it doesn't really say anything specific that I didn't already know, but it ties it all together very nicely, unifying it all into one philosophy instead of a myriad of disassociated ideas.

code

Who's had time for code? I'm too busy getting all of my assignments done.

spanish

I have to create a book in Spanish. Of course, I'm doing mine in HTML, which allows for interesting things like "create your own adventure" storylines.
I'll put it up once I'm done.
Update: Here it is.

graduation

Well.... it's not confirmed yet, but I think I'll be graduating in May. May 3, to be exact.... my brother's birthday. Boy, is he going to be irked at me, stealing his thunder... hey, I'll take him to Disney World as a birthday present...

phi theta kappa for dummies

I, and the rest of my Phi Theta Kappa chapter, have a bone to pick with one of the editors of the school newspaper. He published an article claiming that a person can join Phi Theta Kappa without meeting the established GPA requirement, and obtain all of the benefits.
There are two major problems with this. First, while we were considering establishing a "provisional membership" program, we haven't. We would have to change our bylaws first, anyway. Second, even if we did have that program, a "provisional member" would not be considered a member; (s)he would not have the privilege of wearing the honor cord or having the Phi Theta Kappa seal on their diploma.
Anyway, we're going to have a talk with this guy. I wonder if it would be better to tar and feather or draw and quarter...

sleep

Off to bed...

virgin wool... ugly sheep

14 Nov 2001

Wed, 14 Nov 2001 21:58:33 GMT

Afternoon.

quickie

Apparently, someone found a machine I had logged into this site with, and used my account to certify me as 'Master'.
I am not a Master, nor do I claim to be.
Just wanted to clear that up. Sorry for the confusion.

9 Nov 2001

Fri, 9 Nov 2001 00:16:46 GMT

Night.

math

Took the AMATYC test today. I think I did fairly well... I ended up answering 13 out of 20.
However, my calculus test wasn't so fun... I made a 78. Joy.

coasters-r-us

I'm sitting here burning a Mandrake ISO for a friend.

com-poo-turds

Turns out I may not get the new computer after all. It depends on a large number of factors, not the least of which is whether Dad's hours get cut back.
I might just upgrade piecemeal... I wonder how much of my current system I can upgrade without requiring the mobo or new CPU... or how much I would have to upgrade in order to upgrade the mobo and CPU... (RAM, etc).

dick

Yep, still at it.
I think I'll send his fiancee a semi-anonymous email.

ΦΘΚ

I spent this past weekend at a Phi Theta Kappa convention in Orlando. It was interesting, to say the least... but I'm still bummed I didn't get laid at the luau. (Did I say 'laid'? I meant 'leied'. My bad. ;-)

diet

I weighted myself today for the first time in weeks... 292 pounds. Ouch. I guess that's my penance for lazy eating. (I sat down yesterday and ate 90 grams of fat worth of canned beef stew. That's just an example of the crap I shovel into my body.)
It's back to rice and beans for me....

coding

None.

"I have an average golf score that would make most bowlers proud."