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Sat, 08 Oct 2011
It's a Saturday night, and we're watching Lost while Colin is watching Big Bang Theory and Evan is in Indy area at a marching band competition. It's a beautiful day out in Northern Indiana.
2011 Oct 08 [] permanent link
Fri, 15 Jul 2011
It's another no sock summer and we have four weeks left. Let's watch the finale of Friday Night Lights.
2011 Jul 15 [] permanent link
Sun, 29 May 2011
Well, since the eeePC came out, the distros have moved forward and have become a little bloated (or at least for the older netbooks and machines.
So, I'm trying out Leeenux.
2011 May 29 [] permanent link
Sun, 20 Feb 2011
We're watching Big Bang Theory with Lori and we're almost through season 3. Nice program really. Makes me want to learn more about Quantum Theory.
We're at the end of another trimester, and currently the state of Indiana and the nation are reconsidering the role of public schools and teachers and I wonder if it will turn out as bad as they say it will be. I will lose insurance rates, collective bargaining and just general say in my job and how I am evaluated. All because of the GOP controlled nation and legislator across the country and the only real resistance is taking place in Wisconsin. It will be interesting to see if all of this will come to pass as I read this a year from now.
For now, I am not a fan of this govenor or those who rule at the state level or even the national consensus regarding publication education. I like my job and I think those who work in public schools do their jobs.
2011 Feb 20 [] permanent link
Sun, 16 Jan 2011
Malware: One reason I hate Windoze Laptops
So, this has happened to my wife's laptop before, but my father-in-law got the Malware from hell. It's the one that poses as a virus scanner and unless you "buy" their product every time you get on the internets or click the button of "No" (that you don't want to protect your computer), connstant popup windows until you give in an "Buy." In fact, the Malware is pretty tricky as it disables you from any fix you want to do in your control panel or even running RegEdit from the command line.
A Google search here is simply useless as you get links to other products to fix the problem. Oh, and btw: If you buy the product that is holding you hostage, nothing happens but you just lost $49.
So Ken dropped off his laptop and I started fiddling around in SAFE mode, but nothing was really working for me (there is sort of fix (in varitions) of editing the Registry (though the instructions do leave out a few steps. Oh, and if you try to run a Malware removal program, well it won't work and you get a faux error message.
I think the first sign for me that this was a hoax is that when you try to run FireFox, the Title of the program has "Internet Explorer" and, this really bothers me, two exclamation points (no one in their right mind, even in Redmond, would use !! in an error message.
I called Ken and said I couldn't fix it. He came over today and said that he had an idea and it works.
HERE'S The fix:
- Start up in Safe Mode (Hold down the F8 after restart).
- Log in
- Delete your copy of your Malware Removal program.
- Download a new copy of a Malware Program( Malwarebtyes Anti-Malware) free version worked fine for us.
- Run the program in quick mode and in 10-15 minutes or so, it'll find the trojan and follow the prompts.
- The program will want to restart the computer and yes, you should.
- And you are good to go.
LESSONS
- Stuff happens and sometimes a Google search is only a string of paid advertisements.
- The best solutions are the free ones.
- If you can, buy a Mac. If that make you vomit in your mouth, then run a Linux distro (you simply do not have this issue as much or at all under those platforms.
2011 Jan 16 [] permanent link
Sat, 01 Jan 2011
And so at this point I'm supposed to be making some resolutions. First of all, I think I should remember how to make lists with this site...give me a moment.
Okay, so I'm using Markdown and here's the list:
- Not to make lists
- Not to list notes.
There!
2011 Jan 01 [] permanent link
Mon, 27 Dec 2010
I would like to say that the first week of my Xmas Break has been super productive, but I chalk it up to getting reading for Christmas.
So, now that we now are in the last week of vacation, I would really like to do the following:
Finish the damn book (or just the writing).
I should add more stuff to the list, but really this is the monkey on the back.
2010 Dec 27 [] permanent link
Tue, 09 Nov 2010
Lori's job is changing: since it's a state-guided program, it is subject to changes and the whims by those who do not hold her best interest, but the interest on keeping costs down. And so, she'll be making less for a job that she is now getting her second pay cut in 13 years (no raises ever).
And so is where the state of public schools and so possibly my job as those in power feell like the best thing is to treat schools as businesses: demand more for less. I wonder if in 10 years we'll even recognize the public school and will it become a whipping boy for the insecurities of our nation: we think we're smart but we're not acting like it.
And now, I must eat some chocolate chip cookies.
2010 Nov 09 [] permanent link
Sun, 31 Oct 2010
Ubuntu 10.10: meh. Stick with 10.04 NB
I was pretty jazzed about getting the latest NB version for the newest release of Ubuntu. Instead I felt like it was slapping Mac OSX on those first gen iMacs: lots of cool stuff on the screen but long login times and even longing app launch time.
So, do you sacrifice the time for art? Not so on an eeeC 4G.
And so, I backward stepped to the reliable, functional, and workable 10.04 nbr and life is once again good.
I like that they tried sometime new with that side bar thing, but it simply became a bit cumbersome and frankly confusing. I wonder if that would stear newbees to Linux back to the open-Closed Source arms of Redmond.
2010 Oct 31 [] permanent link
Tue, 19 Oct 2010
Not a fan of Ubuntu 10.10 NetBook
I like the Ubuntu, and I liked the past two releases NBR of the ol' brown distro. But the latest release reminds me of making the jump to Mac OSX on an original iMac: slow and sort of out of place.
So, I'll need to re-install 10.04 and go on my merry way (or, take another look at MeeGo...or not).
2010 Oct 19 [] permanent link
Wed, 26 May 2010
It's Nearing the Last days of School
Just saw my last senior classes today; a few will shuffle in Thursday and Friday, but the majority of them I will see at the Graduation ceremony next week and then, aside from Facebook, never again.
I should be more sad, but I'm not.
Sure there are the occassional students that amuse you and you talk with you over coffee, but for the most part, it's time to send them off into the world and get ready for the next class.
Next year...in August.
Quo Vadimus?
2010 May 26 [] permanent link
Thu, 13 May 2010
Tonight I recorded the first bashingED podcast since December 2009 and before that, it had been a long time.
Oh, how my voice is annoying on a podcast. So, I might just give screencasting a try.
Now, back to Survivor.
2010 May 13 [] permanent link
Sun, 09 May 2010
For seniors in high school, this is the final countdown and it's getting closer every day .
We're down to 15 days left (13 for those who are exempt from finals) and for teachers, we're counting down to summer and the stuff of summer.
It's a different schedule in the summer for a teacher in the US and most people think we merely sit around and have an extended holiday like our European folk.
Think what you want.
Now, it's a major research paper (15-20 pages...serious stuff) and final tests and other things to pack in the knowledge base before the graduation march.
2010 May 09 [] permanent link
Wed, 05 May 2010
We gots 15 days left with seniors and all of us: students and teachers are making the best of it. Aside from passing classes, we recognize that the end of the school year is almost here.
Let's just try and keep our heads in the game until the lady sings.
Summer of 2010 will be quite different from 40 plays in 40 days.
2010 May 05 [] permanent link
Thu, 08 Apr 2010
So, I'm just checking in and trying to remember what blosxom is written in (I think it's cgi). So, hello.
2010 Apr 08 [] permanent link
Wed, 07 Apr 2010
It's Spring Break 2010 and we're merely relaxing after two days in the Chicago. Aside from catching up on Lost and watching MadMen, it's only getting some small stuff done arond the house. A few of my students are on vacation: I am not. I am in break-mode...nice.
2010 Apr 07 [] permanent link
Tue, 30 Mar 2010
Now is the time for all good men to not count the days until Spring Break lest one go a bit batty. Two more days of school and a Friday and a full week of breaking from my day job to do stuff. Maybe Chicago and probably a floor installation and most likely some sleeping in and staying up late.
For others, it'll be days in paradise or just more time at home.
So, here's to us: Spring Break 2010: may it rock or just be tame.
2010 Mar 30 [] permanent link
Fri, 12 Mar 2010
Some time ago, after I said good-bye to ClarisHomePage, I found PageSpinner and I liked the idea of a web html editor. So, I decided to take it for a drive again and throw together a homepage for the Vergil.com site. Nice to code from the code side instead of the pure GUI side.
2010 Mar 12 [] permanent link
Sat, 06 Mar 2010
We were at Barnes and Noble last night after a rather good meal and Soho Japanese and I picked up some interesting books to browse through. One was on how to create iPhone apps with the stuff of webs (html, css, and javascript) and I was almost inspired to create an app for the iPhone. Also, I looked through the Definitive Guide to SSH and was reminded again how little I know about unix and cli apps. Though, in my defense, I might used ssh in other ways without knowing it (shielded by the some GUI).
I like the updating of this place via ssh because I feel like I have the speakeasy access to my web server. I suppose I could just use ftp, but ssh just seems more cooler.
2010 Mar 06 [/eeepc] permanent link
Mon, 15 Feb 2010
I simply will love the Winter Olympics this year. For the first time in a long time I am sitting on the couch and watching network TV.
The NetworkTV part isn't my favorite; the Winter Olympics is great.
Also, just re-installed Ubuntu NBR again...just because the last install was shrinking my HD.
2010 Feb 15 [] permanent link
Sat, 02 Jan 2010
So, here's my list for 2010: + Cooking + Running + Writing Let's go!
2010 Jan 02 [] permanent link
Sun, 13 Dec 2009
This weekend we caught the RSC in Madison and honestly, we were in the presence of rockstars. It was pretty cool to talk with Austin afterward (and got to meet Matt and Mic too).
2009 Dec 13 [] permanent link
Sun, 22 Nov 2009
So, I've been playing around with a simple bash script to update [Memiary http://www.memiary.com] from the command line. My first attempt took a little tinkering (for my knowledge isn't much) but eventually I could come up with a curl statement that when editing could update the Memiary page for the day.
Today, though, I added interactivity with echo/read statements that would store user input into the necessary variables. And, it works.
The last thing I need to do is to format the output (which was somewhat unproductive...but I'll get it sometime).
2009 Nov 22 [] permanent link
Sat, 14 Nov 2009
Run a Marathon, get some sleep
I ran the Veterans Marathon today in Columbia City today and I'm happy to say that it was a nice race on a sunny day (+56f at the end). I got my goal for today (3:38) and now I'm ready just sit and take it easy. Next marathon: Not sure.
2009 Nov 14 [] permanent link
Thu, 05 Nov 2009
So, with this newest release of Ubunut 9.10 comes the cloud for backup of data from the desktop or eeePC. Then, there's access from other computers and that's not a bad idear, you know?
2009 Nov 05 [/eeepc] permanent link
Sun, 01 Nov 2009
Okay, so @shawnp0wers mentioned on twitter to give it a try after I did an upgrade on the eeeBunut 3 lxde and all went ick. Ubuntu 9.10 NBR is so cool and all the stuff works out of the box. Better yet, the wireless and printer and camera stuff is right on target. For me, I likes the Ubuntu Cloud and I get 2gb free for sync from the eeePC to the cloud. This is simply the best distro for a netbook right now. Cool.
2009 Nov 01 [] permanent link
Sun, 18 Oct 2009
Sometimes you have to hate closed systems
And for today, it came as a result of doing a clean install of Windoze Vista on my mother in law's newer Dell 1525 laptop. In short, it was an unfortunate experience.
I know I like all things Apple and that my home computer has been a Mac for 10 years and that I have "Think Different" posters in my classroom. I realize also that I'm a fan of the OpenSource movement and still wonder why not more people have some *nix system on their computers. I know this. But why the heck does installing an OS have to be more difficult than getting Plan 9 running on an eeePC?
My bigger problem during the install was getting the wifi card to work and apparently to do this you have to use Dell's special disc to install further drivers in a particular order to get the machine to work correctly. No out of the box experience, I suppose, for Windoze users.
And I think that is sad. I can install some version of *nix and a majority of the major players (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debianish variants, FreeBSD, PCLinuxOS, etc) all work out of the box. So, why can't a big huge company such as MSoft do the same?
And thus ends my rant.
2009 Oct 18 [] permanent link
Mon, 12 Oct 2009
So, I'm looking for a project to do along side my students as they are asked to spend 10 hours to create something. I'm scrolling through book marketing, some type of a program or learn a song on the piano. Wondering what do to...
2009 Oct 12 [] permanent link
Fri, 02 Oct 2009
For some reason the wi-fi wasn't connecting very well (or at all). So, I had the great idea of reloading the whole she-bang and now, stuff seems to be jerky.
More later.
2009 Oct 02 [/eeepc] permanent link
Tue, 29 Sep 2009
Thinking that it's time to go back to personal webspace and MoodleControl. On another note: Need to rework English 10a-r...having fun.
2009 Sep 29 [] permanent link
Thu, 24 Sep 2009
So, I've discovered Krogers brand wafers that are much better than regular namebrand and only $1.79 a box.
Thought you should know.
2009 Sep 24 [] permanent link
Sun, 13 Sep 2009
Some days you just need to take a nap, like I did today.
2009 Sep 13 [] permanent link
Fri, 11 Sep 2009
First of all, I need to look over the documentation for ttytter and understand the doc for the program. Second of all, also need to look over the mutt documentation. Enough said.
2009 Sep 11 [/eeepc] permanent link
Tue, 08 Sep 2009
So, again I'm dumping the default OS for some more flexibility and I've decided on the eeebuntu project (for some reason I thought the development on it was slowed down). Apparently that wasn't true and I've installed the latest version of the eeePC. I'm liking that I'm getting up-to-date software and not stuff that has been collecting mold for about 2 years. Let's see how long I last.
2009 Sep 08 [/eeepc] permanent link
Fri, 28 Aug 2009
Project Runway and bowling balls
I like that when we're watching Project Runway there's usually a conversation we're having with the computer/tv as we're watching. And Tim Gunn: who wouldn't want a mentor like him?
2009 Aug 28 [/school] permanent link
Sun, 23 Aug 2009
I'm really not sure how much time I have devoted to finding some app to aid in my lesson planning. The last writeup I did was for a site called Stikkit which used sort of a markup language to develop lists and that included tag support. For a year, I used that site and was a bit sad when it was closed down.
Another year, I used OPML editor and was happy to outline my lesson plans and to be able to quickly make subplans. For the most part, I think I've used an app for lesson planning because it was just fun to do. The problem, though, is the law of double entry: you end up doing twice the work for .... what? And with OPML editor, I would use the app for teacher reflection--after the lesson. Because honestly, aside from gauging how long a unit takes and some general planning for the next time I teach that class, lesson plans are like to-do lists: you use them to direct a task and when that task is done, so is the need for the list.
So, I'm back to vimoutliner because it's vim and it's cool and it's fairly low tech, but still accomplishes my task of planning and, when needed, a way to printout lesson plans for the substitute teacher. And though we've heard about how we will one day need to turn in lesson plans with standards attached to them, I'll continue doing what I find most useful to me: what my students will do and how I thought things went.
2009 Aug 23 [/school] permanent link
Sat, 22 Aug 2009
I keep going back to my composition book and then onto a Lesson Planning book. I did like using the OPML Editor for one year, but I didn't like that the file wasn't as portable as I had wanted it to (no Linux version). Then, for the past year or so I've used Vimoutliner and liked it a lot. Only problem: I had to have a computer to use it. Sometimes it's just nice to go low-tech and do the thing that always worked.
2009 Aug 22 [/school] permanent link
Wed, 19 Aug 2009
I loved using the Debian Eeepc OS, but I have to like the default OS because it works. Example: wi-fi workability. With the Debian variant, it simply doesn't connect with most free wi-fi spots (e.g. hotels and Panera), where the default OS with it's icky interface at least works.
So, I gave up on principle for consistency.
2009 Aug 19 [/eeepc] permanent link
Tue, 18 Aug 2009
Yeah! School starts tomorrow and I am pumped. Actually, I'm fine about it and trying to find the "thing" that will drive my year (possibly the experience with the summer?) Also, trying to finsh out the writeups for 40 Plays in 40 Days site.
Until then, time for some Buffy.
2009 Aug 18 [/school] permanent link
Mon, 17 Aug 2009
So my summer of 40 Plays in 40 Days is over as of Saturday and now I'm readjusting to being back at school (today was teacher meetings).
2009 Aug 17 [] permanent link
