I just found this link on Simon Willison’s web log. (I’m slowly getting caught up on the blogs I follow.) Don’t visit the link unless you’ve seen the movie, there are a few spoilers, and you might not catch all the humor.
(I especially liked the conversation at the end between Keanu Reeves and “The Explainer”. The IRC bit was fun, too.)
I so WANT one of THESE
mmm… apples
While I’m here, trying to get caught up on some of the blogs I used to read on a daily basis, my wife is in the other room reading the new Harry Potter book.
The continuous clicking of the clock above the computer, and my occasional typing followed by silence as I read is currently being supplemented by bursts of laugher coming from the other room. Perhaps I should take some time to get caught up on the series so I can find out what’s so funny.
One reading project at a time, I’m still trying to catch up on my blogs.
I just read a series of articles on the online version of the Independant Weekely, a newspaper out of Durham, NC
The stories (linked below in chronological order) relate the tale of a High School student who was questioned by 2 law enforcement officers about a suspected hacking incident at Chapel Hill High School.
Looks like a couple laws were broken, but not the ones you might think.
“The FBI has been reading my diary” –May 28, 2003
“Silly cops!” –June 4, 2003
Faking It –June 11, 2003
I’m looking forward to reading any followups on the story.
I guess there’s two morals to this story:
An old boss/friend of mine contacted me yesterday about a possible job. It’s not web design, but it does sound intreaguing. It looks like it’ll be part time, but I’ll be able to telecommute. I’ll find out more about it next week.
There’s also an EB Games that just opened down the street from here. It probably wouldn’t pay enough by itself, but depending on what the position mentioned above is like, I may decide to apply for a job there too for the hell of it. (Just so I do actually get out of doors on a regular basis.)
I’m starting to feel like I need a change of pace, and being furloughed was a blessing in disguise. (Of course it would be nice if the company I used to work for would actually pay me what I’m owed. Now that I think about it, it’d also be nice if I got a check from EDD soon, too.)
Okay time to stop rambling. I’m off to make a shopping list.
I’ve been helping simpsone and his parents get stuff moved up to Petaluma the last couple of days while frostedlexicharm has been down in LA deailing with nurses, surgeons, hospitals, and thier sick son. (For more info on that, check lexi’s blog – linked above.)
I tend to dislike dealing with simpsone’s father, but I’ve found that I can at least be civil towards him. (Even if he tends to be an ass towards me – well, towards just about everyone, really.) I’m actually taking a bit of a break from moving stuff right now, (and helping out my mom’s school to boot.) Anyway, we got (most of) the heavy stuff out of the way last night and this morning, but there’s still about 1/2 a garage and 3/4 of a storage area woth of stuff to get moved. (If I understood simpsone correctly.)
I’ve also spent the last couple of days working in the computer lab at my mother’s school, trying to undo some of the damage that’s been done to it throughout the year. I’ve been cleaning off the spyware, uninstalling apps that don’t need to be on the machine, “unifying” the desktop, and installing critical updates.
There’s more that I want to do to these machines, (like getting current virus definitions, tweaking thier network topology, and possibly even wiping all the machines and doing a fresh install of the OS and the basic software the lab needs,) but I don’t have the permission/funds to do that yet. (The scool needs to renew it’s site license to get current virus updates.) Getting the virus protection updated is the main thing I want to do but can’t yet – everything else would just be gravy.
I’ve actually enjoyed doing this stuff. It’s giving me a chance to get off my but and out of the house, and I actually feel useful. My job hunt is not going too well so far, but the last couple of days have kept me occupied – so I’m not spending all my time stressing about that.
I guess it’s about time for me to get back to working on the computers. Looks like I need to kill the spyware on the teacher machine as well. There’s been 5 different pop-up ads in the time it’s taken me to write this. (DEATH TO GATOR!)
I’m helping my mother today. It seems that the “child protection” software the elementary school she works in is not as effective as they thought it would be. Since I don’t really have anything better to do, I’m helping her out by running ad-aware on all these machines, and uninstalling the stuff the kids have added throughout the year.
I’m adding the link below, because “g-blog.net/user/hooloovoo” is easier for me to type (and remember) than http://download.com.com/3001-2144-10186632.html
Also: all the machines should have this as thier hompage: http://www.husd.k12.ca.us/
Edited on Jun 16th 2003, 19:56 by Hooloovoo
Just a post mostly for posting sake. I don’t want to get out of the habit of blogging stuff here.
Let’s see: I think I’ve finally got my crap striaght with regards to my unemployment claim. (Someone was using my SSN to commit fraud against the system.) I might have to re-file my “did you look for a job” form from last week – I’ll know for sure in a couple of days.
I’m at that frustrating point in my portfolio web site where the design is done and I just need to plug in the content. I’m about 50% done with that. I guess I’m just used to most of the content being handed to me by someone else. I’d do a little bit of copy editing and image processing and then cut-n-paste the content into the shell I’d built for a particualr site. Writing the descriptions of the projects I’m including in the portfolio (goals, design hiighlights, etc.) is what’s got me jammed up. I suck. I was supposed to have this done last week.
Jeny and I went out for sushi with chutta last night. We’re having him over (well, down – he lives upstairs) for matzo-ball soup and lamb. It’s a really simple recipie I’ve been wanting to try out for a while. I hope it turns out.
Next weekend is the big camping/rafting trip. 15 people, 2 boats, class II and III rapids. It should be a blast. I’m hoping to do this again next year, but on a different part of the American river. One with class III and IV rapids.
Okay – ‘nough rambling for now, time to get back to writing copy for my portfolio.
Update:
I forgot one thing – I spent an hour or so yesterday walking around in the park over by lake merrit in oakland. I had my new-to-me camera and telephoto lens (purchased from my stepfather – payments delayed until I’m working again) and was taking pictures (mostly of the birds that were about) in color and black and white. I’m not expecting many good shots to come out. It was just a chance for me to get used to the camera.
It’s a Nikon N65 and I need to find some documentation on it, as there are a bunch of features on it I don’t know how to use – but I will learn.
Edited on Jun 10th 2003, 20:16 by Hooloovoo
My wife and I did a marathon cleaning session today, (with some help from her sister.) Over the last few months, the computer/craft room had become a major disaster area. Since I’m currently jobless, and Jenny had today off, we decided it would be a good day to do something about it. We also invited her sister down to help us out a bit. (We bribed Becky with food, a couple of driving lessons, and a ride to Plough tonight.)
We spent about 8 hours cleaning, with breaks here and there as my allergies kicked in, or we needed lunch, or were just feeling overwhelmed. Had I been thinking, I might have taken before and after pictures, because I can hardly beleive this is the same room. We’re not quite finished yet, there are still a couple of boxes we need to go through, not counting the 7 boxes of stuff I brought home from work, (most of which will probably end up back in a cubicle when I land a new position.) Still, this room is a thousand times better than it was yesterday.
Jenny is on her way up to Starry Plough with Becky. (Her third driving session this weekend.) Actually, Jenny’s probably on her way back by now. We’d thought about going to Plough tonight as, (I’ve never been – I should probably rectify that at some point.) but we’re both pretty wiped out.
On the job search front: The call I was expecting today hasn’t happened yet, but I’m not too worried about it. I’ll probably give the recruiter a call tomorrow afternoon if I haven’t heard anything from him. And as soon as I’m done writing this, I’m off to the online job search sites to see if there are any new listings I can post my resume to.
Just to see if he’s reading: Gossip, can you add a “Home” or “Life” category? (or both?)
I went for a bike ride this afternoon, and then went to my mom’s house to help her and my stepdad get thier new home network set up.
The OS X laptop is connected to the router via ethernet, the WinXP laptop is connected to the router via the new wireless card. The win98 desktop is not set up yet. (This blog enty is basically a test of the wireless connection.)
This is with the same basic euipment that chutta and I were using when we tried set up a wireless network at his place, only the wireless card plugged into a pci slot. We never did get it to work properly, however this afternoon has given me some hope.
Now I just need to see if the 98 machine has an ethernet card or not, and I need to get a length of Cat5 to connect it to the router too. (I’m not going to reccomend a wireless pci lan card untill I find one that actually works.)
I should probably set a WEP pasword on the router before I leave, too.