Aaaah the console. So raw and powerful. I use it so heavily that I usually get a little bothered by leaving it open when I leave my computer momentarily. I'm not one of those SUDO freaks or "su -c" nazis, so I usually have one of my consoles open as root, or in some cases the scripts I run need to be root, and I don't want to have to worry about changing tail to /sbin/tail for every script I want to write! But, in the immortal words of uncle ben (the spiderman one, not the rice one) with groot power comes great rootsponsability. So leaving an ssh session or a terminal open as root unattended doesn't seem like the smartest thing to do. But the problem is that if you log out (especially in an ssh session) you have to log back in and reestablish the connection before you can continue work.
Enter vlock
vlock will lock out your console and require you to enter either the password of the user logged in, or the root password. Nice, eh? Well, NICE but not particularly pretty...
Enter cmatrix
Yes, a matrix screensaver for your console. Kick ass? Yes. I use 'cmatrix -a -b -u 5' it kicks ass. But if only you could make it a password protected console screensaver...
Enter ; (semi-colon)
By simply adding the alias:
alias 'lock'='cmatrix -a -b -u 5; vlock'
You've got yourself a fully functional password protected console screensaver! Now you're not only secure, you look cool doing it. You can tell all your friends that not only have you found the matrix, you're viewing it over an encrypted SSH tunnel!
Well, now you can leave that terminal open as root, and not worry about who may be taking advantage of it while you're away. Now the tough stuff; how to deal with people asking you what that matrix-y thing is on your screen. You can say you've encrypted your session and that if they look at it funny it will "hack the mainframe" and "port the phone" to call the FBI. Then for effect you can throw some more threatening jargon at them, and hold your coat open to appear larger and repeat the jargon loudly to scare off the lesser user sniffing around your claim...
Sigh. Gone are the days when someone would ask you what you did, you could simply answer "computer stuff," now they're much more "savvy" and prod for further information. I don't like telling people I'm a hacker of any sort because they don't understand my skillset and the knowledge I have. It's your standard "I don't understand anything about what you do except what I read about in the paper" effect, people are dubious about trusting someone who knows more about something than they do; especially when it involves "hacking the internets" Doubleplussigh...
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Friday, March 03, 2006
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love VNC
We didn't used to have the tools we use for remote desktop management. We used to use VNC. Dun Dun DUNNN! If you're from the linux community you're probably wondering what the big deal is. But if you've used VNC on windows for remote support you'll remember out-of-sync cursors, long delays, and "painting" the screen with your mouse. Man that stuff was frustrating.
When I found VNC was originally a Linux tool, I wasn't surprised. It meant windows VNC was FAR from optimized, and was probably being weighed down with bulky windows BS resulting in the piss-poor performance. I did a little looking around, and found a comment that VNC for Linux was like RDP for Windows in regard to speed and functionality. I was extremely skeptical.
Since I got into linux I never saw the need to use VNC (and I probably would have avoided it like the plague even if I had the need), I used my crappy KVM that worked great if the boxes were turned off, and the KVM was turned off and on, then the boxes were turned on. So for a while things in KVM land were great. Until someone kicked the surge suppressor that powered the KVM and it got out of sync again. Not wanting to reboot my linux box (uptime 141 days and counting) I roughed it, and instead of getting to switch to the box on the first try it would take quite a few tires. But since I didn't switch that much (and REALLY didn't want to have to reboot) I worked through it. Well recently my keyboard cable became loose from the kvm, resulting in me having to go to the back of the PC and unplug and replug the keyboard ps/2 plug after every switch. So, stubbornly, I stayed on the linux box for a few days, then had to go to the windows box for a few more days, and finally got fed up with it. I typed vncserver -name omgwtfbbq -geometry 1280x1024 and picked up a VNC client. I connected and saw it moving quickly, but that was just running X. I reset it to open GNOME and was amazed. It was responsive, there was no painting, and the delay was almost undetectable! Deciding to test the ultimate I opened a video off google video... lossless. Smooth, and beautiful, and over fucking VNC! Heaven.
I was (and still am) ecstatic. VNC doesn't suck, Windows just makes it suck!
When I found VNC was originally a Linux tool, I wasn't surprised. It meant windows VNC was FAR from optimized, and was probably being weighed down with bulky windows BS resulting in the piss-poor performance. I did a little looking around, and found a comment that VNC for Linux was like RDP for Windows in regard to speed and functionality. I was extremely skeptical.
Since I got into linux I never saw the need to use VNC (and I probably would have avoided it like the plague even if I had the need), I used my crappy KVM that worked great if the boxes were turned off, and the KVM was turned off and on, then the boxes were turned on. So for a while things in KVM land were great. Until someone kicked the surge suppressor that powered the KVM and it got out of sync again. Not wanting to reboot my linux box (uptime 141 days and counting) I roughed it, and instead of getting to switch to the box on the first try it would take quite a few tires. But since I didn't switch that much (and REALLY didn't want to have to reboot) I worked through it. Well recently my keyboard cable became loose from the kvm, resulting in me having to go to the back of the PC and unplug and replug the keyboard ps/2 plug after every switch. So, stubbornly, I stayed on the linux box for a few days, then had to go to the windows box for a few more days, and finally got fed up with it. I typed vncserver -name omgwtfbbq -geometry 1280x1024 and picked up a VNC client. I connected and saw it moving quickly, but that was just running X. I reset it to open GNOME and was amazed. It was responsive, there was no painting, and the delay was almost undetectable! Deciding to test the ultimate I opened a video off google video... lossless. Smooth, and beautiful, and over fucking VNC! Heaven.
I was (and still am) ecstatic. VNC doesn't suck, Windows just makes it suck!
Add SMS to your scripts
One line
http://sms.toolbar.google.com:80/send/sms?client=firefox_sms_but&
numsms=phonenumber&carriersms=carrier&
msgsms=message&sendsms=Send+message
The phone number must be US with the area code, (555) 555-5555 should be 5555555555 in the URL.
The carrier is the provider, sprint, cingular, etc. Enter it in all caps.
The message must have spaces seperated by "+" and non-letter characters printed as their hex equivalent.
Hence:
omg my computer is talking to me!
Would be:
omg+my+computer+is+talking+to+me%21
Sample:
One Line
http://sms.toolbar.google.com:80/send/sms?client=firefox_sms_but&
numsms=3215551234&carriersms=SPRINT&
msgsms=test%21+oorgle+woot%21%3F&sendsms=Send+message
If you want to tie it into a script just cURL it or get() it, and send off your message! I'd even recommend using tinyurl.com to shorten specific messages to make the procesing easier.
Oh yeah, were I so inclined I'd post the tinyurl to message obscene things to Jack "Sue it if it moves" Thompson. Fortunately for him, I am not. Though I wouldn't mind it.
OC Asylum, and getting plastered.
A friend of mine is opening up a paintball park called the OC Asylum in Anaheim. I helped them open it up two weeks ago, and we got to play there for a bit a week ago. It's an outdoor, astroturfed, netted soccer field converted to one big airball field (with extra netting of course). After we played (awesome) we went to my friends place to watch movies, drink and hang out. On the way home I saw more cops and more cops pulling people over than I'd seen in about a month. When we got to my friend's place, I prefaced the evening with "I hope you're all comfortable, because the city is crawling with cops, and no one's going anywhere without getting pulled over..." Aaaand so, free to drink it up, knowing we'd be staying over for the night, we proceded to... well, drink up.
We started around 10ish, and by 11:30, we were gone. Not "buzzed" or "interesting" or "drunk" but about as gone as you can be without falling over and vomiting on yourself. It was the drunkest I'd ever been, and it was fun because it was with friends.
The next morning we drove home (sober) and slept until 1pm. It was fun, but I'm not much of a drinker, and couldn't help think it was a bit excessive. In the future I'd think twice before doing it again, but I think I still would (with friends).
That evening we were talking about drinking, and after some thought I found that I don't agree with the idea of "unwinding" with a beer every day after work. Once in a while is one thing, but every day is another. Unwind with some hot cocoa or tea, just don't grow to depend on that slight buzz to get you relaxed for bed.
We started around 10ish, and by 11:30, we were gone. Not "buzzed" or "interesting" or "drunk" but about as gone as you can be without falling over and vomiting on yourself. It was the drunkest I'd ever been, and it was fun because it was with friends.
The next morning we drove home (sober) and slept until 1pm. It was fun, but I'm not much of a drinker, and couldn't help think it was a bit excessive. In the future I'd think twice before doing it again, but I think I still would (with friends).
That evening we were talking about drinking, and after some thought I found that I don't agree with the idea of "unwinding" with a beer every day after work. Once in a while is one thing, but every day is another. Unwind with some hot cocoa or tea, just don't grow to depend on that slight buzz to get you relaxed for bed.
Traffic school tomorrow
Bugger. I was supposed to have traffic school two weeks ago, but they misscheduled me (and about 5 other people). We all called right then at the same time so they were sure they made the problem. The dude on the phone actually implied that I copied the location down incorrectly. "Well, when our people enter the code, the location automatically comes up, so it would have been hard to tell you the wrong spot." "And yet here I am... Look, no matter how hard it was for your people to tell me the wrong spot, I still wound up writing down the wrong spot while I had the person on the phone. The likelyhood of the person on the phone telling me my code, me repeating it and writing it down, then the person telling me Anaheim, and me repeating it and writing down Westminster is quite slim." So they rescheduled me and the others to tomorrow at Westminster. I must say, I haven't felt discomfort at anything like I have this traffic school for a long time. I've looked forward to teeth-pullings more than I look forward to traffic school. I suppose the more terrible I convince myself it will be, the less likely it will be able to be that terrible. It's a good thing. I'm just suprised at myself for being so fervently negative about this. I don't think I was innocent, and I don't think I should get out of my punishment, but I just really really don't want to go. Bah. I just have an odd feeling about it. I'm sure it will be fine.
Drawing is cool
(keeping with my poor title selection)
I've been making an effort to draw more for about a month, but I've actually started drawing more since two days ago. It feels good to see what I can do. I'm *yet again* reminded of the power and control I have over the Fisher Space Pen, my drawing impliment of choice. I'd recommend to anyone who sketches in pencil to try the space pen, they're available at office supply stores all over. I've owned 7 I think. Anyways, I've got a few sketches I quite like, and I'd quite like to post them on here. Just gotta pick up a scanner, or mooch usage off my sister's scanner or the one at work.
I found that if I though about drawing enough, I'd get an image stuck in my head of something that would be awesome to draw. It's incredibly cathartic to actually capture it on paper.
Fear not citizens; pictures shall follow!
I've been making an effort to draw more for about a month, but I've actually started drawing more since two days ago. It feels good to see what I can do. I'm *yet again* reminded of the power and control I have over the Fisher Space Pen, my drawing impliment of choice. I'd recommend to anyone who sketches in pencil to try the space pen, they're available at office supply stores all over. I've owned 7 I think. Anyways, I've got a few sketches I quite like, and I'd quite like to post them on here. Just gotta pick up a scanner, or mooch usage off my sister's scanner or the one at work.
I found that if I though about drawing enough, I'd get an image stuck in my head of something that would be awesome to draw. It's incredibly cathartic to actually capture it on paper.
Fear not citizens; pictures shall follow!
Linux is cool
You know what my punkasses.sh one-liner is called? An active blocking, intrusion preventing, adaptive firewall. Rather, that's what it's called when it's stuck inside a fancy looking piece of network hardware and charge thousands of dollars for it. It amazes me that people really don't seem to grasp that Linux can do pretty much anything you want. A bit ago the company was looking at these "tunneling" boxes; expensive hardware which allows encrypted access to the network with a very light client. I, of course, knew BS when I saw it, and about an hour later had the ssh server available to the world, and a document on establishing a port-forwarding puTTY (SSH) tunnel. You connect via puTTY, log in, and then RDP to localhost:forwardedport to get to the terminal server, or set your mail server to localhost:forwardedport to use your outlook when away from the office, all encrypted though an SSH tunnel, all with existing technology, on existing hardware, and freely available software. Beautiful.
(man, that was a terrible title)
(man, that was a terrible title)
Punkasses.sh
awk '/Failed password/ {if ($9=="invalid") print $13; else print $11}'
/var/log/secure|cut -b 8-|sort|uniq -c|sort -nr|awk '{if ($1>10) print $2}'|
xargs -i iptables -A INPUT -s {} -j DROP
(all one line)
Read the security logs, find IPs with more than 10 failed login attempts, and drop all future traffic from the punkasses!
Man I love iptables. I spent such a long time avoiding learning them because I had a perception that they were complex. They're bloody easy!
OMGPANCAKESDANGEROUS
3-1-06
Renewed exaspiration at existencial junk.
...Just kidding.
I've decided that being prepaired (with tools) doesn't necessarily mean carrying everything you could possibly need around. Why carry tools around when you can simply make them more available? The 99 cent store has pocket knives and multi tools, flashlights, LEDs, etc. all for 99 cents. Sure they're crap, but a crappy tool in the hand is worth two awesome ones at home... Anyways, buy 3 sets of tools and keep the sets at home, in the car, and at work. You don't have to carry all of it around, but it's still readily available if you forget what you usually carry.
I seem to be getting tired of my music. What I usually listen to isn't affecting me as it used to. Truthfully, though, I haven't been giving it the undevided attention it problably deserves. I need to devote some time to it.
Every once in a while I really just step back and marvel at all the functionality linux has. I learned by messing around with Macromedia flash that powerful tool sare hard to control (read the "hole hog" section of "in the beginning there was the command line"). I was reading the steps involved in moving a shape across teh screen and was simply dumbfounded at how complex they seemed to make this simple task. After learning more I realized that this program was capable of very complex actions and activities, and that with out those complexities it would be a simple tool with simple functions. The exact same can be said about Linux. if you can dream it, you can do it. It may take some research and learning to accomplish it, but it can be done. This is where Lunux/Unix deviates from other OS's on a philisophical level. Ease of use comes at the cost of function. I wrote a one-line bash script that parsed the ssecurity logs, found IPs that had more than 10 failed login attempts, and blocked them. Doing something similar in windows would be extremely difficult, and require substantial programming prowess. Yet Linux/Unix has these small, single-function tools ready for use, and provides a means for combining them to increase their abilities. Macs are like shopping at Target for furniture; you have a selection of furniture ready made and functional. Windows is like shopping at Ikea for furniture; you may have to work to get it functional, but it's not really that hard (plus more selection). Linux is like being handed tools and pointed at a tree. It takes skills and knowledge to get your furniture, but you have the option of making whatever you want, however you want, from beginning to end.
There are countless projects that attempt to make Linux more user-friendly, but it's not in Linux's nature to be that way. So they will always fail on some level, to some degree. A tiger doesn't change its stripes. Especially when it's been bred to be a tiger's tiger.
Renewed exaspiration at existencial junk.
...Just kidding.
I've decided that being prepaired (with tools) doesn't necessarily mean carrying everything you could possibly need around. Why carry tools around when you can simply make them more available? The 99 cent store has pocket knives and multi tools, flashlights, LEDs, etc. all for 99 cents. Sure they're crap, but a crappy tool in the hand is worth two awesome ones at home... Anyways, buy 3 sets of tools and keep the sets at home, in the car, and at work. You don't have to carry all of it around, but it's still readily available if you forget what you usually carry.
I seem to be getting tired of my music. What I usually listen to isn't affecting me as it used to. Truthfully, though, I haven't been giving it the undevided attention it problably deserves. I need to devote some time to it.
Every once in a while I really just step back and marvel at all the functionality linux has. I learned by messing around with Macromedia flash that powerful tool sare hard to control (read the "hole hog" section of "in the beginning there was the command line"). I was reading the steps involved in moving a shape across teh screen and was simply dumbfounded at how complex they seemed to make this simple task. After learning more I realized that this program was capable of very complex actions and activities, and that with out those complexities it would be a simple tool with simple functions. The exact same can be said about Linux. if you can dream it, you can do it. It may take some research and learning to accomplish it, but it can be done. This is where Lunux/Unix deviates from other OS's on a philisophical level. Ease of use comes at the cost of function. I wrote a one-line bash script that parsed the ssecurity logs, found IPs that had more than 10 failed login attempts, and blocked them. Doing something similar in windows would be extremely difficult, and require substantial programming prowess. Yet Linux/Unix has these small, single-function tools ready for use, and provides a means for combining them to increase their abilities. Macs are like shopping at Target for furniture; you have a selection of furniture ready made and functional. Windows is like shopping at Ikea for furniture; you may have to work to get it functional, but it's not really that hard (plus more selection). Linux is like being handed tools and pointed at a tree. It takes skills and knowledge to get your furniture, but you have the option of making whatever you want, however you want, from beginning to end.
There are countless projects that attempt to make Linux more user-friendly, but it's not in Linux's nature to be that way. So they will always fail on some level, to some degree. A tiger doesn't change its stripes. Especially when it's been bred to be a tiger's tiger.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Aren't I in Texas???
12 18 05
I ask for a Jack and Coke in Dallas Airport…
“Umm… I don’t have Jack Daniels…”
“Ah.”
“…I’ve got Crown…”
“Mmm.”
“…aaand… Pepsi.”
“Uhhh-huh.”
I’m 0 for 2.
“Aren’t I in Texas?”
“Umm… *looks around*… Yes?”
Now I’m 0 for 3.
“Givvus a shot of tequila”
“I've got...”
“Anything gold.”
“On the rocks?”
“Straight up with salt and lime.” I say not wanting to strain her mental capacity by using words like "twist".
*Does nothing for 4 1/2 minutes* “Here you go...” *hands me so little tequila there's barely enough to recognize gold from white*
*contemplates pouring it on the bar in protest/disgust*
*hands me bill for $7.50*
*drinks up*
I ask for a Jack and Coke in Dallas Airport…
“Umm… I don’t have Jack Daniels…”
“Ah.”
“…I’ve got Crown…”
“Mmm.”
“…aaand… Pepsi.”
“Uhhh-huh.”
I’m 0 for 2.
“Aren’t I in Texas?”
“Umm… *looks around*… Yes?”
Now I’m 0 for 3.
“Givvus a shot of tequila”
“I've got...”
“Anything gold.”
“On the rocks?”
“Straight up with salt and lime.” I say not wanting to strain her mental capacity by using words like "twist".
*Does nothing for 4 1/2 minutes* “Here you go...” *hands me so little tequila there's barely enough to recognize gold from white*
*contemplates pouring it on the bar in protest/disgust*
*hands me bill for $7.50*
*drinks up*
Organized religion still scares me a bit.
12 18 05
I’ve been a bit worries about me not being well-rounded enough. I’m sk8illed in language (but not languages), mathematics, electronics, art, but have no skills in musical instruments. For some reason I think I’d prefer a wind instrument, though only because they’re small (mostly) I suppose I’d be open to any small instrument.
I spoke with a fellow on the plane interested in becoming a priest. His religion was brought up through another topic (so he wasn’t just barge in into the topic). After I told him I was agnostic he started asking me questions and we engaged in a pretty good debate. I did my part to lead him to my conclusions and he told me what he believed and why; and I did the same. I definitely learned some new things about myself and the limits of my beliefs. I also gained some good insight into how he believed what he believed. What I (somewhat) determined is that people shouldn’t be able to escape their sins by changing their ways at the last minute. The experience was very thought provoking and I wouldn’t mind probing my own beliefs a bit more.
I’ve been a bit worries about me not being well-rounded enough. I’m sk8illed in language (but not languages), mathematics, electronics, art, but have no skills in musical instruments. For some reason I think I’d prefer a wind instrument, though only because they’re small (mostly) I suppose I’d be open to any small instrument.
I spoke with a fellow on the plane interested in becoming a priest. His religion was brought up through another topic (so he wasn’t just barge in into the topic). After I told him I was agnostic he started asking me questions and we engaged in a pretty good debate. I did my part to lead him to my conclusions and he told me what he believed and why; and I did the same. I definitely learned some new things about myself and the limits of my beliefs. I also gained some good insight into how he believed what he believed. What I (somewhat) determined is that people shouldn’t be able to escape their sins by changing their ways at the last minute. The experience was very thought provoking and I wouldn’t mind probing my own beliefs a bit more.
What's important?
12 14 05
Ah, the excitement. I’m bored in my flight. I’ve run out of attempted small talk topics. The clouds we’re flying above are like fluffy white sand dunes that stretch across a desert forever… So I was thinking about fabricating my own reality. Well, actually I was thinking about just accepting that all my reality could just be an illusion. I suspect things would be more interesting were I more mindful of the possibility that everything I see could not be there. What’s interesting is that your memories are mostly devoid of details. Do you remember the face of the last person who washed their hands next to you? Did you even look? In your memories, that person is not John or Joe, It’s just a person. Look at the people around you now. Whom among them are you going to remember in a day, week, month, year? How important can the world around up really be if a vast percentage of it is forgotten
Ah, the excitement. I’m bored in my flight. I’ve run out of attempted small talk topics. The clouds we’re flying above are like fluffy white sand dunes that stretch across a desert forever… So I was thinking about fabricating my own reality. Well, actually I was thinking about just accepting that all my reality could just be an illusion. I suspect things would be more interesting were I more mindful of the possibility that everything I see could not be there. What’s interesting is that your memories are mostly devoid of details. Do you remember the face of the last person who washed their hands next to you? Did you even look? In your memories, that person is not John or Joe, It’s just a person. Look at the people around you now. Whom among them are you going to remember in a day, week, month, year? How important can the world around up really be if a vast percentage of it is forgotten
Musings while taxi-ing
12 14 05
We’re on our second flight and I’m finding myself a little tense. I think it’s because I don’t’ usually fly on planes this small. The fear is entirely irrational but its fear nonetheless. Writing about it has calmed me a bit. I think too much. Actually I think I may be getting claustrophobic, coupled with my irrational fear, it’s making for an interesting cocktail. I can’t listen to my music until we take off, so I’ve got to cowboy up. The pilot just applied the breaks suddenly, and I got a mental image of some other plane cutting him off. (after which he would of course hand out the window and shake his fist in the air, while calling him an asshole) (in a New York accent, naturally). I’m upset I didn’t bring my monocular. There were some pretty great views to be seen. We’re taking off. No, someone else is taking off. We’re waiting. Looking at the big planes makes me calm. Here we go… *Death* just kidding. We’re still waiting. I suspect our tiny plane got bullied to the back of the line by the bigger ones. Waiting… The waiting is making it worse. Aahh! The girls next to me is writing in her journal and her writing is much better than mine! My pages always look like the ravings of an angry chimp. Still I like the hurried look, and my girlfriend liked that my notes to her were always (here we go…) (well that was faster and smoother than the big planes) very expressive in their writing style.
We’re on our second flight and I’m finding myself a little tense. I think it’s because I don’t’ usually fly on planes this small. The fear is entirely irrational but its fear nonetheless. Writing about it has calmed me a bit. I think too much. Actually I think I may be getting claustrophobic, coupled with my irrational fear, it’s making for an interesting cocktail. I can’t listen to my music until we take off, so I’ve got to cowboy up. The pilot just applied the breaks suddenly, and I got a mental image of some other plane cutting him off. (after which he would of course hand out the window and shake his fist in the air, while calling him an asshole) (in a New York accent, naturally). I’m upset I didn’t bring my monocular. There were some pretty great views to be seen. We’re taking off. No, someone else is taking off. We’re waiting. Looking at the big planes makes me calm. Here we go… *Death* just kidding. We’re still waiting. I suspect our tiny plane got bullied to the back of the line by the bigger ones. Waiting… The waiting is making it worse. Aahh! The girls next to me is writing in her journal and her writing is much better than mine! My pages always look like the ravings of an angry chimp. Still I like the hurried look, and my girlfriend liked that my notes to her were always (here we go…) (well that was faster and smoother than the big planes) very expressive in their writing style.
Art Style
12 13 05
My art style, I fear, is limiting. I’m used to applying hard, sharp lines to my work which limits my ability to draw softer objects. My charcoal control is such that the drawing may start soft but end up much harder and more overdone than intended. Recently I picked my space pen backup and was once again reminded of its ability as an instrument. I enjoy mucking about with charcoal but ballpoint pen (especially my space pen) affords me much more control and range than my current skill level in charcoal allows. I worry that my skills will become limited as I continue to use the same style. But whatever. I’ve taken to drawing odd shapes and lines and seeing what I can make of them. It’s much more interesting than attempting to draw “X”. My last drawing was done this way. I always surprise myself when I’m done. It’s hard to believe I drew something so well. No matter how much I deny it, I seem to be somewhat skilled.
My art style, I fear, is limiting. I’m used to applying hard, sharp lines to my work which limits my ability to draw softer objects. My charcoal control is such that the drawing may start soft but end up much harder and more overdone than intended. Recently I picked my space pen backup and was once again reminded of its ability as an instrument. I enjoy mucking about with charcoal but ballpoint pen (especially my space pen) affords me much more control and range than my current skill level in charcoal allows. I worry that my skills will become limited as I continue to use the same style. But whatever. I’ve taken to drawing odd shapes and lines and seeing what I can make of them. It’s much more interesting than attempting to draw “X”. My last drawing was done this way. I always surprise myself when I’m done. It’s hard to believe I drew something so well. No matter how much I deny it, I seem to be somewhat skilled.
"Like Groking the Universe"
12 12 05
I openly agree with those internet zealots (and I use the term affectionately) like O’Reilly, who believe the internet is more a state of mind or out new zeitgeist instead of simply a tool for ordering socks in your underwear or locating the nearest Thai place. The internet is the idea of complete interconnectivity of everyone. It’s like the impact of the invention of the phone on steroids. The idea that you can punch some numbers into a handheld device and instantly be talking to someone on the other side of the world is huge! One of so many advancements in communication that we just take for granted. Well the internet takes the idea of connecting people with people and connects people with the collective intelligence and knowledge held in the entire internet. This must be that Web 2.0 they keep trying to explain to us. It’s like ascending to another plain, like groking the universe.
I openly agree with those internet zealots (and I use the term affectionately) like O’Reilly, who believe the internet is more a state of mind or out new zeitgeist instead of simply a tool for ordering socks in your underwear or locating the nearest Thai place. The internet is the idea of complete interconnectivity of everyone. It’s like the impact of the invention of the phone on steroids. The idea that you can punch some numbers into a handheld device and instantly be talking to someone on the other side of the world is huge! One of so many advancements in communication that we just take for granted. Well the internet takes the idea of connecting people with people and connects people with the collective intelligence and knowledge held in the entire internet. This must be that Web 2.0 they keep trying to explain to us. It’s like ascending to another plain, like groking the universe.
The eee-nternet
12 12 05
For all my posturizing about how great the internet is about data transmission and information exchange I still and skeptical of the connectivity between the web world and the real one. I’m still a little surprised when something I do on the internet causes a package to arrive at my door. I suppose I should stop worrying, clearly my actions on the internet consistently cause my credit card to be charged! Companies like Amazon have done an excellent job connecting our money with their merchandise. I should just accept that there exists a reliable connection between the net and the physical earth. It seems, however, perverse to imply such a thing.
For all my posturizing about how great the internet is about data transmission and information exchange I still and skeptical of the connectivity between the web world and the real one. I’m still a little surprised when something I do on the internet causes a package to arrive at my door. I suppose I should stop worrying, clearly my actions on the internet consistently cause my credit card to be charged! Companies like Amazon have done an excellent job connecting our money with their merchandise. I should just accept that there exists a reliable connection between the net and the physical earth. It seems, however, perverse to imply such a thing.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Kentucky
Ok, so I'm going to Kentucky to visit with my girlfriend's mom for 5 days.
While the lure of the country was never something I found particularly aluring(sp?) I have yet to experience the... well... experience.
I'm kind of looking forward to it. It's turned into a bit of a vacation during which I'm unsure what I'll occupy myself with. I'd happily bring a set of unfinished projects, however I'd be inclined to think that bringing them would only make me inclined to, you know... *do* them.
In short, I don't know what I'll be doing on this vacation, and I'm not entirely sure that I'd like to.
The past two days at work have been especially taxing (short staffed), and I worry that the remaining 3 days will be difficult for my coworkers. I, however, guiltily savor my escape.
I've been neglecting my drawings for some time, and think they deserve more attention than I've been giving them. Additionally, I've been furiously using my moleskin book to jot down the little bits of nonsense that float to the top of my brain. Both endevors have been fulfilling (and suprisingly fruitful), and I (unofficially) plan to pursue them in my down time.
Another concern of mine is that I *greatly* dislike checking luggage. This is not a problem of packing space, but a problem of what I can't bring with me. If I'm only using carry-ons, I'd have to board the plane sanstools. No knife, pocket knife, swiss card, or multi-tool. I'm *very* rarely without my Benchmade knife. This prospect worries me, but only slightly, as I'm also interested in seeing how it is to be tool-less for 5 days. I'm sure I could do no better than finding it inconveniencing, but suspect I'm only placating myself in preparation for what could prove to be an uncomfortable period.
I'll add my moleskin entries in when I get back, and try to upload some artwork. Thanks for reading.
While the lure of the country was never something I found particularly aluring(sp?) I have yet to experience the... well... experience.
I'm kind of looking forward to it. It's turned into a bit of a vacation during which I'm unsure what I'll occupy myself with. I'd happily bring a set of unfinished projects, however I'd be inclined to think that bringing them would only make me inclined to, you know... *do* them.
In short, I don't know what I'll be doing on this vacation, and I'm not entirely sure that I'd like to.
The past two days at work have been especially taxing (short staffed), and I worry that the remaining 3 days will be difficult for my coworkers. I, however, guiltily savor my escape.
I've been neglecting my drawings for some time, and think they deserve more attention than I've been giving them. Additionally, I've been furiously using my moleskin book to jot down the little bits of nonsense that float to the top of my brain. Both endevors have been fulfilling (and suprisingly fruitful), and I (unofficially) plan to pursue them in my down time.
Another concern of mine is that I *greatly* dislike checking luggage. This is not a problem of packing space, but a problem of what I can't bring with me. If I'm only using carry-ons, I'd have to board the plane sanstools. No knife, pocket knife, swiss card, or multi-tool. I'm *very* rarely without my Benchmade knife. This prospect worries me, but only slightly, as I'm also interested in seeing how it is to be tool-less for 5 days. I'm sure I could do no better than finding it inconveniencing, but suspect I'm only placating myself in preparation for what could prove to be an uncomfortable period.
I'll add my moleskin entries in when I get back, and try to upload some artwork. Thanks for reading.
On wearing tools
I already had my first solution, because I already wore a mini USB drive around my neck. this solution seems to qualify as elegant. My second solution came in the form of an LED attached to a strong clip with an 8 point swivel. It has a slide switch so it stays on, and can clip to just about anything including my moleskin (check off book light...) The clip can attach to glasses, bands, the brim of a cap, whatever. My solution was to clip it to my belt loop. It is covered by my untucked shirt and is still easily accessable without being in the way of anything! I clip it at 9 o'clock and forget about it till I need it. The side of the hips doesn't see a lot of movement or preassure so the location is ideal. Since I obtained my paracord 550 I picked up an $8, 5000 pound carabiner. I took about 5 feet of cord, folded it in half and tied figure 8 knots in it every inch or so. It took some futzing to get the knots the right spacing but it was wirth the time. The current length of the lanyard is about 1/3 of what it was. It makes a tolerable key lanyard. The unknotted spots are big enough to fit the carabiner through to make a loop that should hold about 1100 pounds, and can be used to your creative heart's content. The carabiner is a bit unweildly but it's managable, and it's a small price to pay for its utility.
On carrying tools
I endeavor to be constantly prep aired. My attempts are thwarted regularly by practicality (ah, practicality, my old foe). I list the tools I commonly need (or would need to be prep aired), unfortunately I can't go to work or hang out casually in clothes that would permit carrying all the items. The result is me going to work with what I can fit (mostly) comfortably in my pockets (creating lots of unattractive and thigh-poking bulges in my otherwise nice pants). My first idea for a solution was a crude one. More pockets. I thought the Scott's e-vest approach would work. But no. Furthur thought only left me with more unsightly bulges in my pants or shirt/vest/jacket. I knew there had to be a more elegant solution to my problem. I said in my notes, "stop carrying things, start wearing things." This seems to be the solution, but it's the execution that eludes me.
On tools
To be a human without tools is to be a cat without claws, a rabbit without ears, or a hawk without wings.
We have natural properties that allow us to compete in nature. Our minds allow us to create simple or complex tools that give us the edge against creatures that have more obvious tools. Since we can't "think" our enemies to death we think of ways to accomplish our goals and to maintin our edge in nature. One may agrue that we don't need our tools in modern society, but to be without our natural edge is naturally suicide.
We have natural properties that allow us to compete in nature. Our minds allow us to create simple or complex tools that give us the edge against creatures that have more obvious tools. Since we can't "think" our enemies to death we think of ways to accomplish our goals and to maintin our edge in nature. One may agrue that we don't need our tools in modern society, but to be without our natural edge is naturally suicide.
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