Life is Like a Safari

Tired // Africa // Music

2009-06-28T19:20:00.004-04:00

Just got back (okay, maybe an hour ago) from Kentucky. A trip with Gavin, Janet, Josh, and Wayne that I'll remember for a good long while. Though I'm entirely exhausted, it was really good. I only hope that Gavin and Janet can get some real sleep on their plane, because although it was in some ways a very relaxing weekend, I am definitely more tired than I would have been at the end of a normal weekend.

Ahh yes, a plane. For you see, they are going to Uganda. For a whole month. We actually dropped them off at Dulles International on the way back from Kentucky. They should be flying by now, but don't have good seats at all. They could definitely use your prayers (and mine!). Pray, I think, most of all that they will be able to focus on serving the people in Uganda, and not on how complicated their lives are going to be when they get back. Gavin will be starting a new job, they will be finding and moving into a new apartment, and even more craziness which I won't go into now.

I have to say, spending time in Kentucky seriously rekindled my love for the south. I would love to find an excuse to spend a week in Bean Station, TN later this summer - dunno if it will happen, but it would be nice. Especially if anyone wanted to go with me. Another thing I miss is working at Wesley Woods.

I am planning on following up my insane weekend with an insane trip to Powhatan, VA tomorrow to see Derek Webb (and gosh, hopefully SM as well!) in concert. The tickets are ridonkulously cheap, so...well, yeah. It might only be a three hour drive, if we're really fast and really lucky.

I have been trying to write music. Melodies come to me pretty easily now; it's the words I'm struggling with. I seem to be able to write one verse and one chorus for pretty much any song, but it stops there.

Guitar playing is actually going pretty well, which is excellent. As fun as it is at this point, I expect it will get even more fun over the coming months. I'm very excited. My friends who are Real Guitar Players should feel free to shower me with tips, advice, criticism, gifts, chocolate, money, and sweet sweet lovin' --- uhhh..... I'm leaving now.

One last thing -- Sonic roller-skating girl...if you ever see this, I'll still marry you.

computer things

2009-06-11T23:09:00.005-04:00

When your new motherboard/CPU combo boots the first couple of times just fine, then starts not even making it to the POST sequence (and the hard drive access light just stays on), the first thing you should check is whether or not your CPU power cable is plugged in. (BOTH ENDS. MOTHERBOARD AND POWER SUPPLY.) Needless to say, this was not the first, second, or tenth thing that I checked.

Also, when your CD drive doesn't work either - it would probably be a good idea to check your SATA cable rather than worrying about whether your Crysis DVD ruined your drive with all those horrible clicking noises.

Newsflash! Core i7 setups don't work with CPU fans from Core 2 Duo setups! Which means I'm stuck with the generic Intel fan, which is kinda whiny, compared to my Arctic Freezer 7 Pro.

Let's see, what else? Ahh yes. Windows 7 can't seem to set up wireless drivers as easily as Ubuntu. Silly Microsoft. What else? I'm loving how Linux sees my new CPU as eight separate processors.

If Amarok 2 is annoying you (and it probably is), at least you now know that you can make all the icons come back by installing the kde-icons-oxygen package via Synaptic (or apt-get!). Getting sound to work seems a bit more complicated, but I think I installed mostly xine packages, especially the one about plugins-all or something like that.

Anyone looking for a motherboard, CPU, and 4 GB of RAM to start them down the road to a pretty hot computer? Only caveat being that this motherboard's S3/S4 'sleep' (often called suspend) functionality has never worked, and won't work for you either.

______________________________

PART TWO:

HECK YES. Best part of the day so far was learning how to re-enable my wireless card after resuming from S3 (in Ubuntu, though this should work in pretty much any flavor of Linux). The only thing you really have to know is the name of the kernel module/device driver for your wireless card -- oh, and the name of your wirelss network interface, which is usually either wlan0 or ra0. The name of my kernel module is rt61pci.

ifconfig wlan0 down
modprobe -r rt61pci
modprobe rt61pci
ifconfig wlan0 up
dhclient wlan0

Since I know you're curious, this next list actually describes what those commands are doing:

Deactivating your wireless interface. This is probably already the case if things aren't working, but it's hard to know. If running 'ifconfig' doesn't report wlan0 as "UP", then it's already down, and this step is unnecessary.
Removing the kernel module. Also possibly unnecessary, but better safe than wondering-why-your-wireless-internet-connection-won't-just-work.
(re)Loading the kernel module. Definitely necessary, and the important step that your computer is sadly leaving out when resuming from sleep.
Activating the wireless interface. After running this, ifconfig will report wlan0 as UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST, most likely. The UP part is the important one, since all the others were showing up before you did your magic.
Getting an IP address from the router! This took me a while to finally figure out - I tried manually assigning myself an IP address, but it didn't work. I don't know if that's because I didn't actually communicate with the router, or because it was already taken...regardless, using dhclient got me an IP address in no time, and all of a sudden, everything WORKS.

If you're dealing with this sort of issue, the best thing to do is to write these commands in a script and put it somewhere will it will get auto-executed on resume from sleep. I'm stealing this script from someone else, and adding the dhclient step for (y)our benefit. If you run these commands directly (within a terminal), you'll need to remember to use 'sudo' for each one, since you're not allowed to do these things unless you are root. The ones in bold are the actual meat of the script:

#!/bin/sh

case $1 in
hibernate|suspend)
;;
thaw|resume)
ifconfig wlan0 down
modprobe -r rt61pci
modprobe rt61pci
ifconfig wlan0 up
dhclient wlan0
;;
help)
echo “$( basename $0 ): Reinitializes wireless rt61pci after a suspend”
;;
*)
echo “$( basename $0 ): called wrong”
exit 1
;;
esac

It is important that you put this particular script under /etc/pm/sleep.d/, or wherever your distro puts the scripts that it runs during "suspend events".

experience

2009-06-04T00:28:00.007-04:00

One thing I may have realized for the first time this evening was a result of the following train of thought: we as humans are continually having new experiences. Feeling ways and thinking thoughts we haven't before. These strike us as very new and different, and indeed they are. As an unintended result of our recognition of just how new and different these experiences are, we tend to somehow come to the belief that these experiences are unique to ourselves in an important way...that is, I am the only person who has ever experienced quite this type of sensation. This is bogus logic. There is absolutely no logical connection between having an entirely new and unexpected experience, and the reality of whether or not someone else has experienced the same thing. Isn't it rather likely that they simply haven't gotten around to experiencing many of the things we have, while we're just now getting around to experiencing what they already have?

As Christians, we rightly understand life to be a progression. Often we allow ourselves to believe that if we have had certain experiences that others haven't, we have necessarily progressed farther than they. While this seems to make sense, I suggest that it does not. I will endeavor (regardless of how much wiser and better I stupidly think myself to be) to actually believe those who say that they have undergone the experience I am undergoing, and receive their wisdom with joy.

dun dun dun dun dah dun dun dah dun

2009-05-31T21:00:00.004-04:00

I want to tell you this story about how I went to see Star Trek (which was good, by the way) and when I came out of the theatre the speakers in the hallways between theatres were playing the Imperial March from Star Wars....but I'm not sure how to do it.

Edit: This video, which I discovered ten minutes ago, is extra funny in light of the story which I wanted to tell.

Beyond the pale?

2009-05-12T20:17:00.003-04:00

Have you ever seen someone spell that phrase with the word "pail" instead? I hope you never have to.

As Christians, we are not to return evil for evil. My initial reaction to this article was one of amusement but also concern, since it seems like repaying evil for evil. But the overall effect of this practice (scam baiting) seems to be a good one. More than that, it's actively defending people from being bilked out of their life savings.

Would this be wrong for us to engage in? I don't have a great answer, though I guess I know which way I'm leaning. If you have a great answer, a reasonable suggestion, or even a really shoddy one that you're incredibly proud of, let me know.

wenger

2009-05-10T14:45:00.004-04:00

That's the name of my pastor. But that's not where we're going with this one.

Has anyone ever bought one of these? Seriously. Anyone? Ever? I cannot imagine meeting this person. It would be particularly disturbing a) because I think this person is ridiculous, and b) because I know he has a two pound, eleven ounce implement of death, destruction, and insanity in his pants. At least I hope that's what that is.

have you ever?

2009-05-06T21:51:00.005-04:00

Have you ever thought that maybe you were having a heart attack? This happens to me on occasion, and I often consider trying to feel my pulse to see if my heart is still beating. Thing is, I never do, because I know that if I feel it and it isn't beating, I'll freak out, have a heart attack, and die.

Have you ever been more scared by a bunny rabbit than it was by you? I have. I was jogging merrily along, and an enormous furry monster jumped out in front of me - and hopped serenely across the road. In my terror, I nearly ingested asphalt.

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to have a better imagination? I thought about it the other night and ended up thinking about a work of modern art I'd like to see created. I don't want anyone to steal my idea, so I'm not telling you what it is...but it's good.

Have you ever loved loving God? I have. It's the best thing I've experienced, and I wish it were the case all of the time.

wasting time

2009-05-05T23:05:00.003-04:00

I'd love to get a copy of Left 4 Dead and have some people to play it with. This doesn't seem very likely, though.

On an ENTIRELY unrelated note, check out this infomercial. It is pretty funny.

Lastly, if you weren't aware, XKCD is running daily this week. It requires a bit of background knowledge to appreciate, but if you've seen Firefly and Dr. Horrible, you should be in pretty good shape. And it helps to know that the writer of XKCD owns an electric skateboard (of which he is very proud), and that he recently learned that Nathan Fillion also owns one.

Two miles

2009-04-28T20:27:00.002-04:00

without stopping.

Also, a haircut, online banking account with TFCU, extension cords and whatnot for my room, and I made taco meat. Today is a good day.

oink oink

2009-04-27T22:05:00.004-04:00

to continue the recent rash of posts relating to animals, this one is about porkers.

Two links. Read them in either order. It might be funnier one way or the other; I really haven't decided. Maybe you can tell me which order you think would've been funnier.

XKCD

CNN.com

rapido

2009-04-27T20:15:00.003-04:00

I was excited about coming inside and blogging about the fact that I had run 1.5 miles in 9 minutes. Then I checked Google just to be sure, and now Google wants to say that it was 1.1 miles. That makes me sad. I am fairly certain that Google has changed its mind over the past 3 months about how far that run is, but I can't prove it. Anyway, it was my fastest circuit ever, and this is because I had curry cooking at home, and I needed to get back to stir it. Let me tell you, the fear of seeing flames licking out of the windows when you get back is quite the motivator.

I really would LOVE to get to bed early tonight, but I have an awful feeling that I'm going to fail once again. We shall see.

More than a month later, I am finishing up the iced tea that Nina sent with me. First off, I can't believe it lasted this long. Secondly....it is really good.

Firefox still thinks the word "blogging" is spelled incorrectly. YOU FOOL.

woolly

2009-04-27T00:15:00.001-04:00

This is probably one of the coolest videos on the Internet. Even if you don't like sheep. And honestly...who does?

Three links

2009-04-23T01:26:00.003-04:00

I found these three articles recently, and thought they were good reads.

The first one is about running, and what kind of shoes to wear.

The second one is about the real dangers to our technological infrastructure.

The last is about professionalism in computer code; especially in comments. I sympathize with the writer of this one.

Those are all things that interest me.

turbo

2009-04-21T19:35:00.001-04:00

Running would be a lot easier if I had a turbocharger.

....and on days like this, windshield wipers.

rest / weary

2009-04-21T02:18:00.003-04:00

It would be great if I could be sleepy at night, and awake during the day.

Jaunty isn't much different than Intrepid, but Amarok 2 seems nice enough. Despite the missing functionality.

Hey, Iain! Your recital was good. Maybe I'll see you next week.

Omegle

2009-04-16T00:41:00.003-04:00

I gotta admit, I just wasted the last 45 minutes of (what should have been) sleep by talking to random people on Omegle.com. Not that I recommend this as a daily pleasure, but I imagine that getting together with Gavin or Matthew and using our combined brainpower for befuddlement and consternation could be well worth our while.

I have missed...

2009-04-13T22:22:00.003-04:00

conversations like that. Even though it was more like "Radio Hour(s) with P. Gaultney"....it really helps me to be able to think out loud like that.

Thanks.

Also, the purpose of this post is not to make you like me. I hope. Really.

huh, that's weird....

2009-04-12T08:36:00.003-04:00

I'm sick this morning. I started feeling it last night, and now I am.

=(

Boa Pascoa!

Guinness is better partly frozen

2009-04-11T17:35:00.004-04:00

My recommendation is, for a can of Guinness Draught that has been fully refrigerated, you should put the can in the freezer for between 1.5 and 2 hours to get the full slushiness:

P.S. And it turns out that (at least for the freezers I've experienced) you can leave the Guinness in as long as you want, too. It might need to warm up for a minute or two before you try to pour it out of the can, but other than that, no problems were encountered. =)

Ubiquity

2009-04-07T21:34:00.003-04:00

It's embarrassing how far behind the times I am with this, but I guess that's how it goes when you're distracted by anything and everything else.

Ubiquity is the perfect extension for Firefox. I know this, and I haven't even used it more than about three times. But goodness....a command-line for Firefox?!

But no, it's not that. It's better. You don't have to memorize commands. You just type what makes sense. Sometimes you have to pick one of the suggested commands out of a list - usually it knows exactly what you want, even before you're done typing.

I abhor mice. I also abhor computer mouses. Both require me to take my hands off my keyboard. Ubiquity is neither, neither does it require me to move my lazy hands all the way from their resting place on the stationary plastic wireless device underneath them to the movable plastic wireless device 12 inches away.

I interrupt this broadcast to start enjoying Ubiquity. If it weren't already interrupted, I would suggest that you do too.

This old blog

2009-04-05T21:22:00.002-04:00

is tired of being ignored.

I'm home, where I belong. I've been away for too many Sunday mornings recently. This coming weekend, I'll be here - the weekend after that, Tennessee. But after that...well, I really can't imagine spending too many Sunday mornings anywhere but Pasadena.

Freeman Dyson

2009-03-28T18:40:00.002-04:00

For science fiction fans, think "Dyson spheres". For people who like to read about global warming, read this article. It's just all-around interesting.

It is I!

2009-03-25T23:44:00.001-04:00

Remember: "It's me!" is NOT proper English.

That being said, here's a cool t-shirt!

expensive

2009-03-21T23:33:00.004-04:00

owning a car, that is.

Today was so expensive...new tires....front-end alignment (which wasn't really necessary, but....eh), all sorts of fancy cleaning products. The car is beautiful, and I am very tired.

Still, just like everything else, the novelty wears off really quickly. It's a great car...it really is. And I'll be happy if people say nice things about it tomorrow when I see them at church and so forth. But I'm also starting to get a little tired of it. And it's been interesting to me, over the last year or so, how quickly the novelty wears off of just about everything.

So yes. This year's tax refund can't come soon enough.

I had an INSANE knot in my back this morning. In certain positions, it felt like I was on fire. On. Fire. I bought Elton John's Greatest Hits today while waiting for my car to be done. 34 songs. I'm excited.

My phone made a different noise this evening.

front-to-back

2009-03-19T17:31:00.002-04:00

Here are some more pictures. But the G35 is still dirty.